Crafting Before the Melbourne Test

After reading various craft blogs and spending a bit of time on Pinterest this year, I've done a few crafty things this Christmas. 

First cab off the rank was the interchangeable wreath by Linda at Craftaholics Anonymous.  This pin  lead me to following her blog and start aiming to get the study/craft room decluttered enough so I can actually get to my sewing machine.

Gift wise, I used J's toddler scribble to make MIL's gift for this year.

Then I've made memento Christmas Stockings for both J and his baby cousin M.  As J is older, I've been able to add a 'cruck' as this year's addition, since they're a minor obsession (major obsession is buses):

I love that these will grow with the boys and tell their story as they get older.  It was quite sentimental to use my grandmother's pinking shears to make something for the great-grandchildren she never knew (and probably though would never come).  Pity they're not that ergonomic - my hand was killing me by the end!

I've also made the 'write on a cheap ball with a sharpie' ornament, listing major events (Mr Trifectagirl's illness and passing is front and centre, since that's the dominant event of the year), how old we each turned, my hobbies and activities for the year, what J likes at the moment and where we went on holidays.

 

Sorry about photo quality on this one.  One of my plans for 2013 is to learn how to use Mr Trifectagirl's DSLR properly - and fix it when J changes the settings on me!!

Kitchen Renovation: Done!

After a long-ish lead up, finally, I have plenty of storage in my kitchen!! 

We started with a blank canvas - and crowded benchtop

Then my Dad help add some paint (Dulux Shimmer)

And a couple of weeks ago I got the cabinets installed:

 

 

 

Since these photos were taken, I've had the electrical work finished, got things put away and done a little decorating higher up.

And already the bench is cluttered again! 

Score

At home, J spends a lot of time inside.  Our yard just isn't as interesting as Grandpa's.

One thing I've been wanting to get him as an enticement to go outside is a basketball hoop - one of the adjustable plastic ones.  But I since I've already got his Christmas gifts, I haven't been able to justify the expense, even with his birthday not far behind Christmas.

Driving towards Grandpa and Anjeanie's house a coulple of weeks ago, a lady was putting a bunch of stuff out for hard rubbish collection.

The pile was dominated by one of the hoops, which was in pretty good nick.  So I took it!!  Along with a little art table/seat thing.  And promptly unloaded them both at Grandpa's house, which is where we were heading at the time.

Grandpa and Anjeanie hold a 'big bash' back yard party leading up to Christmas each year, which happened to be the day after.  They were concerned about not having anything for few kids who are coming to play with. 

Perfect timing.  A bit of a clean, and the hoop was good to go.

J's taken to it and loves trying to get his soccer ball up through the hoop from below. It will probably come here in January some time

Lost & found

Thursday I lost my sun hat walking to my car after leaving the cricket for the day.

Friday I found it on a fence near my Dad's place, which is where the car was parked.  I was extremely grateful for that as I hate hat shopping.  I rarely find anything I like and comes any way near suiting me.  But being a cricket fan in Australia, a good sun hat is a necessity.

Then on Saturday morning cleaning out the bag/seat cushion I only take to the cricket I found my lost watch. 

The watch I lost some 5 years ago.  

I obviously need to clean it out more often!

Kitchen Rennovations Update

Two weeks and I'll have extra storage!!!

Getting quotes from other trade suppliers (sparky, plasterer and security system company) caused a bit of a delay in getting approved plans and deposit back to the cabinet makers.  I didn't want to book in the cabinetry without knowing the full cost of the project.  Especially since the sparky will cost a bit more than I was anticipating.

I have painting to get done still, but by the end of the month I'll be able to get an awful lot of stuff off my bench tops and have a neater looking kitchen.  Plus I'll have a reason to pull everything out of the existing cupboards and do a de-clutter.

And I'll have my practical power point, just in time to plug in my stand-mixer for the bulk of my Christmas baking!!

Oh Christmas Tree

Here it is acceptable for Christmas decorating to start once Santa has arrived as part of the Christmas Pageant. 

Santa took up residence at the Magic Cave on Saturday, so it's decorating time!

Our new tree went up while watching the live broadcast, along with some other nick-knacks around the house.  I decided to treat myself to a new tree this year.  I've had an older 6 foot tree for years, but wanted something new.

I went with a 7 foot tree, with glitter on the end of the branches.  This was somewhat of a mistake as the glitter is going EVERYWHERE.  But I like the overall height and look.

I also bought a new decorating item I'd seen a couple of years ago on the internet - a Yuleahoop.*  It's worked really well for hanging the bead and my very fat tinsel on the tree.

Having gone from a six footer to a seven footer, it's a bit sparse for my liking.  But J is probably going to start bringing home decorations he makes himself, so I should probably leave room for them...
 

*I did not receive a yuleahoop to trial, and the opinions are my own.  I will say that the company gave me excellent customer service while we negotiated international shipping.

Providing for Family

In our three years together, Mr Trifectagirl struggled to find work.  Mostly because what he did in the UK requires an extra qualification here that he didn't have (but had started studing towards). 

So I worked to financially supported our family while he stayed home and looked after J.  As much as he loved being with J, the fact that he wasn't providing for his family in the traditional sense both frustrated and depressed him.

After various issues with his superannuation fund, including them loosing the file, I finally recieved the money he'd had put away for his retirement a couple of weeks ago.

On October 26, 2012 Mr Trifectagirl made the ultimate provision for his family - he's given us a secure roof over our head. 

I am now mortgage free, which is a very bitter-sweet place to be. I was teary for a while once the reality hit and generally pretty flat for the day.   I don't like why I could pay it out, but am so very grateful that he left enough so that I could.