Tag Archives: birthday

Just Another Day………..

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You may or may not have noticed the lack of ‘Sew My Stash Sunday’ post yesterday.  There was not much use posting as I had not done any sewing.

A busy week at work followed by gardening on Saturday and guests for lunch on Sunday put sewing firmly on the backburner this week.

Today was not quite ‘just another day at the office’ as it was my birthday and of course that was a great excuse to have cake for morning tea.

2015-04-20 01GMan happened to have the day off today so it was lovely to come home to dinner prepared and ready to be served.

I am feeling very loved thanks to all the messages, phone calls and cards from my family and friends.

Celebration Central

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In the midst of our busy lives it is good to take time out to celebate.

Today is Mothers’ Day and I was lucky enough to be able to spend time with my mother, sister, one of my daughters and 2 granddaughters as well as my husband, brother and brother-in-law.  We gathered at a cafe and shared some morning tea before adjourning to a local park where we could sit in the sun and chat while the children played on the playground.  It was really special and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

A special thought for those whose mothers or children are not in their lives either through death, distance or estrangement.

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Meanwhile, I have been working on creating the invitations for The Duke’s milestone birthday celebration in a few months time.  Here is a photo from the ‘archives’ that I am using.

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Finally, there will be celebrating this month when two much awaited babies arrive to loving families that I know.

What is happening in your life and the lives of those around you that is worth celebrating?  Take time out and share the occasion.

Birthday Business

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Today is my birthday.  No particular milestone but time to reflect on the year that has passed and look forward to the year ahead.  I have been blessed with lots of lovely messages from family and friends.

Our wedding anniversary was a couple of weeks ago and we did not have a particular celebration for either event.  However, in the past fortnight we have had a picnic with family, been to the movies twice and eaten out at our local Italian restaurant.

Today we spent the time together working in the garden – re-arranging, planting and naturally planning the next project.  My brain works faster than my hands!

Lunch
I did stop and make lunch which was as good as any cafe offering and the view from the deck is pretty special, too.

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I hope you are having a relaxing Easter break.

 

Birthday Wishes

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Today was a milestone birthday for special lady.  It was my mother-in-law’s 90th birthday.

It was a milestone that we were not sure that would eventuate since her diagnosis with Alzheimer’s Disease several years ago.

A small group of some of her children and grandchildren gathered to celebrate the occasion with cake and flowers.

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A short, impromptu duet which included her grandson brought much joy and elicited an emotional response.

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We are very grateful for today and will all cherish the memories.

A Christmas List

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I have started to get my Christmas list which was in my head, down on paper.  It is not a list of what I want but a list of Christmas related activities and tasks.  I need to check that nothing gets forgotten.

Over the last few years it has become an unwritten rule that nothing overtly Christmassy happens until after 3rd December.  The significance of this is that it is Miss O’s birthday and I think that it is important to be able to focus on her special day and not let it become overwhelmed in the lead-up to Christmas.  Our darling turned 5 yesterday so has the adventure of starting Prep and the whole new world of school next year.

But back to the list…………

Plan menu for Christmas lunch
Put up Christmas tree
Finish Christmas letter
Write Christmas cards and post
Finish hand-made gifts
Check gifts complete for immediate family
Take granddaughters to see Christmas lights
Check for carol service appropriate for granddaughters

I am sure there will be other things to add to the list but that is the main focus for us.

Christmas lunch will be for 4 adults and 4 children (aged 6, 5, 5 and 3).  It will be gluten-free/ grain-free (in line with my eating plan).  I will write more about this in another post.

The Christmas tree will go up on Saturday afternoon when Miss O and Izz are here.

I need to get serious about finishing the Christmas letter which is half-written.  Many of our Christmas greeting are sent via email but I would like to get the cards in the mail by the middle of next week.

The gifts are an ongoing project which is coming along nicely.  I think I have planned gifts for everyone – just need to check the box in the spare room again.  Nothing is wrapped yet.  In fact, I will not be wrapping gifts this year as I have made re-useable gift bags in assorted sizes from Christmas fabric.  I won’t miss the piles of ripped wrapping paper all over the floor on Christmas morning.

We will be going the see the Christmas lights on Saturday evening when our granddaughters come to stay.  Once I find the time and date of the carol service I will organise to go with Miss O and Izz.

Writing everything down helps to clarify exactly what I need to do and when.  We have a fairly simple, low-key Christmas which is naturally focused on enjoying it with the children.

Over the next week or so I will post about each of the things on my list in more detail.

When do you start your Christmas preparations?  How are you going?  Please share your plans.

Busy Days & A Birthday

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Yesterday was The Duke’s birthday so we had a celebration lunch today.  Belle, her Man, Miss O and Izz came for lunch.  Missy had intended to come, however, she has succumbed to a nasty cold and decided that she would be better off at home in bed.  I think that was a wise decision.

It was a lovely, sunny day and we had a BBQ lunch outdoors.  The salad included coleslaw which I made using the very first of our home-grown cabbages.  Special request from The Duke was apple pie and ice-cream for dessert.

Over at Simple Savings, ClutterCath’s challenge for the week was “Journey to Forgotten Places” in order to encourage cleaning and organising the spots in our home that slip through the cracks.

Yesterday I stripped the bed and in the spirit of the challenge, The Duke and I removed the mattress and base from our bed so that I could clean behind the bed.  I did the windowsill, skirting board, bedframe and also vacuumed  as the bedbase is so low I cannot get the vacuum underneath it.

Here is the photo to prove that I did it.

The other day I bought a small chest of drawers on Gumtree for $15.  They are chipboard but quite sturdy and unpainted.  So, this afternoon I painted them with undercoat.  I will finish them with 2 coats of gloss white paint.

And the drawers.

When they are finished they will go in the sewing room which doubles as a guest bedroom for Miss O and Izz.  I have also dismantled a pine-framed mirror and am painting the frame of that white as well.  This will then make a small dressing table and mirror for the girls and I can store some of my sewing things in the drawers.

I have continued sorting, re-organising and decluttering things from wardrobe in the sewing room.  I moved the bags and suitcases into the wardrobe in the guest room.

Now my ironing board can be put away in the sewing room when I am not using it.  I also moved the small drawer unit from beside the doorway into this space.  The cutting mat, ruler and various measuring guides also fit in here.

Just so you don’t think everything is that tidy, here is a shot of some of the rest of that room.

This is some of the stuff that I am gradually sorting my way through.  The chest of drawers will go in the corner where the red box is at the moment.

One day I will be finished and will show you the whole room in all its glory but that is a little way off yet.