A bit of scrapping ...

Finally a bit of scrapping was done in the last few days.

After seeing this on Fran's blog I decided to take the Anna's Craft Cupboard December Sketch challenge ...

Sketch from Becky Fleck PageMaps...

and my layout ...

And another layout I did over the weekend ...

The tummies have settled here which is rather good!!

Had our first meal outside tonight around our new outdoor table ... quite nice but a bit cool!!

oh dear ...

Well half the house has been struck down with vomitting and diarrhoea!! Eeewww!!

Hannah ... Friday night & Saturday night

Me ... Staurday night

Jack .... Saturday night

John ... coming soon I reckon ;-)

We have been very lucky to have never had more than 1 person with it at once before!

Better get back to some more washing and sips of water!

Christmas day photos

Rohan wanted a fire truck for Christmas ... got this one with a fire station too.

This car for Rohan and Hannah has been popular too!

Some lovely roses from Wendy's garden.

The table set for lunch ...

Looking across to the children's table ...

Yummy fresh berries ...

Lunch ...

Hannah after a chocolate coated icecream ... in her beautiful dress from France or Italy, Anne & Michale gave it to her when she was born.

Jack and his cousin Matilda.

Lachlan ...

Now to finish the tidying up!!

Merry Christmas

Well we have had lunch ...

We had our family (6), John's Mum & Dad, John's brother & his family (5), John's auntie & uncle and John's cousin & her family (3) ... total 18!

Entree ... cold prawns, BBQ salt & pepper prawns and BBQ sweet chilli & coriander prawns, Coffin Bay oysters, date and blue cheese dates, smoked salmon on pumpernickel, Thai chicken cakes, chicken mini vol-a-vonts

Main ... roast pork, "churkey" (duck / chicken / turkey boned and wrapped together) with asparagus, spinach and pumpkin mash, roast chat potatoes, carrots, peas & beans, tomato & onion bake, cauliflower cheese topped with gravy

Dessert ... Wendy's yummy Christmas pudding, Strawberry marshmallow & cherry cassata.

Extras ... fresh fruit platter with cherries, blueberries, strawberries & blackberries; rocky road, peppermint fudge, little Christmas puddings.

Wow that's a lot of food!!

Then there was the drinks ... a bottle of Moet and a bottle of Seppelts sparkling shiraz, and Starve Dog Lane Sauv Blanc ands then the big reds ... Rockfords Basket Press, Zema Family Selection, Chapel Hill Shiraz and a couple of wedgies!!

All yummy and so much easier when everyone brings a little bit!

Christmas cooking ...

Today I have made two Christmas-time only sweets

Rocky Road ...

This is my sister, Melissa, recipe

500g milk chocolate, melt in the microwave

1 packet of marshmallows, cut in half

1 packet of glace cherries, cut in 1/4

1 packet of slivered almonds

Mix all together and pour into a slice tray lined with Alfoil. Refrigerate. Cut into bite size pieces.

Ally's Peppermint Fudge ...

1 tin Condensed Milk

500g milk chocolate,

60g butter

Melt together in the microwave and stir thoroughly.

Add peppermint essence to taste ... I use half a small bottle.

Pour into a slice tray lined with Alfoil and refrigerate. Cut with a hot knife, into bite sized pieces.

Christmas sewing ...

Every Christmas I like to make a new decoration or a few decorations for our tree.

Last year I made 15 of these, after doing Kim Archer's Christmas classes ...

And yes they all had names stitched on them! I was finishing them off on our drive to Clare. Each family got to keep their own.

This year I ordered this pattern with a kit ...

I bought the pattern / kit here.

So far I have made ...


and ...

And now I'm in the process of making ...

Usually I like to make things from felt, this kit uses wool felt and it is beautiful. It gives the decoration a really "I'm going to last a long time" sort of feel.

I was reading the latest Country Threads on Friday and got very excited to see this ad ...

Inspired Stitches

A Stitching Retreat 25th and 26th April 2009

Westminster College, Marion Adelaide, South Australia

Enjoy a day of stitching with four amazing guest designers. Rosalie Quinlan, Leanne Beasley of Leanne’s House, Melanie Hurlston of Melly & Me and Janelle Wind have created brand new or otherwise not readily available designs for you. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are included together with tea, coffee, orange juice and water. On arrival you will receive a gift bag containing patterns, a starter kit and other wonderful surprises. There will be door prizes each day.

Go here to find out more!

I have wanted to go to one of these weekends, with these particular designers, for ages. There is one held near Melbourne each year but this will be easier and a bit cheaper to get to. I think I have Midge and Ingrid on board, just have to see if Jeannie is interested!!

Don't worry ... I still would love to go to a scrap retreat too;-)

Day trip ...

Yesterday after Jack & Lachlan had their Swimming lessons I met up with Amanda for a trip to Tumby Bay.

First we headed to the shops and spent a little money ... Lil Red Zebra, Liquid Stix, Pomp and Palaver and Patches at the Bay.

Then we headed for the beach ... we all had a great time ... Amanda and I took lots of photos ... about 200 each!!

Then we decided to stay for tea as our husbands were both busy ... John carting grain and unfortunately Greg had a break down to deal with.

Sat outside at the Tumby Bay Hotel and the kids ran around on the lawn and played cricket until Jack hit the ball over into the neighbours fence!

Amanda and the girls head home at about 9pm and I decided to do a drive around the Christmas lights with the kids ... didn't get home until about10pm (Tumby is about 40 minutes drive from our house).

Now if had have had Tara Whitney at my right elbow I think I would have been too nervous to take a shot but they would have been far, far, far better shots!! She is one amazing photographer!! Check out her blog for some inspiration!

Sun sets

Tiff rang me Thursday night ... "have you got your camera?" ... "yes, why?" ... "go out and take a photo of North Block" ... so I did ...!!!

Her point ... the cloud rolling over the hill!!

Then I stayed out a bit longer and got this one ...

and this one ...

Christmas is coming ... the Rambler Christmas Tree

Last night we had the Rambler Christmas tree night ... shared tea and this Ho Ho comes on a Fire Truck!! The kids all got very good gifts.

Singing Jingle Bells ...

Here he comes ...

Hannah was fascinated ...

She wasn't very happy to get up close and personal but loves her present!!

Rohan screamed the loudest about not wanting to get the gift so I went up!!

Lachlan stopped for the photo ...

Jack was pretty interested in the bag of lollies and loved the swing ball ...

All in all a good night!

Survey says

Got this from Jill's blog , and thought I could do it!

Learn 50 things about your friends, and let them learn 50 things about you .

1. Do you like blue cheese? Absolutely ... so many people don't so I don't get to eat it that often ;-)
2. Have you ever smoked heroin? no.
3. Do you own a gun? No.
4. Wax or Shave your body parts? shave and wax ;-)
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Depends what it is for
6 Real or fake nails? Real.
7. Favourite Christmas song? Jingle bells
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? white coffee with a sweetener
9. Can you do push ups? Only since joining Julie's gym this year ;-)
10. What's your favourite piece of jewellery? My fob chain and bracelts that John bought me for my 30th and our first baby, Jack ... he said "nothing since ;-)".
11. Favourite hobby? scrapbooking
12. Do you have A.D.D.? No.
13. What's one trait that you hate about yourself? Being messy at home
14. Middle Name? Jane
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? Where is John?; what time is it?; I am working in the morning!! Eeekk!!
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Coffee, Diet Coke,. wine ... sauvigoun blanc or cab sav or shiraz!!!.
17. Current worry right now? school holidays and 4 kids home ;-)
18. Current hate right now? The weather with my DH trying to harvest
19. Favourite place to be? On a trip away with my DH
20. How did you bring in the New Year? At a great friends house and I had a couple of lemonades!!
21. Like to run? no.
22. Name three people who will read this? Tiff, Amanda, Sue!
23. Do you own slippers? No.
24. What colour shirt are you wearing? brown.
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Can't say I ever have or ever will.
26. Can you whistle? Yes
27. Favourite colour? red
28. Would you be a pirate? No
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? None
30. Favourite girl's name? Hannah
31. Favourite boy's name? Jack Lachlan Rohan
32. What's in your pocket right now? no pockets
33. Last thing that made you laugh? My DH
33. Best toy or collection as a kid? Barbies
34. Worst injury you've ever had? Caesarians x 4
35. Do you love where you live? Hhmm yes but renovations would be great
36. How many TV's do you have in your house? 2
37. Who is your loudest friend? None of them
38. How many pets do you have? None
39. Does someone have a crush on you? I hope not
40. What is your favourite book? Scrapbook Trends
41. What is your favourite lolly? Jamacian Rum & Raisin chocolate
42. Favourite Sports Team? Not really in to sports
43. What were you doing at 6:00pm? cooking tea
44. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? It is 6am ... what will I do
45. Worst habit? DH says scrapbooking ;-)
46. Do you play an instrument. no
47. How long does it take you to get to work? 10 minutes
48. Plans for the weekend? Maybe drinks Friday night ... I think its a 50th birthday party!!
49. If you could eat anything in the world right this second, what would it be? I don't feel like eating anything right now ... had a yummy chicken risotto for tea.
50. Do you like who sent this to you? I saw saw it on a blog ;-)

This and that

Today ... the boys had their class parties at school after assembly...

Look who is a wally ... Lachlan!!

After Rohan, Hannah & I had a quick bite to eat they went to Granny's and I had an education session at the Hospital and then home with all four.

Tomorrow ... not sure, maybe exercise and that is all that is planned I think ... should probably try and get some Christmas cards done or think about when I cen go to Port Lincoln to do some Christmas shopping.

Friday ... work and the street parade and party in town.

Christmas cards

Finally pulled out the Basic Grey Wassail card kit today ... didn't take long to whip them up. Changed a couple of the designs ... I don't tend to use snowflake designs!! Not any major changed ... just wanted it to be easy!! Now to write them out and get them in the mail!!

Not sure about this next ... a bit obscure ... partridge in a pear tree!!

This next one is my favourite I think.

The three boys have been busy all afternoon ... "crafting" up a storm (I don't actually like that term!!LOL!!)... paper punches, textas, sticky tape!! They have made John and me Christmas cards!! A lot of ... "how do you spell ...?"