Things to Pass the time when YOU have a Sore Back

I have been off work for a week now, after slipping a disc in my lower back. The pain is severe and my movement is quite slow and restricted still. Today the best thing I could think of to take my mind off how miserable I'm feeling was to take these snapshots of our little darling.

Major has also been sick for two weeks but you wouldn't guess it from these shots. You would believe it if you could hear him screaming his head off from about 1am until 4am every morning though.

Enjoying my Bunnykins table and chairs from Uncle Andy and Aunty Marie
Don't be fooled: Totally sick of it now!

Isn't he just the most precious wee soul

You would laugh too if you saw the faces mummy and Gran were making!

Hmm it I just reach out a little, I could do some serious touching here

Just you wait Smokey, when I learn to move in a forward direction, you will be in DANGER

But Wait There's More

New Tamati Tereina gym jams aka Thomas the Tank Engine pyjamas, the first garment off the line from the new sewing machine, another craft fair inspired useage of time.

Brag Book (Waterfall design)

Here's one of my latest projects, it's a card, made in a waterfall style, so that when you open the card up and pull the ribbon, the photos inside cascade down like a little waterfall, each drop revealing the photo concealed underneath it.

I just love it.

Note the front of the card is a trifle narrower than anticipated as I fluffed the fancy border stamp and had to cut the edge back twice before I finally got it right.



Of course practise makes perfect, I'll look at the photos with more perspective before I mat them next time around and perhaps choose some that are more flattering to the little darling. I'm talking about showing the ungainly view of his chubby legs and feet here.

See the ribbon on the end, just give it a tug to set the waterfall away.







Click on the photos to see the full size picture.

Trying to demonstrate the cascade effect as each photo flips to reveal the photo underneath it.

I was pretty pleased with myself, despite the flaws in this little project.

The next one will be more 'on to it'

My Next Few Projects

Nothing like a good craft fair to get you spending (wasting) money on all these projects you always wanted to try........................

I'm going to cover this chipboard Family Tree with Scrapbooking paper then personalise it with all our best, smiling pics

A scrapped calendar (2011) not even trying to finish it for 2010, then photos on fabrics - now these look really exciting

Stamped Christmas Cards with glitter embossing powder oh yes and tooth fairy pillows, library bag with photo of owner (Jade), quilted wall hanging with old family photos and countless other projects with photos on fabrics and fancy labels

Its great to feel like you don't ever have to think I've got nothing to do today!

There's a Whole Lot of Crafting Happening Around Here

This past week we have been fortunate enough to attend (and drool over) the hundreds of exhibits, stalls, craft classes, workshops and demonstrations at New Zealand's number one Craft and Quilt Fair which as lady luck would have it, was held here in our very own Hamilton (sometimes known as The Tron or Hams).

The quilts were spectacular, the overall winner was a child's fantasy book, I can't even begin to describe it, don't know why I didn't think to take a photo, was unbelieveably intriguing. I'm beginning to think my life will not be complete until I have constucted a quilt of my own.

• Mental note to put it on the list of things to do before I'm too old and senile too manage it

Anyway, our house has been an absolute hive of activity ever since. Justine is working on these door hangings for Major and his little play pals. Constructing them wasn't without some hilarity, as I read and she followed, a set of totally inadequate instructions and we wound up with the first hanging stuck fast to a sheet of baking paper in reverse order with all the underneath bits being topside instead of underneath. The next day we went to the Bernina shop in town to ask the kindly ladies there to help us assemble in the proper manner, and here they are - the right way up

Bit of machine and hand stiching here
All assembled ready to start sewing

Now, speaking of Major and his play date pals, these pics were taken about 3 weeks ago

Major Disa and Chas

Who farted? Chas, definitely Chas see....

Good intentions pave the way WHERE???

Oh dear, its hard to be too healthy when there's such a great baker in residence........

Peanut butter choc chip biscuits aka cookies in the making

Yes and there were not one but TWO trays of them

And the proof of how good they are is in the eating, YUM

Spring Is Here

Mixed sprouts and wheat grass signal the intention to be more healthy

Its the first of September today and that means Spring is officially here.

I can tell its Spring time, I've had that 'itching to plant something' feeling. I've emptied out some garden pots and scrubbed them up and sat dreaming about the dozens of plants I'd like to grow in these few pots.

Ah, decisions decisions. Basil is a definite starter as are strawberries and zuchinnis and cucumbers. I'd love some splashes of colour from a few annuals also but alas, we don't have any area on our section (aka in our yard) for a veggie garden, so it's veggies first and the odd hanging basket of coloured flowers if there's space to cram them in after the veggies. And all this is in flower pots spread lovingly all over our deck, where we might otherwise sunbathe.

I have managed to clear a few areas up the bank behind the house for squash and kamo kamo (my most favourite vegetable of all time!) yea.

And Spring brings the beginning of the Healthy Season too. You know the one when you look at yourself and think 'Oh me, oh my, I've got to get into better shape for Summer'.

So... we are growing sprouts and wheat grass that I learned from HFPE from a very kind Sister who was gracious enough to share her talents with us. They are so delicious, so much nicer than any I ever bought, and so easy to make.

Winter is a great season, roaring fires indoors and wild, wet, windy weather outdoors, but there's nothing quite like Spring to chase away the Winter woes.

Yes I'm glad it's Spring. And that's without even beginning to waffle on about the magnificent magnolia blooms, the blossoming fruit trees, the daffodils and freesias and so on and so on.

Night at the Opera (house)

We had a skype last night with No.1 granddaughter (and her mum and dad) and were treated to a full rendition of one of the songs that she is singing with her school choir at the Sydney Opera House in the not too distant future. What great excitement, I do believe she is the first member of our family to have such an auspicious opportunity afforded her.

Now I'm not going to dwell on the pangs of disappointment I've felt at not being able to be there at the Opera House to see the real deal, I'm as blind as a bat and probably wouldn't be able to actually see her anyway. And I'll be there in spirit, absolutely willing the very best performance she can muster. A Gran just knows she'll be all right on the night.

I'll be looking forward to the next holidays in NZ when we can set the lounge up as a make-believe Opera House and listen to the whole 12 songs!

Did anybody Notice I was gone?

Haven't felt like blogging in absolute ages, but now I do, infact I've been trying to upload a video of Major (now aged 6 months) for the last week.

Everytime I get the upload happening, it just goes and goes and goes but never gets finished. Does anybody have any hints on what I might be doing wrong or perhaps could anybody give me a dummies step by step guide on how to upload a video clip from my pics.

Anyway instead of a really cute video here are some almost as cute photos, taken at his 0.5years celebration day.

Update on our Darling Little Major

Major is now 4 months old. He's a thriving, beautiful, big baby. At his 4 month check, he is right on the 87th percentile weight line for boys, but he's 2 lines above the 97th percentile for height, so I guess he is going to be one TALL man. We wonder if he'll be even taller than his uncles. Both my sons are over 6 foot 5 inches tall!
Anyway here are some recent pics...

Waiting to go to Church, see how blonde his hair is getting

He loves reading with Gran

But the best part of reading is in the tasting of the book!

His great grandmother, Nana Jarden, bought him this cutie, winter outfit

At last a smile, testing out the jolly jumper

This pic was taken three days ago

Another Month Flew By

As one gets older the days rush by faster, I still remember waiting to become a teenager, it was so embarrasing being 5foot 7inches tall at age 12. No matter how much I stooped all the kids around me still never reached even to my shoulders. And getting to 21, well that took an absolute age - I was old before I got there it took so long!

Then suddenly the years started to speed up, at 22 I was a mum, at 24 I was married. By 30 I had 3 children, by 40 I was raising them on my own, by 50 I was the most slender and fit that I'd ever been in my life - some things are just too good to last though, for the past three years I've been plagued with health problems and loosing the battle of the bulge.

But along all those fleeting years I've racked up some jolly fine experiences, experienced triumphs and tragedy and best of all I discovered who I am, why I'm here and where I'm going.

I've learnt what mothers love feels like. It's overpowering and all encompassing but yet, it's nothing compared to the absolute wonderment of grandmothers love and even that is miniscule compared to the love that our Creator has for us.

And all the while the days rush on by......

My Mum

Mum's Last Christmas 2006

My mum was the greatest hostess, she would welcome friends, family and strangers alike with open arms. All who entered her home would not be permitted to leave until they were filled with the most scrumptious repast, tales of life, laughter a-plenty and promises to return again soon. She could whip up a banquet from her humble pantry at any time of day or night for one person or for a crowd and all with seemingly no effort.

Mum played golf, as did most of her family and she had a store of humerous anecdotes to recount at any given opportunity. Like the time she and her sister were driving to Napier to play golf at Waiohiki when they either broke down or were pulled up for speeding (my memory of her stories is letting me down here). However by using their charm and alarm on the traffic officers who attended them, (actually I think they had broken down) the officers pulled out a tow rope and attached it to their car and towed them full speed to the golf course where Aunty Lil was competing in a very important match. The traffic officers even assisted by getting their golf clubs out of the car, assembling their trundlers (golf club carrying devices) and one of them ran with Aunty Lil's all the way out to the first tee to help her get underway on time!

Mum and her sisters had so many adventures and I used to love listening to her stories at any family gathering.

In her later life, I looked after mum, caring for her through illness and infirmity until she finally passed away. I was holding her hand when she died. I knew it was coming. The Spirit had awoken me in the early hours of that morning and said very clearly that this would be her last day. I was sad for me but I was glad for mum. All her suffering was finally over.

I was blessed to take her name through the Temple, to have her sealed to her parents, to my dad and to have myself sealed to them. Now I look forward to the day when when we meet again as an eternal family on the right hand of God.