Anzac Day 2008

Gosh, I can't believe it's been a week since my last blog post but we were away over Anzac Day but returned in time to pick up our overseas living daughter who is here in Oz for her girlfriend's wedding this w/e. So all in all it's been a rather busy time.
We spent Anzac Day with out eldest daughter & her family - something we have been doing for a couple of years now as the boys like to spend Anzac Day with Pa, plus march with him. This year was just a little more special as our eldest Grandson turned 16 and has just recently joined Army Cadets so was able to march in uniform. He was so proud to do that & man were we proud of him too...his mother & I shed a tear... thinking he is becoming a grown up already Here he is after the Dawn Service... In Mt Perry after the Dawn Service everyone is invited to visit the cemetery to lay Poppies on the graves of Returned Soldiers. There is a great network of folks in the town & one lady has researched the cemetery to find who & where all the Returned Soldiers are resting and then other folks come along & place small flags & tealight candles on each of the Returned Diggers graves & while the Dawn Service is being conducted the candles are light so when the Service is over & we go out there, the cemetery is light by the flicker of these little candles as the sun has still not popped over the hill ... it's quite eerie but so beautiful & moving ... After the laying of Poppies we all go back to the Council Park, in town for a BBQ breakfast. For such a small community & a very small RSL[ Returned Service League] they all do such a stirling job and is a credit to the community spirit. Here are the 'boys' after Breakfast on the way home for a nap before the march. We all go back up the street around 11.00 for the march where the school kids are dressed in school uniform and the few Diggers that live in the town & surrounding district come to march. After a small service wreaths are laid on the cenotaph & the local school children lay a little bunch of flowers each. After the service, lunch is served in the hall next door - the CWA ladies have been busy all morning making sandwiches etc so it's a good time for towns folks to catch-up. Here are the three boys after the midday service & march.

Time to go again ...

Gosh it seems like only the other day we were up visiting with our eldest daughter & family but it is time again. We have been spending Anzac Day with them the last few years as the boys like to march with Pa. This year will be a bit more special as our eldest Grandie turns 16 today, he is now an Army Cadet so will be able to march in his uniform, with Pa. Pa will be very proud, I hope to get some nice photos of this special occasion. We'll be at their place in time to have his birthday tea with him - Gosh where has the time gone, I clearly remember being there when he was born & although many many things have happened & changed in our lives, his birth only seems like yesterday.
I made a couple of cards yesterday for the boys as well as one for our daughter's friends new baby ...

We will only be gone a couple of days as our daughter who lives in New Zealand is coming over for a little visit so we are picking her up from the airport ... talk about excitement in the last couple of weeks ... makes me dizzy thinking about it all, but, very happy, it's been & is going to be soooo great...

Friends & Friendship Banner...

Boy what a great week it has been ... I have had my friend Jean staying with me this week ... we have done shops over but sadly it's me spending not Jean as she has to watch what she buys as she is flying but never mind I've been able to get lots of great bargains so I'm feeling rather chaffed.
We had a couple of our friends [L & J] from the Gold Coast join us on my back patio on Fri for a day of show & tell, swapping ideas in our art/craft worlds, eating & drinking [only tea & coffee]. Whenever I go to Missy L. place she always has a little project for us to do so I had to rattle the old grey matter to come up with something different that we could do.I had seen a banner swap on a blogspot during the week when Jean & I were doing some surfing so thought that would be something nice to do to remember our day spent together and to make it more personal I would get my DH to take our photo and I would edit & print it up on some material to add to our banner project. It was a lot of fun and the four banners were all so very different and we all loved doing it. Here is mine all finished and when the other girls finish theirs and if they let me, I will either post their blogs or their banners for you to have a gander at. I can't believe it but Jean is back at her own home again - I do so miss her as it's just so nice to have another woman around the house to talk to & share our craft interests. Jean please don't leave it another year before we can get together again...

Share Happiness Fabric PostCard ...

Well have been busy at it again ... here is my latest Fabric Collaged PostCard of a Guardian Angel with the saying of Share Happiness...
Been keeping myself busy during the days with stamping samples for a conference I'm to attend in May ... what do they say, 'not rest for the wicked' ... just wish I knew I was so wicked at sometime! I have my friend J staying with me this week so we will be having heaps of fun that's for sure so had better get some beauty sleep so I can keep up with her ... ha ha

Soul Connection Sole Message..

Nic has a wonderful post on her site called 'Messages to Connect Us' a connecting challenge, where you can connect with each other world-wide by posting a message of encouragement/inspiration in her comment box. While you are there do have a look around Nic's blog you will be greatly inspired by her ArtWork & words... I always come away from Nic's blog with a feeling of great enthusiasm. Thanks for your sharing Nic ...

Monica Magnas' 'Love Squared' Doll is finished ...

What a wonderfull effort by Monica & all that contributed to this doll... Please pop on over and have a look at what Monica has done with all those little 2" squares. I've posted about the Pink Artist Community Project back in Feb when I first started this fabric journey... I do hope you have time to pop on over to Monica's 'girl gone thread wild' blog Here is a photo - we have been given permission to show you ...Monica's attention to detail is wonderful ... thanks for letting us take this journey with you Monica ...

Home of a Friend Fabric PostCard...

Here is my Home of a Friend Fabric PostCard that I just finished tonight.
Well this finishes the three Fabric PostCards that I have been working on for the last couple of weeks... ummmm wonder what the next ones will look like - stay posted...
Thank you so much to all who have been so kind with their comments about my new endeavours - your comments are inspiring & appreciated - I'm so enjoying this creative journey that I'm on ...

SunRise Fabric PostCard ...

Here is my Sunrise Fabric PostCard ... I like making scene type quitlies and am now looking into how to either colour fabric or paint it ... am I looking at another 'big' learning curve - so much to learn - but I still have plenty of time - I think!!! I'm even going to the Craft & Quilt Fair on the w/e so guess I will be looking at quilt stuff as well as the stamping gear - Gosh I don't think my bank account will like this at all ... Better finish the Fabric PostCards I have started before I go into any of this, I think.

Ohh to the Irish ...

Well here is my tribute to the Irish ... started on Paddy's Day ... I was a bit slow with it ...but thought it a bit funny that it should be finished for 1st April [April Fools Day] ... I know a warped sense of humour ... Although the four leaf clover is not politically correct for the Irish - it is a measure of good luck so 'tis my way of wishing ya'll the Best of Luck ...