New Years Resolutions

NYA new year … time to make a fresh start!  Is anyone making New Years resolutions these days? I’m always keen to set some goals, especially at this time of the year but I’m wondering if I’m on my own here.

I have to admit that I like setting daily tasks for myself.  That probably goes back to the days when I worked in sales for a few years.  I had to start the day feeling motivated and what better way to do that than to know exactly what your plan of action would be and to be able to tick those achievements off at the end of the day.  I found it so successful that I started to set my goals for home as well, and years later I’m still doing it, so I guess setting New Years resolutions is just a part of who I am.

Not that I’ve always been successful, try as I might.  For the last two years my main resolution has been the same – drink more water.  You’d think living in a dry climate that would be easy, but it’s something I’ve always struggled with until a couple of months ago, when I discovered Apps!  Well, not discovered exactly, I knew they were there, but I didn’t really think about them until I updated my phone and started playing around on it.

Feeling a bit frustrated that another year was coming to an end and I’d made no headway with the water thing, I suddenly thought “I wonder if there is an app for that?” Hallelujah!!!  As it happens, there is more than one, and thank you Hydro Coach Pro, I’m drinking plenty of water because I’ve got this wonderful little app that works out how much water I need to drink each day, taking into account my activity level and the weather and I get regular reminders on my phone throughout the day.  In fact, because I’m expecting them, I often drink an extra glass of water just to get ahead so as not to see the sad little face on the screen at the end of the day letting me know I’ve failed!

Drink more water – tick!

The other area I tend to fall down in is going to the gym regularly.  That’s another resolution I’ve felt bad about at the end of the year – but no more …. and yes, there is an app for that.  Thank you Abusive Gym Reminder, now I have committed to three days per week and the app knows if my phone has been to the gym address, so by extension that I’ve been there too.  There are three different levels of abuse and I’ve set my phone to  the middle one with great effect so far.   No one wants to have their phone tell them, in a variety of ways, what a loser they are for not making good on their goals, so now when I set my tasks for the day (which, by the way is another app!) it goes without saying that I’m not going to miss the gym.

Regular gym attendance – tick!

So what does that leave me with for a New Years resolution for 2018 ……. oh yes, upping the fruit and vegetables and eating healthy.   I wonder if there is an app for that?

Christmas Table Runner

Better late than never!  I had an idea in the midst of the pre Christmas rush, to make a table runner for December.  While I procrastinated, I got a very nice little Secret Santa present …. 6 fat quarters of Christmas fabric.

 

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From this…….

 

 

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To this…except I swapped out the plain red fabric.  After all, you can’t have too many stars!

 

It’s actually quite a straight-forward pattern consisting of half square triangles and the good thing is that you could easily swap out the fabrics to suit any time of the year.  Something to keep in mind for a quick handmade gift.

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Whatever you are doing on Christmas Day, I hope it’s a happy and safe one for you and your families.  Last year we all made the decision not to worry about presents (except for children and animals!) so we all bring some lovely food to share and enjoy each other’s company instead.  Can’t wait!!!

Open Garden

I always feel excited when I see Open Gardens advertised, because they usually start during our lovely autumnal weather which we are experiencing now in Queensland.  Such a relief after the 40 degrees C experienced several times this past summer.

So I set off this morning to the first one, Viola’s Patch.  Only an hour (88km) each way!  But I enjoyed the drive and it was certainly worth the visit.  I purchased a few plants which I admired in the garden, so now I feel inspired!

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Liebster Award

Liebster Award

Recently I was surprised and excited to find that I had been nominated by Halfstitch for a Liebster Award.  Check out her blog, if you love cross stitch I’m sure you will find it as inspiring as I do.  Thank you very much, Michelle, it is such an honour to be nominated by one of my blogger peers and have my humble blog chosen as one of interest.  Amazing.

I haven’t posted anything for a little while, as I really didn’t have anything interesting to write about – but now I do!!!

Rules for Receiving this Award

• Create a post to accept the award! Thank the person who nominated you and link back to his/her blog (it would help if you included a little information about it).
• Display the award on your blog. You can save the image and upload it to your blog post and/or add it as a widget on your blog.
• List 10 random facts about yourself.
• Nominate 5-10 blogs you admire that have less than 200 followers.
• Post your answers to the questions asked by the person who nominated you.
• List these rules in your post.
• Ask your nominees 10 questions after tagging them in the post.

10 Facts about Me

  1. I love crafts and have tried most of them in the past.  Now I try to limit myself to cross stitching, sewing, quilting, scrap booking, card making and occasional knitting projects.
  2. I enjoy gardening but sometimes find it difficult in our hot Australian summers.
  3. I try to get to the gym regularly (2-3 times a week) and yoga weekly.
  4. I love my cats – and other people’s dogs.
  5. I am passionate about animal welfare.
  6. I always make lists and like that it makes me more productive.
  7. I once put on a job application form that my interests were riding my motorcycle and target pistol shooting and was told they were “unladylike”.  (I didn’t get the job.)
  8. I am addicted to my ebook and currently have more than 100 titles unread.
  9. Favourite genres – biographies, horror and psychological thrillers.
  10. Try as I might, I can’t solve the Rubik’s Cube.

 

My Nominations

 

Halfstitch’s Q& A

  1. Do you prefer sweet or savoury foods?  Sweet!  Normally when I go to a restaurant, I check out the dessert menu first – and leave room accordingly, especially if creme brulee is on the menu!
  2. What can’t you leave your house without?  Well, I could say lip balm, which would be true (and boring!).  Also true and far more important – my credit card.  I never carry much cash and twice I have filled up my car with fuel and then realized I had no money!  On one occasion the attendant wouldn’t let me leave, and I was there for quite a while until I could contact my “other half”.  I was too embarrassed to “ring a friend”!
  3. What did you enjoy most about today?  I got up early (for once) and we got the lawns mowed, the edges trimmed and some gardening done, and it all looks so neat!
  4. Are you an early riser or a night owl?  I used to be a night owl and an early riser but not now, as the cats love to come in (with a little bit of encouragement from me) to snuggle up in bed early in the morning.  So now I get up late – I can’t disturb them, right?
  5. What’s your favourite hobby?  Hmmm, difficult to choose just one …. probably sewing.
  6. What are the three foods you can’t do without?  Krispy Kreme donuts, dark chocolate and (to be honest) KFC’s Zinger Burger.  (No one said “healthy” foods, did they?)
  7. What are you looking forward to?  Our train trip next week on the “Ghan” which goes from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Adelaide in South Australia.
  8. What websites do you frequent?  Pinterest, Craftsy and EBay.
  9. Name one of your Goals.  Plan a vacation to the USA, to spend some more time in New York and LA (and wherever else we can fit in).
  10. What’s your favourite type of cruisine?  Too difficult to narrow down to one – I’ll have to say Mexican and Thai.

10 Questions for My Nominees

  1. Describe yourself in three words.
  2. What is your favourite hobby?
  3. What is your best tip for other bloggers or new starters?
  4. Do you blog regularly and what do you do if you can’t think up a new post?
  5. Did you make New Year’s Resolution?  If so, how is that going?  If not, why?
  6. What is the most exciting thing you have done this year?
  7. What is your favourite food?
  8. Which book are you currently reading?
  9. Do you have a pet?
  10. Where in the world would you most like to visit, and why?

 

 

 

Australia Day

A little bit of Aussie humour for Australia Day …….(author unknown)

The sun was hot already – it was only 8 o’clock
The cocky took off in his Ute, to go and check his stock.
He drove around the paddocks checking wethers, ewes and lambs,
The float valves in the water troughs, the windmills on the dams.

He stopped and turned a windmill on to fill a water tank
And saw a ewe down in the dam, a few yards from the bank.
“Typical bloody sheep,” he thought, “they’ve got no common sense,”
“They won’t go through a gateway but they’ll jump a bloody fence.”

The ewe was stuck down in the mud, he knew without a doubt
She’d stay there ‘til she carked it if he didn’t get her out.
But when he reached the water’s edge, the startled ewe broke free.
And in her haste to get away, began a swimming spree.

 He reckoned once her fleece got wet, the weight would drag her down.
If he didn’t rescue her, the stupid sod would drown.
Her style was unimpressive, her survival chances slim
He saw no other option, he would have to take a swim.

He peeled his shirt and singlet off, his trousers, boots and socks
And as he couldn’t stand wet clothes, he also shed his jocks.
He jumped into the water and away that cocky swam
He caught up with her somewhere near the middle of the dam.

The ewe was quite evasive, she kept giving him the slip
He tried to grab her sodden fleece but couldn’t get a grip.
At last he got her to the bank and stopped to catch his breath
She showed him little gratitude for saving her from death.

She took off like a Bondi tram around the other side
He swore next time he caught that ewe he’d hang her bloody hide.
Then round and round the dam they ran, although he felt quite puffed
He still thought he could run her down, she must be nearly stuffed.

The local stock rep came along, to pay a call that day.
He knew this bloke was on his own, his wife had gone away.
He didn’t really think he’d get fresh scones for morning tea
But neither was he ready for what he was soon to see.

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief at what came into view
For running down the catchment came this frantic-looking ewe.
And on her heels in hot pursuit and wearing not a stitch
The farmer yelling wildly, “Come back here, you lousy bitch.”

The stock rep didn’t hang around, he took off in his car
The cocky’s reputation has been damaged near and far
So bear in mind the Work Safe rule when next you check your flocks
Spot the hazard, assess the risk and always wear your jocks!