This wasnt my favorite to start with but I like it now that I got hold of a black & white idea. Honestly I tore out a piece of black art folio paper (and felt guilty because it is a book I never let myself tear pages out of .... and I looked at the holes with guilt... and then a light bulb moment)

the new challenge is finishing ideas for 8 cards with I think it is "Treat me like a queen"

Im thinking of doing a comic strip or a commercial strip and then the 8 will belong to a set

Yep... "out there"

Getting back to light bulb moments.... any clue as to how Im gonna get 3 bulbs into a light fitting about 3 ft out of my reach after I get up on the tallest piece of furniture I own?

what? what was that? oh, my husband. Yeah well you have a sense of humour!! good on you

Update on Samuel

well I hug him sometimes and then think.... well he isnt a baby anymore he is nearly 3

He loves a chat and nods and shakes his head most of the time now with yes and no

He has heaps of words, in, out, off, on, something go (means mum dont go), (good god I was just going to pee!), truck, duck, book, Anthony (well kind of... the wiggle), car, toot, om (Tom), me, mummy, mum, .... well Im sure there are a few more. "Oh!", "yeah!".

But Im waiting for real sentences.. but I can wait.. there is far too much talking in this house as is.

I was worried about his bounce on ball thing but he graps the handles and bounces all over the house.

He rides his bike and scooter and loves to throw balls and try to catch. Now I gotta get the kids to stop losing his bouncy balls.. is that another on the roof?

p.s. see his tight little fist.... always did that.. and now when we walk he insists we hold hands and we hold properly.... no pinky finger... he wants the whole hand. You have to love him.

Lesson learned from last week: dont speak

Lesson learned already this week: washing machine doesnt do self serve

Update on Samuel

well I hug him sometimes and then think.... well he isnt a baby anymore he is nearly 3

He loves a chat and nods and shakes his head most of the time now with yes and no

He has heaps of words, in, out, off, on, something go (means mum dont go), (good god I was just going to pee!), truck, duck, book, Anthony (well kind of... the wiggle), car, toot, om (Tom), me, mummy, mum, .... well Im sure there are a few more. "Oh!", "yeah!".

But Im waiting for real sentences.. but I can wait.. there is far too much talking in this house as is.

I was worried about his bounce on ball thing but he graps the handles and bounces all over the house.

He rides his bike and scooter and loves to throw balls and try to catch. Now I gotta get the kids to stop losing his bouncy balls.. is that another on the roof?

p.s. see his tight little fist.... always did that.. and now when we walk he insists we hold hands and we hold properly.... no pinky finger... he wants the whole hand. You have to love him.

Dont you hate that... sure its 1am but you are alone and figure you can update your blog and then you hear a noise. And the kids are no help but at least they are older now but they are snoring so you cant go and wake them. Oh ok so I turn on all the outside lights and go check it out. Brave me. Ah..... not likely. Hang on I will go turn on a couple more lights.... how does that work.... light good dark bad I guess.

Jen came over today and we sorted out her crochet pattern. Well she came up with the answer in the end and Im glad for her because it is a generous thing to be making such a lovely top for a friend. It would have been a bummer if the badly written pattern held her back.

I cut out more of Sam's bricks for his quilt. You wouldnt think that flannel shirts would have such great colors. It should end up absolutely beautiful.

He has been really fussy and a right pain at tea time the past two nights but tonite my kind Thomas was on board and played nicely with him so I could get dinner and get it into him before he konked out.

***It is very exciting.... there are 14 of us.... we are going to do a round robin together. Five borders put onto your centre piece by 5 people from mostly USA but there is one from Canada and of course 3 here in Australia.

I got hold of some Olympic stamps (Aust) and so can work on my ATCs.

No pressure but got out there today and cut the grass out the back. House inspection 1pm Monday. Its actually another 3 weeks until we reach our 3 month mark... gosh they are keen. Good on 'em.

What Im worried about the most is Samuel on Wednesday. How he is going to go because of strangers and then how he will be afterwards. I have to phone up... I dont know if I can catch a cab to M's with him after the procedure although I should have enough money to stay another night in a motel if needed. Well there is a few $ on the way yippee!! Every bit helps and is gratefully received.

Oh and I picked up Charlie's computer. She can play around with music, use Microsoft word, excel, powerpoint. I put these on for her. I need a mouse for it but other than that it will be quite fine for when we need to type up a uni or school paper. It means the internet pc is freed up. We got the computer for free... she found it sitting besides a skip outside an op shop ready for the tip. I had to pay to get past the passwording and I bought her a monitor because I never believed it would be up and running and I threw the other one out. It is a shame really because it was a better one than we have now. Oh well. For about $90 she has a pretty good pc. It has enough memory to play a few basic games, handles her music really well and being able to use the microsoft programs is enough reason to keep it. Was she happy? Are 14 yr old girls ever happy?

OK well it's been established .... there are no new ideas in the world (its a long story... and probably not an original LOL)

A couple more inches of Kelli's afghan done
Soup and pasta dishes done and in fridge (so I can sew and no one will starve)
Beds done
Round robin initiated and being discussed
Olympic ATC being posted soon
Charli's room cleaned and ALL beads picked up OMG OMG

Well that doesnt seem much for one day... but add playing with Sam and responding to "DRINK!!!"... (hey I never said the response was a drink) its ok

Jenny brought around the latest crochet mag. Now is that playing fair?

The significance of Dr McDreamy.... hey... if you need a reason to appreciate him baby... you need your hormone levels checked.

.... it's like, well as a child did you ever go into a game of Monopoly and you really really wanted to win? You had watched how the winner plays and you thought.. yep... this time Im not going to get annihilated. This time Im gonna do it. And what happened?... quicker than ever you were the loser.

Well that's what it has been like. It is the most ironic twist as only life can dish out... that a person who only wanted to find someone to love them back... would end up in her mid forties totally alone. Well you have to remember the Monopoly thing... I mean when you get into life that hard and totally will walk on fire to love and protect that love... and yep.... you get nothing in the end.. well that screams volumes... about something. Not sure one could ever actually put it all into words.

And while Richard was dancing on the screen having his mid life crisis... and after 1/2 a box of tissues... one thing became clear. I gotta change my mindset when I go into a game and I will never learn ballroom dancing. Yes, yes, that's two things. Hey.... Ive plenty to get clear!

.... it's like, well as a child did you ever go into a game of Monopoly and you really really wanted to win? You had watched how the winner plays and you thought.. yep... this time Im not going to get annihilated. This time Im gonna do it. And what happened?... quicker than ever you were the loser.

Well that's what it has been like. It is the most ironic twist as only life can dish out... that a person who only wanted to find someone to love them back... would end up in her mid forties totally alone. Well you have to remember the Monopoly thing... I mean when you get into life that hard and totally will walk on fire to love and protect that love... and yep.... you get nothing in the end.. well that screams volumes... about something. Not sure one could ever actually put it all into words.

And while Richard was dancing on the screen having his mid life crisis... and after 1/2 a box of tissues... one thing became clear. I gotta change my mindset when I go into a game and I will never learn ballroom dancing. Yes, yes, that's two things. Hey.... Ive plenty to get clear!

My baby girl is 14 tomorrow.

She has some money in her pocket (thank you dad) and now she also has the bike Ive been promising her.

Its a soft blue NOT pink... she isnt a pink kind of girl... (my fault? LOL)

Luv ya Charlie

My boy... if its ok with you stay out of the fridge and stop turning it up to 7 which freezes everything.
Thank you.
Love mum.

You know that your man loves you ... but does he really understand your deep seeded need for intelligent sarcasm ..... he must! He sent me this... and it is better than any bunch of flowers because it shows how well he knows his sick little puppy.

"Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rapidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

Friends are moving, sisters are rushing around viewing houses to move into, gosh the world is always changing. As long as we all keep in touch.... and thankfully no one is moving to another country!!! lol .... although... well.... that could be advantageous..... free accommodation???

It's overcast and chilly. It actually rained heavily and for quite a while yesterday.... Im really hoping our lawn comes back to life. No one can play outside for the prickles and weeds where green soft lawn should be.

These people who are relocating.... well they better not get better lawn than me... Im a rickety old woman and I need: no water restrictions, plenty of rain, soft green clover to sink my ugly toes into!!!

Had the best time.... Melbourne is still sensational and the shopping.... wow....

Loved being with my sister's family .... all our kids played and she has the best backyard.... family is so great. She tried on her wedding dress ... it is now off to be embroidered ... she looked beautiful .... Our hair trial was ok .... probably drank too much lol... but we got home without incident

No playing today ... an assignment not finished and a test this week ..... high stress levels.

(But when I am having study breaks I might be able to sneak in some Christmas sewing!!!)