Jumping into 2011

I just realised actually that I need to download the photos that actually relate to the very start of the year – and our family camping trip. Oh well. I’ll jump ahead to the pics I have already because they were emailed to me and then go back….. who needs chronology??

So, for those of you that haven’t been in cyberland in the last 24 hours and caught up with the hilarious photos on facebook already, or Mandy’s or Sue’s blogs…. here’s my take… using the photos that Kris took because those are the ones that were sent! Actually, Kris sent pretty much all the ones she took which is great because she takes lovely photos and I now have a bunch of quite nice ones of myself to use in various ways. I had asked Kris or Sue to bring along their “magic” lenses… I think they are portrait ones or something…and they do help take lovely portraits pics of people. I’d asked for them to take some photos of me as I need one for a scrapping project I’ve started. I still hate being in front of the camera and it normally shows as I get all tense and results in pretty terrible photos. However, with the confidence in the person taking the photos and especially with their magic lenses, I thought I’d get at least one I was happy with. I got a real choice with several quite nice pics of me…. Thanks Kris!!

The reason for the pearls and being slightly glammed up is that we (a bunch of scrappy friends) were together at Carmel’s and enjoying a DIY High Tea. Great fun!!

Last year workmates gave me a lovely High Tea recipe book for my birthday and although I had read and re-read and really drooled at the pretty pics, I hadn’t had the opportunity to try anything from it.

I decided to give some macaroons a go:

They were mixed berry rather than strawberry and definitely lumpier on the top than the lovely flat ones inside the recipe book (does anything ever come out the way it looks in a book???!!)

We drank from wonderful, old-fashioned tea cups that I think Carmel said were her nana’s… each of us had a different kind.

I was able to provide my fancy tea set which I got as a 21st present and rarely sees the light of day (because to be honest, I’d never drink that amount of tea on my own!)

There were little, bitty scones with cream and jam, wonderful shaped cucumber sandwiches, homemade from scratch cream puffs, yummy salami and cheese sandwiches, some gluten-free toasties which were sooo more-ish and at least a couple of more goodies that I’m sure I’ve left out.

Once the food and the chat and the looking over December Daily albums (Sue’s, Carmel’s and Mandy’s) had been completed, Mandy wanted some advice from Sue as to how to go about setting up a successful jumping shot. Yes, I blame Mandy entirely for the fun we had for the next part of the afternoon!!!!

Sue gave us a couple of examples….

…and the madness took hold.

All in all, a great way to JUMP into 2011.

Mr 9 has just seen this and declared: “You were jumping in the air? ….Silly billy!” He’s not far wrong there!!!!!

The world keeps spinning

…and the days keep passing. I am ALWAYS amazed at how quickly time can pass. Especially when you have 101 things you want to get on and do and somehow not enough hours in the day to achieve it all. So, it’s been a busy week around here. Mostly just recovering from those exams. I’ve been surprised at how tired I’ve felt in the week to 10 days since they were done. Apparently I was running on adrenaline for a good month or so before hand and now that has all left, drained was what was left.

Instead of leaping into all the planned projects I had in mind, they’ve been started in a more piecemeal fashion. Which is OK, because I get to enjoy doing things slowly. And enjoy the fun of being in the moment a little more too.

Moments like creating stuff for Beverley who has a birthday coming up – AND a scrapping retreat in Aus. How cool is THAT??! I’ve given her the bits and pieces already, so I’m going to share here:

I know Beverley likes her birds, so I just had to use the Always birdie – and I really l like him in the Sage Shadow colour! The sentiments are Verve – I’m totally in love with their sentiments. Very much not overly mushy but still lovely. They have a release party coming up next week – and I think a little birdie may have shown me some of the new sets….. totally lovely!!

First use of Silver bells Glimmermist. Such an easy way to pop a bit of shimmer and glitz on a project. The ribbon was certainly celery – and in my mind’s eye it was not quite working with the colours. So I sponged a hint of sage shadow on it and it worked. But you know what?? Certainly celery and Sage Shadow DO work very  nicely together – check out the wintergreen paper collection in the Stampin Up catelogue!

I’d purchased a few charm squares of cupcake fabric for my gift (another of Beverley’s loves!). I had popped out to Sawmiller’s Quiltery in Upper Hutt (that is a whole other post in itself… the yummy fabric, the amazing quilts…..!) and the bag was perfect as the gift bag. So I added a few touches and there it was.

Having done a spot of crafting in order to prepare, I was looking forward to getting together with the girls at the James Cook. Sarah and I took the car in – so easy to get to as it is right off the motorway. So hard to get out from – for four hours it cost us $34!!!! Daylight robbery. Had I known that, I would have organised to take the train – or even park in a completely different place. But because we were doing the High Tea there, it made sense to park there as well. Not again!!

A sample of the High Tea – and it was delicious!!

The birthday girl – arranging the composition of her photo. This is why I’m a snapshotter rather than a photographer!!

After enjoying a good old catch up and chat and food and endless cups of tea and coffee, we walked a few of the calories off by wandering around the Kirk’s christmas shop. Birds are everywhere this year!! I bought a couple of gorgeous red, feathery fellows for my tree.

The following day was the 31st – Halloween. This isn’t something that I’ve really got into before, but after the party our neighbours had last year, the Mr’s were totally looking forward to it again this year. L wasn’t up for organising a huge bash again as she had a new baby. However, it wasn’t going to get overlooked and we did a much smaller scale thing. Pizza and beer (yum!) for dinner, a couple of mates dressing up and a spot of doorknocking. The kids loved it – and got an amazing haul. The neighbours were very generous – and some got into the spirit of it all by dressing up, or making hte kids do something.

The first time they were asked what was their trick, they were stumped. then Mr 7 decided he had the perfect trick. Ear farts.

Yes, really.

The kids all thought that was fantastic so he got to perform the trick over and over. And over again.

Is that a genetic thing? Boys and fart noises from any part of their bodies??? !

The H’s.

Trick or treat! Mr 7 was a vet, Mr 4 was a sparkly wizard. See Mr 7′s pet carrier? He managed to persuade people not only to pop items in his trick or treat bag, but also into his pet carrier for Rusty pup. Hmmmmmm.

Baby L was also dressed up in her pram as a fairy – totally cute as a three month old. I was a sparkly witch with a sparkly purple hat, and not to be left out was Angus, the pirate dog!