Scrapping Tonight

I was going to reflect on 2006, but I don't need to, my blog does that, and most of you knwo it has been a pretty tough year, from major back surgery to the passing of my Daddy, BUT I am going to look forward to this New Year which is so nearly upon us. the girls are tucked up in bed, the champers is chilling and Peter and I will hold each other tight, remember our dads and shed a tear, then get happy on Moet and start stripping...................................................................................
















the living room, mwahahahahahhaha, so instead I shall leave you with this a list of 150 things, I have and have not done as posted on Chrissies blog and 2 peas. A great way to end the year. I have highlighted the things I have done. Copy and paste these questions and highlight your answers and leave me a link, there are some interesting questions!


1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7 Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said “I love you’ and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played DVD for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children (or…raising children)
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane 109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life


Have a good one wherever you are. Tomorrow I will be uploading my Review of 2006 layout, wohoo I shall scrap!!

Hugs

Anna xxxx

The last few days have been a time for reflection and remembering the good times with Dad, it has also been a time to shed a few tears.
Whilst reflecting last night at around 6.20pm, the phone rang and my heart started to jump and butterflies were doing their bit in my stomach, when Peter arrived with the phone and I knew who was on the other end, yep the Hafermanns are parents again!!!!
Addison Hafermann was born yesterday afternoon at around 5.20pm, weighing in at a healthy 7lb12oz. Annie and Addy are doing well I am happy to report, although I believe Addy did put up a fight and Annie did have to have a cesarean.
As I came down the stairs with tears streaming down my face, Peter turned to me and said "Darling, that's the Circle of Life" and with that I hugged my family and cried some more! Well we are talking ME here ;)
I am now off to announce on the list of links Ms Hafermann emailed me with Christmas Day, bless her, and off to see Snow White on Ice in Cambridge. i will be back in the week with festive photos and stories to tell, in the meantime I will bid you an au revoir!

Hugs
Anna x

I know, stressing or what, actually I don't think I am. Off to the supermarket tomorrow to pick up the last bits. We are at peters Mums for Christmas day and I am taking along my scrumptious Brussels spout dish and maple parsnips to the table with a Trifle for dessert, yummy yummy. The weekend starts with me baking festive brownies and tree cookies. so watch this space for lots of fun piccies and recipes.

Just a bit of fun for today, as I have nothing to report but the fact we have been in our PJ's all day!

I am back, surrounded by Christmas paper, ribbon and bows!!. I am trying to get all my presents wrapped, and all the presents to be posted have gone, yay.

to me!!!

OK its nothing that grand, BUT we all sat down after dinner last night and made the Bowkis Christmas card!!!!. Yes even Peter sat there with a paper trimmer and some Blonde Moments Christmas papers. Peter was in charge of cutting the tree, Lilly's job was to fold the card, i stamped and Izzy, well she just did what she does best and kept the manufacturing line going... So here it is, our Christmas card for 2006. We made 37 last night so beware you could have an original piece of artwork coming your way, including smudgey finger prints.....


Some more news. May I introduce you to my newest Angel, "The (Grumpy) Angel" named by Lilly and made by Lilly. We have asked her why she is grumpy, and we still don't know.Isn't she just adorable, even with a Mona Lisa smile. She has pride of place on our Christmas Tree.

I have just spent the past 1/2 hour watching Clique TV, and the Day in the life of Stacey Julian. Firstly the woman's studio is jaw dropping amazing!! She actually has the basement of her house as a studio and office, you must go and see, I wont spoil it for you, buy boy am I jealous. Put that aside, she is up at 5am every morning, goes for a run and is the most organised and motivated woman I know, OK apart from Annie, but hey there is the resemblance, both American women, and Ali Edwards is the same. What is in your water ladies?! I need some of it.

Yep the dreaded pre Christmas lurgy has found its way to Southoe, leaving me feeling uninspired and asleep for most of the day. Bless Lilly, she just sits and watches DVD's and snuggles in my arms while I snooze. I was in bed at 9pm last night and slept right through......
Yesterday Izzy and her Rainbow group sang Christmas songs and Carols at Harwdwick Dean residential home. I was armed with tissues and camera for this event. Now the tissues were for my nose, but ended up moping up tears as I broke down as soon as we headed into the dining room. I hadn't given a thought that this may effect me, but boy it sure did. I felt so stupid. But after a good sob, dried my eyes and got snapping some photos.
After singing and giving out decorated boxes of chocolates it was time for a group shot. The girls really enjoyed having their photo taken, and I was asked to take a copy to the home.

So much happening at this time year isn't there. Lilly is off to Izzy's school to watch the Nativity Play on Friday, we have our invites for Tuesday night, and yes I will be armed with camera, tripod and video camera!. This weekend we have the Chris tingle Service at the village church and will be popping our decs up at home.
BTW, anyone else having problems uploading photos to blogger? I have had to use photo bucket today!
That's all folks,
Anna x

The Christmas workshop went down a storm today. Everyone enjoyed themselves and amazing creations were done by all. We are covered in glitter and glue, but hey , its all in a days work!Annie taught 2 fab classes, and I cannot wait to do do some ornaments with the girls and make our "JOY" banner.Can you believe I took my camera but left my memory card in the card reader!! Not good, and no photos, until Tanya , who kindly lent me her camera to take some photos emails them across.As usual I have nearly lost my voice, its become the norm now when I am teaching to end up with barely a whisper at the end of the day! We had visits from Louise and the adorable cheeky Max, and then my 2 little horrors turned up in the afternoon. I am heading for bed now and have the car to unpack tomorrow morning. Bad I know but I had so little energy.
Pencil Lines new sketch challenge went up tonight, sadly I couldn't participate due to family problems, BUT I will get my layout done tomorrow and up on the gallery. So go check out this weeks GDT, Jennie Leon and the amazing work the DT girls did
Hugs hope you all had a fab weekend
Anna x

its the 1st of December, OMG I have so much to do. Plenty of time to stress about that later. Its been a day and a half here in the Bowkis household, but nothing that I can share here, mwahahaha.

Remember I went down to Arundel to do some TV work for a new craft channel, well it is up and running here. BUT beware I am such a fidget, and I blink too long, lol. The only consolation is I had no direction and it was my first time, so hopefully the next time will be better, much better. Do check out all the channels and programs, lots of familiar faces to be seen and it is all very entertaining.

with creativity... well i would like to think so anyways. I have completed the exploding box class for the workshop this week and received lots more goodies from sponsors for one of Annies class. All is running smoothly and a fun day will be had by all, I can guarantee that. If you fancy joining us for a day of festive fun and gift making then please book yourself a place. At only £45 for the day, including lunch, 5 fabulous classes and a festive goodie bag full of treats, then pop on over here to grab yourself a seat.

What a fantastic weekend of food, drink, fun, laughter and wonderful company at Annie's and Spike's this weekend. Annie cooked the most amazing spread of Thanks Giving dinner. I am talking, turkey, sweet potato topped with pecans (to die for), salad with pecans and apple (yummy!), mash potato, stuffing, runner bean and mushroom casserole, cranberry and orange chutney, homemade bread, and loads more i just cant remember. To finish we had these delightful melt in the mouth cinnamon cookies, pecan pie and pumpkin pie!!!. Ended the night with all the children piled in Dean's bed, much to his delight may I add and us grownups playing Cranium ( i think thats what it was called?!)



Arrived home around 2pm and curled on the sofa to a dose of the X Factor. I am really sorry to see Eton Road leave. They were not the most talented but those boys have grown on me and were alot better than the McDonald brothers( who the girls love, may have something to do with the golden arches!)

I have received a lovely delivery of flowers, blooms and kisses. Check out the site for new colours in the daisies, hydrangeas and re stocks of the popular 3" and 4" blooms. I have also put together a Christmas bloom mix for you as well.

I am so chuffed to have had my first LO published in an American magazine. I am on the DT for an American manufacturing company called Zsiage and they have chosen 1 of my layouts for an advert in Altered Art. I was so pleased when I got the email.