Christmas Scrapbook pages

Every year we have a few traditions...

We put our decorations up on 1st December.

We go to Uncle Willies Christmas Party which is a magical place for children.

I once helped run these parties (They are a Rotaract - "Junior Rotary" fundraising project) for 5 years (still do on the odd night they are short staffed) and now we have the privilege of taking our son.  He is 9 but still firmly believes in Santa.  It is so special for him.  The party has the same format every year so he anticipates what will come next.  I take so many photos every year that it takes a few double spreads to scrap them all!  This year I made a point of getting in front of the camera instead of being behind it all the time and documenting our activities.  I am about 3 or 4 years of Xmas photos behind...so I decided to get cracking with this years lot first and work backwards.

 While waiting for our tractor trip to the castle we took some crazy hat shots for entertainment.

 When you get to the castle, you pick your spot for the night and go into the arena to throw straw.

 Straw throwing is a big deal at this party!  It warrants 2 pages!

 Then the party starts once all the people have arrived and it ends at 10pm after gifts have been received.

I have not quite finished this last page yet, but have run out of steam...I still have Christmas day to scrap, but that is only one double page this year I think...The photos still need to be printed...that's tomorrows job.

Bella

The End is Nigh

I know that sounds a little dramatic, but the end of this year has been so hard for me and I want it over.

I have struggled to come to terms with Claire's death (my good friend since high school) and the shock of hearing of another school friend who is recovering from surgery to a brain tumour...all this in the last 3 weeks.  My life feels like it has been turned up side down.  I have found it very hard to be cheerful this Christmas season.

I am really looking  forward to 2014 where hopefully it will be full of good things.  I am trying to plan and organise and get sorted for next year and am hoping that it will lift my spirits.

Thanks for your support and comments on my work over the past year.  It really means a lot to me.

What's on my Workdesk Wednesday No238? Christmas

Hello fellow Desker!  Merry Christmas to you!

Above you see my desk is in the throws of another Christmas Layout...(it is under there I promise!) I am trying to do this years photos as I am about 3 Christmases behind...there is also evidence of some gift wrapping and general chaos!

In my kitchen it has been a hive of baking and cooking...there is a 5 hour lamb in one oven and a gammon in the other (I have a double oven) Veg will be done shortly and my Mom and hubbies Mom will be joining us for lunch.  My Dad is due in 15 min for tea and other friends will pop in for mince pies this arvie.

My other desk this week.

Mince pies in the making!

Mince pies made with a friends mom's home made fruit mince and my gran's pastry recipe.

Banana breads made with my Gran's recipe.  A holiday food in our house. 

My gifts I gave to friends and family

My son last night at my MIL where we celebrate Christmas eve.  This was about 7pm and it was still warm enough to swim!

5:55am and he is checking all of Santa's hiding places!

Hope what ever you are doing today is special, whether you celebrate Christmas or not.

Bella

Life is Short

I have been spending the last 10 days trying to process the fact that my friend Claire is gone.  I keep wanting to pick up the phone and call her.  It feels like she is just away for a while and will be back...

I have decided to live my life differently.  18 years ago, I nearly lost my husband (due to a household accident) before we got married and have tried so hard to make each day count.  But how quickly we get into the rut of routine and just getting through each day, each week, each month and yes, each year.

I have decided:

I will make time to see my friends and re-kindle old friendships that mattered to me.

I will create memories with my family.

I want to be able to look back on my life and see that it was good.

That I did my best.

That I lived in the NOW.

I died this streak of pink into my hair in memory of my dear friend Claire as a permanent reminder of how fragile life is and how quickly things can change.

Just this evening I heard of another school friend who is having a brain tumour removed tomorrow that was discovered on Tuesday.  If she does not have the opp to remove it, it will kill her.  She might not make it through the opp...but it is her only chance.

Edit: After a full day in theatre,  Bryony has come through surgery, only time will tell what damage the tumour did, they had to leave a bit as it was too enmeshed in nerves, but the life threatening part is out! She is awake and complaining of a headache!  May that be the least of her worries.

I find myself sitting at my desk devoid of inspiration and ideas, I just need to get through this emotional time and hopefully the ability to create will come back.  The act of being creative is usually my solace, but I am learning to do nothing and to just be...not to fill my time with activity.

I am tired of being strong, I am worn out and need to take time for me, to fill me up and to rebuild me.  If I don't look after myself,  no one else is going to do it for me...

In my heart forever

This is a page I did while on a convention, it was designed and taught by Candice Greenway.  These are the photos taken of me and Claire the week-end of our 20th School reunion in 2010.  It will stay up in my studio for ever as a reminder of her and how fragile life is.

Claire died last night from what I understand to be from the Chemo she was having for breast cancer which damaged her liver.

It was so sudden.

She fought so hard.

She was going to come visit and stay with me in January...

She never got to see the new "skinny me" in person  Selfish I know, but I can't help feeling this way.

Life is short

Good Bye Madiba

Today we celebrate the life of a wonderful man who has left us forever.   Good Bye Madiba, the father of this nation, Thank you for all you stood for.  Let us not forget.

What's on my Workdesk Wednesday 235? Everything and nothing much!

Hello fellow Desker

Today I give you my desk as I left it last night...

How do I always manage to end up working in a 6"x 6" space when I have a full A1 mat of work area?

I finished off my last card order for the year...well that is until someone wakes up at last-minute-dot-com and needs one from me urgently.

Funny how all the card samples I did for the Christmas card class have come in handy when my friends walk in or message me and say...do you have any Christmas cards?  I need a special one for this person or that person...I now have none left of those and I still need to make the ones I am posting overseas...in which case I better get a wiggle on as the 25th is just round the corner!

Interesting items on my desk is the solar jar light I was given yesterday behind the round gift box I made on my Silhouette and the easel card which is totally out of my comfort zone - all pink and frilly and bright!

Then there is the TH fabric a friend sent me (hanging off one of my drawers) which I am debating as to what to have made with...I am not a sewer...maybe bunting like Lunch Lady Jan made me?  Cushions for my lounge...I debate on...

Thats me...Now to see what you have to show over at Julia's place!

Bella