Get Real Post

Have scrapbooked another layout. I am still being totally inspired by this awesome scrapbooker, and this layout is pretty much a scraplift, although in saying that, it is also very much my style and I have done layouts a little similar in the past. Probaby why Pipp's work appeals to me so much.This week Lusi has issued us another "Get Real" Challenge.

So I guess my challenge to myself and to you too is to document your life as it is right now. Room by room. Memory by memory. I'm starting with the place that I am most often in and just basically went around the kitchen and took photos of things that mean something to me or that I might want to remember in years to come. But I want to emphasise that this is not an exercise in what the room 'looks' like as much as it is what kind of feelings and memories that we associate with the things in that room.

Ok looking around my kitchen I found these few things I wanted to share with you.

Really these canisters hold pride of place on top of my kitchen cupboards. They are over 100 years old and they belonged to my great great grandmother. My grandmother also had a set which she inherited from her grandmother and which my mum has now inherited. They were very special and precious to my grandmother, and she always had them on display in her kitchen. I felt very priviledged when she gave me my set, and although I didn't know my great great grandmother, these canisters hold special memories to me of my grandma and the many many happy times I spent in her kitchen with her.
Really this is one of my mixing bowls. It is over 30 years old, and it is used almost daily. It was given to me by a dear lady at my kitchen tea before I was married. It is a set of two, and the dear lady that gave it too me, wasn't particularly well off, and this gift was a sacrifice of love on her part and is one of the reasons why I shall cherish it. Each time I use it I remember her and her sacrifical giving. How blessed I was.
Really this is relatively new in my kitchen. It is a gift my husband bought me just a couple of weeks ago, and already it has become a firm favourite as it allows me to prepare nourishing and nutriential meals for my family especially on those days when I am out for some length of time. It also has a timer which allows me to set the time it needs to cook, and once the meal is cooked, it turns off and goes into keep warm mode.
Really this jug is boiled constantly throughout the day, This is one of Steve's acts of service, he usually makes me a cuppa each afternoon and ever night and we have this little routine of spending time and enjoying a cuppa together. Not only is it used for us but there is hardly a day that goes by that it is not boiled to make a cuppa for someone who walks through our front door. It is now getting old and marked, but we have well and truely got our money's worth out of it. Really this is the shelf that holds the assortment of hot drinks on offer when visitors stop my. I am known for my awesome Mocha's and hot chocolates and this is often a favourite amongst those dropping in. They are also little treats for us on a cold winter's night.
Really, these are some of my favourite recipe books and I often refer to them when preparing meals. Several are recipes from close friends, which I have bound into book form. Love preparing meals that have been tried and tested and handed on through friends. Lots of happy memories are associated when making some of these recipes, and usually find that I tend to use tried and tested recipes in preference to those just out of a recipe book.
Really this is one of the prayer cards on our fridge. This family is very precious to us, they are actually family to us, and having their photo on our fridge helps us to remember to pray for them daily. They are missionaries serving the Lord in PNG.

Really we have several fridge magnets with verses of scripture on. These are great reminders to us of God's faithfulness and also a great way for us to constantly hide God's word in our hearts.

Really, I love seeing home made baking on the cooling racks in my kitchen. These were a quick batch of cupcakes I made this afternoon, as we were having friends dropping in for afternoon tea, and I also wanted to bake some to take out with me for morning tea tomorrow when I am meeting up with a few girls to scrapbook and make some cards.

My last Really would have to be a photo of my cupcake stand. This is just a girlie treat, that I shouted myself last year, but I really love this cupcake stand and I love to fill it with homemade cupcakes made from the very special "Nat Marden" Cupcake recipe.

Just some other photos of our day. Just wanted to share the finished cupcakes on my special stand. I made over three dozen of these this afternoon and only have 18 left. The girls loved them - I have t say a HUGE thanks to Nat for sharing her recipe, it is by far the easiest cupcake recipe I have ever made and I would also have to say that it is almost fool proof, which is pretty good in this household. Here are some photos of the finished product

Also have to say that I got a nice surprise when my man came home a day early from his fishing trip. He was to come home tomorrow but one of the guys who was to stay with him had car troubles today and didn't make it back up to Corio Bay, so Steve decided to come home as well. This is his new look as he arrived home at 10.30pm tonight.

Finally just a few of the things I am thankful for today.

1. That Steve had an awesome time away with the guys and arrived home safely tonight

2. Afternoon tea with one of the girls from church who is a real encourager.

3. Pretty pink cupcakes

4. Praise and worship at church this morning, and also the awesome sharing time.

5, Beautiful blue skies and crisp winter chills.

6. Mud crabs for dinner for tomorrow night

7. My ironing lady who arrives in the morning.

8. Cuddles with my man.

Girls Road Trip

Yesterday was a great day. The ex Allies girls went on their annual road trip, Unforuntately two of the girls couldn't make it as they were away, but the rest of us had a ball. Jannett picked us up at 8am and we headed down to Yeppoon. Have lots of photos of the day to share with you. We checked out the new shopping centre at Yeppoon (well it really isn't that new anymore, I guess it would have been there now for 18 months)
We all got some bargins here, mainly shoes and clothes and a bit of costume jewellery. I bought Pete a birthday present, and smaller gifts for the girls. We ended up have morning tea here out on the front balcony.

Next Jannett took us to this awesome home decor store where we all drooled over the gorgeous gifts there. Bronwyn and Robyn just couldn't help themselves and both had spend ups here.
Next we went into the main street in Yeppoon and found another gorgeous home decore store which we all loved. They had some goregous knick knacks but mosty we just looked here.
We visited another couple of gorgeous little boutiques before heading to Kaboozie's (our very favourite girlie gift store and chocolate shoppe) We always visit here when ever we head to Yeppoon. All of us bought special home made chocolates, I found the cutes little cup cake magnets, and cupcake soaps. Carolyn bought a gorgeous soft doll for her granddaughter.
After loading up with our home made chocolates we headed to Robyn's special shoe shop. (Robyn is a shoeacholic) Unfortunately she didn't find any shoes she liked this time, but these girls found hats and shoes to their liking.
By this stage it was 1.30pm so figures if we didn't get to the Sailing Club we would miss lunch completely.
We ended the day by driving through to Emu Park and Zilzie and checking out the house that Neal and Jannett are building. After almost two years of hard work on weekends and holidays it is almost finished. They have done an amazing job and the home is beautiful. I figure I would want to go live there not just use it for holidays.

We arrived back home to Rocky around 5.30pm. After dropping everyone off Jannett and Robyn came in for a cuppa and it was just after 7pm when they left. It was a wonderful day, spent with a wonderful group of woman whose friendship and company I love. Poor Bronnie was loaded up with all her shopping and was wondering how she would get inside without getting sprung. LOL...............

Finally I have another couple of layouts to share. I must be getting a little faster with my scrapbooking as I am managing to do at least a double page each day. Still have a heap of projects to complete. I have to say though I am enjoying my break. I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS and just wish they would slow down a little, they seem to be going way too fast. The first week is over already.Well must go - Steve is heading off fishing this afternoon for a couple of days, so am going to go help him and spend a few minutes with him before he heads off. Have a great weekend everyone.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR WONDERFUL SON.

Wishing you a great birthdayPete - hope you are having a ball in Melbourne. We are feeling a little sad that we can't spend your special day with you. Just wanting you to know that we are thinking of you and missing you. Looking forward to getting together with you next week. Just want to let you know that we are incredibly proud of you and that we love you heaps and heaps. Wish we lived closer and could spend more time together.
LOVE YOU PETE

Some more layouts on the first of the month

Quick post this afternoon. Have been busy scrapbooking again these last couple of days as I wade through the back log of photos I have sitting on my scrapbooking desk. These two are not totally orginals, I have been really inspired by the work of this lady who I might add scraps a little like I do, in terms of the doodling etc but anyway these are a bit of a scraplift of some of her gorgeous work. Very happy with the way they have turned out, especially the blue layout.

I wish there was so way I could make the double page layouts download at the same size as the single page layouts are. Might have to speak to Gayle, she always seems to have an answer for me when it comes to blogs and blogland.

Tomorrow is a special day, it's my son's birthday - wish I was down south spending the day with him. He is off to Melbourne for a few days, Lucky thing. I am sure he will have a nice break awat.

Tomorrow, I am also going on a road trip with the girls that I used to work with at Allies. We are going for the day, leaving and 8am and not getting home untl after 5pm. We plan on doing some shopping, having morning tea together, some more shopping, going out for lunch, then a little drive to another beach for afternoon tea and to also check out the new house of one of the girls before heading home. There are seven of us going so we really should ahve a really good day.

Off to do some more scrapbooking.

I am on Holidays....Yahoooooo...............................

I don't think I have ever looked forward to holidays like I have this term. It's been a hard term, so it is nice to have the next couple of weeks off to unwind. I would love for time to stand still a little so that these holidays don't rush by too quickly.

I've been scrapbooking again. I don't think I have ever managed to do as many layouts as I have done this past month. I think I am up to 21 which is an all time record for me. I must admit though, life is heaps better when you take some time out to remember and reminisce about some of the good things, and the things I am grateful for in this life. I can't say these layouts are totally original. I have been doing a bit of blog surfing, and gallery surfing this past couple of weeks, and have certainly been motivated and inspired. Not sure who to credit this first layout too, but I loved the patchwork feel to it and wanted to do one like this myself. Also made me want to get out my sewing maching and have a play too.
This next layout was inspired by the work from this great scrapbooker. I am always inspired by looking at her gorgeous work. Photo of Chloe's special birthday breakfast.I have a heap of double layouts that I need to do, and was off gallery searching for some inspiration as I have felt that my double layouts lately were all becoming too alike as I try to scrap as many photos as I can on the pages. I came accross this lady's work - I just love it, very me. Even better, she is an Aussie scrapper who lives in Qld. Pretty much scraplifted this layout but love how it has turned out. I am just getting around to scrapbooking the photos from our Scrap of Faith retreat - only 8 months later. Have a few more pages I want to do too. So many memories of this weekend. Other exciting news from our place this week. (well exciting for Steve) He got a new work laptop this week and has had fun playing with it. It is so much faster than his old one (Probably because he hasn't had time to fill the hard drive yet)Steve has two very high powered computers in his graphics room at school. They have been nicknames "The Beast" and "Seniour Beast", so it was a bit of a joke when Steve picked up his new laptop and found that they had names it for her - Yep you got it "Beast Jnr"
Here he is playing with "Beast Jnr" finishing off the Work booklet for the CQU course he is teachng this week.
Just putting the finishing touches to his cover page. His new computer has Photoshop loaded, so he has been having a bit of fun with it.

Friday night the girls from church had a Girls night in at our Place. The idea was we would watch a movie on the big screen in front of the fire - only problem being it was way too hot to even light the fire. We had a great turn out, over 20 of us. We watched the movie "Bride Wars', and then had Coffee (well some of us had Hot Chocolate) and supper together. I made these special little cupcakes for the night.
Finally a couple of random shots taken here late at night.
Have lots of plans for this week - a bit of house work each day, back to the gym, a road trip with the girls I used to work with at Allies, a scrapbooking day - probably card making, more kitchen quotes, try out some new recipes, but most importantly I will get to have a bit of a sleep in.

Things I am thankful for today.

1. Having holidays.
2. Have my washing all up to date and folded.
3, Girlfriends and enjoying spending time with them
4. Supportive DH who enjoys seeing all my layouts and is so complimentry.
5. Having fun with my DH as we worked together this afternoon to get his work done for his course tomorrow.
6. Macca's ice-creams
7. Praise and Worship music
8. Sleep ins
9. Peace and quiet
10. Online friends who encourage and support me.

4 Sleeps to the Holidays

I have to admit, I am really looking forward to the holidays this time. It has been a really hard term. I am sure though that the holidays are just going to fly by. For the most part we will be spending them at home. Steve is busying. He is teaching a course for CQU the first week of the holidays, then hopes to go fishing with the boys for three days, and the we are all flying to Brissie. Chloe and I will be gone for 4 days, but Steve is staying on for a few extra days as he has a conference to go to.

Last Saturday we had our monthly scrapbookin get together and I shocked myself by getting almost four layouts completed. I think this is the most I have ever done. I mean it took me a whole weekend to get five layouts done at our retreat. I must admit, I had prepared a little before I went.This first layout was an inspired scraplift from a layout by Christine Middlecamp. I love her work. She is really into detail and embellishments. I was really happy with this layout. Got to use, flowers, bling and Kindy Glitz.
Great shot of the girls butts. The give me a hard time when ever I want to take their photos, so if this is the angle they give me, than this is the angle I photograph and scrap.
Just some of the group shots from our scrapbooking retreat the other weekend. Have more photos to scrap a double page and hopefully will get some more pages scrapped over the holidays.
The new look Pete - he couldn't be bothered shaving when we had our holiday at Christmas time. Had planned to take it off when he started his new job, but by the time he was ready to start, it had actually grown into a beard and he thought he would leave it. Kind of suits him.

That wonderful young daughter of mine is still bringing me home flowers. I've managed to photograph most of them, and I'm thinking it might be nice to do a layout on them all .
Speaking of flowers, these goreous orchids and
these have all come out of the garden in the last month.
Got to catch up with this lovely lady for morning tea the other week when Betty came to visit to see photos her Grand daughter had posted on Facebook. I first met Betty almost 30 years ago when we first moved to Rocky. She was one of my advertisin clients when I first started working at the Bully here. We hit it off straight away. She was always talking about her daughter in law Eleonore, and her granddaughter Catherine. It was inevitable that we would become good friends when our girls went to Pre School together. Both Eleonore and I had both heard about each other long before we met. We have now been very good friends for 24 years.

Just thought I would share some great quotes that I came accross this week.

Our only business is to love and delight ourselves in God.

Brother Lawrence

"To love God is the greatest of virtues; to be loved by God is the greatest of blessings."

"Love is the sum of all virtue, and love disposes us to good."

"The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies: probably because they are generally the same people."

"The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power but love, not force but example, not coercion but reasoned persuasion. Leaders have power, but power is safe only in the hands of those who humble themselves to serve."

John Stott

Thanks for coming by and visiting. Don't forget though to stop and say Hi.

Thank goodness the cold has gone for awhile.

I am sure we were not the only ones experiencing really cold weather, but we actually had frost and ice in Rocky last Friday when the minimum temperature dropped to 2 degrees. I can't remember it ever getting that low. For goodness sake, we live in the tropics are are just not geared to survive in temperatures that low. Fortunately the temperature climbed to about 18 degrees during the day.

My scrapbooking has slowed down. I did manage to complete another double, but really can't claim creative originality with this layout, as I mostly scraplifted it. Unfortunately I have no idea who to credit it too, as for some reason I just saved the photo of this layout without the web address for it. If it is a layout you have done, please let me know so that I can give credit where it is due. These are the only photos we have for Christmas 2008. As you can see I am still very much into the circles.
We have our monthly scrapbooking crop this Saturday - boy these year they just seem to roll around so quickly. I am hoping to get some of the photos from the Scrap of Faith retreat scrapped this weekend.

Thought I would share some pretty random shots from the past week. Not a lot of exciting things happening here at the moment. In fact life has kinda of settled down a little which is nice.
Friday night I went out for dinner with my friend Eleonore to celebrate, as she landed a job that day. Steve was having dinner at school as he didn't really want to come home until he had finished his marking from the exam that day.

Steve sat up until 3am Saturday morning finishing off writing reports so that he could have the day off on Saturday. We actually had a great day together. We went off hunting for Kitchen ideas in the morning, as we had an appointment today for someone to come out and design and price a new kitchen for us (man alive got the quote this afternoon and all I can say is Kitchen's don't come cheap) We ended up going out for lunch together and went shopping for some Clothes for Steve (almost impossible to get him out clothes shopping so need to make the most of it when I can)

Sunday afternoon we had a luncheon to farewell the Chaplain from Rockhampton High School as he and his wife are moving back to Canada. He will really be missed. It was a good time to catch up with friends we hadn't seen for a while also.

Yesterday I also got a new one of these.

It will probably take me a little while to get used to it as my old bible has all my favourite passages marked and I know just where to find everything.

On the job front - still no news. Only two weeks left till the end of term. I am trying hard not to let it get to me. There is obviously no way I can speed up the decision, so I am just trusting that God has it all under control and I will find out when I need to know, and meanwhile I will just be thankful that I am still being paid each fortnight.

Here are a few shots taken from our evening here last night. Steve and I started watching this on the big screen before he had to go out to a meeting.
Kind of feels like being at the movies with the big screen and surround sound. By the time Steve got home, Chloe had a few friends around and they spent the rest of the night doing this.



They were all very serious, but none quite as serious as this one who really gets involved in playing with the kids.
Whilst they were busy playing this, I got a bit more of this done. I am now past the half way mark with my knee rug.
My dear daughter bought me home another bunch of these again this weekend How I love the beautiful fragrance of these lilies. I am so blessed to have such a thoughtful daugther and I really do thank the Lord for her daily.
Finally our fish tank seems to be exploding with new baby fish. We foever seem to have new babies. WE've already got rid of a few but we need to do a much bigger cull next time

Well my eyes are barely staying awake as I type this so it must be time to go to bed. I have an early morning start in the morning - date with a swimming pool again.

Finally in closing I came accross these couple of quotes and would love to share these couple of little quotes with you.

"That is a good day in which you make someone happy.

It is astonishing how little it takes to make one happy.

Feel that the day is wasted in which you have not succeeded in this."

[ t. de witt talmage ]