Bits of Everything

Well I nearly missed December.

I've been flat out busy chasing my tail one day and staring at the ceiling bored the next!

I am enjoying being on holidays, who wouldn't, right?

My boys are away for a few weeks so I'm feeling a bit out of sorts which will probably reflect in this post.

We did sneak in a very quick trip to the beach the day before they left.

We were there not even an hour and got quite burnt.

I hadn't realized how hot it was.

Later in the afternoon I popped the sprinkler on to water the vege garden and the ducks took advantage of the cool spray.

That is Sniffles watching me take pictures, a very wary duck who gets her name from her regular sneezing.

Scooter is head down-bum up as always. She gets her name from the way she scoots around the back lawn chasing flies.

I had another go at wood burning.

This is just a furniture leg/foot/thingo from Bunnings that I burned the designs (found on Pinterest) onto.

I pencilled them on freehand but couldn't erase the leftover visible pencil off after, so I hope I remember that next time.

Also found on Pinterest was this cool idea for recycling toilet paper rolls.

The video showed measuring but I am not one for such formalities, so the roll was cut into strips and hot-glued into a snowflake design.

*note to self, must remember to respect carpet and not use hot-glue on it!!

 I have only made two so far.

The first I painted after assembling but it was quite tricky to get into all the little nooks so the second I spray painted.

Again a bit fiddly and seemed to waste a bit of paint trying to get all the hidey bits.

I have pre-painted a few rolls to make some more.

Add glitter at the end and voila, festiveness!

I've been working through some books in the quiet time.

I read 'Mum, I Wish I Was Dead' by Adam Schwartz. A recount of a a teenage boys battle to overcome depression. His openness gives valuable insight that has, and will continue to help families in similar situations.

I started a few pages of 'We Need To Talk About Kevin' by Lionel Shriver but couldn't get into it. It's tale is based on a fictional school shooting and is formatted in the way of letters from the shooter's mother to his father. From what I read in those few pages it seemed hard to grasp onto as there was far too much information or 'scene setting' in the memories recounted in the letters that wouldn't typically need to be described to someone who was actually there. So simply for the formatting, I didn't enjoy the read but will try again.

I am almost halfway through 'The Denniston Rose' by Jenny Pattrick. A book given to me by Elvis' mum with a good review. I am so far really enjoying it.

Yesterday I bought 'The Year Of The Farmer' by Rosalie Ham, who also wrote 'The Dressmaker'. I haven't read that but love the movie so will one day get a copy.

I also bought 'In Pieces', Sally Fields' memoir. I adore her acting so am eager to read about her life. I had only seen a few movies with her (Forrest Gump, Mrs Doubtfire..) but a few years ago was introduced to Gidget and holy guacamole she is the cutest, sassiest, and most down-to-earth person you could hope to be friends with! Haha!

The sun is shining beautifully outside and I knew I should've gone out and enjoyed it earlier, now the sea breeze has set in and is making a pain of itself as it often does to my hot little temper, blowing the curtain in my face so I can't see and making me cold.

Big problems hey??

Well I have babbled on more than enough now.

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and were safe and happy surrounded by friends and family.

I will definitely make the most of my late Christmas when my babies get home in over a week. Until then...

Oh, I wanted to share a funny picture of my silly cat.

Ever since the first day bringing her home from the adoption shelter she has been a tongue-poker!

It's like she just forgets to put it back after cleaning or yawning!

So funny :)

Ooohh and one more thing I wanted to share..

I was recently loaned a copy of 'Walk the Line', the movie about Johnny Cash and June Carter-Cash starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.

I do wish I was warned about a sad part very early in the movie,  probably would've howled my eyes out regardless, but I LOVED it and have been youtubing clips of Johnny and June since.

Oh, to be loved like Johnny loved June ❤

It breaks my heart and mends it all at once!