Wordless Wednesday 27 November

During the summer we participate in orienteering as a fimily.  Out where we live the club runs a very family orientated summer series which is why we give it a go.  McKenzie is not confidently reading the maps and way faster than me.  Andre just loves running along with her.  I am usually encouraging Hayden to run along with me.  If you live out my way then you need to check out the Counties Manukau Orienteering Club.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys

When Painting the House

We have begun plainting the house outside.  All 320 sq/m of roof, 150 sq/m of deck and house walls to match.  Thats just this summer.  The inside will need doing to but that will be the next phase.

So the tin roof is a constant work in progress.  It can only be done when it is not too hot and needs a double coat so the roof and walls are both in progress. 

We have tried to be a little less traditional with the wall colours but at the same time not offensive to the main population.

I have been helping during the weekends and my husband is painting all the days when he is home from work.  I love that DH is beavering away at it while I am working hard to pay for all that paint.  I am sure there will plenty of posts about this project as we go.

Here is part of the house front.  Lets call this the before photo

Here we are in the shade doing the carport wall last week.  The photo makes the paint look grey but you can take it from me it is a pastel shade of teal.  I guess that will be for another post.

 

You will note the small part of me showing has my hair totally covered.  That is because it costs me heaps to colour my natural greying hair and don't want to add freehand splatters to the piece of art on my head already.

Mondays Menu 26 November

My blog took a break last week and I really missed my menu so I am back to it this week even though I am posting a little late

Monday  easy fried rice

Tuesday  spaghetti bolignaisee

Wednesday  crockpot beef with a combination of whatever I have in the pantry

Thursday  creamy coconut stirfry noodles and vege

Friday  Asian chcken wraps

Saturday  bbq chicken with salad

Sunday party food.

I am linking this post I'm an Organising Junkie

So I did it

So this year I got back on the photo a day band wagon and decided to put a page a week together again.  My children love the books I have made from other years it seemed that I should make an effort.  So in between all other projects I have on the go I am going to post them up so I can keep track of what I have done.  With out fail here is my first installment.

January pages are all made with Everyday Life templates and Sweet and Simple 8 kit all from Weeds and Wildflowers.

I am hoping to get all of these posted before the end of the year but I will see how busy I get.

Wordless Wednesday 14 November

Yesterday we had a sudden weather moment.  The temperature dropped 5 degrees really quickly and then this.

 

 

 

 

Well there you have it.  A very unusual event that had that hail on the ground for some 20 minutes afterwards.  I even had to kneel on the ground to get the last photo thinking of this post today.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

2012 Christmas Card

In September I blogged about great Christmas card photo ideas I was thinking of implimenting this year.  I really liked the chalk idea but could not find the right surface to have a go at it so then opted for the child and lights ideas.

So here is the card I have made for this year.  Photo taken and tweaked by me.

(The credits for this card can be found at Nuts4Digi)

 

I am so happy with the outcome and can't wait to get the printer warmed up so I can print them off and post.  This weekend I am hoping so that my overseas friends can get the mail in time.  Hmmmm I wonder if card sending is still the done thing.  So much is done on the internet I serious think cards might be an art form that is limited in life span.

Monday Menu 12 November

This weeks menu is one that I can do without too much effort once I get home from week while DH is away with work for 14 days.

Monday   My own version of a Beef Crockpot meal

Tuesday  Leftover Monday with potato and peas.

Wednesday  Fried rice which is an easy reheat.

Thursday  Meatballs on spaghetti and salad.

Friday Toasted Sandwiches...easy and not too messy

Saturday  clean the barbeque and do chicken and salad (Fingers crossed the weather likes us)

Sunday  Leftovers

 

(easy fried rice photo source is from the recipe above)

 

I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie

Fridays Fabulous Finds # 26

As you can see it is not Friday and yet again I am delayed in posting this.  I simply must have a go at scheduling post and that might just solve my dilemma.

Anyway here are my links for this week.

• It is no secret that I am a Primary School teacher.  My primary role is pemanant part time and on a relief basis.  So it is no surprise that this site that generates worksheets to help children practise telling the time appears on my list.  I know it is not a pritty site to look at but it sure does the job.
• Then over at Redfly Creation Melissa talks about mixes in her kitchen.  I makes for interesting reading.
• How about this easily made kite as a holiday project.
• I have a clawfoot bath lying in a paddock.  I am thinking that I need to make creative use of it so this link might just help when I have a little head space.  I am thinking garden but who knows.
• Then finally I think this is a post that everyone should read.  It is about bullying.

Well that is it for this week.

Wordless Wednesday 7 November

There is nothing like a comfy place to read.  Yes you see it right.  One 8 year old sitting in a large plant pot on a spring day.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

The phone for my Tweenager

So it has been a hot topic of conversation this year.  You might know the one that says

                         'Mum everyone has a phone and I don't.  I need one."

My standard response has been something like this

'What do you need a phone for?  Who is going to pay for it? When theright moment arrives then I will reconsider this decision.'

 

Of course that first moment to challenge my decision arrived and I agreed that now was the right time for a phone.  Naturally it comes with a set of rules which we have agreed to.  Here they are;

 

• the phone is not to be one the table during meal times
• the phone must not be taken to family/ social events where social intereaction is more important that sitting there txting.  It must be left at home.
• the phone is to be switched off during study and homework times.
• the phone is to be left it's overnight spot by 6.30pm.  (Oh yes we go to bed early in our house because we get up early)
• I will only pay for txting and in return the bedroom of said child. will be spick and span every weekend with no exceptions. Dusting, vacuuming, cleared surfaces and all washing out in the basket
• I can check the nature of txting going on and no txts can be deleted until I have done so.
• the phone must be used in a way that complies with the school rules.  I will not be rushing into school to get back for her if it get conviscated.  Well not in any hurry.

Naturally I bought the cheapest phone I could get.  It can not take photos, it can make phone calls and send txts.  This is despite the protests that friends
          
                         'all have touch phones and I want one too'.

Thankfully my tweenager has not yet realised about wireless connectivity because then a new set of rules will need to be thought about.

Then there are the consequeces that would see the removal of a phone for a specific lenght of time.  Yes a boundary has been breached and yes I have had a phone sitting in my sock draw for a week.  I think the lesson has been learnt, well for the time being.