So in my inbox this morning I got Darlene’s last newsletter.. and it struck a chord with me… So I am taking up her challenge (I know RIGHT as if I need another one!!)
Here’s a snippet of what she says..
“Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to bring a little gift of thanksgiving to our husbands!
If you’d like to join me, we’ll start tomorrow November 11th, and we’ll finish on November 25th. I have created a challenge for each day–nothing too big, just small ways to say, “You’re important to me, and I’m thankful for you!” “
OK well in Australia we don’t do “Thanks giving” but I believe that when we are thankful for something or someone we should acknowledge that! So I am putting my hand up for Darlene’s challenge then I looked at the date “EEKK! THAT’s today!” so I quickly sent my beloved a text and asked him “Out of all the meals I’ve ever cooked you what is your favorite?” I knew without a doubt there would be one of at least two possible choices.. Meatloaf or Lasagna (both of which the whole family loves) So his text came back pretty quickly saying “Geeze hun, hard choice but probably meatloaf!” I know my bloke pretty well! So I’m off on a shopping trip to pick up a few requirements to make meatloaf and It’ll have to be made early because I have an art date with my Cousin.. but anyways let me show you what goodies Darlene has coming up for the “15 Days of thanksgiving”
While I am at the shops I’ll get him a gift for tomorrow as well.. Breakfast in bed will be a challenge.. A- he doesn’t do coffee or breakfast in bed and B- its a work morning so he’ll be gone before I am a awake and C- his version of breakfast is a bowl of yogurt… Ok, So Maybe I’ll get up and make his yogurt but not in bed!
# 11 Will be equally as hard since he doesn’t watch TV unless it’s sport and Sport season is over.. maybe I’ll dig out a movie!
and I am really excited for #8 because there is one thing he does exceptionally well and that is kiss… he curls my toes!
Long before I started my walk with the Lord, I knew “Someone” had sent me my Bloke for no other reason than he was so polar opposite from me, and normally we just wouldn’t work, but work we did and I thought maybe it was my Dad looking down from above guiding things, NOPE, now I know it was God because I had lessons to learn that only THIS Bloke could teach me.. things like “practicing discardia” and “never go to sleep angry” Oh how I have hated to lean that one… the other one of mine he’s “fixed” is the silent treatment.. we talk about it now. But most importantly the lesson this Bloke has taught me was “How and Why to be a good wife” and I work on that daily.
Being a Virtuous woman and my favorite “a wife of integrity” are my goals short and long-term!
So if you are interested to find out more about Darlene and her Challenge and her books and just about her thoughts in general pop over and say HI.. http://timewarpwife.com/
I often include different journal prompts on Weightless because I think it’s key to continually maintain a dialogue with ourselves. It’s part of building a healthy relationship, or rather a friendship, with yourself.
As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Friendship with oneself is all important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.”
Here are 30 prompts, questions and ideas to explore in your journal to get to know yourself better.
My favorite way to spend the day is…
If I could talk to my teenage self, the one thing I would say is…
The two moments I’ll never forget in my life are… Describe them in great detail, and what makes them so unforgettable.
Make a list of 30 things that make you smile.
“Write about a moment experienced through your body. Making love, making breakfast, going to a party, having a fight, an experience you’ve had or you imagine for your character. Leave out thought and emotion, and let all information be conveyed through the body and senses.” (A prompt fromBarbara Abercrombie ’s creative book Kicking In The Wall: A Year of Writing Exercises, Prompts and Quotes To Help You Break Through Your Blocks And Reach Your Writing Goals. )
The words I’d like to live by are…
I couldn’t imagine living without…
When I’m in pain — physical or emotional — the kindest thing I can do for myself is…
Make a list of the people in your life who genuinely support you, and who you can genuinely trust. (Then make time to hang out with them.)
What does unconditional love look like for you?
What would you do if you loved yourself unconditionally? How can you act on these things whether you do or don’t?
Name a compassionate way you’ve supported a friend recently. Then write down how you can do the same for yourself.
What do you love about life?
What always brings tears to your eyes? (As Paulo Coelho has said, “Tears are words that need to be written.”)
“Write about a time when work felt real to you, necessary and satisfying. Paid or unpaid, professional or domestic, physical or mental.” (Also a prompt from Abercrombie’s Kicking in the Wall .)
Write about your first love — whether a person, place or thing.
Using 10 words, describe yourself.
What’s surprised you the most about your life or life in general?
What can you learn from your biggest mistakes?
I feel most energized when…
“Write a list of questions to which you urgently need answers.” (This is probably my favorite prompt from Abercrombie’s book.)
Make a list of everything that inspires you — from books to websites to quotes to people to paintings to stores to the stars.
What’s one topic you need to learn more about to help you live a more fulfilling life? (Then learn about it.)
I feel happiest in my skin when…
Make a list of everything you’d like to say no to.
Make a list of everything you’d like to say yes to.
Write the words you need to hear.
Journaling helps us figure out who we are, what we need and what we want. It can help us make better decisions, and focus on the very things that support us in taking compassionate care of ourselves and others.
What are your favorite journaling prompts? What are your favorite ways to check in with yourself, to get to know yourself better, to get inspired?
Monday: Mosaic Monday – make a photomasiac to show and write about
Tuesday: Talkative Tuesday – tell us about yourself
Wednesday: Wordless Wednesday – post a photo and no words
Thursday: Thankful Thursday – write about what you are thankful/grateful for, Throwback Thursday
Friday: Friends on Friday – write about another creative you admire, Flashback Friday
Saturday: Some/Six/Seven Thoughts on Saturday
Sunday: Sunday Snippets (started by {tinniegirl}) – My week in photos… A collection of photos from your week. No need for words. Let the pictures tell your story
Thankful Thursday.
I am thankful for being able to assist in my Mother-in-law’s placement in Willowbrae nursing home yesterday. This day has been coming, no one wanted to face it, no one wanted to make the hard calls to say “It has to be done!” recently a few weeks ago she forgot to drink and got dehydrated and fell. Home help and the visiting nurses said “it’s time!”
My beloved is very close to his Mum it’s a beautiful thing to see, I only hope and pray my Star Son and I will be as close when I am old. Over the last few days my sister-in-law who is the hands on person dealing with her Mum would call my Bloke and say “Mum’s bucking it!” and that would be his signal to call her and chat about whats going on. My Sister-in-law has been amazing and strong but even she started to wear down towards the end. So when we all gathered last Sunday to start to pack for her impending move to the “Retirement home” because Mother-in-law had ever so proudly pointed out “I am NOT going to a nursing home I do not need to go to one of those!” She likes to remind us all about a few years ago when we took her on one of our “date days” my husband and I used to have them monthly and this one time we couldn’t get a baby sitter for Star son so we were taking him, we asked him “Wanna take Tanny (Mother-in-law) as a double date?” our son was maybe 9 or 10 years old, and he said “Yes!! lets take Tanny” and so we arrived at “The Icehouse” with a small child and an elderly lady who skated every Saturday in her youth and was where she met her Sweetheart Jock. But that was a loooong time ago. So I was really nervous, what if she fell? what if she had a broken hip? how would she live on her own? So as my Bloke laced her into the ice-skates I felt nervous and almost throwing up sick. I held my breath as My Bloke lead her onto the Ice and warned her “Be careful Mum no fancy moves!” he held her hand for a few laps and then he let her go and within seconds she was skating backwards and giggling “See I can still skate!” she crowed.. it was a great day!! I never let go on the rail the whole time and Star Son looked like the little penguin from “Happy Feet” it was a really fun afternoon and she was so excited all the way home to tell all her friends that at 84 or however old she was she could still skate! I went to that “Date day” with a crappy attitude that “Our Date day” was crashed and ruined by a kid and my Mother-in-law but as we got home I realized that it was a fun day and that I need to be less judgmental! My Mother-in-law talked about the “date day” for ages and so gradually we started asking Star Son and Tanny on more date days, then when Star Son didn’t want to come it was us three, we went to the Art Gallery to she the “Claude Monet” and we took her on Christmas picnics with our Red Hat Society Group!
Tanny can remember all of those things.. she can tell you word for word everything that happened that day at the Ice Rink, but she can’t tell you what she ate for breakfast or how to cook fish for dinner. That is the nature of dementia, long-term is great but yesterday is a fog.
Saturday we went armed with suitcases and sorted her clothes, packed them, and her shoes and various photos and a piece of art she painted and loves, some we took away but one suitcase we left there half packed to be finished Wednesday morning when we came to collect her, we had to be at the “Retirement home” between 10 and 10;30am so that she would be settled in by lunch time the powers that be believe that is the right way to do things. So since it was my baby sitting morning we had to take Squishy with us, which I really think was a blessing because she had something else to focus on!
Monday I got a phone call from Sister-in-law saying “Mum’s bucking it, can Rob call and talk to her” So I called him at work and told him “call your Mum she’s not wanting to go” he’s so good and patient and he was on the phone a good half hour with her chatting to her and finally he hung up and said “See you Wednesday Mum at 9;00 am”
So Wednesday, none of us had much sleep on Tuesday night, Rob and I are still sick and trying to get better… his really I think was to do with the stress of this whole situation. My Sister-in-law was sleepless worrying about it all. I know my Bloke hates the thought of “locking her up” but I keep reminding him, here she is safe, someone is making her eat, someone is watching her drink, if she falls she has immediate help. I guess I didn’t have the emotional tie to the situation.
After my first divorce, and the way it tore up the relationship with that Mother-in-law I said “I’ll never let anyone that close to me again!” The first Mother-in-law had been closer to me than my own mother. I had been calling THAT Mother-in-law Mum since I was 18 yrs old and when I split from her Son, she turned on me. I was more upset at loosing her and my father-in-law than loosing my ex husband. in the end we made a truce and spoke plainly to each other, she didn’t want to lose her Grandchildren and I didn’t want them to lose her! so we made friends again, So much so that when I had star son with The Bloke she became his Grandma too. I always felt like the “intruder” in the Bloke’s family, I can understand that of course, Tanny had watched me come into Rob’s like with three small children and then have another one quickly she obviously thought I was a “gold digger” and so it took her until she started getting dementia to like me. But like I said I didn’t care because I wasn’t letting anyone else get close to me. I was over “Mothers”
Suddenly “Date days” and lunches and little outings she must have figured out somewhere along the way maybe I wasn’t too bad. I don’t know or care, because suddenly we were closer and it was lovely. I think the thing that really made a difference was when Rob and I were to become Grand Parents and maybe it brought me a new level of connection with Tanny. We take the babies over to visit her so she can cuddle them and she often says to me with a chuckle “Stop smiling Kim, they are ONLY babies” but they are MY Grandbabies. So we used that weapon yesterday 10.5 month old Chase was our buffer..
When we got there she was asking “Did I know you were coming this morning?” Rob said “Yes Mums we are taking you to the retirement home today” and suddenly the room got heavy, she sits up straight and said “I’m not going!” and Rob said “Yes Mum we talked about this” and she said “Well I know we did but now I’m telling you I am NOT GOING” Uh oh.. this was not going to be so easy, and I was scared to look at Rob to see what he would do next, I made myself busy fussing over Chase. In a space of 5 minutes my beloved had convinced his frail Mother why she had to go and why we were doing to take her and how her chair and clothes and things were already there waiting for her. The Spark went out of her and she was suddenly like a little girl “What about my dog? What about the house? did you tell Mrs so so?” Rob asked about the Blue Suitcase that was half packed in the hallway the other day? Now unpacked and put away in the spare room, she as he raced around repacking that I suggested we go over and visit her neighbor to say Goodbye. I must confess that I have never been so glad to have anyone in the car and ready to go.
When we got there, Sister-in-law and brother-in-law were there waiting, and she was surprised to see them there. We went to her room and unpacked her suitcase and set her room up with her familiar things, the walls are already full of photos of husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But then it was time to leave her and walk away. Even I felt a bit teary at that even though logically we all know it’s for her best and she’s safe etc etc it’s a hard thing to do. My bloke drove home fighting tears, his hand shook, he had left his “Mums locked up!” I tried to say to him “Dont look at it like she’s locked up it’s not a prison” but she’s always been so independent, It is locking her up.
When Star Son got home from school we went back for a quick visit. I cut all the first roses of the season from my Garden to take to her, the smell in the car was beautiful. we took the flowers to her room, she wasn’t there and so we wandered back to the dining room to see if we could find her. There she sat in the middle of a group of four ladies, happily eating her dessert. She looked up and saw Star Son and squealed, she couldn’t get out of her chair fast enough to hug him, telling her new-found friends “Ohh! this is my precious family” it was about then that my eyes filled with tears. I hugged her and suggested we wait in the living room while she finished her dinner.. after all we wanted her to eat more so let her get on with it.
She came and found us and sat with her boy, my bloke, my big tough bloke, cried like a baby! as she tried to convince him that he had done the right thing bringing her there, she would be fine she tells him, “When I am settled in.” and then she suggested we go and look at her room, We had been there hours earlier.. “Have you seen how I have my own sitting room?” she asked us.
I hope she slept well and didn’t miss her “Nicky Noodle Nut” too much!
Monday: Mosaic Monday – make a photomasiac to show and write about
Tuesday: Talkative Tuesday – tell us about yourself
Wednesday: Wordless Wednesday – post a photo and no words
Thursday: Thankful Thursday – write about what you are thankful/grateful for, Throwback Thursday
Friday: Friends on Friday – write about another creative you admire, Flashback Friday
Saturday: Some/Six/Seven Thoughts on Saturday
Sunday: Sunday Snippets (started by {tinniegirl}) – My week in photos… A collection of photos from your week. No need for words. Let the pictures tell your story
Wednesday: Wordless Wednesday – post a photo and no words
Monday: Mosaic Monday – make a photomasiac to show and write about
Tuesday: Talkative Tuesday – tell us about yourself
Wednesday: Wordless Wednesday – post a photo and no words
Thursday: Thankful Thursday – write about what you are thankful/grateful for, Throwback Thursday
Friday: Friends on Friday – write about another creative you admire, Flashback Friday
Saturday: Some/Six/Seven Thoughts on Saturday
Sunday: Sunday Snippets (started by {tinniegirl}) – My week in photos… A collection of photos from your week. No need for words. Let the pictures tell your story
Oh Look it’s talkative Tuesday… again!
Well last night I told you all about the healthy Salad challenge that is coming up, but today I was all about comfort foods. Still not feeling 100% but getting better.. so for breakfast I did the porridge thing. It’s starchy carbs and so not that good for you but on the other hand the oats are slow release for blood sugar levels. Mind you I use the sachet ones that take like 90 seconds in the microwave because basically I am lazy and want it fast and its cooked in one bowl and one serving so less washing up also. So that was breakfast Mixed Berries Porridge and coffee. When I do start “The Daniel Plan” I will miss coffee the most!
Then it was lunch time and I had a sick little boy, he’s 10.5 months old he’s cutting a top tooth AND coming down with the bug that has worked itself through two households and the entire family. So he’s a bit like a koala bear clingy and whiny. Babies when they get to a certain pitch start to get annoying but I always remember they are sick and can’t help it and so my days and all revolving around sick babies. So again I reverted to “Comfort Food” I grew up on Vegemite.. I’m going to have to explain for our NON Aussie friends… let me go google!
When you start your day with VEGEMITE, you’re opening the lid on a world of possibilities.
Australians have been waking up to the uniquely delicious taste of VEGEMITE since before they could reach the toaster. So it’s easy to forget, that as well as being undeniably delicious, it’s also nutritious.
The B vitamins (thiamin B1, riboflavin B2, niacin B3 and folate) in VEGEMITE help to provide vitality and energy to help get your day started. Thiamin is essential for brain function, Riboflavin supports your nervous system, Niacin is essential for energy release and Folate helps to fight fatigue.
VEGEMITE also contains 25% of your Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of riboflavin and niacin are delivered per serve, as well as 50% of the RDI of folate.
We recommend VEGEMITE be enjoyed as part of a varied, balanced diet, and active lifestyle.
The Discovery
The VEGEMITE brand has a history spanning nearly 90 years. Its story began in 1922 when the Fred Walker Company, which would later become Kraft Food Company, hired a young chemist to develop a spread from one of the richest known natural sources in the Vitamin B group – brewer’s yeast.
After months of laboratory tests, Dr. Cyril P Callister, Australia’s leading food technologist of the 1920s and 30s, developed a tasty, spreadable paste. It was labelled ‘Pure Vegetable Extract’.
The Spread That Could
The Fred Walker Company initiated an ingenious plan; to have the Australian public officially name their spread. A national competition was launched, offering an attractive 50 pound prize pool for finalists. Unfortunately, the name of the winning contestant was not recorded, but it was Fred Walker’s daughter who chose the winning name – VEGEMITE – out of hundreds of entries. In 1923, VEGEMITE spread graced the shelves of grocers Australia wide. “Delicious on sandwiches and toast, and improving the flavours of soups, stews and gravies,” was how the spread was first described and marketed.
The reality was that Marmite, a thick, dark English spread, already dominated the Australian market and Australians were reluctant to even try Fred Walker’s locally made product. Poor sales of VEGEMITE spread resulted in its name being changed in 1928 to ‘Parwill’. Walker was determined to emulate the success of Marmite and the logic behind the re-branding strategy was simple; “If Marmite…then Parwill.”
Walker’s innovative method of marketing was, however, unsuccessful. Parwill failed to gain momentum across the country. It would take Fred Walker 14 years of perseverance and a change back to the original VEGEMITE brand for Australians to embrace what would later become an Australian icon.
The Spread That Did
In 1937, a limerick competition with substantial prizes – including Pontiac cars – was just the promotion to not only encourage entries, but also sales of VEGEMITE spread nation wide. Following the successful promotion, the VEGEMITE brand gained official product endorsement from the British Medical Association in 1939 and began advertising in the British Medical Journal. Medical professionals and baby care experts were even recommending VEGEMITE spread as a Vitamin B rich, nutritionally balanced food to their patients. By 1942, exactly twenty years after it was first developed, the VEGEMITE brand had become a staple food in every Australian home and in every Australian pantry.
During World War II the Armed Forces were buying VEGEMITE spread in bulk, due to the product’s nutritional value. Fred Walker’s company had to ration VEGEMITE spread on a per capita basis across Australia in order to meet the demand. It’s well known that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and so the reduced supply of that ubiquitous VEGEMITE flavour grew in the hearts of Australians. Once World War II had ended – coupled with the post-war migrant and baby boom – VEGEMITE spread was well and truly a part of Australia’s history – and its heart.
The Song of Australia
In 1954, a trio of bright, energetic youngsters burst into song on radio to a toe-tapping jingle named ‘Happy Little Vegemites’. Two years later, Kraft Foods developed the infectious song into a television campaign, which continued intermittently through to the late 1960s. For the next decade, Australians were informed through advertising of the nutritional benefits of VEGEMITE spread for people of all ages, and it wasn’t until the dawn of the 1980s when the original ‘Happy Little Vegemites’ commercials, re-mastered and colourised, were broadcast to an entire new generation of Australians who were offered the chance to revel in the VEGEMITE brand’s nostalgia – and have a rose placed in every cheek thanks to what has become Australia’s second, unofficial national anthem. This commercial was brought out again in 2010 to remind Australians of their love for the iconic brand.
The Spread We Love
There aren’t many products or brands that have been embraced in the same style, or with the same amount of love, as the VEGEMITE brand has been. And there are certainly not many that continue to. The world may be forever evolving but one thing that remains the same is VEGEMITE spread’s relatively unchanged recipe. It’s loved by children, teenagers and adults. It’s still consumed by our troops overseas. It’s carried in the suitcases and backpacks of Australian travellers, as a small reminder, and a small taste, of home.
There’s a reason over 22 million jars of VEGEMITE spread are sold every year and it’s because there’s no other concentrated spread out there so full of Vitamin B and nutrients, so pleasing to the palate and so intrinsically linked with Australia’s past and future as the VEGEMITE brand is.
VEGEMITE spread can be enjoyed in many ways – and is not just limited to toast and crackers. Visit our recipe section to see the varied and versatile ways you can incorporate VEGEMITE spread into your diet.
So back to lunch.. feel like crap, look even worse and so what do I reach for? The old standard.. Vegemite sandwiches.. I was thinking how unhealthy I would be but then I realized I am using “real butter” so that’s not too unhealthy, you only need a thin scraping. I put it on Soy,Linseed bread, which again is one of the better breads for you..less processed blah blah…its hat I did next that starts to be unhealthy… I added Grated cheese, full cream 100% fatty tasty cheese.. the amount I ate was minimal but…hmm…it gets worse.. I spotted the Pringles tin sitting there and my son had left broken pringles.. yep, you guessed it I ut them on too… don’t believe me? Well I took pics!!
So that was my comfort food.. and it was amazing and yummy. So to continue the theme of “Comfort” I took Chase and we had an afternoon nap.. snuggled up nice and warm under the patchwork quilt and THEN… I made more comfort food for dinner…
SPAGHETTI!! its famous in my house. I had to go out tonight for an art demo for a product called “Gelatos”
Gelatos®
Nothing on the market today compares with Design Memory Craft Gelatos®. Compact acid-free pigment sticks glide on creamy smooth for vibrant color and coverage. All Gelatos® blend easily with or without water. Try this unique medium on paper, canvas, or wood!
So this is my little demo card that I made, using the different techniques.. I am not convinced I want any yet. I was thinking they might be good for my “Bible Journaling” Classes.. but then you blend with water and that would not be good on my bible pages.. I’m thinking about ways to use them. In the overall scheme of things they are not expensive for the range of things you can do with them, use them dry, blend them, stencil them, mix them with waters as a simmer blah blah blah.. I had a nice time.. but I was secretly thinking about the spaghetti waiting at home for me. Love the new art shop though and I will definitely be back there for rubber stamps and such, also more lessons coming up.
So that my friends was my busy day I for one am excited to be going to sleep soon!!
Monday: Mosaic Monday – make a photomasiac to show and write about
Tuesday: Talkative Tuesday – tell us about yourself
Wednesday: Wordless Wednesday – post a photo and no words
Thursday: Thankful Thursday – write about what you are thankful/grateful for, Throwback Thursday
Friday: Friends on Friday – write about another creative you admire, Flashback Friday
Saturday: Some/Six/Seven Thoughts on Saturday
Sunday: Sunday Snippets (started by {tinniegirl}) – My week in photos… A collection of photos from your week. No need for words. Let the pictures tell your story
So back a few months ago, well back further than that even.. oh alright Back to April this year, my nephew (from my first marriage) got engaged and we went to their new house and ohh’ed and ahh’ed about how beautiful everything was, Robert and Ashley had a black and white theme and it was very elegant and subtle. Then we got an invite in the mail from the other nephew.. he was getting engaged, his was September, so Cory and Emma had a nice casual engagement party at the Gisborne Golf Club I had never been there, great function place. Looks like the colour theme was purples, another great night and then… his Sister! sent out engagement invitations, her party was two weeks later. Sarah and Nick had their party at the Gisborne Golf Club, another nice party venue.
Sarah’s mother is my ex sister-in-law Lindy, you may have read older posts about my sister-in-law Lindy who tells everyone I divorced her brother NOT her! We have always gotten on well and so we see each other a fair bit and Sarah is a hairdresser so she does my hair for me. So last time she was doing my hair we talked about themes for weddings and other choices etc and she pulls out her mobile and shows me “pinterest” I am a HUGE pinterest fan, so we looked at some different ideas and Sarah had a theme… have I mentioned I like themes?! Oh give me a theme and watch my heart skip a beat and my mind goes into overdrive “Oh WE could do this..” or “oh MY gosh.. look at this!” So Sarah has chosen a “Rustic theme” hmm yes YES!! So right away I say “Oh I can make that! imagine how much money you will save” I said..
So I came home and went through my supplies (AKA Junk Room/Art Studio) and found some stuff and whipped up a few different designs for Sarah to look at and had them ready to take to Cory’s engagement party to show Sarah and Nick. They will be similar but not quite like these… I am not going to show you “our” style just yet…
But this is the general Idea… for flowers and or candles.. on each table.. So what is “Rustic?” you might ask? Here is one answer I found… http://www.heartlovealways.com/2013/01/what-is-a-rustic-wedding-a-trend-or-a-style/
“There is something about a rustic style wedding that really pulls on my sentimental heartstrings. Rustic weddings are not trendy, or even a fad, but a style, a wedding style. One that is heartwarming, sweet, diverse, creative and oh-so-much more. Just like a vintage style wedding, rustic weddings are filled with textures, natural organics (think bark and trees), patterns and other characteristic details that you will become very familiar with as you follow along with us this month. We are so excited to feature a variety of some fabulous rustic weddings including glamorous, vintage, handmade, DIY, retro, beach, shabby chic and many more.” So what are some of the fun, distinctive details that define a rustic wedding? There’s burlap, lace, twine, cowboy (and girl) boots, suspenders, checks, plaid, wool, linen, mason jars, handmade wooden signs, moss covered monograms, sweet tea, homemade food and yes, barns. I could go on and on. Just wait until you see it all! Here’s just a small glimpse of what we’ve gathered in rustic goodness and a few sneak peeks too!
So now you know what “Rustic weddings” might be like… wait till you see our take on it.. Today Sarah visited me and brought some jars, we are all collecting jars to use for various things. She also asked me if I would make her bouquet and the bridesmaids bouquets.. yay! bring it on I love a good challenge… please watch this space for more progress reports.. wedding is March 2015.. I’d better get busy!! #SarahandNicksWedding
Today I went to Highpoint ( Highpoint is a huge shopping mall) with my daughter Jasmin, she is a store manager for a retail store called “typo” http://shop.cottonon.com/typoshop/ and she’s just found out she is being transferred to a bigger store, which suits her well because she’s from McDonald’s and thrives on the busy work days. So we wanted to go scope out the place (Like some secret agents or spies!) and do a trial run and get some timing idea so she can plan her days accordingly. So today I finally hit my 10,000 step target, since I’ve been sick I haven’t hit the magical 10,00 since last Friday.
We had a list of things we had to “scope out” firstly “where to park” this place is humongous and so ordinary parking is really carefully undertaken, if you lost your car I have no idea how you would re find it.. BUT ordinary parking is just 4 hours and she will have at least 6 or more hour shifts so where do workers park? where was the closest entry to “Typo” we gave up on this mission and Jasmin will ask her new Boss before Monday. We worked out it takes 35 minutes to drive there and home. She’s ok with that as it’s about what she does now, except it’s far more traffic.
Next crucial thing on her list was “coffee” how far away from her store is the nearest coffee place and “please” she was praying “let there be a “Muffin break”” she has a loyalty card and every 5 coffee is free, so about every other day she gets a free coffee! laughs! Yes it was a Muffin Break, she’s happy!!
and finally… the bathrooms.. where, and how many? if there are only a few cubicles she will know not to wait until she is busting to go..
So by the time we walked here, there, back that way, around this corner, found some lunch and then the car and got home, my 10,00 steps were buzzing their presence. Another day well spent.
Both the boys Rob and Will were home sick today, so it was nice to escape.
Then finally..Reannon over at “she who rambles” http://shewhorambles.com/2014/10/27/a-challenge-of-sorts/ For Reannon’s challenge we will be using the #shewhoramblessalad
Has come up with a new challenge.. she is going to “eat a salad every day in November” I can join this challenge AND keep to my Daniel plan eating healthy at the same time.. So I have put my hand up for THAT challenge. November is going to be a huge month.
The first week of November the boys and I will be away camping, we leave 31st October and back 8th November. we are heading over the border into New South Wales to “Wentworth” the first night and then onto “Menindee Lakes” the second night for the rest of the time. Last year we went there camping and had the most enjoyable time.. yep we’re going back!!
So I will be doing my “Salads” from there, I hope I have internet!!
Then on the 15th November I am attending a Zentangle art class with my cousin at the http://abbotsfordconvent.com.au/whats-on/classes-workshops/zentangle-intro-class It should be fun and I am excited to learn some. I teach myself a new patterns every so often to add to some snail mail or whatever.
Monday: Mosaic Monday – make a photomasiac to show and write about
Tuesday: Talkative Tuesday – tell us about yourself
Wednesday: Wordless Wednesday – post a photo and no words
Thursday: Thankful Thursday – write about what you are thankful/grateful for, Throwback Thursday
Friday: Friends on Friday – write about another creative you admire, Flashback Friday
Saturday: Some/Six/Seven Thoughts on Saturday
Sunday: Sunday Snippets (started by {tinniegirl}) – My week in photos… A collection of photos from your week. No need for words. Let the pictures tell your story
Almost Over… Day 26 already and I am so proud of myself for keeping up every day journal-ling and blogging two challenges. I am finding all kinds of things to blog about, I think there has only been two days were I was stumped.. so I reverted to a journal prompt… whatever works I say as long as you journal/blog!
When I signed up I secretly wondered if I would keep going, life gets busy in our house, but I have made myself a little routine and I am happy with it, I am even going to do another month of blogging/journal-ling. I saw some where NaBloPoMo ( National Blog Posting Month) who knew?!
NaBloPoMo stands for “National Blog Posting Month.” The goal of NaBloPoMo is for participants to write a post a day for an entire month.
Although November is the biggest month for NaBloPoMo (with prizes and everything!) people are invited to take up the challenge of writing a post a day during any month.
To help inspire bloggers, NaBloPoMo assigns a theme for each month, and also offers daily writing prompts, but these are optional. Bloggers are not required to write on a specific month’s theme or a specific day’s writing prompt. Any post about anything at all counts.
For additional information including the rules, and how and where to sign up, please see the NaBloPoMo FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions.)
I think I will give it a go. I am enjoying my blog, and I think they offer prompts and things as well.. I guess I’d better go do some more research!! OK. so I can blog here and link to Blogher.com or I can just blog here and be done with it.. but it’s kind of fun blogging with others and I love prompts.. you don’t have to use them. Here is the latest blog prompt (They only do prompts Mon-Fri)
Friday, October 24, 2014 If babyhood is spring and young adulthood is summer, which age do you consider to be the start to the “autumn” of life?
I would consider 50 to be the start of “Autumn” I say that because in our 20’s we are busy (some of us please no take offense!) trying to find our life partners and settle down, some of us are still partying and some of us are establishing careers. In our 30’s we are usually raising one or more or a passel of children and life goes speeding past in a blink of an eye. in our 40’s, careers are settled, children are mostly grown or over the infancy at least. So sometimes (well for me anyways) by the time I got to 45, it was all good, we are happily nesting in the house we now own, our children are all grown or on the way and are settled in jobs, in their lives and suddenly we start thinking about “Me” a bit more.. coffee with the girls, art classes etc etc. I have just turned 47 yrs old, I am a Grandmother of three and still raising a 12 yrs old. For me personally I say “bring it on!” I can’t wait to be 50 and Autumnal it has always been one of my favourite seasons, the other is Spring. I feel that when I get to 50 I am grown up!
So did you read yesterday or Friday’s post? I am sick, boy am I ever.. last night during the night I decided to talk to God since I was feverish and couldn’t sleep and I remember asking him “What do I need to do to be better?” and he said (or did he?!) “You have pneumonia and you need to go to hospital” I am really sick, I have not been sleeping, and I have been really feverish, but I think also maybe I was hallucinating as well. Because by the time I woke up this morning, every part of me hurt, my ribs from coughing, my chest from the “pneumonia” and ever other thing inside and outside of me, funnily enough even my hair hurt! So I stumbled my way to the bathroom to find painkillers and water and came back to bed and my husband asked “How are you hun?” I very clearly told him ( but remember I have no voice so it’s squeaky and alternating croaky) “I thought the ambulance would have been here by now” he was like “huh?” I said “I have pneumonia and I need to go to the hospital, people die from pneumonia” he grunted at me “You wish!” and rolled over. That’s it no sympathy… I dragged myself to the shower. It took me 3 hours to feel 1/2 way decent.
I noticed yesterday in the car and then again today as we went down to help pack my mother-in-law up (she is moving into a “retirement home” because she refuses to go to a nursing home so we all call it a “retirement home”) whenI have no voice with which to sing, all the good songs come on the car radio.. so in the last two days my head has been having a great old sing along, and the rest of me has been deathly still and silent. I hate that! I love to go in the car and have singalongs with my husband and son… but with no voice it’s impossible. My daughter loves to tell everyone how she comes in and hears Mum singing Eminem’s song “Cleaning out my closet” at the top of my lungs. Two of her friends thought that made me a “Cool Mum” I think it makes me brain washed, but I like to sing, I’ll sing anything and usually badly.. except today and yesterday, no singing.. I think however, after last night hallucination I have turned a corner and I am on the mend… please let it be so!!
I really did not feel like going to my Mother-in-law’s today, I felt worse than death warmed over but I drugged myself up and off we went. In the end I am glad I forced myself to go just like I am glad I got out of the house yesterday and I forced myself to go on the picnic on Friday, I cannot wallow in self pity if I am out. Today was not about me, today was about my Mother-in-law who will soon be 87 years old, she is getting forgetful and slightly dementia riddled and so finally she has been convinced to go into “a retirement home” because she told my husband, her son, “Oh a nursing home? no way I would never go there!” So we all call it the “retirement home” and on her visit there last week she burst into song and they have all declared that they can’t wait for her to move in! Today was for my Sister-in-law who does everything for her Mum, all her banking, all her medical appointments and a gazillion other things, she is struggling with the decision and even thought we ALL know it’s the right choice she is feeling the stress. So I went and helped to pack suitcases and sort clothes and it actually helped me to feel better. On Wednesday my Bloke will take his Mum to her “retirement home” and settle her in, it’s going to be a huge step for everyone.
It’s been a weekend, it’s been busy, and it’s been yucky, the weather has been nice, but we’ve been too sick to care. On a brighter note though, I did manage to get a piece of art work finished.. Shonna is at http://twistedfigures.ning.com/ and she recently had a five week FREE course on Christian art which was so popular over 400 participants, she’s decided to make a whole community of Christian artists and do lots more of it. So today I worked on Week 2- Get Outta the boat! its based on Matthew
I am not a huge fan of abstract but I do like to be fair and give everything a try, so no paint brushes were harmed in the producing of this art piece.. it was all done with a credit card as a paint scraper! I’m pretty happy with how it turned out!! and now it’s time for more drugs and bed… hopefully I won’t wake up waiting for the ambulance in the morning!
Monday: Mosaic Monday – make a photomasiac to show and write about
Tuesday: Talkative Tuesday – tell us about yourself
Wednesday: Wordless Wednesday – post a photo and no words
Thursday: Thankful Thursday – write about what you are thankful/grateful for, Throwback Thursday
Friday: Friends on Friday – write about another creative you admire, Flashback Friday
Saturday: Some/Six/Seven Thoughts on Saturday
Sunday: Sunday Snippets (started by {tinniegirl}) – My week in photos… A collection of photos from your week. No need for words. Let the pictures tell your story
Some/Six/Seven Thoughts on Saturday.
I woke up feeling like death, I took Neurofen to even wake up and only then because my daughter had to go to work and I was on Grandma duties.
I forced myself to get out of bed and stumble down stars, but I think it was the best thing to do because otherwise I’d wallow in self-pity.
My voice is a croaking mess.. why do people insist of calling me when I can’t speak and when my voice is good, no one calls. I’m OK if I whisper.
My Bloke came home early from work yesterday (that next happens!) he was sick too.. and now my daughter Jasmin and so our house is in Quarantine
Today we went for a drive to look at some possible camp spots. we are leaving on Friday for a week and we have no destination locked in… part of me (like 3/4’s of me does not like this!!)
Tonight for some reason I got all the chores done and finished early so I wandered down to the Art Studio and got some work done…. OK So I watched week 2’s lesson from Shonna at Kingdom Come.
I then started the background.. enough done, I gave up!
Monday: Mosaic Monday – make a photomasiac to show and write about
Tuesday: Talkative Tuesday – tell us about yourself
Wednesday: Wordless Wednesday – post a photo and no words
Thursday: Thankful Thursday – write about what you are thankful/grateful for, Throwback Thursday
Friday: Friends on Friday – write about another creative you admire, Flashback Friday
Saturday: Some/Six/Seven Thoughts on Saturday
Sunday: Sunday Snippets (started by {tinniegirl}) – My week in photos… A collection of photos from your week. No need for words. Let the pictures tell your story
Children’s Week.
So Amber got a letter posted to her and it was an invitation to a day at the local Memorial Hall here in Sunbury, to celebrate “Children’s Week” and it was Sponsored by the Sunbury neighborhood house, Toy library, Local library and Goonawarra neighborhood house. And it was all free! There was an animal petting farm, it had the cutest ever miniature pigs, ducks, bantam chickens, a goat, some bunnies and a Shetland pony. So Chase and I walked down and met Amber and Scarlett and we went along, it was packed. The babies played with some maracas in the music session, Scarlett loved those and got the hang of it right away. Chase was more interested in the guitar, so the lovely lady let him have a play with it.
So the purpose of the day was to show people what sort of things are on offer within Sunbury. I think we are going to sign the babies up for the Music play group which is held on Friday mornings at the local health center and is free. So we were each given a show bag of goodies, a board book for the babies and another little book which for Chase was “Mr Happy” very appropriate. After we wandered around a while we went out to the Village green and set up a blanket and had a picnic lunch. The babies were well-behaved and we fond a nice shady spot, it was hot today I think up to 30C unusual for Spring weather.. well actually not really Melbourne’s favorite motto is “Don’t like the weather? wait 5 minutes” we got home before it got too much hotter though.
I am still feeling pretty awful, and most of my voice is gone and my chest is sore from coughing but I forced myself to go because It keeps my mind off how terrible I feel.
Scarlett Olivia- Looking like her name sake “Scarlett O’Hara” she outgrew last years summer hat, time for a new one.
http://shellsinthebush.blogspot.com.au/p/blog-page.html
Monday: Mosaic Monday – make a photomasiac to show and write about
Tuesday: Talkative Tuesday – tell us about yourself
Wednesday: Wordless Wednesday – post a photo and no words
Thursday: Thankful Thursday – write about what you are thankful/grateful for, Throwback Thursday
Friday: Friends on Friday – write about another creative you admire, Flashback Friday
Saturday: Some/Six/Seven Thoughts on Saturday
Sunday: Sunday Snippets (started by {tinniegirl}) – My week in photos… A collection of photos from your week. No need for words. Let the pictures tell your story
Thankful Thursday.
I am thankful today and every day actually for my husband. He’s the best. He works out of the house he leaves home at 6:45 am and gets home about 5:45pm.
Long days, as his wife I have taken on the responsibility of being the homemaker and peacekeeper. We had this discussion once that he would prefer me to stay at home and be on hand for the children if they need me. If we both worked chances are we would have then had to have some form of before and after school care, so I would be working to pay for that.. What was the point? His wage paid the bills and we have always been frugal with our money, we do not wear designer clothes or shoes, we do not eat out at restaurants other than the occasional birthday treat. We live sensibly, we cook old-fashioned plain and simple meals. The one thing that my Bloke does insist on is when making big purchases, he likes to research and buy the best we can afford, he’s not afraid to shop around and to haggle and he’s good at it. Also with our shopping we will not scrimp on certain items, real butter, Nescafe Coffee and Vegemite, the rest of the shopping list I am not loyal to and will buy the store brands, oh and the meat! He will only buy a certain type of steak and so we buy it in bulk and package it in the serving sizes we need, its cheaper that way, once a month we do the meat shopping and then I get creative to make it into fun meals. That’s my job, BY choice, to stay home, clean house, make his home life as simple and hassle free as possible. I am happy with that, it’s all I have ever done.
So when I get sick which thankfully is not often, I am THANKFUL for My Husband, who not only goes to work, but then will come home, baby me, cook dinner for the kids and organise the various other things that need doing.
This morning I woke up with a cough, I should have known it would come, because I had sick Amber and Scarlett here all last week looking after them, then last Friday Star Son came home from school white as a sheet, and crying saying “I think I’m going to faint” so he was sick Friday, all weekend, Monday and Tuesday I had him home from school with a racking cough, fever and vomiting, I should have known I’d get it too.
All day the cough persisted and then about 3:00pm the headache came, I had warned my Bloke “If I get a headache I’m taking Chase and going to bed” which is exactly what I did, cold chills, fever, uh oh! I’m in trouble. So I took some Neurofen and had a cat nap.
The Bloke got home unexpectedly early by 5:30pm and like a General he marched in, took over the Grand baby and the Star Son and fed me Cider. He made dinners for everyone, cleaned the kitchen, and sent me to bed. Miraculously now 5 hours later I still have the cough but I am feeling less achy.
I am thankful for my Husband. Who or what are you Thankful for on this Thursday??
Santa and his Helper
Becoming a Grandpa
Kim L Hine 