scrapbooking

It feels like forever since I've completed a scrapbooking layout. 

Last night was our first night back at our scrapping sessions at the local store. I went with the intention of sorting out some Project Life photos and looking at the layouts in my "Work In Progress" album, getting them out, fussing over them a bit and then putting them back.

I forgot the photos didn't I?

After flicking through the unfinished layouts, I realised I had one 2012 photo with me that I was going to create a layout for, so I decided to work on that. What "Work In Progress" allbum? Why finish off stuff in progress when you can start something else and add it to the unfinished pile?

I saw this sketch challenge on the A2Z Scraplets Blog earlier in the day and I knew the photo would work well with the sketch.

Here's the layout:

I can't say I'd normally do a layout about beer, but in this case, it was a photo I wanted to include in last year's Project Life album but couldn't make room for in the divide page protectors. I already had one layout to include in that month, so I needed another one for the other side of the page to even things up.

So it all worked out rather well.

In case you're wondering, the paper, which you can't see very well, is actually beer paper. Yes, they make beer-themed scrapbooking paper. I thought I'd taken a photo of it before i started to cut it up, but somehow it disappeared from my phone. Anyway it's by Paper House, who also make the stickers that feature up the top (the hops).

The chipboard letters are by Fancy Pants designs. 

Soured Ale is by the Two Metre Tall Company, which featured in several of my blog posts in 2011 because we go there rather often.

Bottle cap is by Bottle Cap Inc., and the label inside the bottle cap is taken from a label from one of Two Metre Tall's ales.

east coast retreat (sunday selections)

I'm linking up with River for Sunday Selections today with some photos of our recent getaway.

We went away for a few days to the East Coast of Tasmania. It's not an area I know well, though I have visited parts of the coast previously and I have vague memories of going to some of the north-east towns as a child.

We had a very quiet time in a beachside town called Beaumaris, which is between St Helens and Scamander. We stayed in a fabulous self-contained house that allowed pets, so Sleepydog was able to come with us.

Juniordwarf was delighted by the choice of beds (two double bedrooms and a kids room with a bunk) and the fact that the "play room" had a TV and a DVD player.

We deliberately didn't plan to do anything, just to get away and relax. The weather wasn't the greatest for a coastal holiday, but I like the coast on misty wet days, so I didn't mind too much.

I won't say much more other than I don't think I ever needed a break more than I did before we went away.

The house we stayed at.

Juniordwarf wanted to build a sandcastle.

Construction (mostly by Slabs) complete.

Moody closeup of the sandcastle.

I wanted to get some sunrise photos. 

Not very spectacular when the sky is overcast.

We went to Pyengana Dairy to taste some cheese.

This is really pretty countryside around Pyengana, just inland from St Helens.

Priscilla the beer drinking pig at the Pub in the Paddock.

Lunch at the Pub in the Paddock at Pyengana.

St Columba Falls near Pyengana. Stunning. Breathtaking.

You can see the top of the falls from the road.

The beaches at Beaumaris.

Juniordwarf attacked by a freak wave at Binalong Bay (this was very funny).

Near Binalong Bay

The Gardens

The Gardens

The Gardens

The Gardens

The Gardens

Attempted panorama at The Gardens.

The Gardens

Iron House Brewery

Ironhouse Porter and the view from the brewery.

P365 - Day 336 - up in the sky

This afternoon, just after lunch, we were treated to an aerobatic display by the Air Force Roulettes,  which are in town for the celebrations of the 200th Anniversary of the Anglesea Barracks. 

It was spectacular to watch and we got a great view, especially when they were passing over the top of us.

It was, as you might expect, very hard to take any decent pictures of the display on my phone camera due to the distance and the fact that I can’t actually see what I’m taking a picture of when I point the phone at planes flying overhead. So I just clicked away and hoped that the planes were in the shot, then cropped and edited them afterwards.

And afterwards . . .

We went to the Farm Bar  at Two Metre Tall. This was Andrew Marshall’s  debut for the Farm Bar season. After his nifty dancing last time, Juniordwarf was looking forward to seeing Andrew perform.

Given his new fascination with guitars, Juniordwarf was very interested in watching Andrew set up his equipment, and he was fascinated by the didgeridoo and the sounds it made.

It was a lovely relaxing way to spend what turned out to be a very nice summer evening. I think we can look forward to spending more time there over the next few months.

P365 - Day 286 - a day in the life

Apparently it's my birthday today. I took the day off work, because I really don't like to be at work on my birthday. Last year I had Juniordwarf with me - this year he was at school, so I had a rare day at home by myself.

Here are some photos of what I did today.

Juniordwarf 'helping' open my presents.
Whose birthday is it again?

Waterfall card from the wonderfully talented Lil Sis

Coffee!

Catching up on my blog

Playing in my craft space

Wondering how I'm going to journal in all this.

Solution: put the writing somewhere else

Catching up on washing I didn't do on Tuesday

The scary shed. Who dares enter . . . 

It's starting to take shape

Time to say this is finished and to move onto the next project

Out to dinner

Well what other table would I want?

Entree tasting plate

Beer!

Not a bad laksa. I'll be back!

Cheers Mum, Happy Birthday.

P365 - Day 254 - travel-log day 1 (11/09/2011)

Today's schedule:

Get up at 4.00 am for a 6.00 am flight to Canberra via Melbourne. Pick up hire car. Drive to Adaminaby via Cooma.

The map

Slabs and I gave Juniordwarf his own little trolley case as an advance birthday present yesterday, so he could have his things in his own bag. His choice of items to take was, um, interesting.

Hobart Airport

Sunrise above the clouds over Tasmania

The 4.00 am wake-up call was too much for some of us.

Melbourne to Canberra

We made a 'surprise house call' on Juniordwarf's Aunt before hitting the Monaro Highway to Cooma.

Monaro Highway

We stopped in Cooma for lunch and for Juniordwarf to play in the playground.

Cooma murals and flag avenue

The Man from Snowy River

After lunch it was time for the last leg of today's trip. The weather got worse and worse as we headed along the Snowy Mountains Highway to Adaminaby. Weather forecasts of possible snow at high altitudes, and thoughts of having to turn back to Canberra the next day were in the back of our minds.

Snowy Mountains Highway

We made it to Adaminaby, and took Juniordwarf to see the town's biggest attraction - the Big Trout.

After a rest in our room and a visit to the motel's games room, it was time for dinner at the Snow Goose, and a real sign that we were in NSW - schooners of beer!