New Year Giveaway

Happy New Year, Everyone! Wishing you all a wonderful, inspiring, creative, happy, healthy 2012. :)

My friend Sally, has a great idea. She gives each year a word.... read her recent post here.
I love  the idea, so last night and this morning, I gave serious consideration to what word I would choose for 2012.
I wanted something that would reflect the challenges I will face this year with my health and treatment of CSS, but also something that would reflect the opportunities for personal growth, accomplishing doing things that I currently can't do because of CSS, and the chance to lay the groundwork to make big changes in my attitudes and lifestyle for the future.

Not easy to find that one word. :)
forward evolution accomplishment advance triumph remodel progression reformation transformation metamorphisis  .....these all could be applied. I just don't know which to use. Maybe there is a better word I haven't thought of.....any suggestions? I'll ponder on this for a little while, I think.....

So, this is where the giveaway comes in.
1. Leave a comment telling me what YOU hope for in this year.....either in one word or in a few...
2. If you are a follower, leave another comment telling me so, and you get an extra entry.

That's it!

And the prize, you ask? Well, I am not in a position to make anything yet, so I have raided my stash and gift box, and come up with this.......and I might even add some more....



  I had to be quick, because Miss M decided to investigate....
she approved, by the way. :)

Cheers,
Lindi

Showing we care

A blogger friend, Bluebird-Lyn, has come up with a great idea to show our support for another, mutual, blogger friend. Lyn is co-ordinating the making of a quilt using 9 patch blocks for her. If you would like to participate, by making a block or even just blogging about it, click on the sewing machine on my sidebar, or go here. Lyn will tell you all about it.

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Fabulous Fibre Art Works

I have just been browsing the fibre art that goes up for auction on the 27th November, in aid of a very worthy cause. Some of Australia's most fabulous and best known fibre artists and quilters are participants.

I wish I had the funds to bid for one or three....

They are all lovely! Go check them out, and if you can, bid for one at the auction.






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Geta's Giveaway!

For a while, now, I have been following Geta's blog, and she has just posted that she is having another giveaway.

She does the most amazing Trapunto work! I would love to win one of her little quilts, but thought I'd share the opportunity with all of you.

Go here to enter, and tell her I sent you!

Life

I received this in an email this morning and thought I'd share with you all.


Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25 No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27 Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.




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Auction win

A few weeks ago, Lyn had an auction to raise funds for the Victorian Bush Fire Appeal. I placed my bid, and was the lucky winner!

Look at the wonderful package Lyn put together.

Notice the miniature sewing machine? I suspect this is the first one in what is bound to become a collection! ;)

As well, she included this lovely little ATC -

The money from my bid was shared between the Salvation Army and the Native Animal Trust Fund Bush Fire Appeals.

Thanks for your generosity, Lyn.


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Pay It Forward

I have wanted to join in on a Pay It Forward for a while, but didn't have enough confidence in the quality of my work. This year, I know it's going to improve so...
I just had to join the fun when Lissa started one on her blog.
I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange.
I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you won't receive it tomorrow or next week, or probably even this month, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise!
The only thing you have to do in return is 'Pay it Forward' by making the same promise on your blog.

Please leave an email address so I can contact you about your snail mail addy.

Women

My DD emailed this to me today. You might have already seen it, it's doing the rounds, but it's worth reading again just to remind yourself...

*********
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show
how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have the compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
*********
We are awesome creatures! The world would not survive without us. Celebrate womanhood! Thank all the women who play an important part in your life.

Thank you, all my dear women readers and fellow blog writers, for the support and friendships you have offered me. I treasure each and every one of you.

Prostate Cancer

Why am I so passionate about this?

Well, did you know that each year in Australia, close to 3000 men die of prostate cancer - equal to the number of women who die from breast cancer annually. One in 9 men in Australia will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Early, curable prostate cancer may not have symptoms. While younger men are less likely to be diagnosed with it, they are more likely to die prematurely from it.

Around 18,700 new cases are diagnosed in Australia every year.
Last year my Dad was one of those diagnosed, but by the time it was discovered, the cancer was already in his bones. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy, and is doing OK, but if it had been diagnosed earlier, treatment might have prevented it reaching his bones.

So encourage all the men over 45 in your life, to get their little prick!
(For overseas readers: in Australia, the campaign for PSA testing uses the slogan "get a little prick".)
What does the little prick do?
It is simply a blood test to show the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) levels in the blood. Levels that are too high are an early indicator of prostate cancer. Having a DRE (digital reactal examination) is not enough!

We all know what men are like when it comes to their health, so it's up to us females to encourage/drag/insist/push/decline sex/go on strike/etc until our men get tested. They owe it to their families.
And if they're wimps, point out that we women have to put up with worse for our Pap tests and mammograms.
By the way, when was your last Pap Test or Mammogram?

http://www.prostate.org.au/index.php

Earn some rice for others

Here's something fun to do. It's also a worthwhile thing to do.
Test your vocab - you might even learn the meaning of a few new words. (like omphalaskepsis!)

http://freerice.com/

It's a sponsored site that donates ten grains of rice to the poor people of the world, through United Nations, for every word that you correctly match to it's meaning. The better you are the harder the words!

MOVEMBER

October was breast cancer month, and now we have MOVEMBER!
Movember is the month where we think about prostate cancer and depression (especially in men). The fund raiser for the 2 great beneficiaries (the Prostate cancer Foundation of Australia and Beyond Blue) is a brilliant idea. Grow a moustache (mo) for November and get people to sponsor you...
You can read more at the Movember web site and the web sites for the beneficiaries.

http://www.movember.com/au/home for Movember

http://www.prostate.org.au/ for Prostate Cancer

http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx for Beyond Blue

If you would like to sponsor a mo grower, but don't know anyone, you could sponsor Michael, if you like. His mo grower number is 91927.
Or you could sponsor my DH Wayne. His number is 147807.
Just go to the movember web site and use your credit card.

Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Regular readers know that my Mum has cancer. What some don't know, is that she first had breast cancer in 1998 and had a mastectomy. 8 years later (April 2006) she developed 2 lumps under her scar and further investigation revealed that she had developed metastasis (secondary cancer) on her ribs and in her bones, namely ribs and spine. She had radiotherapy to help hold her own and reduce the pain. Late last year, she developed another secondary in a lung. This was reduced with chemotherapy. This year, she developed another tumour closing around her duodenum. She is currently having chemo for that.

I'm telling you this, not as a sob story (many others are worse off), but so you understand my passion and commitment to alerting people about breast cancer and the importance of mammagrams, breast examinations and knowledge of breast cancer.

(I'm also passionate about prostate cancer, but I'll leave that for another post.)

So imagine my delight on discovering this site: www.nbcc.org.au It's the National Breast Cancer Centre site. They also cover ovarian cancer.

I urge you all to check it out! You can do a risk factor test, read about issues, download PDF files, and order free pamphlets. You can also make a donation.

Please refer others to the site, not just women, but men too. The more we all understand and are aware, the more lives we can save!

Well of Positivity

Here's something fun to do, and make a difference at the same time!

Mount Franklin water are donating $1 for every positive thought you add to the Well of Positivity. It's great to see that this is an Aussie initiative which helps us give and receive blessings. You can find the site here. http://www.wellofpositivity.com/Think a happy thought and add it to the well. You can click on the lotus flowers to read thoughts of those who have already added them. Have fun.

As well as that, you can read more on the National Breast Cancer site. http://nbcf.org.au/