Lately

I got a couple of tattoos

Rob started paddleboarding

We went fishing off the river

I created my first Petite Doll

 and a canvas

Emma actually let me photograph her

There was a scary fire at the end of the Holiday Park

Rio got a new bed - Cute!!!

And Autumn Escape came and went, but there is a Spring Edition in October - yay!!

Music Tuesday - Loving You - Minnie Riperton

beautiful

Happy Birthday James

And the next birthday rolls around and I haven't posted here for a month. Oh dear. We have been really busy. I have managed to do a little creating though, just not time to put it on here. And Music Tuesday is looking pretty sad. I'll line one up for next week.

First of all and most importantly it was James' birthday today. 23 years old. Happy Birthday mate, hope you have had the best day!!

Photo - Holly Phillips

Where oh where has that time gone. It sucks really. I do sometimes wish I had it over again, though we shouldn't dwell on the past and should look to the future.
I started this post this morning and now it is nearly 10pm. So I'll be back tomorrow, I hope.

Happy Birthday Rob

It was Rob's 50th birthday on Tuesday. He doesn't like birthdays like I do. But what he doesn't know is I have a little surprise planned for him this weekend.  We went out for the day, it was our day off, and out for dinner, then the big surprise on Saturday night. Quite exciting really.

We had a very busy week last week which is why I haven't posted anything for ages. Still pretty busy but starting to ease off. Not happy about the colder weather we're having though. I was thinking yesterday how I've only been for about 4 swims this summer which is shocking for me. I can't believe what a horrible summer we've had.

Here is a cool video of the Hyundai Longboard comp this weekend gone. It shows a little of how beautiful our little area is.

Music Tuesday - The Bothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23

So Funky. Those were the days.

Music Tuesday - New Radicals - You Get What You Give

Awesome song. Love the tune. Very summery and uplifting.

Go away wind!!

It has gotten very windy today.
We have a busy month coming up with the Hyundai Tour Longboard competition coming to the Port Waikato 2nd and 3rd March. It is the final event of the tour and has been held in Port Waikato for the last few years. ALWAYS a good weekend ending with a fantastic party with an awesome band. Looking forward to this years. So we are fully booked in the cabins and units, just tent sites left for that weekend.

source

Then some group bookings after that scattered over the month, busy, busy busy.
And in between all that is Robs 50th.

Managed to squeeze in making some homemade tomato sauce today. YUMMO! Easy peasy to make too.

(I only had 2.5 kilos of tomatoes so I halved this recipe)
Bright Red Tomato Sauce
5 kilos tomatoes
1.3 kg brown sugar
6 tbsp salt
3 tsp ground allspice
300ml vinegar

Wash and cut up tomatoes. Put all ingredients in a pot and boil for approx 3 hours. Stir frequently. When cooked put through colander in small amounts, rubbing through till you only have the skins left. Pour into bottles that have been washed and heated. Enjoy!

Music Tuesday - Summer Breeze - Seals & Croft

Couldn't find a decent live version, this'll do though, such a beautiful song.

Homemade Bean Salad

Bean Salad
1 tin of 4 Bean Mix (rinse)
Big handful of fresh Beans
1 Green Capsicum
Lots of fresh parsley, herbs e.g. coriander

Toss with French dressing. This time I used a new one I found at the supermarket - Eta Caramelised Onion Dressing, it was so yum!!

Preserving and sayings

"I'm much too young to be this old"
I heard Steve Tyler say this on American Idol a couple of weeks ago and it was so perfect. That is exactly how I feel sometimes. He is so funny. Love watching him on American Idol.

What beautiful weather we have been having. Summer is really here. I've been harvesting beetroot, beans and pears; and been given lots of peaches. So I've bottled beetroot and pears so far. Next are the peaches, this afternoon hopefully. YUM!! And Bean Salad for dinner.

Instax Love

Trouble is it only takes 10 photos at a time and you forget and are having so much fun snapping away and next minute the film runs out. They are a great fun camera though, just don't hold the photo in the sun to develop ok, der. And change the setting from inside to outside. Just a couple of obvious things I learnt the hard way.

New table & chairs & wedding anniversary

It is our wedding anniversary today. We are heading to the city again tonight and off to a show called 'The Motor camp' at the Maidment Theatre. Should be hilarious. Looking forward to it.

A while ago I saw my dream table and chairs in a shop called Early Settler. Well finally I got my dream table and chairs. Isn't it lovely. The table is recycled elm and the chairs are burnt oak.

I am going to make one of these for the centre.

Source: ishandchi.blogspot.com via Lianne on Pinterest

Happy Valentines Day

Music Tuesday - Billy Don't Be A Hero - Paper Lace

<3

Autumn Escape

Starting to get excited for Autumn Escape. I am helping Nic and Lucy again, so will be loads of fun as always. Counting down to April 13th.
Teachers and crew from last year

Just found this site with cool ideas using Faber Castell products, there's a good art journaling section. I really want some of the Gelatos.

A couple of photos I took of Sunset Beach last week on our day off. So beautiful. Had the loveliest swim and lay in the sun. Mmmmm love it. Water was gorgeous, love when it's flat and I can just float around in the water and no one was around. Nice!!

New art supplies

I forgot yesterdays post. I have been so tired with work being busy. Anyway, I was going to post about my latest art supply purchases.
While doing Christi Tomlinsons She Art Workshop I learnt more about different art mediums to use in your art journals and on canvases.
I've been collecting the Neocolor II Water soluble pastels, the Faber Castell Pitt Pens and the Bombay India inks. This time I thought I would buy the stamp carving set to have a try and a dip pen. FUN!! Can't wait to dip that pen in those lovely inks and write something. Haha! What, I don't know, as I do have trouble with knowing what to write, but maybe this will inspire me.

More Art Journal play

It's funny; when I scrapbook I never do double pages but somehow I just always end up doing a double page in my art journal. Weird!

Music Tuesday - Ironic - Alanis Morissette

Yep, love it.

Another Yummy Salad

Brown Rice and Chickpea Salad

2 cups brown rice cooked
2 cans chickpeas drained and rinsed
2 carrots grated
2 courgettes grated
2 tomatoes diced
1 red onion diced
1/2 cup parsley chopped

Dressing
2 tbs olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cumin
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp chilli flakes or powder
1 clove of garlic finely chopped
1 tbsp brown sugar

Mix dressing ingredients together. Combine salad ingredients. Add dressing to salad and gently combine.

YUM!!

Emma's 20

Happy Birthday gorgeous girl. 20 today. WOW.