Surviving the long wait. Karaoke and knitting circle!. Pink toasters available!

Oh. My. God. You lot have all been busy!

I disappeared for a few days while I worked on the new design for my website and when I get back it feels like the world has changed. Cats and frogs and gardening and amazing crocheting and flower arranging. Wow.

Huuuge congratulations Emily have you stopped smiling yet?

Massive well dones and high fives to Larrabee! That frog is excellent! I'm really impressed with those fingers and toes. It's not easy to maintain the level of accuracy to get them looking good. 

The issues you had with paper tears are because of the paper you used. You did nothing wrong, it's just that printer paper is completely hopeless for origami. Try again with some fancy craft paper (or a dollar bill?) and you'll not have the problem.

That model uses a technique called box-pleating: Fold a grid, put in the diagonals, pleat. Now that you've mastered that, you can fold some really complex stuff with exactly the same method.

Oh. My. God. You lot have all been busy!

I disappeared for a few days while I worked on the new design for my website and when I get back it feels like the world has changed. Cats and frogs and gardening and amazing crocheting and flower arranging. Wow.

Huuuge congratulations Emily have you stopped smiling yet?

Massive well dones and high fives to Larrabee! That frog is excellent! I'm really impressed with those fingers and toes. It's not easy to maintain the level of accuracy to get them looking good. 

The issues you had with paper tears are because of the paper you used. You did nothing wrong, it's just that printer paper is completely hopeless for origami. Try again with some fancy craft paper (or a dollar bill?) and you'll not have the problem.

That model uses a technique called box-pleating: Fold a grid, put in the diagonals, pleat. Now that you've mastered that, you can fold some really complex stuff with exactly the same method.

  You're back! Yes things move fast here don't they? And Larrabee's frog is fab! I've also had busy few days with Beth arriving and just can't keep up with the priority and non-priority threads seeing if people have got their decisions.

I think it took several days for the fear grimace to ease into a smile - what an ordeal it all is eh? Anyway this morning Beth picked up her BRP from Post Office and we're almost done with the key admin and getting on track for FLR (M)

It's such a relief to just be able to be alongside each other in simple day to day ways. Though she's being a scary triathlon coach! I swear American stop watches have minutes twice as long as in the UK. Seriously though, hang in there y'all, it's worth the wait!   

I swear American stop watches have minutes twice as long as in the UK. Seriously though, hang in there y'all, it's worth the wait!

My husband has been doing a two minute plank each day.  I time him.  He swears I'm not doing it right.  And he REALLY doesn't like that I tell the big kid to lay on his back part way through.   

I have officially purchased a Christmas gift and it arrived today.  I bet no others are purchased for a long time!!  Like December 20th.

...It's such a relief to just be able to be alongside each other in simple day to day ways....Seriously though, hang in there y'all, it's worth the wait!

That's what I'm waiting for. Just little things. Stuff that 'normal' people take for granted.

Enjoy it!

I have officially purchased a Christmas gift and it arrived today.  I bet no others are purchased for a long time!!  Like December 20th.

 

That's impressive.

I refuse to acknowledge the existence of Christmas until after Thanksgiving.

That's impressive.

I refuse to acknowledge the existence of Christmas until after Thanksgiving.

I'm usually exactly the same!

That's impressive.

I refuse to acknowledge the existence of Christmas until after Thanksgiving.

I have refused to acknowledge the existence of Christmas until after all of my visas are paid for.  My family can stuff it.  I have more important things to spend my monies on. 

I have refused to acknowledge the existence of Christmas until after all of my visas are paid for.  My family can stuff it.  I have more important things to spend my monies on. 

We don't buy for many:

My parents
Inlaws (last year they gave us a gift!  Too bad the card was made out to my husband and his ex!)
Daughter
Son (new this year)
Niece
One of husbands cousin's kids (the only one still under 18)

We don't exchange with either of our brothers and we don't do for my niece or nephews either.  Our gifts to each other is NOT having to buy gifts for each other!  I found when I had a kid, people were VERY happy to agree to no gifts!   

We don't buy for many:

My parents
Inlaws (last year they gave us a gift!  Too bad the card was made out to my husband and his ex!)
Daughter
Son (new this year)
Niece
One of husbands cousin's kids (the only one still under 18)

We don't exchange with either of our brothers and we don't do for my niece or nephews either.  Our gifts to each other is NOT having to buy gifts for each other!  I found when I had a kid, people were VERY happy to agree to no gifts!   

In the four and a half years I've been here, I have sent gifts to my brother and sister-in-law once (and they complained about what I sent!), and a gift to my sister once (who was so touched by what I sent that she cried... I can't top that!).

My husband is very good about sending flowers, wine, and chocolates to his stepmother and his grandparents.  And he'll usually pick out some oddly fascinating gadget or an interesting book for his dad.

My husband and I officially only give gifts to each other on our respective birthdays, but I paint these terrible little watercolour cards for special occasions (his birthday, anniversary, Christmas/New Year's combined, and Valentine's Day).  I mean, some of them are cute.  But they're not exactly technically well done.  And one year, I wanted to make a thing (a Domo plush, made from a brown towel and some felt), so I told him it was his Christmas present--he loves it. 

That's what I'm waiting for. Just little things. Stuff that 'normal' people take for granted.

Enjoy it!

It'll happen    

Sent from my FP2 using Tapatalk

My husband has been doing a two minute plank each day.  I time him.  He swears I'm not doing it right.  And he REALLY doesn't like that I tell the big kid to lay on his back part way through.   

You're just adjusting the weights. Add another kid maybe?  There's proof though on you Americans and your 'timing' 

Oh. My. God. You lot have all been busy!

I disappeared for a few days while I worked on the new design for my website and when I get back it feels like the world has changed. Cats and frogs and gardening and amazing crocheting and flower arranging. Wow.

Huuuge congratulations Emily have you stopped smiling yet?

Massive well dones and high fives to Larrabee! That frog is excellent! I'm really impressed with those fingers and toes. It's not easy to maintain the level of accuracy to get them looking good. 

The issues you had with paper tears are because of the paper you used. You did nothing wrong, it's just that printer paper is completely hopeless for origami. Try again with some fancy craft paper (or a dollar bill?) and you'll not have the problem.

That model uses a technique called box-pleating: Fold a grid, put in the diagonals, pleat. Now that you've mastered that, you can fold some really complex stuff with exactly the same method.

Yay Russ!  We missed you! I'm so glad you saw my frog! 

Thanks for the compliments and the tips. Do you have any recommendations for project #2 and where best to get origami paper, large size!?

Can someone please let me know when you've all finished talking about Christmas! 

Can someone please let me know when you've all finished talking about Christmas! 

Done!  Back to August!

Though I did buy a Halloween wreath the other day.