How Exciting!!

In following my favourite artist's blog I discovered that she is coming to Australia to teach in October...I can't believe she is coming and as long as I'm not in America visiting my daughter...then I don't care what it costs me, my friend and I are determined that we will be there for lessons.

The wonderful artist I'm talking about is Ingvilde Bolme...wow!! her work is awesome.

Had a busy couple of days in the kitchen...not my favourite place, not that I'm a bad cook, just hate the cleaning up and the time it takes to prepare things when it could be spent scrapping ah!!!

Blanching vegetables from Bob's garden yesterday for a few hours, it was nice coming home to our own vegetable's after our trip to America. Also had to cook up a couple of Mutton Birds for Bob yesterday which he had for dinner tonight...boy are they fatty birds, can't explain how much oil is in the pan when you finish, I have to boil the kettle so the water is hot enough to ensure the pan is fully free of it and the smell it leaves behind, he loves them though.

Then today, rabbits, soaked them overnight then fried them to brown them up a bit this morning before I left for the hairdresser's. Then home to put them in the slow cooker, made the sauce and all the vegies to go in it and now I'm sitting up waiting for it to finish cooking as I don't have a timer on my cooker...why didn't I think of that when I bought it? down in Hobart all day tomorrow for doctor appointments so at least dinner is already cooked ready for when we get home.

Watching the TV stories on the devastating floods in Northern Australia, really hard to comprehend just how bad they are, and so many people loosing their lives, and Brisbane our countries third largest city has been inundated with water, amazing conditions, scary to say the least.

What a lovely day!!

Had a phone call from Erin this morning, it was so nice to hear her voice and little Henry in the background, Erin had to say goodbye to Katie as she headed home yesterday and I know how sad she would be feeling, thankfully only 3 months before they come home and hopefully we will see them lots while they are here even though it is always hard when you have relatives and friends to catch up with as well, everyone wants to see you so it is hard to make sure you enjoy everyone's company without losing too much of yourself...i.e. get tooo tired to enjoy coming home. Henry will be 21 months old, not a good age to travel with but I'm sure they will work things out and hopefully have no problems on that horrible long plane trip.

Then I spoke to Katie as she sat waiting in Sydney for the plane to bring her back to Hobart, she had a good trip home despite her advanced pregnancy so that really topped off my day, I'm sure she will sleep long and hard for a couple of days but she has had a wonderful holiay with Erin.

Then I got busy...I hate house work, but isn't it funny how you always feel so satisfied when you have achieved a big job around the home. Bob and I had decided it was time to clean out underneath our stairwell as we had accumulated a number of excess bags...wonder why!! ... hmmmm...maybe because we over shop when we travel and have to buy extra bags all the time...anyway, at least they are going to a good cause, over to the St Vincent De Paul Society tomorrow, for my American friends that is the same as your 'Goodwill' stores. I was very pleased with myself at what I actually threw out, of course I still have kept things that should go, and will do in time, but small steps for a hoarder like I am...today it was a few large steps with lots of trash as a result.

So, I've cooked a nice dinner, updated my blog like I intended (unusual for me hehehe)...and now off to browse some of my favourite scrapping friends blogs..

Erin, Jarrod and Henry came into Seattle to spend the day with us as soon as we arrived and we visited the Space Needle where this pic was taken. Of course the background is courtesy of the centre's computer imaging fortunately because it was a freezing cold and bleak day.

Another trip to America come and gone

Well this latest trip seemed like the longest we'd ever done. We had 4 days in Seattle in a Hotel which was great, it allowed us time to go on the Underground Tour, seeing in a small way the way Seattle was 100 years ago, I loved it, full of history and interest. Also did the 'Duck' Tour part on road and mostly on the Harbour. What a great way to see Seattle from a totally different viewpoint, something else I would thoroughly recommend.

We had a trip on Amtrak down to Portland Oregon with the intention of seeing and feeling just a little of my Ancestry. Unfortunately without driving it was impossible to get to see the town which was actually laid out by my g-g-uncle in mid 1800's. It was still nice to just be in the area which they arrived in by covered wagon via the 'Oregon Trail' all that time ago. The Coastal area of Oregon is absolutely stunning and we really loved the scenery and I found a new 'I want to live here' place...right on the beach at 'Cannon's Beach' simply stunning.

Then back up on the train to Seattle where Erin picked us up and we got to spend Christmas with her family and also our youngest daughter Katie and her husband who arrived on the 22nd, it was wonderful to be able to do this as we don't know when we will have a Xmas all together again.

Henry of course had changed and is a healthy, cheeky and gorgeous little grandson whom we both adore and love dearly. The only problem with these trips is they just make me realise how much I miss my daughter, each departure to come home hurts more and it broke my heart to leave her this time...not sure why but it really upset me, hope this isn't a 'sign' of the year to come...why did she have to move to the other side of the world is something that is constantly in my mind now.....of course I know, she followed her heart...but!!!!!! she is so missed here.

Again poor old blog has been neglected and another determination rolling around in my mind to make sure I keep it up to date more in the future. I now have unloaded a few of my online responsibilities which in turn cuts back on my computer time therefore freeing up more time for doing more of what I really love and that is 'scrapbooking'.

And strangely enough, while I'm talking about all this cold weather we are about to head off to experience in 2 days, I am sitting here being bombarded by flying ants, they only come when it is extremely hot like today was at 33 degrees, very unusual for Tassie at this time of year...well, any time of year really. Guess we maybe get 2 or 3 days a year this hot. Tried typing with the light off but my eyes aren't what they used to be and it was too hard, so I'm flicking these bugs off me every few seconds, they are driving me crazy.

And Henry enjoying his time in the snow

About to head off again to Washington State

It's that time again, well almost, Christmas and our younger daughter katie and her husband are heading off to have Christmas with Erin so we have decided to go as well. We have had a lot of sad moments in our little town recently, losing some very nice people and are just set now to go live our lives doing whatever we want, and that includes having Christmas with both our beautiful daughters who are the pride of our lives. Having little Henry to celebrate with is an added bonus of course, and with Katie's little fellow due in March we have a lot to celebrate.

I just hope the bad weather currently happening in America, eases off a little in the next 2 days. Are seeing wonderful pictures of the snow at Erin's house and Jarrod building a big snowman on their front lawn for Henry...but I worry about having to drive in it, still looking forward to it thought.

Another fav layout

yes...been busy with layouts as well thankfully, so love getting in my new scrappy cave.

I'm

Another layout of Henry

Well, been really busy of late, up and down to our nearest large City for various reasons have left me with very little scrapping time, but still find time to do layouts of my grandson Henry...no matter how late at night it may be hehehe...like 2am sometimes aahhh!! got to get out of that habit.

Very excited right now because it is less than 2 weeks before we go back to America to visit our daughter and dear Henry.

Another layout, I'm finding I'm really getting a lot of use out of my Cricut now, using it on every layout.

WINNER !!!!...Scrap Room Name

Hi girls, thank you all so very very much for helping me have so much fun in selecting a name for my scrap room, I appreciate you taking the time and effort and in the end I had a list of 6 that I really liked...but...as my husband draws the line at only 1 sign hanging on the wall hehehe...I had to decide and the winner is;
Heather Landry - Scrappy Cave...reason is...it really is like a cave with my little opening in the front being the window to the outside world, I go inside and shut my door and hate leaving there.

So congratulations Heather, I'll have to grab your address so I can send a little treat to you...again..many thanks to everyone...

YAY!!! I've moved in...

Took a few days, can't believe how much stuff I found that I'd forgotten about, very happy with the design it worked really well with fitting stuff in, only problem is I could have done with a couple more shelves for punches....especially as I intend stockpiling a few more when I go to the States again in December...oh well, I'm sure I'll come up with something.

Been busy trying to decide on a name....soooo many great ones to choose from. I want to thank everyone that has joined in the fun and given me so many great ideas I am really having difficulty coming up with a favourite as I have many...possibility of combining some of your choices at this stage...made a list and going to go sit down and work through it and if need me I'll give a couple of treat to you fabulous girls who have been so great.

A couple of pics for those that don't log in to Scrapbook.com to see them, and I will decide on a name in next 2 days and and post a winner/s...tks so much.

Thanks for all the great name suggestions

Wow ladies, you blow me away with all these wonderful suggestions, things I would never have thought of, makes me so glad I thought to have a bit of fun with this, hoping I get even more then I'll make a short list in around a week, but it isn't going to be easy.

I am not getting any chance to scrap at the moment, my scrap room is pretty much finished apart from my drawers for under my work bench, and they have to wait until the builder comes back from holidays in a months time. Unfortunately without them I may have a bit of mess on my bench top....strange that...to have a messy work area...do we do that...no, none of us hehehe...

I am getting so excited and can't wait to move in. In cleaning up my area upstairs I am finding all sorts of things I had forgotten I had, but boy oh boy is it taking me forever, Bob said tonight that I had better get a move on, tomorrow will be my last chance because on Saturday and Sunday we will be cleaning out the garage which has been a workshop for a month and has inches of sawdust everywhere. I also have to wipe out all my shelving, clean windows, vacuum, before I go anywhere near putting my stuff in the new room...its exciting but hard work for just a little bit.

Scrap Room Name...

yay!! loving the options given me so far...keep them coming in girls, hubby has put so much time and effort not to mention the cost...into doing this for me..so he can have his room back hehehe...that I want to do justice to it. Ongoing pics can be seen on SB.C photo gallery, but I will post one on here tonight with my bench tops on....I'm staying out of the way at the moment....bit of cursing going on down there so I got out lol.. and of course my Bob the Builder and Bob my husband are heading off to golf at lunch time, were going to work on it all day...but anyone who knows a golfer, knows that all plans can be changed at a moments notice when the 'golf' word is mentioned. Looks like I have a few days to wait still.

Help....me name my Scrap Room

Yes...I want something original, short enough to be able to create a sign for my door, any suggestions appreciated....I will send a little treat to anyone that picks one that I like....remember, for those who know me...that I love pretty!! got to have a name I can use flowers, ribbon and bling with.

Hopefully I'll see some names popping up in my comments section of this post this week.

What a great weekend

Beautiful warm day today, lovely walk along the beach and Murphy even had a swim.
This follows a great win by my fav team that was in the Grand Final of the Australian Football League, not my team, but it was my dad's and I've always had a soft spot for them, an awesome team.
Dinner with friends last night at a lovely little seafood restaurant, only thing I haven't managed to do all weekend is scrap....maybe a late night tonight to fit some in. Think I'm a bit thrown by all the tidying up of my scrap supplies I'm trying hard to cut back on before the move into my scrap room, which will hopefully be this week...think, I'm starting to get a little excited about it.

New Scraproom

Well, I've never had one so I guess I should say...I now have a Scrap Room in progress.
Totally tailor made to fit my papers/cricut cartridges/stamps/ punches/albums/magazines and load of cupboard space for all those things you need to tuck out of the way.

Can't wait for it to be finished but because of all the measuring involved due to the above detailing...it is taking longer than initially expected. Then...clean up the mess, we've had some really awful weather here, way to cold/windy/rainy to do all the cutting outside so my garage has temporarily taken on the look of a joinery workshop with tons of sawdust and general dust.

Once it is nearly finished and the bench tops are on...peacock blue benches.... I'm going to give a RAK for the 'name my scrap room' idea. So stay tuned.

Have another thing to share that gives me much joy...but, sorry, got to wait another week before revealing that one.

How cool is the pic!!

Bob and Henry in Walmart a few weeks ago

Monday 23rd August

Well I took my sister and her husband to the airport this morning, very sad time, I really miss her when she goes home, we've had a lovely time together celebrating mine and Bob's 60th birthday's....it's hard when your daughter and your sister live so far away but at least I get to visit them.
On a brighter note we had a glorious day here today until mid afternoon when that dreaded chill comes down, can't complain though as this has been one of the best winters I can remember.

Even brighter note.....the builder came today to measure up for my scrap room, building begins next week...think Bob will be glad to get all my mess downstairs.

This is one cute little grandson

Taken on our last day with Erin and her family in July 2010 ..... going to really miss this little guy and can't wait until we can see them all again in December.

My poor old blog has been neglected, now having a bit of trouble with it and hoping I don't have to redo it.

In June I was fortunate enough to go to America for my grandson Henry's 1st birthday, also met up with a lot of my online friends in Las Vegas.