Its finally finished!!!!

My second painting is finally finished. I can't believe it! I'm so glad cause I was getting a bit sick of it.

Doing the final touch-ups.


The completed works


Top rights - close-up

Bottom left - close-up

Now I'm looking forward to starting my first landscape piece.

The beauty of a child's love

I had to go out this morning so Cameron stayed home with his dad and helped doing yard work. He loves to get out there with his wheelbarrow, shovel, work boots and hat. He's a great little helper.

When I got home, Cam was so very excited. He went into his room and came out with a plastic cup with about an inch of water in it. He was using it as a vase to hold and bottle brush he picked for me. I think its called a champagne bb tree ????

Anyway, I was so touched that he had done that and it is really beautiful. Of course he added "I love you mum, you're the best mummy in the world".

Ohhhhh he knows how to touch his mother's heart.

On This Day - 28th January

In History
1521 - The Diet of Worms began, at which Protestant reformer Luther was declared an outlaw by the Roman Catholic church.
1547 - England's King Henry VIII died. He was succeeded by his 9 year-old son, Edward VI.
1788 - The first British penal settlement was founded at Botany Bay.
1802 - Flinders discovers and names Fowlers Bay in South Australia.
1807 - London's Pall Mall became the first street lit by gaslight.
1871 - France surrendered in the Franco-Prussian War.
1878 - The first telephone switchboard was installed in New Haven, CT.
1878 - "The Yale News" was published for the first time. It was the first, daily, collegiate newspaper in the U.S.
1902 - The Carnegie Institution was established in Washington, DC. It began with a gift of $10 million from Andrew Carnegie.
1909 - The United States ended direct control over Cuba.
1915 - The Coast Guard was created by an act of the U.S. Congress.
1916 - Louis D. Brandeis was appointed by President Wilson to the U.S. Supreme Court, becoming its first Jewish member.
1918 - The Bolsheviks occupied Helsinki, Finland.
1922 - The National Football League (NFL) franchise in Decatur, IL, transferred to Chicago. The team took the name Chicago Bears.
1935 - Iceland became the first country to introduce legalized abortion.
1938 - The first ski tow started operation in Vermont.
1945 - During World War II, Allied supplies began reaching China over the newly reopened Burma Road.
1957 - The Brooklyn Dodgers announced that circus clown Emmett Kelly had been hired to entertain fans at baseball games.
1958 - Roy Campanella (Brooklyn Dodgers) was seriously injured in an auto accident in New York. He would never return to play again.
1958 - Construction began on first private thorium-uranium nuclear reactor.
1960 - The first photograph bounced off of the moon.
1965 - General Motors reported the biggest profit of any U.S. company in history.
1973 - CBS-TV debuted "Barnaby Jones."
1980 - Six Americans who had fled the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, on November 4, 1979, left Iran using false Canadian diplomatic passports. The Americans had been hidden at the Canadian embassy in Tehran.
1982 - Italian anti-terrorism forces rescued U.S. Brigadier General James L. Dozier. 42 days before he had been kidnapped by the Red Brigades.
1986 - The U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded just after takeoff. All seven of its crewmembers were killed.
1994 - In Los Angeles, Superior Court Judge Stanley Weisberg declared a mistrial in the case of Lyle Menendez in the murder of his parents. Lyle, and his brother Erik, were both retried later and were found guilty. They were sentenced to life in prison without parole.
1997 - Clive Davis received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1998 - In Manilla, Philippines, gunmen held at least 400 children and teachers for several hours at an elementary school.
1999 - Ford Motor company announced the purchase of Sweden's Volvo AB for $6.45 billion.
2002 - Toys R Us Inc. announced that it would be closing 27 Toys R Us stores and 37 Kids R Us stores in order to cut costs and boost operating profits.
2007 - Harry Melbourne, creator of the Freddo Frog, dies at age 94

Music
1722 - Composer Johann Ernst Bach was born.
1904 - Enrico Caruso signed his first contract with Victor Records. He debuted at the Metropolitan Opera two months before.
1927 - Jean Goldkette and his dancing orchestra recorded "I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover."
1940 - "Beat the Band" made its debut on NBC radio.
1944 - Composer John Tavener was born.
1956 - Elvis Presley made his first appearance on national television on "The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show" on CBS.
1965 - The Who made their first appearance on the British TV rock show "Ready Steady Go!"
1966 - Brian Poole and the Tremeloes announced their break-up.
1978 - At the request of a fan, Ted Nugent autographed a man's arm with a bowie knife.
1978 - The Doobie Brothers made an appearance on ABC-TV's "What's Happening."
1980 - The original Ants split up with Adam.
1985 - "We Are The World" was recorded. More than 40 artists were involved. The proceeds went toward worldwide hunger prevention.
1990 - Aaron Neville sang the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XXIV.
1991 - Gloria Estefan made her first live performance (at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles) since injuring her back in a bus accident while on tour.
1996 - Chris Isaak made a guest appearance on the NBC TV show "Friends."
1996 - Diana Ross performed as the featured halftime performer at Super Bowl XX in Tempe, AZ.
1998 - Tracey Lawrence was convicted of battery stemming from a quarrel in September with his wife, Stacie. Lawrence was sentenced to pay $500 to a Las Vegas shelter for battered women.
1999 - Pat Boone formed the Gold Records label, which will only sign artists 45 years old and up. The first perfomer signed was Jack Jones.

What a good day!

The oldest two boys, second day at school. Cameron started kindy.

Wow! What an amazing experience to do grocery shopping without a child or having to rush home to look after a child while Gary goes to sleep (night shift). I almost felt guilty hahahahaha

Cameron had a great start to his kindy. Though he can be "determined" at times apparently. The centre has overbooked so I was asked if he could go Thursdays instead. Yeah! That's no bother to me :D

All my babies are grown now (don't know whether I should be laughing or crying)

This afternoon I went to a friend's house where we crocheted, well, tried to crochet. I'm not the best teacher so my explanations can be sometimes confusing. Sorry! But it was fun and we did laugh. And she taught me an easier way to cast on to knitting needles. I can't wait to start practising that lol

Back to School

Well that's another summer holidays finished. The kids went back to school today. For the last 2 wks all I have heard is "Is it school tomorrow?". So last night I was saying "yay its school tomorrow" trying to infuse them with enthusiasm.

Both of them had a really great start to the day, up early, dressed and fed and eager to meet their teachers and new classmates. I thought they might be a little hesitant when it came time for me to go but no, both were quite fine with sending mum home. I'm glad because it made me feel better. I did miss them today.

Tomorrow will be interesting. Cameron starts kindy!

Dish Cloths - Part 2

Okay, with a little more research, I'm fairly confident on how to do the original pattern I found. I was a bit confused with the YO direction in the pattern. I had to look up exactly what that meant.

My one I'm doing now won't have the fancy edge unless I crochet one after I'm finished (which I will probably do) but it will look pretty none-the-less due to the varigated cotton I'm using.

Don't you enjoy knowing that I knit?

Go on, sure you do hahahahahaha

DISHRAG PATTERN FOR BEGINNERS

Requirements

1 ball of knit cotton

Directions

Cast on 4 sts.
Row 1: Knit one row.
Row 2: K2, YO, knit to the end of the row.
Repeat row 2 until there are 40 sts (for dish scrubber) or 50 sts (for face
cloth).
Next row: K1, K2tog, YO, K2tog, knit to the end of the row.Continue decreasing until 4 sts left.
Cast off.

Dish Cloths

Who would of thought of knitting dish cloths?

Well, one of my friends has been making quite a lot of them. I thought I'd give it a shot too. I wasn't quite able to follow the pattern I found so I decided to make one up as I go hahahaha

I'm using cotton and size 3.75 needles this time around. I've found it really relaxing to do at night while I'm watching the tennis.

I think they will be quite useful and as its from a light cotton, it will dry quickly and hopefully stay hygenic as well. At least it will be able to be washed and re-used.

Next one I start though, I'll go to a smaller size needle, probably 3.

Can't wait until I've knitted a few more rows to make it worth taking of photo of!

Let's Eat

This is my new food blog *yay*

I know the name isn't very quirky but hey ............................. you get what you get :D

http://toni-lets-eat.blogspot.com/

Sleeping through

When you set your alarm clock/phone for the next morning, you expect to wake up, feel refreshed and head off to wherever it is that you planned to go to.

Don't you?

I do!

Well this morning my alarm went off. I always set it early so I can hit snooze and have that 10 minutes of waking up and get used to being awake. I am so not a morning person!

Anyway, the alarm went off and I hit snooze.

I woke up 10 minutes later and got up, dressed and headed off to where I needed to be, didn't I?

NOPE!!!!!!!!

The next thing I knew it was 20 minutes past 9 and I had overslept. Oh no, panic starts to set in. Don't you hate it when you have that feeling? I do!

But then I thought, well there's not much I can do now so I chose the only viable option ..........


I went back to sleep! =D

I sit and ponder

what to write. I've had ideas flitter through my mind all day of blog entries but when I sit to expand them, I come up blank.

Does this happen to you?

I'm glad its not just me then.

So now I sit and ponder just what to write.

One thing I'm thinking about is copying a friend and starting a recipe blog :D Lately I've come across some really good recipes that I'm eager to try out once school starts back. They are recipes that I am sure others would love to give a try as well. From what I've heard they are absolutely yummy. My mouth is watering just thinking of them!

So I have spent the last few hours searching and finding backgrounds, graphics etc that I could use on a food blog and trying to come up with a catchy name.

You really want to know what I've come up with don't you?

Well, you'll just have to be a little bit patient! I'm not ready to tell all yet but I will soon :D

Butterscotch Caramel Fudge

Oh my goodness. I don't think I have ever tasted anything so rich, gooey, sweet and almost devine before.

I'm not a fudge person. I don't particularly like it but yesterday I was weak and bought a piece of butterscotch caramel fudge from The Fudge Shop.

Needless to say that it was absolutely delicious. It was gooey in the centre - perfect! But very very rich. Too rich to eat all at once. It lasted all day with nibbles here and there.

My Craft Table

I have a craft table set up in my study just behind where I'm sitting now. Its actually our "other" dining table. The reason we don't use it as a dining table is because it is totally glass and while the kids are young, we thought it safer not to be used.

At the moment though, when I want to do craft, I have to use the dining table. Why, do you ask? Let me show you why.

There is a lot of craft on the table but unfortunately its underneath everything else being stored there. I need storage in my study. I like to get one of those big metal cupboards, a whole new computer desk (currently using another old dining table) and a sideboard with shelves and drawers. I have the perfect setup sketched out in my head, I just need to convince someone its a viable expense heh heh heh

Even though it looks so messy and cluttered, I am still able to find what I look for :D

What is a Creed?

Creed: A definite summary of what is believed; a confession of faith. Any summary of principles or opinions professed or adhered to. To believe; to credit.

For a long time I was in a very dark place. One day I sat, I listened, I wrote and I believed.

For every cry
there is a laugh
For every tear
there is a smile
For every heart broken
there is a love
For every pain
there is a joy
For every desire unseen
there is a dream
For every mindset
there is an idea
For every worry
there is an answer
For every bondage
there is freedom

Gifts of Love

Its always nice to receive gifts but to me, the best gifts are the ones that have thought behind them. Its so easy to quickly run into a store and buy the first thing you see but to actually "work" at it, think about the person you're buying for, turns a gift into a wonder.

I was given some really beautiful gifts at Christmas last year but the ones I will treasure most are the ones from my oldest son. He's only seven but he asked his nanny to take him shopping. They went to some garage sales and this is what he bought me. Now I know they cost him about 50c but I don't care. I think they are the most beautiful things that I now own.


For his dad, he painted a picture and his nanny framed it for him.

Advance Australia Fair

as Adam Hill would like it to be. Really funny.

The Fear of turning 40

You know what? I don't have it. I'll be honest and admit that I don't really understand what the fuss is all about.

Yes at times I'll ask "where have the last 15 yrs gone" but not because I'm afraid of being 40 but because my mind still thinks I'm only 25 hahahaha

6mths before turning 30 I took stock of my life. I had goals that I had wanted to reach before I turned 30 and was a bit shocked that I hadn't achieved them. I haven't once worried about what goals I have or haven't achieved by 40. I have my faith, husband, children, family, friends, life/health and home what better goals are there?

I look at birthdays the same way as I look at wrinkles - they are all badges of life - and what marvelous medals they are.

I know I don't have many wrinkles and I'm probably glad I don't, but when I see someone with wrinkles I see beauty. The beauty of life forever to show and wonder at the knowledge that person may hold.

So in just over 2 wks I'll leave my 30s behind forever as I enter my new stage. Maybe I'm finished with the caterpillar stage and I'll finally turn into a beautiful butterfly :D

Solitude among crowds

This morning we met some friends at one of the community pools just after 9am. It was a really nice morning, though still quite warm. The water was a bit cool :D The pool has quite a lot to offer with 2 indoor pool sections, an olympic size pool and 2 wading pools for the little ones.

I really enjoyed meeting up with Bonnie and her kids and it was great how we were able to sit and watch the kids swim while having a chat too. There were times when neither of us spoke but there was no need to fill the silence. That is so important to me.

Sometimes with people I can't relax and feel that I need to constantly be thinking of things to talk about. I am so happy to find that Bonnie is friend who I can relax and be myself with and don't need to fill the silence with needless chatter.

Not only did I enjoy watching the kids have fun, I enjoyed the companionship of my friend and that is something I treasure.

Early Morning Wonders

This last week we've been waking up at 4.20am and being at the beach just after 5am. The boys wake up really quick, eat their breakfast and are in the car so fast its actually funny.

Now I am NOT a morning person. I love the quiet of the late night with the night sounds and being able to just relax. To me, getting up before at least 8am is so wrong lol But I do this because it makes my family happy. Shhhhh but I'd be happy if they went without me.

There usually isn't more than one or two other swimmers where we go. Today we were a little later, we didn't get there until about 5.20am but it was such a lovely morning we stayed until about just after 8am. I bought a kilo of prawns and then we were off to enjoy the day at home.



These pics were taken with my phone so I hope they are okay.

So annoying

Big W has advertised Spider Man contact for covering books. So I decided to go and brave the shops to get some for Connor's books this year.

Yeah right!

I got there and they had only gotten in 2 small boxes of them and ALL were gone. They did this last year too so I should've known they wouldn't have any.

Boy that frustrates me so much.

Almost done

I'm getting closer to finishing the butterfly painting

Its a new day

Well, what a wild ride the last couple of weeks have been. With the lead up to Christmas flashing by so quickly, Christmas Day was probably the best one I've had in so long.

Boxing Day ended up being the 2nd worst day of my year with my Nana going downhill so fast. I spent the 26th and 27th at her bedside with various family. I didn't want to go home (to my mum's) at night but was convinced to do so. Unfortunately about 1am 28th December, my nana died. It is all too fresh to be typing this without tears. I am so angry at myself for not staying through the night because I told Nan I would be there. I wouldn't let her die alone and that's exactly what ended up happening. I knew within myself that that was the last night she would be with us but the little bit of hope I had allowed people to convince me to go get some sleep. We got the phone call about 1am so then my parents, sister and myself all went back to see Nan. She looked so peaceful and I truly hope that she is.

The next few days were so hard and I don't think I slept more than 2 or 3 hours from the 26th to the 30th December. I put together a photo dvd, music cd and made the funeral flyers. It was a long job but I'm so glad I was able to do it for her.

Nan's funeral was on New Year's Eve in the morning. It was very beautiful. So many people came to farewell my Nan. She was such a beautiful person and so strong hearted. Many times drs told us to say goodbye yet Nan would still pull through. We had over 10 extra years with her and I know we should cherish each day of them but I still wish she was with us. But now her pain is at end.

I didn't see the new year in. I was just so exhausted physically and mentally. I was asleep by 8.30pm and didn't stir until just before dawn.

In remembrance of Dorothy Fisher
23rd March 1922 - 28th December 2008