Busy, busy, busy ...

Lots of running around today ... dropped the kids off at school, organized with Michael's teacher aide to pick him up early.
Picked up my coffee/shopping mate, drove to one shopping centre in blinding rain.
Found the shirt in size 12 for Tash (music performance tomorrow!) wasn't there, so drove to the next shopping centre, having to fight (nicely!) for parks each time.
Found the shirt, relaxed with a coffee for a while.
Drove coffee/shopping mate home, drove to third shopping centre to look in 2nd hand bookshop.
Drove home for 1/2 hour, then out just before 2 pm to pick up the kids.
Halfway there discovered I had forgotten to put Michael's Nintendo DS in, so went home.
Got to school and discovered I had left my shoes at home.
Found kids, went home to get shoes.
Got to drs. just on time, had to fill in a form with the dr for some re-evaluation stuff for further funding for Michael ... as if he is going to wake up one morning without Aspergers ... I don't think so!!!
An hour and a half later, drove back to shops, found a pair of black dress shoes for Tashy to wear to performance tomorrow.
Skipped in to Coles to pick up absolute necessities for weekend.
Stopped at dvd store on way home to select some viewing for weekend. Phew ... are you as exhausted reading this as I am???
And now we are going to dinner at my parents ... so I'm bringing you up to speed in case I don't get back here tonight ... *sigh*
Tomorrow, now that's a whole different story, but I'll share that tomorrow ... more next time!

New ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Jumble kit by Tracy Ann Designs. Font: Avante.)

Quick post before bed ... I'm very tired. Tracy Ann has a beautiful new kit out ... click here to see it. Skirt is well on its way, holidays are here ...bed is calling! More next time ...

I know there is a digiscrapping world out there somewhere ...

... I just can't get to it!!! Every night this week so far I have been away from my computer ... last night was a digiscrapping class. I am trying to bring some paper scrapping friends over to the dark side of the digi underworld, and believe you me, I don't have to try very hard, lol. One friend last night said it was the highlight of her week ... can you believe that? They are very keen, very enthusiastic, so the 'lessons' will continue. Last night we worked on a b&w photo, with a coloured part, like a bunch of flowers. (I'm sure there is a technical term for that, but I am sooooo tired and worn out that I can't think straight!) We learned all about The Font Thing, and then opened a freebie kit, and revised putting papers and elements in a layout, using my 'Sophie Girl' as a template. (Stuff like copying and pasting squares of paper, working with strokes, font work.)

The biggest hassle for me is working in Elements 2, which is on the computers in the lab we use. I never really used E2, as I started in PS7, so it is a real learning curve for me too, trying to find everything, and finding to my great sorrow, stuff that works in PS CS2 that is just not in Elements. Our little class (Megan and I do the 'teaching' together!) is so enthusiastic that they won't stop for coffee and biscuits ... how keen is that?

And tonight, dear reader ... what I am doing? Making a LONG blue skirt for my daughter to wear to a Strings Ensemble performance this Saturday night. I haven't touched my sewing machine for literally years ... and I'm afeard that it might have rusted away completely ... but tonight it comes out, and I sew. Albeit verrrry reluctantly.

And reaching right back to Tuesday night ... I did a layout for the Inspirations Gallery at DesignerDigitals, and of course, can't share that yet! Lots of effort but no sharing yet ... Of course, there is only one more sleep till I'm on holidays for a fortnight, so I will be scrapping away then. So don't desert me ... hold that spot ... I will be back ... sometime very soon!

Backtracking ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Blackburn, from Artlines Collections Three, from Tracy Ann Designs. Doodles from Digital Design Essentials. Messy Cream Stitching from DesignerDigitals. Font: Tahoma.)

Backtracking just a trifle ... to last xmas, and a quick layout of a friend's daughter. And then fast-forwarding to today ... ever have one of those days where you run around madly, and everything gets done EXCEPT your own work? Yeah, that was my day, lol.

I got halfway to school (on time!) only to discover that the boy's hat and bag were still home, so back we went. I minded a class for a teacher who had to run his daughter's hat over to her, at another school. And then I tracked down an order of books that had been messed up. Then I organized lunch for a grade one student (who's mother hadn't sent lunch, thinking it was a pizza day. It wasn't!), who decided when her salad arrived from the tuckshop, that she wasn't hungry any more. (By the way, her teacher decided she could eat it after all, and sat her down with her salad, lol!) That was pretty much the day ... one drama after another, but always someone else's drama, lol.

So not much of interest, dear reader ... just another day closer to the school holidays ... not that we are counting ... more next time!

Camping woes ... I mean ... joys!

(Layout credits - Kit: Ms Muffet kit by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Fonts : Susies Hand, Avante.)

Be sure to check out the DesignerDigitals store tomorrow ... lots of new stuff will be out. The above layout is using one of Katie's cute new kits, Ms Muffet ... how can it not be cute with a name like that? I promised myself I wouldn't use a kraft paper background for at least a week, and technically speaking, this isn't craft, it's called Cream, and that isn't kraft, is it, lol?

Layout two is using a photo a friend took of her daughter and boyfriend ... aren't they cute, and yes, that was taken a couple of years, and they are still together! They really are as nice as they look ...

(Layout credits - Sacked Harvest Paper Pack by Katie Pertiet. Notebook series by Tia Bennet. Messy Cream Stitches by Katie Pertiet. Snap Frames by Katie Pertiet. All from DesignerDigitals. Font: Typist.)

So did you notice a 'camping' reference up near the top of my blog? Not sure how it happened, but yes, we are going camping, for a whole five days and that means NO INTERNET! My children were discussing this today ... 'Is mum sleeping in the TENT?' asks one. 'Well, I guess so!' says the other one. 'Or she will have to sleep outside!' In my own defence, I need to let you know that I spent three weeks on the road not long ago, drove halfway across Australia and back, to our 'red centre' (desert, where Ayers Rock/Uluru is), and I lived to tell the tale. We camped with a camper trailer, a tent construction on top of a trailer. And yes, it wasn't much fun, but I got some great photos ... the big pity was it was all pre-Canon Rebel. And that, dear reader, is how I am being tempted to spend a few days at Carnarvon Gorge, the photographic opportunities are stunning, so I will put up with the complete lack of comforts for a few days. I am not an adventure girl, I love my home comforts, my internet and computer, my shops ... I could go on and on and on ...

We bought a tent today ... poor DH should have known better! He ended up walking out (staggering out, actually ... it weights 26 kilos!!!) with a tent twice as big and twice as expensive as he had intended! That's what happens when you shop with Sharon, and you would think after 20 years, he would know that, lol!!! And it is good thing he has several degrees too, cos it is going to take a man of great intelligence to work out how to put it up ... let's hope the cyclones are well and truly over before we hit the camping and walking trails ... guess I should finish off for tonight. More next time ...

Concentrate ...

(Layout credits - Striped paper from Springtime Bunnyhop, from Tracy Ann Designs. My kraft paper. Messy White Stitching from DesignerDigitals. Torn edge by Traci Murphy. Scraplift of AuntiePea's Silly Girl Pretty Girl. Font: Courier New.)

Now, quick, quick, before the scrapping police get me ... this is a TOTAL scraplift of a stunning layout, one of my favouites by Auntie Pea. I haven't done it justice, I know, but I did try, lol. Click here to see her layout.

I've struggled all day with a layout for Sweet Shoppe Designs, that will appear on the front page of the website next month. It is very intimidating to do the Sugar Babe layouts, knowing that when you log on to the site, your layout will be staring you in the face. It has to be good! And that's hard to do, on demand, I have discovered. I seem to have psyched myself out ... it was such a shock when the site opened, to see my layout when I logged on for the first time. It took me ages to get my heart back to its normal pace ... so every month now, I worry about what I create for the 'scraplift of the month'. Anyway, finally the layout was finished, and tucked into the SSD's vault till next month.

Of course, that means I have nothing to share on my blog ... hence the scraplift above. I intend to retire from my computer for the rest of the evening ... maybe watch a little tv (if there is anything half-decent on, a tall order on a Saturday night!), perhaps fold a few clean clothes, maybe even iron, if the spirit is willing. Aren't we sad, when we have children who go to bed early, and middle age hobbles in the door when you aren't watching? Tune in tomorrow for another riveting episode of my exciting life ...

Oh, before I forget ... *waving* ... hi, Cass's dad! Hmmm ... yes, I know you are out there, lol! You thought I hadn't noticed, but I had! More next time ...

Bah humbug!

(Layout credits - Paper from Fluster, from Tracy Ann Designs at Sweet Shoppe Designs. Swirls from Chick Pea by Rhonna Farrer. Photo by Maxine, post processing by me.)

Just in case you were wondering ... simple is HARD WORK. I had this gorgeous photo and stunning kit to work with ... and it just wouldn't gel. I spend what seemed like a small lifetime on this layout ... sometimes it creates itself, and sometimes the layout doesn't. Anyway ... enjoy! Aren't his eyes gorgeous ... I didn't touch them up at all, I just removed a scratch from his nose and cheek! Typical boy ... more next time!

Yes, it's a photo!!!

Oh, oh, oh ... can you see this? A photo in Blogger ... I had almost given up trying! I have been attempting to add photos to my blogging for days, and always ended up with an error message, and I had almost given up. I have a lovely collection of flowers I took during my 'photo a day' year at PBase last year, so every now and then when I haven't been able to scrap a page, I'm sharing my flowers with you.

I have this thing for the back of flowers, which I often find to be as beautiful as the front view. Most of my flower shots come from the gardens around the village where my parents live. Dad and I shoot together on the weekends, and we are so well-known now, that often the residents will come out and drag us round the back of the house to where they have a beautiful orchid or rose bush that they just know we will want to photograph, lol.

My dad is a scream ... he turns 70 this year, and is a product of his upbringing. He has always expected me to do the best I can possibly do, all my life, and has always said things like, 'So what happened to the last 5%?' when I came home with test results of 95/100. Not, 'Well done, you've done a great job!', but more, 'Well, why haven't you got 100%?' It is not something that has left lasting scars, I assure you, and I'm am amused by it now. Bear with me, gentle reader ... this IS going somewhere, lol ...

Dad is hard on me because we are like peas in a pod ... I am SO much like him. But now, as we wander the gardens in the village, he will introduce me to his friends as we meet them. 'This is my daughter, you know', he will say. 'Her photos are on the internet. THOUSANDS of people look at her photos!' The pride is very evident in his voice, even if he can't bring himself to say to me, 'You've done good, I'm proud of you and love you!' It is there in his voice, whether he knows it or not.

I have learnt from my father's example ... I am proud of my children, and tell others how intelliegent, good-looking, talented they are (they ARE all that, you know!) but I also tell THEM on a daily basis. I don't think my father reads my blog ... but just in case he does ... DAD, I LOVE YOU! And incidentally, I think you are a wonderful father and grandfather!!! More next time ...

If you must ride a bike, be very VERY careful ... 

Look left, look right ...

I had an adventure today. Michael and I were driving back from the shops to pick Tashy up after ensemble practise, and it was raining gently. I came up behind a scooter, ready to turn left into a main road, when the scooter went out from under the rider, right in front of me. I was going slowly and had no trouble stopping, and fortunately a dozen cars behind me stopped too. I put my hazard lights on, told Michael to stay put, and jumped out to see what I could do. The girl in the car behind me did the same thing, and we discovered a young girl of about 19 pinned under her scooter.

We managed to pull the bike off her, and pushed it up onto the pavement, then went back and helped her off the road too. My 4WD with its hazard lights flashing was easy to see, and I didn't want to move it till she was safely off the road, in case someone accidentally ran over her. I think she was unconscious for a few seconds after she came off the bike, because she wasn't moving at first. Fortunately, she seemed okay, as she sat on the wet grass on the edge of the road.

She rang a work mate nearby, who came after about 20 minutes. During that time, I stayed with her (after I moved my car off the road to let peak hour traffic pas). As she sat there waiting, a bus went by and her sister looked out the window and saw her sitting on the grass. She promptly got off at the next stop and hurried back to see her, and was so distressed, she started yelling at my poor patient when she saw she was ok. When her workmate arrived, she took her under her wing, made her ring her dad (who also yelled at her!) and I felt happy enough to leave her, after I left my name and number.

I learnt a couple of things from this experience today ... my husband also rides a motor bike, when he is not riding his pushbike to work. I hope if he ever has an accident, someone will stop and make sure he is ok. The young girl (I don't even know her name!) said she had fallen off her scooter once before, and people had driven around her!!! Can you imagine the callousness of that? I also learnt that I need to have a blanket in the car ... she needed something around her as she went into shock, and I had nothing to keep her warm. And I also decided that my children will NEVER ride a bike, if I have anything to do with it. Be safe, everyone ... more next time!

PJ Bear ...

(Layout credits - My paper. Stitched Thingeys One, by Tracy Ann, at Sweet Shoppe Designs. Font: Apple Garamond, Century Gothic. Inspiration: a layout called Astonished, by tyting.)

Spread your love ...

(Layout credits - My paper. Wordart by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Font: Loosie.)

Back to the grind ...

Well, can't seem to add a photo through Blogger again, so I'll chat, then add it through Hello! Life is obviously not meant to be easy. So so day today. I had lost the headache, but still felt fragile around the edges. And my memory ... totally shot today. I was trying to catalogue some new books, would look at the price on the back page, and by the time I had turned the book over to write it on the front page, I had forgotten the price! Someone told me that sunstroke can do that to you!

Book Fair went home today ... great relief! We have our library back to normal, and over $400 worth of free books to put on our shelves. It is so nice to get some new stuff out to the kids. I really love the library side of my job ... not so sure about the teaching and IT side, that's just waaaay too much hard work, specially with computers that WON'T work and kids that don't WANT to work, lol. But enough of work ... I enjoy eating and don't want to be fired this week!

Tashy has sort of recovered from her triathlon ... I think it took a lot more out of her than she was expecting. There were 2,300 kids swimming, biking and riding ... which is a lot of kids in a small space, if you think about it. Add the same number of bikes, and as many parents, and a hot, sticky day ... and it all adds up to exhaustion. She did so well. I've just realized I didn't write anything about the race, but you saw from the photos that she had a fun time. She is seriously considering doing another one in a month.

I am seriously worried about her bony shoulder blades though. I think she is burning what little fat she had off, so I am going to be watching what she is eating. Mind you, she eats like a horse, but it is very healthy fat-free stuff her father 'enjoys' eating. Must away, enjoy the two layouts above, more next time!

Quiet times ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Metro by Jackie Eckles, Messy Cream Stitching by Katie Pertiet, from DesignerDigitals. Font: Avante.)

I totally didn't recover from yesterday's 'standing around in the hot sun for half the day episode' yesterday, so I took the day off work today. I had a blazing headache 24 hours after the event, felt quite disorientated and disconambulated (it's ok, you're allowed to make up words on your blog!), so I organized to have the kids dropped off after school, and managed to get them to the front doors this morning on time. Stopped in at the chemists' on the way home to get the strongest painkillers I could, then had a very quiet 'pottering round' sort of day.

No, I didn't scrap, but I did visit a few galleries looking for inspiration, and tidied up my Inspirations folder, cut up some layouts and put them in an album, tidied a bit, vacuumed a bit, all very slowly, no sudden or rapid movements, lol. It was very peaceful, having a mental health day. The weekends are always so busy, with noise and people around, and Fridays are often busy but fun as well. It was nice to be home alone.

Tonight it is quiet too ... the boy is asleep, and the girl and her dad are out at a music practise, so I scrapped the above layout, using Jackie's new kit at DesignerDigitals. Here is what is in the kit ...

Such yummy colours ... I haven't used much of the kit, but I will have another play with it later, and use some more pretty things in it. Going to go iron for a while, so we have clean, ironed clothes to wear tomorrow. More next time ...

Triathlon photos ...

waiting for the marathon to start ...
Blogger won't let me add my photos, and I have a doozy of a headache, after standing out in the sun for four hours, so I am adding them in Hello. I'll blog more tomorrow!

daughter and father ... 

at the end of the day ... 

at the beginning of the day ... 

pounding the pavement ... 

in transition ...

Off with the dragonflies ...

(Layout credits: Kit: Fluster by Tracy Ann, at Sweet Shoppe Designs. Messy White Stitching by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Font: P22 Garamouche, Two Century MT.)

What on earth would I do without a daughter to photograph and scrap? Mind you, one is quite enough. This one daughter took about four hours to do what should have taken her 15 minutes ... she read, she played, she generally did everything she possibly could, except tidy her room. She wasn't in trouble, she was just very r-e-l-a-x-e-d!!! Tracy Ann is putting out some new kits at Sweet Shoppe Designs, and she was kind enough to email me pieces of the Fluster kit, so that I could have a play with them.

We measured the boy today ... he is only 5 1/2 cm behind me, and has grown 2 cm in the last 2 1/2 months. I am convinced that by the end of the year, he will have passed me, and will be closing in on his father. I have a layout in mind ... something along the lines of photographing Michael standing close behind me, with the caption ... 'Has any one told you? There is a tall, dark and handsome stranger with a deep voice behind you!!!' I love my big boy.

(Layout credits - Kit: Flying High by Kellie Mize, at DesignerDigitals. Snap Frames, Alpha and Messy Cream Stitching by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Font: Avante.)

I love these Snap Frames by Katie. I am a real sucker for frames, and these are versatile ... everything looks better framed, I think. They come as a brush of course, so you can change the colour easily, to work with your photo.

Tashy is running in a kids' triathlon tomorrow, so we will be up with the birds, and the camera will be out. Hmmm ... think I had better go check the batteries and recharge them. So expect some swimin', ridin' and runnin' photos tomorrow! Off now ... more next time!

Happy birthday, Sheri!

(Credits: Kit: Bloomin' by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Font: Loosie Script.)

Here's wishing Sheri at DesignerDigitals a happy birthday today. I've used some papers and a ribbon from this pretty kit by Katie to make this card ...

You didn't see this, did you, Lanne? Hmmm ... where are you, Lanne? Haven't heard from you much this week ... hope your week is going well!

I met another online friend today ... and we both did the safe thing ... we brought a friend or our children with us to the coffee shop, lol! It was lovely to catch up with Suzy and meet her two beautiful girls. Olivia is such an engaging bright little button ... She would say, 'Excuse me, I just have something to say ...' and then there would be a pregnant pause while you could hear her little brain ticking away, as she thought of what she was going to say next. And Abi had one phrase down pat ... 'Down! Down!' she kept saying firmly, when she was ready to explore. We had a fun time visiting at a coffee shop, and I hope we can catch up again soon, Suzy!

It's movie night ... the kids are almost in bed ... DH is on the lounge with the remote in hand ... must away ... more next time!

Same photo, different view!

(Layout credits - Paper from Spring Mini kit from Tracy Ann Designs. Font: Hank BT.)

I'm having a bit of fun here tonight. Today was a dreadful day at work, so when I got home, I took some photos of my favourite, most co-operative subject, and started scrapping. Four hours later, I had a beautiful photo and nothing else, lol. So I emailed my muse and said, 'Can you make me something beautiful to put on my blog, and we'll call it my layout, ok?' Of course, I wouldn't do that! At least I think I woudn't, lol! By the time Megan had sent me her gorgeous layout, I had one of my own ... so tonight you have two views of the same photo.

(Layout credits - kit: Forever Grateful kit by Gina Cabrera, Boho Chic Elements by Michelle Coleman. Font - John Doe.)

This is Megan's layout ... isn't it beautiful? It is so much fun to see what others do with your photos. Thank you, friend! More next time ...

Did you know ...

... that Tracy Ann has a beautiful new kit out, with a special offer? In her own words, Spring mini is ...

'a little spring kit has 7 papers with three patterned papers and four textured plains (see the mini squares for colours). The set is $3.25 but you can receive it FREE with any purchase over $7.00 (valid until March 21st). Simply place your order and you will receive via email a special code to download your free paper pack. Not available with any other offers. Three special designer papers and four textured plains to match.'

I forgot to mention this when I posted my layout of 'Sleeping Child' a couple of days ago ... Don't miss out ... this is a very pretty kit! Visit her blog and store at SBB to find more gorgeous stuff and enjoy ... more next time!

Lake Wanaka

(Layout credits - Kit: Adventurer by Jackie Eckles. Snap frame by Katie Pertiet. Both from DesignerDigitals. Font: Avante.)

Quick blog tonite ... I'm exhausted, and still have a bunch of clean clothes to work my way through, but wanted to share this layout with you. For the technically minded ... I sharpened the photo, straightened the horizon, cropped the photo and added a filter! Enjoy, and more next time!

A sleeping child ...

(Layout credits - Paper from My Design Spring Mini, from Tracy Ann Designs. Flower from DD. Font: Avante.)

Isn't this a treasure of a photo? Yvette shared it with me, and at a Digiscrapdivas' chat tonight, I scrapped it. Hope you like it, Yvette. More next time ...

A boy and a box ...

(Layout credits - Paper: My Design One Mocha, from Tracy Ann Designs. Font: Avante.)

My kids came home from school today, worn out. We drove into the garage, and Michael spotted a rope and a box. Instantly revived. Out onto the front lawn, a quick lesson on lassooing for his sister, and then it was on for one and all. An hour later ... two happy and (even more) worn out kids. I love the fact that they still use their imaginations to play, and fresh air has gotta be good for them, right???

And like a good mum, I scrapped the moment, using one of Tracy Ann's new paper packs, Mocha. So easy to use ... and the blue on the paper matched the blue in Michael's tshirt perfectly.

A pretty quiet day at work today ... our Book Fair arrived today while most of the school was away at a swimming carnival, which means total bedlam in the library for the next week, as little people struggle with the concept that they have to actually PAY for these books, rather than tuck them under their sweaty little armpits and walk out the door. And sometimes they give in to the naughty little devil sitting on their shoulder, and try to escape with their pockets filled to the brim with pencils, erasers, and whatever else they can cram in. Lots of organizing and watching and supervising entailed for the poor teacher librarian, but if we sell a significant amount, we get free books to the value of 35% of our sales. Great to get my hands on new books ...

I believe there is an Aussie chat at Digiscrapdivas tonight, so might wander off and see if they will let me in the door ... more next time!

Enjoy ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Zoom by Sandra Boddington, at Sweet Shoppe Designs. Messy Cream Stitching from DesignerDigitals. Font: Avante.)

Look at this little free spirit ... tripping through the woods. Possibly checking for snakes, lol! It is hard to equate that little boy with the big one with a deep voice that lives in my house now ... it is only two years ago. Wow! We measured Tashy yesterday, and she is almost the same height as Michael was last year ... and get this, she is three years younger than him. Oh boy, not only do we create beautiful and intelligent children, lol, (excuse the motherly pride here!), we also make them TALL! This layout is using Sandra's new kit called Zoom at Sweet Shoppe Designs, an ideal kit for scrapping photos of little boys and trains and trucks and the like!

Monday has come and gone ... best not to say too much about it. Tomorrow is a new day, and most of the school is away on a swimming carnival, so it will be a quiet day. Yes, just what I need ... so must away to bed ... more next time!

Attitude ...

(Layout credits - Brown paper from Girlfriends Stacy, pink paper and ribbon from Warm Cocoa, at Tracy Ann Designs. Inked Edges by Atomic Cupcake. Messy White Stitches from DesignerDigitals.)

Don't really need to add much to this layout, do I, lol! Have a great day, and more next time ...

Sometimes creativity goes on vacation ...

(Layout credits: Paper from Random Blue Minis, words from Random Blue Words, from Tracy Ann Designs. Brush frame from Web Challenge at DesignerDigitals. Inspiration from Web Challenge at ScrapArtist. Blue distressed frame by vintagecharm. Fonts: MA Browny t00, from Digital Designs Essentials, KR Heartalicious.)

... and no matter how hard I try, the layout just won't jell. I think I spent about four hours last night working on this layout, and at the end of the night, I saved it into a WIP folder. This morning, I thought I would check out the web challenge at ScrapArtist for this week, and found this ...

I think out of all the stuff I use for inspiration, ads and websites are my favourites, probably because they are well-designed (they have to be!) and to the point.

I had my very own designer custom-make the blue distressed border (thanks, Megan!) and she suggested the font, so by the time I got to the end of all the credits, I am not sure that much of it is mine, lol. But I'm happy now ... and you would totally NOT recognize the sad effort from last night in the above layout, lol! It is funny the places that creativity takes us, and that we eventually end up at! I'll probably be back later today, just wanted to share this layout. More next time ...

What's in a name?

(Layout credits: Font: Century Gothic, Loosie Script. Flower brush: not sure, can anyone help me?)

This week's question for the Simply You challenge was a hard one ... so I ignored it, and went off on my merry way in a completely different direction. It was something like, 'Have you ever wanted to change your name? If so, to what and why?' I couldn't think of anything, so just used the question as a springboard, and asked my parents why they called me what they did. Apparently they were both convinced I was a boy, but that was obviously not to be, lol. I don't particularly like my name, but I can't think of anything else that would be ME, so I am stuck with it.

Had a great day ... went to see 'Walk the Line' with a friend, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think both the main actors should have won Oscars, they were so good. Great music, but such a sad story. Artists often have such tortured and unhappy lives, I sometimes think. Much better to be pretty ordinary, I think. I didn't know Johnny Cash's life story, so as much as you can believe a movie, I am now a little more educated about the man.

I haven't scrapped much today ... too busy movie-ing and shopping and doing the day-to-day stuff of home! I ran out of cat food yesterday, and Doug hid his last tin of tuna (which I am apt to feed to the cat every now and then!) and poor Pusscat only had milk for breakfast. When I got home from the shops, I fed him, about 4 pm. Then he turned up a couple of hours later, and demanded another feed! That cat has a good life, I tell you!!! He knows which door to camp outside. Well, must finish off for the day and find my bed ... more next time!

How to make Sharon's shopping experience even more fun ...

Just a suggestion or two ... see if you can read between the lines!

1. Iffen you must fight with your spouse/partner/children, the queue at the supermarket is probably not the best place to do that.
2. Tired children need to be home in bed, not trailing around behind mum and dad while they shop for a new computer.
3. The best place to have a conversation with a friend is not the middle of the walkway between shops.
4. Perhaps if you've been working outside all day in the heat, a shower would be refreshing before you visit the shops, and a tshirt with your shorts is always a nice touch when out in public.
5. Trolley bays are always miles from where your car is parked, but leaving it nudged up against Sharon's car is just NOT NICE.

*sigh* ... it's always nice to get home, put the shopping away, put a nice new cover on the ironing board (someone ironed THRU the last one), catch up on the blog, then retire to the lounge with a mag ... more next time!

I've scrapped all night ...

... and don't have a thing to show for it, lol! One of those pesky layouts that go into the vault, and have to stay there till March 15, so no sharing till then! Double rats!!!

But I can share a photo of Pusscat ... I see this every morning as I look out the kitchen window. He is waiting for breakfast, meowing silently, as I can't hear him through the glass, but I can see his mouth opening and shutting. He has me wound right around his little paw ... I can resist one or two meows, but after that, I'm heading off to find his breakfast.

Oooh, just thought of something I can share. Yvette and I have been sharing kiddie photos, and she posted one today of my boy ...

Hasn't she done a fabulous job ... this is to be used as a desktop. She is so much more artistic than me ... with swirls and splotches squiggles and all sorts of good things that I don't seem to have the ability to control, lol. I love what she has done. I have a couple more photos of hers to work with, and she is doing another one of Tashy ... can't wait!

It's nearly 11 pm, so I am heading off to bed ... happy days and nights, everyone! More next time ...

The end ...

of the day!

Too busy chatting at Digiscrapdivas to blog tonight, lol! More next time ...

Don't like Mondays ...

(Layout credits - Papers from Web Challenge at DesignerDigitals. Fonts: Loosie Script, Kravitz Extra Thermal.)

... basically because it means the end of the weekend, it means back to a routine that isn't much fun compared to staying home and playing on my favourite toy, it means I struggle to get to school with children and all the associated bits and pieces accompanying us ... on time! It also means a full day of teaching and stress, and usually a long staff meeting ... and ... and ...

Oh yes, but when it is over, I am one day closer to next weekend, lol! Off to dream about the weekend ... more next time! :)

Fresh start to the day ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Peas-n-Carrots from DesignerDigitals. Font: Myriad Pro.)

That happy little face is bound to make you smile ... she is lining up for training with her dad ... in the RAIN! What is wrong with the girl? And yes, I did make her stand out on the verandah in the rain, just so that I could take her photo, lol! The things we make our kids do, in the name of our art! Mind you, her father was right behind me, encouraging her to smile! This is using a brand new DD kit by Katie, out in the shop tomorrow ... LOVE the name of the kit, lol!

(Layout credits - (Layout credits - Paper from Brighten from Tracy Ann Designs. Font: Myriad Pro.) )

Such a handsome boy, our lad. I told his father today that we made beautiful children together ... lazy, unmotivated, untidy ... but beautiful, lol! That photo was taken with my 200 mm lens, one of three shots I was able to catch, only one that was usuable. You have to be quick to photograph this boy.

(Layout credits - Papers from Basics Montclair from Tracy Ann Designs. Magic and stitching from DesignerDigitals. Font: Myriad Pro.)

Third layout for today is pretty self-explanatory ... I am constantly amazed at how quickly my children are growing up around me. In height, in personalities, in every which way. I think this is a very special time ... even though I would like to give them away on some (very few, of course!) occasions, I do enjoy them. And I am fully aware that they will not be round for too much longer. Time is flying past ... they will soon be adults. *sigh*

Happy weekend, to those who are still enjoying it, and more next time!