I am NOT Katie!

Posted on September 2, 2008 by

I wish I could be paid a $1 for everytime someone has written Katie or called me Katie. Can’t they see the ‘h’ in my name? It really has gotten very annoying. My name is Kathie and I like being called Kathie. But I guess I’m going to have to live with it.

The mystery to me is that this only started happening about 2 years ago – prior to that people always called me Kathie or wrote to Kathy, Kathie, Cathy, Cathie but some variation of my name. Katie might be a nice name but it’s not my name and has a different sound altogether and I just don’t answer to it when in out in the street or amongst other people. 🙁

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Would you sponsor a child?

Posted on August 21, 2008 by

Graham and I have been sponsoring children through World Vision since around 1993 or 1994. Can’t remember when exactly. At the moment we have 3 girls we sponsor – it’s always been girls as we have daughters of our own and we really relate to their needs.  One of the girls in the past could have almost passed for a daughter of our’s – she was so much like our youngest daughter to look at.

Anyway, we’re partnering with World Vision in a time of need.

Two weeks ago I was approached by World Vision Australia with a request to support their current Child Sponsorship campaign by mentioning this extremely worthy cause in my newsletter through my business but this is such a worthy cause that I’m also putting it on some of my blogs for more to see.

In light of the tough economic conditions that all Australians are facing right now, World Vision staff explained that it is becoming more challenging than ever for them to find sponsors for children in desperate need.

Children whose families are struggling to survive chronic food shortages and skyrocketing global food prices.

That is why I can’t think of a better use of this space than to ask you all to consider sponsoring a child right now.

For less than the cost of your daily café latte, you can not only change the life of a child, but of their entire community.

Please follow this link to learn more about child sponsorship.

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Blog Update

Posted on August 9, 2008 by

I’ve updated the theme and managed to locate old posts and relinked them.  I thought I’d lost it all but managed to find most of them and I’ve now added a new Travels page so you can view our photos. I still have to do our 2006 trip to Ireland/UK/France but that will come.  I have lost all the posts I made during the 2006 and 2007 trips but at least I’ve still got the photos.

I accidentally overwrote some files earlier this year when trying to update WordPress – popped it into the wrong folder and then deleted the wrong folder trying to fix it up!  Oops! The backup files I thought I had don’t appear to fix the problem so I’ve just elected to start again with what I have and move forward.

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Ode to Beauie

Posted on August 6, 2008 by

Our beloved Beauie is leaving us today. He’s served a wonderful 16 years with us as a faithful, loving and mainly placid cat.

As a kitten he would race up the back of the couch or up the curtains and we would scold him. He’d run up and down teatrees with baby possums, playing with them. As an adult they became something he hunted and again we’d scold him.

As he grew older he became a faithful companion, a good friend, always keeping company with any member of the family who was unwell or down. He would curl up beside them or on their laps – he loves laps!

It was Beauie who helped me on my blogging journey. Readers might remember this photo from December 2005. Beauie had disappeared for 4 days in the sweltering 40+C heat and when he came back home on Boxing Day, he was hungry, thirsty and injured. We found a Vet that was open in that holiday season and he was patched back up again and I posted this photo – that was when I got my very first blog comments and I got hooked!

As an aged cat he did not like the younger cats jumping all over him and he would soon let them know about it – he was quite vocal when he chose to be. Graham’s lap was always his favourite and it was not unusual for Beauie to come into the office at night and demand Graham’s lap, or even push Graham aside so he could curl up to sleep in Graham’s office chair. We’d put a pillow there just for Beauie!

As he got a lot older he would curl up under Graham’s office desk so he was near the heating vent and the computer hard drive to draw warmth. Sometimes he liked to be on top of the desk too and would find a place in Graham’s filing tray. He’s always been Graham’s cat but is loved by every member of the family.

Last night three of our girls were here at home to say their farewells to him and he got lots of pats and cuddles and ear rubs – which he loves.

It is with sadness we have to let him go. He has contracted a kidney disease and after a couple of weeks of medication, special diet and two hospital stays and an intravenous drip, the vetinerary staff advise there is nothing else they can do for him and he is just wasting away in front of our eyes. Poor Beauie with those beautiful round golden orb shaped eyes who looks at you like he is speaking just to you. We love you Beauie and will never forget you.

Posted in Pet News | 13 Comments

Baby Boomer Diva Anniversary

Posted on July 23, 2008 by

Many readers will know I’m a member of the Baby Boomer Diva Nation – in fact I believe I was the first Aussie on the list.

Below is a press release written by Beverly Mahone, the founder of this group. I love this group of ladies – they are very special people and I’m proud to be part of their group.

So what is a DIVA? She’s a baby boomer woman who’s Divinely, Inspired, Vivacious and Anointed.

They’re known as Baby Boomer Divas—women over 40 who are on the move and making a difference in their personal and professional lives.

This month the group celebrates its one year anniversary. The idea to create a Baby Boomer Diva Web of Fame came from baby boomer author and expert Beverly Mahone who says, “This was my way to pay tribute to baby boomer women who were doing great things at midlife but weren’t getting their deserved recognition. Mahone says the Divas are all very talented women who come from very diverse backgrounds around the globe. “We come from all walks of life and different races and are eager to share our knowledge and resources. We’ve had a few bumps in the road and some detours but we continue to persevere.

Mahone adds that in addition to a global presence, they are also honored to have celebrities like actresses Debbie Zipp and Bern Nadette Stanis who are active members and want to offer their assistance in helping them grow.

The official anniversary date is July 22, 2007. Since its inception, the Baby Boomer Diva Web of Fame has continued to grow by leaps and bounds. Mahone says the Web of Fame is now officially known as Boomer Diva Nation—a nonprofit organization that provides a variety of resources to assist fellow boomer women in their endeavors. It’s also a place where women can network Mahone anticipates the groups continued growth over the coming year.

“Who would’ve ever thought last year that something called the Baby Boomer Diva Web of Fame would turn into what it is today?”

Charter Diva Members: Linda Alexander, Pam Archer, Angela Betts, Natalie Cole, Cynthia Frazier, Linda Hall, Donna Maria Harris, Kathy Holmes, Gayle Hurd, Karlyn, Betty Lynch, Heidi Richards; Beverly Mahone; Ginger Marks, Carine Nadel, Kathie M. Thomas, Kathy Walsh, Debra Shivelely Welch, Gloria Mount, Ora Stearns-Smith and Vicki M. Taylor.

To learn more about being a part of Boomer Diva Nation, visit: http://www.boomerdivanation.org

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Amazon Book Launch tomorrow!

Posted on June 26, 2008 by

My book “Worth More Than Rubies” is being launched at Amazon tomorrow. And I’m doing a special offer with giveaways for a 24 hour period only. Of course, the book will always be available, but if you want to experience the special offers, then it needs to be purchased during the time period listed below.

The date is:

Special offer (24 hours only): From midnight 27th June 2008 AEST(10am 26th June – 9.59am 27th June US EDT)

See Amazon Campaign for advance details.

If you’d like to be reminded of the launch and the goodies that will be available please register below – you’ll get an email from me just prior to the launch.

Posted in My Thoughts | 4 Comments

Frozen Over

Posted on June 15, 2008 by

Graham and I spent a weekend near Beechworth recently and we visited Mt Buffalo on a beautiful sunny winter’s day. Neither of us had been up there before so we enjoyed the scenery together for the first time.

We walked the Lake Catani track and as we drew near the lake we found a path that branched off from the main track. It was on the shady side of the mountain and probably doesn’t see the sun much in the winter. Why did we think this? Have a look at this picture. It was early afternoon, after lunchtime. The sun had been up for several hours and it was well past midday.

We had to tread very carefully and hold onto the rail so we wouldn’t slip. Evenso, it was very slippery under foot. We also just stood there watching bubbles move under the ice as it slowly melted from under the sheet of ice. When you’ve got all the time in the world and not in a rush, you can see some really beautiful sights – things that many people totally miss. Later, there was a young family coming along the path from the opposite direction and we could see them in the distance but were not close enough to yell out, to tell them to look out for the ice. They probably wouldn’t have seen it till they were on top of it and the kids were racing ahead. I hope they were ok. I’m guessing they would have missed the beauty of it all and especially the vision of the ice melting under the frozen cover.

Posted in My Thoughts | 2 Comments

Do You Want to be a Proverbs 31 Woman?

Posted on June 2, 2008 by

Many friends and readers know of my passion and interest in the Proverbs 31 Woman. For those who don’t know what that means, perhaps you could have a look in your Bible, in the Old Testament (after the Psalms). She is a ‘model’ wife that King Lemuel is instructed to look for by his mother and that ‘model’ wife was both a business woman and work at home mum. Women worldwide read about her and aspire to have some or all of her traits.

Whilst we can never achieve perfection in this lifetime, we can certainly aim to make improvements on our lifestyles. Late 1993 I made a decision to return home to work and be here for our 5 daughters as they grew up. It’s a decision I’ve never regretted and there have been so many times when Graham and I have looked at one another and said how glad we were that I was home because… A couple of those times have even been because Graham has suffered injuries (not always from bike riding) and we honestly don’t know how he would have coped if I wasn’t home for him. Thank God I reached out to Him in prayer and sought His help.

It was a couple of years later after my decision to return home that a woman Pastor at our church of that time told me about the Proverbs 31 Woman and I eventually decided to do a personal study of her via a blog in 2006. That blog led to a book which was published in 2007. Not only that, but what I chose to do in 1993 ended putting me in the position of a role model for women worldwide once the Internet was added to the equasion.

Just yesterday I got a lovely email from a lady who is involved with my online team saying how happy she is in what she is doing and that she looks forward to every day with a smile. I read that out to Graham and he said to me ‘you’re obviously doing what you’re supposed to be’ and I had to agree. I know that I’m in my calling.

If you are reading this and interested in knowing more about this wonderful lady, the Proverbs 31 Woman, and if you’d like to mix and mingle with others who have the same interest, then please do join us! I’ve set up a network specifically for that purpose and the group is young and small but I’m sure it will grow. I look forward to lively discussions, prayer sessions, encouragement and support amongst the members, and some fun along the way too! Just click on the link below and come join us!

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Family to be proud of

Posted on May 21, 2008 by

My daughters have watched me run a business for many years, during their growing years at home. Now they’re starting to branch out and do their own thing.  Two of them I want to highlight here.

Melanie, my eldest, is a very talented dressmaker and she is now beginning to take orders for wedding gowns, bridesmaids gowns, mother-of-the bride outfits and other formal wear. Over the years she has produced beautiful items of clothing and participated in the Melbourne Cup Fashion on the Field entries a few times.  When she married in 2004 she made her own gown and that of her bridesmaids, and since then has also done the bridesmaids for her youngest sister’s wedding. She has also done several other weddings and recently a few mother-of-the-bride outfits.  I’ve just been revamping her site to give it a new and fresh look and I invite you to go pay a visit!  Melanie-Jane.com.

Another daughter, Christine, works in the equestrian industry but has come home for a year after being invited to teach part time at a local college. The college had been researching equestrian studies last year and kept coming across Christine’s blog ‘Equus’ and in the end contacted her and offered her the teaching job since what they wanted to provide in the course, she’d been writing about.  She accepted and it’s been great having her back home.  She also works part-time at two horse riding schools and is never far away from horses.  I encourage you to go visit her blog as well as she always has interesting posts there with a series of interviews of people in the industry from all around the world.  Equus.

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Mother’s Day was good to me!

Posted on May 12, 2008 by

Mother’s Day – here and gone again in a flash!   But I did have a lovely day.  Hubby and I went to church in the morning and they had a lovely Mother’s Day service and honoured all the mothers there. Every single mother was spoiled with a give of chocolates and applause from the congregation. We had a Devonshire tea put on after the service.

Graham and I dropped into the local Reddy Roast to order dinner for the evening – I was being spared having to cook dinner for the family which was nice.

We had a peaceful afternoon as the all but one of the girls were not home. Chrissie was working, Angie and Mel were coming over with their husbands in the evening and Mirri was away on a camp.  So I spent the afternoon playing on my computer – where else would I be?

Late in the afternoon Mel rang to say she couldn’t come and was unwell.  :-(   I was saddened by that as I was so looking forward to her and Ryan coming over – Ryan and Graham get along so well and our time together is always full of good conversation and laughter.  Oh well.

Ben and Angie arrived just after 5pm and Chris was home around 6pm. By that time dinner had been picked up and we settled down to an early evening meal as Ben had an evening basketball game and they had to leave before 7pm.

Just prior to them leaving, and after an absolutely delicious and filling meal, Graham disappeared to bring me the gift the family had gotten me.  I’d mentioned some time ago I’d love to put a TV on the shelf of my new office desk arrangement and that’s exactly what they got me!  Wasn’t that nice of them?  It didn’t take me long after everyone had gone off for the evening to get Graham help me put the TV together and I moved around my books and shifted one shelf so the TV could be put above my computer monitor. Now, when I want to watch my favourite shows in the evening, I can still sit in my office.  Sick, hey?  But I loooove this room and am most comfy here.

 

Kathie's office

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