if anyone knows....

...where August went...I'd appreciate you letting me know where it went! :)

bunting swap

 I think I must be a little addicted to swaps at the moment! Cushions...postcards...now there is a fun bunting swap happening! HECK YES! Count me in!

I've already emailed the lovely Rachel over at Squiggly rainbow! and I am set!

who doesn't love a bit of bunting!!? No really I am asking! :)

head over and say hi to Rachel and join in the fun!
(pictures are from bunting made by a lovely friend for our wedding!)

getting crafty

 A few weeks ago...or months I can't remember, I sent a friend an email. I didn't hear back from her for a while, a week or so which was odd, she's usually pretty quick to email back. I thought she's busy, no biggy! But when she emailed back she told me she had been trying to get off the computer a bit and do some crafty projects.

It got me thinking. I had been feeling like the creativity was getting sucked out of me. I was reading wonderful blogs about other people being crafty but not getting anything done myself. It all seemed too hard. To hard to get the sewing machine out, or too hard to learn a new stitch. I needed a dose of could be bothered.

I decided I needed to pull my finger out...so I did. I think it was Daria who helped me. I was chain watching the series on DVD and knitting squares for a blanket that might get finished in the winter of 2030....maybe... and I got the urge to get with it and cut the time I was on the computer a bit and do some crafty activities.

 and I am really enjoying it! I mean I sit at a computer/at a desk more than I'd like to at work and my back gets sore and then I come home and just get on the computer again...don't even get me started on how this negatively impacts on relationships especially between man and woman. Perhaps it's winter who knows

So here are the things I've been working on. I've found a new groove on my Mondays (day off) to make an effort to not be on the computer so much. But don't worry I'll still be checking out all your lovely blogs but I'll be getting crafty too. It's good for the soul! 

first day

 At the start of each school year my mum used to take a photo me and my sisters ready to go to school. It was a bit of a tradition! As a side note I think I might carry on the tradition when we have kids...and they eventually go to school!

Today it's Tim's first day of his 8-9month pastor prac...mostly known as vicarage.

He went off happily today looking forward to his meeting with his supervising Pastor.

my bed

 It's not until you can't sleep in your bed that you really think...man I am grateful for my bed! Above is my makeshift bed for this weekend...on the carpet/ground in our lounge

and our usual comfy bed!

I'm doing the 40 hour famine this weekend. But instead of giving up food I have given up furniture. I've been at a conference all day and had to sit on the floor! It's pretty uncomfortable but it's for a good cause. This year the funds are helping families in East Timor...if your interested in checking it out go here...and to donate go here!

AND to see more gratefuls head to Maxabella's!

my brother

...would have been 30 today

Happy Birthday Stuart x

all stitched and sent

Last year I learnt how to crochet...I quite enjoy it, but I'm still a bit dodgy at it, you know when you learn how to knit and you drop a stitch or split the wool? I'm still learning a simple stitch but I'm hanging in there and determined to try some different things. I thought I would give crocheting some flowers for this swap with the theme "bloom"

assembling the postcard... 

My sister is a bit clever when it comes to these things and showed me how to do the flowers. I had to have a few practice goes...but it was fun in the end and no split wool! 

So it's in the post on it's way to America. I hope the lovely lady receiving it likes it!

To check out what some of the other clever people did with the theme bloom...head over here.

making it handmade

I watched this film/documentary last night on ABC 2 by Melbourne filmmaker Anna Brownfield. Gosh it was interesting and inspiring, challenging and thought provoking. There were many crafty ladies who spoke about why they craft. One was the delightful Pip. I've read Pip's blog for a couple of years now and love it. She is one creative and inspiring lady. Another one of the ladies was Casey who is a craft-a-vist (craft activist). She had some really interesting things to say and there was a great scene in the film where she was doing fence crochet...look I can just say go and watch it on ABC 2 it's on iview for a couple of weeks so head over there now. 

Now I'm off to sew something! :)

mumma and pappa

These are my parents the day they got married....35 years ago today

they were 21

It was a VERY wet day...pouring in fact...so I have been told...many times! :)

Apparently when I was little I was playing with my sister and I said

"Do you know what, we weren't even invited to Mummy and Daddy's wedding!"

Happy Wedding Anniversary Ma and Pa may there be many more years of you doing life together and being good examples to us

WE LOVE YOU LOTS!!!!

flea market finds

Have you ever been with someone on their first EVER visit to an OP shop? Yesterday I did! The lovely Alex announced to us when we had arrived at savers that it was her first time OP shopping! We've been planning this trip for weeks because it's new in SA and it's a fair way from where any of us live. Zoe was the one that had told us about! We were all so excited! And we ALL came away with some great finds! 

I've had a spice rack on my wish list for a while....and yesterday we found 2! A beautiful dress that fits in all the right places, a beautiful green skirt and a "serious" work shirt! :)

We had a really great time and we're already planning our return!

Have you found anything great at the Op shop lately?

Head over to Sophie's and see some other great finds! 

generosity beyond belief!

I'm not sure where this story started. Whether it was when we had a few snafoo's with money (eg turning up to the airport the day after we actually meant to fly and having to pay for a new flight...and an expensive one!, or our car being on the blink...I won't go any further) or whether it was our mate asked us to go to the foo fighters and we had to say no because there was so much to pay on the credit card...and it wasn't payday for another 5 whole days...and there was no money in the account...I'm not sure.
Perhaps I'll start with when the friend asked us if we wanted to go see the foos with them. Because that's the real star of the story! We have a bit of a history with this friend. We lived in QLD at the same time, went to a few of the same youth camps, and went to some gigs together. We both moved back to Adelaide at different times and found ourselves working together at a school with the young people. We had a lot of fun. There were a few long distance road trips with the young people. One that was for the big people was one to Melbourne...3 or so years ago, to see the foo fighters! It was a REALLY fun trip. Despite the horrible backpackers we stayed in! Tim still thinks he caught bed bugs from there! BUT I DIGRESS!!!
So about 3 or 4 weeks ago just before the tickets went on sale for the foo's our mate asked if we wanted to go. I said yes but that we couldn't possibly afford it. I was hoping it wouldn't sell out and that hopefully we'd get a decent tax return to square our most pressing debts and still have a bit of room for fun. I got talking to his wife (who works at the same school as me) during the week and she said they had been talking and they had decided if we still wanted to go they would shout us! WOW! I had sort of put it out of my mind cause I didn't really want to miss out on seeing Mr Grohl and that was the way I was dealing with it! But you gotta say no sometimes after all sometimes it is more important to buy food than go to a concert...even though I didn't live by that when I was in uni...but I digress again! SORRY! So I spoke with my mates wife...she's my mate too..and said well we actually got that tax return we were hoping for so we could pay them back. That was that.

Yesterday she asked me to come see her in the last lesson of the day. She handed me an envelope and said, "We want you to have this, we don't want you to pay us back. When E was studying there was a lady at his church that would give him $20 each week and say buy yourself something I know you don't have a lot." They wanted to pay it forward and she said if we have the opportunity or are in a position to do that to pay if forward one day too! :) there was also a voucher in the envelope for jeans west....and we all know I need a pair of jeans!

So I am grateful for CRAZY generous friends! AND that I get to go to a cool concert with Tim and a good friend! for more grateful stories head over to Maxabella loves and wish her a happy birthday!

zealous

 it was 25 degrees in Adelaide...I mean Radalaide :) 

IN AUGUST...what the!

I got zealous and wore sandles. It was a funny day for comments on what I was wearing. Someone said I looked lovely, someone (a student...I have known for a long time...) said I looked like I was going to a funeral...I had a lot of black on and then someone said it wasn't hot enough for sandles and then someone else said it was great that we could wear sandles today!

ha

tomorrow is forecast for 17...

I won't be wearing these shoes!

getting my punk on

I'm listening to some of my old fave's today! The sun is shining...I sort of feel like cleaning...good thing too cause we have a guest later this week and I am totally going for a walk soon to get some vitamin d! it is a glorious day here in Radalaide!

How do you comment back!?

Hi Friends! I hope you are all having a wonderful Monday. I've been quite productive today, washing, dishes, doctors, birthday present for brother in law...and getting my tax done...slowly!

I have a question for you, and a thank you! I love all your comments. I get so excited when people say a little hello at the end of my posts, it's wonderful! but I like to return the favour and especially if there is a question I like to answer it.

How does it work for you? Do you just add another comment to the end of the comments and hope your lovely commenters come back and have a look...or do you subscribe to get an email on any comments after yours? OR do you go say hello at their blog on their last post?

I'd love your feedback!

Hope you have a wonderful day x

our little winter holiday

We got there in one piece...and decided to do a ceremonial photo by the welcome sign...

I thought I had a bit of a double chin in this one...so took another

I

Jek thought that was pretty hilarious... 

 We stocked up...and yes there are some vegetables in there somewhere under all the treats!

the sun was out so we enjoyed lunch on our little outdoor setting before starting a GG marathon...only stopping for winners and losers on Tuesday and Op shopping and Offspring on Wednesday...oh and sleep of course! knitting and crocheting while we watched!

 We ate lots of delicious food!

including pancakes and berry sauce...YUM

 and perhaps a couple of cheeky pieces of almond chocolate on the top...

I kid you not...a sign in the newsagents window!

 The bathroom had some pretty choice tiles...

 As I said we did a spot of op shopping...sharing what I got deserves a whole other post...I'll be back 

tomorrow to share! :)

We had an excellent time. So much so we'll definitely be doing it again and perhaps for an extra night...who knows perhaps it will become an annual thing! let's hope so!

If I could be a back up singer for anyone...

How cool would it be to be one of those sophisticated looking ladies in the back singing with none other than Jonny Farnham. Thanks to Rach for the inspiration! Totally turned the frown upside down!

we're all going on a...winter holiday

Image credit

My sisters and I are heading down to Goolwa for a couple of nights for our first (possible annual?...we'll see how well or not well this one goes!) sister trip! If you are familiar with South Australia it's down South near Victor Harbour, which is also close to Hindmarsh Island where cute little fairy penguins live!

We've got plenty of DVD's, knitting needles...and wool, crochet hooks, frankie, the toasty maker and plenty of fruit and chocolate packed. We've sussed out where all the op shops are in Goolwa and the surrounding towns. 

I'm rather excited!

see you in a few days!

great postcard swap

It was around this time last year I had a crack at my first sewn postcard...it was fun...and I'm doing it again!...I've missed a couple in between but have some cracking ideas for this theme! Might involved some crochet fun! It'll also help me out with my 27 @ 27 challenge!

head over here if you'd like to join in the swap!

grateful for skype!

skype is the bomb! 

it means I can talk to my beloved friend who lives in the UK for free...we don't do it nearly enough and even if the internet is deciding to be crap and cuts in and out...it's still great to hear her voice and catch up with what is going on in her part of the world!

So I'm grateful for the genius who invented skype!

for more grateful action head over to the lovely maxabella loves...she's got a cracking list this week!

mend...and make do

 This is what happens when we wear the same 2 pairs of jeans for 6 whole weeks walking around Europe... 

bugger...the holes are worth it cause we had a great trip...but the budget is pretty tight since coming back so I gotta make do and mend, and if they last til the end of the winter I will be stoked!

So mum had some iron on hole fixer stuff...it has a name, you know what I mean! I just put it on... then read the instructions...WHOOPS! I pretty much did everything wrong, it said to wash the garment before, didn't do that, round the corners didn't do that...ha oh well. It's not so pretty but it's on the inside and as I said if they last for the winter I'll be happy and can start over next winter!

Is there anything you've had to mend and make do with lately?