IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME BETWEEN POSTS

I find it hard to believe how long it has been between this and the last post. Although its a year and a half since mum passed away I don't seem to be able to get back to life as it used to be. I still upcycle and try to live sustainably but my zest for life seems to have left me. My vegetable garden is nothing to brag about with only a few things in there. I keep promising my self that next week things will happen but somehow weeks go by and nothing is done.

I have been sewing and making things so at least something is getting done. Michael and I have been renovating first our on suite and now our main bathroom. Might put up some photos of both the bathrooms and the sewing.
My current sewing project is making bunting from fabric samples I was given by a friend who was a rep for a fabric company, do you believe that they normally throw the samples out.

I will keep this post short for now it's kind of nice just having a go again.
Till next time.

SPRING IS NEARLY HERE !

Spring is nearly here and I am not ready for it. Doesn't that sound silly. Honestly this year has been a horror I really taught that by now things would be back to normal if there is such a thing, with all the health problems that I have faced this year nothing is quite fitting the way it used to. This weekend will be an attempt at getting back in the garden. Before mum I nearly lived there now there is barley time to do anything. I miss doing my gardening so will try hard to get back to my normal routine.

Last weekend I had my oldest and youngest granddaughters to look after and we had a good time. When the girls visit at least we get to do some craft and enjoy our self's. I have to admit all of my grand kids love to do craft and it is the first thing that they ask for when they get here.


Harper made mum and dad a lovely picture while Jess and I made some Embellished Wooden Peg Magnets.

Jess and I also started a Made it store. If you are interested please have a look here.

These jumbo wooden peg photo/recipe card holders will be added to the store soon.

www.madeit.com.au/VL
Soon Jess will set up her own Made it junior store I am so proud of her for wanting to have a go.

Jess's large paperclip book marks

Jesses leather choker          

Hope to write soon.

KEEP TRYING

  I am constantly trying to get back to bogging with no luck my heart just doesn't seem to be in it. The turmoil of mum's passing has affected me more than I realised at the time. It seems that with everything that happened it was just too much for my body to take. I have been unwell and just cant get my mojo back, so a revelation by my doctor didn't really surprise me it seems that I had a nervous brake down ! Not bad during that time I somehow managed to get to work most days and still put in a good enough effort so that no one noticed except for the fact that I was constantly sick.

I am slowly recovering and trying to get back to my old self. This weekend was the first time that I did anything in my garden which is a wasteland at the moment. It will come back to it's former glory
in due time and I have plans so that each week will be better than the next.

I hope that everything will change for the better in time.
Not much more to say at the moment as it is way too late and I honestly don't know what possessed me to write this late at night it's just that I couldn't sleep so it seemed the perfect time.

To totally finish the worst time in my life my little Bonny has passed on.

RiP my beautifull Bonny our lives will never be the same without you.
Till next time.

Life Without Mum

Its been almost a year since my last blog I find it hard to believe. Lots of things were happening and blogging lost its importance.

After my last post in August mums health deteriorated so much that she needed more and more looking after. During that time dad decided that he didn't want to live without her and tried to commit suicide. 

Luckily we managed to get the police in time to help us break into the garage and save him. Months in hospital before he was able to come home. 

In the mean time mum moved in with me and Michael. During this time is still worked full time. Luckily during the week we were able to get help with both mums bathing and her medical needs with wonder full nursers coming every day to dress her wounds and give injections. I had to learn to do this as they do not attend on long weekends. 

The bathing is only done during the week so the weekends were up to me. I learnt a lot about my self during this time. I found my self doing all the things that were once unthinkable (in fact I used to tell every one that no way could I bath any one or wipe their bottom) but once there is no other option it is amazing what you can do.

Mum has passed away now and I find myself at a loss. So maybe it's time to blog again if nothing else it lets me get my feelings out. Somehow it helps that none of you know me but at the same time it feels like 

I am talking to friends. CANCER IS A TERRIBLE SCOURGE ON OUR SOCIETY. 

To much has happened for me   to write about in one post but as time goes one I hope to share more with you including information on genital cancer which I didn't even know existed 2 years ago.

LOVE AND MISS YOU MUM

                                          This is Mum with myself and my sister last christmas 

FINDING TIME TO BLOG AGAIN

Finally I am able to get back to blogging. It has been a long time and much has happened. My Mother had
her operation then the radio therapy which really knocked the life out of her. I think that she is finally nearing the end as far as the pain and discomfort is concerned. My Mum is normally such a strong woman but this has really been hard for her. She lost over 40 kg of weight and now looks haggard.

During all this I my self have been very unwell and have not been able to keep up with my normal lifestyle. The garden is neglected and I have had very little energy for work around the house. I too seem to be on the mend and hope that life will now go back to normal.

I spent about an hour in the vegetable patch today but soon ran out of energy, still at least I finally felt like it. Next time I hope to have some photo,s even if they will be of a sad looking garden. Once I am well the garden will soon get the attention needed to flourish.

One thing that is doing well is the lemon tree and we have been making loads of Lemonade.

Spring is not far away

Plenty of Lemons

Tomorrow My oldest and the youngest granddaughters will be visiting so we will most probably spend some time in the Fairy garden ( this is Jessica's special place at our house).

Here's to continued blogging without long absences.

Mum's Operation Is Over

I can not believe how long it has been since my last post. Too much has gone one since then.
Mum has been so unwell and in so much pain and now the operation is over everything looks good for now.  If all works out well she won't need chemo, how good would that be.

Life has been so hectic that I haven't given the blog a thought until tonight. All my good intentions seem to go by the wayside.

After new year Jessica and I finally had time to try something that we have wanted to do for a long time. We made a wallet for her out of shopping bags. I will post a photo another time as there is very little time before bed time.

Till next time

New Start

So much for starting early in the garden. This morning we got up early to start work in the garden just as we had planed. Started to collect the plants in their pots so that we could plant early before the heat hits us. Then I do something silly and my back gives in so poor Michael had to plant the whole lot. It didn't get any better so a quick visit to a chiropractor and it is a little better,

We will need to see if I can do anything for the rest of the time that I have of work.

Till next time

First Day of 2013

It's the first day of the new year and a hot one that's for sure. We spent a quite new year with my brother and his wife and son it was quite and just what we needed to end the hectic year that we had.

Today we relaxed and did as little as possible as it was a scorcher.  Nicole and Brook came over with the little ones they sure have a lot of energy even on a hot day.  It was too hot to do much so we played inside and used the spa as a pool, we no longer put up the pool outside as it no longer gets the use it used to and we do not want to maintain it and yet it hardly gets used.

Everything in the garden needed water and Michael spent quite a time making sure that everything was watered well. I will try to get up at 6 am and do some gardening before the heat hits us again. There are
raspberries to pick and some strawberries too. We are in the process of cleaning up a few garden beds and covering with compost so that they will be ready for winter plantings. I have been slack with photo's lately but will try to do better in the future.

I am wondering if anyone out there has an answer for getting rid of fruit fly other than spraying every two week. We get so little edible fruit and yet I am hesitant to spray. Do any of you guys out there have little tricks or things that you use to beat this dreaded insect. Advice would be appreciated.

Till next time

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to each and every one of you. I hope your Christmas was blessed with all the things that make it so special to you.

We had a wonderful time with all of our family at my brothers house. All the children had way too many gifts as usual but a good time was had. It was a rather cold day for this time of year but I enjoyed it very much.

Have been of work since before Christmas but no time to blogg with all the work that I want done before work commences again on the 7th January. We are going to my brothers house to wait for the
new year to arrive, maybe aswim in the pool as it is very hot


Till next time.

ARE YOU READY FOR CHRISTMAS

I wonder if most of you are ready for Christmas or are you like me and no where near ready ? It would be good to know how most of you cope with this time of year. I always find it hard as not all of my family believe in living the way that I do and Christmas can be rather commercial. A lot of them think that I am a bit weird trying to make things out of old stuff and not rushing to the shopping centre and buying everyone the newest glitziest things that costs  a packet and doesn't mean much to the recipient once the excitement wears off.

They do not see how a person can make a difference just by reusing things that others do not want anyway. This is due to the fact that they only see one article being made from another unwanted thing.
What drives me is that I know how much energy is used to make the original item then the energy to transport it for sale. Once the item is used usually a few times it is discarded and if lucky ends up in an op shop (thrift store). The plan for today's blogg was not to lecture you but I get a little excited when I wright about things that really mean something to me.

Today I was going to just let you know that my mums cancer operation is scheduled for the 18 January and that all looks as good as it could be in this situation. The doctors are optimistic and surely that is all we can ask for. Now we can only pray and see what happens.
Till next time

Sunday

Still had the grandchildren today until midday. It was fun but also tire ring as they did not settle till quite late and we all got up early. We did manage to have fun though and even got to make mum and dad a surprise gift for Christmas. Can let you see as mum might see that would spoil it.

Finally got to upload some photos and a video with some help from my daughters. So here is a photo of my tree now it feels like Christmas.

Looks a little lonely without the presents but that will come.

This tree has no theme. But it tells the story of christmases past every ornament has memory behind it, weather it be the first ornament I brought when I moved into my own place or the ones that we brought when each of our children came along then the one when we brought our first house. It continues with decorations that my girls made most years at school. Now we are adding ones the the grand kids make this makes me feel so good when I look at my tree. At work they talk about what colour combinations they will have this year and all that comes to my mind is that all of my favourite ornaments would then be left in boxes and that just seems wrong to me.
Till next time

Family and Christmas

Some times I struggle with what to write on this blogg. Do you also feel that sometime we give too much of our self with what we say here. To me this is almost like a diary so I let you in to what is going on in my life weather it is wright or wrong who knows.

Life is still very hectic with Christmas to get ready for and mums cancer to keep us on our toes mind you my sister has taken over from my daughter and has taken mum to all of her appointments lately. This makes me feel a little guilty but work has been so hectic that time of is just not an option.

 I have done very little upcyling or crafting for Christmas. Christmas for me has always been a time to make new decorations for the  tree and the house but this year there will only be a few. We have taken a look at the old ones and mostly they only need a good dusting and they will do for another year.

No pictures to add to the blogg as my camera and the new mac do not seem to like each other maybe I can work out what is wrong tomorrow when there will be more time to go over everything.

Tomorrow I will look after my youngest daughters children we have missed them as we have not seen them for a few weeks.

ANOTHER HECTIC SUNDAY

Today we had to get up early as we needed to help set up the craft and plant stalls at church. Last weekend our church had a mini fete and Michael and I were in charge of the plant stall, had a really nice day even thought it was really hot

Not too many people maybe due to the heat but we still raised nearly $6000.00  this is most impressive.
But the best thing about the day was that my lovely Jessica had a stall of her own where she sold craft that was made by her with kids in mind so most things were 50n cents or a dollar. It is  a pity that we only thought to take a photo right at the end of the day when she had started to pack up.

Not a great picture but get a load of the owl's she only had two left.

She raise $51.00 I am so proud of her for giving of her self for a good cause, two whole weekends were spent making the craft then the Sunday to sell. Then it was home to pack for her school camp tomorrow. I
still need to learn how to edit the photo's on the mac but will get here .

Till next time

A DAY OF REST

Today was designated a day of rest for both Michael and Myself. As we have been so busy with both work and everything to do with the fate it was decided that no work would be done at home or outside today.

So we planed a day out visiting my auntie who would then take us to Cosco so that we can see what all the fuss is about. Before we got to my aunties we picked up the two rabbits that I ordered for her from a  lady that works with me. The rabbits are so meaty and healthy looking unlike the ones in butcher shops that always look like they were starving. We also picked up a couple of ducks for them from a place that slaughters them and supplies the shops, you can get them really fresh.

After arriving at my aunties and having coffee we decided that it was time to visit Cosco. I was not that impressed with it. The place is so cramed full of everything, although  did buy a few Christmas gifts so it wasn't a total waste of time.  There are some bargains but the problem is that you need to buy things in multiples so that you are spending money upfront and I am not sure that this would really save you money.  It was good to experience this but am not sure that I would do it again

Todays heat nearly killed me honestly couldn't bring my self to cook in this heat so we had takeaway.

Thats all for now.

Blogging Again

My last blogg was a long time ago and according to my daughter it might be karma biting me on the butt. According to her I may have offended some of you stay at home ladies by some of my comments on how lucky you are. If I offended any one I am truly sorry it was only envy as I have not had the guts to stop working and live life the way I would like.

My absence from blogging was not intentional but rather a series of mishaps. Firstly my computer crashed and after paying someone to fix it the darned thing did it again.
Now I am the owner of a brand new Mac and could not be happier.

I have missed two slow living updates and will try to make up for it soon.

At the moment I need to concentrate my energies on my mum as she has been diagnosed with cancer of the vulva, unbeliveable we didn't even know it existed.  So for now there is plenty to concentrate on so no promises as to when I will blogg again, just when there is time or a need.

By the way my camera is also playing up so no photos at the moment. Maybee santa will bring me one for Christmas.

Long Time No Blogg

I have been so busy with life that there has been no time to blogg, it's not that there is nothing going on far from it. Too much is going on.
August was busy with a few Birthdays including my dad's 80th which saw a big family gathering at mums and dads house.

September is even more hectic. It started with fathers day which we spent at the Rouse Hill Recreational park. The day was glorious and everyone had a wonderful day with a barbecue  and lots of ball games and bike riding.

On the 4 was my grandsons 5th birthday so we celebrated at their house. Dad and Dida (grandad) put up his new bunk bed which we brought for him. He sure loved it and he has worked out that if he moves out the desk part he has a ready made cubbyhouse. Haven't had time to get any photos sent from my daughters camera will add later.

Thursday we celebrated Jessica's 11th birthday with lots of family and a pizza night, this is Jessica's favourite food.
In between all of this there is still work and lots of things that keep me busy. I will try to make blogging more of a priority in the future.



Can you believe she's 11



One day of Summer

Today was such a surprise summer temperatures with August winds what a combo. Whilst the warmth was welcome the devastation the wind created was not. On the way home from work there were branches and trees down all over the place. Then the storm hit but it didn't last long.

After work I went to my daughters house to visit. Jessica is doing so well at this school it is so good to see and how Harper has grown she's so long now I didn't take any photo's though.

Really winter has not been good as far as up cycling is concerned I just don't seem to have the energy. The only thing that I have been able to keep up with has been the garden.
Now the weather is warming up maybe I will get my mojo back.

Till next time

A Day Off

Today we decided that we really needed a day off for a change. So we went to the South Maroota Muster and had a great afternoon. There were lots of stalls and plenty of rides and show bags for the kids. I brought a lovely hand knitted blanket from the the ladies raising money for the local hospital. My husband enjoyed the vintage cars and machinery displays and managed to find a real bargain, a mulcher for $90 dollars. It's hardly had any use and isn't at all scratched. We will test it next weekend. Our neighbour always takes part in the tractor pull  and everyone has a good time. The proceeds go towards the Maroota public school so its for a good cause.

On the way home I made Michael stop so that I could have a look at some of  the native plants that were growing in the bush.

After dinner I plan to bath our two dogs as it is still cold and they dry quickly while the fire is on. Then an early night so that I am refreshed for work tommorow.

Till next time

Finding Time to Blog

I have a confession to make. I thought bogging was going to be so easy after all how hard can it be? My answer is really hard. It's not so much that it is hard to blogg but that it is hard to find the time. I find life and work just get in the way. So I do envy all you lucky ladies that stay at home and manage to blogg every day.

Today was spent gardening at my elderly parents house. They are no longer able to do the gardening them self's and I really want them to enjoy their flower and vegetable garden for a while longer so my sister and I are going to take turns at doing this for them for a few more years so that life at home feels normal for a little longer.
I did the front garden which is full of old fashioned cottage garden plants and rose's. It is a challenge to work in someone else's garden as our ideas are different. But apart from being really sore as it was a little too much for one day, But it does look good and wont need any work for a few months now. Sorry so busy all day that I did not even consider taking any photo's.

Lazy Sunday at Home

Today has been a bit of a lazy day for me firstly I stayed in bed a lot longer than is usual but it was so windy and horrible outside. When we finally got up we had our breakfast, this is something my mother used to make for us.

Sauteed leek and scrambled eggs served with toasted Afghani bread

Some crafting and sewing but really didn't feel like doing much today.

Now we are being lazy by the fire. This is the life.