March 2023

Well - at least I've managed a post by the next month!!  

We hit the deck running once school started back - short staffed, still no Asst. Principal, brand new Principal and have basically spent the last 6 weeks or so just trying to keep ahead - at least by a couple of millimeters, anyway! Another of our teachers who had been here almost 2 years, threw her hands in the air and walked out about a week ago!  The 3 new teachers who started in the last couple of weeks are starting to have a 'deer in headlights' look about them plus one of our teachers who was here end of last term is driving me crazy!!  How can anyone teach for almost 30 years (according to him, anyway) and not have any sort of commonsense or be able to think things through?  He apparently needs strict routines or he can't cope - I suggested last week Tennant Creek High School wasn't for him!!  Politely, of course - trying to make it look like I really cared!! 

Guides kicked off at the start of February - big influx of new girls and I still have at least 6 on the waiting list!  It's good, I think?   

We have a Guide Camp planned for the end of April - however, I realised the other day that I haven't put the paperwork in yet and that should have been done at least 6 weeks beforehand. I guess I'm going to have change dates? 

I finished the Terry Pratchett book 'Last Continent'.  I think it would have to be the best he wrote!  The visual picture of Drop Bears landing on the pointy wizard hats is pure GOLD!  And as for his version of how evolution happens, let alone how sex was invented ... let's just say, you HAVE to read it! 

Currently, I am reading an e-book series by Katherine Genet - the 'Wilde Grove' series.   I had bought the first one quite a while ago and hadn't read it.  I started it a few days ago, and was immediately sucked in - and have now bought the rest of the series.  She is an amazing writer.  

Very little craft has been happening - there just hasn't been the time!  I have managed coffee with the craft ladies and lunch at the Memo to celebrate Debra's birthday, but no actual playing with paper and so on.  I set the ladies a 'Pinterest Challenge' which I didn't even complete, even though most of the group did.  Not what I would call a good look at all - although the ladies were understanding about it. 😕

So what plans do I have?  We have 2 weeks left of school after this week, and then a 1 week break covering Easter as well.  This could mean more time at the pool in the early mornings, not having to be at work by 7.30 should mean I can take the pooch for a run, paperwork catch up, prep for the Tennant Creek Show - then maybe I can get to some craft stuff?  

Let's see how this all goes... 

Plans for the Mid-Semester Break

Well, end of term is on the horizon and although I know the holidays are going to be busy - my plan is for lots of reading and lots of crafting to be happening.  

I have lots of Pinterest ideas logged for trying out ... paper craft, cooking and so on.  There are lots of willing helpers, I gather, at Leading Edge to trial anything I cook - very brave and trusting men!!

I have a number of fresh e-books on the Galaxy so, in theory, I am sorted.  Of course, we all know it won't go this way but it never hurts to have a plan, I think!

Today is the mid-semester breakup for Girl Guides - and the girls said it could be Leader's Choice as to the theme!!  International War games, here we come!!

I'll keep you updated as to how it all pans out.

Holidays and Cards

Finally some photos of cards that I made at one of the last paper crafting days.  Lots of plans for pretty flowers but what do I end up doing?

Men's cards!!  Something that is always needed but so hard to do.  Turned out to be my lucky day for once.  Not saying they are great - but not too shabby, I think.

The fish one has been sent to my grandson as he is into fishing at the moment, or at least when he can be dragged away from the computer.

From there the other two just seemed to follow the ocean theme. 

We won't discuss the paint chip ideas I tried out - best place for those was the garbage bin.  I will have to have another try - the ones I see on Pinterest are SO pretty.

Last week I tried teaching the ladies how to make glitter cards using stencils and Jac paper (double sided adhesive paper)  After giving it a good go, they decided that glitter wasn't for them and we moved onto the emboss resist technique.  I have to admit, glitter gets everywhere.  For some reason, Wayne isn't always appreciative of 'sparkly bits' in his dinner.  Odd that!!

Once I get some decent photos I will post a couple of pictures of the glitter card and the emboss resist one. 

It won't be for a while though - I am off to a week long State Guide Camp with around 100 girls.  Lord, WHAT was I thinking??  What a way to spend the school mid-semester break!  I have spent the last few weeks making 100s of beaded whatsits and googly-eyed puzzle pieces, as you do of course.  Well, you do if you are a Girl Guide Leader.
I will let you all know how it goes, hopefully with pictures.

Pinterest and other links.

If you have a look at the Blog list on the right hand side of the pages, you will see a few links I have put up.

Two of these are websites promoting books and reading which I find useful in looking for new, up to date stuff that may be of interest here in the school library - although as kids seems to have an incredible 'fear' of books and reading, it doesn't always work well.

The other one is a link to my Pinterest boards.  Pinterest is an online pinboard, where you can 'pin' links to websites and ideas that you may want to access again.  You can make up boards for your own interests and keep links pinned to the relevant board, so you are curating your own materials and resources as well.  Whilst I know that there have been a couple of issues with copyright, most people are happy to share their ideas.

For those of you who haven't come across Pinterest before, I thought you may like to browse my boards to get an idea of what it is all about. These update each time I add new links, and I also get to see others boards if they have linked to, or pinned from mine, and I can pin from theirs, if there is something I like.

Enjoy.