King Kong

Have you seen it yet? Absolutely fantastic! (dont take your kids!) Im glad we went first and didnt take the kids (even though they like watching scary stuff) ...Parts of it would have freaked them out...Well it sure freaked me out....all I can say is giant bugs!!! The story was great and excellent direction, sad and funny in parts too! Takes awhile to get into the story until they get to the island but then its all action packed.
Go see it on the big screen!
Had a lovely dinner out..had salmon filo wraps for entree and ostrich in a port jus for mains...I like to have different food when I go out to dinner. Had a leisurely dinner and then movies...had to have a strong coffee for both of us before as we thought we might fall asleep(movie is 3 hours long)...how wrong were we...I was sitting on the edges of the seat/looking throught my outstretched fingers at the scary stuff or hiding my face in my hands/hubbys shoulder the whole time....lol!
Weta workshops did a great job but Peter Jackson...man is he good!

And then there was none!

Mess that is! I have been buying up at whitcoulls these storage boxes that are 50% off at the moment to put my stuff in...lets see if I keep it tidy!! lol!
So its all ready to scrap up a storm this weekend.
Tonight Im off to dinner with DH and a movie. Kids staying with their Grandma so sleep in too in the morning. Yeehah!!!

Off to

Tauranga today to visit a LSS and finish off at Taurangas Wave pool with teh kids. Have got my togs too so looking forward to that.
Im buying C/S and papers to do an album for Nephew and Fiance who are getting married in March. Its a gatefold 8x8 album ..one side his and one side hers. Then I am telling the story of them and their love story and finish off with the wedding (am in the process of checking out my friends photo printing capabilities...does Kmart have photo printing kiosks?) The wedding is a 3pm one so the local photo stores may be closed. I am having the guests fill in on the inside bottom their thoughts etc. Any ideas/tips appreciated!
Catch you later.

Back in the nick of time/SPT

Started this yesterday but it is now Tuesday 24th. Happy anniversary to my Hubby for yesterday...weve been married 18 years and been together for 20 years now! My doesnt time fly!
The weather has turned awful it seems, ...the next summer cub camp (followed us) will be in a boggy mess by Thursday I reckon. We picked the good time to go as it was beautiful if hot!
I am totally exhausted...as you can see in my self portrait ...there are major bags under my eyes and my hair is a mess!
We had a great time... lots of laughs but I really missed my bed. My camp stretcher is pretty good I have to say but my bed has more room!
I am sick of telling kids what to do all day though......get your hat, Mitchell!....hurry up Toby...where is your water bottle David?...be quiet....tidy up your scarf Mitchell...put it in your bag, Joshua...no, the shop doesnt open until 4pm, Emily....go and change out of your wet clothes Mitchell....have you got some shorts, David/Jacob? You will cook in those clothes....hurry up Toby!....Stop whinging, Jennifer, we are all tired.....line up!....you have 2 minutes before tent inspection...lol!
This pic is of all of the cubs getting ready for their camp fire ceremony. Their camp fire blankets all have badges (swapped and bought ones) stitched on to it! Some of the camp staff had over a hundred on their blankets..awesome!
There were some photos of me taken by some of my groups parents but will have to wait to get those.
Just blobbing out today....Got my Tarisota collcetion yesterday so am drooling over my kit planning how I will use it all...Also got my latest Memory Makers magazine...was getting worried as got the envelope precursor(for resubscribing) early last week and I usually get the magazine the next day. Am off shortly to take kids to the movies so wont have time to scrap until tonight. Might clean up my scrap area first...its the worst Ive ever seen it... Note the height and depth that my mess is...lol!

Tagged my Michelle

So had better do this before I go on cub camp...am up early as cant sleep..worrying about whether Ive got this or that! Will probably find Ive left some of my own personal stuff behind coz Im too worried about the cub pack gear! lol!

anway here is the ABC one

A is for age. 39
B is booze of choice. Bottled wine preferably Babich Pinot Gris.
C is for career. Sharemilker and mother.
D is foryour Dads name. Grant
E is for essential items to bring to a party. Nice wine and a karioke attitude..yeah!
F is for favourite song at the moment. Well last week I would have said 'Push the button' by the pussycats but I am getting sick of it been played over and over again on the radio. So Id have to say Kelly Clarksons latest.
G is for favourite game. Board game- scrabble. Other- hockey
H is for hometown. Whakatane.
I is for instruments you play. Used to play piano.
J is for jam or Jelly you like. Plum or apricot.
K is for kids. 2 (Rhys 11.5 and Jennifer 8.5)
L is for living arrangements. Living with DH, 2 kids, 1 dog and 2 cats on my mothers dairy farm.
M is for Mums name. Kathleen
N is for name of your crush. Dont have one
O is for overnight hospital stays. Having my two kids..thats all.
P is for phobias. Moths or anything flying into my face. Dont like heights.
Q is for quotes you like. Like lots cant remember any!
R is for relationship thats lasted the longest. 20 years with DH
S is for sexual preference. With DH of course.
T is for...there is no T ..where did T go? Alright Ill make one up..T is for time of day you like. Early morning hapving a cuppa while looking at blogs before kids get up.
U is for Underwear. Nice and sensible ones for cub camp..
V is for vegetable you love most. Broccoli
W is for weekend plans. Cub camp with 12 kids at Waitewheta near Waihi. Hope it doesnt rain!
X is for xrays youve had. Just on teeth. Mammograms on a yearly basis (routine)
Y is for yummy food you make. Triple chocolate cheesecake, Baking and gin tomato soup.
Z is for Zodiac sign. Gemini.
and I will tag Dianna for this tag.
And that took ages and now I have to move it! lol!

legs eleven

So that you dont get my horrible feet shocking you!...here is my latest LO. Not a very good photo (or straight) sorry!
Im off for 4 days near Waihi for a cub summer camp tomorrow so will see you when I get back.

Self Portrait Tuesday

Pudgy and horrible and here they are! I inherited my feet from my Dad. short stubby/crooked toes... high arch and all...genetics aye! Now why couldnt I have had my my Mums nice long toes aye?
The bonus on having a size 5/6 (depending on shoe) is that at all the sales I have the pick as they are often still left!
The negative is that I have a wide foot too so have to compensate for that and I do not suit shoes that have the toes showing unless they are jandal type shoes.
I think it is my worst feature so thats what I reckon everyone should post for their next self portrait Tuesday! Post here when youve done it!

Ive been tagged

Yolande has tagged me so here goes...

Four Jobs youve had in your life.
1. Summer jobs as a postie helper and afterschool in the mailroom tying up/locking the mail bags for posting.
2. Settlements clerk in dealing room at BNZ HQ.
3. Laboratory technician in lots of jobs here and Oz
4. Dairy farmer and general dogsbody, taxi driver Mum of 2 kids.
Four Movies you watch over and over again.
1. 50 first dates
2. Star wars (all of them) coz my kids watch them along with charlies angels (full throttle), harry potter and Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Nothing else...I prefer to scrap or read books.
Four places you have lived...Only four?!!
1. Ngaruawahia until I was 11
2. Dunedin
3. Wellington (teenage years and pre/post wedding)
4. Palmerston North (Massey University)

then the second four is..lol!
1. Whangarei
2. Perth WA
3. Katanning WA
4. Whakatane.
Four TV shows you love to watch.
1. ER
2. Extreme Makeover home edition (i cry everytime)
3. Amazing Race
4. West Wing when they dont schedule it on too late or we tape it.
Four places you have been on location.
1. Bay of Islands for honeymoon
2. All over South Island as a teenager living in Dunedin. Favourite places- Lake Te Anau/Arrowtown
3. Point Samson/Coral Bay WA just the most fantastic beach/coral reef experience n.b dont go visiting WA and travel up inland to coast when it is summer and 50 degrees c!
4. Esperence WA another unspoilt treasure -beautiful beaches - my favourite place.
Four websites you visit daily..
1. Kiwiscraps
2. trademe
3. Tarisota
4. about 20 blogs
Four of your favourite foods
1. Fresh fruit...mmmmmm especially the summer fruit.
2. Cheesecake
3. Trifle
4. Roast lamb
Four places youd rather be right now.
1. Disneyland
2. Salt Lake City visiting scrapbooking shops and holiday until CHA starts in Vegas.
3. Cruise ship up to Alaska.
4. Oh okay my head has come down from the clouds and I say...right here in my Pjs at the computer.
Four people you are tagging
I think everyone has been got already but if you havent I tag YOU!

Earring box

Here is the earring box I have done for Jennnifers Birthday (its in March so I am ahead of schedule!) Im planning on doing a wedding scrapbook (due early March)for my nephew so thats why I have done this early. Photos arent all that crash hot sorry! Im having trouble with the battery in my digital and went in the other day to find out about getting a new one....do you realise how much they cost??? I was gobsmacked when she told me it was going to cost me $250 for a new one!!! (I could buy a new digital for that couldnt I?) Anyway I have looked on Trademe, but the best deal is on the sony site and it will cost me $125 -now isnt that markup by a retail shop disgusting!)

And they are home

Dh and kids surprised me by coming home early yesterday! They were all exhausted and wanted to sleep in their own beds...they did the job I set and took great photos so some awesome Los here I go! lol!
Te Puia Springs is where my Dad grew up and just had a discussion with my Mum and Andrea on his ashes ...( he died suddenly from an asthma attack2.5 years ago-mothers day) we will scatter his ashes in Waipiro Bay/Te Puia Springs ...but it might take awhile as we have decided the All Blacks have to win the world cup or East Coast need to win the Ranfurly shield! It would be what my Dad would want Im sure! (ex rugby referee and winner of rugby knowledge contests)
Anyways back to me ...I milked this morning as I thought Dh needed an extra day off and a nice sleep in in his own bed ...Arent I nice?...lol he needed it...the third photo is of Lotton Point which my family raved about to go to...totally unspoilt but rocky beach... great for fishing though!...and lovely camping ground.
The slide is at Splash Planet in Hastings and is most recommended by my Dh and kids ...they arrived at 10am (opening) and had to get out at 5.30pm! They camped at Havelock North and went via Prenzells (an alcoholic distillery) we get a few of their yummy liqueurs every year...They came home via Taupo and the AC Baths which had entertainment alongside the pool and lolly scrambles etc...not to mention the waterslides were awesome!
Yay I dont have to get up in the morning to milk!!!

Farm work grrr

Ive been a slack blogger lately and a slack scrapper too ...I am most annoyed as this farm work lark is cutting into my scrapping time! Since DH and kids have been away, I have pulled a spray truck out of a ditch with the tractor, found and fixed a water leak and made a repair to a fence that got destroyed by a bull! (WE WOMEN CAN DO ANYTHING!) lol! I am looking forward to Dh coming home though so I can get some scrapping done. The only thing I have done in the past few days is finish Jennifers earring box and play with some new stamps on some of her jeans. The jeans are going to be cut off at the knee (holes) to make shorts and so I am practising on the bottom legs ...its not turning out very well though...Has anyone done these? What paint do you use? I am using a dimensional fabric paint and it just looks funny.
I have to say that I am REALLY enjoying not cooking, washing 3 loads of dirty washing and refereeing the kids fights. Im enjoying reading my book in peace without kids interupting me and wanting to know where I am (even in the toilet for goodness sake!) So in short I am enjoying my peace and quiet...pity that I also have to do WORK too!!!lol

Next Orange LO

Oh Im having fun with this orange! I should have been doing the lawns today but instead I did this!...I said to myself that I had to try hand sewing on my LOs this year so here it is...albeit very rusty stitching! The knots are a candlewicking stitch which are raised off the page...I used to teach this in my past life...pre farming. I actually started to learn cutwork/hardanger embroidery as well but found that it doesnt mix with farming ...basically your fingers get tooo hardened (and dirty at times) to do it...tis a fact of life and I had to give it away.... I probably didnt have the patience for it anyway! lol..and now here I am scrapbooking encorporating my past with my present craft...I LIKE THAT IDEA! Papers are chatterbox (of course! Love it! The round circle is Rob and Bob, the lettering BG and rubons (BG and heidi). I bought the american craft orange pack in spotlight the other day and just love it...but guess what? I went into the store and found mega buttons on sale ...yahoo ...then found the ribbon and bought one ribbon in mind for this LO above...but it just didnt go ...just love the ribbon so see another LO coming on....The american craft ribbon got on instead.
Wont be able to post my next LOs as DH and kids on holiday with the camera ..unless I work how to do with the scanner...have finally found the install disk for that lol!
Welcome to Wendy (my Secret Santa) from over in Rotorua who now has started blogging. WTG!

Self Portrait Tuesday

Have been having a play in photoshop (must do that more often!) need to some more by the look of Yolandes blog!
I usually use picassa2 or microsoft office picture so havent had a play for ages...am keeping in the orange theme here to..lol! This challenge comes via Karen!
The theme is personal history.This phot was taken last Christmas and we'd just got back into our house after the flood. (you can see Im very happy!)
Im feeling a bit lonely today as DH and kids are off on holiday..just missing my cuddle from the kids in the morning and being tickled by hubby....but Im happy that I can eat what I like, not have to referree any fights between kids or do much housework.
I have a altered box on the go at the moment (yeah I know I said I was going to concentrate on LOs this year! lol) When I saw this box I thought of altering it. It is a G shock watch box and its just gorgeous! So I am altering it for Jennifer and am making it for her earrings (she has decided that for her birthday, she is going to have her ears pierced) Inside is a balck velvet inner but I am putting a mirror on the inside of the lid so she can take it with her.
I am really impressed with my daughter as all of her friends have their ears pierced but she wanted to wait....Im collecting earings already (birthday is in March)...she'd better do it or I will have all these earrings lol ( a bit too cute for me to wear! lol)
Got another LO planned just need photos reprinted and also need more photo paper.
right off to do a bit of farm work then Im into it...

Orange LO Challenge.

Did this orange LO tonight ...well orange and pink..mainly! lol! Been wanting to do a bright LO for ages! and these junkitz papers just went lovely with Jennifers clothes. Might reprint the B&W back in colour will have a look in the morning. You cant prob see but got the machine stitching on it too.

Busy

Been busy over last few days as friends were up on Hols. My count down has started as my DH, DS and DD are off for 5-6 days of camping around the East Coast of NZ, I have strict instructions on the photos to take....the main st of Te Puia Springs and the sign into town (my Dad grew up there), Waipiro Bay sign (he was born there), All of Dh's houses that he lived in in Wairoa (yes that town!) and in Hastings too then they will be home via Taupo. We have seperate holidays ...he takes the kids on holiday and then I take the kids somewhere ( Im taking them by plane to Wellington in March/April)..then Dh and I have a holiday together! It works for us and we dont have to rely on relief milkers and pay them $50 a milking...add that up and add on your holiday!!!
I am planning on an uninterrupted scrap holiday for myself as apart from milking the cows...everything else is sorted on the farm! Eat what I like, scrap and minimal housework....bliss!
Recharge batteries time for a cub summer camp in 14 days time where I take 12 cubs to Waihi to a mini Jamboree.
Looking forward to it!

Need some ideas how to fix

After saying yesterday that I was going to do 12x12s this year, today I started on my fireworks tin to put the xmas decorations in...its looking good so far but only done 2 sides...found that the tin wasnt straight either but think I have hidden that flaw...here is a peek of the one side Ive done...
I just love summer...weve been down to the beach most days for a swim then off to the strawberry or blueberry farm on the way home...just heaven!!!! However yesterday, Jennifer got dragged into a hole at the beach ...i was running down to the sea (I was out) as I could see she was in trouble but Rhys calmly swam over to her and pulled her out! They were awesome! A couple of the other swimmers were pulled into it too ...so thats how quick it can happen! One minute it wasnt there ...then it was! Living near a beach you respect the sea and Ive taught my kids what to do in a rip etc and they did it perfectly! Very scary tho! Jennifer doesnt want to go today so we went to the pool instead...free pass for us arent we lucky!

New Year Blog Challenge

Is there some important thing happening to you in 2006? What do you hope to achieve in 2006? And do you have any goals?
ME
This is my weight loss year I’ve decided. I am totally sick of my weight problem and am the heaviest I’ve ever been. So I’ve bought myself new togs after my incident at my last cub camp…. I jumped off the wharf into the water and lost my shorts and my boobs fell out of my togs! Luckily I was under water and no one saw! LOL!
And My sister has entered myself, her workmate and her into a team triathlon end of February…I’m doing the swim and even though it is only 500 m, I need to be fit and able to do it easily I’ve decided! So just working out how many days I can get to the pool during school hols.
AND I AM GOING TO GIVE UP ONE COMMITTEE THIS YEAR! I am doing too many so Ive decided to stand down from the PTA...Ive been in it 6 years and been treasurer for 5 so I reckon its someone else’s turn.!
US
Well as you all know, we are moving to a new job 1st June this year so we are really looking forward to that…a new challenge…for more money….and has a scrap room for me….and also involves some teaching which we both enjoy. Cant wait!
FAMILY
Im hoping our kids have a successful year in whatever they do.
SCRAP
Wanting to do as many 12x12s as possible as have finally settled on a style and just want to get on with it …not do so many altered projects for others and more for me too…Im probably like a lot of scrappers and give a lot away (which is lovely) but need to do some for us too.
Want to use some bright colours this year as normally use earth tones and not use so much red!!! (My favourite)