Happy Blogiversary to me

Today I am celebrating my 3rd year of blogging - here is where is all began http://missnance.blogspot.com/2006/04/finally-decided-to-get-blog.html

So to celebrate I am going to have a few give aways. So keep an eye on my blog over the next few weeks as i announce new prizes.

I will tell you that one of the prizes is an altered mini book ready for your to add your photos and embellishments to, using these gorgeous Kaiser papers http://www.kaisercraft.net/scrapbooking-papers/floral/dancing-jewel. I will also add a small pack of embellishments. I cant show you a pic of this just yet as it is retreat class project (but go here for a sneak peak http://missnance.blogspot.com/2009/03/sneak-preview.html ).

All you have to do is leave a comment on ANY of the posts about my blogiversary giveaways to go into the draw the draw for THIS prize. Please feel free to mention my giveaways on your blog, you will get an extra entry for anyone mentioning heard from your blog.

I will draw this on my late mother's birthday, 27 May.

Todays special visitor

We had a very special visitor to our place today. An Echidna. Now we are use to seeing all sorts of wildlife, ducks, rabbits, birds of all types (my fave are the finch's) even kangaroos, as we do live reasonably close to bush, but this is the first time we have had an Echidna. Royce spotted it first as he noticed Ziggy stalking something. We rang the wildlife people who simply said put all animals inside and once the Echidna knows here is no danger he will simply move on.

Here he is in defense/hiding mode - all curled up in a ball of prickles under a bush.

But when he decided all was safe he was on the move. John called for me to quickly come out with the camera to get some shots. I can't believe how fast he was moving. I kept getting missing him is my shots until I worked out that where he needed to be in my screen.

He did start to curl up in his ball a few times while I was taking pics but when he realised I was no threat he kept going.

I love this close up of him.

Haylee plans to scrap these so keep an eye out on her blog - hopefully she will find time to update it.

Check out this beautiful giveaway

This purse from Blessings Shelia blog is just simply stunning. If you listen closely you can hear it calling "gail, gail". It ssssssssssssssuch a ME bag. But if you want a chance to win it pop over to
http://blessingsshelia.blogspot.com/2009/04/its-giveaway-time.html

Did I mention how much I LOVE this bag.

First toy society drop

Today I made my first drop for the Toy Society. I started very simple and made this Scotty dog - which I have simply named Scotty. I dropped him in a phone booth at a local strip shopping area. The area I dropped him in is one of our needy areas and when I drove past after work he was gone. So I have been praying that he has made his way to a home where he can be loved and bring joy into someones life.

For more info on the toy society have a look at their blog www.thetoysociety.blogspot.com

Blog Give aways

I have very nice blogger friends and two of them are having give aways on their blogs. So pop on over and make a comment to enter.


Leanne's mother days giveaway - how lovely are these.






http://stitchselection.blogspot.com/2009/04/mothers-day-give-away.html








And Vicki's 100th post giveaway.

http://tozzscorner.blogspot.com/2009/04/angels-journal-cover-needle-holder-some.html

Making your home a haven

I haven't posted since the first week of making your home a haven and we are now into our fourth week. http://www.tammysrecipes.com/node/3314

The first week Tammy challenged us to write a morning routine. I did that (check out my post a few down) and am happy to report that I have kept this up most days but have found that I don't always need to do the 10 minute tidy up, all thanks to the 30 second rule. The 30 second rule is, if it will take 30 seconds or less don't put it off do it now. Believe me IT WORKS, I have never been a put it away type of person but this has changed my life. So a HUGE thank you to Sarah on SOF for that FABULOUS idea.

Tammy has suggested we review it and change it if it is not working I am happy with mine so its going to stay.

The second weeks challenge was to set a bedtime, that's OK I have always been a 9.30-10.30 bed person so that hasn't changed except its more 9.30 most days due to not getting unbroken sleep for several weeks now.

The Third week - I didn't like this one and don't think I did very well at all - was to "to choose love and joy during those moments when we're tempted to be grumpy and unpleasant". Better try a bit harder this week.

Now for this weeks challenge.

"This week's challenge is to implement an Evening Routine!
Your evening routine can consist of five (or fewer) things that you can do each evening to help give you (and your home!) a better start the following day. Sometimes the extra 5 minutes spent planning ahead for the next day is all it takes to make your home more of a haven. :)"

Now I have to be honest - I am a total veg out person at night, I don't like to do anything home related. I might sew or even watch TV but do not like to do housework , but I can plan my next day.

So lets see what I believe is achievable in the evenings to make my days easier.

1) Write a to do list - I can manage that one.

2) Wipe out bath tub - this will mean it will be much easier to clean on its cleaning day.

3) Put away the clothes that my wonderful DH has washed & folded, they usually sit there for a few days b4 I get to them. prepare work uniform if working next day (may include ironing a shirt).

4) Rinse & stack dishes ready for DH to load into dishwasher in the morning (this is one area we are very slack in, the dishes get done in the morning in our home). prepare bircher museli for breaky.

5) Read a Psalm b4 my bedtime reading.

Now again I will have to say that this is going to be a challenge for me. But lets see how I go.

GET REAL BABY

Lusi's prompt for Get real Baby last week was "what wears you down". It has taken me almost a week to get to it. LIFE!!!!!!

Anyway here goes

What wears me down really

* Unbroken sleep (I am waking up every 2 hours or so each night)

*Not being able to get out of bed to have my quiet time at 6am because of the above

*Never ending housework

* Arrogant people

*People who wont listen to my opinion or even worse talk over top of me

*Insecurity which washes ever me far more now than ever.

5 Things I am grateful for

A God who loves me so much that he died a humiliating, painful death so I could be his friend and for the forgiveness that brings.

A wonderful time on the weekend with my family (all 23 of them).

Catching up with my nephew who I only see 2 or 3 times a year.

Creativeness - God has given me a great gift of being able to make things that are beautiful, fun & very fulfilling especially that I can give them away to make someone else smile.

A fantastic Church family especially 2 wonderful friends/mentors/helpers God has given me In Esther & Brenda.

Happy Birthday John

It's my dear husband John's 54th birthday to today.

Over the last month I have been secretly making him this Beatles quilt & really only finished it just on time.

I think he's very happy with it. We are about to take him out to tea to the Sports Club.

Paper Bag swap

I have joined Sam's paper bag swap and have drawn Allison as a partner. We had to send bags of materials and embellishments to each other to be made up into a gift to give back to each other.






This is what I sent Alison.













And this is what she sent me.