Hello Candice

                                             This bird pic has nothing to do with this post, but I love it.

Hello dear friends. I have been prompted by a young friend to update my blog so here we go. I have considered shutting down my blog for some time, as for the past 12 months or so I have not been regularly writing and sharing as much as I used to or want to. Writers block, depression- call it what you may, but the end result was I thought I didn't have anything relevant or interesting to say. Sure, my fourth daughter who lives far, far away loves reading my blog to glimpse life 'at home', but we do also talk on the phone almost daily. I know readers of blogs like seeing pictures, and I love a blog with great pictures, but my photography skills are still not great. Most of the photos used here come via my mobile phone, which I am still learning to use. Although in saying that 'the bloke' does take some fairly good pics that I have included.
I originally created my blog in an attempt to hone my writing skills and in the process gain feedback. What I found was that I had some great responses but no constructive critique. I realise now that this is probably not the right forum to gain that, and my audience far too small. However, after saying all that I will still blog occasionally, dependent of course on energy levels, and if I have something worthy of writing. 
 With all that said I have come here today because I do have some things I want to share. 
Recently I have been inspired by a great group of women who are creative and arty and who have been mentoring me in the art of card making and scrapbooking. 
Usually I lack natural confidence to give new things a try but as I have aged I am more inclined to give things a go, and see if I like it. Well I do like it. A lot. Pretty card. Pretty papers. Little trinkets and do-dads. I love it all. My last blog post showed some layouts I am doing for my grandson. I am up to the 9 month stage now! How time has flown on by. 
I am pleased to report that I entered my very first card swap last week. I am still surprised I did it. I have found that I am not good with deadlines, and this task involved a group of 12 of us each making 12 cards then sending them to the person organising the swap who would then divide the cards into 12 piles and send us 12 different cards each. I created mine in one day. At first I tried to get a bit too flash and the cards did not look 'right' so then I used the KISS method. Keep it Simple scrapper. Simple is best for me. I have seen so many blogs with talented artists  and their cards are amazing, but really not for my skill set at this stage of the game. 
I was quite pleased with the results and continued on to make a few more for my own personal supply. Generally I am not a card giver, but I do need to do this for some beautiful people in my life. I know a card cannot thank them enough for what they bring to my life, but it is a token of my appreciation. Crikey I can blather on. Below are pics of some of my cards. I am sorry that I don't have them in a collage format, but I don't now how to do it. A lesson for another time.

                                                               This is the inside of the above card

So there you go, hope you liked seeing my cards and if you want to come visit in a few days I am hoping to have a post about the quilt I made for my friend's cousin. 

Take care

What's happening at your place?

Pretty petunia, the bloke planted many of these this year but after several days of high heat lots died, such a shame

this pic made me look twice a frog in the garden is good luck apparently
 

  sponge cake and trifle

                     gingerbread and fruitcake

It's fairly quiet here as we wait for the start of a fresh new year. For me this time of the year has always been about being in limbo. You know after the tremendous build up to Christmas day then the down slide as we get ready to embrace another new year. I like to think that the year coming can be better than the last, not sure if I succeed in that idea though. Sometimes the years seem pretty similar to the previous ones.

                    coffee and cheese & tomato toast

This is my most fave brekky of all, actually I have told you that before, but it is worth repeating as I find this fills me up longer. Nice grainy bread, not white. In fact if we have to use white bread I seem to get hungrier much quicker-not good for me.
So what does your morning look like? What do you eat for breakfast that is delicious and filling? I hope to get some ideas as I am due for a change.
I had more photos but because they show the faces of my loved ones they don't want me to show them. One I convince them (read twist their arms) I will post them.





Jan