Lady Maddison! (and Lord Charles)

Saturday, 24 May 2008

Another update from granny Carol:

'... Maddie’s mum is now home (yesterday) and when Charlie got home from nursery school his sister was there. Lauren said there was some frowns on his face when he heard her crying and then he marched straight up to her room where her daddy was changing her – he apparently couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Well mommy wanted to make him feel important so she asked him what had happened to his leg as he had a big scratch on it – did someone at school hurt him? No, was his reply, “my SISTER bit me!” Well, I think that will be his standard answer to everything at the moment so I think we will have to take everything he says with a pinch of salt for now!! Anyway, spoke to Lauren just now and she sounded terrible – apparently had a rough first night at home with both Charlie and Maddie. '

Wednesday, 21 May 2008

The most productive member of the by now well-known TPG (Teacher's Pet Gang) has become a very proud Grandma for the second time round. Doing Life wish to extend their congratulations to Carol and her family. May 'Lady Maddison' bring joy to everyone who crosses her path.

A proud Grandma Carol and Grandpa

Carol sent me these two emails to announce Lady Maddison's entrance to the Big World: Tuesday, 20 May 2008 Baby Zodwa.... ooops I mean baby Maddison has arrived!

Hi my Teacha, Today our new grand-daughter arrived and thank goodness her parents came to their senses and called her Maddison Ann – I think that is such a cool name. Of course I will call her Maddie and when I really want to cheese her mom off, I will call her Zodwa! Anyway all went well with the epidural caesarean and mom, dad and baby are absolutely fine. She weighed 4,085 kg which is huge – don’t know where she came from – her mom and her daddy are tiny people!!! This afternoon will be very interesting when Charlie goes to meet his sister – I am dying to see his face. He has been the apple of his parents eye for so long now that he thinks he really IS Prince Charles – sorry for him!!!!

I will take some granny and pops pics with little Maddie this afternoon which I hope to use as my second layout on the 14th. Looking forward to seeing you very soon. Lotsa love, Carol (the other TP) Wednesday, 21 May 2008 Lady Maddison! (and Lord Charles)

The proud parents, Lauren and Tim with their fast growing family of two.

Hi my Teacha. You are more than welcome to share some pics on your blog - what an honour! Amongst the pics you will see one of Charlie opening his "present" from his new sister (Barney Bubble Bath) and then he promptly poked her in the eye and gave it back to her! He also gave his mommy flowers and then ate her lunch! All in all, everything went very well and Charlie seems to have accepted his little sister Maddie (hopefully our luck will hold out and he won't poke the other eye). Baby Maddison is really huge for having such a small mommy and daddy and other than weighing 4,085 kg, she is also 55 cm long which is a big girl. She is drinking beautifully and mommy is doing very well. Of course granny and pops are loving every minute of it - the only problem is that I get so wrapped up in all that is going on that I keep forgetting to take pics - I only just managed to remember taking a pic of Charlie giving his sister her toy back! Well, that's all for now - will keep in touch and can't wait for the 14th. Lotsa love Carol (the other TP)

- Baby Boom Signing off

DOING LIFE

www.doinglife.co.za

Scrapaganza

Hosted By: Desíre Fourie Assisted By: Michelle Ramsay

Saturday, 14 June 2008 (7:30am-5pm) Price: R600.00 (non-refundable) Come and treat yourself once again to a day filled with me-time and scrapping therapy at Makaranga’s Conference Centre in Kloof, Durban. Create & Complete 2 double page layouts (inclusive of photographs) (Kits provided) Refreshments throughout the day, including lunch.

Loads of spot prizes.

Freebies for everyone attending.

Herma Speed Queen Competition

{The previous winner will be attending to defend her title!}

Grand Prize Draw at the end of the day! Doing Life’s On Line Shoppe will be on site, stocked to the brim with scrapping goodies and a few surprise items. For more information email Desíre on: desiref@iafrica.com

LIESL ASKS THE QUESTION

Liesl my niece has got this QUESTION on her blog http://www.offexploring.com/liesl/ ... makes you think hey:

"It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.

I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive."

I am also captivated by this photo Liesl have of herself on her blog ... just love the suggestive nature of it. In a way it also makes you think of the infamous scene in the movie, Titanic, but definitely with a modern twist in this case.

- Living the Dream, Signing Off

GOING POTTY COMPETITION - Monday, 12 May 2008

You scrappers out there have been watching our landscaping project closely. So, by now you all know how many terracotta pots we have in the garden and on the balcony.

This is your chance to get your hands on lovely scrapping goodies (see photo) by clicking on 'comments' below and leaving a comment with your guess on how many terracotta pots in total are in our garden and on the balcony. The competition is only open to South Africans.

Make sure not to guess the same amount as a person before you.

The winner will be announced during Doing Life's Scrapaganza on 14 June 2008 at Makaranga Garden Lodge, Kloof, Durban.

Competition closes on 9 June 2008.

Come on now, take a chance right now and click on 'comments' below.

- Pottiness Signing off

SPENDING THE WEEKEND WITH A 'RAMSAY' - Monday, 12 May 2008

My special friend Michelle Ramsay http://www.scrappywalker.blogspot.com/visited us this past weekend. She arrived Friday evening after saying goodbye to her daughter, Leanne at the Johannesburg Airport. Leanne was on her way back to London where she has been working for a year now. I could see that Michelle was very heart sore knowing that she is not going to see Leanne again for some time.

It was great to see Michelle again and having her staying for the weekend to help me finalise arrangements for Doing Life's Scrapaganza on Saturday, 14 June 2008 at Makaranga Garden Lodge in Kloof, Durban.

But, needless to say, we did not get to any scrapping work done the Friday evening. Instead we chatted away until Saturday morning just before 1am. We started with some scrapping work the Saturday morning, but was pleasantly interrupted by Sheila Corfe (also visiting Johannesburg for the weekend) and her niece Leanne who popped in for a cuppa tea. It was just so wonderful to have dear Durbs friends who make the time to come and visit me here in Gauteng. And of course Sheila wanted to have a garden tour before sitting down for a chat.

After Sheila and her niece Leanne left by mid day Saturday, me and Michelle got round to do some serious work for the Scrapaganza and finished round about midnight on Saturday. A gigantic thanks to Michelle for being so patient in amongst other things, wrapping all the prizes for the Scrapaganza ... the prizes look great.

Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens

Sunday morning, Conroy surprised me and Michelle by announcing that we were off to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens http://www.sanbi.org/frames/sisulufram.htm near Roodepoort for a late Women's Day breakfast. It was a beautiful Autumn Day and the Gardens were teaming with visitors. We had a lovely walk through the gardens. I was seriously impressed by the succulent garden. I have never seen such a huge variety of aloes in one garden. The aloe specimens were huge and very healthy. I just love the variety of textures and colours of aloes. Me and Conroy are definitely visiting this Botanical Garden soon, to appreciate all the aloes which are flowering.

Late Sunday afternoon, we took Michelle to the Airport and it was hard to say goodbye, but apparently the Botha's Hill Gang are planning a Fernridge Estate winters weekend jam packed with scrapping lessons.

- Ramsay Fan signing off

BIRTHDAY BLISS - Thursday, 8 May 2008

Now, as most of you know, it was my ????'th Birthday yesterday. Don't fret about the number, I am definitely enjoying the roaring naughty forties. This was the first birthday in 24 years that I have not spent at work, apart from it being on a Saturday some years. It was fantastic to be at home.

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to wish me a Happy Birthday. There was a serious flood of sms', emails and telephone calls. You all made me feel very special and loved.

It was also one of our god sons', Kyle's, birthday. It is quite special that his birthday is on the same day as his god mother's. Kyle, I hope you had a wonderful day and that school was not too bad. You must enjoy your party on Saturday.

Kyle, Duane (our other god son) and their parents really showered me with beautiful gifts (see photo below) i.e. my jewelery doll collection received a very eloquent addition, our kitchen got adorned with a beautiful rod iron recipe stand (something I always wanted, but could never find), a delicious box of choccies, beautiful yellow roses and a stunning handmade birthday card. Thank you Belinda, Carel, Kyle and Duane ... you really know how to make a lady feel special.

Apart from being spoilt year round, hubby came home with four beautiful bunches of my favourite flower, proteas and the dvd of the Bee movie, which he has seen partly during a flight en route to an African country and wanted us to see it together. Apparently it is very cute. But, apart from this he has bought me an Apple Ipod and new music centre for my scrapping studio which has an Ipod docking station a few weeks ago, as well as some Paddy Starling paintings for our home ... so you can see that I am always spoilt rotten.

- Birthday Happiness Signing Off

BEADING AGAIN

- 6 May 2008

After discovering a fantastic bead shop near our local gym, the bug has bitten again. A few of my beading creations sold and I needed to replenish my jewelry stock once again. I have actually forgotten how relaxing it is to sit down and execute some creations whilst one's mind ventures off into a separate world. Here are a few new items freshly created by yours truly. The necklaces are R250 and the bracelets R100, should some of you be interested in adorning yourselves with lovely beads.

The 'Juwele' sign was a gift from one of our god children, Kyle ... thanks Kyle, the sign finished off the picture perfectly.

PS: Beverley, your watch is in perfect working order again ... will let you have it soon.

- Beady Eyes signing off