This is where I live

Thought Id put a few pictures of The Blue Mountains where I live.Its about 1 and a half hours from Sydney.I love living here,we have Penrith at the foot of the mountains for shopping and with our lovely Nepean River complete with its paddle steamer.The mountains themselves are called blue because thats how they look from a distance,its a phenomenon caused by the eucalyptus oil in the gum leaves .Sometimes i take living here for granted but then i go shopping in Springwood and right behind the shops is a view to take your breath away.Its a lot more crowded up here than when i first moved here but i still love it.I took these photos myself and am always surprised how great a digital camera is.
The lake is one of our lakes near Canberra lake George i just had to include it .There is nothing like Australia in a drought.Thats sheep walking accross what a few years ago was a full lake.There are still no swimming signs up.
The kookaburra our laughing friend i love them .The blue Tongue lizard there is sunning itself in our yard.Easy to think they are snakes.The picture of the valley and mountain is in Wentworth Falls a few towns further up the Mountains.I took that one sunset when we were looking for McNaughts comet.

Tiaras and Cold toes

It very cold here now,its snowing further up the mountains.
My whole self is cold and its hard to motivate yourself even though my head is spinning with new ideas to try.
I have finished the Tiara for Shannon as part of Holly doodles Tiara swap.
Its been a lot of fun and a heap of glitter.I hope she likes it,if you dont want to spoil the surprise Shannon do not scroll down okay.
I also made her son Sam one he is adorable and just had an operation so he is in plaster poor little possum.Sams is a simple crown with all his favourite characters on it like THOMAS THE TANK AND POSTMAN PAT ETC.ShannonsI managed to get a bird and a nest (not easy on a tiara)
as they are kind of a signature of mine.She loves pink and old lace and dangles and glitter so i think i got it all in.

Late for wedding week my four sons.

I just love the photographs of my sons at our wedding seven years ago.
They looked so sweet in their suits.Thats just the sweetest little church behind them set on a hill in a country lane,its a happy ever after church and even though i had been divorced i so wanted to be married in a church,the minister was so lovely.
My girlfriend took all our wedding snaps she did a fabulous job.I told her beforehand what sort i wanted hence this blues brothers line up.And yes the sky really was that blue.It had been a week of freezing windy weather we had to change our garden party reception at the last minute and behold the day was lovely.Ok The tallest is Matthew followed by Timothy then Joel and the tiny one is Alex he was pageboy.What a difference 7 years makes Alex is now almost 14 instead of almost 7.Ahh but i miss them boys.

Kindred spirits amongst us.

"I've always dreamed of having a "bosom" friend...a true kindred spirit"~Anne~

Anne Shirley: I know I chatter on far too much... but if you only knew how many things I want to say and don't. Give me SOME credit.


I just wanted to say how visiting blogland has affected me.I have met so many lovely people and so many strangers i now consider Kindred spirits.Dionne from cherubs kisses,Debbie the purpleflower fairy and natasha,and so many others who have said such nice things and have poured out their hearts (and crafts )on their blogs.And just this past week i signed
up late for natsha's matchbox swap and met a truly great kindred spirit named Daisy.We just connected straight off and we are so excited at not just the swap
but finding a kindred spirit.She lives in the UK (my first UK friend)I can see we are
going to be friends long after that matchbox has been swapped.
Also the swapping thing is so fun I quickly became an addict,of course the normal people in my life just shake their heads at my excitement over Hollydoodles Tiara swap or HopHOpJingleboos bunny swap (another friend Heather my swap partner i met)I had a ball doing Risa the partyplanners ParTea swap received a lovely swap and met a lovelier lady (Linda of Lilly cottage)But know what its their loss cause life shouldnt be so serious that there isnt time to make or wear a tiara,or swap the odd bunny or two.So to everyone whose blog i visit and everyone who visits me,heres to you my kindred spirits!My thanks for blogland where we may all visit.

Warm sink + cold Cat =Cattitude

Well there is a chill here in the mountains,it was 1 degree yesterday when i got up,ice in the pipes ice in my toes,I dont take the cold well (which isnt to say i take the bad heat well either),but wearing a beanie to bed isnt my idea of romantic.Yesterday i had just drained some vegies etc into the sink and the sink is cast iron so it holds the heat (and breaks heaps of plates and my husband hates it and i adore it but thats another tale) So there was the nice warm sink and i turned around from the stove and who was sitting nice and warm in the wet sink.Thats right the cold cat who was by then the warm wet cat.Happy as larry she sat watching the kitchen drama until the sink was just cold and damp then she made for the air conditioner.Thats my emmilou she has Cattitude.

Bunting makes you happy

It does i Tell you,who can be sad looking at bunting.Especially pink and patterned bunting. My dear dear friend Joan (who also happens to be mother to my dear dear friend Chris) sent me this bunting which i blush to say i may have hinted for her to make for my birthday. Not only did she make it she posted it instead of waiting for me to visit.I adore it,its happy bunting. I ended up putting it accross my quilt rack that also contains a green quilt made by Joan.She is very talented and really doesnt think so .How fabulous does her bunting look !



On another positive note Id like to thank a girls day out for lifting my spirits and putting life into perspective.I am a chicken basicly ,i mean i like my safe little life my house my favourite op shops i like spring to follow winter and people to be nice to each other.I like christmas and easter and fairies .When stuff happens i really try to make the best but i try to stay safe.My friends made me see that not all changes are bad and im trying to embrace the future wherever it takes me.Thats all ,a day out with 3 longtime girlfriends can be a huge comfort,they have all had knocks some huge,ones husband was killed many years ago leaving her with two kids,ones ex husband is friends with the devil and years later he lives the high life whilst she tries to get her half of the settlement.The last had her breast removed months ago from cancer and has just endured months of chemo without whinging and without support.So i guess no ones lot is an easy one and we cope the best we can.We need our friends and im sure blessed with my friends especially since i count my mum and sister in that lot !

Dreary day suprises are the best

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Once upon a day so dreary,kinda down and very teary, when along comes my Partea swap from the fabulous Linda of lilly cottage I asked her does she have shares in a Tissue paper factory,Gotta love a gift so swathed in blue tissue sprinkled with stars,suddenly the day grew brighter and all the world seemed much more righter ! (poetic licence here) Here is my patched and embroidered wall hanging
fabulous .
Wow i was so lucky rose painted sugar cubes,felt cupcakes
handmade (with sprinkles no less) as was my wallhanging,Teabags Robert gordon cup/saucer.A tiny bird and crystal ended teaspoon,all packaged and labelled and rosey and crafty and i adore them thankyou Linda.



A scroll poem enclosed explained the letters P is for Pink patty cakes sweet and full of fun A is for a crystal teaspoon that sparkles in the sun etc ended with I have made a new friend Jullie who lives in mountains blue All from visiting Risa in America_who knew!

Tiaras and Tears

Been a bit sad lately so i am doing the only thing i know how,IM MAKIN A TIARA for Holly doodles Tiara swap and the funny thing is
my swap partner is shannon of Paintminepink (see sidebar fav blogs) she is my sweet friend form my Prettychic yahoo group.Its a U.S swap how funny we got each other _no postage as she lives near me.
In times of great stress use more glitter i say so Bling bling my tiara has begun, may its royalness bedazzle her !
and may i stop feeling sick and just cross my bridges when they come,with a tiara on and with glitter.

Partea time swap sent

Well my Partea time swap (risa the Party planners swap) has been packaged sent and received
and all a little early but thats better than late.It was a very fun one to enter,my swap partner is the fabulous Linda co-owner of Lilly Cottage a tiny sweet vintagey crafty sort of shop in Queensland.Check her out and read her post titled only in Australia (a funny,twisted,tragic tale of a day in the life of her little shop)
http://lillycottage.typepad.com/I packaged her Partea swap in a material covered Hatbox with a huge pink bow
i wrapped each present in tissue or tea relate material ,sprinkled with rosepetals and surrounded by teabags such as Russian caravan tea (it sounded so exciting)
I labelled each parcel to spell out ParTea and stole her pics from the lillycottage blog to show
you,
The tags read
P is for Pretty Perpetual calender (Debbie Mumm) A is for Animal picture and artists slide ( a sweet vintage ducks with breakfast in bed picture and a very cool glass slide collage made from a 2 microscope slides and copperfoiling
it is supposed to be soldered till i found i was missing the soldering gene (i have the burns to prove it) and quite possibly i am the worst solderer at least in Australia if not the world.
R is for Rosy mini jug, the sweetest .T is for Teacup (robert Gordon Heaart shaped ) and tray cloth ,E is for embroidered scone cosy, and lastly A is for accessories




The fun and challenging bit was fitting it like a puzzle inside the hatbox. Anyway Linda glad you liked it.I had so much fun doing it and emailing you. I will be back to visit Lilly cottage again im sure.

Happy Mothers day

My mum and Dad (my favourite picture of my Mum and Dad they look so happy and in love

Happy Mothers day to all mothers,especially to my very own mother and my sister too. My mother is still one of my best friends ,we can tell each other anything.I have counted on her in good times and in terrible times and thank her for the times she has pulled me through. I remember as a child how she could make magic out of ordinary things.A sheet became curtains flour and butter and sugar became a birthday cake.A boring saturday became a picnic on the lawn.The sacrifices she made were only obvious with time,She was our mum and we loved her . Its a bond shared by mums everywhere.We struggle,we sometimes lose the plot,The sticky fingers on the wall,the constant chatter and mess.Then we let them go and we want to say no im not finished yet.But off they go and with them parts of our hearts. My own drove me nuts,the fighting the tears,the anger of youth.But although i dont miss that, I do miss the fairies and the whispers at christmas and the begging at birthdays,I miss the "I will never ever ask you mum for another thing as long as i live "(yeah right). I miss the"Please mum, just one more mum" (one more minute on this game,one more biscuit,one more chance) I miss the hugs ,i miss the laughter ,i guess really i just miss my boys. Still i have one at home who has spent hours making my card so i am not totally devoid of children. And i share my sisters three boys the two youngest sometimes remind me i am lucky to have peace !LOL .So to all you mums Have a great day and hug them babies cause in a minute they will be all grown up.

This is my Brother Joey and myself

Avalon-My contemplative cat

Here is my favourite pic of Avalon

and I took it can you believe that.

I look at it and think wow it looks like a calender pic.

We called her Avalon after where Neil found her

hurt and dumped,and Darkmoon for she has seen the darkness

of life and still shines like the moon.

Pink tissue,tears and friends

I am sitting here surrounded by tears and pink tissue ,amidst a wonderful wonderful surprise parcel sent to me by Peta (Make mine pink ) .
Thank you soooo much .While i was bursting into tears i grabbed the camera first, so you could all be with me as i opened the parcel .So beautiful i adore the tiny wreath she sat on the top held on by Chantilly chic ribbon.
Next I open up the box burst into tears and see there are bows on everything.They are all pink ,all different and tiny polka dot bows -my favourite everywhere like sprinkles >
A beaded doily, a teddy teabag rest ,a teddy plaque, a friends are family we choose ourself magnet (so true), a tiny tiny bag of rose potpourri ,chipboard family tags and a tiny resin jointed bear (my personal fave).
I love it love it love it Its the kind of thing i do often for others but is not often done for me
Mum and my sister aside .What is it about a surprise gift, out of the blue -its just the best thing .Thank you Peta you are a great friend .

Visit to Shannons

went to visit shannon (Paint mine pink see link) who i met through my prettychic yahoo group my head was spinning too much to look at very pretty,she is very creative.Also met her mum Colleen (collsgarden see link) lovely lady too.Oh and i never ruffled her cushions ....much lol
Had an altogether shabby and pretty chic morning thanks Shannon.

I have been tagged

This morning I got an email.....
My Cherry Heart (Dolly) tagged me for some Weird FUN!!!
>>> I've been tagged - 7 WEIRD Facts about ME <<< >1) Umm I love to give little surprises ,to everybody I just love to brighten someones day. Why not but it makes some people suspicious of me (go figure) I think they are asking why?
2) Ok big on the weird is TREES there are two trees around the corner i see everyday
and it never ceases to annoy me that these trees are all nicely shaped then right at the top
their are odd sticky out bits.It annoys me i want to hire a cherry picker and cut them.
3)I cry a lot,at everything.The news ,memories,somebody does something nice to me,
sometimes just cause im happy.
4)ok i have like small panic attacks have had them since i was about 5 i usually try to hide them
its not like butterflies its like a hand twisted your guts inside out for a minute.I have to pant and breath through them Nice hey and when im driving its not good.Just fleeting i can get em talking to new people driving someplace new.Or even watching a movie and the camera skims accross the water.So some are like nervous things but others more like a motion thing
5)I collect weird stuff like vintage Childrens birthday party stuff,Dices
spinning tops,miniature card games and sideglancing tiny indian dolls (that really creep shannon out)
6) I am always doing weird stuff like sticking pictures to the bedroom floor or coming up with
strange ideas.I will force stuff into what i want and often i will break it after my DH tells me its not meant for that you will break it.
7) i do my best creative stuff in the middle of the night

Of men and the hunt (for bargains)

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My husband wants to know why me (the non walker) can walk miles when hunting bargains.The same reason i told him why in the middle
of summer when he and my son collapse in the shade i can still continue
the hunt.Well i tell him these things would stop a lesser woman,but when I
suspect a SHABBY VINTAGE bargain may be mine for the finding i am unstoppable.
I think its a women gene that men seldom are given,they know what they need
(and its not shabby or vintage )they know which store its in and they go get it
and return like a dog with a ball. Us women on the other hand don't always know
what we need till we see it and then its pretty well clear.That's where the men
get confused "what are you going to use it for ?" they may ask
or worse "do you really need it?"Of course we bloody need it,an old jug just perfect for some flowers, lace gloves ,an old book.-For a long while there while training
my man he thought if it was chipped or crazed I'd love it.Pleased to say i have
trained him better now but he is still a man,so i have to just forgive him and
move on with the hunt.Today we went to the Blacktown Markets,a slight drizzle
of rain fell but my eyes were on the tables.The photo is my finds or needs today
a dish rack to display plates $2 Japanese cup $1 green patterned jug $2 made in japan
two candlesticks (painted brass) $2 cane rocking chair for a teddy $2 and my last bargain a ceramic rose motif towel ring and soap dish $1 the set wow. My man found
nothing my son a toy.There were heaps of things i needed but they were too expensive.
Stall holders seem to want nothing or antique shop prices no inbetween Ah i was exhausted but the thrill of the hunt was a wonderful thing.

A Favourite vintage pic

Love like you have never been hurt,

Sing like there is nobody listening,

And live like its Heaven on earth.

Mark Twain

.

A very funny memory

Hey i was just remembering once when Alex was about 6
he said to me one day ,
"remember when you were little and the Americans hadn't invented colour yet"
I said oh colour Television ?"
"No" he said "just colour you know was the sky black or white ?"

another time my third son Joel asked what god looked like
after a little spiel from me in the vein of
"well no one knows what he really looks like ,hes everywhere in everything"
"No" he insisted "when you saw him what did he look like"
"well i havent actually seen him" I said
He looked at me disgusted , sighed and said "You know when god helped dad and you to make me what did he look like then"
that's when the penny dropped,you see when he asked how you got babies
i had said well god helps the mummy and the daddy to love each other special and a baby grows".He was very young !
Then i realized he had a picture in his head of god standing in our bedroom helping.

MY WREATH

I made this a while ago and still love it, Joel gave me birthday money and i bought really nice roses to make myself a large wreath,complete with real birds nest (my boys always found me birds nests to put in out christmas tree,Victorians thought they brought good luck.)

MY KITCHEN

We bought this from a recycle yard,pulled out of an old house we built our kitchen around it,I bought new nobs shaped like little cast iron birds from a man in Baltimore.It still retains the original ice chests inside and i display heaps on top of it.Its a definite favourite.
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Actually on the top pict where you can see only a bit of it you see it pre restoration-love those orange nobs.That and the plate pic were part of the magazine layout done on out house 1st issue of country living ideas.

Timothy My second son and maniac

Hmm and here's Timothy a boy only a mother could love,
He really is a nice boy ,well man now but if there is ADHD
it is personified in my TIM,Heres the sort of picture he sends to me
now he doesn't live at home and i Can't send him to his room for risking
his life.