Lots of pictures, very few words today.

Have you ever felt like you have run out of words? There are so many things going on in my head and so many things I would like to say, but the word just won't come. It is such a scary thing for me, because as a language teacher, words are what make me tick and suddenly, they are just gone! The only thing that makes me feel better is the fact that God needs no words to know what I am feeling and to help fix what is wrong. It could also be that He has taken my words to stop me from saying things I might regret later.
Tomorrow school starts and hopefully my words have returned by then, otherwise I am in real trouble.
I leave you with someof the promised pictures from our visit to the zoo.


This little girl makes my heart so full of joy! Just look how tiny she is.

This white lion was the first daddy lion she has ever seen and she was a bit weary of even going near the cages.

Isn't this swan just beautiful? He made Hannah laugh for 5 minutes straight, because just as I was about to take his picture, he decided that my shoes looked like a snack! She thought her ouma jumping up and down was the funniest thing she has ever seen.

A three legged mountain lion. Hannah Wanted to take him home, she felt so sorry for him.

And the wise old owl. My dad used to say we should be like the owl. The more we know, the less we should speak. Maybe its time for me to take that advise.

Have a great week and wish me luck, going back to school!

Like father, like daughter...

Have you ever thought about what makes this struggle we call life worthwhile? It is times when we get to spend time with our families and times when they make us laugh so hard that we sit on the floor and cry. Then, when we look at the photo's of those times, it brings a smile to our faces and that warm, fuzzy feeling to our tummies.
These photo's were taken about a week ago. Tertia-Lee was on top form. She was giving us the show of a lifetime, except, she refused to tell us what sound an elephant makes. She made the sounds of every other animal known to mankind, but the elephant, NO, that she refused to do. That was untill William, her father, said that he would show her how. She looked at him with this little smile and said 'OK daddy, you first'. From the look on that little face it was clear that she had gotten what she wanted, daddy had to play with her.
The next minute the two of them started making these horrible noises, making the funniest faces you could ever imagine. We were crying we were laughing so hard. I am amazed that I got a few photo's that were actually in focus.

The papers are all Basic Grey and Bazzil. The stars were cut with my Cricut and embossed with UTEE and stamped with Stazon. The elephants were hand drawn and cut out.
Talking about family times, there are few things that unite my family more than a rugby game. These photo's were taken at the Super-14 final game. You must know that my family is very devided in their loyalties when it comes to supporting local teams. My DH supports the Western Province (ag shame, I know, but somebody has to support them!), DD no2 supports Natal ( she was in love with James Small as a teenager, what can I say?) DD no1 is no sportsfan, so she supports whoever is playing. DS, DD 3 and me are very avid Blue Bulls.
On this given day however, the whole family were united in their support for the Bulls. We were playing an Aussie team in the final and because we are all anti-Aussie when it comes to sport (because those d... Aussies are so good!), they were all Bulls for the day! This had to be documented.

On the photo's are the true Bulls DD 3, DS and my eldest two grandchildren. The papers are Daisyd and Bazzil. The title was cut with my Cricut and journaling written by hand. A very simple LO, but a very special memory.

Have a great day, I am running some errands for DH and might be back with those promised Zoo photo's.

Stamptacular Sunday in 3-D

The challenge on Stamptacular Sunday this week was to create a 3-D card. I found this awesome stamp in the PNA and true to form in South Africa there was no manufacturer name on the stamp. I coloured it with my beloved Copics and added some Flowersoft for the fur. The cardsrock is all Bazzil and the patterned paper is by Daisyd (I think). The ribbon is part of some blog candy I won last year.

I tried to take a picture to show how I lifted some of the pieces, but I am afraid my photography skills are nowhere near professional.

Hope you liked my card. I really enjoyed this one.

I am a bit frustrated at the moment, because my cough is back with a vengance! I woke my DH up last night and the poor man didn't get much sleep. My breathing is also very bad at the moment, I don't know if it is because of the change of season, or what is causing it now. I got rid of my cat and did everything else the dr. suggested, but just when I thought it was safe to start living again, mr. cough comes back!

I will not let it get me down however, because, as I said before, every day I wake up breating, no matter how hard the breathing may be, is another day God gave me to be with my family and I plan to use every one of those days to the fullest.

I took some really nice pictures when Hannah and I went to the zoo. If DH doesn't plan a full day of errands for me tomorrow, I will show you some of them.

Normally I don't do sketches, but....

This is the first time that I did a challenge for: http://www.sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/

Normally I don't do sketches, but when I found this one it actually made me think. So I decided to give it a try. I just found this image on a childrens colouring site and decided it would make a lovely card. It was coloured with my Copics. All the cardstock is Bazzil and the DP is some Basic Grey that I bought and loved ages ago, but have never actually used. I also broke out my punches for the leaves. I am very pleased with how this turned out.

I think I may have just made it!

I try to do the Sunday Stamptacular challenge every week, but I don't always get to upload my cards in time! I think I may have just made it by the skin of my teeth this week. The challenge this week was to use a bear somewhere in your project. I have had to make so many baby cards these last few weeks that this was actually pretty easy.

The papers are all Bazzil and the DP is a tiny piece I found in my scrapbox. The image is from Uppikit and was coloured with my Copics. The ribbon is also from my stash.

What happened to this week?

I don't know what happened to this week. When I opened my eyes this morning, it was Friday! How did this happen? where is Wednesday and Thursday?

It feels like my holiday is getting away from me at the speed of white light. There is only one week left and there is so much I still wanted to do. Preparing for next term was one of the things I was going to do, taking my time and 'enjoying' it, but now I am under pressure again.

I did make the MOST FANTASTICAL cake! I saw this on Jody Felaak's blog and then just had to try it. My grandchildren think their ouma is the coolest thing since sliced bread and I am not telling them they are wrong! You will find the instructions here: http://www.omnomicon.com/rainbowcake

I must admit it was a really expensive exercise. The food colouring cost me R3o a colour, but for my grandchildren and to be told by a 4 year old that you are "super smart". it was all worth it! Even the adults in my family were impressed, so try it, it really is worth the look on people's faces when you cut the cake. I didn't follow the instructions to the letter - I must admit, making a cake with diet colddrink is not really my scene. (what is the point if it is healthy?) I used two boxes of Ina Paarman's Vanilla cake and it worked out beautifully. The cake was finished so quickly that I didn't have time to take pictures - maybe next time!

Crafting wise, I have been busy! I am almost finished with Tertia-Lee's crochet blanket and I have made a few cards and even scrapped some!

This card uses some more Flowersoft on the blanket and I am starting to like it a bit, just not sure why it is called flower'soft', it is actually quite hard when you touch it. Image was coloured with my Copics and all the paper is Bazzil.





Another baby card, coloured with my copics. The image is from Uppikit. The patterned paper is from my scrapbox (I am making a real dent in my stash!) Other paper all from Bazzil. I did the embossing with my pasta machine and some Cuttlebug folders.
The next card was made with a freebie I found on the net, but I can not find the link now. It is the first time that I used a digi stamp and I actually enjoyed colouring her. Isn't she the cutest little fairy?



The papers are all Bazzil. Ribbon is from my stash and the charm from the local bead shop.
Apart from all that I finished the third Spud and I am almost finished with my new Jodi piccoult book. Coming to think about everything I have done this week, I know what has happened.
Have a great weekend everybody.

Copic Colour Challenge 26

I found the Copic colour challenge blog and decided to take part this week. I do not have all the colours, in fact I only have G99, so I used the closest ones I had and a whole lot more!


My card was made with Bazzil Cardstock and Making Memories patterned paper. The image I found in a second hand store, but I really love the image and sentiment. Ribbon is American Crafts. The wings have a little bling on them. I used my Spica pens.


This weekend has been VERY quiet, my DH spent most of the weekend at work which meant that I could retreat to my 'playroom' and play for most of the weekend. I finished a whopping 10 cards and 3 LO's. I will show you all of them during the week.
Ankie went to the orthodontist this morning for the prelimanary work - she is finally getting her braces next week (at 22), we have always had to postpone it because of some or other sporting commitment. This year she asked if she could do it now, because she says she wants straight teeth when she gets married!!!!! I nearly fainted, my baby can't be big enough to have thoughts of marriage just yet, can she? I mean, she has only been in a relationship with Barry for 6 years, thats not nearly enough time to decide you want to get married, is it?
I told her that the fact that she is getting braces should in no way tell her that I think she is ready to get married. She just looked at me and burst out laughing. Poor child, if I had my way, she would just stay at home for ever and entertain her mother, but then, I do want more grandchildren, so I suppose.....
It is scary though, to realise that even my baby is 4 years older than I was when I got married.

My dad the hero.

I belong to a great South African site called The Memories Warehouse. They are having a fantastic competition at the moment. Why don't you join in the fun? I have met some really AWESOME woman on that site that have carried me through some really hard times and that have made me laugh and cry ( sometimes cry, laughing!).

This LO was made for the first sketch challenge. Let me tell you, I am so not good with sketches! I think I have this built in resistance to following orders, thats why I am a pupil from hell in a class too LOL. When somebody tells me to cut an orange circle measuring xyz, I HAVE TO HAVE a blue square!

This was so hard for me, but I really like the way it turned out in the end!

The photo's were taken at Luke's birthday party at the Spur. Tertia=Lee had climbed up the jungle gym all by herself and then promptly burst into tears, refusing point blankly to come down.

She sat there screaming and then her dad (not a small man!) climbed up and came down the slide with her. The poor man got stuck somewhere in the middle, causing a bit of panic and a whole lot af hilarity, but in the end both father and daughter survived the ordeal without any life long scars!

The journaling tells the story and ends with: Who needs Superman when you have a dad?

I used a piece of paper that I have had for a long time and I can not remember by whom it was made. Other than that it is a very simple page using only a little Bazzil cardstock, some letters that came with the kit I got when I bought my camera and some ribbon from my stash.

Have a great weekend and remember to visit us at Memories Warehouse and to say Hi!

http://www.memorieswarehouse.co.za/

Look what I did today!

You must understand. This is huge for me! I haven't baked a cake from scratch in years. It is not that I can't, life just seemed to happen and baking took a backseat. Having three daughters that all started baking when they were very youn, made my baking kind of redundant. Now that they have left home there is really no point in baking a whole cake for DH and I.
During the term one of the girls brought the most devine cake to class and when I complimented her she promptly gave me the recipe. So, when Hannah asked what we were going to do today, I thought, lets try that cake.It came out a bit wonky, but it tastes wonderful, and my granddaughter thinks it is perfect!

Tomorrow we will be going to her weekly physio session and then the two of us are off to the Johannesburg Zoo. Hopefully I will get some good pictures.

My check up at the Pulmonologist went well. All seems to be OK. He did up my medication slightly, but he seemed quite pleased with all the tests.

What I see.

I finally found my scrapping Mojo. I think he was hiding behind the mess in my scraproom, because as soon as I cleaned, out he popped! These photo's of Ankie was taken on the day of her birthday. I followed her around the house and begged for some photo's. My kids know better than to refuse their mother when she has a camera in her hand and that 'look' on her face, but as you can see from the photo's, even Ankie runs out of patience every now and again. It makes for a pretty good page though. LOL





The papers I used are all Bazzil and Fabscraps. Other than that there is not nuch to this page. A few white flowers that I attacked with my Copics, brads by Enmarc. Ribbon from my stash and lace from my sewing basket (left over from a dress I made for Ankie when she was about two years old!)

The file on the right hand page contains a letter written to her. The front says: Highly Confidential.

The journaling reads:

My dearest Ankie Bankie,

Today is your 22nd birthday. It was so nice to have you at home and to be able to sing to you at 6 this morning. You will never know how much it means to us that you wanted to be nowhere else on your birthday. Thank you for allowing me to follow you around with my camera.

When I look at these pictures now, I think of so many things. To other people these may just be a couple of photo's of a silly, beautiful girl, but I see so much more when I look at them.

I see you walk away from me in grade 1. Your pigtails bouncing on your shoulders. You didn't even look back at me once, you were too excited to finally be able to go to 'big school' like your brother and sisters. Little did you know that I cried all the way to my school about my baby that grew up so fast.

I see you cross the line at your first athletics meeting, straight into your daddy's arms. I see him catch you with tears in his eyes. Neither of us could believe that there finally was a little Jacobs that inherited his sporting talent. And didn't you inherit it!!

I see you telling me, hand on the hips, that your teacher was 'stupid'. Why did you have to run over and over, they KNOW you are the fastest! It took you very long to understand why you should train when everything came so easily for you.

I see the tears shoot from your little eyes the day that the Neurologist diagnosed you with Epilepsy. Not because you had Epilepsy, but because he said that you should stop doing sport. He felt so sorry for you that he said you could try to carry on with your sport but you should stop if you had another seizure. Afterward he told me that we should not expect too much from you. Little did he know just how far you would go!

I see you walk away from me the first day of school in grade 6. That day you were just as brave as in grade 1. It was your first day at an English medium school and you saw it as just another adventure that you took on with such enthusiasm.

I can still clearly see you slam the car door after you first Netball practise at St Dominic's, proclaiming that these English girls play like 'fairies'! The teacher had to call you aside and ask you not to throw the ball so hard, because you were 'winding' the girls! I see you refuse to play badly just because they couldn't catch a ball and I can still see how they get better and better untill your team beat a few Afrikaans schools.

I see the day you recieved your South African colours for Water Polo for the first time. I also see how you stayed yourself through it all. I see your friends and team mates follow you, not because they have to, but because they can't help wanting to be near you and to be inspired by you.

I remember the day when one of your friends asked you why you have Epilepsy. You didn't know I heard and I held my breath waiting for the answer. Your answer? God gave me so many talents that He had to make sure that I remember that I am no better than anybody else, thats why He gave me Epilepsy. I was so proud at that moment. No bitterness, no questioning, just acceptance of something that so many people use as an excuse not to live their lives to the full.

Today you are a grown woman, that gives so much back. I watch you when you play and coach. I see how the girls hang on your every word. I see them blindly trust you and do whatever you ask. I see how other schools approach you with better offers to came and coach at their schools and I hear you tell them: Thank you so much, but I am happy where I am.

In you, my child, I see all the qualities I would love to have: humility,loyalty, perserverance, wisdom way above your years and still... a little girl thet hasn't forgotten how to play.

My birthday wish for you my dearest child is that all your dreams will come true and that every child that has the priviledge to be coached by you will learn what it is to be a true sports person. I am so proud of everything you have achieved, but more so of the amazing person you are.

One day, when I am big I would love to write a book about you and all the hurdles you had to overcome to achieve what you have and still will.

Love you

Mom

I recieved an award!

I recieved my first award from the lovely Micelle at www.extremelycrafty.blogspot.com. She has the most interesting stuff on her blog and she has launced a programme called "Craft against Cancer". Why don't you join in the fun?


Ok I am supposed to name 5 things that I would like to do. Only 5? You have got to be kidding me, there is so much I want to do. how do I limit it to 5? I'll try:
1. I want to own a Harley Davidson motorbike and actually ride it too.
2. I want to live long enough to meet my great grandchildren, is it too much to ask to be able to knit for them?
3. I want to be part of a design team. Any design team will do.
4. I would love to see my work published.
5. I want to make a real difference in somebody's life.

Now for 5 people I want to pass this award on to.
1. Anette at www.scraphappenshere.blogspot.com
2. Bee at www.sabees-place.blogspot.com
3. Michelle at www.mycrazylekkerlife.blogspot.com
4. Valerie at http://valerieisasunshineprincess.blogspot.com/
5. Toni at http://moderndaypioneers.blogspot.com

Had a fantastic weekend. Saw all my grandchildren, twice! We beat the Ausies on the rugby field. Why is it so wonderful to beat the Ausies? Had Lukie's birthday party and spent the whole day today sorting out my craftroom. Bought new curtains and tablecloths. Will put them up tomorrow when I come back from the dr. Going for my 6month check-up, hopefully all is well.

What a day I have had!

I have had the most frustrating day. My holiday is not going as planned at all - I was planning on scrapping and making cards, reading the 3 books I have piled up and relaxing, but NOOOO! no such luck for me. My DH thinks that when it is school holidays, he has an unpaid slave at home ( I love him dearly, but sometimes I could strangle him) Today I had to go to Anke's to fetch her washing and ironing, because there is no one at home to do it during the weekend. I had to drive to Johannesburg in peak hour traffic so that I could be at her place before she went to gym.
I had not even gotten back home when DH phoned to tell me that somebody was on the way home to fix our TV. The DSTV signal is so bad, you can't even watch the snow! But it is rugby on Saturday so it NEEDS to be fixed! He is so lucky I enjoy rugby!
Turns out there is nothing wrong with the TV, its the DSTV Decoder - so, you guessed it, I had to drive to Randburg (the other side of Johannesburg) to buy a new one. Not tomorrow, RIGHT NOW! Took me 3 hours there and back and the @#$! thing is still not working, but 'don't worry, dear, I'll fix it on Saturday morning before the rugby". I am not worried dear, but maybe you should be worried about turning your back on me. I might just do some serious damage!
OK vent over, feeling better now! Back to the cards I made yesterday. First one is a wonderful image I found last week and couldn't wait to stamp. Image was stamped with Stazon and coloured with my Copic markers. Everything else came out of the scrapbox. Pearls are by Kaisercraft and cardstock is Bazzil.



Next is a card I made with an image that I coloured long ago. I think it was from Uppikit. Papers from my scrapbox again. Ribbon the last little piece I had in my stash and flower made from ribbon by my DD about 5 years ago when she learnt how to make them and used every piece of ribbon she could lay her hands on to make roses.



Jury is out on the last card. I don't think I like it. Not sure why, any suggestions would be most welcome. Please help, something is just wrong and I don't know what. Papers Basic Grey and Bazzil. The little purses were coloured with my Copic Spicas and the charm is from the local habby store.

Oh, I forgot, just when I sat down to start scrapping, my DD, Karin, phoned. Luke needs 6 more invitations to his party on Sunday. Tomorrow is Friday, so it is his last day to hand them out. What is a grandmother to do? I stopped everything I was doing and made the invitations. Good thing they couldn't hear what I was thinking!

Happy Birthday dear Angel boy. (warning:Lots of photo's - long)

It was this beautiful boy's birthday yesterday. he turned 8 - I can't believe it! It feels like yesterday when I was called to the hospital and given this little bundle that was my first grandchild. I didn't realise then that you could actually love another human being quite that much! He had to go to school yesterday, but after school I went to pick him up for a special date. He could choose where he wanted to go and of course he chose Spur ( A local restaurant that has all sorts of things for children to do) He had a ball!
While he was at school I got stuck in my playroom and played. I finished 7 cards and a scrapbook layout, but don't worry, I won't show you all of it at once. I got my fairy stamps out and stamped and coloured quite a few.

This card was made with a stamp that came free with one of the magazines that I buy. The paper is also free magazine paper and Bazzil Cardstock(what else?)
The border punch is Fiscars and the butterfly was stamped on transparency and coloured with the Spica pens. The fairy was coloured with my grandchildren's colouring pencils. Told you I was playing!


This card was made entirely from my scrapbox. The paper is a little scrap I found - can't remember who it is made by. Image was coloured with colouring pencils and Copic markers. Her wings were glitterified (Still love that word LOL)



Another flower fairy. The image had horrible black marks around the edges so I had to cut her out, but I still think she looks pretty cool! Papers are from the Scrapbox again. I do know that the DP is from Basic Grey. She was coloured with mt Copic Markers and her wings were glitterified. Ribbon is from my stash.

This is the inside of Lukie's birthday card. Papers are Basic Grey - Lime Rickey and Cardstock is Bazzil. This card came together in minutes and I just love how it turned out. Luke also thinks it is pretty cool. I just made a tag with the Making Memories Tag maker and cut a little birdie from the patterned paper and stuck it on, Tied the tag on with ribbon and there you have a simple, but effective boy Birthday Card.

Could I clone her?

This card was made for a very special girl. Her name is Sanelisiwe Bingo, remember that name, because you are going to hear it again some day. She is 18 years old and is one of the most special people that has ever entered my life. The past year it has been my absolute priviledge to be the supervising teacher for the SRC (Students Representative Council) at our school. Sane was elected as president of the SRC. I must tell you, she is a very small little girl, standing just higher than my elbow, but in that little body lives a giant, with the mind, courage and wisdom of a grown woman! I can hardly believe that a year has passed and that a new president has been elected.
She singlehandedly changed the face of the SRC and made it a functioning body that has a real voice in the school. She started her year with elections and ended it with the respect of the teaching staff and learners of the school.
This card was made specially for her, from the SRC to say good bye and thank her for everything she has done for the body. I wish I could share every message that was written to her, because just reading what the girls wrote brought tears to my eyes. Sane has taken my vision for the SRC, made it a reality and even better than I could ever dream of. For the first time since the inception of the SRC, girls are saying that they would give anything to be the president - before it used to be the last option. So I have to say good bye to this very special girl. My best wishes go with her, knowing that we will always be in contact and that she will grow up to make a real difference to this wonderful country of ours. I look forward to hear her name mentioned on the news as a great leader in the new generation of people, building an even better country for all South Africans. With the future in the hands of such young people, we have nothing to fear.
Remember that name: SANELISIWE BINGO.

The card was made with Bazzil Cardstock and Basic Grey paper. The rose was stamped in Stazon ink and coloured with my Copics. Ribbon is from the local habby store.

Hope you like it as much as she did.