Shabby Miss Jenn

Tuesday 20 May 2008

Latest LO!

I finally grabbed a moment to upload my latest PBP CT LO onto blogger. The young good looking dude (lol) is Maddison our youngest son on his 12th birthday last year. Can't believe that this year he will be an official teen and that's it no more little tackers here at home just 4 teenagers....................YIKES!!!! Anyway there you go and as usual if you click on the credit links it will take you to my gallery over at Pickleberrypop (PBP).

Anyway if ya lucky enough I may be back with more tonight or even tomorrow as it's time for me to run and grab the kids from school now and so till then keep on smilin' and enjoy my latest LO.....wel I hope you will anyway! Hugs Chris xoxo

Thursday 15 May 2008

The Color Of Water.

Anyone up for an incredibly inspiring read? If so then you'll find The Color Of Water truly an amazing book. We celebrated Mother's Day here in Australia on Sunday and one of my gifts was this most beautiful book written by James McBride, award winning author and composer.

This amazing memoir is not only heart wrenching and incredibly touching beyond words, telling the remarkable story of Ruth McBride Jordan - his mother and therefore telling of his own remarkable story, but one I found where I could take up character and bury myself into each page of this book, living and breathing every word written.

I picked up this book Sunday night and had read half of it by the time I went to bed. I couldn't put it down. By Monday night 3/4's of the book was finished and I was still in awe and I finished the last few pages last night and was deeply touched by the courage of this family, by the story told and thankful for the opportunity I was given to read it.

James McBride has also written A Song Yet Sung and Miracle At St. Anna which will soon be a major motion picture directed by Spike Lee. I can't wait to get my hands on both of these books and be drawn into the very lives of those he writes about the only way James McBride knows how....with power and passion.


Have you checked this out yet? Look below..................... image is clickable!

Yep that's right.....Tara Dunstan has opened her own store selling all her awesome designs. Yes she is still selling at Pickleberrypop but after her old store broke which was used solely for us......her CT team she needed to get a new one up and running and decided to go whole hog with X-Cart and I very gently persuaded her that with all the work done to get her new store open she may as well open it to the public and she has. So if you haven't popped on over to Tara Dunstan Designs what are you waiting for.....go on. Oh and image is clickable too so you have no excuse now do ya?!

Sad News!

It's busy here and no matter how hard I try to blog a little more often I just can't seem to find the time in amongst the happenings of home just now. Last week we received some bad news. A friend of many years sadly passed away at the age of 67 from a heart attack, leaving behind his wife and 6 grown children. I know them all so well and I considered their home to be my second home when I was a teen all of 16-17. When I received the news last week it was terrible and today was the funeral. Sadly our family could not attend as Tim is unwell and not traveling too well himself. Sometimes as much as you want you can't always do what you should and my thoughts, my heart and my prayers go out to those that truly lost a loved one and now have to find the strength and courage to face each new day without him. I love you Bill and I know that you are safe in God's hands and although you left us unexpectedly you were loved dearly by so many.

More Sad News!

Betty the Bantam passed away this morning. It appears she died in her sleep as we found her at the bottom of her perch this morning, eyes closed and still warm but with no life. She was a much loved pet of the family and well......the neighbourhood really as saying she was free range is an understatement as she visited garden after garden gobbling up the bugs and insects, being fed the scraps and giving many something to smile about including those that drove past and couldn't believe what they were seeing. I can't tell you how old she was but nothing like double figures in fact probably only about 4/5.5 years old. Lance had purchased Betty from the local market when she was about 4-6 weeks old and raised her until she was all grown up. I know I will miss seeing her in the garden and visiting the neighbours and I am sure the rest of us will to.
Goodbye Betty we will miss you!

On the Scrapping Front!

I have in fact finished a few LO's but have't had a chance to pop them in the gallery as of yet. I am hoping that tomorrow will allow me some spare time to at least plonk one or two in and the rest as I can.

News on Lance!

No news on Lance just yet but tomorrow he has an appointment which is meant to be the start of some more assessments to be "scheduled" in and hopefully it won't be too far away. He also has his next paediatrician's appointment on Monday so we are in for some interesting times over the next little while.

I'm pretty certain I've forgotten something but I'm sure it'll come to me and when it does that makes a great excuse for another blog post hey?! So until we next chat take care, stay safe, read a great book....I've already mentioned which one, hug those you love and tell them how much you love them because one day you may not get that chance. Hugs Chris xoxo

Friday 9 May 2008

Challenge Yourself!

Wanna do a little something on the awesome side and challenge yourself. Check this out girls for all those that are up to a scraplift challenge head on over to the latest blog to hit the bloggin' scene. Tara Dunstan has a new blog where us CT girls will be posting awesome challenges, new product previews, your LO's using TDD products, games and anything else we can think of and best of all you get the goodies. So get in on the action and happy participating. How awesome is that and guess what the first scraplift challenge is one of my very own LO's wow that is even more amazing thanks Tara but anyway go on pop on over and check it out and remember it's all new so excuse us while the dust settles and we get into the swing of things. Woohoo!!!!

Short and sweet for today but that's all this needs because I know you are all so eager to head on over and check us out....well the new blog that is......lol

Hugs Chris xoxo

Tuesday 6 May 2008

Life is not always easy.

It's true, sometimes there is just so much going on in your life that you want to stop the world and get off. So I guess first up a warning as this blog post may contain things on the heavier side then usual not really my thing as I tend to keep all that too myself but sometimes it just helps to blog about it and let off some steam by doing so. Life certainly has it's ups and downs and our family certainly has it's fair share of trials and tribulations that almost seem too overwhelming to manage but somehow we do....well I do, as I can't speak for anyone else in my family only myself but my life is very hectic at the moment and I wonder how I manage to stay sane in it all. We are in the midst of more then one crisis and I am pretty sure it is only God who gives me the strength to get through each day. Although I am not all that great at putting my thoughts and feelings out there for those that visit my blog to read in this way I will mention only that neither hubby or Lance are traveling too well at the moment and it's difficult. However on the upside, there is one small piece of good news with Lance though and that is those that are helping him through his time of crisis are finally putting the jigsaw pieces together and there is talk of a possible diagnosis soon (few more tests/assessments need to be carried out) and if so it will be a mixed bag of emotions as well as in some ways "relief" (I don't use this word lightly) because someone decided to act on instinct and listen to what I was saying for the first time in 15 years. Of course the downside of it all is he may not have what they think and we are set for more frustration and unanswered questions. I keep telling myself just trust in God and I know that out of complete darkness there is a light in the distance and help is at hand, if nothing else, that I am sure of.

Ok onto some more "happier news", I have scrapped a little here and there as usual and for me my scrapping time has a purpose. Not only is it creative but it is my time out from all that is going on and sometimes I must admit I just want to shut the pc down and not look at it for days but it's where I can escape and "zone out" for a time both mentally and physically, by doing so I poor my emotion into my LO's and create precious keepsakes.

First LO is DD Stephanie and is actually part of my CT requirements @ Pickleberrypop. The one under that is also a CT LO but for Tara Dunstan and I gotta say....................I love them both.



Credits

I have actually been quite busy with my scrapping and have a few LO's that can't be shared just yet because of them being a part of Bella Scraps MagazineTM which reminds me.....Aprils Issue is now out and available for download over at the shop to all those that are subscribers and if you're not then why not give it a go I really don't think you will be disappointed as there is so much that goes into every issue and I know those that are on the BSM team work really hard every month to bring you outstanding quality.


Anyway it's late here and time for bed so without further ado....take care, stay safe and tell your loved ones how much you love them..............now!!!

Till next bloggin' hugs Chris xoxo