so it’s been a while

Posted in family, grateful, House, sport, work by

Until very recently, I’ve been using Facebook a lot. An awful lot. It keeps me in touch with 99% of my family & friends, it enables me (look, a book! must add that to my TBR pile) and makes me laugh. I can look back on photos and know what we were doing (altho I haven’t done much in the albums lately) BUT…


sometimes it isn’t as good as journaling can be. Sometimes I just need to write and write and write…

and as Dad and Mum don’t use facebook, they aren’t in the loop like they should be. HI MUM! HI DAD!

2013 was pretty good to us. Sold one house, moved to the MILs for a while, then brought our new house. Fast – listed Sat morning, we viewed Sun afternoon, we brought Sunday afternoon. We’ve brought looking at the long term – ok school zones, lots of new buildings (pushing up the price already), close to public transport, close to the MIL and our daughter. We have managed to kill one of the two plants (possibly one for each of the house’s birthdays?) but have gained back enough room for the massive trampoline down one end of the property and about the same at the front, just by filling in the drops where soil was dug out and moving the fences to the berm. I love how Si is so clever engineering wise. It will take a lot to move the new fence & retaining walls. I’m looking forward to selecting the fruit trees – proper plants, not just my roses and herbs!

2014 hasn’t been so bad either. I’m on a contract with a well established company, the creative juices are flowing, we’ve squeezed in a family holiday, spent time with friends, and the house is reflective of who we are (and yes, Bran’s room could rival a pigsty). All three boys are now playing league (Si & I are coaching Mase’s team, which apart from a few unrealistic parents is great fun) and all are doing well at kindy/school. Mase is about to start 4 days a week at kindy, in prep for school – the “lasts” are starting to catch up. Si is now road cycling to make up for the fact he can’t run (that achilles/plantar fascialitis is hell) and I enjoy walking with Zac. He’s great company. Louise has started her own baking/catering company with a girlfriend and YUM they are already getting word of mouth jobs. 

Anyway, the next posts will be more specific. And hopefully frequent.

Picture: Mase after “helping” Louise with her fabulous chocolate cake 22 April 2014 – a preview of his pirate birthday later this year?

Flooring

Posted in House by

I can’t say that I recommend this type of flooring, but it looks awesome once completed. Next time I’m going to chose something that inter-locks easy! And bonus, the mother-in-law is so happy with it. So this is my “create” for the week.

Oooof

Posted in House by

Today was a creative void, apart from imagining the changes I would make to the house we viewed. Part one would be getting rid of the carpet – it looks like the Jolly Green Giant sneezed. A lot.

Photo inspiration:

Cleaning Up

Posted in DIY home by

Some time ago, the laundry plumbing at the MIL’s gave up the ghost. We found out when the wall between the laundry & toilet blew up-the skirting board looks awful.

So the plumber has been, and some twit has given her a quote to fix that is so far out it’s not funny. Simon’s solution is that we clear out everything so we can get a clear view. Hence the 7.5 cubic bin on the front lawn. It is amazing how big that space is. If we had the money I’d re-design the space and have a butler’s pantry.

The sprinkling of rain is very welcome – it is hot work in this weather. I’m looking forward to the cricket tonight & some relaxing.

What the?!

Posted in family by

Its nearly 2013. I haven’t used this blog as I’ve been using Facebook to keep the creativity going. Clearly a fail, and I know a little too much about some people!

So I’ve already selected my word for next year. Create. On a budget, too. That will be impressive, no? It is a very good thing I’ve discovered Pinterest! I’m even machine sewing. My biological mother was good at sewing and used to pick anything I made apart verbally, so until last month it wasn’t something I enjoyed. But I made Si a waistcoat for his fancy dress (Al Capone) and then a cupcake print apron (with pockets) that she loves, so now its something to enjoy.

Simon’s word for me would be employment. I’m going to relax about that; Bran starts high school next year and Mase starts kindy. Zac will be one of a few year six in a combined 6/7/8 class and he’ll find that hard going too. A job will come along at the right time.

And the photo below? That’s Mase. Merry Christmas!

Writing Motherhood & PL updates

Posted in books, family, Project Life by

Based on (I think) an Ali Edwards recommendation I ordered Lisa Garrigues’ Writing Motherhood. It’s a workbook/course designed to get you to start writing again, even if it’s just a quick journal each day, despite all the other pressures that might be on you. Of course I ordered the print version and then saw on the jacket that it’s available as an ebook (oh whatever!) and it’s great. Full of starters that you could use to write or conversate with. Brilliant.

  Bran adapted it for Sunday night. It was his birthday and thankfully (as we lost power in the storms) he’d decided to eat out at Fortuna Sky City. We have a tradition when we eat out – everyone takes turns in my notebook to write down their current favourites – which might be anything from TV show to breakfast cereal to toy to car, depending on who helps generate the list. Bran decided that we would journal on our Project Life cards and also the topic, which clearly, was Bran. His categories?
  • Favourite memory of Bran (mine is, I am reliably told, when he was born)
  • Favourite Food to eat with Bran (he relaxed this somewhat and we were allowed to write down where we like to eat with Bran)
  • Favourite TV show to watch with Bran (clearly some forward planning going on here) and lastly,
  • Favourite Place to go with Bran

He was exactly right to choose to put these into our family PL album. I am finding more and more that we are looking back on these and it’s a fantastic way to keep everything together. I know that the kids won’t have their own albums, but when I die, they can copy these as needed. They’ll have school reports, projects, awards, writing notes, tickets, postcards, letters – it’s all in the one place and the pressure is off. I know that they will have the memories when I am gone. That’s amazing peace of mind, considering how little I have. Altho Dad told me a tale on Christmas Day that I had to record – can’t believe I did that! Well, in retrospect, maybe I can…

Promise – layouts will be up once I have the bucks to buy a printer cartridge. Those suckers are expensive.

And recieved an update from Jill. Back on the boat, making me jealous! And still dedicated to the Pirate Gag. Apparently the sword is an antique Iban head hunting sword (which runs me off into GoogleWorld). Awesome. I’d have that white one behind her (no, the BIG one). Bet I could get volunteers to crew it without too much hassle!