365ing

I love to 365. It keeps me sane....er.

These foldouts work well.

'Tis Done

Another year, another 365 done and dusted (actually, this year it was a 366)! I've ordered a new one for 2013 and will fill it mostly, I expect, with house renovations, moving and farm life. I also hope that, at some stage throughout the year, I'll fill a few pages with details of a walk in NZ and another week long bike ride (from Mission Beach to Port Douglas). We'll see.

2012 was a good year. The highlights that come to mind include Drew returning home to us and going to Uni; Meg moving to Twba, acting in a role then applying for and getting it; my bike ride; my 50th birthday; Meg's Melbourne trip; Drew's Young Endeavour voyage; Meg's new car and Drew's India trip. The biggest news of the year was buying the farm.

I hope 2013 brings us challenges that we can meet and no more excitement than we can handle.

A Little Break

I gave myself a little holiday from blogging. Sometimes after a full day at work, juggling schedules, putting out fires and managing Gibbo (now THAT's not easy), the last thing I feel like doing is coming home to sit in front of a computer again. Well that's not entirely true - I do feel like doing it but I'm just too tired. And then there's my 365 journal. Now that's a real commitment, that one! I had thought I'd just make one for the year Drew was away, which turned into the year that everyone went away! What a time hey? It would be difficult to top a year like 2011 for travel and broadening one's horizons (except mine of course! Momma stayed at home)! When I quietly voiced the thought that I might not do one this year, the kids were horrified. So I print small photos, collect and keep ticket stubs, receipts, business cards, coasters, bits of material - anything that has a connection to something that I or we might have done on any particular day - just to glue into my book. This is how this year's book is looking. I had thought I might not do one in 2013 - except we're moving to the farm so of course I'll have to continue.

365ing

My second 365 book continues to grow but I haven't taken many photos of it yet. I ordered some fresh stickers last weekend and they arrived while we were away. It's hard to source new ideas but I found a good website and took full advantage of the free postage offer.

Getting Ready for "The Return"

This is what the "kitchen" table has looked like since Meg and Chris left. I've left all my 365 bits and pieces piled up and spread out depending on a) whether Gibbo is home and b) whether we're eating or not.

 Bearing in mind that Meg and Chris will be back here in two weeks (Chris gets home a week before Meg but is spending some time in Bris and Twba before heading back here) I really need to find a better option for my 365ing. Before they left I used to pack it up and unpack it each time I worked on it (which was often); being able to leave it out has been good, albeit messy.

So I decided to bring my Grandfather's desk in from the garden shed and set it up between the two couches. I'd forgotten I even had it; only because I've had to feed the chickens lately did I remember it. I'm not sure how well it will work in the living room but at least the table will be clear so that four of us can eat together again.

I had this desk in my bedroom at Greenbank. I did many assignments on it's dropped down door (which has now dropped off). I recall a photo of me as a 17 year old, in my work uniform (I worked in an accountants office after Grade 12) sitting at it writing a letter. One day I'll do it up. But not just yet.

I've given it a cleanup and a wash and it's now inside.

The All Blacks are only ahead by 5-0 at half-time. Not the white-wash (so far) we all thought it would be.

365

I think it's time I reclaimed my blog, albeit momentarily, from recording the adventures of my children and husband. I said to the kids last week that I won't have anything to put in the blog and 365 book once they come home. Between the two, I spend hours saving, printing, choosing, glueing and recording but it's something I really enjoy. I also love that it will end up telling a fairly detailed story of the year - the year that Gibbo went to China, Drew went to Canada and Antarctica, Meg went Around the World and I rode my bike 600 km and (hopefully) walked the Milford Track! Oh - and also - my first time as an empty nester!

365

I'm really enjoying my 365 diary. I like to look back over it and be reminded of what's gone before. So often we forget the little things that have happened; they're lost forever in our memory. This way, they're with us forever. It's only two months old but already there's things to look back and smile at that might otherwise be forgotten. I guess it's a bit like blogging - a visual diary of sorts; I spend a lot of time between sliprail and 365 but I don't mind. Both these things make me feel good and that's better than feeling angst, anxious and antsy! They're both a real creative outlet; writing the blog and making a page look nice in the book. I haven't had a creative outlet for a very long time and I appreciate that I've found something that brings me joy.

I often see something that makes me think "I'll have to blog about THAT" or "that will be perfect for 365". I like to re-visit the scrapbooking shop to see if they've got any new supplies in that would be suitable (they haven't). I'm always on the lookout for something. Here's a small peek at some of the recent 365 entries.

I had the Blog Police onto me this morning about my two posts last night - and the spelling and grammatical errors found within. I'm usually VERY particular about my words but I let a few typos through to the keeper last night that were picked up this morning! I'm going to leave them as they are but I'll try harder next time. I promise. Sheesh.

365

We continue with our 365 journals. Drew sometimes borrows mine to catch his up! We've been shopping for stickers and letters to jazz them up a bit. I've really enjoyed doing mine.

365

Drew and I started our 365 journals yesterday. We bought one each at kikki-k just before Christmas when Meg was at her epic hair appointment. What a shop kikki-k is; I spent a very long time in there admiring (and fondling) and smelling the stationery. It's right up there with a bookshop.

The idea is to use the journal to record a year in your life - the birth of a baby, a new job, a holiday. I am going to chronicle the year of Drew's absence - but it won't be all sadness and tears. Each day will reflect how I'm feeling on that day and some pages will have nothing to do with him being away and some days I may miss altogether. It will be whatever my mood delivers me on that day (ha, that should be interesting!). Drew's book will chronicle all his new experiences - and we will swap books upon his return.