Many years ago....

...when my children were small, I thought I was so busy and had no time to do anything. It always felt like that. But I managed to lovingly cross-stich these special Christmas stockings for my girls. (My mum sewed them for me)
I was lucky to be able to stay at home with my babies until they were both into their school years. This allowed me to do many CS projects and also be a reading mum, help out in the classroom on special days, be on the Parents & Friends committee, do fundraising etc. Looking back, they were action packed days. We organised cabarets, garden days, catered for functions, held fashion parades & cake stalls etc.

Now I work in our business 5 days a week, from 10 til 4. I can have a day off if need be but usually I am there all week. Getting home at 4pm after I pick up the girls from the bus allows me time to think of dinner and chill out before then.

Even though the girls are getting older now, I will hang these above our fireplace (gas log flame, he he!) in the hopes old St. Nic will call.

-Joolz :)

Twilight...

I can't wait to see 'Twilight'. I am currently reading the 3rd book, Eclipse. I have been up since 7am and have read about 80 pages. I hope the movie is as good as the books. In some reviews, they say that the actress who plays Bella is a bit bland. We'll see.

Cheers - Joolz

Progress....

3 Loads of washing done, dried and folded....tick! (one load pictured)

Christmas tree put up and decorated... tick! Will take a photo later when it gets dark so you get the best effect. I love all of my glitzy decorations. Most were bought for 1/2 price after I spied them at the local garden centre a few years ago. I add a few new ones each year.

Home alone tonight with 'A' (is that an oxymoron? - I can't be alone if he's there too!). He is cooking Plum & Ginger Chicken with noodles. Good man. K18 is heading out and B15 is in Mt G with M14, her best friend. We'll pick her up tomorrow when we go to the pictures. High School Musical 3 plays at the same time as Australia so that works well.

I've achieved some of what was on the list - must get those presents sorted tomorrow!

Cheers - Joolz :P <3

Saturday's goals...

I've been very slack this morning - I'm still in my jammies at 10.30am!

Here is the list of things I want to accomplish today -

SATURDAY

Put up Christmas tree and decorate

Applique initials on sisters pressies

Wrap sisters pressies

Washing x 3 loads

Fold x 3 loads

All this today so I can have a rest tomorrow. I have convinced 'A' to take me to the pictures in Mt. Gambier to see 'Australia'. It will be our only chance before Christmas.

Bring on the weekend...

I'm felling a bit blaaagh today, well actually I have been all week. I think it is just this time of year. I get up and go for a 5 km walk at 6am but feel depleted of energy when I return home. The weather is cool today and I just feel like crawling back into bed. But I have to work. Blaaagh!

We do have a free weekend so that is a bonus. I need to complete my sister's presents and get them wrapped. Not sure what I am going to do for my Mum yet. Hand made or bought, I still can't decide. I will put the tree up this weekend too. I bought 6 new ornaments to add to it this year.

My hubby has decided he'd like a Weber Kettle BBQ for Christmas. We had one of these when we were first married and enjoyed many good roasts in it. Then we bought a gas Weber BBQ and have had that for the last 10 years, but we can't seem to get roasts right in it. So he wants to go back to the hot coal method again.

I have put in a wish for a new camera. I have a basic digital point and shoot camera at the moment but I would like to be able to fiddle with the settings a bit more.

Things are a bit quiet at work at the moment so that makes my day go slower. I like to have a full day of paper work then the time flies. Today will most likely drag. :(

Well, I'd better get into it - the sooner I get to work perhaps the sooner I can come home (the advantages of sleeping with the boss - Lol!).

I made lasagne last night for dinner but I forgot to take a photo when I had it served up with a nice green salad.

Tonight will be chicken wraps - standard fare for Friday night at our house. I cut up lettuce, cucumber, carrot, onion, tomato, grated cheese. Fry off chopped chicken tenderloins, then add a packet of taco seasoning, water and a can of red kidnney beans. Once that has thickened and cooked for about 20 mins, heat tortillas in the microwave, add spoonfulls of chicken and the salad that you like, roll and wrap. Voila! (I'll try and take a photo if I can remember).

Have a nice weekend guys - Cheers from Joolz

Tiny Treasures Tuesday....

I have been lucky to travel to a few places in the world and I love to collect small treasures to remind me of each country. Above are a set of Matryoshka or Babushka Dolls. Although not from Russia, I bought these cuties in Bath, England in 2000.
This happy little chappy comes from Hong Kong (2006) along with the other jade piece which symbolises eternal life, there is no start or end.

These are Chinese good luck charms from Hong Kong. They are meant to keep our house safe from evil spirits.


Onto Japan and here we have Hello Kitty and a cute little Geisha girl from Tokyo, 2006.

Ah, Venice, Italy (2006). This is a piece of Venetian hand made lace, depicting a Gondalier. The paper weight is made from Murano glass. Sweet.

Vive la France! Tiny pieces of Limoges from country France (2000)

To the Middle East - Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. These are sterling silver trinket boxes with ornate designs (2000).

Mystic India! (2006). Once again, small trinket boxes with enamel designs and also the small glass figurine of the Elephant God, Ganesh. The Taj Mahal was fantastic to see in the flesh.

A tiny Carnivale mask and a cheese knife made of Murano glass from Venice.

I love the fact that all of these things fit into my china cabinet. They are just small reminders of the wonderful places I have been to.

Do you have any special treasures?

Cheers - Joolz

Family time...

BBQ lunch at our house

(my four sisters and the 2 Nanas were there)

We have had a big weekend. Kirby celebrated her 18th Birthday with dinner at a hotel in Mt Gambier with about 20 of her good friends. They are a lovely bunch of kids and they had a nice meal, a few drinks and lots of laughs. Then at about 9.30 they headed off to some other venues for dancing. We tagged along until midnight then we oldies turned into pumpkins and went home. Kirbz wandered in a little later (.............considerably later!).



On Sunday, we hosted a family BBQ for the 'aunties and uncles and Nanas' . Cousins and partners and kids dropped by throughout the afternoon. The day resembled our Christmas Day lunch, except there was no pudding!! Gus did a great job with the BBQ, the salads were yummy and the pavlova and trifle for dessert, delicious. The weather was mild, windy but not cold - a bonus. We had a lovely shower of rain in the afternoon which was great for the garden and lawns.

I just did a count up and we saw 29 friendly faces drop in during the day so it is no wonder we collapsed into bed at 9.30 last night - tired, happy and just a little tipsy! Lol!

Bring on Christmas I say!

Cheers for now, Joolz