This is all...

www.stoprhinopoaching.com

Chivalry...

Just got back from my cuzzie's wedding.
I'm so exhausted! From the little bit of dancing I did... from all the driving... and defenitely from all that eating. There was so much food!
Got to see awesome family.
And I'm satiated... with life. With love. With coming home late and finding myself greeted like a rockstar by 3 puppymonsters who don't give me 101 questions... just love and gladness that I'm home.

And I can receed into my own space. Blissed in knowing that love still exists.

Thank you Ouma... for just being amazing.
Thank you for my dad... for my 19 cousins... for the 14/15 second cousins... for being the woman that sits at the head of our family table with so much love and compassion and forgiveness. I hope to one day be like you in these things.
Kind, without wanting.
Loving, without a score card.
Forgiving, with no check board.

I wish, however, that I could say I was back in the COMFORT of my new home... but I'm drowing in boxes right now that should be unpacked so that I can go to Lydenburg in some kind of peace on the 2nd of January. Sigh

Store Updates: Wonder Struck Inc.

Now... before I fall asleep at my desk.

Blessed be humans. Whoever and whereever you are.

It's here...somewhere...probably

Ergh... 7 days into the move!... yes... 7 days.
HOW DID I HAVE SO MUCH STUFF?!

Sigh.

My tiny new home is filled with boxes and it's not even the end.
Last night was my first night sleeping here, with the 3 musketeer monsters protecting me from any strangeness in our new home.
Wagener is currently rolling about with invisible ninja's in a pile of rags in the living room. Apollo is also in the living room, snoring as he lays on the cold tiles, trying to find relief from a full stomach and a hot rainy evening. And Astraeus monster has had a temporary matress/bed made at my feet in the work room so he can come chew his toys and keep me jealously to himself from the other two. He's been snarling and barking at anything that comes near to me... or looks at me. Sigh

They also spent their first official day, mostly alone at home as I headed to Pretoria to spend time with the family.
A huge lunch was had... one that I'm STILL full from at nearly 9pm! but it was good...and that diabetics safe chocolate mousse that my landladies made for the dessert was divine. (my aunts own the house I'm renting... if the landladies thing is confusing).

Tomorrow the last lot of curtains get put up, I'm going to try and finish bringing the last of all my stuff from the parentals... including the second work space desk.

Things that have happened since "officially" moving in last night...
3 lightbulbs blew.
my 5 year old kettle packed up after putting it on...ONCE.

What I've learnt in one day...
Coffee isn't that bad without milk when you REALLY need that caffiene kick at 6:30am while 3 puppymonsters are pestering you to let them out for morning garden prowlings.
I have missed living on my own ... "own", more than I could have realised.
I have 3 of the most special boys in my life that will be sharing my home with me.

Now. Go forth and have a fantastic remainder of this Christmas day.
Blessed be.

P.S Even though our Etsy store is closed, it'd be GREAT if you could go promote/like/support our fundraising campaign! ~ Wonder Struck Inc. store funding campaign

Thankful... satiated...

between "re-watching" all of the old Naruto... I've spent the last 5 days moving into the new house and tomorrow I will officially have the very last bit of anything I own, in a tiny little house, 3km's from here.

And besides that good news? ... getting 2 emails in quick succession, informing me that Heatherlyn and I have received donations to our start up project!
Yup, we're at 4% of target only 2 days into the 90 day target.
88 days left and it'd be GREAT if we could make AT LEAST 50% of target... actually we *have* to make at least 50% of the target in order to get ANY funding.

So... do us a favour and go support our project any way you can, spread the word, like the project, give us R2 (or more) ;)
everything positive will be appreciated and if I know who you are, I'll probably even send you a personal message to thank you. Our 2 backers already have theirs waiting to be read.

... no matter how small the good deed, it should be met with the greatest of wholehearted gratitude.

~ CJ ~

Baby steps...

Well, if you don't read my store's blog...

>.< The funding project for Wonder Struck has officially been created.

There's a bit of work that goes into investing in our project via that site, where you'd have to sign up and buy investment credits.
But we'd REALLY appreciate the time you take for this, and just sharing the project via the "share buttons" all over the page would be appreciated too.

Go onto Wonder Struck's blog if you need more details about the project... Wonder Struck Inc.

Thanks!

Calming centre... and puppies at your feet

As I pack things for the move into the car, I'm surrounded by the hot, clear skied sunshine of mid-Summer here in the Vaal.
I also have to skip and hop with boxes in my arms as I dodge puppy monsters trying their best to twist eachother around my ankles.

This is the life... at least its the one I want so earnestly.
Peaceful. Simple.
I really am going to relish the 3 and half weeks I have left of leave... I just wish the life I find myself surrounded by in this time, could stretch onward to become the norm.
Sigh.

The biggest part of the move (in my opinion) happened yesterday. All the biggest furniture is now at the new house.
Today its boxes of crockery, linens, art and Wonder Struck Inc. components that are being sent up to the new place in excitement for the new stretch... ready to take on 2013 with another level of positivity I never knew that *I* was able to have.

2 days ago I quickly dropped off the Christmas gifts with the ladies, and they hopefully were completely honest on how much they liked their gifts.
A beautiful woodgrain salad bowl for the chef, and a pewter tool kit for the crafty.
They also drove with me to come see the shell of the new home (before anything was in it) and the chef was already telling me how I should do my garden ;) what a farm girl!
I then spent some time watching The Brave with them at their place, before coming back to the reality that was the packing process.

To be honest... only about 30% of what needs to still be moved is in boxes....closed *moving* boxes.
Sigh
I know I'll get around to the rest today... hopefully. But there's a lingering of being away from the parental unit...as the stepmom and I jest about "wanting our space" and "buggaring off" and "thankful to be rid of"...
Who ever doesn't have a sense of humour would think I have the worst relationship with them...
When I was near being destitute and irreparably broke...my parents took me in again. They helped me get back on my feet and... dare I say that my understanding and relationship with them has improved tenfold since being with them for that time.
But... as much as I love them, to be in my own home AGAIN will be exhilarating. And the SPACE!

Ok... so back to work then. Packing and driving is in store for today.

Have the greatest of Thursdays humans!

Live love laugh

Not sure where...

I have no idea where the sudden flipout of inspiration has come from with the making... but its here and its in charge!

I hope all the creatives have an inspiring week ahead!

You guys!...

I have realised just how hard it is for me to NOT appreciate the people in my life right now.

I haven't seen them in a couple of weeks, but what was going to be a celebration of all of us ending work on the same day, ended up with me and this crazy chick celebration my 4 weeks of leave, her new job ventures and.... game farm guy still having another week of work added onto his life.

We had such a fantastic evening though.
A loud ruckus dinner at Spur moved to a lang arm dance excursion at the Barnyard in Vereeniging.
No... I didn't dance. But I watched with great amusement as game farm guy exhausted himself dancing with his rather sloshed girlfriend, who wasn't in the least bit phased.

I was also getting shelf by shelf photo updates from the girls in Henley as they were working on the work room at their house last night.
To think that as unimportant as this activity might be... to just be included in it when I'm not even there. Sigh

I really do have the most amazing human beings in my life.
The happiness they plant in my just wants to burst at their awesome. eeeeeeyyaaaaaaaaa!

To Everyone I have met/known/know/love/like/lost, I hope you're going into an amazing Christmas/Holiday season and that it'll fill you with so much happiness.
You're all amazing.

~CJ~

did i mention....

I've recently only discovered this band. I am just loving Taylor Momsen's voice and I don't care who knows...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjSyG6qksOo

And *this* song's chorus just makes me so happy...thanks Biffy Clyro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxUb9Yzr1sE

Here's an old favourite of mine as well... from Rise Against (FYI no other song has the playcount that this song does on my winamp)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8X3ACToii0


SIGH.... midnight music cravings.......

Toodles bitches.

Being Grateful...

Sigh... as the year closes there are things that have come to light and are seeing closure.

For one, my ex-stable landlord and I have seen the end to the lies, stories and admittedly, an end to the pity that I've at least been having over the last few weeks for a girl in her early/mid twenties that has had to start her life over again.
My ex-stable mate has found a new stable yard where she is moving/has moved her boy Turkish to and I can only hope the best for her as she takes on lessons and training again. I'm also hoping that she takes her new slate as an opportunity to close the gap between her and her sister.
My ex-stable landlord and her husband are about to set off for a new residence (we hope) in the next month and after all she's done for me and my two boys this year, I hope the coast brings about new peace for her.

It's also almost annual shutdown.
The time of year that I think everyone in my industry counts down to.
It's been hard for us.
And the politics and deceit have been rife between competitors and colleagues alike.
Almost time to close our eyes and just breathe out a sigh of relief!
I think all of us are hoping that next year is better for the industry, ours in particular.

Also... to healing hearts.
A few weeks ago, I lost my gorgeous Loupa, who had been with us for almost 3 years. I know there is no replacement for her. There will always be this space where she's supposed to be and where we want her to be...
To the new addition to our pack, Wagener, who with my other boys, lights up the end of every day for me.

Now... to sign off, I have black cherries to eat and rooibos tea to drink.
I'm also in the middle of this hectic game of Zoo Tycoon 2 >.<

Hey! ...

As much as I have been fond over my little well used notebook... wow does it feel great to work on a bigger and faster machine!
Every time I type it feels like I should sigh in bliss.

I cannot believe... CANNOT believe how fast the progress on my new home is coming on.
The aunts are like boulders right now, just move out the way until they're done or they'll crush you in the wake of their mission.
What started as a 5 point basic list has turned into the massive remodel.
I was only looking for a carport, working light fittings, taps and shower head in the bathroom and... a fenced yard.
I now have a carport, balcony/mini lapa, new bathroom plumbing in the shower, new wiring, and a huge section of yard being fenced.
We're also too scared to mention that the oven doesn't work... just now a new section of work begins on that too.
So... hopefully the work will be pretty much done by this weekend and I'll be moving in before Christmas probably. Could be fun!

I'm counting down the days to annual shutdown at work too.
Things in most industries might have been tough this year, but I can only speak for my industry. And this year has just been awful for us.
I don't know how the people at my work feel, but I could do with a months seperation from our line of work. Sigh

Other things have happened too this year... that we're better off without. Broken hearts, financial stress, work stress, dogs at vets, long days at markets, deception, and just overall horribleness.

I have to, however, mention that... no one could be more thankful than I for:
amazing parents
fantastic and very real friends
puppies who love me so unconditionally
horses and ponies that just make me happy to have them
and having a job!

Now... before I get  too little sleep for the 5th last day of work for 2012, have a great eve humans.

In a can...

I am really counting down the days till annual shutdown.
I feel like this year has just been so exhausting for everyone... for some exhausting good, and others, exhausting bad...

But all in need of some rest, no doubt.

In between making new stock for my markets, I'm modifying a neon pink wig for this Saturday's market.
I'm going as a faery!
Though... I'm battling to find a dress :( which could be a major glitch to my outfit :(

at least the wings and wig are bought. and Heatherlynn already has her FULL outfit. WHY ME?!

I'm also on the edge of my seat about my SARS issues. Documents were scanned and sent through last night, so I'm waiting... almost with baited breath.... to find out the outcome of their assessment.
Hold thumbs that I don't owe them anything >.<

taken on this day 2 years ago... this is the tree our town sets up every year. PRETTY!