GROUTING IN A FLASH...


We started with three interested participants. ...now there are more turning up all the time.  So some newbies got started on their projects some others wanted to grout their finished pieces.  I have been reading and watching You Tube videos on grouting and today was the day to give it a go under expert guidance to make sure I was on the right track....
AND AWAY WE GO...........MIX, (careful here - not too much water)
 SLAP DOWN,  PUSH INTO PROJECT, WIPE DOWN.......You get the idea.
 
Below is our last gathering....we all agree it has been a wonderful learning experience.  And some - like me - are certainly going to continue at home with help from books and you tube....

This is one I have been working  on at home..and I tackled the grout to finish it today....
It's like a double learning experience.... No! Treble learning....as I then have fun taking pics and playing with them, with apps I downloaded- so I can now put pics. Side by side (could not for the life of me do that in Blogger) also can add different diddle daddles to pic's - I can insert them in the blog after playing  with them and saving to my photo gallery.  This blogging is a continual learning curve......

Mmmmm! LOOKS LIKE A BIT 
OF ACTION BEEN GOING ON
HERE!!!......



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AUSTRALIA DAY.....

TODAY 26TH JANUARY IS AUSTRALIA DAY....

The population goes ballistic.....TV is full of celebration marches, speeches, ceremonies to welcome new residents to our country....Naturalisation handshakes, pledges to abide by the law of the land...etc....to become Australian citizens......red tape stuff.

 The weather is always great....to-day it was pleasant and not too hot......- So some of the done things that happen:- 
Aussies love BBQ's  - they also like camping (we have a 3 day weekend-Monday a public holiday)...So off to the river with mates, family etc...all....




 And whilst fishing is the excuse to go to the river - most times it is really to have a good time....be a real Aussie - like:- She'll be right Mate, and Stone a Crow...and bloody Hell....then it is a competition for the most Aussie saying....There are loads of them and we could go on and on.......but I wont LOL

 







HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY....HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GOOD ONE, CELEBRATE HARD CELEBRATE OFTEN.....(WONDER WHEN THE NEXT HOLIDAY WEEKEND IS..LOL)

Watch out for wild life.....


STORM WATCHING . ....

After a very hot day, it all of a sudden became overcast.....so much so that it was very noticeable the sun was gone and it became dark and  dull....and this is what was happening....













And guess what!!!!!  -  it didn't  even rain??? But I had fun taking pics of clouds....wonder if the photography course  has anything to do with it??.....

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CICADAS - ghosting up trees....


These Cicada empty shells are all over our front trees....I am always intrigued by them...they look like insect dead soldiers on the march .  The noise the live ones make is very piercing and funny thing is, the noise is always in the background and if your attention turns to the noise it seems to get louder.....


 When young cicada nymphs hatch from their eggs, they dig themselves into the ground to suck the liquids of plant roots. They spend several early life stages in these underground burrows before surfacing as adults. The process varies in length but often takes a number of years. (Information supplied via web.)


I took these pics - The one below is only half there (Hubbie said "where is the rest of it?") I guess that bit turned into a grub and into the ground again, as this is how I found it on the ground outside.........

The insect's amazing lifestyle has been a source of fascination since ancient times. Several cultures, such as the ancient Chinese, regarded these insects as powerful symbols of rebirth. (Web Info.)


Pic. of Cicada all there...so you can see what part of mine is missing ..LOL (Web Pic)

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MOSAIC OBSESSION .........

I think I have been bitten by the Mosaic Bug.....whilst it has always been on my "gunna list", and the occasion presented itself to have a go.  Little did I know I would be sucked in and keen to keep going.   I have visited the hardware store in town twice now to gather up some more tiles and bits and pieces. I started on the kitchen table.....but the packing up process every time we wanted to eat was getting on my creative nerves....so relocate to the back verandah...set up all the equipment and bingo!  ideal to leave there come and go as the mood takes me.

So I have been cutting tiles - gluing tiles - arranging tiles to my hearts content.  I have three finished articles to grout now.  I know nothing about grouting....but I have been watching YouTube videos about it, and it is amazing that people have different instructions on applying grout.  The only consistent instruction is the consistence of the mix.  So  I think  I will wait until next lessons at Library before I tackle that part - but I am a bit of  a 'Bull at a Gate' type person so lets hope I can restrain myself....LOL or rush onwards and experiment....
The construction process taking place.......
Finished - ready for grouting......

Haven't cut myself yet!
P.S. One of my readers (Thanks Jan) asked "how do you  cut tiles" ...so I have added a pic of my tools.....

GALAHS MOVED IN........


More visitors to the area and back tree.......Don't think they will find much to eat here....been picked over



Very WIDE spread area these beauties are found in - they make good pets if raised from young and have been known to talk with persistent training.......
Better not tell these white cockatoos that the tree is being occupied


They think this tree is only for them.... 

CHEERS..........
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PHOTO MAGIC??!!....

Started photography today or rather what can your camera do?

 And the question  you should ask yourself  (more like what should I ask) is what do you want to do with your photos?  What  sort of photography are you  most interested in? Etc..etc....
Everyone had different types of cameras...some look very big and daunting. ...some were handy sizes (like mine -it can zoom 10 times) I  only found that out today LOL - I knew  it could zoom but not the tech stuff...
THIS  IS  MY LITTLE MAGIC MAKER.....

Lots of information  going on here.......


And I am still befuddled - better get on you tube and have a search around

Wish me luck........

PLANS CHANGED......

During the course of investigating water aerobics...(will get around to that - maybe in February.)  I came across the Library Site, and Yippeee! they are having courses againI have chosen two to attend:-
1.     Mosaic Tiling - every Thursday for the Month of January
2.     Photography - every Tuesday for the Month of January   

They are also offering A.-Card Making - Monday  B.- Tai Chi - Wednesday   C.-Line Dancing - Friday
I have attended my first class and decided to construct something useful.....So a house number it is.  Never having done anything like this before I thought it best to start easy and small.....So you cut the tiles and stick them to a larger tile....grouting will come later (stay tuned)
Sadly there are only three ladies here for the first lesson....more help for us, from our teacher....Wonder if others will take advantage of this great opportunity, and turn up next week?

a
This Lady is very brave - I am assured I may be able to put a flower somewhere around my number 20 - we shall see.....all interesting, step by careful steps......

Heather has decided to do a house number also......hers is a safe number 2.  

Above - bottom tile is mine with green border laid and numbers ready to assemble....
These are samples, compliments of the Internet....there are loads of samples there - all spectacular.
            


GET GOING...STIR YOURSELF UP...

TRYING TO GET MOTIVATED........It is very hot here at the present and any energy I have, has to be used up early in the day before the heat gets to me and the air-conditioner labours under 42 degree heat.
So it was with glee that I was motivated by a Melbourne blogger with a great idea to get each other going.......

 Pack up and discard overflow of Xmas decorations.....remember I am trying to become a minimalist.....

Have organized - and  two empty containers now sit idle......NO - I am not going to fill them up with MORE STUFF.......

MY MOTIVATION..........Check it out    It is sort of like a 30 day challenge but broken down to "Mini Challenges"...which suits me....baby steps...feel guilty, then rush to finish what I had pledged...LOL.  So thats the No 1.  of my challenge for this week....No 2.  is to organise water aerobics at the local swimming pool for some exercise....I have rung and inquired times and days, so that's a wee start.......


OK ALL DONE - LETS GO REST......

2015 BRING IT ON...



TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY

MAY 2015 BE FULL OF 
HAPPY
HEALTHY
HARMONIOUS 
HAPPENINGS
AS YOU ALL TRAVEL DOWN YOUR 
HOLIDAY HIGHWAY IN LIFE
CHEERS......
P.S. Pics taken last night from the TV - about all the fireworks I could see.....