New Stamp

I made this swirly tree stamp with my new Teresa Collins Stampmaker the first week in December, with the intention of making my own Christmas cards to send it.  It never happened.  There was just so much going on that a whole bunch of things never happened, but such is life sometimes.

Bling'd out with rhinestones.  Oh well, there's always this year right?

Ukulele Festival - The real deal!

Some pics from the actual festival.  That's my crazy friend Carol in the fluro jacket and Kiwi head gear!

 The crowd!!!

 Ukulele Bartt from California - 1 Awesome dude!

 This amazing young man could play the Ukulele with his teeth!!! Way better than I can play it with my hands!!!!  guess I should keep practicing.

 Bartt & Merenia after the festival.

 Bartt and I after the festival

There was a parent who managed to take some pictures of us playing in the grandstand and I will post those pics once I get my hands on a copy.

Rock on Ukulele Festival 2011 - I can't wait to go again!

Trimming the Overhanging Branch

A few weeks back, Jayden asked if he could trim off the small overhanging branch from the plum tree out the front.  It hung right over the letterbox and he felt it must be annoying for the postie.  I had no problem with him trimming it back.

However, as many parents of ADHD children might tell you, sometimes you have to check on them as they can tend to get carried away with things in their own little world.  As he had been quiet for about 15 minutes, I went to check if he had managed to trim it away.

Yes he had, along with about 1/4 of the other branches from that side of the tree. I suggested he trim up the other side too to even it out, but Mike was not so keen and so it is still a bit lopsided.  I am sure however that the postie no longer has any trouble getting to out letterbox!!!

Ukulele Festival Practice

A couple of years back when Taryn started at Manuka, she decided she wanted to join the Ukulele group with Carol and begged me for a Ukulele, which I bought her.  She turned up for maybe 3 sessions and that was it.  A couple of years later I decided if Carol could pick up a Ukulele and learn it, without having played another instrument previously, then why not me, so at the beginning of this year, Carol gave me my first lesson.

I must admit, I just didn't get it and felt all thumbs.  I couldn't get the hang of the strum at all.  I put the Ukulele down for a couple of months until Carol mentioned it again one time.  I had another hour session with her, but still feeling all thumbs, came home and U-Tubed some lessons and found I was better able to get the hang of it sitting down in the studio late at night at my own pace, where I could play and replay the clip as much as I wanted (translate- needed to....lots).

Once I had this under control, another 1 hour session with Carol and I found I was able to play along to 'some' tunes and really started enjoying myself.  So, with about 3 hours tuition from Carol and at least 20 hours on U-Tube, I was away and looking forward to the Ukulele Festival with the school Uke group.

The below pics are shots I took from the practice day.  We had loads of fun!

 Getting my Ukulele signed by Ukulele Bartt

Vienna's Birthday

A few days after Taryn's birthday, it was Vienna's birthday and we headed off to the botanical gardens to celebrate. My original plan was to give her a cute lamb and a bonus bond.  Little did I know that through the Post Office, you have to apply, then wait for them to be posted out and I only had 24 hours!!! arghhh.  I thought it was an in/out sort of purchase.  Never mind, a money box and 1 of each NZ coin was substituted on this ocassion.  Wendy also then advised Vienna has her own Bonus Bond number and that if you go to the ANZ bank, it's instant, so for future purchases, I am now up to speed.

 Clever Miss Wendy also gave Vienna the most amazing party spread of super cute food...

 including this awesome tiered birthday cake just for Vienna (which she thoroughly enjoyed!!!)

 There was so much going on, but I managed to steal Vienna for a quick cuddle...

 ...before my day ended following this to middlemore hospital.  It's a long story and not mine to tell, but I can say, all was eventually well!

Birthday Smiles

I love when children open their presents and are truly surprised and happy with their gifts.  She was a little sleepy and still in her jammies, but Taryn displayed some awesome smiles as she opened her presents on November 12.  Among other things, she got a voucher for a replacement snare drum skin, money, new jeans, gift vouchers and a book and hubba-bubba (from Jayden).

Her Great Uncle Steve also drew her this awesome card....

 complete with a massive set of giant jaffa eyes!

Time for an update????

Hell Yeah!!!  I haven't posted since when???  Holy crud!!!  So, Taryn is off spending a few days at Tania's, no doubt having loads of fun with bailey and Jayden has just watched a movie and is now enjoying an uninterrupted turn on the Lord Of The Rings computer game, so thought it was an ideal opportunity to get in and get some posts underway and do a bit of a catch up/update, so here goes : -