Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I had no intention of staying up this late but I realised I hadn't finished off my 52 week card challenge. I hate the thought of 2007 things going into 2008 - after all, that's why these things are called challenges! So, I stayed up to finish the last 7 cards, and managed to do so at 5 minutes to 12! Here's my stash - and it's a nice little collection of my thoughts and feelings on all sorts of themes - a sort of snapshot of me in the year 2007. Thanks to Emily Falconbridge for the inspiration - it feels good to stick at something, to see it through to completion (note to self, do this more often...)

And here's a CJ that I finished today - It's Mummabear's Simple Pleasures - I quite like it...

And here's a layout I've been meaning to finish for ages - as you can see Millie is only 1 here. But I really love this photo of her with her Nana and Pop, so had to get it done. A bit of a slack scrap - using those lovely papers, but I think it's simplicity is nice.

For all of you who have stopped by to have a look at my bits and bob's, who've read my ramblings (I try and keep it short) and peroused my pics, thankyou. It was lovely to have you pop in from time to time, I do enjoy your company. Please know you are always welcome at my cyber door - I'd love to see your face again this year! May your year ahead be filled with health, happiness, lots of fun and adventure (always MUST HAVE adventure), laughter and good times shared with family and friends. If you're a resolution maker, I hope you manage to achieve them - it's always good to plan and challenge yourself - it produces growth. I know for me, I'm calling the Australian College tomorrow and enrolling in a Diploma of Graphic art and Design (there - I've said it - it's out there!) and thus begins my 5 year plan to be out of teaching for good. My goal is that by the time Toby reaches year 1, I will have a business running from home as a freelance graphic artist. Wow - it's the first time I've seen it written down - powerful stuff!

So have a wonderful ride - make sure you end up skidding in at the end with a glass of wine in your hand, a smile on your face and having had the time of your life.



Best of luck! Happy New Year! x Me

Playing With my New Camera

I just love the light here in the late afternoon. I had lots of fun getting these shots - aren't they gorgeous! Thanks for stopping by, x Me.

A Bush Christmas

Here's some pics of our Christmas day. We couldn't have asked for amore perfect day - it rained from about 10 am onwards. It was cool, wet, breezy and lifted everyone's spirits in town. Right now this piece of Oz is green as and there's water everywhere - we are so lucky. This was Toby's first christmas - and I think he had a great time! Millie calls the tree a Grimace tree which is so cute, and even santa is called "Grimace". Hope you all had a lovely day too. X Me

Lovin' the Chrissy Tree

The stock standard family shot in front of the tree. I think this will become a tradition and I look forward to comparing each year as they roll by...

A christmas kiss...

Toby's first christmas

The beautiful rain...

Every little boy needs a tractor and a rock...

Our Happy Jack.

No present is complete unless it included Thomas the Tank engine! This $3 magazine was her favourite gift.

This is the look of awe and wonder as she realised it was the magazine!

A giant floor puzzle. This look cracks me up - it's a look that says "I'm not sure what it is, but I think it will be fun!"

A NEW BLOG!

Hi everyone. Just wanted to avert your attention to one of the links in my photographic section - Gallery 12. Pop over and have a look in the Gallery. It's the showcase for the photos of the 52 week Digi Challenge - an idea I came up with a few weeks ago.

There's 12 photographers - myself included and each week we take a photo which is our interpretation of a weekly theme. The idea is for visitors to vote for their favourite weekly photo by leaving a message with their favourite number in the comments section. For example, if number 5 is your fave photo, then simply write "5" in the comments section, it's that easy!


At the end of the year, we hope to have been popular enough to have a winning photographer who can feel all warm and cozy with the Innaugural title of 2008 Digi Challenge Chic!

So, please go and have a look. There's some warm-up challenge photos there and the first challenge for the year has been posted - Brand New. The photos will all be up in the Gallery by Friday evening, so voting can start next weekend. We'd love your input, so please bookmark the site and pop over each weekend for a walk through Gallery 12.


And from me, here's a few more layouts for the kids' albums. The red one...Hmm, not sure what I was thinking with those 'spatula trees' but - hey, I don't have time to redo anything! The Spatula Trees will have to stay for now! I think my favourite is "We." Again, an older pic of Toby, but one of my faves.

Thanks for stopping by, x Me

I Hope You Dance

This is the latest Lo I've done for Toby's album. It's an older photo of him - I think he's around three months old here, but I love it. I've always loved this song by Womack (first name?) and it really encapsulates my thoughts about what I wish and hope for my children as they grow into adulthood. Thanks for stopping by, x Me.

A Double and a Thankful Journal

Hi everyone! Here's a double I managed to finish off last night. I've had this pic for a while now - it's one of my faves. I'd been pushing paper around for three nights trying to get it right on a single page LO - and then on the 4th night I got out another page and it all came together in about 20 minutes - amazing! I quite like it - even managed some sewing on those pussy-willow Hambly thingos! The next few pics are of a Thankful Journal I made for the lovely Kirsty. I got this idea from Emily Falconbridge - you can visit her blog for a short how-to on this one, link below. I'm half way through making one for myself as well. Each day you write down one thing you're thankful for - and it's for the whole year! Thanks for stopping by, luv Me x

Happy Birthday To Me!

Have had a great day today. Pancakes for breaky, besties around for smoko and my DH home as well. A big bunch of flowers, my favourite chocolates (The Whit fererro ones with coconut on the outside) and I've even finished another LO for Toby's album. Tonight we'll be going out for dinner to a friend's house, so am looking forward to more great company! Apart from my white chocolate mud cake getting overcooked, it's been an all round great day! Thanks for stopping by, x Me

A New Challenge

Had a bit of rain this week - about 38mm all up - and a blessed relief it's been too! Millie had fun running through the puddles on the driveway, and Toby enjoyed just watching her antics. Have a new challenge starting up in the new year which will need all of your support as voters of a favourite photo - stay tuned and I'll post up more info in a week. But for now - which one of these is your favourite??? Thanks for stopping by, x Me I Wonder...

"What's up your bum Gypsie?"

"Howdy folk!"

"Hmm, Cookie should we be out here?"

My Little Man

This photo was taken by the lovely Kirsty last night in the glow of the setting sun - nice eh!

Luv Me x

It's Beginning...

Hi everyone - well finally we have our tree up! I had to buy a new tree this year - a much smaller one that would fit on top of our meat safe so that it was safely out of reach of tiny hands which love to grab shiny lights! So here's a peep at our little but lovely tree. I'm looking forward to the day when it will actually look as though it's been dressed by little people as well. I think at the moment it looks too ordered and neat!

I've only ever had one cold Christmas in the USA - Pensylvania, but every year I miss the cool and Christmas smells and lights that the Americans do so well! The past week has delivered daily temperatures between 38 and 42, so it's a far cry from a northern hemisphere Christmas! I often wonder why we Aussies still have pictures and ornaments of snow-clad children on sleighs, Father Christmas in his big red suit and all these winter wonderland decorations - it's such a tease. And how many Aussies even have a pine tree growing in their yard?

Anyway - I have some news for those of you would be interested... Mac has just gotten a new job and we're moving back to WA!!! Yes, you heard right - to the beautiful Geraldton, which is about 500km north of Perth and ON THE COAST - Yeeha! He'll be working with the WA Dept of Agriculture as a Biosecurity Officer - project manager for all things biosecurity ie ferral foxes, pigs, goats, weeds pests and diseases. Not that disimilar to the work he was doing with AQIS whilst in Broome. He starts on Feb 4th, so the clock is ticking and I'll probably fly over with the kidlets around mid Jan, which is only a month away!

Looking forward to living in the same town as my Bro and his gorgeous family, being near the beach, and having lots of great activities to do with Millie and Toby such as swimming, museums, theatres, galleries, playgounds, and even footpaths (believe it or not they dont have any in Longreach) so we can get back to walking with the pram. I'll even get to put my bike trailor into action and pull the kidlets around town whilst getting some long-awaited exercise.

But obviously the main drawcard for us is that we will now have extended family living nearby for us all to enjoy - with the rest only a half -day's drive away. I'll really miss my beautiful homestead here, and all our wonderful space (it's been a life long dream to have it). We'll be going back into suburbia, on a tiny block - but I know it will be worth the move. I certainly wont miss this heat though! Here's a few snaps of my home - if she was a person I'm sure she'd be a kindred spirit...

Thanks for stopping by, luv Me x