Happy Easter Everyone

We are basically having a fairly quiet Easter break - had friends over for lunch yesterday - it's good to have a catch-up as we hadn't seen them for a few months. Up early this morning for the 6:00am service at Church. Usually the early Easter service starts in the dark but with Easter being so early this year it was quite light however they still had the 'campfire' lit out the front & then we all filed into a dark church.

I'm quite happy to not be doing a lot - the new meds are making me really tired. Don't know whether I'll stay on them as I don't think they are doing anything as yet - although the Dr. did say not to make any decisions till about 3 - 4 weeks as it can take that long for them to start taking effect. I did think things were a bit easier early last week but now feel that was due to not doing a lot rather than the meds. Have been terribly stiff & sore again the last couple of days. Even had difficulty getting out of bed to go for my walk. Maybe the change in weather has played some part in it too as last time we had unsettled weather I was very sore too.

The Monthly Challenges for Blumars

Maria is really keeping up busy this month - the challenges were an Easter poem on a layout, make an egg shaped Easter card, make an Easter present & the photography challenge was to take a night-time photo. I find it hard doing layouts which don't have photos on them & I'm also still not comfortable with making cards unless it's during a class.
The quick technique challenge for the month was to use an object on your page which you hadn't used before. I used gravel to make a path which I felt fitted in with the photos of our landscaping.

Photo Impact

Have really been enjoying Photo Impact - would love to be able to spend heaps more time at the computer playing around with this programme - there is just so much that can be done and the beginners workshop tutorials are only skimming over the surface. In the past couple of weeks the tutorials I've done have been on blending images & changing an image with lighting.

With the blending one I took a beach scene & a photo of my niece at a theme park & blended the two.
And here is Gunde Bear looking through the porthole on the MV Trinity when we did the trip to the cape last year.

March White with One

I had another try at the white with 1 challenge - this month it was to be white & green with the work lucky in the title. I find these interesting as it really makes me think about blending colours & textures.

March Weekend Workshop

Last weekend was another Blumars weekend workshop. Mum came up on Friday so she was able to join in too. The challenges were to make a LO with a chocolate theme, make a card using ribbons & decorate a box. I actually threw my first card out as it just didn't turn out at all how I'd expected it to, then made a second one. Whilst making that card I was just playing around with shapes & had an idea of what to do with the original card so I dug it out of the bin & had a play around with it.
Here is the result -
This is the other card-
My "Chocolate" layout-
My decorated box-
We also had another wonderful card class - using a very simple technique. The cards are very effective though.

Bathroom Renovation

Yay - well the bathroom reno is moving along. The plumber was here last friday to help hubby install the shower-walls - they are made of a heavy vinyl / plastic material - L shaped - that forms two of the sides. They hubby installed the glass panel & door yesterday. Only the silicone to be finished & the taps re-installed & then that bit is finished. Now to decide on what type of vanity unit to buy & the colour of the paint for the walls.

Feeling Wiped Out & Tired

Mmmmm - I really wonder sometimes - is it worth going away - even for a few days. The travelling & 'just being out' seem to take so much out of me. Have been totally wiped out the past couple of days........... just been spending quiet days at home but it seems to take me so long to get over going away. Really can't motivate myself to do anything or go anywhere. Oh well - might go outside in the yard for a while & talk to the dogs. It's an absolutely beautiful autumn day today - light breeze & only mid-20's - perfect for being outside. Lovely out walking this morning - so much wildlife around at the moment - saw quite a large mob of roos this morning. Lots of birds around too. The lorikeets were sitting on the feeder yelling because the seed had gone - they are getting so cheeky & the mickies also let me know when the bath is empty.

Frustrations with computers - GRRRRR

Well - after threatening to throw my 'puter in the pool I finally sorted out this tutorial with the help of my mentor. I had tried & tried last week & gave up in frustration as I was sure there was something I was missing & no matter how hard I tried just couldn't manage to 'bend' the photo. Put it away in disgust & then had another go when I got home after having the few days away but Nooooo - still couldn't do it. Anyway - it turned out to be something simple & the 'dot' I was supposed to be clicking on to manipulate the line didn't show up with the background colour being used. The tutorial also didn't mention all the steps involved which made matters worse - anyway - finally finished it & am quite happy with the outcome.

Our Weekend Away

Well hubby and I had a lovely time away last week. He was able to pull two RDO's so we had three nights down the coast at Labrador. Stayed in lovely units right on the beachfront - "Sandcastles on the Broadwater". We didn't have anything much planned to do - just wanted a relaxing break. I caught up with a lovely lady who I met through Blumars - we've been chatting on line for a few months & were finally able to meet up. Had a wonderful time ....... the time just flew ......... arrived at about 11:30am & before we knew it was 4:30pm.

While there we were also able to visit our ex-pastor, his wife & their family. It was great to have a proper catch up.

We were able to go for walks along the foreshore most days - it's a very pretty spot. Good walking / bike paths & a fantastic spot for water sports as well as having a lagoon for swimming in. I'm not a swimming in the sea person though - prefer a heated pool - don't like getting salty & sandy. We were fortunate with the weather too as showers had been predicted but nothing eventuated.

Stopped at my parents for lunch on the Sunday & then I stayed with mum & dad for a couple of days. Had a lovely time doing some craft & went out for coffee too. I did some tea-bag folding medallions & tried out some new patterns.