Happy (Belated) New Year!

I'm a bit late to the party, I know, but I really must wish you all a happy and fulfilling 2012!

This year has already been busy, though also very relaxed. We were away camping with friends from the 31st of December to the 3rd of January, and I feel like I've only just settled back in at home (probably because I've been on an uncharacteristc cleaning and organising splurge!).

The beautiful Gunns Plains, where we camped.

Now, I didn't even think of making any resolutions until a couple of days ago, but (truth be told) I don't usually make them anyway, because I don't like setting myself up to fail. So instead of listing my resolutions, here's a list of some 2012 firsts!

Firsts for 2012 so far:

- First celebration: My 26th birthday!

- First sunburn: Julian, though his wasn't as bad as mine, which I got the next day

- First bug photographed: Dragonfly - it flew past and landed right by me!

- First alcoholic beverage: merlot/baileys in milk (I was sort of alternating between them)

- First cooked meal: Eggs and bacon for a camping breakfast

Bacon clothesline!

- First crochet project started: Tiny Whale, pattern courtesy of PlanetJune.

- Books: first finished = Princess Charming; first started = A Woman's Place

- First movie session: Alvin and the Chipmunks 3: Chipwrecked, followed by Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (this was rather fantastic!) 

- First in-joke: POPPIES!!!

These are the opium kind - Tasmania is a huge exporter of these.

Records in 2012:

- I've worn a skirt everyday this year! My legs are looking a bit wonderful :D

- Rose early every morning while camping: 7am, 5am (!), 8am (this is later as we were exhausted from the early start the day before... air mattresses with leaks are NOT fun).

- Went as far along the north-west coast of Tasmania that I've ever been: Table Cape.

Table Cape Lighthouse

Stuff that has excited me so far:

- Swam in the same river my dad learnt to swim in (the Leven River, north Tasmania).

The Leven River, my husband, and two children who are not ours (though I boss them around heaps!)

- Visiting the Gunns Plains Caves (glow worms!)

"Bacon" - very cool cave fomation, the colours are from minerals.

And, Oh! I've decided to list my (very general) resolutions for this year after all:

1. Work hard but don't strive;

2. Be restful and peaceful but not lazy; and, most importantly,

3. Do everything with diligence and a happy heart (give, work, serve, create and play with joy!)

What are some of your firsts for 2012? What are some of your resolutions?

Tag! I'm It!

I’ve been Tagged! This get-to-know-you meme is going around the blogosphere, and now it is my turn. I was tagged by Lissa of Lissa Writes.

Do you think you’re hot? "Hot" is not the word I'd choose to use, but I think I'm pretty awesome, gorgeous and funny. Being told this by my hubby pretty much all the time helps!

Upload a picture or wallpaper that you’re using at the moment.

This dawn photo was taken a bit over a week ago while on school camp up at Hagley Farm Primary School in northern Tasmania. It was so cold!

When was the last time you ate chicken meat? On Tuesday: I had corn and chicken soup for first course at a progressive dinner.

The song(s) you listened to recently. I've been going through a bit of a Steven Curtis Chapman stage lately, particularly his albums Declaration and Abbey Road Sessions/The Walk. Out of these two albums, the song I'm enjoying most is:

What were you thinking as you were doing this? I need to go to the toilet.

Do you have nicknames? What are they? I guess Kathy is a nickname, as my full name is Katherine. My husband calls me Katherine Anne, baby girl, my beautiful girl. My pastor calls me Kath, as does my mother-in-law. I don't really like it. By one friend I get called Kathykoo.

Tag 8 blogging friends…

1. Malcolm's Occasional Rant
2. Mitch and Lulu
3. Inkberryblue
4. Jeka B Handmade
5. GemmaJoy
6. Meika's Little Treasures
7. PepperKnit
8. Tikki

Who’s listed as No. 1? Malcolm is a friend who married and moved to Poland (his wife's homeland). His blog, as the name indicates, is rather occasional, so when he does post it's extra exciting!

Say something about No. 5 GemmaJoy make things. I've bought a couple of brooches from her madeit shop (currently closed), and won another one through  giveaway.

How did you get to know No. 3? I got to know Inkberrybluethrough Ravelry, when we both made the same cardigan out of the same yarn. This lovely lady has been on a blog break since October, and I'm looking forward to posts from her again!

How about No. 4. I met Jeka B through a knitting night which my sister-in-law also goes to. She is so funny, and such a fast knitter! She's just moved house, and is destashing (getting rid off) some yarn, which means that my yarn stash is about to grow!

Leave a message for No. 6. Hi Meik! (For those not in the know, Meik is my sister-in-law.) This won't really go well on your Mum Fit blog, but with all the hard work you're doing you should be able to answer "yes" to the first question of this meme!

Leave a lovey dovey message for No. 2. I love and appreciate you so much! You are so funny and creative, and you make me laugh. Even if it is because you are so much like your daughter-who-can't-stop-moving-even-during-tests!

Do No. 7 and No. 8 have any similarities? I found both of these blogs through Ravelry, as they both have published knitting patterns. Tikki is a well known and respected Australian Knit Designer (Milo is perhaps her best known pattern, with over two and a half THOUSAND projects listed on Ravelry alone.) and she's actually made my Urban Shells scarf! PepperKnit is also a knit designer, but I actually found her through this crochet pattern.