for unexpected crochet

 Tim is in the final weeks of his 9 month placement for his study. He's enjoyed it for the most part and has gotten on like a house on fire with his supervisor also know as his vicar father. He's had to do quite a few visits and seeing the church he's doing his placement at is connected to a retirement village they have been mostly to elderly people. The community is lovely and have welcomed us with open arms. 

A couple of weeks ago Tim went and visited a couple and the lady was crocheting a blanket when he was there. He told Margaret (said lady) that I was learning and really liked it. She was pretty pleased to hear a "young person" liked to crochet :) Anyway the next week at church she came up to me and said I've been working on this blanket and I'm almost finished would you like it? AHHH YES!!! :) So we picked it up and it is beautiful! She has done such a wonderful job, it's beautiful and thick and I can not wait to snuggle on the couch with it over my legs! (which apparently won't be for a while since Adelaide is having a bit of a surge in warmer weather!)

So I'm great for Margaret this week, her amazing crochet skills and her generosity to me!

check out more gratefuls over here!

a very special birthday for a very special lady

You know there are some people that you will know all your life. If you don't see each other for a long time it doesn't matter so much because you pick up from where you left off. Moppy is one of those friends.
She is 12 years older than me. She has been like a big sister to me. I have been able to talk to her about anything
She used to look after me after church when I was a little Lauren.
The photo above is taken the day of her confirmation in about 1986
We went and saw the Lion King in the cinema the first time it was released
Moppy has the most infectious laugh and the craziest curls!
She's a good woman and today is her 40th birthday!
Happy birthday to a beautiful, kind, generous, brilliant, talented, funny, BUSY, honest and wonderful person. I am so blessed to have known you my entire life. You really are a ball of energy and happiness and it really is so good to know you! Wish we could be there today to wish you many happy returns, share some cake...and help you celebrate this weekend! We hope you have a splendid time!
We tip our hats to you and wish you a very happy day!

grateful for friday night fun

I've been working with teenagers my whole working career...and then some...and then I was a teenager. I think working with teenagers and the amount of grey hairs I have is directly correlated...
But I digress...slightly.
In my former job I used to work Friday nights. For 6 years I ran around playing dodgeball, having discussions, eating ice cream and generally having a lot of fun while teaching some great young people. I finished up that job at the end of last year and went to a 8.30- 4 Monday to Friday job
I've getting used to it!
The thing I got used to most quickly was having Friday nights off!
On Friday night Mum and two of my sisters went to the bowerbird market...a really lovely market that happens each year...for the last 2 or 3 years..here in Adelaide.
We had a great time, we ate delicious brownies and gourmet sausage rolls from this place.
I bought a funny tea towel from this girl...Bec bought...a lot of cute things!
It was lovely to go and spend some time with with them and also spend some pocket money!
So I'm grateful for friday night fun...head over here for more grateful goodness!

28 projects

original image credit

I've been following this blog for a few years now and I really enjoy reading it. From the craft she creates to the small business advice to hearing about her husband being deployed to Afghanistan. It's safe to say it's one of my faves! Elise has written a few birthday lists in her time and last year challenged herself to make 26 projects between her 26th and 27th birthday. She did it...you can read about all the cool projects here!

So I thought I'd give it a go...but I'll have 28 projects to complete before I turn 29 on March 15th next year...

I'll be blogging about the fun here...

wish me luck! :)

take 2

click photos to see them larger!

Some more mini book fun...slowly slowly!

27 @ 27 mini book

 In terms of documenting this list I started off semi strong...doing little bits and pieces as I completed goals and tasks

 I had a lot of fun...but then I lost steam and as you know life gets busy and I get distracted...and the fact we don't have a colour printer didn't help! I know I know I'm making excuses!

 But every couple of months I'd get it out and do a bit more

 Now that I am 28...the year is done and I still have a fair bit to do in this little book for it to be fully finished. But it is enjoyable and I been over to my sister in laws to do some printing! :) Hopefully over the next couple of weeks you'll see the finished product!

27 @ 27 wrap up...

When I turned 27 I wrote a list of 27 things to achieve/do/get done while I was 27...well the deadline came and went yesterday....SO this is how I went!

I knitted something very cute other than a scarf

I went for a beautiful walk at Morialta with Tim

Went on a girls weekend with my sisters...totally doing that again!

Had a pedicure

made a collage of our trip to Europe

I got some very cute business cards for my etsy shop

I wrote 10 letters

I made at least 1 long distance phone call a month

 I had a market stall...again

I was assertive...on more than one occasion!

I played the drums...for about 5 minutes at school and I only have a couple of  staff members to back me up...no photo evidence! I wouldn't make that up...I had fun, I miss playing, I'll be doing it again!

We hosted Easter

! read Anne Frank's diary and The Narnia Chronicles

I wore skirts and dresses more often as part of Froktober

check out the pretty frocks here, here, here and here! 

We went to the Theatre

Tim and I started going on regular dates

I sewed something

I got a social work job

I was involved in a couple of craft swaps

and I surprised someone...

I didn't get around to getting a new tattoo, going on a picnic somewhere I have never picnicked before, expanding and diversifying my etsy shop, seeing  a foreign film, buy herbs and grow them...and buying home made second hand...I did but I probably needed to be a bit more specific...not bad I say not bad!
I'm making a little book to document the fun...but that is going to be a while before I finish that...I'm also concocting a new birthday challenge for 28...

march date

 Yesterday morning we headed out to Morialta Falls. It's a national park in the suburbs of Adelaide and it was an absolutely glorious morning to spend walking in the bush. We've been meaning to go walking there for...years probably. We had a really nice time and I can't wait to go again.

people were very friendly saying hello as we passed. I think everyone is in a good mood because it was a public holiday! Tim went off the beaten track a bit and explored! 

It was wonderful to get out in the fresh air and do some exercise! And of course spend some time together!
Going on a walk was also on this list....so I ticked another one of those off too! :)

february date...that we actually went on in March

 Seriously...where did February go? Tim was like a little kid at the start of February wanting to open up the envelope for our date. I'd organised a voucher for the fringe and he got to choose the show we would see. Time went by and all of a sudden it's March...good thing the fringe is still on til next week!

 He chose The Table which is "Polish boy band"...well that's how they described themselves! It was very interesting...they pretty much played the table. It was mainly percussion and there was also bass stings and guitar strings on 2 sides of the table that the guys played. It was a little unusual but very interesting and we had a nice time!

The finished product

How cute are these? I was talking about them the other night! Well I finished them!

I made them after I saw them in Pip's beautiful book!

There for a special little lady

and it also means I completed number one on my list...knit something other than a scarf! Huzzah!

Little by little that list is getting accomplished!

number six...tick!

I think I must be a last minute person, that list is getting a few things ticked off in these last few days! I was fancy this afternoon and got myself a pedicure!

feet are pretty weird looking things aren't they!

I've never had a pedicure, it was fun and a nice thing to do on a Thursday afternoon.

I'M NOT TOO OLD FOR THIS.....

I headed to Soundwave on the weekend....and this is where I take a slight detour...you ever seen the lethal weapon movies? The ones with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, there is a great saying that they're too old for this shit...but in the end they are willing themselves that they ARE NOT to old for this shit. Well on Saturday morning I was finding it hard to get enthused about standing up all day around drunk people...how negative hey! ha ANYWAY I got into the groove and got to see some of my all time favourite bands, some from high school days and even check out some new bands too.

 After...I don't know how long, I crossed Reliant K off my bucket list. I have enjoyed these guys music for...over 10 years now and FINALLY got to see them and meet them! It was special!

 Always fun to see Dashboard and sing along with all the songs that got me through uni!

 I asked the reliant K guys when they are going to be doing some of their own headlining shows in Australia...I hope soon!

our crew soundwave 2012...Dave, Anysley, Bec, Jek and me...after the rain came down!

I got to enjoy some old stuff too...Strung out, Bad Religion (those guys still know how to rock hard after all this time!), BUSH! (who even knew they were still touring and making music!). And once I had seen who I wanted to see I went home. I still got it...I'm NOT TO OLD for this shit! :)

knitting something other than a scarf...

I'm spending my Friday night knitting something other than a scarf in an attempt to tick something else off this list!

the garden

 We have newbies in town so we had to break them in and take them to the garden. It's pretty much my favourite thing to do in Adelaide in Feb/March. Yummy food, interesting people and great entertainment to check out.

  We enjoyed so much food...the desserts pretty much got murdered!

If you're a long time reader you may be sick of me writing about the garden...too bad ;)

check out here and here and here to see some past garden/fringe fun