BUSY BUSY BUSY

I have had such a busy few days.

Dad and Nanny arrived yesterday and we went and had a VERY yummy lunch in town. I had chicken caesar salad (no anchovies - BLAH) but was soooooooooo delicious. Dad's shout too which I was pleasantly surprised at - Dad's not known for his "off-the-cuff" generosity but I appreciated his gesture. For a man who never told me he loved me until I was 29, I take every ounce of affection I can get from Dad.

Kait had today off school for some "Nanny-time" so they have had a great day of playing board games, doing jigsaws and just hanging out. I think Nanny loves it as much as Kait does.

After I toddled off to the gym, we went down to Ballina this morning for some shopping. I took Nanny to the gorgeous little craft store that I re-discovered a few weeks ago and we looked for some heritage laces and embellishments so I can scrap Nanna Pratten's canvas. I found some simply gorgeous hand tea-dyed beaded laces (and mighty expensive too) which I bought 30 cms of. Just couldn't resist. I am a sucker for things like this.

I also took a copy of the memory book cover that Ruthie (Mark's aunt) designed and had it enlarged and will have it matted so people can sign it at the celebration get-together on Sunday. It has the most stunning pics of Nanna on it in her wedding gown, her 21st birthday portrait and a photo of her taken when she was about 2. It is the most stunning design and I get quite emotional when I look at it. I can't wait for everything Joanie, Helen, Ruthie and I have done to be all together in the one place. It should be a very memorable day. My only regret is that Nanna will not have a level of awareness of all that is going on around her. She really loved a good "shin-dig".

I have also committed to providing an "inspiration" each week for The Craft Attic which I need to think up something inspiring and scrap something relating to that inspiration.
Just another chore to add to the list.

And the Christmas cards.

And Kait's classes Christmas gifts.

And scrapping calendars as Christmas gifts for rellies.

And making Christmas paper and tags.

And wrapping Christmas gifts.

**SIGH**
If anyone can tell me how to survive without sleep I would appreciate it.
Or maybe cloning could be an option.
HMMMMmmmmmm

A happy tomorrow to you all

~*~ shazz ~*~

SAFE AND SOUND

Matt and Jakey arrived home safe and sound about 1 a.m.

Another heartstring severed.

Have a great day

~*~ shazz ~*~

KEEP THEM SAFE

My boys are out at a concert tonight.
Matt drove himself, Jakey, Shannon and a friend to the concert and he will be driving home afterwards.

Please higher power who controls such things, keep my boys safe.

Letting go of my babies is proving to be much more difficult for me than it is for Mark and my fears of losing them is irrational and makes me cry and shake.

I held them in my arms just a little bit longer as they said goodbye tonight.
I know it makes them uncomfortable but it is something i need to do;
to somehow make them safe by holding them to my heart.

Mark just smiles at me knowingly and says I have to trust them and trust in what we have taught them -and I do.

It's just a fear every mother holds in her heart as she lets her babies go out into the big wide world;
as each heart string is severed with each new life experience they try.

When they pull into the driveway tonight, safe and home at last, part of me will forget this irrational overwhelming fear I have.

But there will be more concerts; and outings; and life experiences.
And again I will become irrational, and cry and shake.
I can't help it - i am their mum.

Please higher power who controls such things, keep my boys safe.

~*~ shazz ~*~

GOTTA LOVE WEEKENDS

What a beautiful day it was today.
Sun was shining - not too hot - the winds of the past week have all but died down and i seemed to have energy to burn.

I spent the first few hours of the morning, after cooking up a pan full of scrambled eggs for Mark and I (can't believe my kids don't like scrambled eggs), searching online galleries for some ideas for LOs. Came across some amazing LOs and some great ideas. I can feel a scrap-lift or two coming on
(don't you think the word "scrap-lift" sounds naughty???)
Sketched them all into my ideas book and just gotta find the time to do some scrapping now.

Jake, Matt, Kait and I then switched the huge computer desk from Jakey's room and the smaller desk from Kait's room. Took some doing as we had to pull the huge desk apart - what a team effort and lots of giggles that involved. But the rooms are sort of back together again. The kids threw out a heap of old colouring in books, school workbooks, etc. At least Kait's room is tidy for Grandad and Nanny to move into for a few days on Monday.
Mark had to work most of the day on a program but it was nice that he was home by 3ish.

I did several loads of washing. Well about 6 to be exact. I have a theory that if you leave the washing in my laundry chute
(yes.....I feel very lucky to have a laundry chute)
for more than 24 hours it starts breeding. Just so much of the stuff.
Mark also FINALLY replaced the line on my extenda-line. A job that he has been "getting to" the past few years. How empty is my life - I am actually looking forward to hanging out the clothes tomorrow and trying out the new line.

The three kids + 2 of Matt's mates spent the afternoon rebuilding and modifying the billy cart that has been in various stages of construction for the past few years. And what a hoot they had too. The finished product took several test runs down the street
(we live in a cul-de-sac and all the drivers are very mindful of the possibility of kids on the street)
and was videoed by Matt to be made into one of his film collations.
It wasn't until Mark and i felt it was getting too dark that we called them in.

Dinner was a very easy throw together of snags on bread and salad and we were all washed up and on the lounge by 8.30 which was nice.
Mark, Matt, Jake and I watched "War of the Worlds" on DVD with Tom Cruise.
I spent most of it with my head under a pillow or behind Mark's shoulder. It was a REALLY SCARY movie. But then again the original scared me too when I saw it many many moons ago.

I also started writing in my Christmas cards for this year. I figure if I do about 10 each night I should get most of them knocked over by the beginning of December. I am only making a few "special" cards this year and for people I know will appreciate them and the effort that goes into making them.
I can't believe how close Christmas is and I am getting a little panicky as I do this time every year.
Just gotta make that list and check it twice.
HMMMM....I reckon there might be a song in that !!!

I hope that your tomorrow is a bright, happy and blessed day for you.

~*~ shazz ~*~

SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT YOU SEE

I found this quote on the wonderful Tara Whitney's blog
(yes....even I manage to access such scrapping icons)

With all that is going on in "certain" areas of my life at the moment I hope that it is duly noted by the appropriate people.
And while they are at it, they might do well to look up the meaning of "friendship" too.

"i am aware that i am less than some people prefer me to be,
but most people are unaware that i am so much more than what they see"
~ douglas pagels ~

A happy tomorrow to you all

~*~ shazz ~*~

INSOMNIA AGAIN

GRRRRRRRRRR

It's 3.45 and I am wide awake.
Mating koalas in the tree on the reserve woke me about an hour ago and I have tossed and turned ever since.
It's too cold to go down to my scrapping room and do some of the scrapping I HAVE to get done, so I am net surfing.
Mark woke up too so he is working on a program for work.

Hopefully a nana nap today will be possible.
Have a happy day everyone and i hope you are all tucked up in your beds

~*~ shazz ~*~

SO MUCH TO DO !!!!

Such a busy, frustrating day. Until I realised that my expectations that things would go wrong were actually causing things to go wrong, it was an awful day.
A 5 minute walk at lunchtime around the estate where I work soon cleared my head and attitude, and things seemed a whole lot better this afternoon.

I was most impressed with the Socceroos win last night even though the headache from hell saw me tucked up in bed by 8.30. I saw the highlights on the news this morning and by the recollections of each shot on goal around the Prattens' breakfast bench this morning, I think it was a great win by the lads.
Fingers crossed for a good result in the World Cup next year.
All my boys feel the team will do well and Jake even dared to say they may even have a good chance of a finals berth.

I have been in contact with Mark's Aunt Joanie tonight to help her organise Nanna Pratten's 100th birthday celebrations next weekend. Poor Joanie, who is normally a well-organised lady, is in such a flap over things so I spoke to her on the phone for nearly an hour and helped her make a list that we then allocated jobs to people from.
I am so angry at Mark's father for not playing more of a pivotal role in helping Joanie out and I will be blowed if I will allow him to take any of the credit when the thanks are handed out next weekend.
Aunt Ruthie, Aunt Helen, Aunt Fay (who isn't even one of Nanna's daughters) and I have done all of the organising and planning and it frustrates me no end that despite requests for help, it has not been forthcoming from more family members.
Nanna was so good to me when I started seeing Mark and her blessing to us on our wedding day meant everything to Mark and I.
Let's face it, it's not everyday a family member turns 100.
I am pleased that I spoke to Joanie tonight and she did seem a lot more reassured that Nanna's day would be a special occasion by the time I got off the phone.

Joanie has also told me she has wedding pics of Nanna and Grandpa Sid (I was SO excited when she told me as Mark has never seen them) so after the celebrations die down I will be getting a copy of them and scrapping them for Mark.

Winter seems to have returned up here today. I have had jeans and a jumper on at work and I noticed even the high school kids were in jumpers when I drove past this morning. The winds have been amazing and VERY chilly.
I can't believe we were sweating this time last week.
CRAZY WEATHER !!!

Well I have so much to get done scrapping wise and the reshuffle of the scrapping room was put on hold today while I worked so I must get my finger out, my backside into gear and get a move on.

I hope you all have an amazing day tomorrow.

~*~ shazz ~*~

p.s. a big thank you to the FABULOUS Miss Marie who always reads my blog posts and sends me a comment.
Gotta love ya darls xxoo

KARMA

What a beautiful thing is karma...???
I believe what you send out into the world, you get back tenfold and in the past 24 hours I have seen the effects of both good and bad karma.
Justly deserved in both cases.

Matt's new mattress arrived this morning and his bed surrounds will arrive in about a week so FINALLY I can say his room will look half decent instead of like a commune's bedroom. He has resisted getting a bed since his waterbed split and we couldn't justify spending the money to repair it again.

Jakey is still drumming away. Both he and Matt have donned their Australian Football (soccer) strips in response to the call to all supporters to don the green and gold for tonight's game. Jake told me this afternoon he is so nervous for the team - he feels sick in the stomach with nerves when he thinks of the game. Mark is under strict instructions to be home by kick-off. A perfect opportunity for me to escape to my scrapping room I think.
GO AUSSIES GO - KICK SOME SOUTH AMERICAN BUTT.

I am still doing the scrap room reshuffle but did manage to get a tiny bit of scrapping done this afternoon. I put the "pile" on the bench behind where I sit and scrapped away happily in the space I had already tidied.
I got a package of goodies from The Craft Attic today - 20% off til the end of the month - but have promised myself I will not open it until my scrapping room is reorganised and tidy. I did order some new scrapping books and can't wait to read them but I have to keep the promise I made to myself.

Molly and Tilly were groomed today and despite everyone hating the new look puppies, I am sure they appreciate having their winter coats clippered off. They have such cute little faces when they are clipped and it certainly has to be a lot cooler for them.

Well thats' today in a nutshell.
Hope you all have had a wonderful day and that tomorrow is even better for you.

~*~ shazz ~*~

p.s. I was sorry to hear that the house shari and steve had their hearts set on, has been sold.
I can only imagine how sad you guys are but here's hoping there is another house out there to capture your hearts.

WHAT A DAY.

It has certainly been a day of it today.

From the minute Mark walked (or should I say STORMED) in the door at lunchtime after having a falling out with our business partner and his wife I should have known today would bring many surprises and challenges. For the first time since we invested in this company we are seriously questioning if we have done the right thing.
Mark was so angry he actually had tears in his eyes.
So we sat down and talked about our options. Do we need to get lawyers involved in the whole process of walking away from a business Mark has poured his heart and soul and talents into for the past two years? How did it all go wrong?
It will be an interesting few days in our household while the dust settles and we assess our options and what is the best course of action to take.

Mark and I then headed into town to buy Matt a much-needed new bed and also to look at and choose ceiling fans for the bedrooms and the family room. I am SO glad Mark and I have similar tastes in most things because the lady at the lighting shop handed us a HUGE catalogue of fan choices. We have chosen the fans suitable for the kids' room and two very nice ones for our room and the family room.

As we were about to leave the lighting store a young man in his 20's slammed into the store window and the lady asked Mark to stay in the store with her because she was frightened. The young fellow then proceeded to stumble and weave his way across the middle of the road, obviously out of it from either alcohol and/or drugs. Cars were screeching to a halt (it was 5 o'clock and the traffic was VERY heavy), tooting their horns at him, screaming abuse out the window and I guess he panicked, tried to run away from the confusion and run slap bang into the side of a car and ended up face down in the gutter. It was awful to see and I will admit to bursting into tears. The car that he ran into just drove off which I was a bit surprised at.
Mark took off across the road and with the help of another gentleman they rolled him onto his side and made sure he was breathing. The lady in the store by this stage had rung the police and I then rang an ambulance.
So with Mark standing over him and the other man trying to get the cars to go around him, we waited a good half hour for the ambulance and police to arrive. I was appalled at the people who screeched to a halt in their cars, almost hitting Mark and the other man and then screaming abuse out the window.
I ended up going into the pub near where he fell and asking the bar tender could I get some staff to come and form a guard around the poor guy - more so to keep Mark safe than anything else.
After giving our statement to the police and giving the ambos all the info we could we left - a little bit shaken but just glad we could help out another human being in trouble.
Mark said the guy hadn't been drinking because he didn't smell of alcohol and the ambos did find some prescription drugs in his pockets.
I just hope he is ok and that the rotten sods who thought it was amusing to scream abuse out the window at Mark and those trying to help, never need help for themselves or their loved ones.
I am so pleased there are people like my Mark in the world who try to help people.
He is one of the good ones my man.

No scrapping today after the events of this afternoon but I hope to do some tonight. I have started a massive reshuffle of my scrapping room to make it more condusive to scrapping and a more pleasent place to spend time doing what I love.
My Tarisota subscription arrived today and I opened it with great gusto.
Everything looks gorgeous and I can't wait to use it all.

My other exciting news is that last night I booked a flight for Kait and I to fly down and see Lousie and Chris and my darling niece, Bianca in January. I got a great deal - only $344.00 return for the tickets with Virgin Blue which was over $200 cheaper than Jetstar and $150.00 cheaper than Rex. When I rang Louise to tell her, Chris thought she had won something she was screaming so much. It will be wonderful though and I am so looking forward to it as is Kait.

Sorry about the long post and thanks for reading if you haven't dropped off to sleep.

Happy tomorrow to you all
~*~ shazz ~*~

A LOT OF NOTHING

That sums up the weekend.....lots of "nothing" chores and activities - nothing too earth-shattering.

Matt enjoyed his weekend with Shannon and her family. Even went fishing - the kid likes to fish..????? Ah.......what we do for love hey.....LOL
It is so good to have him home though - bag dumped at the bottom of the stairs, not unpacked; dirty dishes left on the coffee tables; juice spilt on the bench.
Yep....gotta love him (and I do)

Jake and I spent an "interesting" few hours cleaning out his room yesterday. He has been saying for months that his cupboards don't need cleaning out because everything in there still fits him. Well guess what........I got a whole HUGE garbage bag of clothes that DON'T fit him out of his cupboard. He whinged and belly-ached the whole time but was impressed with the end results

• he could actually find where things were in his cupboard
• he will need to buy new "cooler" clothes to replace those he had to give away

Kait was just so tired last night. I think the school excursion FINALLY caught up with her. She was complaining of feeling sick and went to sleep quite early on the lounge. Today she has pulled out the boys' old Duplo sets and had a ball making a city for her Bratz dolls. You have to love those ageless toys that kids keep going back too.

Mark bought the family (read *HIMSELF* here) a new digi video cam and last night pulled out all the old tapes getting them ready to burn to DVD. Some of the tapes were over 3 years old and to look back at the kids and how gorgeous they were was priceless. I spent half the time crying because I miss those little cherubs and the other half crying with laughter at their antics.
So many memories, so many laughs - so much ammo for their 21sts......LOL

I had another bout of insomnia last night.
I woke up about 2 a.m. and after tossing and turning for a few hours and giving Harry Potter a bit of read, I hopped up at 4ish and went down and scrapped two LOs that I think I will use for my BBC DT entry - and I scrapped the card part of the entry yesterday.
I am not sure if I should share them on here or not. What is the protocol for applying for a DT like this...???
If anyone is interested, let me know and I will email them to you.

So I am very very tired at the moment and despite catching a few minutes sleep this afternoon, I think once the work/school clothes are ironed I will be crawling into my bed.
And praying that I sleep all night.

I have suffered insomnia since Kristy had her accident and that phonecall woke us in the middle of the night with the devastating news. I hardly slept at all that week after the accident and I wonder whether my body clock went haywire and just hasn't kicked back into normal.
The insomnia comes and goes and I guess I should be so thankful that it isn't a permanent situation I have to deal with.

So on that note, I will bid you all a fond farewell.
Have a great tomorrow and may your day be filled with joy and the smiles of those you love.
And don't forget to look in the mirror and give yourself a smile.
GO ON - YOU KNOW YOU ARE GORGEOUS

~*~ shazz ~*~

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE

YAY
My baby girl is home.
Kait arrived back at the school about 6.00 p.m. - very tired but having had a really great time. It was wonderful to see their little faces gleaming as they got off the bus. All happy to see their Mums and Dads and itching to get home.
I feel that Mark and I made the right decision in sending her to a smaller country school. The teaching staff is exceptional - Kait's teacher Di Golding is one of the most amazing educators I have had the privilege of meeting - the atmosphere of the school is so friendly and welcoming, and despite being a school of only 87 kids every opportunity is given to the kids that is offered in bigger city schools.
Kait fell asleep pretty much straight after dinner, much to Mark's disgust. He kept prodding her to wake up and talk to him. He wanted her to tell him all about Seaworld but it might have to wait until tomorrow.
He is now snoring on the lounge beside her.

Jakey's year spent the day at Wet and Wild today. He had a ball and we had the privilege of meeting a couple of his friends this morning when they knocked on the door to walk off to catch the bus with him. It is so nice that his friends are such wonderful kids.
I THINK I was flattered that TJ called me "mam".......LOL
Jake told him he was just being a suck......ROTFL

Matt has headed off for a weekend of camping and hand-holding with Shannon. Her family is camping at Evans Head. It is an odd feeling to have my "homebody" son wanting and preferring to spend the weekend with someone else. We have spent almost every weekend together as a family, his whole life and it feels weird that he prefers the company of someone else to us.
Oh I know, I know......he is 17 and growing up but still......an odd feeling I must say.
Just hope he has a ball - remembers his manners - and his sunscreen.
Hey....give me a break.....you can take the kid away from the mother but you can't stop her from worrying.

Hopefully a weekend of scrapping for me. I mailed off two CJs today which is always a great feeling and have one here to scrap over the weekend.

Whatever you do, wherever your life's journey takes you this weekend, may it be filled with happy times, friendship, family and love.

~*~ shazz ~*~

ON TOP OF THE WORLD !!

These are pics taken of Mark and the kids on top of Mt Warning after their intrepid climb today. How gorgeous are my kids...???

I look at them and I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. They look happy, healthy and just gorgeous.
And what a "great-hunk-of-spunk"
(thanks Kath Day-Knight for THAT little pearla)
is my darling husband.
Yep......I am one VERY lucky lady.

Forgotten is the hurt I suffered this morning from my so-called "friend" - when I look at these pics I just know that I am lucky and blessed to have these gorgeous people in my life.

Only a tiny bit of scrapping today after work to get a CJ finished before sending it off tomorrow. But the boys are heading off to twilight soccer soon so I might wander back down there and start on another CJ that is way overdue to be sent on - it was very late being sent to me.

I am hoping - well I am demanding of myself - that I get started on my Christmas gifts this weekend. Dad and Erica will be up in a few weeks
(YAY !!!! love my Daddy coming for a visit)
and I have to have their gifts ready for them to take as well as Louise, Chris's and my darling Bianca's.

Hoping your day was wonderful and tomorrow is even better.
Thanks for reading and for the few that do, thanks also for the comments

~*~ shazz ~*~

P.S. Goodnight and God Bless to my sweet baby girl who is staying over with her class at Tweed tonight before heading off to Seaworld tomorrow.
Mummy loves you baby xxoo

HURT

After sitting here in tears for the past hour after being hurt by a friend's thoughtlessness I wondered how many people I have hurt by my deeds or actions through the years and not even known it.
If I have hurt any of you by anything I have said or done over the years, my most profound apologies.
I would never set out to deliberately hurt anyone by the things I say or do but sometimes we all say and do things without thinking.
The sad thing about this morning's "episode" is that she knew full well that what she did and said would hurt me.
Maybe I have used the word "friend" too hastily in this relationship.

Sorry about the vent post.
I promise you and myself that I shall return tonight with a happier post.

Have a happy day
~*~ shazz ~*~

EYE CATCHING

So many things caught my eye today and made me smile.
Please indulge me while I share.

• Kait's face this morning when I woke her for school - that sweet angelic face smiling up at me makes the whole world seem so much brighter.
• the huge grin on Matt's face when he arrived home with his P plates proudly displayed on the car
• that same huge grin that escaped his lips when he backed down the drive for his first solo drive - he literally couldn't wipe the smile off his face
• the look of pride in Jake's eyes when he learnt that Matt had passed his driving test - so glad my boys love each other so much
• the carpet of purple in the school carpark under the jacaranda trees - i just wanted to go and lie on it and watch the clouds float by
• the faces of my two little "shadows" Molly and Tilly peering out the window at me when I pulled up this morning - they seemed to be so happy they had the run of the house and weren't locked in the garage
• the blossoms covering the murrayas outside our bedroom window - tonight I will lie in bed and let their perfume waft through the open window
• the smile on Mark's face as he walked in the door tonight and I knew how happy he was to be at home with us (God I love that man)
• the smile on the face of my friends Nadia and Kylie when I walked into the gym - it's nice to see they were still smiling at my red, sweaty face after I finished my workout
• caller ID on my mobile telling me a good friend had called, for no other reason than to see how I was
  

Thank you for indulging my visual trip through today.
I hope your day is as visually pleasing for you tomorrow.

~*~ shazz ~*~

GOOD NEWS!!!!!

Just a quick post to thank everyone who has offered us support over the past few days either via this blog, emails, phone calls and SMS messages.

Mark was given the all clear last night by his specialist although he has a few cancers that will be monitored closely by our GP until he sees the specialist again in the New Year. His appointments have been brought back into every 6 months again for a while.
He does have cancers on his face but apparently you can remove them "too early" and they have a high incidence of recurring so that is why they are being left there for the time being.
There was much relief and lots of tears last night when he got home. It was like the bubble of stress and worry that had been hanging over our heads these past few weeks had finally burst.

So the Prattens move onward with life and the joy of living.

Matt is off to play "Skirmish" with friends this morning.
Jakey is playing his guitar and just hanging out with friends.
Kait is busy in her room doing "little girl things".
Mark is off somewhere working on a program for one of our clients.
I am off to the scrapping shop to help a friend buy supplies as she starts out scrapping for the first time today.
The sun is shining.
There are koalas snoozing in the trees across the road.
The birds are singing.

AND LIFE IS GOOD.

ENJOY YOUR DAY

~*~ shazz ~*~

KEEPING BUSY

This blog is to help fill in time while the hours tick away.
Sorry if it bores anyone but hey.....stop reading now and you won't be bored.

Mark's appointment is at 5.45 (NSW time). Thankfully Matt has agreed to go up with him which I am so glad of. It will help keep Mark's mind on other things (Matt will be driving up on his Ls). I am not so sure about on the way home though. Mark always likes solitude when he has to think about things so maybe he might want the time to himself and his thoughts. It's so hard to know what is the right thing.

I have been either on the verge of tears or in tears since I woke up at 5.30 this morning to find Mark propped up on his elbow just looking at me. He told me he wanted to memorise my face.
Yup....I burst into tears.

Then when he kissed me goodbye, instead of his normal peck on the cheek, he kissed me - and I mean he REALLY kissed me and held me so tight that it took my breath away.
Yup - more tears.

I called in to change cars with him at work and he looked at me and he said, "I don't think it will be good news babe. But we will cope - we have each other and we have our kids."
Yup - needed the tissues again.

And when I arrived home I find an email from him telling me how wonderful our life has been together and that we should have no regrets but just enjoy each day that we have.
Will these tears EVER end.....????

For those of you who know Mark, you will know how out of character all this is for him and that is what scares me the most. He is the strong one in our relationship - the sensible, level-headed, logical one and to see him displaying such deep emotions like this is a bit of a shock to me.

But I WILL think positive.
Just pray for him if you are that way inclined or just some positive vibes sent his way would be great too.
Thanks to dear Shari and Ali for your kind thoughts and to my dear friend Marie who I know has had her own "stuff" to deal with in the past 24 hours.

I bought some more embellishments, etc this morning from a darling little craft store in Ballina.
I have decided I just LOVE embellishments, be it ribbons or fibres, metals or sewing thread, charms or buttons.
Might explain my subscription to the Tarisota Inspiration Collection, instead of any of the other scrummy collections in the range.
This morning I bought the most gorgeous "braid" I guess you could call it. I am sure it is machine made but it has the look and touch of a handmade product.
I got some gorgeous little heart charms and some huge wooden heart buttons that are just so cool.
I also got some varigated silk embroidery thread that is supposedly hand-dyed that I can't wait to use on a LO.
I forgot what amazing treasures this little craft store has and I will definitely be going back there soon. I didn't even venture near the Christmas stock or the materials.

On that note, enough of my waffling.
Enjoy what remains of this day and I will post again later when I have some news.

Thanks if you are still reading.
~*~ shazz ~*~

HOW EXCITING !!!

I spent time last night visiting with our friends Kerrie and Graeme. Kerrie kindly helped me scan in some pics of Nanna Pratten taken in 1911 !!!
Nanna turns 100 in a few weeks and Mark's Aunt Ruthie is compiling a book of memories that we have all contributed to.
My one regret - that Alzheimers has taken Nanna's beautiful and sharp-as-a-tack mind away and she will not be able to take part in the celebrations of her amazing and inspirational life.
I feel so privileged to have access to these pics taken of Nanna when she was 6 years old. I have plans to scrap them sooner rather than later.
Hope you don't mind that I have shared them with you.
The bottom picture features Nanna and some of brothers and sisters.
Don't you just LOVE that gorgeous rocking horse...???

I completed two LOs yesterday. One of Kaitlyn which took me ever so long to "get right" and I am not sure I am happy with it and another of Matt which I just love. It is another black and red LO which seems to be the colours I use most often, when scrapping pictures of him.
I will share them tomorrow - I promise.

I am thinking of applying for the Bumble Bee DT and I am thinking I may use these LOs as part of my "application". I have "discovered" a scrappable item in my bathroom of all places and I have lots of little ideas buzzing around in my head to create a BTP item
(an omen perhaps - ideas buzzing and the Bumble Bee DT.....LOL)
I have some thank you cards to make also for the girls I did the Relay For Life with, so that can be my card part of the application.
Don't know that my scrapping is "good enough" for what they are after nor my organisation on the ball enough to meet deadlines and such by hey....what does one have to lose...???

On a final note, if you are so inclined, could you all send a prayer skyward tonight for my darling Mark.
He is back seeing the skin cancer specialist tomorrow afternoon in Brisbane and for the first time in our little journey with these cancers, I have a very frightened and not-so-confident husband. He has always been so positive about how bad these cancers are but for the first time he is very scared and it is very frightening and a bit of a shock for me to see him like this.
On the same hand he is also very philisophical about the whole thing and we both know the reality of him having done the damage alreadyand it just be a case of waiting to see how they manifest themselves.
(his specialist told him that all the damage we do to our skin is done before we turn 16!!)

Am I scared...???
DAMN STRAIGHT I AM.
And I have sobbed my heart out most days in the shower or driving in the car on my own.
It has been so hard to be positive (and I HAVE tried so very hard) when I look into the eyes of the man I have loved for over half my life and see tears and a glimmer of fear.
But I will be positive and I will support and love him.
He will be fine and whatever the universe has deemed is his fate to be, we shall face together.

Take care dear friends.
A happy tomorrow

~*~ shazz ~*~

JUST NOT HAPPENING

I had so much planned today - catching up on housework, going to the gym, scrapping, calling my sister and nothing seemed to happen for me.

Matt saw Bruce Purkiss today - I call Bruce the voodoo doctor because nothing he does to cure anything makes any sense at all but by jingo it works - and Matt saw him for this on-going chest problem he has. He has put Matt onto more drops again and claims that it has taken 17 years for Matt's chest to get so bad and we can't expect a miracle cure overnight - and WHY NOT !!! Matt seems happy enough to take them though.
He will also see Rod Hammond on Friday to see if Rod can shed any light on why his chest is just so bad. I swear by Rod after he "cured" me of thrush when I was 20. And he is a lovely, genuine man and I always come away from consults with him feeling great.
I guess Mark and I should have been more insistent that Matt see someone before this but I don't know how many appointments I made with them only to have Matt refuse to go. He wants to be treated like an adult and that means taking responsibility for his own health care.

It was an amazing Melbourne Cup this year. It was one of those moments in time when I will be able to say,
"I remember where I was when Makybe Diva won her third Melbourne Cup"
What a phenomenal horse she is and it was a privilege to see her run. It is the first time I haven't had a bet on the Cup in many many years but I would have done my money had I had a bet. Matt and I watched the Cup together and it was great to see him getting excited about the race. I can clearly remember Pa holding a form guide up to Matt's little hand and asking him to
"help Pa pick a winner".
It made me chuckle because Pa would try just about anything to back that elusive winner.

I have spent lots of time the past few nights looking at other people's Blogs. There are so many talented people out there and I feel privileged that they choose to share their amazing LOs on the net.
I'm not sure if I am frustrated or inspired by looking at them. I can see the LOs I want to create in my head. I can see the colours, the embellishments and everything. Just getting it onto the cardstock is where I run into trouble.

I was so excited when Mark told me I could subscribe to the Tarisota Inspiration Collection. It is just an amazing site and I and hoping to settle down tonight with a cuppa and have a look through the gallery armed with my notebook and pencil to jot down lots of ideas.
I can't wait til the 15th now when the first collection will arrive.

Whatever you do tomorrow I hope your day is filled with laughter, sunshine and love
~*~shazz~*~

YAY FOR ME !!!

Just a quick update to let anyone who actually reads my blog (please leave a comment so I know you do - and thanks Marie and Trish for all your comments) know that yesterday morning I completed the RELAY FOR LIFE.
I had every intention of posting on my blog last night but I was just too tired.

It was the most amazing experience and I can't explain my sense of pride in myself and Lynn, Nadia and Kylie (the three ladies who stuck it out with me through the whole 24 hours)
Pride in myself is one emotion I was not expecting I would have but there it is.......glowing in the corner of my heart. And to have Mark and the three kids hug me and tell me how proud they were of me was such a special feeling.

Due to a monumental stuff-up by the team leader who took the project on with every good intention and then deserted us, it was really only the four of us who stuck it out the whole 24 hours.

So the four of us laughed and sang and joked and cried and chatted and walked/shuffled/danced/jogged our way through the 24 hours and it was so much fun. The organisers wanted to give us the award for the funniest and most inspirational tent but they didn't have one organised.

So my sincerest thanks to

• those who sponsored me with money
• those who encouraged me with good wishes and SMS messages throughout the 24 hours
  
• to my wonderful Mark, Matt, Jake and Kaitlyn who came and walked with me for some laps and encouraged me to keep going
• to the gorgeous Nadia, Kylie and Lynn who listened to and laughed at my sick jokes and who encouraged me to keep walking when all I really wanted to do was lie down and sleep.
  
• and to my darling Pa whose spirit and love of life helped me through the tough "I just wanna go home" laps.

Have a happy and inspirational day.
More blogging tonight

~*~ shazz ~*~

life's journey

Sooner or later we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at, once and for all. The true joy of life is the journey.
~Robert J. Hastings~

What a great quote...I hope you all enjoy your journey...that it is memorable and you are accompanied by those you love and those who love you.

We have had some very sad news tonight. The nursing home where Mark's darling Nanna lives called tonight to say that Nanna was having problems breathing. Auntie Joannie is at the home with Nanna as I type this and we are expecting her here anytime soon to stay with us the night so she is close by should Nanna's condition worsen through the night.
Nanna will be 100 on November 27 and although she has had Alzheimer's for the past 8 years we often visit her and talk with her and stroke her hand and it is heartening to see a small spark of recognition occasionally pass her eyes.
Nanna was so good to me and so welcoming when I first started dating Mark. I know that she went in to bat for me against Mark's mother on more than one occasion and Mark and I often had dinner with her or took her out driving back in the days when we were dating. Nanna's soul is soft and loving and gentle and she was one of the most beautiful ladies that I ever knew.
I will be saddened at her passing (and I don't mean to put the poor woman in her grave just yet) but I just know she would have loathed this twilight existence she has lived these past 8 years,
Rest easy tonight darling Nanna and may God grant you the peace I know you crave.

Tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. I will begin my quest in the Relay For Life. Along with 22 ladies from the Curves gym, and a whole stack of other teams, we will be walking around a local oval for 24 hours to raise money for The Cancer Council. It should be a great hoot as a few of the ladies are such fun. I am hoping my legs will carry me most of the 24 hours.
I am dedicating my walk to my darling step-Dad, Don who passed away after such a courageous fight against cancer in 1993 and to Vera Hankinson - Shane's mum - who passed away last year.
Every step I take Pa is for you.......for the man you were, to the wonderful Dad you were to me and the much loved Pa you were to Matt and Jake, for the friend you were to Mark and for just being you and loving us so much.
I miss you Pa and I know that things didn't quite turn out the way you wanted them to and I know I couldn't keep my promise I made to you to care for Mum.
But the next 24 hours are for you. It's all I have left to give you and make you proud.
Love you Pa.

Whatever your weekend holds for you, I hope it is happy, fulfilling and you find joy in your Life's journey.

~Shazz~