Had a ball last night. Totally neglected family for many hours of ME TIME!!
Firstly, Pj's Blind Challenge on Chatzy. Man, that was interesting and intense!! I didn't even get to finish my second glass of wine!!!!! There's no justice in that (heh) but at least I finished a page. Not allowed to show the whole layout yet - Mrs Pj's rules! Here's a sneak of a part of the title.
This morning I managed to finish Fran's Sketch Challenge. We had to find a song lyric for the title. Still working on Lil and Phil's Wedding Album. About one third the way through but I do like all the layouts for this album, which is a good thing.
It was worth it but now I'm paying dearly as poor Rainer is home today. Woke up this morning vomiting (no chunky bits, thankfully) and so he slept and puked until about 11am when suddenly....
FINE NOW MUMMY!! (no, he didn't actually SAY those words) Ate heaps - under my strict supervision, and has now finished his first DVD without one mishap. My heart jumped when he BURPED, but it was all okay.
So I only have Bon's and Sandie's challenges to complete! I have surprised myself so far and I'm enjoying it once again.
P.S. it helped that I had this sign over my computer all Sunday night and all day Monday. That sign's going to get a lot of use this year PMSL!!
THE CARD USING THE CRAFT FINGER (story another day - hahahaha!!)
bought these from Anne
made these with Anne's help
and these....
and from hubby....just because....AWWWWWWWW!!
My scrap space is clean (shock horror)and BON is celebrating her birthday with a CYBER CROP tonight which I am very much looking forward to ... if hubby can get home in time!
I was prepared for a really insightful post. I had rehearsed the words and sequence in my head as I've been trying to be the LOTUS FLOWER while all these dark and mysterious events have been unfolding here and in the lives of some of my friends.
But then, as always, MUSIC has come and saved YOU all from that lengthy reading. And not only is it a band, but they're KIWIS and young little chums at that!!! Where do they get this material from?
I think the artists in us all can appreciate the video (there are 3 I found for this song..but this my favourite) and the chorus.
CUT OFF YOUR HANDS "expectations"
So I've been quiet this week. A friend has broken the cardinal rule of the "INVITE" and I don't think I'm ready to forgive her, consequently, it's been at the forefront of my thinking. Another friend has explored her....hmmmm, let's just say "darker" side of her personality and has come away wondering how that experience has enriched her life.
And here I am, listening, giving advice when it's been sought (not always followed, mind you LOL), trying to sympathise/empathise, coming up with alternative solutions, asking questions to let THEM find their own answers. It's been exhausting but I think they both have come out the LIGHTER side.
It's been a welcomed distraction from what goes on HERE everyday. But now I have a heady day of baking and cooking and freezing. HAHA!! It gets you somehow, doesn't it????
ONTO SOMETHING MORE CREATIVE.... I made some earrings on Wednesday!! I don't have pics yet but I've just crossed something else of THE LIST of crap to do before I'm 40....
The canvas background has been adorned and I have 10 kits(I'm excited) of them to organise in 4 weeks. I think I can do that. No photos yet....the canvas was snaffled and displayed before I could. Next week maybe.
MAMMA MIA I hate to admit to this...but I actually liked this movie. Thankfully, the friends I completely "poo-pooed" this movie to (I can be a complete literary snob sometimes) don't read this blog (heh). We have this wonderful little cinema called "The Blue Room" in Rosalie. Seats 40 and like Gold Class can order food and alcohol to be served during the movie ... but it's only $10!!!!! Maybe I enjoyed this movies because of the 2 wines before it began and I was sitting next to Tess who is an ABBA tragic so her enthusiasm was a little infectious. Lena organised it and there must have been about 15 of us.
Another nice distraction in my week. :-)
It was nice seeing a few new "faces" visit here while Charm was crashing blogs all over the world.
Promise next post will have more LOOKSEY stuff and less ramblings by me....
Learned a great technique at Inkredible on Thursday and decided to replicate in on the canvas.
I've been keen to work on creating BACKGROUNDS. That's my creative goal for the next few months, so I may be doing some trippy (thanks Charm) things on layouts which may or may NOT look the goods.
THE DRAGONS WON 24-20. Amazing. Every game that Mackinley has seen at Suncorp, the Dragons have won!! He's one little good luck charm.
Last soccer game tomorrow. Then Michael and I will be going to Varna's 39th Birthday Bash. Taking loads of photos so will share as soon as I sober up!!
Michael and Mackinley are at Suncorp Stadium tonight watching their beloved Mighty Mighty Dragons attempt to score at least one try against the Bonks.
They spent the good part of Wednesday at the EKKA. The first year they stayed the whole day. Maybe next year they'll stay for the fireworks and the other night-time good stuff for kids.
So....I'm trying to stay busy. Finished this layout during the week. Mackinley comes home with this cracker of a story...just had to scrap it. The photo is a self-portrait and just cracks me up.
I'm working on a little canvas for the MY TIME I'm runing in a few weeks time. I'm playing with Texture Paste and Iridescent Medium and really should have a window open LOL!!! And when the fumes mix with the red wine.....I end up doing stuff I really hate....
like mixing colour in my mediums!!!! Man, I really hate that.
It's been 2 years since I "retired" from teaching. I remember listening to this song and feeling like I'd made the biggest mistake of my life.
Very sad and also great relief at finishing teaching. Ah, the metaphor of the ship...just love creative geniusessssss. Can't look back now..
I have to say I'm a little overwhelmed at the response to Rainer's story. I was on a real downer after posting and the comments I received here and at Bon's (sorry, didn't get time to post elsewhere :( ) just blew me away.
I've never considered myself "extraordinary" or particularly wonderful, especially as a mother. I just figured that you had to play whatever hand you'd been dealt and try not to "fold" (to extend the metaphor...). I try to keep the low points of my life private because when I get the opportunity to go out - I want to enjoy that time instead of thinking or talking about AUTISM. Blerk, can't think of anything more boring for another person.
But, you ladies have renewed my confidence and lifted my spirits. At his "neuro-typical" kindy, Rainer has been wholly accepted by the other children and their parents; he got his first party invite; his first "girlfriend" present (a cute egg carton decorated with a gold bow...awwwww), and has been invited on his first play-date!!!
I've been taken from a position of helplessness to a new height of hope and vigour. I need to do these things for my son - just as any Mum would and it's these times I need my friends to quietly tell me I'm doing GOOD.
THANK YOU.
And so in honour of my cyber friends....head over to Charmane's blog this weekend (link to the side). She's having a BLOG CRASHING PARTY!! That woman will do anything for attention LOL (she knows I love her)!! If I can stay awake long enough I'll be there too. Here's some music for you Charm....(must be viewed after a few vinos...wino!!)
Thank you to my hero-Chiro Sean who today managed to separate my stomach from my diaphragm!! What a clever munchkin. What intense and interesting pain...hmmmm, don't recommend it to anyone.
SCALES DO NOT LIE!!!! I think I am now officially back to pre-pregnant-with-Mackinley weight. My scales say 56kg, but I'll hop on the gym scales in the morning. My new yummy jeans are too loose now (grrrrr...). Ah well, better buy a new pair (heehee).
