I have not posted for a while, but I wanted you all to know that I have put my home invasion behind me and have moved on from it. I have been able to resurect my car though it was damaged, and its driving well.

My daughter that lives on the other side of town, Heidi (kookaburracottage) is moving. Its been so nice having her and Matt and my grandson Liam living close by, but, with the recession, Matt has lost his job and they are forced to move so that Matt can take up a new position in a town around 4 hours (each way) drive from me. While I will miss them dreadfully, I feel that the move will be good for them. They will get to see more of the world then just our country town, and Matt will get to finish his apprenticeship as an aircraft engineer. Heidi is a primary school teacher so we are hoping that she will find work in her new surroundings too. Liam will begin school there next term and he will be challenged with the move, plus he has never been this far away from his Nanna before :).


My other news is that my daughter Lauren and her husband Brendan will be visiting us from there home in Pensylvania. They will arrive here on July 1st and stay for 6 weeks.... its been over a year since I have seen my daughter and I am really looking forward to this. They were married in June last year and are not supposed to leave the country (conditions for bringing in a spouse from another country) for 3 years but she requested they be allowed as I will be having an operation before that and have been unwell, so they have been granted approval for the visit. I have been having problems with kidney stones and all that will be sorted with the op :) )


I am looking forward to having my granddaughter come stay with me for the school holidays and during that time we will have our local show (or fair, for my US friends). The children love to exhibit flower arrangements and produce for this and they have already started to plan their harvest :) . Last year they did well with some first and second places. One year Liam got grandchampion for a pumpkin that he and I grew together. He was so proud.

Well thats my news for the moment...sorry its so long between posts but for the moment thats how it has to be. Thank you all so much for the well wishes that I have recieved, I can't begin to tell you all how much they have meant to me.
Marilyn

Giveaway

Just found this supercute giveaway from Retro Cafe Art Gallery. Go there and take a peek..bye..I am off to work. Be back soon.

I Won! I Won!

Well this super exciting blog was to be a highlight before the unfortunate turn of events that my last two posts covered. I can't tell you how excited I was to hear that I had won this beautiful collection of gifts from Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage and Inspirations. Sandi is a beautiful lady with a wonderful blog showcasing her heart and home from a Christian perspective. Do pay her a visit, if you havn't already, you will be pleasantly rewarded.

Thank You

I would like to say thank you for the comforting messages I recieved yesterday. I just love the warmth of the friends I have made on here. I cannot explain how I felt yesterday when I wrote that post, but I was shocked, disapointed, angry, sad.. a mixture of a lot of emotions. I could not ring out to ask a friend for comfort or to drop over, because all my numbers were in my mobile phone somewhere in a strangers pocket. I was able to ring my daughter and she came to my rescue by ringing the police and her dad, who came by and offered support. Its weird how vulnerable we are when we feel so exposed and its easy to 'freeze' and not be able to do small things like find the number for, and ring, the police (combining the fact that I am unwell at the moment, and that definately didn't help).

My car (I only had if for 5 days) has been located. Police tell me it will be driveable but its not 'my pretty little car' anymore. It was used to smash through a huge set of iron gates so there is extensive damage. It was not a new car when I bought it..but I chose it very carefully and picked one I loved.

My cash I will never see again. The money my children gave me to renovate my kitchen. I have money... but that particular money was a gift.. it was special.. my childrens way of 'contributing' to their mums reno's. Their input into making my home comfortable and a pretty place for me. :(

I did find a set of keys (they were from my workplace, and I work in a tight security section, keeping those keys would have meant huge consiquences for anyone stealing them and they were smart enough to foresee that and throw them down before they left). My personal keys and my huge keyboard were all taken..why the heck would they want my chalkboard???? My two handbags I found emptied and thrown up under my house.. and my purse was found on the backseat of my car... and thankfully my cards were intact so there is a huge job that I dont have to do renewing them all. My phone I will miss. It will take me ages to gather my numbers again..some of them from friends that I contact only occasionally and unless they ring me, I may not be able to get their numbers for ages. Its just all so disconcerting!

Anyway, we are having a beautiful day here today... two lovely friends took me out to a beautiful restaurant for a delicous meal last night, and one of them had a gift for me... a new mobile phone! I came home to find two beautiful bunches of flowers waiting for me... sent by some great friends. Talk about feeling loved and cared about. I have tears in my eyes just writing this.

Have a beautiful day all! Hugs to you all from me. Marilyn xoxo

Home Invasion

Well, I just woke up..got dressed for work..looked for my bag and keys.. gone! Then I realised..I had been burgled...so much stuff gone... plus my car... ! This is devastating... my purse..my phone.. no numbers to ring and tell anyone. I cant describe what I am feeling. I am waiting for the police... Marilyn

Another Award

This award was given to me by Monica over at Monicas English Version (see my sidebar). Such a beautiful lady that I have made friends with on here.

Here are the rules for this award:

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.” Also put a link to their blogs and then let them know they have been selected!

Well… piece of cake.. isn’t it??

Here are my eight:

Heidi at http://kookaburracottage.blogspot.com/

Sarah at http://shabbyrosesandprettythings.blogspot.com/

Kim at http://kimscottage.blogspot.com/

Shannon at Paint Mine Pink http://shannonthompson.blogspot.com/

Jen at http://jenschronicles.blogspot.com/

Lucinda at http://humecottage.blogspot.com/

Kelly at http://rosevinecottagetwo.blogspot.com/

Mashelly at http://joyfulhomemaker.blogspot.com/


Those were my eight :-) Love you all!

Award

My Dear Friend (and namesake) over at Victorian Cottage victoriancottage.blogspot.com/ has given me this Fabulous Award!! What a great way to brighten the day!!


*Here are the award rules:
List 7 things that you love and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers you love!
Be sure to tag them and let them know they have won!
You can copy the picture of the award and put it on your sideboard letting the whole world know.....you are KREATIV!


I Love:

1. Blogging, blogging, blogging and did I mention blogging!
2. Shopping with my daughter Heidi
3. Sour Green Apple Straps
4. High tea
5. Rainy weather and being snug just a few feet from where it is falling
6. Everything Pink
7. Lavender


http://kookaburracottage.blogspot.com/
http://sweet.as.a.candy.blogspot.com/
http://mylittlecottageinthemaking.blogspot.com/
http://monicasenglishversion.blogspot.com/
http://outbacktania.blogspot.com/
http://shabbydreaming.blogspot.com/
http://sorcha-sidhe.blogspot.com

Until Later!
Marilyn

...More on family and another giveaway

Pop on over and see Sandi for yet another giveaway! She is a wonderful lady and you will enjoy her blog.

Well, we are to start having more of the flooding rain that has been here for so long now. Apparently it will rain for a month here..yikes... we only had mild flooding in our area the last time..but a month...whew.. we might be in trouble.

I love reading that my American friends are so looking forward to Spring. We are just starting into Autumn, but very little sign of it yet. One of the things I have never mentioned too much about on here is that I have a third daughter. I respect her wishes for privacy, but without overstepping the mark, I will just mention that she lives with her new husband not far from Philadephia in the USA. She was married over there last June, and is making her home in a very beautiful setting in Pensylvania. The winters are very unusual for her, and included her first sightings of snow. A lot of Australians have never actually seen snow. She missess our beaches and hot weather, she is such a little beach girl. But I know she is enjoying her stay in her lovely little cottage that she takes great care in decorating. She has her mothers love for decorating as so have all my daughters, although, they all have very different styles.


This is my daughters first home. Just gorgeous! They love this dear little house.

This is in their yard! How lucky are they



My daughter just loves mismatched chairs.. aren't they just the cutest?







I just love this. Her own private little corner.


A little decorative bedside table. How cute.

And of course her house would not be complete without............


her touch of home.

Another Giveaway

Cynthia from Cynthia's Cottage is having a giveaway. Go there to look at the beautiful signs she is giving away. Plus, you get to choose which one you want. She has a wonderful selection. You can go to her logo on my sidebar to go straight there.

I went to a card making craft day today. The second one in the series. I have a new respect for people that make cards..lol.. its not that easy but oh such fun. I would not dare show off my new card but I will keep practising and have some to show on here soon I am sure. If you find a group, go along.. I can't begin to tell you how much fun it is, and such a great use of the creative juices. The different styles and tastes of other people are amazing too. I hope I can expand and use colours and styles that are new for me. So far its all pink!

Has anyone got any nice ideas on decorating for St Patricks Day? I would love to see them. Some of the Easter ideas are looking good. I love the banners that I have seen on some blogs. I bought the cutest little coloured eggs yesterday (no photo sorry) to hang on a little potted tree. I think they are foam..and coloured in the brightest colours then covered in sparkles...so cute! When I do my tree I will post a pic. Have a great day everyone.. Marilyn

The Farm Chicks are having a giveaway. Pop over and see their blog.
http://thefarmchicks.typepad.com/farmchicks/