Slack or am I???

Hi everyone, guess you think I have been really slack not updating my blog since January!!!  

Well let me get you up to date...  Got back from Victor Harbor & spent the next 4 weeks in the caravan with no computer and yes during that heatwave!!   Managed to pack what I needed & headed off to Vietnam to visit Pete, creeping around the caravan at 5 in the morning is not easy!  

Had an absolutely fabulous time visiting with my brother & his family.  Wonderful to hold little Poppy & meet her in person!  At only two months old, she was very cuddly...  Little Mila is growing into a very 'cheeky monkey', which she would repeat back to us when being extremely cute & cheeky!  Pete's birthday was great, meeting all his friends, dining on the banks of the Saigon River, a fantastic 4th 10th birthday!!!

Arrived home - thank goodness, Gavin & the kids had moved back into the house - Gavin had ended up doing the floors himself (so much for good tradespeople these days!), they look beautiful, he did a fantastic job. 

So since then, I have been busy setting up shop!!!!  Yes the rumpus room is no more - it is now my Scrap Shop - yeah!  It is now all officially up & running.  Putting my sign out the front everyday opening from 10-2.  People are starting to wander in because they are seeing the sign - of course it helps that the Mill is over the road, so many people stop there!  

I have been super busy scrappping  new layouts for the new newlsetter due out in April!  One layout left to do.... tomorrow!!  Today I have to wash, cook & clean - yuk, but it has to be done!  

See you all soon in my shop!!!  

Greetings from Victor Harbor

Hi guys,

Have just logged onto the caravan park's wifi, so after checking my emails, thought I would drop you a little line!

Arrived here last Saturday, Gavin followed me down to help put up the annex, shade & tent for Lisa & children.

Lisa decided to come down Saturday too arriving at about 9pm, the caravan park owner none too happy at being rung for an access code so she could get her car into the park!!! Oh well!

We have been going down to the beach every afternoon, once the bite from the sun is a bit less, with Sebastian the super caravan puppy dog!! Yesterday afternoon he even stood in the water without running away up to the dry sand!

Sunday morning we rode into Victor to the market (with Sebastian in my bike basket!) & bought yummy fresh local fruit & the most scrumptious popcorn I have ever tasted! After the children had about 4 tasting cups each, Lisa bought a huge $10 bag! I kept getting stopped with the cute puppy being asked if he was the one in the bike basket!

Daniel needed bread & biscuits, so in 30+ degree heat, I had to bake in the caravan - thank goodness I have airconditioning in here! Didn't matter - he was happy with his bread, blondies & carob biscuits. He will stop nagging me now for the rest of the holiday.

The caravan park has installed a jumping pillow - can we keep the children off...no way! Will have to venture up there soon and get some shots of them jumping around all over the place!

Going to the Whale Centre & over to Granite Island today & of course, back to the beach for a refreshing dip.

While I am here relaxing with the children, the floors are getting sanded & polished at home and in the rumpus room - or should I say -the new scrap room! Yeah!!
See you all soon, thank goodness the children go back to school next week - I will need that time to set up the new scrap room!!
Mandy
P.S. Don't forget there is Scrap'n'Roast on Saturday 24th (this Saturday). Email me, I will get the booking - and we could even scrap in the new room!!!!

Forever Always Recipe Scrap 7 January 2009

Had a lovely time on Wednesday night on Forever Always doing a recipe scrap with Sonia. Here's the layout I did - another for my Bali album. Have to get them finished before I go to Vietnam!!



The new scrap room is nearly finished! Gavin has just got to pull up the carpet and do the floor, then I can move in!!!!!!

See you all soon, hope you are starting to get back into the swing of things after Christmas & New Year. Keep sane during the school holidays & I will see you back at classes which start on the 29th January.
Ciao for now, Mandy

Come follow me....

down this hallway into the......

new scrapping room!!!!!

As you can see it is moving along nicely. It will be all ready in time for when workshops resume.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

I am surprised that I can type today, my wrists are so sore from the painting - I did all the cutting in! But who cares right!!!!!! It is happening, uh huh, uh huh!

Do you think I am a bit excited???? Too right I am! And you will be too when you have room to move, more stock & more regular opening hours!!

Back to painting!!! See you all soon.

Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone had a fantastic Christmas!!

Here at our place it was non-stop ... as usual, just a tad busier ;-)

Christmas eve tradition saw Jennifer sprinkling Reindeer food on the lawn (rolled oats mixed with glitter), then a walk down our neighbourhood streets to see all the houses lit up ... yes - like Christmas trees!!!! Pelham street, just a few houses down from us is renown in South Australia as 90% of the houses are all decorated. It is so lovely. Every Christmas for the 17 years I have lived in SA, I have walked down the street & admired the time, effort & wonderful Christmas spirit fo this small suburban street.

Jennifer always leaves a note & drawing for Father Christmas, this year drawn on her whiteboard, that she loves so very much (thank's Kim!!)

Kids woke up really, really early & so excited! (Can't imagine whay??) So, we were dragged out to the family room to open presents before friends arrived for breakfast under the Gazebo.

Here is Sebastian & me - he really wanted to go back to bed!!! But don't those little ears look sooooo cute on him...

My theme for this Christmas was Black, Gold & Cream. The table looked stunning - I thought so anyway - plus being 32 degrees, it was warm enough to have it out on the deck. So once everyone had left from out breakfast of ham & tomato on toast, I raced to set the tables - the table runner I only finished making the night before ... nothing like leaving things to the last minute! I was still folding the serviettes into elves shoes when Dad & Mary arrived!

This year we had not only family, but great friends too. Kim & her girls, Lisa, Steve, Sarah & Thomas with Lisa's mum & dad, were "Christmas orphans" this year, so I insisted they all come and have lunch with us - I am so glad they all came, we had such a wonderful day. I always think that Christmas is such a lovely time to share with friends & family and a huge Christmas is so much fun, I can't leave people home alone. It took a bit of talking into with Lisa's mum & dad, but when they left, Barbara came up to me, gave me a big hug & said how glad she was that they had come & not just stayed at home - that is what Christmas is about - sharing not only with those in need, but also within your own circle of friends & family.

Lovely May came too, I knew it would be a hard Christmas for Gavin, Gary & her as this was the first Christmas without Gwen, but I insisted she was to come. She enjoyed herself & with Gary as her chaparone, she didn't have to worry about anything. What a lovely lady and for 94 she is just amazing!

It was so lovely having everyone here and with all the children - they had a ball either playing in the pool or all six of them playing their DS's against each other!

Jennifer received Singstar from Gavin & I and it was the hit of the day - everyone singing away! Steve was given earplugs early in the piece!!!!

Got to skype Peter, Sarah, Mila & new little Poppy over in Vietnam. Dad & I had a great talk to them - got to love that you can ring & see your family across the globe for nothing!

Well, we all ate too much - as usual, had loads of fun & laughter - as usual and will do it all again next year - as usual!!!

Merry Christmas & a happy 2009!

New Scrapping Transport!

When Pam needed to go home early from last night's Scrap'n'Roast she rang her hubby who informed her he had had a few drinks and couldn't come.
Not too worry!!! My darling hubby took her home on his Harley. This is what she emailed me this morning -

"Had to tell you that Dave wishes he had a photo of me on the harley because no will believe him !

What a shame.......I'm thinking my blog should read.....You've had a few drinks and can't pick me up? Thats ok honey i'll find my own way home!

Mwuhahahahaaa"

WELL DAVE - HERE'S THE PROOF!!!!

Christmas Cards at Semaphore Library

Here's a sneak peek of the Christmas Cards that Lisa & I will be teaching at the Semaphore Library on the 23 November from 2-4.30pm. Bookings are essential through the library on 8405 6570 or online.
So book now because seats are limited and the workshop fills quickly! Hope to see you there.