Ok so I have moved!

Ok so I have moved to Wordpress. You can find me http://chookyschirps.wordpress.com/.
See you over there! Please update your bookmarks, bloglines or google reader.

Well its been a busy week!

Its been a bit of a busy week around here (when is it not thou lol).
Last Friday I went out to Yvonnes place for a lovely morning tea to raise money for the local Hospice - she raised $195 - fantastic - Good One Yvonne! It was the first time I had been out to her place and it was on the other side of Te Puke about 20 minutes from town. What a wonderful drive and an awesome view - just what I was needing on that particular day. It reminds me of the back of Kereru where we used to live.



I've also been spraying and milking the cows and have a bruise in the shape of a hoof mark on my arm to prove it.

And milking the cows and spraying is great for thinking, sorting out the worlds problems and its great for the mojo. So I scrapbook, do layouts and projects in my head while listening and singing to Miley Cyrus and Abba throu my MP3 player with every squirt of the sprayer. Yes the hills around here are really filling up with the Sound of Music!

So with that I have been scrapping!

I have made December Daily Album from Ali Edwards and its pretty plain and simple but I liked putting it together and I found in my stash a book of perforated Christmas pages that someone had given to me a couple of years ago and felt they were too pretty to use. I have gone beyond the 25 December and done the album for the whole month. I'm looking forward to taking daily photos and filling it up. I have used 12 x 12 cardstock cut to 6 x 6 and then made it into a book.



I made a card for a friend who is in hospital this week.




Also made this mini album for someone special.





The weather was ok when we started out last weekend to go to the Speedway, our second attempt! It was also the big fireworks display so we were all looking forward to it. The rain started to come down at about race 9 and the cars were getting a bit slippy on the track - made for good viewing for us but not so good for those in the races. So they had the fireworks early and call it a night and what a show the fireworks were - they were awesome!

I'm off to Delys Crams Christmas cracker workshop in Whakatane on Sunday afternoon and looking forward to that and this afternoon I'm milking.

Have a good day everyone!

Proud Mama moment!

Yesterday Callum and I went to Te Puke Group Day with Callum's lamb Kip. As we left Callum said 'you know mum I won't win anything but I'm going for the experience' So we loaded Kip in the back of the car and off we went. To go to group day you have to have won a placing at school Ag Hort day - see earlier post. Callum and Kip were in the Senior Lamb section and what a day the weather put on. Hot, cold, hot cold - sounds like the latest Kate Perry song lol. Anyway Callum was pulled out to the centre in the leading round with three others - gulp - he had got something - he came 4th place and got a green ribbon (picture to come later) - he was so happy and wrapped to have got a placing. And I had a big proud Mama Moment! The school did really well over all with all the kids that entered (10 of them) all went home with at least one ribbon. Well Done Otamarakau! Well Done Callum and Kip!

Another early morning post lol

Here I am at 2.23am lol. Both Phil and I are up drinking decaf coffee. He is doing his reports while I titoo on here. We had more visitors yesterday afternoon - it was great to catch up with Chris and Wendy and the boys from Gisborne - haven't seen them for a while so had heaps to chat about. Managed to clean up my scrapping space yesterday (while trying to get that Mount of washing done lol) I want to get at least one 12x12 layout done this week. Not a big goal but its a start and it will start better with a cleared space. We had an awesome day here yesterday weather wise.

I've enrolled for an online class with Jessica Sprague called Stories in Hand - it starts on 9 November and I'm not sure what I have let myself in for - I'm not very good at journalling so could be interesting! Its a free class and open to anyone so go check it out.

Off to surf the net a bit.

Labour weekend

It's Labour Weekend and so far we have had a busy one! Friday night we watched Hairspray and I feel asleep halfway. Have watched the whole thing since thou. Saturday morning arrived and we did some jobs around the house. Got a text from Tina to say she was in Rotovegas so made arrangements to meet at the speedway. We headed to the Mount for a swim in the hot pools there - lots of people around and the pool was pretty busy everyone enjoyed the swim thou. When we came out had a text from Tina to say that they were at the speedway and there was a sign to say that it was postponed. So we met her and Joseph at the local Chinese restaurant for dinner. It was great to catch up with her and the boys enjoyed catching up with Joseph. After tea they went off for a swim and then went looking for accommodation to stay in Tauranga as they wanted to walk the Mt. We headed home. Got a text about 9pm to say accommodation was between $170 to $295 for the two of them so they made there way out to us for the night. Great to catch up again lol. Yesterday we made it to Church and then in the arvo I managed to make a Christmas card lol yes just one! Today has been a bit of a lazy start so far but have a heap of jobs to do and the sun is shining so Tina I might get that mountain of washing done lol!
Next week the speedway has a firework display on so maybe we will make it for that ...

Hope everyone else's weekend is going well.

Friday Fill ins

I'm doing this one again from here

1. Right now, I'm feeling low. edited to say I'm feeling better!
2. Hawkes Bay is where I want to be.
3. How does one keep up with their housework and washing?
4. Coffee keeps me on track.
5. Please don't visit right now the place is a mess.
6. My family fills me with joy.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching Hairspray, tomorrow my plans include a trip to the mount and then the Speedway and Sunday, I want to go to Church!

Its 3am and ...

I can't sleep. I have a very busy head. I've been surfing blogs and found this from here after visiting here and I just liked it so I'm sharing it with you. I'd like to think I'm a coffee bean ... but some days I'm not so sure.

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter,she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity:boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they
had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door,how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst,you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Ag Hort Day

James's Shoe Horn (Paper mache shoe). Doing his presentation for his 'pet' his pet rock (actually Callums pet rock lol). He got third equal for his presentation.















Bec with her 2 week old kitten Spot. She did her Pet Presentation on the kitten as Buddy the lamb hadn't grown much. She got 2nd equal for her vege creation and 3rd equal for her miniature garden.











Callum with his lamb Kip. He got third for senior lamb leading. Second for senior lamb calling. 1st for his paper mache Shoe Horn moose (which has been placed on the wall in the kitchen- I'm feeling it could be the first of many 'heads' for the wall???) 2nd equal for his volcano cake.



We had a great day and the kids enjoyed themselves. They are all home now as they were allowed to come home early. It was a lovely day - very hot in the sun. We had gumboot throwing and Goat Paddock pooing (which he didn't poo lol) Pet presentations and various arrangements and things in the hall. The crisis of the day was when we arrived at school and took the cat and kitten out of the car a clip had broken off the side of the cat box and out jumps Snow the cat! Thought we weren't going to catch her but managed to get her back and put her in the car. Bec did her presentation and then I put the cat box and kitten back into the car - Snow quickly got back into the box and then I closed her in after tying the box together. Callum won the lolly count and was happy with that.

So it's Ag Hort Day Again ...

and this is what was happening in this household yesterday afternoon and evening. The boys made their own cakes and then decorated them. There was to be no help from mum! I think they are cool. Callums is a volcano and James' is a fish. Bec doesn't do baking yet but has all her bits ready to make a scene in a tray. Theres fairies and bits of lego in her bag ready to make tomorrow at school. James is laughing hard in the last photo cos he thinks its funny that I am so short and had to stand on my tiptoes to get the photo!

Some pics

This layout is a 6 x 6 one that I did for the Scrapping Patch Friday night challenge over at the Sketchbook. Its also for a challenge that the four of us have set for the next few months. I still have one more page to match this to do and then I have to do it another three times. Its little but i really enjoyed doing it. The page for the four of us challenge also had to include either some thing that had been brought from SENZ or a new technique that we learnt at SENZ. So my page is card and paper from SENZ and the stamps, flowers, rhinestones actually everything lol except the letters that were used in the Cuttlebug!





Heres a pic of my Auntie Sandra and Uncle John when they visited in the middle of the holidays from Perth. It was great to see them. Mum and Dad toured around with them for a couple of weeks.








This is a lovely photo that was taken in Rotorua at mum and dads motel. Dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer and had it removed in March this year. I think he looks tired but really well.










And here is James and wee Molly Phil's neice (his sister Karens little girl). We stayed the night with them as we came thru Napier - she only had eyes for James.
















Look at this cute wee fella! This is my great nephew Peter.

So today I learnt about ...

Bloglines!

I had joined a while back but didn't know how to work it and hadn't had time to sit and play. But thanks to the lovely Raewyn and Penny I now have the blogs I visit on my blog lines! I believe this is going to save me time ... and it should ... I often go back and forth to peoples blogs to see if they have updated.

Penny has a great tuition on her blog
Part 1
Part 2
Part3
Thanks very much Penny!

So now I am up with the play as far as blogs are concerned - Are you?
Oh and I was wrapped to see I have 3 blog followers who have ME! on their bloglines.

Look what arrived in the school holidays

This little kitten arrived while the kids and I were away in HB / Wellington. Snow, Rebeccas cat had had 3 kittens the week before that had died and then a week later she had another two but only one had survived. He/she is just starting to open its eyes. Here's a pic of mummy cat as well. She is doing well and the kitten is a little fatty.

I thought I would try this from Friday Fill Ins after seeing it done at JoKneller's


1. Follow the Scrapbooker - they know the way to some good stories and pictures.
2. Phil is something I always take with me on vacation. lol
3. To achieve your goals, you must set them first.
4. I can't just sit and watch TV - I have to be doing something is something I'd like you to know about me.
5. I have a wonderful husband.
6. Ice floats then melts.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to grocery shopping, tomorrow my plans include housework and Sunday, I want to scrap!

Well that was fun!
Catch ya later

Me with Rachel Tucker at the Dinner on Saturday night. Rachel was taking classes for Hastings Rubber Stamps - I love that store - so much to see and I always have so little time when I visit it! I didn't take any of Rachel's classes but wish I did! I saw her putting the class kits together and she had gone the extra mile with her finishing touches. Kate and her were doing a great job of putting them together at one of the tables - got chatting to them and turns out they know Debbie (my sister). Rachel made these awesome pin cushion swaps. Lovely to meet you Rachel and Kate - hope you enjoy the coffee at the new look Cuccini!

Dragon Fly card up close. We made this at the Hastings Rubber Stamps Cuttlebug class. The wings are made from Tin Foil then a beaded body. We were lucky enough to to get the option of purchasing the embossing folders and cutters that were used during the weekend for 30% discount as we were the last class to use them - I got a spotty embossing plate, a zig zag one in a set and the flowers to make the dragon fly. Good Buy!





I made this card yesterday with some of my newly brought glimmermist and twinkling H20s. I painted the flowers with them. The stamps are part of the Share laughter set.

Classes from SENZ (yeah I know still going on about it but it was such good fun!)

Cuttlebug Class with Hastings Rubber Stamps and Donna. We made four cards .










Take One Stamp with Stamp Zone - made three cards with different techniques - spritzing with glimmermist and walnut ink. Also made the tile on the leaf card from Uttee. The stamps we used were Share Laughter by Hero Arts.

More Randomness from SENZ

Back from SENZ

Lani and Colleen - 2 of my roomies














Heather and I - another roomie!
















Going out to Pyjama Crop














The SENZsational Girls in their winning outfits.














Well I'm back from SENZ and had a awesome time. I laughed so much my sides hurt! I loved all the classes I did and the girls I spent the weekend with were fantastic company. Did the odd bit of shopping too! Everyone was so friendly. The stalls had everything you could possible want for your pages. We had a great night out at the crop and wore our PJ's into Burger King - got the odd look or two! The dinner on the Saturday night was interesting (they had a cassorole with liver in it on the smorgsbord table - not my thing!) but the night was enjoyed by all.

Thanks to Heather, Lani and Colleen for making my weekend fun, funny and funnier - you Girls Rock! Roll on SENZ 09

Another 6x6 layout. I made the little book to put the journaling in. The journaling tells how Phil and I met.

Sneak Preview of My SENZ swap pins

Heres a sneak preview of my swap pins for SENZ.

Te Puna Quarry Park

We've had a lovely couple of days with Nana and Grandad from Tikokino. They came to see the kids production and yesterday we went for a walk at Te Puna Quarry Park and took a few photos. The orchids up there are just beautiful!

















It was raining but we still all enjoyed each others company.

A short video - heres hoping it works as I haven't done this before.
This was taken at the first show - they really stepped up from this last night.

Cinderella

Callum having his make up put on.





















Rebecca waiting to have hers done.

















Rebecca one of the narrators


















Isn't he beautiful!


































Vile aka Callum one of the Ugly Stepsisters.








Getting ready for the ball.
































James making smoke - he was props boy.

Beckoning of Lovely

The Beckoning of Lovely by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

You can find her and the project here

She also wrote a book called “Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life” which I haven't had the chance to read yet but it is on my 'purchase' list.

And I found the video from here

Quote from previous post and I managed to get it to work lol

I'm not sure what I have done - I wanted to share with you this video. But it has appeared 3 times and mucked up the whole blog and now I can't remove it. Mmmmm bit technically challenged in this direction.

Any way I was moved by this - in fact it brought me to tears and I don't know why lol. But it is truely beautiful that all those people came together like that.

Enjoy.

Oh and if you know how I can fix this let me know lol. I haven't got time today to sit and play with it as much as I would like.

Herd Records to process, Inlaws arriving this afternoon, have to make two plates for supper tonight, Production tonight - will post a pic of Callum in his dress over the weekend, need to do the house work (cos note Inlaws arriving lol) oh and still have to finish those BOM swaps and swap pins for SENZ. Woo hooo its gonna be a good day - (please note I'm not complaining ...)

Bit of a hiccup - have managed to remove the video but just trying to get it on a post.

I've been tagged by Raewyn. Check out her blog

Here are the rules:

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So I don't really have any one to tag as I am a 'blog stalker' but thought I would share with those who do visit a few facts

Some facts:~

1. I wear mascara and eyeliner everyday - even to the calf shed!

2. I have to have a shower everyday or I don't 'feel' awake.

3. I hate housework - oh you probably know that lol

5. When Phil and I were first married and BC (before children) I used to sing him Amazing Grace in bed - I feel a scrap page for my BOM coming on lol

6. I sometimes snort when I laugh ( I had to ask the kids what a weird thing is about me and this what they told me lol) They also told me I laugh at nothing - lol - another BOM idea - my Grandma Trowell who lived in a granny flat with us for 17 years and passed away 1 month after Phil and I got married used to tell me the same thing - she would wiggle her index finger and tell me to laugh at this would ya.

7. James tells me I mix up my words sometimes. Quote from him when I asked him what he meant : ' Like some words disappear and I put something else in like something that is not even related to the sentence" I am laughing at this so much I am crying lol. And I'm still not sure I understand what he means??

8. Callum tells me I sing in the shower - out of tune!

9. Rebecca tells me I act like a peanutter. ??? humpph whats with that??

10. Rebecca also tells me I do things and then tell them off for doing the same things lol This is a mothers right!

Well I've had a really good giggle and laugh over this - its good for the soul!




I don't have any one to tag! lol

The Video

I forgot to mention that the video is called

The Beckoning of Lovely by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

You can find her and the project here

She also wrote a book called “Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life” which I haven't had the chance to read yet but it is on my 'purchase' list.

And I found the video from here

See ya and have a great day!


ps I am proud of myself as that is the first time that I have linked something Woo Hoo!

Oh ....

I'm not sure what I have done - I wanted to share with you this video. But it has appeared 3 times and mucked up the whole blog and now I can't remove it. Mmmmm bit technically challenged in this direction.

Any way I was moved by this - in fact it brought me to tears and I don't know why lol. But it is truely beautiful that all those people came together like that.

Enjoy.

Oh and if you know how I can fix this let me know lol. I haven't got time today to sit and play with it as much as I would like.

Herd Records to process, Inlaws arriving this afternoon, have to make two plates for supper tonight, Production tonight - will post a pic of Callum in his dress over the weekend, need to do the house work (cos note Inlaws arriving lol) oh and still have to finish those BOM swaps and swap pins for SENZ. Woo hooo its gonna be a good day - (please note I'm not complaining ...)

Here is another layout for my BOM and also for the swap. Another simple one. The top one is for my journal and the 6x6 one is for the swap.

A page for my Book of Me

I did this layout (its for an A5 journal) for my Book of Me. It was a challenge set by a friend. We are all meeting up at SENZ and are doing a swap of mini pages. This is the first one. Its very simple.
Not much else happening here - calves have slowed right down so it is all just about over.
Kids production is coming along nicely and that starts next week. Callum looks a real hoot in his dress. Bec's handwriting is getting better with the realisation that if she holds her pencil a certain way she gets better results. And of course James has turned 13.
SENZ is only a couple of weeks away and I am really looking forward for the Girls Weekend!

I see I have had over 2000 hits on my blog site - don't know who is visiting but leave a comment if you are.

Nicki

I'm sitting here eating cake - I know to those who know what I look like know that I shouldn't be sitting here eating cake! But I am. I am thinking about today 13 years ago. The birth of my first baby - a boy - he entered this world at 10 past 7pm weighing a healthy 7lb 6ozs - we named him James William after both of his grandfathers. It was a difficult birth but what a blessing to hold him at the end of it all.

Today James turns 13. A man. But still a boy. We are trying to be good parents and guide him in the right direction. He is 13. He has a mind of his own. He likes us to know this. He has a wonderful sense of humor. I can't believe that the last 13 years have gone so far. What a wonderful boy he has been and I hope this continues into his future.

Happy Birthday James - We Love You!

James had a choice of what he wanted to do for this special birthday. He had lots of choices and chose to go to Rotorua to the Luge. We left early yesterday morning and arrived at Skyline Gondola and took the ride up to the top. We all hurried to get the right fitted helmet and made our way to the beginning of the ride. After a quick run down on how the sledge worked it was off down the Scenic track - everyone takes this as the first trip of the day. Down we went - I was the last to get down to the end and the 3 boys had gone off back to the top. Bec, Phil and I jumped on the chairlift and went up. When we got to the top James had tumbled off and scrapped his arm and side. He was a bit muddy as well. We took him to the first aid room where they cleaned him up. I told them it was James' birthday tomorrow and they gave the four kids a free ride down the luge. The kids went down 4 times all up. What a fantastic outing. After the excitement of the luge we went for a picnic lunch to Kuirau Park, where a walk and feet paddle in the hot feet pools were next on the agenda. Then it was on to the Polynesian Pools and Valentines for dinner. We had a fantastic day and James enjoyed himself. Actually we all did. We took Max and Aman (James friend)

So that is why I am sitting here eating cake ... and reminising of 13 years ago.

Sharing a card

I made this thank you card. I've also been working on a few bits and pieces for SENZ. Feel like the mojo is slowly thawing. The other 'bird and flower' I did for a journal. Not much else to report - calving doing ok - only about 200 odd left to go - thats 800 down!! Sports all finish this weekend so that will be it for our Saturday mornings and weekday practices.