THE BESTEST KINDA DAY

Today has been one of those days! You know the days where everything just seems to be perfect. Yes absolutely, positively, incomprehensibly perfect. To start with its Friday and that of course is Kaylee's day to visit. The weekend is all but here and we all love the weekends don't we? It usually doesn't need to get any better than that but today did get better. I had a long chat with my sister who lives overseas in New Zealand. Not unusual as it is something we do often but I always love to speak with her and catch up with all her news. We had Tara and Corey pop in for a surprise visit in the afternoon - that's always fun. It's Jeff day off today so he did the school run - fabulous!! I don't have to cook dinner tonight either. Now I'm thinking it can't get better than that - could it!! Well yes it can.

There was a knock on the door and a nice lady handed me a parcel.





A parcel, I don't get parcels!! Well not very often anyway. When I saw my name on the front I started to get excited and then when I saw who it was from my heart went flitter flutter and I could hardly contain the excitement. Yes Katie, this parcel is from you! How come I didn't know anything about this? (Where's my friend Erin when I need her?) It really did come as such a surprise to receive a present all the way from the United States. Let me show you what my present, or should I say presents are ...



How beautiful is this? I love it. The colour is gorgeous and the fabric soft and feminine. It will be a favourite piece that I wear often.

And this....

Isn't it just spectacular. The photo, pretty as it is, does not do it justice. There is so much knitting in this. I can't imagine how many stitches are in the ruffle section. The yarn is the softest, most beautiful yarn in the most divine colour. I love everything about it. So much time and effort went into this that I feel somewhat embarrassed. I can hardly wait for the cooler weather when I will wrap it around my shoulders and feel snug and comforted.

Thankyou is such a little word. It doesn't sound enough to match the joy in my heart. I am so thrilled and surprised with your gift. You have made my perfect day even more perfect than I could have dreamed possible.

Thankyou Katie, you are one special lady. Love you heaps.

Cheers,
Lynda

MEET HOWARD


In my few spare moments between cleaning, cooking and running around after the other people that live in this house I have been trying to finish off projects that have been lying around half done for far too long. Just between you and me I am trying to make hidey holes for more yarn! I have another trip into Melbourne planned and of course I will stop by my favourite yarn store. I desperately need more room to store (hide) my purchases.

So meet Howard. He is a fully jointed bear made from gorgeous German mohair. He is approximately 27cms tall. He was a long time in the making but here he is all finished and looking quite dapper with his gold ribbon bow.

He is made from a pattern from "Bears by Biggs".

On to the next one....

Cheers,
Lynda

A SAD POEM

While cleaning out my daughter's old school books I came across this poem that she wrote for an English class. It is an original poem, heartfelt and true about a love lost. It is posted here with her permission as she knows only my two favourite Americans will read it.

Love is Gone

People say I’m crazy
my mind is sort of hazy.
Every time I think of you
I’m feeling kind of blue.

I can’t help how I feel
it all seems so unreal.
Today you went away
how I pray for yesterday.

And friends we’d be forever
our love nothing could sever.
But there are teardrops in my eye
and all I can do is cry.

For you are so much more
than the poster on the door.
In my heart you’ll always be
the only one for me.

Cherished memories deep inside
my love it’s hard to hide.
The photographs are in a tin
does anyone know the love within.

I’ll smile again some other day
but for now there’s a price to pay.
I lost my friend and my heart cried
The day you died.

By Shanny

On a brighter note I will leave you with a quote

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass... it's about learning how to dance in the rain!"

Cheers,

Lynda

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES...

4 year old Kaylee on overhearing a conversation about the ordeal with Jeff's accident at the beach jumps in and says -
"Well Jeff should really wear his floaties and another thing you don't go swimming where there are sharks or crocodiles."
Wise words. I wonder if I can get floaties in Jeff's size.

Cheers,
Lynda

HEART COOKIES

With Valentine's Day in mind I will share with you a family favourite cookie recipe. It is so easy to make from just a few ingredients and they are yummy enough to give as little gifts if they last long enough. The recipe can be halved but be warned they go quick! You can also replace the Rosewater Essence with Vanilla or any other flavour but the Rosewater gives a delicious and very different taste to these cookies.

You'll need -

250 grams butter or marg

Half cup of caster sugar (normal sugar will do too)

2 teaspoons Rosewater Essence

4 tablespoons cornflour

2 cups of plain flour

Then

Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add rosewater essence, cornflour and plain flour. Combine well. Lightly knead mixture on floured surface. Refrigerate a few minutes to firm up. Roll mixture out to 5mm thickness. Using a small heart shaped cookie cutter cut out shapes and place on tray lined with baking paper.

Bake at 160 degrees celcius for 10 - 12 minutes until cooked - just very very lightly coloured golden. They really don't take much cooking at all.

Carefully and slowly melt some white chocolate chips in the microwave. Add a drop of red food colouring to the white chocolate. Voila! pink chocolate. Dip half the cookie in the pink chocolate and place on baking paper to set.

These cookies are very yummy and keep well in an airtight container.

Enjoy!

Cheers,
Lynda

WHAT A WEEK

The sleepy hollow of Loch Sport east of Sale is between Lake Victoria in Gippsland Lakes and the Ninety Mile Beach. "Loch Sport boasts miles of golden beaches along Lake Victoria. The 90 Mile Surf Beach and the safe waters of Lake Victoria are the perfect venue for water based holiday activities - from toddlers splashing in the shallows of the lake to surf fishing in the ocean. The waters around Loch Sport are ideal for wind surfing, sailing, cruising, skiing, fishing and even parasailing."
There is one word in that excerpt that I wish my son had taken note of - SAFE!

Unfortunately on Monday evening, 8th February, he and his friends chose the 'not safe option' and went swimming at the beach. My son was caught in a rip and had to be pulled from the water exhausted, unable to move, unable to breathe sufficiently, blue and in dire need of oxygen. He was taken by ambulance more than 45 kilometres to the Gippsland Base Hospital at Sale with suspected spinal injury. Can you imagine the shock and panic a mother feels when contacted by the paramedics and told to drive approximately 272 kilometres to meet him at the hospital. I can tell you it was a long drive. We are waiting on results of scans but he appears to be on the mend now and we can put this terrible week behind us.

Cheers,
Lynda

PETER

On Angel's Wings
he came
touching
on this world
ever so lightly
if only for a moment...
he stayed
leaving the pages
of his life
unwritten
then journeying on
leaving footprints
on our heart
forever.
Anon

I'm dedicating this post to a beautiful lady and her family. Life hasn't always been easy but priceless memories will forever be a part of our lives.
"Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all"
You are always in my heart,
Lynda

BUTTERFLIES

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson

Aren't butterflies beautiful.They must be one of the most strange and spectacular things on earth. Their brightly coloured and patterned wings make them a welcome visitor to the garden as they flit flutter from flower to flower. They are so fragile and vulnerable but they don't seem to have a care in the world. To me the butterfly represents freedom, rebirth, fun and happy moments. When it comes to transformation, nothing does it like the butterfly.

Kaylee and I made some paper butterflies today. The pattern is around everwhere from origami books to card kits but we used inspiration from the inspire company. There are some wonderful craft examples on the site to make and Kaylee and I will be trying out a few more when time permits.

http://www.inspirecompany.com/madamebutterfly.html

We stuck some of our butterflies on the glass door but unfortunately the light is not cooperating with us so the photo is not good
Cheers,
Lynda

HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Today is a special day to look back (a long way back) and remember our first meeting, to look forward and wonder what the years ahead hold for us and a day to be very thankful for the wonderful life we share together. We have built a long life together of love and friendship that words cannot describe, a love that defines forever. I hope we can look forward to many, many more happy years to laugh together, to be there for each other and to make precious memories together forever.
We are blessed with a precious, amazing family and everything we do we do for each other.

To the love of my life, my soul mate happy anniversary.

When Do I Think of You

I think of you in the peace,
solitude and stillness of the early morning,
for you are tranquility.
I think of you on an ocean’s front,
for you are the roar of the waves,
the power of the sea and the salt of the air.
I think of you amidst a crowd
and the chorus of city sounds,
for that is my song and you are the music.
You are my first thought of each new day
and the last image I glimpse
as my eyes are closed upon a feathered pillow.
In that secret place called sleep,
it is you that I search for
through shades of darkness and clouds of cotton.
When do I think of you?
Every moment of my life
and when the final sleep does come
and if there is thought…
It will be of you”
By Joe Fazio

PAPER CUTTING

HEARTS

It's a paper day today. I feel like I need the texture, colour and beauty of paper to brighten my day. I love paper. It's always available, often quick to create with and you can even make your own from waste paper.

It is our wedding anniversay this week so I am feeling the hearts. Nothing says love and romance like the heart.

The two heart templates are from marthastewart.com

Cheers,

Lynda

HEARTS

School's back! Yay. The holidays have been great but now it really seems like a new year has started. I actually know what day it is and I even know the date. Over the holidays one day tends to run into the other and time seems irrelevant. It feels good to have some routine back into the day.

I enjoyed the quiet for a few hours before one by one the family came home and once again the music blares and the chit chatter starts and it feels like the same old 'happy house'.

There was only time for a very quick bit of crafting. A candle embellished with hearts inspired by a similar candle on the BHG website.

Cheers,

Lynda