04.30.07
7 More things….
I’m not going to tag any one – it’s getting so hard to find people that haven’t had a go with this one! But Mary-Beth tagged me so I thought I’d play nice! If you haven’t come across her blog before – go and have a look. She makes some beautiful cards.
- I can be very stubborn – although I prefer to think of it as *Determined*
- I failed every paper but one in my first year of uni. Mainly because I was doing papers not of my real choice in order to mark time as the uni had limits on numbers in the accounting courses at the time. So in the end, I took 5 years to complete my degree. Just as well really, it was only in those last 2 years I think I started to become comfortable with who I was.
- I love – LOVE – Harry Potter books and cannot wait until the next one comes out soon.
- I have a scar across one of my fingers where I needed 6 stitches. This would be after using a teeny-tiny swiss army blade to cut through some plastic. I was impatient – and those teeny-tiny blades are still lethal!!
- I would love to never have to see winter again. OK, I do like the cosiness of being inside nice and warm – but I hate wind, rain, and most of all being cold.
- I often forget to remove my foot from my mouth when speaking.
- I can’t think of another number 7 so you can make something up!
Have you popped on over to Ali Edwards’ blog recently? She is writing about taking your life temperature. Something I should probably think about at some point….. I so have to make a list of stuff I need to get done this week. I probably have signed up for a bit much during May – but hey, what’s new??!
And seeing as today is Monday – always a hard day to begin the week with anyway! I was thinking about what was making me *happy* today. Maybe the fact that in a couple of weekends I’m heading out for a 3-day scrap camp! Oh yes! Thank you hubby!! Happy – tinged with nervousness – I only know one person attending this camp…… yikes!!
04.29.07
Exploding Box and other creations
It is my mum’s birthday next week so I thought I’d better get a move on and come up with something. After a bit of thinking, I decided on an Exploding Box. Now that sounds like fun does it not? A friend had made one for her mother for christmas. She left that one blank to allow her mum to put in pics of all of her grandkids. I was tempted to do that as well, but as my mum doesn’t see the boys so much, I thoght I’d leave just a few places to add the rest of the clan.
There are quite a few instructions out and about, but I used the ones on Anso’s blog. They are very clear and easy to follow and I can highly recommend this as a project as a gift to anyone.
I went along to a 12 hour crop yesterday. Not for the whole 12 hours – I thought I’d better be kind to hubby and the Mr’s and hang around for a bit! I did however get there for a good 4-5 hours at the end. A nice bunch of ladies – and some amazing work there. My box was the main project I had in mind to do there – and I’m glad I had a lot of time. It got started from scratch and completed pretty quickly.
I also had time to complete the SE April BOM challenge. There were several prompts, but I decided to scrap my quirks. I had it all done before I packed up – with the exception of the last quirk – I couldn’t remember what I’d said! Well, that’s been sorted out and added to the page now, but the pic is before that.
I’ve used Romani pp and Bazzil CS, Pebbles Inc stamps and MM paint plus Doodlebug paper frills. I quite like how it came out – although it isn’t quite the way my head pictured it would look. It’s quite bright isn’t it?!
Another thing I’ve taken to doing lately is trying to expand on the story of the page. Sometimes when I’ve finished a page, I’m looking at it and thinking, OK so why did that story seem important, or what extra detail happened that I think I want to tell. This page is an example. I’m pleased with it, it tells a little bit about me – but if someone is looking at it in a few years from now, I’m sure they’ll be thinking – “What the….”
So, I’ve started writing on the back of the page as well. Sometimes it’s a case of what happened next, or just an extra detail or two that I didn’t have room for on the front. But for this page, I felt I needed to explain how this page came to life. So, I noted that the quirks came from a blog tag, and that in turn was formed into a challenge for the BOM prompts. Extra details. Extra names.
I wonder if a generation or two from now, they’ll even have any idea of the time we spent on blogs and forums. Will they be terms that are still used?
PS – someone at the crop said to me last night, “I really like your style”. That stopped my brain in its tracks for a bit. I didn’t even know I had a style!
I’ll take the compliment anyways!!
04.27.07
Owwww!
That was me you heard this morning. I got jabbed. Last year I didn’t get the flu jab…. from memory there was a bit of a shortage and then it seemed too late to think about it. Then I got pnuemonia AND Glandular Fever within the space of a month.
Niiiiiice.
Not!
I am so not making that mistake again this year…. so off I went to see my nurse. I hate needles….. they hurt! 
But hopefully I will not get sick this year.
04.26.07
A birthday sketch
Di’s sketch this week provided some inspiration for a friend’s birthday next week. Actually, I like the linear, simple lines of this week’s sketch, I can see quite a few cards *different but inspired by*
I also used felt, which is great because it means I’ve managed to complete a DCM dare as well. I like 2 birds.
04.25.07
Remembering ANZACs
Originally uploaded by Miss Sonia.
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae (1872-1918)
I remember studying this poem when in school – I’m sure we all have. I got to see it in the Flanders museum in Ypres while I was in Belgium. Sadly, as I was part of a British Womens Group tour, I did not get to stay for the 8pm playing of the last post at the Menin Gate, nor did we ever make it back there for ANZAC day. I will remember however, thanks to the amazing museum there, the stories of the people living in the area, the soldiers who fell. I will also remember how amzing this little town is…. having nearly destroyed it, the British took it upon themselves to fix it back up with every brick being put back exactly how it had been.
The other thing I will remember from my visit is finding the NZ names on the gate. And the wreathes and the poppies that had been laid there for a recent service. A very moving place – one I am very glad to have gotten to, and to really let the realities of what happened there hit home.
Lest we forget.
Thanks to MissSonia who originally loaded this photo to flickr
04.24.07
Randomness
Karen just tagged me….. so here goes….
Start with seven random facts/habits about yourself. At the end of your post, choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. People who are tagged need to write their own blogpost about their seven things, as well as these rules.
- I have not been drunk since I was pregnant with Mr 5…. those who know me in RL know I have had my moments……*ahem*…. but the thought of dealing with children under the influence of a hangover…. No better way to be self limiting!
- I am a recovering shoe-addict. I still go ga-ga over the cutest shoes….. and I still like to have some cool/unusual ones in my wardrobe……. but I try to be *good* these days
- I am the eldest daughter/grandaughter/cousin on both sides of my family.
- I would like to be a better friend to my friends….. especially the far-flung ones. I am hopeless at consistant letter writing….. you’ll get a seven page missive from me once in a blue moon.
- I am actually quite shy. No really, I am. I am good at faking confidence until I feel it. I am also as insecure as an insecure thing. Truly.
- I so do not do housework well.
- I’m a tea drinker at home or at a friend’s place, but a coffee drinker at a cafe.
Okay ….Looking around for people to choose….forgive me if you have already done this….maybe just link to the one you’ve done – or tell us more about you! Keryn, Donna, Debbie, Julie, Christi, Michelle, Megan
And to my blog pal Hannah – I haven’t forgotten about your tag from Ages ago….. I just haven’t managed to get a pic to go with the *real* moment yet!
04.23.07
Someone kidded this kidder….
I just got conned. And it’s a bummer because it’s not even April 1 and I STILL managed to get caught out. Still, it was a goody until someone with less tired eyes than my own spotted the clear hints that this was not for real.
What am I talking about….. Mr Grendel’s announcement that McD’s is going into the scrapbooking business. Check it out here. Just be kind in the ways you tell me I’m a dork!
Ya got me good Grendel!!
Do we want fries or Tombow with that?
Great minds at a pot luck
Just had to laugh….. turned up last night to our dinner. To find another girlfriend had also decided on pavlova for dessert.
But it was a double dip pot luck….we’d both brought jelly for the kids as well!!
We agreed not to compare the pavs and to leave it at “Great minds thinking alike” ….ie we don’t go down the *fools* part. 
04.22.07
Revelling in the peacefulness….
I am soooo making the most of it. 45 minutes or thereabouts. DH and MR 5 have headed off for an errand DH wanted to get done, Mr 3 is in bed sleeping. Finally. He’s actually at that point where some days he probably doesn’t need that afternoon sleep anymore. Today, mummy needs him to. [Mr 5 was unkind and woke mummy up at 5.30.....as a result, mummy often pays this back with grumpiness. ] So after playing quietly in bed for 30 or 40 minutes, I poked my head around the door and asked him to actually go to sleep. He DID!! I have that 45 minute break to myself. No TV, no radio…..silence. Magic.
We are heading up the coast in a couple of hours for a pot luck dinner. A catch up with a group of friends. Some days I feel a little selfish that I so readily accept the invitations up their way. But I tell you – it is just easier. They have a wonderfully laid out home for a large number of friends and the offspring to come together. The offspring from us all at the moment seem to be in 3 distinct age groups so every child seems to find at least one or two others to play with. I know we all love it when there is an invitation to a BBQ or Pot luck on the coast. I’m so grateful that she has probably been the glue to this particular grouping of friends over the years. And that they genuinely welcome us all up to their place so frequently. Thank you my friend.
My offering for tonight is a breadmaker loaf of bread. I love my breadmaker! And dessert. I decided on a Pavlova. I haven’t had pav for a while. I can’t claim to be the best ever pav-maker, but I do try. And to be honest, is it really possible to make a bad pav? Oh, I know, there are people who make awesomely fantastic pavs. But bad ones? Even ones that crumble to pieces as you move them from the oven rack to the plate….. whipped cream and a bit of fruit ….sorted. So no, I don’t think you can make bad pav. This particular one looked quite good going in. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. I need to do some CJ pages on my favourite recipe…. hmmm…. pav could very possibly count.
And on a productive note, I completed the 1st assignment for my second paper over the weekend…. and uploaded it. 2 for 2 so far. All good. Even better the Crusaders beat the Hurricanes. Truly, I was sorry that I got to gloat to DH all weekend so far. That might be the only success I had though on the Virtual Super 14 …not sure my picks were any good this week. By some miracle, I’ve been leading our scrapping-rugby group since the start of the season. While I’ve certainly enjoyed the ride, I think there’s a few a bit close now and I may have slipped. Will need to check that out on Monday.
04.20.07
Done and dusted
Originally uploaded by ScrappyDo.
Yep – I’m ahead of myself on this round’s CJ . Waiting for Monday so the courier can come and do their part.
I’ve also completed my 1st assignment for this year. It has been a bit of a struggle to get it done. Not actually because it was that difficult. More my lack of discipline. Always something else to do that seems more interesting, or seems to need to be attended to first. Yes, I am nothing if not the queen of procrastination!!
Normally I upload them via the student website. But this time I was confounded by the fact that part of it required me to fill out a form. The form I had electronically does not let me type in my answers. So, yikes! Back to handwriting the answers for that part and traditional snail mail for the lot. Luckily, the Open Poly is not that far from me so I might actually walk it in myself. Maybe.
Now, to tackle the first assignment for the other paper. Oh, actually the washing should probably be hung out…………..
