Forgot the Christmas Tree

So here it is

Increasing Pig Population

Christmas saw an increase in my pig collection, along with a pig calendar complete with a free pig jigsaw puzzle, John added the pictured pigs to my collection.

Post Christmas Post

I have been a very slack blogger, quite possibly as no one reads this LOL.

Anyway we had a lovely Christmas, I was suitably spoilt as were John and the boys.

This is my latest stitchy finish, Lizzie Kate Christmas Double Flips. Definitely a fun stitch.

And some more

Hoping Blogger cooperates LOL

Yay, it worked

Some Stitchy Finishes

Fingers crossed I can actually get some photos to upload

Boy, almost a month

since I posted.

What a month LOL. My Kia was written off after an accident, though it didn't look too badly damaged, the impact at speed pushed everything under the car forward doing a lot of damage. The frame of the passenger seat I was in broke, the driver's seat cracked, the engine mounts broke and the chassis was bent.

For now we will remain a one car family, much to Simon's dismay, but it won't be long now till he buys his own car.

I bit the bullet yesterday and bought myself a Wii and Wii Fit, was having such fun on Bradley's and could keep using his, but having my own in the house means I can use it at my convenience. Will let you know if I get fit LOL.

Stitching wise I have finished a few things this month, I'll post pictures if Blogger plays nice, if not they will be in my picture trail album.

AARGH!!!

Just had to do a quick run to the shop where the boys are working as Shane had started twitching so severely he couldn't stand even stand up without support.
So the merry go round begins again.
All the specialists could put it down to was something like Tourettes, but this is ridiculous and I have to find some answers for him. First stop back to our GP and then a referral to a neurologist for a second or third opinion.
There is definitely something wrong, this time Shane complained of a stabbing pain in his back and then the spasms began. He is exhausted and in pain, poor kid.

Some Stitchy Finishes

Hopefully some photos of some of the latest finishes if blogger cooperates.

A big finish

Fish City is DONE!!! Hip Hip Hooray.

A Good Report

YAY!! John got a good report from his renal specialist yesterday. It hit home just how far he has come since his battle with cryptococcal meningo-encephalitis in December when his specialist said they didn't know then if he would survive with his brain intact. John still has some word difficulties, searching for words when he speaks, but that is nothing compared to what could have been.
The kidney took a battering and dropped a little in function, but is holding steady, so no cause for concern. Back we go again in August, fingers crossed for smooth sailing till then, and for a long time to come.

What a week, what a night!

What a lovely night we had to top off a less than lovely week LOL.

Bradley's 21st birthday party went well, he isn't officially 21 until the 4th of June, but we celebrated and had a great night. A highlight was of course the much awaited chocolate fountain.

As usual I was worried about having enough food for the masses, but ended up with leftovers. Easy day today as I don't need to cook dinner or make dessert tonight.

The weather was beautiful and when it got a little chilly we lit the patio heater and it really worked.

Great way to end the week after being told the Kia we just spent another $1200 repairing has now cracked the engine and is not worth repairing. Oh and although the bank will lend us money for a car, we can't actually afford the repayments so it looks like we are stuck for at least the next 6 months or so. AARGH!!!

I'll have to share photos later as Blogger is not cooperating.

What a Week

A hectic week for sure, and some things I could do without.

Bradley and I went and had an interview with the counsellor at the TAFE, which was very productive. We will go again on June 10th to finalise his enrolment and all going to plan he should be enrolled in Certificate IV in Multimedia. Just 2 afternoons per week to start with and school starts on July 22nd.

The in law side extended family continues to meltdown and what a soap opera it has become. As much as I want to ignore it and hope it goes away, that isn't happening. Daily, lengthy phone calls are the norm.

To cap the week off my brand new stove had a hissy fit and shutdown all things electrical on Thursday afternoon, while I had a cake in the oven of course. We bought it late January and only had it installed in March, so I am not happy. It is under warranty for 2 years, so repair or replacement shouldn't be an issue. The serviceman is coming out Monday.

I have not stitched at all and am suffering withdrawal. I did however start knitting a jumper for myself.

Too tired to cross stitch as I have only been getting 4 hours sleep each night - not fun.

The birthday boy

From metal mouth to stunning smile. Oh and one of the cute couple too.

Another Stitchy Finish

Another little finish, a Showcase Huck Towel. I have stitched quite a few now, and have more to stitch. They wash up well and it is nice to have some useable stitching, if useable is a word LOL.

Shane is really reluctant to actually dry dishes with them and Bradley thinks they look like pictures not drying clothes, but I like them.

The other photo is the boys Easter baskets, they made them in 1996.

A Stitchy Finish

Though the bathroom and toilet are done, I will wait till we put in the finishing touches, towel rail, cabinet, shower curtain, etc. before taking more pictures. It is just so nice to have indoor plumbing.

So instead of more toilet pictures, I have a little stitchy finish to share. I put my big projects (Nature's Home Afghan and Fish City) away while we have been renovating inside, but now that the bulk of the indoor work is done I can get some more serious stitching time.

This is for Shane as he loves pie. Well I think he actually loves pudding more as he often leaves the pie crust LOL.

How Exciting

Another coat, this time on the floor. Called a Stone Finish, where we once had yellow terrazzo flooring we now have a granite stone finish. Gives the same terrazzo look which I quite like, but clean and fresh. We will be painting the walls in both rooms bright white too :)

I'm Going Insane

But it will be worth it in the end, that is my mantra LOL

Hot weather, 6 of us in the house with no bathroom or toilet access....(we do have a portable toilet in the back yard), a couple of strange men in the house all day for 2 days straight and another 2 to go and being confined to the lounge and kitchen while they work is driving me crazy.

Add the chemical smell and the constant droning of the exhaust fans, and various tools and you can probably understand the insanity.

But progress is being made. Fingers crossed the bathroom is all finished by Thursday night, ready for the Easter weekend.

Yuck! This is my naked bathroom

Yuck is right. Stripped down to the bare bones this is one dismal looking bathroom.

But work begins tomorrow and by Easter we should have something much more sparkly and white.

Stayed tuned for the after photos.

The Lounge - Nearing Completion

Here it is, the new lounge room. I've attempted to show the before and after shots. We will be replacing the TV and stand with a new lowline unit and HD TV. The DVD shelves will be replaced with full height bookcases which will hold all of the DVDs John collects and family books.

We will move the 2 seater sofa out to the room Bradley and Shane share and then our room will be grown up.

I will of course have to add some pictures and cross stitch.

Time for a change

I decided on a new blog, somewhere to share pictures of my stitching, my home renovations and my family with my friends and family.

Stay tuned.