But I didn’t know where to begin. I *did* know that I wanted to break away from the 101 list. It wasn’t relevant anymore; I had lots of different lists going on. I didn’t want to feel this committed to something that, if I’m really honest with myself, was written in less than two days. A to-do-list that spans the better part of 2.7years needs some better planning. So as of now it is obsolete.

I invite you to the work-in-progress New Tracy’s Topics. May this be the start of something beautiful.

A little tutorial that will keep the kids busy for about… 10 minutes.

Way back while I was studying, a friend showed me how to do this. Probably seems very straight forward, but heck, I didn’t think about it at the time.

Mom bought Lili some glow in the dark stars; I had some of mine left over from res days, so yesterday we put them up.

You will need:

• Ceiling
• A broom
• Prestik
• Glow in the dark stars / celestial bodies etc.
• Toddler assistant optional

I think this ceiling needs some stars

This is a spot directly above her bed. Little Lili hasn’t seen stuff glow yet – curious to see her reaction at night.

Get some glow in the dark shapes and Prestik

Put a ball of Prestik in the centre of your shape.

Put a little bit of Prestik on the tip of the broom handle; rub it flat so that when you put the star on, it just sticks, but will still come off easily.

Lightly balance the star on the broom handle where you used a little bit of Prestik.

Little hands can help too

Those same little hands made the mess on the floor… but you knew that didn’t you. (While uploading I notice that she was wearing this shirt)

Press the star - sticky side up - to the ceiling. Gently so as not to punch a hole or make a dent.

Our ceiling may look like grooved wood, but it’s actually polystyrene. It really helps with insulation, and you get all types of finishes. Point is, I still don’t want to poke a hole in it

1 Star done! few more to go

Star spangled ceiling!

**We did this on Monday (posting on Tuesday): Don;t think she enjoyed the stars so much. Lili kept on asking me to turn them off. I just told her that if she doesn’t want to see tham, she should just close her eyes.

Tongue in cheek post for first 2011 craft post. May you all have a wonderful and blessed New Year!

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 12,000 times in 2010. That’s about 29 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 193 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 317 posts. There were 615 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 81mb. That’s about 2 pictures per day.

The busiest day of the year was June 22nd with 180 views. The most popular post that day was Father’s Day gift: Frame a Wordle.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were tearosehome.blogspot.com, todayscreativeblog.blogspot.com, somedaycrafts.blogspot.com, supahmommy.blogspot.com, and bystephanielynn.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for 9th week of pregnancy pictures, dishydrosis, u r an awesome mom, namaqua fees, and how to make an elf hat.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

Father’s Day gift: Frame a Wordle June 2010
12 comments

Make a felt Pixie / Kabouter / Elf hat – mini tutorial June 2010
2 comments

Washer necklaces – little gifts for little friends June 2010
18 comments and 1 Like on WordPress.com,

Easy Peasy Silver Rose Button Ring July 2010
9 comments

Desk organizers for work August 2010
6 comments

I was trying to explain to a character how I induce lucid dreams, and that I would know if this were a dream. Like the voodoo hoodoo witch dwarf and the charming rep clones weren’t clue enough. I still didn’t realise I was dreaming. Not even after the total memory wipe and rehabilitation of our common enemies – they fetched our tea, with biscuits.

WikiHow explains how you can experience lucid dreams.
(Lucid dreaming is being aware of the fact that you are dreaming). I only use one of those methods described though.

When ever I feel an inkling of awareness that this is a dream, I ask myself : “am I dreaming?” Cause I will NEVER ask myself that in real life, no matter how cliche. The fact that I’m actually asking it tells me that it IS a dream and can start flying

Do you trigger lucid dreams? How?

First the kitchen was just a fridge and a shell. By Monday evening we at least had a sink. Still no storage in the kitchen though.

I never realised how much junk i have in there! Let me put it in perspective: it took 4 women 3 hours to pack it on Friday. The rest of the house took another 3 hours.

Back to what’s still missing. On Monday our en suite was still out of order, at least the guest bathroom was done. But the contractor gave the wrong dimensions to the lumber supplier, so now the sink cupboard doors don’t fit. He says it’s so we can see what’s inside without having to open it. He was kidding.  The front stoep was still missing it’s roof.

But most of that has been completed now. Lili was the First to swim in my tub. Last might Henk could use the gas stove. I’ll break in the oven this weekend. Just waiting for the last of the kitchen drawers. See, in stead of cupboards at ground level, it’s all drawers so that I can reach all the stuff in the back.

So while chilling in the meeting, one of the ladies leans over and asks me if I’m aware that there are allegations that J.K. Rowling is a satanist. I knew this to be an email hoax; but didn’t feel like defending it directly. I know this woman; used to work with her. She’s the type who recoils at the thought of having a black colour scheme for a wedding. Or *gasp* painting your nails black. Honestly, it’s just a colour (or lack there-of. God also created it)
My answer? “and Neil Diamond is a Jew, but I’m still going to his concert.”

It’s not over yet. A few hours later she tells me how her son had written a letter to Santa, but he’s changing his mind now; of course they already bought the kid the original gift. I just shook my head.

I still feel uncomfortable telling Lili about Santa. I want her to know and understand the Christian meaning of Christmas, the symbolism of the tree, and why we give gifts. And eventually the irony of the date.

So yeah, my kid will probably spoil Santa for the other kids.

Lili just said to me: 'Mamma, sit stil!'—
Tracy Myburgh (@TracyMyburgh) November 18, 2010

On Sunday I took Lili with to church for a second cousin’s Christening. Felt like I was repeating myself the whole time with ‘Sit Still’ and ‘shhhh’.
So today I’m sitting next to the braai of our new house waiting for the builder to show up – there are a few things we need to discuss.
I lean forward to check how many lightbulbs I need to get for my chanelier. As I lean back, Lili leans forward. So I lean forward again, and she leans back. I lean back, she leans forward. We’re playing vertical sew-saw. THAT’s when she says to me :”Mamma, sit stil!”

Henk: “But you have one.”

Tracy: “No, I have a Braun multi mix”

Henk: “Ja, so why do you want a Twista Choppa Pro?

Tracy: “For the same reason I want garden solar lights,  and haven’t complained about juicing lemons by hand – it doesn’t use electricity!”

Will update with link tomorrow. I the mean time, what do you think?