Friday, November 29, 2013

Getting Things Ready

I haven't really been feeling in the spirit of the Season lately.  And I know why.  But it doesn't mean I have to be a Grinch or Scrooge at this time of year... and I'm not going to be either.  I'm also not going to force myself to be into the Christmasy thing all together either.

What I'm going to do is clean up a little, put out some of my Christmas decorations and see how I feel.  If I'm going okay, I'll decorate the whole house... 

So far, I've done the trees out the front of the house and I'm feeling okay.  Last year, my little bird was alive to see me do this decorating thing... this year, she's not around.  What I might do this year, is put her cage away in storage after the New Year.  It'll help the healing process and I'll be able to keep a clear mind about whether I want another bird in the future or not.  

So far today, I went out and bought the streamers for the trees out the front and two boxes to put away all my knitting yarn.  And I now have 3 extra 'green' bags and all my yarn in two boxes I bought from a cheap store, which I'll be storing in my wardrobe in my spare room until after the New Year... then I'll get another few boxes to put the rest of the yarn I couldn't fit into the boxes and they'll be nice and neatly piled in the corner in the lounge room next year so I can use them when I want to; instead of being in bags all the time.

The next thing I need to do is get my Christmas Tree down from the office.  I put it up here last year when I found putting it into the storage room under my stairs only attracted creepy-crawly things with more legs than a gecko... so having it in a wardrobe where I don't have to be scared of what's going to jump out at me is a good idea. Plus if I'm looking for something in the boxes, I'm not fumbling around in the dark.

But mainly, over the next few weeks, I'm going to be wrapping presents, sending out Christmas Cards (yeah, haven't done that yet, naughty me!) and getting my butt into gear to pack my bag for the coast.  It'll be good to get away from the city for a few days and work on my reading instead of my painting.  And you know, I'll be hanging out to paint stuff while I'm away too - I just know it! - so I'll take along a sketch pad and pencils so I don't have to spend money on those things every time I'm there (which usually happens).  

So, what are you all up to over this time of year.  Seeing I've been so caught up in the Creative Markets and working up to it, my house is still slowly being tranformed from being the aftermath of a dorm party and into a liveable place... slowly but surely... and my house will look like my house again soon.  Otherwise, I'm tired and sleeping well again.  And there's party after party, get together after get together coming over the next few weeks.  So, my Christmas shopping has been planned and I have attacked it quickly and made sure I have had most of the it all done and dusted over the last week... how exhausting!  Now all I need to do is wrap everything and put it under the tree - once I put that up. Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Is It Christmas?

For me, it's not yet.  I haven't got the tree up, I haven't sent out Christmas Cards... I just don't really feel like it's here yet.  I'm not sure why, but I just don't feel as though I'm in the right mood for it yet.

Since my little bird died, I haven't really wanted to be happy about Christmas; and do you really blame me?  I mean, my poor little bird died only 3 weeks before it and I had presents signed from her.  
So this year, I'm not sure where this leaves me.  I'm happy that I've moved on, but I'm also sad she's not here to enjoy the time with me.  I know some people will tell me to move on and that she's only a bird.  But the bond we had was really strong; and that we shared something special.  My little bird had such trust in me that I could open her wings, check her feet and pet her so gently she'd fall asleep in my hands while I watched television at night... now that was trust; total trust.  She got to a point where if I kissed her beak, she never bit me, she just let me and nibbled my nose gently in return.  Such a sweetheart.
I know it's good to remember the good times about her, but it's hard to live without a pet when you live alone. 

Now, over the last year, you've all seen me work on getting on with my life... and on my health too.  I have hoped to try to move on through this Christmas Season without thinking of my departed little bird, but I haven't.  
Mum actually suggested putting her cage away soon... but it's not yet a year.  I know where I'll put it and hope to use it again for my next bird in a few years' time.  However, it's always difficult to lose a pet near this time of year; as you always remember them at this time then... and it takes time to get yourself back into what Christmas is all about.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here. 

Sunday, November 24, 2013

The Creative Markets!

5:45am:

I was woken by my alarm.  I didn't want to get up, but I did.  The morning was nice and cool.  It had been raining only about a half hour before, and it looked like it was going to be a rainy day.

6:40am:

I had eaten breakfast, put on make-up, loaded up the car with my goodies, packed my lunch, bought a litre of milk (yeah, I drink that much in a day) and then bought a paper and was off to the Springwood State School. 
The roads were clear.  It was such an easy drive... and I forgot to buy some tissues, so I went to the 7/11 down the road from the school and bought a travel pack.  Ironically, I didn't need them.

By the time I arrived at the school, it was just on 7am.

7:30am:

I was set up, put all my boxes, excess stock to the back of my stall and opened my green chair.  I had an hour to kill before the Creative Markets actually opened.  So, I took some business cards and walked around to some of the other people's stalls to see what they were selling.  There's some very talented people out there... 

8:45am:

People started coming in dribs and drabs.  By 9am, the place was filled with stall owners and customers.  I had a few people walking and looking at my stuff, but not buying yet... then they'd come back with their kids and they'd buy something.  When the kids didn't like the prices of the pencils, I made them a deal and made a quick sale... they walked away happy.  So did their folks.

10am:

Kellie Smith came to my stall and had a quick look-see.  She loves my work!  She picked out some pegs and sprung pegs too and was my first sale of the day!  She was amazed at the detail work that went into the designs!  

11:30am: 

My feet were killing me.  I was on my second home-made ice coffee (and boy did I need it!) and Vivienne Treagus showed up with Little Miss Zoe in tow... they were wonderful to see!  Vivienne bought some pencils and a couple of magnets and then went away to give Zoe some lunch.  But they returned to sit with me for the rest of the time until 1pm.

12:20pm:

The crowds came in waves - I found.  So there were rest times of around 5 - 10 minutes at a time... this is good.  But I was told by some of the stall owners that sometimes, it's more hectic... while other times, there's no sales at all.  
Then, my folks come through the crowd that was there.  Dad first, then Mum.  They had driven up from Brunswick Heads to collect the boat and take it back down there.  They were so proud of me and Dad said I looked tired; but it must be fun doing this kinda thing.  

12:56pm:  I pack up in 3 minutes... seriously!  So did everyone else.  Mum had walked away 6 minutes ago, came back and I was packed up!  She was stunned!  Dad was a great help with carrying a few things out to the car for me, so I didn't have to carry them out in two trips.

Summary of the Creative Markets:

I had a great time.  It was under cover, so we didn't have to worry about getting sunburnt or the weather.  But it was very humid as the multi-purpose shelter we were using wasn't designed to let in much air.

I made enough money to cover my $55 rent on my spot.  Otherwise, I made $3.00 profit after that... which isn't bad seeing it's my first time.  

I've decided to have another go there at Springwood in February when the Creative Markets come back next year... I'll have more stock, more variety and more designs to choose from.  

Saturday, November 23, 2013

My Grandma's Birthday

Today would have been my Grandma's 95th Birthday - only days after Doris Lessing passed away, aged one year younger, and they had the same first name.  

I miss my Grandmother.  She was the coolest person in my life.  She was funny too and knew how to see the hilarious side of life when things looked really bad.  Grandma always asked me three questions when I was down about something:  'Is the sky going to fall on your head?  Is the earth going to swallow you up?  Is the sun going to stop shining tomorrow?' of course the answer to these would be no... and she's ask me why I was so upset and I'd tell her.  Afterwards, I'd not only feel better but realise my problem was pretty tiny really.
She bought me the coolest presents.  No matter what kind of presents they were, she'd either give me money to go towards it, or buy me something unusual.  I remember one time, she was at Byron Bay and was looking for a birthday present for me.  She brought back a coin purse made from Hemp with a marijuana leaf stitched into the front of it.  At the time I was working full time at RACQ and my boss thought it was funny, but still said it was tasteless.  when he found out my Grandma gave it to me, and knew what it was, he chuckled saying, 'Groovy Grandma.'

Grandma Killips was the best cook too.  Whenever we arrived at her house, and she opened the front door, the place always smelled like the best bakery in the world!  The aroma of cakes, biscuits and sweets wafted from the place all the time; and she'd feed us as though she was feeding an army!  This is because she had had five children!  So, there was always plenty of food to go around.  

Staying at Grandma's house - or hanging out there - was great.  There was the piano to play, the pool table to use or the massive backyard to hang out in.  Or better still, my brother and my cousins would get the home-made go-kart from the back shed, kick off the spiders, Grandpa would spray it with Pee-bo and brush off the dead bodies and we'd go racing down the steep hill of Wonderlost Outlook on the footpath - no helmets, no elbow or knee pads... and most of all... no brakes!  What fun we had!
I loved the side veranda at their house.  It used to be a bedroom for 3 boys:  Uncle Allan, Uncle David and Uncle Iain.  But, when I was young, there were bookcases of books, and a couple of wardrobes in it with an old oval dining room table in it.  I loved hanging out in there looking through the old 'Coles' books and not having a clue what the political jokes meant, but liking the drawing in Indian ink.  Then, I'd wash my hands and play the piano... but only my right hand would work whereas my left hand wouldn't move; or know how to.
I did try but would get the shakes if I tried too hard at making both my hands work on the piano at the same time.  It just wouldn't happen for me; not until recently.

But the things my Grandma taught me over my life was amazing... and I didn't realise exactly what she taught me until I went to high school and put those lessons to use in Home Economics.  Grandma taught me to cook with a wooden spoon - a few of them for different things - instead of a metal one; as the metal one would taint the food if you left it in the pot, whereas the wooden one wouldn't.  That goes the same for a wooden chopping board... but you have to keep it clean and oiled so it doesn't warp (and I have a $15 chopping board which I've owned for over 3 years and it looks brand new!).
She used vinegar in her laundry as a softener instead of regular 'Cuddly' softener; as the ones you buy at the shops caused a rash on her skin.  Well, when I found I was getting itchy from the same problems, I changed my washing softener to vinegar and have had great results.  And then I added Bi-Carb Soda in with my towels and they're fluffier than ever; and they absorb more water than ever before and smell wonderfully fresh.  

I have found that it's the little things that have made a big difference in my life that I have learned from Grandma.  I stayed overnight at her place 4 days before she passed away; and stayed at her house for the whole day the next day instead of going home straight after breakfast.  This is something I have never regreted doing... as I just had a feeling I had to stay with her for the day; and it was the best thing I ever did, because it was the last day I saw my Grandma alive.  Happy Birthday Grandma.  I miss you so much as you taught me so much; and your memory still lives on through your piano which I have in my house, which I'm learning to play - with both hands this time (yay!).  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Tomorrow is My Day Off

Yep, tomorrow is the day where I sleep in, eat pancakes, do pretty much nothing at all but contemplate the fluff in my navel... it's also the calm before the storm of the Creative Markets on Sunday morning.  It's the day where I'll be organising what I'll be eating, drinking, wearing and doing at 6am on Sunday morning.

This won't take long.

Seeing I've spent the last 3 weeks organising myself to the last little letter, little bit and every little piece of thing I have ever needed in between, I have all the stuff I want in the car.  My two boxes filled with stores and items for the table for the market.  I know exactly where my stall is at the market (as I was sent an e-mail of where it was in the hall last Monday - and it is subject to change on the day).  And I have bought every kind of food I've ever loved to eat from the Big Apple and at Coles - which is snackable and tasty... so there's nothing that can go wrong.

Unless I accidentally go back to sleep and forget to get up, dress, scoff down breakfast and race off to the markets in a huge rush, I don't think anything will go wrong.

Last week I did have a horrible nightmare though.  I dreamt that the markets were moved to Dreamworld; and so we all got there and the organisers wanted us to haul all our stuff onto the train there and we had to set up at Koala Town (is that still there?).  Then, at around 8:45am, they just went around and told us that it wasn't any use and we had to pack up and leave the premises before the themepark opened... at 9am!  I had to pack up on my own and nobody would help me drive my Kombi van out of there.  I was being glared at by all the people walking around the theme park and I felt terrible and didn't sell a single thing or get my money back.  I was thankful it was a dream.

I know that was down to stress... damned thing... but I think it was because I'm walking a road I've never traveled before and it's scary and weird.  And once I've done this and know it's not that bad, I'll do it again and know it's fun and stressful and exciting... so, I'll make a little money and enjoy it. 

So, I'm looking forward to the Creative Markets at Springwood State School on Sunday.  I'll be stuffed when I get home, but it'll be worth it when it's done.  Dad's worried about how much money I've put into the Crafty Pegs venture... but I do believe it's the setting-up costs and the first year that actually does cost the most in a business; after that, it does start paying itself off little by little.
But I have noticed that I'll never get my time back from my Crafty Pegs.  It's just how it goes.  I enjoy painting - fortunately - and it's something I will be getting back into again and again.  

So, tomorrow is a day of double-checking that I have everything.  That I have enough money for a float... that I have my outfit sorted out, the right shoes for the day, that I get enough sleep the night before and make sure I secure everything right for the drive over and back.  I know that sounds basic - the last one - but I don't want something to be smashed in the back of the Pajero when I'm not going too far for a market.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

All For Beauty And Youth

Right now, I'm sitting at my desk with my hair wrapped in a towel after I gave it a good dousing with olive oil.  Yeah, olive oil.. I heard from somebody recently that it's so good for us on the inside and outside that it's the best thing to put through your hair to keep it nice and shiny.  It'll keep the colour of your hair, stop greys coming through and keep it from getting too oily as well... and well, I just had to try it out to see what it would do to my hair.

I mean, what's the harm?  It's oil... olive oil... it's not a chemical, it's something natural and it's cheaply bought anywhere.  So, why not?  It's not like my hair is going to fall out, right?

Well, I'm one of those people who try out things because it's interesting to try it.  And it all started when I was a teenager and reading Dolly magazine and I found a rolled oats and milk facial mask.  Mum and Grandma helped me with it and they put it on me - but wouldn't put it on themselves.  However, they did say that after we took it off that my skin looked and felt nicer and less oily.

Now, I have done some home dying with my hair - which turned out really badly - and I couldn't get the colour out.  This was until one of my friends suggested I use anti-dandruff shampoo... yay! The colour came out and stripped my hair of anything good.  So, that was the last time I did anything like that at home!  Anyway, I did get my hair permed two different ways... both were great!  But I had to moisturise the crap out of my hair or it would have made me looke like a frizzball!  So, since the perms have grown out and my hair - and I - have grown older, I think it's time I just took care of my hair the best way I know how.

So, what weird things have you gone and done with your hair, your facials, your nails and hands... any tattoos you've gotten and later regretted and now think it's funny you got them?  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember I'm always here.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

A Few Days Off

Today was the last day where I was sitting and working hard on my Crafty Pegs; and boy, did I feel like giving in!  I spent my morning sitting by my back door hoping to have a lovely quiet morning.  But my back neighbour - who was Turkish - was screaming at her baby, who was also screaming.  Then, her friend was screaming over the top of the baby... and if that didn't drive me nuts enough, they had the pressure cooker on and it went off and then they all screamed!  What a pain the butt!

By 1:30pm, I had finished up all the pegs I was ever going to do and got my behind outside with the varnish, the clothes horse and the pegs and spent around half and hour varnishing them.  Because I didn't have the car and it was so humid today, both layers of varnish dried quickly and - before I knew it - I was back inside to wrap up the sets of pegs.
I sorted them out into sets, made up the paper holders, clipped them all together, and then worked out how much cellophane I'd need to wrap them up.  It took me around 1 1/2 hours to get it all together and worked out.  And by around 3pm, it was done!  I stood up, stretched and woohooed a little before I put the lid on the stock box, put it away, and then ... then, I cleaned up the craft area.  I threw away excess paper, put away anything I've been ignoring and found a box for my sandpaper, bubblewrap and other items and organised it properly.  

Tonight, I wrote out my shopping list, did some washing up and put out the rubbish bin and organised what I was taking shopping tomorrow.  And the car has been returned to me for the trip tomorrow too.  I'll have a whole afternoon to myself tomorrow... well, jeez, I won't be painting pegs for once, so I'll be out the back yard reading a book I think... yeah, that'd be nice to get back into again, I think.

So, how has your week started out so far?  Busy like mine?  Or has it been go, go, go?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

The Devil's In the Details

In a week's time, I'll be attending the Creative Markets at Springwood Road State School here in Logan City.  My stall will be called Lynda's Crafty Pegs.  I'm so happy, tired, sleepless and broke... but I'm glad to be doing this as it's a new experience.  However, I have been told that it's the first market stall that does send you a little broke to start with - and the setting-up costs that does that to you as well.  And once you've got all that set-up costs out of the way, you can work out anything else you need to do afterwards.

Well, now, it's the devilishly details stuff.  I have a few more pegs to get done, the last varnishing session and wrappings to do on Tuesday.  Wednesday is my grocery shopping day and then on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I'm going to be doing nothing... absolutely no Crafty Pegs stuff, so I'm not exhausted.  But that doesn't mean I won't be doing something on those days.

On Thursday I'll probably get some much-needed housework done around here.  Yeah, I've been washign up, doing a little laundry here and there, but I really need to get some major cleaning up done around here; as it's been ignored of late.
On Friday, I'll be out of here early with Mum to go to the hair dressers to have my hair looked at... well, I know it's a lovely long bit of hair, but I really do enjoy having it done the way I did last year - all flipped and wavy in the 1970's style.  And I'll also be doing it to have myself look nice and neat for the markets too.
Saturday is the day where I'll pack the car with everything I need to take to the market.  This means I'll have the car competely emptied out of boxes, bags and anything else in there - except what will be needed.  This also means I'll be getting a few things to tie things down and together while I'm out shopping on Wednesday so nothing slides around and damages the car interior.  

Next Sunday morning, I'll be at the school before 7am... yeah, that early... to set up my stall.  I'm hoping to have my Aunty Helen help me out at the stall that day for the few hours and then help me out packing up too.  Otherwise, if she can't, I'll be okay on my own with a two-wheel trolley (which I'll nab from Dad for the weekend).  

Yep, the devil's in the details this week. And I have to get everything right.  Dad's worried that I've spent too much money on this Crafty Pegs business venture, but I have said to him that it's the setting up of anybusiness that usually costs the most; then after around a year, it usually starts to pay itself off bit by bit.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Busy! Busy!... And Getting Busier!

Man oh man!  Have I been busy this week... and yet I somehow missed a day.  I thought today was Friday; and it's not.

Oh well. 

This week, I've been working hard on my Crafty Pegs, getting them painted, organised, varnished, wrapped and finding out out how much I have to sell.  I do have a lot of Cool Pencils - over 30 of them in fact - and so I'm working on more pegs than I know what to do with now.  This includes the Magna-Pegs and Sprung Pegs too as well as the Dolly Pegs.  However, the ones I ordered off e-bay from the UK have yet to arrive and it's been almost 3 weeks!!!  I did leave a note on e-bay for the guy and let him know on e-bay that they haven't arrived and it's been an abnormal amount of time ... so I hope to hear from him soon.
However, fortunately, I've been able to find Dolly Pegs in cheap stores and buy all of their stores of them... and so I'm painting them as fast as I can and getting them ready to sell too.

In between all of this working on the Crafty Pegs stall, painting and varnishing, I've been to the doctors in the city for a check-up.  This is the same specialist who helped me with the IUD and ovarian cyst in June.  Dr. Stephen Cook was happy to hear that I'm a lot better than I was before the operation.  I've lost weight, am sleeping better and no longer have a any problems with bloating... actually I don't bloat anymore or retain fluids - so I don't look overweight either.  So, that was wonderful.

Today, I did a big varnishing session in the carport, and just as I finished pulling the pegs off the old clothes horse I had found at the back of the complex a few months ago, the whole thing collapsed - falling apart.  So, I'm in for a new one tomorrow.  I'll be going out to Sam's Warehouse to buy a new one while I'm off to the chiropractors too.
This afternoon, I spent around 1 1/2 hours wrapping up all the 1 set of Sprung Pegs, 2 sets of Dolly pegs and 12 Cool Pencils in cellophane to add to the stores for the stall.  Then there were 3 Magna-Pegs and another 5 Magna-Pegs which were a commissioned set for a volunteer at the Logan Art Gallery.  

Tonight, while the storm raged out on and off outside, I was working hard at my craft area.  I really got into a routine and painted up two or three Dolly Pegs, two Sprung Pegs and three Magna-Pegs... I'm looking forward to the weekend where I'll be working hard on my stores... and then by Tuesday next week, I'll do my very last varnishing-and-wrapping day.  On Wednesday, I'll do the grocery shopping and on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I'll do nothing but stick around the house and tidy up or organised the car... yeah, that sounds good.  I still have stuff to put away from Halloween sitting around the living room and a tree to put up for Christmas.  

So, how has your week been going?  Busy as hell like my week?  Or just average and ordinary?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Working Hard This Week

It's Thursday and I've been working very hard this week on Crafty Pegs, on looking at getting rid of the old bedroom suite and trying to clean up my house.

Well, okay, most of this is getting done.

It's a pay week and so I got the grocery shopping done, went and bought myself a bum bag for the markets and a cheap-arse calculator (so I can figure out the change for people the at the Creative Markets at the end of this month) and then, I worked out which boxes I'll be taking with me, so I don't have to buy another box.
Then, I figured out which table cloth I wanted to use for the display; as well as the table.  However, I thought I had to buy another table - or borrow one - and Mum offered up a spare one at their place.  She's impressed at how organised I am right now, and happy that I'm working very hard at my stock.  I'm making sure I have a lot of work done before I need to varnish anything, then, once it's all dry, I wrap it all up in celophane and then I'm back at it again... working again to get numbers of items up again.  I'm not doing certain sets right now, just getting as many pegs painted up with designs, then varnish them and then, after that, I'll sort out the sets when I'm ready to pack them up.  It makes more sense that way. 

On Tuesday, I gave work a rest and went out for Melbourne Cup Day.  Mum, Dad and I went out and had fun at a friend's place where we enjoyed a sweepstakes.  I made a bet at the TAB before arriving at my folks' house and then, we had lunch at their place (our friend's place) and the race was on!  My horses came in first and second!  Yay!  I won $48 a piece at the the sweeps and at the TAB!  However, I only won once at the latter... oh well, at least I won something there.  How did you all go on the Melbourne Cup?  Win anything?  If not, did you make a bet to begin with?  If not, oh well, maybe you're not the betting type.  I only make one bet a year, and it's usually on this race.

Anyway, I had a couple of early nights and am back into working my Crafty Pegs with more vigor than ever!  If you follow my Facebook Page of Crafty Pegs, you'll see my stock is improving and getting bigger!  I'm getting faster at painting everything and once the day of the market arrives, I'll have more than I'll ever need for it... well, hopefully.  I'm looking forward to it.  And I hope to have everything organised by then. 
So, how's your week been? Busy?  Slow? Interesting?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Are We Over-Scheduling Our Kids?

I was out at a birthday party last night with family when I noticed my niece wasn't her usual bubbly, social self.  Being her Aunt, I tend to notice when she's not happy and bummed out about things and won't say anything to anyone.  When she sat down and separated herself from the crowd, I knew something was bothering her badly... so I joined her and asked if she was okay.

She's a teenager, so I got a shrug and the excuse that she was tired out of her... until I pushed a little and she told me what was on her mind.  There were assignments she hadn't been able to get all the notes for - and couldn't get all the notes for from anyone because that was considered cheating.  She felt like she was going to fail Maths and English and she believed that her school band going interstate for a week set her badly behind in everything.  All of this has caused her to think she's going to be a failure... and in year 9, she's making it tough on herself about her grades.
I didn't know what to say to her as I remember when I was in high school, if you missed a few days, the teachers would give you the notes you missed out on, or let you in on what you missed and you grabbed the notes off a nerd/geek in your class.  However, nowadays, you can't do that.  It's not right... big things have changed in the school system and it's causing kids to have a tougher time to get things completed, to feel as though they can't sort out their own lives on their own.

The bigger picture of this is that teenagers aren't supposed to be able to!  They're still growing.  They're still wondering what's going on in their bodies.  They want to know who likes them at school and who doesn't... they shouldn't have so much stress on them that they have a nervous breakdown about failing whole subjects before their high school life has even gone halfway through!  I don't get it... I really don't.
I hated seeing my niece so sad, angry and wishing she didn't have so much on her plate at the age of 14, the but she does.  Not even I had that much on my plate, not until I was in my senior years of high school, and I still didn't make it through high school with the most perfect grades.  

So, are we over-scheduling our children?  Do we expect too much from them?  Are schools and teachers making them grow up way too fast all because they want them to do better, act better and just don't want them asking too many questions or... is this just me thinking on this subject too much?  I have noticed this about kids and teenagers over the last few years and I'm not happy with it. 

Please, share your thoughts about what you think of the education system.  Is it right to place this much pressure on our young teengers today when they should be having more fun and learning at their own rates - like we did when we were younger?  Or am I over thinking this?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Goodbye.... Hello!

Today, I said goodbye to my old bedroom furnishings - at long last.  It took us 4 long months to get rid of them and we had to cart it off to the Smart Tip at Browns Plains to let it have a better life with somebody else.  Now, I have a carport which can actually house a car properly for the first time since I began driving again.

Very cool.

I have the space where I can do some serious varnishing without dodging around something or other and enjoy my carport without wondering if something is going to be stolen or flooded in a rain storm.. yep, I've said hello to some much-needed space.

I've also said hello some people on Facebook who have offered me some space at another market at Springfield Lakes only days after my Creative Markets at the end of this month.  Unfortunately, I don't think I'd have the stock to go to it... so I sadly had to turn them down.  I did offer to show for their next one - if they were planning another in the new year - but they weren't.  They were flattered I offered to take up their offer after NYE.  Oh well, doesn't matter, I could always become a regular at the Creative Markets and work the Springwood ones once a month and get some regular people buying my things, expand my market and actually make my Crafty Pegs something major in my life... yeah, that sounds great.

But, baby steps right now... baby steps.

Yeah, I've said goodbye a few things lately and hello to a lot more.  I've said hello to a lot of family support where my family is helping me buy a car.  I'm also looking on the net for a car... and there's so many people selling their cars on here.  It's amazing what's going for which price!  So much choice now there's the internet around.

Well, there's the hellos and goodbyes I've done so far... until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.