So sad today

Today we went to a funeral for twin girls who were stillborn last week - so, so sad. I really felt for Jo and Mike as, after the initial shock wore off, they were so looking forward to their twin babies. I did cry in the Service and then cried more when I realised that there were probably no photos either. Please spare some thoughts, prayers and some cyber hugs for Jo and Mike.

If you're a scrapbooker .....

How did you get in to scrapping? In late 2002,I was invited to join a local group of ladies who were "scrapbooking". I'd never heard of it so went along to see. Even though they were the most unfriendly group of people I've ever met, I was hooked! I even got some paintbrushes and paint and my husband couldn't believe his eyes. I continued going to that group for a few months and discovered KiwiScraps and other mucher nicer scrappers. In September 2003 what was to become "Paper, Scissors Crop" was born and we are still going strong. In May of the following year, I ran my first ScrapCamp.

Why do I scrap? Because I love it! I love the friendships I have formed, I love that even uncreative me can be a little bit creative, I love telling the stories so one day my boys will remember better than I can remember my own childhood. I love going out once a month to have some "me" time.

Leave me a message and tell me your story

Yesterday

The boys won their first soccer match this season! They were all so pleased with themselves not to mention the coach! It was a great soccer game; the teams were evenly matched and the other ref was fair to all of them. Ross got Player of the Day so he was very happy

Adrian went to a Lion's Convention all day and I went scrapping. KiwiScraps is working out well as a venue - it was nice and warm there and it's well set up for paper crafters - it's a most enjoyable venue. I had a great day scrapping - it's so nice to get out once a month and do my hobby.

More things that irritate me

People who don't know how to navigate a round-about properly
People who mistreat their children
People who mistreat their animals
People who don't have any manners
Teenagers who won't try
Coaches who think that 12th Grade B division soccer should be treated like Chatham Cup soccer - as long as the kids are having fun, learning the game and learning team spirit and fairness let's not go overboard about it


And I'll keep adding other things that irritate me and thankfully I can say all of this because I live in New Zealand where there is still freedom of speech

And I'm quite sure that I irritate other people because I'm not tidy and my garden is a mess and....and .....and ... and they can say that too because they're also entitled to freedom of speech

My friend Nik

Is making Scrappyware - wonderful aprons and superb little things called scrapper's bags - they are weighted down and hang on the side of your scrapping table to keep your tools and rubbish. Now,I just need to get my act together and order one! You can get one here

It irritates me!!

When people can't write English properly!

I read that an NZ girl got a job as the Stationary Buyer. Was she never taught that stationery has envelopes in it? And that personel has employees? And that I go to practice (noun) and do the practise (verb)? And that principal is the alpha male/female?

Not to mention their, there, they're:
That is their house
There is my car
They're going on holiday next week

And then there's your and you're: you're is an abbreviation for you are and your is a possesive determiner
This is your house
You're going to go inside it

And don't get me started on the abuse of apostrophes!

Just needed to say that!

Thanks Lynda - edited to add: "youse" as in plural of "you".
The plural of "you" is "you".
"Youse" sounds like "use" or "ewes"

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day.
Mother:1. a female parent.

2. (often initial capital letter) one's female parent.

3. a mother-in-law, stepmother, or adoptive mother.

4. a term of address for a female parent or a woman having or regarded as having the status, function, or authority of a female parent.

5. a term of familiar address for an old or elderly woman.

6. mother superior.

7. a woman exercising control, influence, or authority like that of a mother: to be a mother to someone.

8. the qualities characteristic of a mother, as maternal affection: It is the mother in her showing itself.

9. something or someone that gives rise to or exercises protecting care over something else; origin or source.

10. (in disc recording) a mold from which stampers are made.–adjective

11. being a mother: a mother bird.

12. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a mother: mother love.

13. derived from or as if from one's mother; native: his mother culture.

14. bearing a relation like that of a mother, as in being the origin, source, or protector: the mother company and its affiliates; the mother computer and its network of terminals.–verb (used with object)

15. to be the mother of; give origin or rise to.

16. to acknowledge oneself the author of; assume as one's own.

17. to care for or protect like a mother; act maternally toward.–verb (used without object)

18. to perform the tasks or duties of a female parent; act maternally: a woman with a need to mother.—Idiom

and for all the mums/moms/moeders who visit me here....

for all the women who are mothers,
and have mothers.
and those that dont.

for all the women who carried a child for a time in their wombs, whether that time be a few days, weeks or many months.

for all the women who wanted with all their hearts to carry a child, and never got that wish.

for all the women who have loved unconditionally a child of their womb.

for all the women who have loved unconditionally a child of another woman's womb.

for all the women who gave up the child they carried for a better life for that child.

for all the women who have lost a child, and think about them still.

for all the women who care, and love, and mother their neices, nephews, godchildren, friend's children as if they were their own.

for all the women who had the best mothers.
and for all the women who didnt.

for all the women who lived up to all their mothers wished for them.
and for all the women who live good and happy lives inspite of not having those wishes wished

for them.

for all the women who looked at their new born babies, and were amazed that they themselves MADE this child.

and for all the mothers who look at their 15 year olds, and wonder where they came from.

For the mothers of boys,
and the mothers of girls.

for those mothers who are awake at 2.30am, holding a crying baby who will not settle, tears rolling down their cheeks as they wish and pray for the sun to come up , so they know they have both survived another night.

for those who dont survive.

for all the women who do it by themselves, without support.
and for all those women ( and men!) who choose to support another.

for all those women who know the feeling of full and leaden breasts, that leak at the sound of a baby's cry, even if their baby is in another suburb.
for all those women who bottlefed.
and for those women who still feel their breast tingle when a baby cries, even though their "babies" are now in high school.

for all those women who look back and remember, s/he would have been 21 today.
and for all those women who make a rousing and full hearted 21st brithday speech for their kids.

for those women who work. at home and in the work force.

for all those women who try their best.

For those women who are mothers, but never see their children.
and for those mothers who tuck their kids in each and every night.

for all the mothers who fight with all that they have, and all that they are, to be there for and with their family.
and those who lose the battle.

For all the mothers who will receive lavish gifts, and get taken out for breakfast.
for those that receive luke warm tea, and burnt toast.
and for those who are not remembered as they should be.

For those mothers whose every breath is focused on finding food, safety and shelter for her children and herself.
and for those who will ( thankfully) never know that terror.

For all those mothers who are horrifed by the last tattoo, piercing or haircut.
and for those who horrify their kids with same.

For all those mothers just beginning their journey...
and all those who know that journey never ends...

for every woman who has ever given of herself for the betterment of a child's life, who has given praise, or time, a hug, a kiss, or a pat on the back. For any woman who has been a confidant, a keeper of trust, a cheerleader, a warrior, a mother.....

I raise my glass to you.I thank you for the investment you have made in the mothers ( and fathers) of tomorrow.You do the hardest, and lowest paying, and greatest rewarding job in the world.You have my undying admiration....my applause...and my thanks.
Happy Mother's Day.

with many thanks to my friend Ngaire Bartlam who wrote these words

Dancing with the Stars

My mom and I arrived at Avalon studios at 7.30pm and were given a group number. We were called in in groups and our names were on our chairs.Phil (from Lotto) did a bit of a warm up just after 8pm and then there was time for a practice opening. Before we knew it, the programme was going out live to new Zealand. What a wonderful night! If you think the costumes are beautiful on TV they are spectacular IRL - they shimmer and sparkle. It's also great being able to watch the dancers completely and not just what the camera person wants you to watch. We had no option but to bop along cheer, jeer and have fun. The dancers are wonderful and seem to be having such fun. I called Greer Robson at one point and she turned and looked at me - I gave her a thumbs up sign. Brendan Cole and Candy Lane (NZ and international dance champions) gave a demonstration dance that was so beautiful it looked like one person dancing. At the end of the evening, Greer hugged me and thanked me for supporting her.

I could hardly sleep when I got home as I was so hyped up still from the evening so I went surfing the net (as you do) and discoverd at Scrapbook Outlet I had won May's kit and both add-ons! What an exciting night! I have RAK'd some of it to Yvette for being such a great PI too.

We weren't supposed to take cameras to DWTS so I didn't but I noticed that other people had them Anyway, a lady at TV One has kindlysent me some but I have promised that I will only print them for a scrapbook page so I can't show them here. Maybe I'll do the l/o next weekend and then I can show you

Monthly cropping group

Our cropping group has been getting together eleven times a year (not in December) for the last nearly four years. Firstly in Tawa in the community centre but we outgrew that so we moved to the Catholic Church in Newlands. They put the rent up by 40% so we moved again; this time to KiwiScraps where we had a wonderful day!

I did this l/o about the Ice Bar in Queenstown using some pale blue Bazzill Bling that I got in my Double Take kit from Scrapbook Outlet .I also used some Heidi Swapp ghost letters that we got in 2005 when HS came to New Zealand, added a bit of blue ink and kindy glitz and some metal snow drops and I think it looks rather "icy"!

I won tickets to Dancing with the Stars live show tomorrow night so I'm taking my Mom with me - should be fun!

ANZAC Day 25th April 2007

They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them.
-- Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

Out of my comfort zone

I decided at the last minute to do a class at Crafting Connection - Emily Falconbridge's Wall Art. Sooo out of my comfort zone! I found it really hard to just "stick stuff down randomly". I found it hard to match (or not!) the colours. I so wanted to make all the pieces of fabric the same size and place them symmetrically on each side of the photo! Whilst I'm not sure I'll ever do anything like that again, it is growing on me ie I like it! My family could not believe that I did something so bright! Click on the photo to make it bigger - if you can bare to. Anyway, here it is and a photo of Emily and me. Thanks Emily and it was great to meet you

Croc Charms

In Oamaru in January, I discoverd a shop selling Croc Charms. Well, of course I had to have some; but then Monique linked me somewhere with an explanation of how to make your own. Out of the 16 charms on my two shoes, two are "real" ones! Don't the others look cute? I'm so pleased with them!

Circle Journal

I am almost finished all my contributions the a US/Canadian CJ that I'm in! I have one more to do and then I'm done. Here's what I've done so far:

My Home Town for Lin

Best things in Life for Karen

Treasured Moment for Wendy

Favourite technique for MarySue

Faith for Vanessa-Lynn

Favourite Season for April

Ten Favourite things for Nancy

There is one missing and I know I took a photo, but can't find it anywhere

Still school hols

and I love that!The boys have not been too bad - ie not too much bickering going on! They have learnt how to make crepes which we have been enjoying for breakfast most mornings. I plan to make them a little recipe book with all their favourite recipes in for when they leave home. But I've still got lots of time!

I have been updating my blog and adding links to blogs that I read. If you would like me to add yours, please leave a comment or email me and I'll add it. Also let me know what you think of this colour (blue at the moment - I think!) becaue I may change it

Thank you

Thank you to everyone for your really kind comments both here and those who emailed me. Thank you too to the donations that some people have sent - we are very humbled and Adrian got quite tearful when he was reading everyone's comments

Wishful thinking .......

No, not on my part at all - read the story and see below. At Adrian's office, they had a fund-raiser today for the Cancer Society. They found eleven people to have their hair shaved off and then painted by BodyFX. Each one of them then had a photos taken of the art work and this is all to be published in a book later this year with all proceeds to go to the Cancer Society.

Well, my dear husband decided that he would have his hair shaved off!!

A "full" head of hair

Half way through

Shaving off the rest

Kojak look-alike!

The art work begins

Wishful thinking ..........

Yes it's a tropical island! Not that we can say we have tropical island weather in Wellington today, so on his part it is wishful thinking! He personally raised a fair bit of money as did the other ten and there was a collection box out during the grand event today

Easter and holidays

Wasn't the weather great over Easter? We spent some time doing up bit of clearing and planting in the garden and also had a bbq onSunday with my Mom and Dad. Of course the Easter Bunny came, but this year was quality rather than quantity and the boys were pleased about that.



I got a torch!!! As I said to Adrian - it's my fourth - what should I do with it? But I made sure that I had bought myself a scorched almond egg anyway. Ross bought (with his grandmother's money) a really nice Ernest Hillier egg so I got my share of chocolate.





This week I have been to Adrian's place of employment seven times!! The boys got some part-time work there so I fetched them on Tuesday just after lunch. Then I went back at 5.30pm to fetch Adrian as his car was in the garage. Took him and the boys to work on Wednesday morning, fetched the boys at lunch time, fetched Adrian again in the evening. Took him back to work again this morning and I'm going back tomorrow - he's involved in a Cancer fund raisning venture about which I'll post tomorrrow and have some photos. So watch this space!





I did get to Spotlight though and they had some fantastic American Crafts patterned paper for 20 cents (US0.14) a piece!! I went back for some more later and it had all been hidden away again. No worries - I know someone who is there almost every second day and she knows some of the staff so she'll let me know when it's back out again.


Anyway, thanks Nancy (US) and Karin (SA) for visitng my blog

I read somewhere about someone who had gone to Forest Lakes over the Easter weekend and she was complaining about the food - so glad we self-catered for ScrapCamp!

It's all over

But it was a great weekend. Yes I stressed a lot about people who cancelled and people who booked and cancelled all in two weeks and wooden letters that did not arrive and finances that were stretched to the very limits but it was a FANTASTIC weekend. All the ladies were impressed with the goody bags which represented a retail value of at least $95 and many people were using bits from the bags all weekend.

The Tool Taxis from Fiskars were a hit as were the baby Xyrons from Esselte.

The pens from Scrapbook Outlet were great and the piles of stuff from Scrapbook Essentials both as gifts and to buy were fantastic.

Lots of scrapping got done and the wooden letters class by Jo was a wonderful success - thanks Jo - we know what value we got

Many thanks too to Up2Scrap, Nik Wilkinson, Cadburys, Haley Ingram, Making Memories, Paula Alcock, Marie Thompson, Krislyn d' Souza, Joan Childs and other sponsors

The plane from Christchurch was delayed by 15 minutes and the luggage by FIFTY! That meant we were a bit late getting to Sharlene's for lunch. We played the toilet paper game - each person had to take "enough" and then for each square had to tell us something about herself. Irene took one; Jo took many!

Tania and Suazanne scrapped until 5.00am the first day and 5.30am the second. Self-catering was great and easy and I got compliments for the food. Porridge for breakfast remains a hit!

It is a pity that Forest Lakes has become run down and very grubby as it is an ideal venue for our purposes

Will there be a next time? Yes .......because I want a weekend away!

Two Sleeps to go

and then it is ScrapCamp! But first I way to get over this horrible cold and Parents' evening tomorrow night. Then Friday I will fetch Katrina and Irene from the airport, have lunch at Sharlene's house and then head north for a weekend of fun and creativity. I really liked this quote that I read:
When people have not yet discovered their creative potential, or when they are blocked creatively, it is usually because they are held captive by one of the following three things:
1 - Fear
2 - Fatigue
3 - (lack of) Fun.
We're at our creative best when we're not afraid, when we're not worn out (mentally, physically, or emotionally), and when we're having fun. Creation is play and does not flow when fatigue and fear provide friction." (Excerpt from Liberate the Captive Artist Within)

So hopefully I will not be fatigued because I know that I can't scrap when I'm tired!

Lahar!!

Well, it happened today! And I am so pleased! Ross is heading up the mountain tomorrow on a week long school trip. This lahar has been expected for years and scientists could see that the water level was rising and an overflow was imminent. There was a lot of rain last night and just before 11am this morning over it went. I sat glued to http://www.horizons.govt.nz/laharcam.asp?big=true all day and saved some photos.

This is what a concrete post standing 6 metres high in the river usually looks like:


This is what it looked like much earlier today at 12.39pm:




This is what it looked like at the height of the lahar flood today at 12.48pm:



And this is what it looked like at 6pm tonight:

And for those of you who are not in NZ - the lahar came from the crater lake at the top of Mt Ruapehu which is that beautiful mountain on my banner