Snow snow snow

Snow snow snow, and lots of it. We woke this morning to 4 inches (10 cm). The phone rang hot and there was no school, yayyyyyy. But during the day it has snowed more and more and we ended up with 8 inches (20 cm) of it lying around by 4.00. Heres our outside chairs

This view is from our gate across the hills, just beautiful

The kids were in and out all day, making snowballs and throwing them at us, luckily the window was between them and my camera :)

As you can tell by Abby in her short t-shirt, it wasn't actually cold, I did manage to get her out of her shorts and then a skirt, so we comprimised and she could keep her t-shirt on if she put longs on, (wow, shes only 5, imagine the negotiation skills I'm going to need when she is 15?)

After lunch we decided to go out with a wool pack behind the bike. Wow, what fun we all had. The dogs came too and were running around like lunatics chasing the bike and rolling in the snow. Still not sure who had the most fun, but we ended up coming inside when the fingers started going numb.

Here's Jake going for a spill and he was laughing all the time. And he has Lionels gloves on too :)

Heres Ollys turnHe wasn't too happy at being thrown off and Abby having her turn,

But Abby didn't mind (here I was on the back of the bike to get this photo and I just missed her being sprayed with a shower of snow, just after this)

She thought it was great fun :)

Birthday gifts made

What a great birthday party it was. There was a magician there as well, and he was good, even had all us parents wondering how on earth he did some things. :) I ended up taking just Abby (it was meant to be the whole family, but Lionel had things to catch up on then Jake wanted to help him and so did Olly, so it certainly made the whole thing easy :) )

I brought a book and I also made this for her. Sorry about the photo, I had to take it this morning before I wrapped it up, and the photo doesn't do it justice at all. The buttons below the book are attatched to ribbon and to be used as a book mark.

And here is the card I made as well, again it looks so much better in real life than here.

Well the weather is turning to custard here now, and they have dropped the snow fall warnings down to 100 meters again. The Brass Monkey ralley is on in Oturehua this weekend too, so I hope all the motorcyclists are well equiped. Be careful on the roads everyone if your traveling. :)

Battening down the hatches

Well the weather forcast is terrible for this weekend, and I'm not concerned about it at all, plenty of coal and wood, nothing nicer than sitting inside by the fire, might even get scrapping done if that happens, I did say might. We have a 5th birthday party to go too tomorrow, Abby is so looking forward to it. I made a notebook personalised with her name (will try and get a photo of it tomorrow), which I know she won't have.
Just a quick update on layouts. Here is one I can share with you called "our Mary Poppins"
The journaling was printed out on acetate then I painted pearl paint behind it so that the journaling stands out just a little bit more. I've used the crafters template for the journaling spot (I love this template to bits, so versatile), I hope to do some 2 minute cards so I can share them with you using this template.

The flowers weren't quite what I wanted, so I used glimmermist on them, and it really does change them subtly (a bit contradictory I know ).Well that is it for now. I hope everyone has a safe queens birthday weekend, and if your on the roads, drive safetly :)

Proud yong Man.

We have one proud young man in the family. Why? Well they had another opening morning for duckshooting up central and Dad wanted to take Jake out, so Jake, Abby and I went up on Friday night. Olly wanted to stay so he could play rugby. Jake was awake at 3.30 in the morning wanting to know "if its time yet". LOL, luckily he went in to ask his Gran and Grandad not me LOL. After another 2 and a half hours they were having breakfast, getting guns and amunition out of the cabinet, getting food ready (they took enough for about a week LOL). And off they set. I on the other hand got ready to go and see my Nana in Ranfurly. She wanted her photos sorted out and I'm going to do her a couple of albums. I want to do it so that when she goes into a home then she can have her albums around her instead of her wall plastered with them, as I know that your not alowed too many on the wall. Well she had suit cases full and there was so many photos that she had no idea who was in them or what they were about, just really brought home to me the reason why I scrap book, "to tell the story". Well it turned into a four hour marathon but I've brought home photos that mean the most to her and will start a realy simple album when I sort out the size I am going to do and papers.

Half way through doing this I got a phone call. It was Jake and he was so excited, he had two ducks with three shots, and flying too. When I got home they had just left again to stalk a few ponds and he came home with another one. Because I'd forgotten my camera we took the ducks home with feathers and all their bits and pieces on so we could get photos. (I know, silly forgetting my camera, and I haven't worked out how that happened). Well here is the proud hunter :)Doesn't he look proud :) And we had them for lunch on Sunday, they were beautiful. :) After getting home all Jake went on about was shooting and going out to get another one for Garry (the neighbour). Sunday after lunch they (Jake, Lionel, Olly and Abby) went out and Jake got another one, so it got plucked and gutted and taken up the road immediately. Lionel said it was so funny stalking the pond, Jake was trying to keep Abby quiet, Olly was pretending he was getting a try and was running around looking for spend cartridges (he uses them for fences on his farm LOL). Wish I was there to take a photo LOL.

The week before at Rugby Olly got player of the day so here he is showing off the trophy before he had to take it back

Now a couple of layouts to share. This layout was for a spring challenge. And I told the story of how old these daffodils are and me not bringing any of the bulbs with us :)

This layout is for a challenge at scrapbook outlet . It was a shopping challenge and I brought, circles, flowers and eyelets. (the eyelets are in the centre of the flowers). I actually enjoyed this one and quite like the circle as a frame/mat.
Well that is all for now. Take care

Snowing

Lots has been happening here over the last week. And I do love it like that. We had one of Lionels sisters and her husband visit last weekend, they came on Friday and left on Sunday. It was mainly for duckshooting, which by the way was an utter disaster. They shot two ducks, and could only retrieve one. But they did get 10 goats. Jake had a ball and was absolutely shot by the end of the weekend.

Then on the Tuesday night a wee friend of Abbys came and stayed the night after school. Her mother had a course in Dunedin and it was easier that she stayed than coming to get her later on, and there was no complaints from here.

Then Wednesday night a friend from Oamaru was here. Was great to catch up with him, the only downer to that was Lionel had to head away first thing on Thursday to Oamaru. His mum is sick and he had to go and find out for himself how things were. There was a few contradictory stories so it was better that he see for himself. So while he was up there he booked the Falcon into a guy we know up there, and on the Friday they had trouble with it, so in the end he had to bring a loan car home and will go back up next week.

Friday my mum came to stay and brought my Nana down to stay with her sister in Clutha, so I met them in Lawrence and we went out for a lovely mothers day lunch, the three of us.

Mum left today early as it was snowing, couldn't believe it. Not much but snow never the less.

For the last two winters we've had real trouble with moisture inside. It came around when we pulled the internal wall out which had the open fire in it. New carpet went down at the same time but now where the sliding and stacking doors are it is starting to go moldy, and it hasn't been three years. Last year I started researching domestic ventilation systems. And finally I have found the system for us. It is called Drive air and is going in this coming week. The man came and talked to us on Tuesday and gave us a price, so it will be good bye to wet windows. Will let you know how it goes

Saturday the boys had rugby in Clutha, so we all went in and watched. They just lost but it was a very good game and the team has come on leaps and bounds since the start of the year.

Jake having his little run :)

Saturday afternoon Lionel went and watched the seniors here in Lawrence, the boys wanted to go,(it was cold), so we said to go get warm clothes, jaket and a hat (meaning a warm one) and this is what Olly came back like. He couldn't see the problem with his hat LOL, apart from the fact it would of blown off and the fact it isn't warm, I guess it would be alright LOL.After doing the photo a day a couple of months ago I thought that I should take my camera with me more often. The fact that everyones days are filled with such different things, and what I think is normal is quite different to what others do. One day I did remember to take the camera, the day wasn't the best but I got some photos of what I was doing. Shifting sheep LOL, so this is what my busy schedule involves, Unfortunately you can't see my dogs, one day I'll get a photo of them :)This is going up the lane, Just on the other side of the hedge at the top is where our house is. The lane goes around the back and up to the woolshed. I guess this is my usual roadblock "SHEEP".

Scrapbookoutlet has had little challenges going all month, each time you complete a challenge your name goes in the draw for a RAK (little something). And this month I was lucky enough to win it so yayyyy, not sure what it is yet. Here is some that I will share with you ;) This was a recipe challenge, 30x30 piece of card stock 28x28 pp etc, and this is what I came up with.This one had to have circles in it. This actually has 11 if you look, plus the buttons and the pp has dots too :)This one was for something and now I can't remember what for, I actually think I forgot to upload it LOL.

Also there was worldwide scrapbooking day last weekend, and with visitors I never got to compete, but I still won something. Now its not often that happens is it. But the awesome Jenny won a free copy of the new scrapbooking mag inovations. And what did she do, no she didn't keep it for herself, she has told Andrea to pass it on to me. So Jenny a huge thankyou, YOU ROCK :)

Onlsow photos and a couple of layouts :)

This layout is another one as the guest designer. Its called "TIME CHANGES many things (but not the love of friends)." its about friends of ours in Oamaru, and they came to visit, we see each other once a year, and the kids just play together like they have never been apart, its just wonderful :)

Now some photos from Onslow (for those of you that emailed me wanting to know what its like. This is what you drive through on your way to the lake. Your on top of the world with no one else around :)

Except for this old tractor in the tussocks. It was used years ago to pull vehicles up the hill, in the days when your vehicle would over heat on the big hills.

It is like in the middle of know where. You drive in and this is what you come too. :)The family skimming stones :)
This is Abby being a boat LOL. The light is natural, I haven't altered it at all, itsn't it gorgeous.
And a layout to finnish with. This is for the April challenge #3 over at scrapbookoutlet . It isn't how I envisaged it but I'm certainly happy with it :)

Belated news

I am late in this, sorry. But most of you may know that the new Ezine is out. It is fantastic too, lots of inspiration in there. I had the absolute privilege of being guest designer for the month. For this I was sent a gorgeous box of supplies (the February kit), that included, pp, cardstock, diecuts, ribbon, brads, chiboard album cover-gorgeous, there was the goreous Making memories note paper and probably a lot that has slipped my mind. I had a play with it all and completed a couple of layouts and cards. I can now share with you all as the Ezine is out.

This layout is of our gorgeous Flo. The flower was stamped on a seperate card then cut out and had dimensional magic over the top.A card I did for Megan and Baz's wedding.This one I wasn't happy with but others thought it was the best one, so thought I'd better share itThis one was to go in a frame into Abbys room, but it hasn't made it out of the lounge LOL

Blog candy.

Check this out over at Carols Paper playce . Its Carols birthday and she has some blog candy to give away. The picture above is a example of what she has on offer, just gorgeous, look at that bling and look at the colour. Now I've managed to take some photos of the section. I've dug around and have photos of when we first arrived here so you can compare. The trees that were in the garden were rotting and hadn't been looked after for ages and they were blocking all our sun out, so they had to come out, and the lawn was full of moss and really wet and with the tractor over the top, well it made a real mess so it got sprayed and worked and well, now its lawn and a new garden. :)

Here is the old out the front photos and unfortunately you can't see the window that was replaced by the sliding door after the alterations. And this is the view from the road. The mail box is in the middle of that flax bush (poor mailman)

And now it is like this, lawn isn't up yet LOL. the hose is in the fish pond which now houses 5 fish, Smudge (Olly's), Foxy Loxy (Jake's) and Bubbles (Abby's), plus two unnamed :) When there is pea straw on over the weed mat it will look 100% better. And you can't see the front deck from here either, it is 11 meters long by 5.6 meters wide (I'm standing on it zooming in)

And here is old out the back photos. The window over Lionels shoulder is the old dining room window that we pulled out and put a sliding door in, for that one day deck (and the one day is now) and the water tank, well it was just a tank full of holes with a old water pump shed beside it that had about a foot of water under it, really safe!!!!!!

And here is the one day deck. On top of the posts we are putting a seat along the front so you can just sit on it and if you want swing your feet out the other side to watch the kids or you can just sit on the deck if your out on "the not there yet" lawn

Well we are really proud of it, must admit, I took a photo before Lionel had trimmed off the decking timber at the other end, sorry.

Layouts to share

As most of you know, last week was scrapcamp in Dunedin (Mosgiel to be precise) and what a hoot it was. I had two fantastic roomies. Lee and Sharon who put up with me for two whole nights. Not that we were in our rooms much, first night was 3 - 31/2 hours and then the last night was about the same. So a very long weekend and very productive weekend. Here is a selection of layouts. The first is of Abby on the fire engine at school camp. She's always wanted to be a fireman and this was just her in her element :) It was also for a challenge to use 6 pieces of paper This was very simple, although time consuming with all that hand stitching around. The title was doen using the slice machine. Don't ya love it :)This was for a challenge to use bling on a layout. :)

And this was to use food on a layout, either word wise or a picture LOL.

Family layout- to use stamps on a layoutThis one was just because. I love this photo of the boys :)This layout kit was kindly donated by Andrea from Scrapbookoutlet and designed by Lara :)And this is for the sketch challenge. There was also a north Island retreat so there was a North vs south sketch challenge kindly being sponsored by fiskars and also fiskars are judging it. This is probably my favourite layout for the weekend. It's based on a sketch but I love the simplicity of it all.

I also did a simple mini album and two cards. So it was a very productive weekend.

We've also been really busy on the home front. We finally have our lawn in. Yep, after two years of having it worked and sprayed it is sown out. And to be honnest, it was the best thing that we could of done (waiting this long). The garden that was there originally with the big trees, well all the roots were gone (because of the spraying) and it was a fine composty type of soil. It has come up awesomley (if there is such a word). I marked out a garden and Lionel has been helping me with it. Then I decided a fish pond would be cool- well I've decided it for a while really, just actually admitted it to Lionel LOL. Then there was that cool water trough over in the paddock that wasn't being used- hint hint. We went over for a look (with the tractor) and brought it back, and it looks brilliant. To top it all off, a big nursery not too far away was having a big sale. We shot over for a look and came back with 50 plants, including a big Japanesse maple, a weeping maple, and a whole heap of natives plus a pom pom tree (Grandads rememberance tree), oh and the water lilly that they kindly dug out of their pond. The weeping maple is just behind the pond. Then on Wednesday after school we went into town and came home with 5 fish. Friends gave us a garden voucher when we moved so we used this for the fish - plus there is five in their family too.

Now there is not only the garden and the lawn but we've nearly finneshed the back deck. I say nearly as there is a seat to put on and the steps and about 4 lengths of decking (This can't go on till the seat is done). Hopefully I'll get some photos reduced and put on here and you can all see.
Well I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and please drive safetly if you are driving.