A digi layout

I've spent some time on http://jessicasprague.com today and I did this layout. 

 

I’m a sourpuss today.

I’m tired, I’m bored and I’m cranky.

I did lots of chores and dinner is ready. The kids are playing and are happy. The holidays are near. And I’m feeling crappy.

I don’t know if it’s a side effect from my anaesethic yesterday. I’m feeling like I’m getting thrush today, why do my darned nether regions have to be so bloody sensitive. It shits me to tears. I hate feeling like this. I hate being bored and grumpy. It’s such a useless feeling and such a waste of precious time.

I rang my Mum today. That cheered me up. Then the kids started fighting and I was sour again......

Dinner is now done, kitchen is clean. Kids are quiet. I’m feeling better. Tomorrow is a new day.

Looking forward to holidays

I'm sitting down and relaxing now. The kids are at school, the house is tidy, washing is on the line, some more is washing and the ironing is done. I'm glad I'm not working today. I feel really flat, and am happy to be at home. Yesterday I had my IUD replaced so I think I'm still washed out from that. This time I wasn't going to be brave and I opted to have an anaesethic - probably overkill, but it was really nice to wake up and have it all done. It hurt like crazy last time and seemed to go on forever. They couldn't even get me up afterwards, because my blood pressure was not good. Yesterday, my BP was up before the procedure which is understandable and then when I woke up, they got me straight up off the bed. I felt a bit unsteady but them went and got dressed and sat and had a cup of tea and a sandwich. I'd fasted and missed my cup of tea that morning, so that was just bliss. My gf picked me up and I was hoping I'd be okay and not wanting to sleep straight away the afternoon. I get to see Karen so rarely outside of our irregular Friday nights, so when she suggested we meet for a cuppa after her class I jumped at the idea to have her come and get me and spend some time with her. I went and picked up the kids from school and then went to sleep for a good hour afterwards. Darling Bunny brought home fish and chips for dinner so that was good. I'm glad now that's over, probably won't need this renewed seeing as my girlie bits are all shutting down, if they've not shut down completely already.

The last weekend went by so quickly. Friday night was scrapping as usual and then on Saturday night we had dinner at Lisa's place. She cooked us a lovely meal and we enjoyed being together and oohing and aahing over her beautiful house. It's so spacious and just gorgeous. I can only dream of ever living in a house like that. We watched a movie later, which was a good movie although it changed the tone of the gathering from fun, laughter and silliness, to a more serious note. Probably my fault because I chose the movie, we probably would have kept the laughter going had we not watched a movie..... I even dressed up in some of Lisa's clothes that she was giving away....hilarious as the photos will show. My days of wearing clothing like that have long gone lol..... We watched 'Walk the Line' which I really enjoyed. It was a lovely night, and really special to have us together and not at Daisy's. Lisa loved the idea of waiting on dear Barbi, who is normally always looking after us. Food was yummy and the company was great, a perfect combination for a lovely evening.

Laughing but trying hard for a sexy pout.

Suzy and Barbi

Lisa, Suzy and Barbi

The Lovely Lisa and I

Carrin and Lisa

Suzy, Barbi, Carrin and Lisa

Me taking the outfit off, while the girls convince me to take them home for Peter!!

Too long between posts.

My Dad alerted me to the fact that my last blog post was weeks ago. I've been slack at blogging, so here I am with an update.

Life is busy, but just normal day to day stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary, I've not even had any work. I enjoy the day to day routine. My life is without stress as far as day to day stuff goes. The kids are all well and happy, and we're all looking forward to the school holidays which start in two weeks. Last week was a short week, due to the Queen's Birthday and Show holiday. It was nice having Peter able to spend more time with the kids.

The boys have been enjoying their golf. Billy-Joe played in his first tournament last Saturday. He was very excited and played reasonably well. Last Saturday he and Mickey both played a game after their practice and he won! He was very very excited and came away with a few golf balls. Mickey also did very well. My Dear Sammy doesn't want to play after practice. He prefers to come home and we're not pushing him. We pushed him to go to practice and to focus. It will be a year or two before he'll feel comfortable enough to stay and play with his brothers. He goes out willingly now with Daddy and his brothers on a Sunday which is fabulous. I love seeing them go out together and enjoy being together. I see many many years of my boys playing together. What an awesome legacy for Peter to give his kids. Father - Son time, so special!

On a personal front I haven't been as good as I would like. My HRT levels are great though, so I'm sleeeping really well again. I had another cortisone injection in my shoulder, this time guided by ultrasound. I have bad days and I have better days. I'm not sure what my next step is. I will go back to my physiotherapist. Sometimes I get so down by the level of pain I'm in. Then on a day like today where it feels a bit better and I've just watched Michael J Fox on Oprah, and I realize that I have much to be grateful for. Unfortunately thinking of those worse off than myself often doesn't help on a bad day. Let's face it, we are immersed in our own reality,not in someone else's. So while I have a great understanding and empathy of the pain and grief that others suffer, really when it's all said and done that doesn't change anything for me. I have just come to the realization that my body produces abnormal levels of inflammtory responses and I just have to cope with that. Pain killers are my friend, and thankfully I don't take very strong ones too often, and panadol and ibuprofen gives me a lot of relief. Two of my closest friends also suffer, caused by trauma within the body and the body's responses to other conditions. We are all on our own paths searching for relief and answers. My new year's resolution was no doctors.......and I've stuffed that big time. Now I'm concentrating on getting better, and managing the pain I live with, whether it's my shoulder, or upper back or hip........I'll manage it, on a day to day basis. I’ve bought emu oil, which I think is happening, I use it twice a day.

Winter is here. I love the cooler weather. The oil heater keeps our little house cosy at night time. The days are clear and glorious as only they can be in a sub tropical climate. A couple of nights last week it got down to around 4 degrees celsius (39 Fahrenheit). Last week I decided to sew the kids a dressing gown each. I didn't want to buy one, as I felt they were too expensive and always plastered with some kid design, many of them quite ugly and which seriously limits their life span, so I decided to make some myself. I bought them beautiful warm polar fleece, and they turned out great. All three boys can grow into their dressing gowns and have them for a years, as they won't grow out of the style or design. I haven't sewn in years, and feel really proud of myself that I attempted to do this. The boys are so rapt. Mickey was disappointed that I hadn't finished his on the weekend. He'll be excited to come home and finding it hanging up.

I enjoying my new MacBook. Two of my friends have them now, we're like a secret Geek Society lol. I can't wait for us all be together at Daisy's one night. Suzy is unfortunately having lots of drama setting up her wireless network with her MacBook and PC. I think she's close to having it all resolved, but not after spending many hours back and forth to the store, and also to Apple Support and also Optus Support. Even through it all I feel like she's very happy with her decision to 'cross over'. Yesterday Mickey had a birthday party in the same town where Suzy lives, and I visited Suzy. She had a power board set up and we sat side by side at the dining table and had a MacBook date. It was so much fun. We worked things out together and actually solved a couple of problems. The three hours just flew. Actually the entire weeekend flew and it was three days.

We’re heading into ‘birthday season’. Mickey turns 8 and Billy-Joe will turn 13 next month. I have decided that I’ll get Billy-Joe a prepaid mobile phone. I’ll give him my old flip phone and then when I get my iphone, he can have my current phone. The flip phone has a few glitches but will work fine for a few months.

A full week

This week has been a full one, but a good one. I had a guided cortisone injection yesterday. I had a radiographer inject right into the calcification on my shoulder. My Dad and I planned to go shopping for his new computer which we did afterwards. My shoulder ached badly yesterday at the injection site. Funnily enough though, when I blow waved my hair in the afternoon it felt a little better, and today it feels even better. Unfortunately I had the crappiest night sleep last night. Getting to bed and listening to my audiobook until 2am means I desperately need a good night's sleep. I'm wondering whether cortisone in your body can cause the same reaction as prednisone for example. It's also a steriod and can really hype you up. I felt wired last night, like I'd drunk coffee all night. I should have stayed up. I don't feel too bad today though which is good.

Dad and I had a great time yesterday. We ended up buying him a machine from the second store we went to, we got a fantastic deal and he was just rapt. I'm so excited for him. I'm going to ring shortly and see how it all went. He took me out to lunch afterwards to an Indian restaurant. The food was divine. I can't wait to go back there, and it was reasonably priced too. Thanks Dad, I had a ball, and look forward to maybe all of us going there together. We would all enjoy it.

We got home in the afternoon and it was almost time to pick up the kids. I sat for a bit after I took some pain killers as my arm was quite achy. I even laid down for 45 minutes before I headed off to Daisy's. I didn't take my stuff, it was so nice just to carry my MacBook. We had dinner late, seeing as I wasn't hungry from having had a lovely lunch. So it was well after 9pm before we returned to the table to actually do something. I played on Facebook, on my farm, and then started a class on learning how to use Picasa. We also watched Twilight on DVD. I had a grea time, but missed Karen. Lisa and Karen K were there which was lovely. Karen K is starting to get a tiny tiny belly, she's almost 18 weeks pregnant so we are all thinking it's about time she starts getting a bump. She's so slim and will carry this baby really well,there's no fat on her. She'll go back to normal quick smart after her baby is born..........not like me lol. Eight years after baby #3 and I'm so far from pre pregnancy body it's not funny [sigh].............

Today I fully intended to stay home and do not much. I've been out the last two Saturdays and I wanted no commitments. I really wanted to go to a cooking demo today, by Laurent who did my birthday dinner, with Karen. Karen and Geoff have gone to see Angels and Demons and she had her hair done, so it wasn't meant to be anyway. Billy-Joe needed a costume done for a play he's doing in English. As much as I hate dressing up, I hate making a costume more. I just don't have any imagination. I was so cranky, and had to explain to my darling boy that I wasn't cranky at him, but just cranky at my own lack of confidence, plus the fact I had to go out trawling through Spotlight on a day I wanted to stay in........... We got the stuff organized and I made it. We are both quite excited with the result. I'll post an image when we get his staff all made up. I whinged and moaned, and it all turned out really well. I hate doubting myself all the time. Some mothers just whip up things all the time, I wonder if they whine and moan too........ Once upon a time I wouldn't have had the money to spend on buying stuff either, thankfully that's not such a drama now.

Tonight's dinner will be simple, t bone and vegies. Yummo and wholesome......

Just spoke to Dad and the computer is all up and running.......Awesome stuff Dad.

Update from Geeksville

My day started well, as I walked out the door this morning, I noticed that DB had cut out an article from the newspaper. I only had time to glance at the headline, but I made sure I read it later, after my shopping and before going to yet another doctor. I enjoyed my morning tea muffin all the more, because the news article claimed that Apple were opening another store - this time on the northside of Brisbane. Mmmmm, what else could I add to the Apple family lol?? One of my besties Karen, also thought this was dangerous knowledge lol....... wait till her dh finds out. These stores are geared towards assistance and tuition not sales. I knew that having another computer in the household would be practical, I just didn't realize how much. I can still have access to a computer while Billy-Joe does his research and types up an assignment. We even play together, with our farms on Facebook. So cool, and so much fun. I always vowed and declared I wanted to stay up to date with technology, for my own sake and for my kids. I listen to Billy-Joe and he is so much a chip off the old block that it's uncanny how much he resembles me. He appreciates the fact that I'm interested and up to date. My Mum and Dad dropped in this afternoon, which was a nice surprise. My Dad is excited as he is buying a new computer. For years he's had ones which my brother has thrown together from spare parts. He's never actually had a new computer. He won't know himself. And I get to go and shop with him. I'm so excited for him, and rapt that he wants me to go with him. I know we'll get an awesome machine for under $1000. He doesn't want it for gaming or photo editing, just browsing, emails and itunes.

Tomorrow will be a nice day, and going shopping for geek materials, but beforehand I'll be going to the X-Ray clinic to have a guided cortisone injection. I went and saw another doctor today, who was recommended by my physiotherapist. He decided that rather than give me another unguided injection, this was the best way to go. I'm actually excited. I have forgotten what it's like to live without daily pain.......between my hip last year and my shoulder this year, it hasn't stopped. I've had a lot of pain this week and that prompted me to take further action. It wasn't until I gathered my films to take today, that I realized that it was two months since my last injection which was borderline useless............two months. I've wasted two months!!!!!

My DB is ordering wine on the phone, the kids aren't far out of bed, and I'm enjoying a glass of wine and blogging. Dinner is steak burgers with pommes noisettes while watching MasterChef.......

Until next time.

My Day

I feel like I've just run around all day. After yesterday's debacle with school being closed and me having to send the kids home not long after they got there, the craziness just continued. I did my Coles online shopping but always get a few things from Woolies and the fruit market. I also had to get a cartridge for my printer and buy a gift for my MIL who is 75 today. I got her a beautiful mauve fresh water pearl with a diamond. We have never spent much on her gifts before and wanted to get her something special. I think she will really like it.

I headed home and then had some time before I had to head out again for my physio appointment. I wanted to transfer funds onto my credit card after buying the groceries etc, only to discover that my groceries aren't coming today!! I'd made a change to my order, but hadn't 'checked out' the modified order!!! Thankfully I was able to organize a delivery for tomorrow afternoon, but it meant I needed to get a couple of things to tide us over..... I'm just so relieved that I actually had to look up my order. Normally I don't pay my CC until the next week!!

I went to my appointment, my arm and shoulder is having really bad spasms and I've been needing to go since the weekend. I hope I get some relief. It looks like I'll need another cortisone injection. After the appt I bought some milk and bacon and then headed home. I made a slice for the weekend, one less thing for Barbi to worry about. I wanted to make two, but ran out of time.

I've had some lunch and sat down for 40 minutes. The dishwasher is emptied and the washing is up to date. I need to do some ironing but will do that tomorrow. Pizza for dinner tonight and I'll use the bread machine for he kneading as I still can't knead dough with my arm.

I'm off to pick up my eldest.

Update

I'm really happy to be home today. It's raining and miserable. Just wish my family were home too. I always love it when everyone's home snug after the end of a miserable day. I've done two loads of washing, and put them all in the dryer, no point stuffing around with washing that won't dry on the line, even when it's undercover like mine.

The weekend has gone by quickly, and was a good one. On Saturday everyone was busy and running in different directions. A sign of things to come as the kids grow up. I had my camera class, which have five participants and went very well. I finished the class on such a high as my students left happy and armed with new knowledge. It's exciting seeing the light bulbs go on in their heads, and hearing the enthusiastic and excited chatter as they left Daisy's. I stayed back for a bit, had a cuppa and then headed home. It had been a busy morning before I left as I got three kids organized. In the afternoon Billy-Joe and Mickey went out with my parents for the afternoon. They had a ball on a boat, and enjoyed a picnic. Plus they got to spend time with their cousins too, as Ricky and Dee were down visiting the girls. It's a shame we couldn't have all been there together, but it worked out well. Sammy didn't go as he went to a birthday party and his first sleep over. It wasn't until the middle of that night that I could believe he'd actually be able to stay away. He had wonderful time and coped very well being in a different environment.

We went to pick him up on Sunday at lunch time and then headed down to Coolum. I hadn't been there in years, and I wanted to see if it had changed, and maybe look inside some shops and have lunch. Well it was still as daggy as ever, not much had changed. The entire corner was demolished and lots of building is taking place. That will bring with it some new shops and food places. We had lunch at the bowls club, a simple meal,but it was nice. In the afternoon Peter took Billy-Joe and Mickey to golf and Sammy stayed home with me. He was very tired and was happy just watching TV.

This week, I want to get organized for the retreat. I mean I've only had three months to do it in!!! I have no idea what I'll do yet. I still don't want to spend much on supplies. Karen B and I are taking our MacBooks and I know Alaine will bring her laptop and Sheree has a new netbook. So all us geeks will be sitting together having a ball. In between catching up, laughing chatting, eating, surfing, checking facebook, we may actually scrap lol........ Karen K is coming, it's her first retreat and Lisa W is coming on the Saturday night. The theme is Happy Days, but I'm not interested in getting dressed up. Unless someone holds my hand and tells me what to do, my imagination is sadly lacking when it comes to fancy dress. I had a ball getting dressed as a fairy last year, but haven't dressed up since. Oh no I fib, I did wear a pirate costume at the pirate themed retreat, but that was only because someone brought me in an outfit to wear.....

I went on the treadmill today. I need to try and get on it everyday this week. With the retreat coming up, I need to bank up sone exercise points. I have to leave the retreat early on much to Karen's and my disappointment. MIL is having a 75th birthday party put on by her daughters and it's this Sunday. It's not that I mind going to celebrate MIL's milestone, but Karen's and my time together is so limited and we don't get together at every retreat, so we guard that time. I have decided that I'll probably go home on Saturday night and not go in at all on Sunday. That way I can sleep in and then we can go out.

I've had to make a physio appointment. My arm's worsened again, possibly due to the extra time I've been spending on the computer. At least with the trackpad I can use my left hand more.
Thanks Sheree for the award. I'm often lax at posting that I have received these, so have made a special effort to remember to post it on my blog. Thanks for thinking of me. I can't wait to catch up with you and Alaine on the weekend.

Blogging in the kitchen

This is just so decadent. I'm standing in the kitchen in between cooking and making salad etc for dinner, and blogging - oh and I have a nice glass of chardy.

It's about three hours later. I never did finish my post. Dinner was divine - Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni. Sammy ate it like it was cement, but everyone else hooked in. The salad w as a simple green salad with tomato, onion, balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

I can't believe that it's Thursday tomorrow. The weeks just fly by. I'm working again tomorrow, so with two days this week, that's fabulous. On Saturday I teach my camera class, so the bank account will look healthy and pay ahead the bills for the next month or so. I always like it when I'm in the black with everything, which I do with most bills. I just wish my work was a little more consistent. Even one day per week would be great.

I have had a really good week. On Monday I went back to the jeweller's to make sure that my bracelet was the right size. It fit really well, but I was worried that when it had lots of beads on it, it would be too tight. I was pleased, as the size was perfect. The sales woman filled the bracelet with beads and it looked and felt great - and not too tight. I was very surprised to feel how heavy it was! I wore it that day, and I just love it. I'd love to wear it all the time, but the instructions say not to wear it in the shower, so I'll keep it for when I go out.

Last week, I was sitting on the fence about getting the MacBook. I knew I wanted it, but I continued to question myself as to when and how it was going to be used. Each time in the last couple of weeks, I'd make a note of a time when I thought it would be handy to have another computer with internet access and when portability was handy. Even though I'd worked out how I was paying for it, I still wasn't going to rush in and buy it. I was so excited when Karen got her MacBook, and the emotion I felt for her, cemented the decision for me. I rang Peter and checked that even though it wasn't quite the end of the financial year I was okay to go.........and I rang Myer to make sure they had one in stock.

It's very very different to a desktop machine in many ways. The trackpad took some getting used to, but I love how sensitive it is. The great thing about Karen having one too, is that we can compare notes and ideas.

I love sitting on the lounge and tap tap tapping on my MacBook. I've installed some programs but want to keep it fairly light. I'll try not to fill it up with apps. I've attempted to edit one photo today, and, even though it looks okay, I'm going to experiment again, and try to do both a photo from the imac and MacBook with the exact same settings. I'd love to be a lazy editor lol........

When I have some more time, I'll do a better review of my MacBook. I'm excited about taking it to scrapping on Friday night to work through things with Karen. I'll also take it to the next retreat.

On another note - my youngest boy has sucked his fingers since he was a few months old. He has two fingers from his right hand in his mouth as comfort. He hasn't done it at school for ages of course, but at home, especially when he's tired, or snuggling into Bunny or I, or watching TV and of course in bed, he sucks on his fingers. I have never discouraged it. I figure he'll grow out of it anyway. He's had many people over the years try to discourage him, but it's never been a battle I've wanted to wage.

I'd noticed of late that his smile was changing. I couldn't figure out if his face was changing because he was growing up and I struggled to see who it resembled. On Sunday, he was sitting at the table, and he had his fingers in his mouth and I could a glimpse of him side on and it hit me like a tonne of bricks. His front teeth had moved!! His top lip protrudes slightly from the teeth, and his mouth has actually changed from sucking his fingers. So.......with a heavy heart I sat him down and told him he couldn't do it anymore. I explained that his mouth was still soft and it would move back to where it should be, but that sucking would make it worse. He cried! I cried! I held him as we cried together. I saw how much sadness I'd brought him, but to his credit he could see that what I said was right. I take my hat off to him. For his not yet 8 years, he's handled this with a maturity that is beyond his years. I haven't once had to say anything to him. He's allowed to suck them briefly as he falls to sleep, but that's it. Then I'll discourage that too in a few weeks time. I am so proud of him.

Where's my baby gone?

Happy Mothers' Day

I have just had the best day. I love Mothers' Day. It's right up there with Christmas and even better than my birthday I think, seeing as my birthday is so close to Christmas. I started the morning with a delicious cooked break - my favourite, french toast, maple syrup, bacon, coffee and orange juice.

It was the first Mothers' Day breakfast I'd ever had cooked for me.Normally we head out to see Peter's Mum in the morning and then rush home to have lunch at our house with my parents. Now that Peter's folks live half an hour away, it takes a huge hunk out of the morning, so I suggested we go yesterday. I'm so pleased Peter thougth it was a good idea. We got to have a really nice visit yesterday, and I had a relaxed morning today. Because Mum and I had decided to have cooked chickens and salad for lunch with bake @ home rolls, I could take the time to make an appetiser and dessert. Yesterday I made a pate and tiramisu. Both were just divine!!!

The kids bought me lovely gifts from the stall at school. A coffee mug, washers, a shower fuffy, and a sponge, with shower gel and shampoo. The piece de resistance was my Pandora Bracelet. I was overwhelmed. Especially as Peter made out that I wasn't getting much. Plus, like I mentioned in a previous post, the jeweller's which specialize in this, are not in our town, so for him to go outside the Bunny Zone was pretty cool.

Just before midday though, I got a text to check my ichat messages. Mmm, I was surprised that I'd missed them but I went over to the computer and sure enough there were quite a few messages. Karen was excited that I'd received my Pandora Bracelet, but I nearly fell off my chair with excitement when she told me she had got a MacBook!!!

I rang her up, I couldn't ichat her back because my hands were shaking. I squealed and was so loud with excitement for her that the kids came running out to see what the fuss was about. Geoff had thought that I hadn't responded to the messages because I didn't have mine yet lol.......... She had spent the morning totally overwhelmed, and in tears and just delighted to have her own computer. Like mine will be it's all on the wireless network and she is so excited. Now she can bookmark, and save and download to her heart's content and I can show her stuff and we know that Geoff won't get peeved at us lol........

I might go to Myer this week, next Friday night we'll both sit there.......

I have to go and maybe swap my bracelet as it's quite small.

I had a fabulous day. Hope all my friends had an awesome day too.

Bunny, Billy-Joe, my Mum and Dad, while Mum opens her gift.

My Pandora Bracelet

Saying Thank you for my lovely gift.

My Week Thus Far

I've had a really nice week. My arm is about 60% better, so I'm doing things that I've left undone. Over two mornings I cleaned my entire kitchen, stove top and inside and outside of my fridge. Everything looks lovely again. Makes me feel good inside when I open the fridge and the glass shelves are spotless again. I was going to exercise every day this week, but have only managed one hour on the treadmill so far this week. Slack! My Levis got pulled out of the depths of my wardrobe today, and, while they still fit and look okay, I can feel I've put weight back on. I'll need to do something about it before I put it all back on again. I still feel fit enough on the treadmill, although I'm walking rather than jogging at the moment. I'm concentrating on extending time per session rather than intensity. It burns a good lot of calories and I can maintain it, so I'll keep along that track for a while.

I've pretty much been home all week. Scrapping last Friday night of course, home the entire weekend, and it was a long weekend too. I enjoyed myself by looking after my family and cooking heaps. On Sunday, Peter went and played golf and the kids and I enjoyed a relaxed day at home together. Billy-Joe was keen to cook again, and as my arm is still giving me trouble, and I wanted muffins baked, it achieved two goals in one. He loved making them and is gaining a little extra confidence. He's shit scared of the oven, but is getting there and listens well to my guidance, which is just an awesome role for me. I just love to teach! After we'd made the muffins, I asked if he wanted to make lunch too, so he made egg and bacon baskets in bread in the muffin pan. They were delicous, with spring onions and grated cheese on top. Mickey, Billy-Joe and I ate them for lunch, Sammy turned his nose up at them and had a Cucumber Sandwich. (Sammy's name for a salad sandwich. Often I don't even have cucumber, so then it becomes a cucumber sandwich without the cucumber lol......)

On Monday Peter took the kids fishing and I stayed home. I listened to my audio book and decided that I wanted to get stuck into making my rug in earnest. I am so pleased with it, I finished it yesterday. Sewing in all the ends took me over an hour. I finished it last night and actually sat rolled up like in a sausage roll in front of the TV. Bliss! When Bunny kissed me good night, I put my glasses half down my nose and told him good night and God Bless you with a quivery voice...... as I'm sitting there like an Oma. I loved making it and am sad that it's finished. I'm on the lookout for my next project. It's nice making something while I'm doing something else. I don't feel like the time in front of the TV is wasted.

Today I've been and done some shopping. I added a nightie for Peter's Mum's present for Mothers' Day. I've made my Mum and MIL and iphoto book, and I wanted to add something else. I've organized my Mum's other gift too. I'm hope she'll like them. I'm not sure what I'm getting for Mothers' Day, but DB did go into a jewellery store today and look at a pandora bracelet. Unfortunately the guy only had a gold one which cost nearly $7000!!! He would have to go to another jeweller - not quite down the coast, but definitley out of the Bunny Zone. (The Bunny Zone, is anywhere from home, to work, to the golf course, which fortunately encompasses town as well - anywhere beyond that he generally doesn't go, or he's with me, and I drive too). So I'm not sure what Mothers' Day will bring. I know for one thing though, that it will be a great day. It's always an exciting day. I always feel cherished, which is an awesome feeling. The kids and Bunny are wonderful to me. This year I get to spend Mothers' Day with my parents, which makes it doubly special. Last year my parents were away, and while I still had a lovely day, it's just not the same. I need my Mum with me on Mothers' Day - simple as that.

I went and visited my parents one day this week and had lunch with them. Something I really enjoyed. My Mum cooks very differently to me, but I love her food. We had a yummy beef soup and then some Reis Auf Lauf. Lord only knows how that translates, and I'm thinking the Australian version is a rice pudding type thing, although rice pudding is runny - not sure since I didn't grow up with Australian cuisine. This is made with rice (of course), milk, sultanas, sliced apples, cinammon and vanilla sugar I think. There must be eggs in it for it all to hang together, but it's not runny. It's quite firm and you dish it up in a large slice. Mmmmmmm, delish, and so reminiscent of my childhood. Apparently in Austria (not sure about Germany) Mehlspeise (Sweet dish) were commonly eaten for a main meal. I'm guessing this was due to the fact that food was scarce during the war years, and that flour and eggs were more readily available. I'll have to check on that. So many times during my childhood, we'd have a Mehlspeise for dinner, usually after a hearty soup entree. Sometimes it was pancakes (which I later found out were actually crepes, when much to my chagrin I was served gigantic pikelets the first time I ate at the Pancake Parlour), Reis Auf Lauf, Kaiserschmarn, (thick pancakes with sultantas and apples, cooked and then chopped up, served with sugar and cinammon. Apfel Strudel (can you imagine eating apple strudel as a main meal??? Delicous. There were some others that we had, but these were the most commonly in my home. There was no complaints in the house when this was dished up! This week, I took a leaf out of my Mum's book. I'd eaten enough chicken for the week, and there was only more chicken in the freezer, so I made pancakes (crepes) for dinner. The kids thought I was joking lol........ They loved it. I made dear Bunny something a little more wholesome, but the kids and I loved it. I could have made more. My Mum and Aunty used to make this filling called 'Dopfen' and it was to die for. It was made with some kind of cheese, like a baker's cheese (no lumps!) and then cream, sugar and sultanas were added. Absolutely to die for, and soooooo filling. I wonder if I'd still like them now....... Let me think for a second. Yes!! I think I would.

I have to go out shortly, but will hopefully get back later or tomorrow to add a badge I was given for my blog.

Off to pick up my kids and await my grocery delivery.

Layout

I completed my first layout in the Now We're Rockin with Photoshop class from www.jessicasprague.com

Everytime I do one of these I learn something else. Finally I know how to manipulate brushes - I mean really know how to move them, and alter them, not like before when it was all trial and error and when it worked I didn't really know what I'd done differently.

Sookie Stackhouse

I'm currently enjoying listening to a series of books by Charlaine Harris. They are the Sookie Stackhouse series which are of the paranormal genre. I wasn't sure how much I'd like these books but they came highly recommended from a friend.

This is the fourth book in a series of eight of a young woman who has begun dating Bill the vampire. I began this book and was disappointed that Bill was 'out of the country' so I was worried that there wouldn't be a love interest in the book, a crucial element to novels I enjoy. While the love interest wasn't Bill. I needn't have worried lol....... Sookie has to 'look after' Eric, a viking vampire who is being hunted by witches, and Sookie's brother is missing. The book goes through the process of Sookie looking for her brother and many surprises alight along the way.

It's good fantasy, that leaves you wondering what it would be like to 'have' a vampire....

Can't wait to read the next book.

Actually I panicked while reading the book as I didn't have the entire book. So, here I was at a crucial part, with a quarter of the book missing. I downloaded the .rar file again, but it didn't containe the last of the book. I had to venture into the realm of e-books. I downloaded the entire e-book and then had to find an e-book reader for Mac OS X. I was very excited when I saw that this format is compatible with an iphone...... Mmmm, is it trying to tell me something lol.......??

Cheese Platter for Dinner

I mentioned in the previous post about our cheese platter for dinner. We added some smoked oysters on toast with french mustard too, and only made a tiny dent in the cheeses. It's so rich, you don't need a lot. The cheese board was a birthday present from Karen. I love the knife in the foreground, it's for cutting hard cheeses and does a great job and feels nice in your hand.

Giveaway

I've got this from a girlfriend's blog.... I'm a bit behind in my blog reading, so sorry about the short notice......

The article below is copied directly from Alaine's reading blog, which is very well worth bookmarking as she's an avid reader and writes great book reviews. I love her blog as a great reference point, her best friend Sheree also does great book reviews, so these are my great resource for selecting what to read (or listen to) next.

I have recently 'discovered' Christine Feehan and how much I love this Paranormal Romance author. One of the books I've read for the Read-a-thon was Magic in the Wind and I would really like to convert other readers (I am reading book 4 in the Dark Series as well). If you'd like a copy of the first two books in Christine Feehan's Drake Sister Series then follow these instruction.

1. Leave a comment on this post for one entry
2. Become a follower of my blog for another entry. If you already follow, let me know and you'll receive another entry.
3. Post about this give-away on your blog for another entry
4. Please leave an email address or ensure you are contactable via your blog.

Compitition closes on April 28, 2009. Winner will be announce on my blog so please check back on the day to see if you're the winner. Winner will be given 24 hours to contact me or I will redraw. Competition open to everyone, not only participants of the Read-a-thon. Good luck!

Post a comment on Alaine's blog here.

A Day at the Beach

The two photos above - the top one uses the Landscape Picture style, while the second one is using the Standard style. I love the extra saturation in the above picture. I love how these picture styles will reduce post processing. I normally can't help 'tweaking' (read - fiddling) with photos and if I'm happy with the colour SOOC (Straight out of the camera) then I won't be tempted to adjust them. It's cool having the control over the colours in my camera. For close ups, the Standard setting is excellent and I'll enjoy using that in my home, especially as colour in my house can often over power the subject.

A little crab the kids found and showed me.

I played with the Picture styles in my camera. The above one is Standard, which leaves images fairly neutral. I love the effect in the above photo.

The above photo is edited simply with 'enhance' in iphoto and the photo above it is using the Standard picture style. Not quite enough saturation for my liking.

Today was just the most gorgeous day. Unfortunately summer time is often not the best time at the beach for us, as the wind direction often makes it blowy, rough and sand gets everywhere. Plus it's stinking hot then too. We've always had the best beach days in Spring and Autumn. The kids had a ball, catching waves, playing frisbee, exploring in the sand. We had fish and chips for lunch and followed up with an ice cream. I took my camera along, and read some more of my field guide and played with some of the settings.

Fixed Picasa

The Naked Tin

One decorated tin

My cards I made last night. See Karen, I actually finished the bottom one. Does that mean it took me three weeks to complete lol......

I had a great day yesterday. I had a physio appointment in the morning, and my shoulder is still improving. I can't do most things still, but it doesn't hurt at every minute of the day. I'm so pleased that it's finally responding to treatment. Carlie gave me exercises to do, and Peter has set up a pulley for me downstairs, with string attached so I can do some passive exercises for my shoulder. I've now got some strength building isometric ones to do too.

I have to stop myself from doing lots though, and it's hard because I see so much that needs doing. I bought a big bottle of sugar soap because there are doors and walls desperately in need of being washed down. I just have to wait though, or get Peter to do them, which isn't easy, as he's not here much, with long work hours, I'm often reluctant to ask for help.

Yesterday after my appointment I went into the Plaza and met up with Suzy. We had a great day. Unfortunately, it went far too quickly. We spent well over an hour and a half with the IT people in Myer, asking lots of questions about a Macbook. Suzy still has some things to work out, and perhaps some questions that need answering but she's leaning toward 'crossing over'. I have to remember to loan her the book on the Mac operating system which I bought. She'll be blown away by what it's capable of doing. We had walk around, bought some underwear, had a snack for lunch as Suzy had bought us morning tea, and we weren't hugely hungry. We also went and checked out the teeth whitening people and think that we'll do it one day. It looks great, and is fairly quick to do.

Last night scrapping was good fun, and very late. By the time I'm in bed and listened to my audiobook, it was well after 2am!! Unfortunately Karen didn't come last night because she wasn't feeling well. I hope that she got a good night's sleep and didn't stay up too late reading. She is deep into the Twilight series and is having trouble putting them down.

I'm looking forward to a nice date night with my husband tonight. We've bought some cheeses, so we're just going to have a nice cheese platter and wine for dinner. I find that if we have nibblies, we're often (me mainly) not hungry enough and a main meal really is wasted on me. Plus then I don't feel so bad that I've ingested all these extra calories.

The whole Kleenmaid debacle has been on my mind a lot this week. I feel so sorry for the people who have lost their money through paying a deposit, or full payment and then never receiving their whitegoods. Had this happened two years ago, it could have involved us - as we bought our stuff in April - I can't remember what date we paid a deposit, but the deposit was $2000!!!! I feel sick for those poor people who have their kitchen underway, and nothing to put in it. That means my five year warranty is no longer too!! That was a huge selling point for us. Kind of comforting to knwo that you have a $2000 dishwasher and it's covered for five years! I just thank God that we never took out the additional five year warranty that they tried to sell me several times over the last two years, and that we got all the warranty issues settled quickly, when they happened.

Anzac Day

Today we commemorate those who have fought for our freedom.

Lest We Forget.



It's been a nice Saturday. The weather is quite warm considering we're well into Autumn. It's nearly 5pm and it's still 26 degrees Celsius (79 Degrees fahrenheit). The kids have been outside most of the day, building things, hurting themselves, making a mess, but having lots of fun lol.....

I've actually been creating. I've decorated a tin so that I can keep my cards that I've made from getting bent. The only thing I did wrong, was that the tin is far too small. I've made far more cards than will fit into the tin. They are all squished in. I'll have to give some away for Mothers' Day. At least they make a nice and practical gift.

Accck, Picasa has had a conniption. It normally does my resizing and uploading in one action..... I'll fix Picasa and then I'll upload photos...

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

A Funny Day

Two posts in one day - what's going on lol...........???

I was in a rush earlier and didn't make the post as long as it could have been. I spent quite a bit of time on the phone earlier with my brother, well on Skype actually. We laughed and cracked each other up, it was so good, just the two of us, reminiscent of days gone by....... Felt so good to just chat and laugh and just be us. No-one to butt in, no-one but us - two geeks having a great time lol......

We were surfing together and checking out the specs on an imac as he wants to 'cross over' too at some stage. And I'm the best saleslady lol......

I just looooovvveee technology. It's so cool. It does stuff, and it changes and it just speaks to me in a way no other medium has ever done. While I'm not one of those that hangs off their mobile phones ad nauseum, I do love all the mod cons. Broadband, computers...........all things Apple.

Okay, better go and do something important like get dinner together for my family.

Otpus.......me thinks it should be Optout

I'm a city girl - through and through. A city girl who's lived in a regional centre now for nearly 20 years, and, once I got over the fact that the Chinese food isn't as good as it is from where I came from, I haven't really clamoured for city life at all. I can deal with the fact that people in general dress daggier here, and that we don't have all the stores here, having the internet basically puts everything at my finger tips anyway, and dressing super casual is kind of freeing. We've enough traffic around here, so that's not changed lol.....thank goodness I don't need public transport because it's virtually non existent. No, there's nothing I miss by being so far from a city......

Up until now that is!

I want to change our internet/home phone/mobile phone plans. It's time to change, and to save some money. I've done some calculations and I can get more than I have now for quite a bit less each month. For the sake of the headaches that changing providers can bring, I'd decided to stay with my current one. That was until last night, when I realized that the pamphlet I'd been perusing for two days mentioned nothing about ADSL, only cable. And, you gussed it, we can't get cable here...... For all intents and purposes I don't even know why the guy at the Optus store gave me a book, because I can't use any of their plans. Checked out their website, and the same deal, my current plan isn't even on there......

So this morning I went into the local Optus shop and there the guy told me that I couldn't change my broadband/phone plan, unless I wanted to go to a slightly cheaper phone, and a lesser/or more broadband connection (as far as downloads go), but none of the brochure's or websites plans were relevant to me......(or to anyone else in this area)!!!

I'm not impressed at all.

I don't know what to do. I can still reduce my costs, but I'd be saving $30 per month, rather than $58, so not to be sneezed at, but then I'd have the added headache of changing providers. The other provider I'm considering, has a very good reputation....their customer service is excellent

If I lived in a city, I would have so many options. Dropping the landline and having a faster broadband is possible. Cable is possible.

But not here.......and who knows when it will be. I'm at an impasse. Not sure what I'll do.