Stitching

2014 saw the start of a big creativity phase. So far, I've...

• started and completed Teresa Wentzler's Stretch (her dragon logo) and a little Christmas ornament is ready to finish as a hanging ornament. 

Stretch

• I also added some beads to Misty, one of the TW Rocking Horses. I think she's ready to frame now.

  

  detail from Misty

• attended an embroidery class with Zeb, a new friend (who I'm sure will get me in lots of trouble and laughs in years to come). I'm fairly confident with about ten stitches now.

My StitchSmith owl. Yet to be completed. Cause I'm lazy.

• started and completed Nora Corbett's Santa's Sleigh AND AM TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH IT, so much so that I have acquired six of her reindeer patterns.  

  

  The Sleigh, nearly completed (some beading was still to be done at this point)

• started Nora Corbett's Arezzo, setting the bar high in making this my first colour conversion (hate the dress colour and the lilac roses, and have made the leaves darker) and my first "over 1", meaning over the one thread not the usual two. Squintville, here I come. Not sure if this is truly an NC or a Mirabilia design, but it's pretty and delicate.

Nora Corbett's Arezzo

I've also stitched quite a few Christmas ornaments (starting early, but there is a lot of downtime while you're waiting at league training and for reports to run) and made a cushion cover from a Pintrest image. Check out my NYC envelope cushion! 

birthday wishes

so I'm nearly 40. Si has been asking for ideas, Louise asks if I want a party. I really don't know but this is my current short list...

1. time alone! To nap, to read, to stitch, to wander the beach.
2. Mirabilia's Stargazer chart and beads. That's here: http://www.123stitch.com/item/Mirabilia-Designs-Stargazer-The-Cross-Stitch-Pattern/06-1285 I have the perfect fabric already.
   
3. another trip to Sea World - I could spend several hours at that lagoon. My own fish tank can't quite compare. Yet. I do have a shark! 
   
   
   
4. patience to finish Arezzo. Over 1 might not have been the best choice but now I do know the technique and limitations for when I need to do over 1 on a larger design. 
5. another Sheltie. I promised Si I wouldn't buy one. I never promised I wouldn't accept one! This is Robbie, adopted from a puppy mill by one of the FIL's friends. He's gorgeous. 

Result!

I finally got up the courage to ring the hospital yesterday - outrage winning over the I-don't-wanna-know's. It's been three weeks since the MRI and even our GP hadn't heard anything. The MRI lab had to send the results thru to the surgery but the upshot is:
the tumor is consistent with the appearance of FNH (so therefore benign)
the size is 6.5 x 4.5 cmm
I still don't know if it requires surgical removal or anything, those doctors notes haven't been made available.

tuesday (a totally inspired title)

well the MRI was not as bad as I had thought it would be. Only panicked the once, and frankly I put that down to having to listen to Dolly Parton, LOL. Now have to wait on the doctors report, blah.

Pa's notice is in the Herald today.
KING


Robert Lewis (Bob). Reg No: 447141 Dr NZEF WWII. Born 3 October 1922 Patea, Died 15 November 2009 peacefully at Rotorua. Dearly loved husband of the Late Patricia Mills Dobson. Beloved father and fatherinlaw of Jonathan and Audrey, Christopher and Jocelyn and the Late Peter. Cherished Grandfather of Paula, Robert and David, Sara and Michael, Corinne and Kristin and Great Grandfather to their 12 children. Son of the Late George Whittaker and Irene Badger, Brother to the Late Barbara, Kenneth and Roy King. Former Managing Director of Griffins Biscuits, Lower Hutt. "We will miss his wisdom, gentle nature and sense of humour." The Service for Bob will be held at The Joseph H Gray Memorial Chapel, Cnr Amohau and Pukuatua Streets, Rotorua on Thursday 19 November at 2.00pm followed by Private Cremation. In memory of Bob a donation may be made to the Rotorua Hospital Chapel and left in Grays chapel foyer. All communications, please, to The King Family, c/o P O Box 434, Rotorua. Ph: (07) 349-2468.

well crap

There are sadly a few things to feel crap about.
On the me front, I have my MRI tomorrow. I sincerly doubt that the people involved will look like anyone from Grey's Anatomy, which is my only experience so far with MRIs. I hate enclosed, small dark spaces and even worse, I have to give my glasses up. So blind will be added to my list of woes. Oh, and I am expected to fast. It just gets better and better!
On the family front, yesterday morning our Pa passed on. He was a wonderful man and always had time for us. I feel bad that we didn't take Mase to him (when we were in Vegas recently Si was coming down with a cold and we didn't want to give that to him; just as well as that one landed me in hospital); that we or me didn't make the trip more often. But I know he's happy where he is, with Gran, as they spent too much time apart. Worried about my Dad, and how he's taking it; and feeling for cousin Sara. It's been a rough couple of years for her.
Bran has taken this badly too but was last night quietly curled up with a photograph. I don't think Zac understands death, as he was so "whatever" about it. I think I'll be having a Q&A session with him in a few days when it sinks in.
As for me it just doesn't seem real.

catching up

sorry have been very slack!
Right now, I am at home, having finished work (yay!), just finishing off some things, enjoying time with Si and waiting on bubs. We've done the "dry run" into the hospital (not very exciting), put part of the new wardrobe together (even less exciting, as we took the time to sort out/throw out/laugh at some clothing choices, and I realised I had a snowball's chance of wearing some of these things this year) and just resting.

Bubs is all good and has an eviction date of next Friday, the 31st. I am huge, feel as big as I did with Bran, so a bit aprehensive! Never mind - he'll come out somehow, right? Right?!!

And I need to focus a little on 365 - this has def gone by the wayside. Si hasn't shown any enthusiasm for it which is making it really hard from my POV.

A very quick update on my week…

Monday – boring. So standard I couldn’t even think what to take a photo of. Or talk about. Maybe the kids’ homework? The car dashboard? Dunno.
Tuesday – got onto JetStar and brought Si a weekend home very cheap. Brilliantly cheap!
Wednesday – was supposed to be the D Day for work. Instead they didn’t show up, causing a lot of resentment. The email came thru at 1.35pm about when they were coming – it should have been a lot earlier! But I found out I was nominated for the Warriors Women in League so Lynne and I are going to the function and games on Friday. Yay!
Thursday – amazingly, I almost slept thru the night. First time in two weeks and OMG I can see my ankles again! Got called up for my one-on-one late in the morning. Jerome said that he regretted to tell me that my application for X position had been unsuccessful. Said thanks, but actually I didn’t apply for that position. His face was priceless. Honestly, I could have wet my pants laughing – if it wasn’t so tragically Mickey Mouse. Pointed out that in the general meeting the previous day he had said this wasn’t an opportunity for promotion, and that I’d taken this on board. He said he couldn’t remember saying that, but in this light they needed to reconsider my application. Half an hour later, I have a job. I really think that I was going to be made redundant but their error has meant that they can’t. But happy, as now I have a leaving date, parental leave and a job to return to. Everything I wanted!
Friday – Got wolf whistled at and turned around. On seeing my 32 week belly, his mates gave him grief. Bit late, buddy, I said. Still smiling – he didn’t expect that! Then breakfast with Michelle at Divan. Yummy muesli and fruit. Some loose ends to tie up at work and then some business reading. I need to get some chapters read and notes down.

Feeling Blah - so looking on the bright side...

Today we had a big meeting at work - well, some of us got carted off to a lawyer's conference room for the big reveal. Talk about scary - and my co-worker was freaking, which I admit now I have a VERY SMALL tolerance for, and that didn't help.
Upshot is our positions are disenfranchised. What a stooopid word. There are positions that we can apply for, but in full on cynical mode I don't see me getting considered. Who would hire someone 30 weeks pregnant? Would you?
So now I am waiting on my interview tomorrow. My entire paid parental leave hangs in the balance too so pretty sick to the stomach (altho that might be the two pieces of fudge).
BUT - having just got my daily fix of Ali Edwards, here's a list of what I'm currently grateful for:

• Si has a job, and is loving it (long may it last!)
• I do have bubs to look forward to (if I could sleep thru labour, that would be the icing on the cake)
• my kids are all healthy, good and adorable
• my antenatal bloods came back and they were fantastic
• I adore my totally supportive midwife
• I've had phone calls of support from suppliers already. Word got out there so fast. Wow.
• We currently have a roof over our heads and while I may have to go talk to the bank manager, let's leave that until we know something concrete, rather than all these maybes
• I might finally learn how to use Photoshop.
• This might be a new door opening.

ARG!

Those of you who are close family members - please hold that smirk to yourself.
I just found a grey hair. Promptly, of course, yanked it out. Then remembered the old wives tale about this making them replicate even faster...

Had a good weekend with excellent effort on the field and lots of help from Louise (who got to watch Twilight in peace and quiet last night, with no little brothers around to comment! Sorry about your Dad, honey, but I can't control him) and conscripted help from Bran (hopefully that will be the last time he tries to get me up at 4am!); Zac enjoyed his playdate with Cole (they both refused to change or shower out of their playing uniforms!). So a clean and tidy garage - anyone else would park a car in there! - and lots of baby stuff to sort thru and wash. Lots of surplus stuff to list too.

No progress crafting wise but as the other half flies out on Sunday next for three weeks min I hold some hope there...

a wet & wild weekend

I must be the first to admit - I was really hoping for league to be rained out this weekend. And it was! I just had so much to do, and not enough time as it was...
* clean out study (Si did the first of his filing cabinet drawers, yay, and I think found stuff going back to 1986!)
* list the books/items I no longer want (got about 1/4 way thru, so at least some progress!)
* make up the cot (nope, not done)
* help Si plumb in the bath taps and handbasin upstairs (done! just waiting on the sealant to cure and I won't have to share my bathroom with the boys anymore!)
* exchange the library books & Cds (done, small fine, oops)
* feed the ducks at Western Springs (done, and there were heaps of eels too. Even crawling over the rocks under the double arch bridge - gross)

* take the boys into work for a photo with Ben 10 (done, they thought it very cool and wanted to bring him home. Ah, no!)
* clean up the garage (frankly, was never going to happen)
* scrap a digital layout (nope, but found my photoshop guide so some small progress)
* eat breakfast in bed (sadly, not one of my elder three made me any food or cups of tea this weekend! MIL made roast lamb on Friday as a belated birthday dinner and it was yummy)
* cleaned out and organised about half my stash (listed quite a bit)
* thought out the weeks meals in advance. Takes care of that 5pm panic!

So all in all, pretty sucessful. Plus had finished going thru all my years worth of Creating Keepsakes, ripped out the bits I use/want and filed these in clear slips. The rest are going to my midwife next week for her and her daughter to take what they want, then I guess to a kindy. Lots and lots of colour and use for a kindy collage!

Down to 9 weeks of work left as of today. Starting to get a bit scary! At least Si is enjoying his new job...we are a lot luckier than some other families. I just need to work on not being so grumpy. The family would be nodding their heads right about now...LOL

catching up

It seems lately that all I seem to be doing is playing catch-up. At work, home, league - it's really hard to get ahead. This coming weekend is going to have to be disciplined work - I have the lounge, kitchen, study & part of the garage to sort through, ad the cot to assemble and get used to (we brought a new-to-us one, as we'd given away the other years ago).

But I am looking forward to:
* looking at my baby's new bed
* knowing where my stash is at (all over the place is not conducive to scrapbooking or even journalling!)
* selling some or as much as I can of the overload. Si would be shocked, but I can actually say "goodbye" to a huge volume of my books
* planning things, like meals, in advance. I've been sort-of doing this as I look thru the supermarket brochures each week, and there is a fantastic download on Becky Higgin's blog on the 5/5 which I shall adopt
* having a place for the baby's things - need to get the other set of drawers from the MIL's garage

What are you looking forward to?

Oh, and by the way - it's a boy. "Dangly bits" and all.

Updating

It's been a while since I posted here (altho I have been reasonably good on the forum at Oh Baby!). Things are OK, better with bubs than me, but ONE MORE SLEEP and I get to see bubs again. Tomorrow is the anatomy scan. I've been up since about 3.30 (it's now 7.30) with a stupid cold and obsessing about the scan. Sigh. Hopefully tomorrow night or the weekend I'll have pics for you.

The Fabulous Roger Moore

Last night at the Hilton was great - he's so funny and witty and his wife, Lady Kristina, is great too. She must be to enable him to do all his UNICEF work, maintain the family and get the book produced. Thanks Chris - the invite is very much appreciated!

Here's Shanee and myself with Sir Roger.

And the work do later wasn't too bad either!

so excited!

Today's Thursday, and in my little world today is the day I get to meet Sir Roger Moore. Which I think is pretty cool!

He's also at our Corner store (cnr Queen & Victoria Sts, Auckland CBD) tomorrow from 4.30pm.

And the book is (I'm only on page 78 as I got distracted with Wally Lamb's latest, The Hour I First Believed) pretty damn good. Funny and interesting and not at all back-stabbing - the sort of bio I really enjoy. And one I can safely give to the MIL for Christmas! After all, Simon is named after The Saint...she'll love it.

a few things...

I haven't written in a while - life has been quite busy! Simon came back to Auckland to spend last weekend with the kids and we ran around like mad things for three days solid. I even managed to (probably, according to the physio) detatch part of my tendon from my hip. OUCH! Sitting, walking and driving are all a little uncomfortable right now. I'm just glad the second car is an automatic.

Speaking of cars, I still haven't heard from the insurance company as to if they have found my car as yet. Yes, my poor little Legnum that was damaged in June, then finally taken away in October. I rang for an update a fortnight ago and was told that the file had been closed off. So I asked what the resolution was. Sorry miss, can't tell you. Pardon? Sorry miss, there's nothing written down. So, can I speak to a supervisor? No miss, but I'll speak to one for you. Ten or so minutes of stewing later, she came back online with the same answer. I rang the ASB customer helpline and vented. I have the email of one of the reps in Wellington but keep getting fobbed. I am seriously pi$$ed and once this is over, taking my business and the MIL's away from IAG. It's bad enough that I had to argue for several months that I had full cover insurance, to finding out that the agreed value (my bad, I never looked at the papers fully) was about four times the resale value - they tell me that I'm not important enough to warrant a loan car or repayment of any associated costs. If anyone can recommend a company please do let me know. I would really appreciate it!

I finished the cover and major interior pages of my December Daily - I'll try to remember to post some pics. Thanks for reading!

what an awesome day

I had a GREAT day today - started off buzzing as Tuesday night I won a CD from ZM - it's Sound of the Underground which doesn't look too bad - some stuff to sing along to in the car as I live to embarrass my kids.

Then I found out it was my horse that came in first, so I won the office sweepstake. Becs and I ran (well, felt that way in high heels!) up to Borders Queen St and I picked up MOS Annual 2009`(Aussie version, not US or UK) which has me jumping. It was this or Coldplay's Viva La Vida which I still don't have. Maybe Santa can put it in my stocking, hmmm?

And Bran was still excited about the photos he took on Monday afternoon. His homework was a photo essay on Spring and it was interesting seeing one of my favourite places from his perspective. Even if I have to laugh - he whinged and moaned about going until we got there and now he's raving about it. Even sent a collage down to his dad, but NZ Post hasn't delivered it yet. Bugger. He took about 40 shots overall, both at Te Atatu and in our garden, learning about the zoom & macro functions. I think he did quite well!

And I got to watch a bit of history as McCain conceeded to Obama. I really do hope he makes it to inaugeration as I can only admire a self-made man. Plus he's giving his kids a puppy. That's sweet.

a couple of shots

 

this is on the northwestern motorway and probably offends a few - but I find it makes me smile on the crawl home from work

 

and this is from last night - Si and Wayne went out to catch some boy shoot 'em up and ordered the medium popcorn bundle. I would have LOVED to see them explain these away...still, Rach will like them!

two things...

I'm wearing contacts today for the first time in ages and predictably they are really !#$!%$ing me off.
The Print-on-Demand facility in Melbourne can print me a copy of Clarissa in about 8 minutes (and bind it too so it looks like a normal book, not a whole lot of printed sheets like I'd get if I printed the Google pdf) - this is a week AFTER I found a copy on an internet trading site. Typical.
and I should really have been posting my "Week in the Life" updates but I haven't even downloaded the photos. Bad, bad girl.

that was three things! Whoops!

Oh - and here's another - this arrived yesterday. I am holding off opening it until I have updated my pages and at least started creating the album!

scary stuff

Last night's stabbing in central Auckland is a little too close to home. We're on the fifth floor, the girl assaulted is on the second. The building is still partially closed off and not to make light of the feelings of the victim's family & friends, but we're scared. The office is a lot quieter today than normal and everyone who goes out is going out in pairs.

I hate this feeling. It's hard to be enthusiastic about anything too, even the Warriors tommorrow night and having friends over. Or birthdays (sorry Doodle, sorry Nicole).

altho if you do want to buy any Cub Cookies, drop me a line.

Hello!

Thanks to Monique, here I am on Blogspot!

But here is where I was, on Blog.com - which has lots of errors. Grr. And no support - double grr!
http://regencyreader.blog.co.nz/

Just have to remember to post a note on there to redirect my many fans LOL