Wednesday, March 22, 2017

This Year Looking Different

This year is looking so different now, I can't even begin to describe how things are going to be for me by the end of the year.

In January, I thought this year was going to be another stressful year of the same old crap that was going on last year.

But no, it's not.

This year, I've torn free of a few people in my life and have found a few new groups of people I want to hang out with, attended some art classes, have looked into an art school and have begun editing a book I'm going to get published by the end of the year.

And by my birthday, I'm hoping to have the living room looking exactly the way I want it to. I'm going to save more money than ever before by not spending it. I know that doesn't sound like me, but really I'm hoping to sell some of my art, work on getting an exhibition at the Logan Artists Association and saving up for a few things while getting rid of other things in my life. 
This is something I just can't wait to do. And while I'm doing this, I'll be learning to paint better, picking up more volunteer work and learning more things at the Logan Artists Association - like pottery. Yes, they have pottery classes! I have always wanted to learn that; and the good thing is that once I start learning, I'll be able to attend a social group an make things for Christmas presents instead of buying things. 

I've been looking at my life as well; in how my house is running, and have sorted out a new way to save money. It's just how I've been working it out - a little tweaking here and there and I'm saving money. Also, I'm looking into second-hand furniture again... I'll keep you posted about this. 

My life is going to take a different turn once this year has finished. I have only a few bags of junk to sort out; and then my place will be finished. I'll have a routine to keep it nice and tidy and it'll always look nice when I come home. I'll be able to have my folks over for dinner and things will begin to happen better for me. Life will be more relaxed.

As Peter Walsh has always said: 'When your home is clean you feel so much better.' or something like that. I always have problems remember his one-liners. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

World's Greatest Shave

It's on yet again!

Yes! The World's Greatest Shave! 

And yes, I'm taking part in it as I always do every year. 

I joined up for it in January and hoped people would give greatly. However, this year, I didn't raise as much as I had hoped. I only raised $75.00. Such a pity I didn't get over the $100 mark... but that's just how it goes sometimes. 

I have had some big things going on in my life too; but I have been taking the donation boxes with me - leaving one at my local doctor's surgery and have another one to travel with me places. And family promised to donate, but forgot or didn't have the cash. Never mind... I understand things can get on top of them and they may not have the money at this time of year.

Anyway, this year, I went to the Griffith University Campus Heart on Kessel's Road to get my hair coloured. Mum, Dad and I had never been there before; and so we had to trust the good ol' GPS to get us there and back. 
Fortunately for us, we didn't have to walk far, or wait very long. And the best thing is that the university was so pretty, very big and lovely in every way. And seeing I've never attended a university, I never thought it would be like this - you know pretty and nice. 


Once there, I signed in with the organiser - Daniel - and he let me know that the hair-dresser was going to take a break from shaving and they were going to do some colouring again soon. And once she finished to go on a lunch break, I was next up. 

It was great fun! 

One of the students (I think he was a student), coloured my hair all different colours - but used the base colour of green and purple... then added in yellow and pink. Mum was there with my phone, capturing the whole thing for me! It was wonderful.

The best thing was that Daniel asked me about how long I've been doing this, if I'd shaved or coloured before and I said I shaved 2 years ago and had had cancer in our family - touching different members, as well as myself - and this was my way of giving back to society of how much it means to me to be alive still. While I was in the chair getting my hair done, he told everyone over the P.A why I was doing this and what I had told him... it was great! 

Now, I think next year, I may go back to the Griffith University Campus Heart to get my hair done again... it's such a friendly place. And while Mum and I waited for Dad to pick us up, we didn't feel as though we had to move on or anything. We just sat around in the shade of the Campus Heart (which is a huge seated area with a few cafes and restaurants around) and just hung out there. It felt very welcoming and comfortable.

So, that was my day today. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here!

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Today ...

I've been so busy lately that I don't know where to start. Over the past few months, I've been decluttering and so, I thought to clean out the bed and make it nice and fresh last month... this meant getting new pillows. And so, I thought to buy feather pillows.

Little did I know, I'm allergic to feathers; so much so that I break out in hives from them!

So, I took them back to K-Mart today while my laundry was on the line and the bi-carb soda was on the bed - again! - and I bought a new mattress protector (just in case mites from the feather pillows got into the protector; and besides, the old one was looking, well, old). 

Anyway, I thought to pop by my local charity store and I found a whole lot of old gear there! But they had put sticky price tags on things that they weren't supposed to - like the paper 'Phantom' comics they had there which would have been worth a lot of money if they hadn't had the $4.00 sticky tag on it. And now it's worth nothing. The same went for the 1950's Women's Monthly Home Journal... I don't know why some places do this, but it just removes so much of the value on the item.
Then, I walked around and found the best item ever! I found a 'Renoir' easel! It's brand new and hadn't been put together properly... but they wanted $40 for it; even when it had missing parts (like its repair kit of Allan Keys). I talked them down to $30 and scored myself a very cool, brand new easel ... yep, it's never been used! But I knew I just couldn't put my finger on what was wrong with it. So, I dropped into Mum and Dad's and asked them to help me with it. Eventually, we figured it out... and I'll be using my new easel for my paintings in future.

When I returned home, I vacuumed the bed, put the new mattress protector on it, pulled in the laundry, put the pillow protectors (new last week) and made up the bed... it looks lovely. I just hope I don't itch from it all now. 

After a well-earned shower, I'm no longer itchy around my neck from hives; and I'm looking forward to a good-night's rest. Tomorrow, I have to do a few more things before I sleep in on Saturday; and do some decluttering over the weekend and throwing out as well. Then, Monday? Well, Monday is my first art class. I just hope I'm prepared for it. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Been Busy

I've been meaning to come in here and have a chat with you guys. But every time I want to, something big happens in my life and put it off.

So, here I am, sitting down ready to tell you all what's been going on.

Over the past few weeks, I've been working hard on the Lake Como tapestry, and have gotten far on it. About a quarter of it is completely done since December, but it's the fiddly stuff I'm having problems with, as it's about 30 years old and I really need good natural light to make sure I get the right threads in the right places. Otherwise I'm really pleased with my progress. The main thing is that I'm taking the tapestry to volunteer work at the gallery and to my craft group; and I'm also working on it for about 2 hours a night - every night - to get some of it done. So, this is how I'm getting it done so quickly.

I've been working on my clutter and I'm stoked with how well I'm doing. I've gotten the home office half decluttered and I've paused in cleaning it out so I can catch up with the mess I've accidentally made in the living room. Yeah, moving a box downstairs has backfired into making a mess down there instead of making it tidier. So, I'm saving up money to buy a shredder because there's so many bank statements I need to get rid of that I really can't clean out anymore until I get a new shredder. Tearing them up isn't going to work.

The garden it looking good. The Frangipanni has flowered and I've mowed the lawn, then fed the plants Seasol and watered the lawn heavily; as we're not getting the rain we've been promised over the past week. Such a pity it's been dodging us so much. But at least the plants are going okay. 

I've been learning to bake Apple Tea Cakes. I scored a nice little recipe off Mum and made the mistake of making the whole things in a food processor. Yeah, yeah, stop laughing... I didn't think really. It took the air out of the cake completely; as the recipe did say to 'fold the flour into the mixture', which I didn't read properly. So, next time, I'll read it properly and do it right.
I'm also losing weight - just a little - because the doctors have told me my cholesterol is high. So, out goes the 'Naturals' Chips, high fat things and into the house comes the rice chips and more fruits, a lot more water and less milk-based coffee drinks. I've lost a fair bit of weight throughout the heat wave over Summer, but I am feeling a lot better because of the weight lose I've had to do instead of the weight I've had on over the last few months. I'm also doing weight-based exercises and eating less at night; this is helping me sleep better at night. 

This weekend, I'm taking part in an art opening at the Logan Artists Association at Coral Street, Loganlea. It's called 'Black and White' and it's a collection of art by female artists around Logan City and just in time for International Womens' Day. It starts on 4th, March and the exhibition finishes on 15th, March. I have a piece in it and hope to have a great time on Saturday.
I've also joined the Logan Artists Association this year so I can learn new things in the art world. They have lessons going on how to work with clay - something I've always wanted to know - and art lessons which cost only about $20 or so and lectures from artists from around Logan City.

Anyway, I'm doing well. The heat hasn't done me any favours - as always - and I'm working on a book to get published over the next few months. I hope it works out... there's a lot of editing to be done to it. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.