Long time no speak

So it seems a really really long time has gone by without a blog post. Where to start?
I was going to come and blog in mid 2012 when I was lucky enough to meet Tim Holtz and do one of his classes here in Australia. I had so much fun and it's something I often look back and smile about. Somehow I never found the time to blog (actually my stupid blogger program stopped working and I HATE using the site to blog).

I posted many a meal here that I ate while doing the CSIRO diet, I ended up going off that, and putting back on most of my weight. Over the last 2 years I've done a mixture of diets/eating styles and am currently doing my own thing, but enjoying recipes from Symply Too Good To Be True (Annette Sym) and also 12WBT, I also get inspiration from Skinny Taste and Slender Kitchen. I am down 56kgs.

Along with the losing weight I've also been getting healthier. I go to the gym most days and even participate in the local Parkrun. I really love the event and I recommend it to everyone! It's a free 5km timed event, and best of all you don't have to run! You can walk, crawl or run :) The kids can be involved and even your dogs!

I haven't been that active in the garden in the last 6-12 months, I had a poor result with my spring plantings last year (due to going away for several weeks at a time in Aug, Sept and Nov), so I ended up with bought seedlings, but then I had friends come and stay for a 'couple of weeks' which turned into 5 months, and somehow routine and things got turned around and I didn't head out to the garden much.

Craft also suffered having people stay, as we only have a small house, I had to pack away my craft table so for about 5 months I didn't get anything done, unless I went away. I'm back on crafting though, and I've been having a lot of fun with that lately. I recently did a "Supplies on Hand" course with May, which I learnt some new things and can't wait to try out.

In January next year I'm heading off with my mother and one of my bestest friends for a craft cruise! We're going on the Voyager of the Seas with Rachel Greig from Darkroom Door! I am so excited I can't wait!!

OK that's enough blathering for me! I will be back soon and post some of what I've been up to. I promise not to be a stranger :D

3 ATC’s and a Card

The top card, the man’s world was my first attempt at a local swap I am in, the theme Boy.. I didn’t really like this one, well I just didn’t think it was really boy, more man. So I did the “Harry Potter ain’t got nothing on me” and was MUCH more happy!!!! The button fairy atc is for Australian ATC swaps. The Thank You card is for my Aunt who gave me a lovely bowl and plate as a very late engagement present.. Still the first we ever got LOL!!

Retreat Time

Michael and I drove up to Murtoa 2 Saturdays ago. Michael left me at mum's so we could drive to the retreat together.

Had an absolute blast with the girls off my table, they were fantastic! The hostess, Michelle, who I have know for many years online, was really different this year. Welcomed us but then pretty much ignored us. I am not sure if we did something wrong, but it was really disconcerting, even a member of her DT was not the same as she was last year. Michelle's husband on the other hand was just as friendly as I remembered and we had a couple of really good chats. He's a hard worked like Michael and also goes looking for gold like Mick.
This year, I took NO photos to the retreat to scrap, my goal was atc's and Cards. Did no Cards (well one in class), and about 20 ATC's. Did however do 2 Lo's which I was amazed about as I wasn't going to do any this year. Last year I was going to do Lo's only and only did one haha.

Anyhow here are some photos from the retreat..

Mum and I taking a break from the drive. (Snow up the back mountain)

Our Table, clock wise from left, Rosanne, Mel, {Jo, not in photo}, Lana, Maria, Liz, {Yvonne, not in photo}, {Lesley, not in photo}, Kim, Denise, Wendy, {Me, not in photo}, Mum, Rae.

All the excitement of a hail storm, quiet large balls, but luckily very soft!!

Me, Mum and Rae, working hard.. Of course ;)

Lana loving her ink, Maria working hard, and Liz running a muck :D

Class over. Notice it is only girls from Our table in this class...

This was our photo swap. The idea, put 3 photos on a desk face down, then when everyone had done that. Go and pick a pile of someone else's photos and scrap them. Above was the page I made for Julie. I was lucky as I didn't bring any photos (as I wasn't going to scrapbook), but mum had the 20 free ones I had picked up for her at Scrappit. Below is the second LO I did, it was for Rosanne, she loved the one I did for Julie, and asked me to scrap her one lol. Her's is blue as she wanted the water paper to be on the page.

Us holding the LO we made for someone else

Us holding the LO that was made for us.

Mum and I last breakfast.

Group shot!

Hope you enjoyed checking out my photos. I am going to get myself organised and put up all of the ATC's I have ever made.. but give me a little bit lol.

Cheers
Liz

Scrapbookit Retreat 2007

Mum stretching her legs

Mum and I having a break at Glen Rowan

Lesley, Michelle and Me after Michelle broke Lesley's Sizzix

Explosion box class Card class, this one was SOO much fun and easier to keep up with, even though we didn't make all the cards we were supposed to :)

Minor Family Reunion

We did a trip to Bega/Pambula/Merimbula to meet my long long lost Cousin Valerie and her Brothers family. Valerie lives in America so it was a once off thing to go and see her. We stayed with her brother and his lovely wife. Before we arrived Valerie went out and found a book that had a picture of our (many times) great grandfather. We already had this picture of them, but it meant that the author had, had recent contact with a relative as the last edtion of the book didn't have this photo. Anyhow she tracked the lady that had submitted the photo and she was able to tell us a cousin of her's who we would be able to meet. She unfortunately was going away. Valerie got in contact with Max Welch

We met Max, another distant cousin (who is actually not as distant as Valerie is to me..) after speaking with Valerie days before, he had very kindly rung a distant relative of his who LIVED on the same land OUR ancestors had lived on, the old homestead was still standing (although it is falling down) and WE were allowed to VISIT!!! It was so wonderful, I don't think I have ever felt so connected to something. To know where your ancestors actually walked was just amazing.

There was a grave on the property we visited that and also spent the day looking at ancestors graves in Bombala.
While on our trip to the area, we also got to visit Haycock which is where our (many great) grand father had a large property and also woolstores. One of the local rangers took us around the area too as it is now a national park and nothing is standing there anymore.

The photos are, two of the homestead, Valerie, Max and Me, and one of Haycock Point