Our Country Christmas - 2012

I just thought I would share some photos about our Christmas.

I dont blog as much anymore,

and I really need to rectify this.

I have in the past actually used the 

Blog to Print Site

and had my blog posts put into a book form.

Its wonderful to read back on

(Despite the atrocious spelling & grammer!)

So in 2013 I plan to go back to blogging more often!

Our Christmas is always traditionally very quiet!
There are many reasons that we started the quiet christmases 

and now it seams that it works best for us all.

Josh isnt a very social person at all,

and both Stu and I work right upto Christmas

so its great for some down time.

We dont like to travel for that reason, so we usually just stay

at home infront of the air conditioning.

This year we had a guest though.

Emelia's Shauny.

Such a fantastic kid!

He & Stu have really hit it off.

I look at Emelia with Shaun and they remind me so much of Stuart & I.

Emelia full pf emotion and passion

and Shaun full of reasonableness and adoration.

Here was my table centrepiece this year.

I bought a new lovely batten burg lace table cloth,

table runner & placemats

so wanted a new centerpeice.

I love the candle centrepiece.

I am a traditional Burgundy, Cream & Gold Christmas person.

Plus that colour matches our home.

I got these awesome hand painted christmas plates in this year

and if they didn't sell, I told myself I can use them for christmas.

Half sold and I got the keep a few myself.

This is one little plate

that I filled with the lovely Christmas Rock Candy

that I also got instore.

 I also got these awesome Christmas wine glasses in.

This one says

"Santa define good"

and also

"He sees you when your drinking"

Here we all are at our Christmas Dinner with Mum & Ken.

I love this photo of Mum & Ken.

I bought her a new Christmas Teddy! Its so cute.

I had a friend make Mums and my Christmas Cakes.

Here is the mother load of presents.

On Christmas Eve, I always end up having a argument with the family about looking at the Christmas Lights! I dont know why they dont want to do it!

But Ive argued with them about it each year for the past 4 years!!!

One tradition! Is it so bloody hard to do that!!!

These are the lights at one location in High Street!
They are spectacular.

You walk into their yard and there are 5 separate little light displays in houses and huts.

 Here is Me, Emelia & Shauny

This is Mum & Ken.

They went to look at the lights with Ken's family

and although I was following behind them, they were too mesmerized to even see me!

I even got right up close to them.....

Still nuthin!
Just ignored me!

And here is Stu & Josh that waited outside the display while we went inside!
As you can see, they really weren't in the Christmas Spirit of things at all!

The boys got a kick out of the 3D Archery Target used as a prop!

Yep, we shoot Teranasaurus Rex out at archery!

And here is our Chrismas Day.

We all assumed our positions.

Emelia dishes out the presents.

And we take in one at a time until they are all opened.

Josh got me a mcuh wanted Kindle Voucher that was sitting in this very large box!

Stu examining tools

Josh just wanted clothes!

Stu also bought him 2 Glidding Vouchers for out at Keepit Gliding Club.

Emelia wanted a Ipad.

Stu just wanted motorbike stuff.
Here he is with his Heated Handle Grips!

 Emelia & Shauny bought me these adorable earrings and perfume

And a horsey that resembles my "Thor" from EKKA.

Stu bought me a new kindle that has a light and doesn't click!!!

All in all it was a lovely quiet christmas

just with family.

Hope you had a wonderful christmas too.

Best wishes for 2013

Sketches With A Twist - December

Its time again for a new Sketch and a new twist from

Sketches with a Twist.

Here is the sketch this month.... (Tricky hey)

Here is what I did with it

"Glam It Up"

It might be a little hard to see what the twist is..

Buts its GLITTER

I have added glitter around the page and on the title.

Pop by Sketches with a Twist 

and see what the other DT have done. 

Here

Incidently, this is also a Class Kit for 

The Scrapbook Nook.

I do have a few kits remaining if you would like one.

A Day on the Green - Bimbadgen Winery

Anyone that follows me of Facebook

can testify to the drama that unfolded prior to this event!

It just so happened, that this even collided with lots of Man Stuff.

The Drags

2 day Archery Shoot

AFR (Bike Stuff)

But when our old friends Paul & Natalie (Paul was Stu's Bestman)

asked us if we would like to meet them at this even for a day out

I thought straight away Hell Yes!

I would never go to something like this otherwise...

And as the date got close

all these other things popped up and Stu was quiet torn between

wife and toys (My View anyway)

So after a very public "non" argument on Facebook

Stu assured me that he really did want to go with me to this even

If I REALLY waned to go! 

So yesterday was the day.

We were heading up and back in one day due to the fact that accommodation cost

$500 a night for a minimum of a 2 night stay!

We left at about 11am after I got the girls organised at the shop.

(It was a bit of a big day on Saturday work wise)

I dressed for a hot day!! its been sweltering hot!

And as we got closer and closer to the Hunter Valley

the temperature dropeed more and more

Stu said to pack a jumper for night

so I just chucked in my ASF jumper and parker just incase.

We got to Singleton and it as 14 degrees and overcast!

So cold!

light misty rain now and then....

So after great care in choosing what to wear, I just chucked on my ASF jumper over the top

and completed the total uncoordinated Daggy look!

I had no idea what to expect, having never been to one of these before.

From the road there were people everywhere!

The gates were supposed to open at 3pm and we were waiting to get in at 2.55pm and look at the amount of people on that hill!!!

I dont know what clock they were using!

Rather than worrying about packing a picnic, I ordered a Hamper from Binbadgen.

Good move!!!

We were trying to find our way to our Gold Reserve seats, really knowing that we wanted to sit with Paul & Natalie in the general seating, but there were no seats left.

So completely by accident, we were trying to find our way around and we hear this Stu Stu...

and it was Natalie, they had saved us a spot on the hill

So we made camp there with them.

Stu did find our Gold Reserve seating which is where the bottom photo was taken

but these things are so much more fun with friends

This is where we ended up.

I went to find that hamper and was surprised to find a little village of shops

that sold all kids of food and wine...

But I am pleased I got the hamper.

James Reyne was up first

I had no idea who he was.

I thought, who is this old guy singing James Reyne songs?

Its terrible to get old!!

He was really great though, very enjoyable!

The owner of Binbadgen does some stunt piloting in his spare time

and put on a display

Paul will kill me if he sees this photo!
I dont know what it is with this pair that I cant ever get a decent photo of them!!!

This is Paul & Natalie, Stus bestman!

Its been so awesome reconnecting with them!

by far the performace I enjoyed the absolute most was  these guys!

The Angels

fronted by Dave Gleeson!

Honestly, Dave was fabulous! So entertaining to watch and so into the music!
Its like its always been him upfront!

I would love the see a whole show of these guys!

And when I am ever going to see your face again came on

the whole place ROCKED!

I had the best time!!!

I will be going to another one I can tell you!

And on the same night.

Emelia & Shauny were heading to the College Ball.

We bought this dress from Ebay for $80 I think landed!!

Emelia's mad hemming skills can be seen on this dress!!!

Didnt she look beautiful!

Upon closer inspection of the photo, I thought i was interesting what is in the bookcase..

And it is so them!

At top there are a few trophies, looks like showing trophies, such a cattle and sheep showing.

Then at the center is the tractor Emelia bought Shauny for Christmas last year!
Shauny loves his Tractors.

Then on the next shelf are all Emelias horses.. When I say all, I mean the ones she has accumulated while away. She still has a million lining the shelves in her room and more on the kitchen window ledge.

Then we have photos of Emelia and Shaun

Then it looks like Cows and Bulls on the next shelf.

Shaun loves his cows like Emelia loves her horses.

Aren't they a great match!

I am so happy she has found someone so right for her. And its is so reassuring for us with her being so far away!

This is their own place they are now living in at Emerald.

My baby is all grown up!

Proposed Class at The Scrapbook Nook - Christmas Frame

I am running this class on Thursday Night this week,

but due to the amount of other interest I am receiving 

I am considering also running a Saturday Class for those that are interested from other towns.

 The Class will cost $100 and includes everything needed as well as full instructions.

This can also be posted, but will have to check those postage costs.

All items in the kit include:

The frame

2 tubes of paint (Burgundy & Antique White)and use of crackle Paint

Kindy Glitz

Papers, wood and embellishments

Birds nest and eggs.

and everything else you see on here.

Plus step by step instructions.

If you are interested you can confirm your place by paying a $40 deposit 

and the balance is due when the class is done.

 I envision it will probably take 6 hours  to complete this with most of that time spent watching the paint dry! 

But we can have some fun and maybe make some cards with the spares while we are waiting?

Please let me know of your interest by emailing me at:

j_dolbel@bigpond.net.au

or ringing the shop 0267421566

Sketches With a Twist - November

I cant believe its NOVEMBER Already!!!

Time is flying by...

Soon it will be Christmas and I haven't even given a single thought to presents!!
Not even my own!!!

But we are off to New Zealand early January, 

so I think me and Stu should call that our present to each other!!

Anyway, back to the point!

November SWAT

This was a very hairy sketch for me!
I so struggled with it, but in the end the layout is awesome (In my humble opinion!! hehe)

The sketch was done by the awesome Jules

and the twist was stamping!

Here is my layout

"A Family Moment"

I have stamped along the right edge and embossed with silver

and also a little at the bottom left.

Head on over to SWAT and join in this months challenge!
They are great fun!

 HERE

And on another note.......

This is also the class kit for next weeks class.

Full instructions available.

Lots of spares!
If you love this layout, this week is the perfect opportunity to grab one!

$20.50 plus postage.

Email me on: j_dolbel@bigpond.net.au

or ring the shop on 0267421566