Saturday, March 31, 2012

As seen - Easter Garden

I have done very little today, to tell the truth I haven't felt entirely with it. Woke up after a really bad night, probably the takeaway I had yesterday. I felt very thirsty and at 1.30 this morning had to go and get a drink of milk.
So what have I done, well I finished another book goodness I seemed to have got back into the habit of reading again.
I did go down to ASDA, needed some food shopping done and also it is my turn to do the flowers in church again this week. On the way to the shop I asked the Lord what colour and immediately I got blue, well blue isn't a colour that is often found in cut flowers so I guessed it would be a pot plant. As I entered Asda this little arrangement really stood out and I knew it was perfect.
I do like to get living plants if I can as they can last longer and as the 1st Sunday in a month is usually Hymns and Teas in the afternoon the plants go to one of the homes where some of the folk come from. Though this time I'm hoping that this can be left in the church for Easter Sunday. We will see
I'm doing the Multimedia again tomorrow, as I so seldom do it I can never remember the password properly to get into the programme and I was getting very frustrated. I did text someone who would know but I thought she might be away, she did come back to me with the password. Hopefully all the songs are one there now and it will run smoothly tomorrow.

Today I am thankful for a lazy day
for having a book that I enjoyed
for finding the perfect flowers immediately.

Oh and I did do a digital layout nearly forgot that
How to drink milk

Friday, March 30, 2012

As seen - posted

I've been scrapping again today, I started off with a little square to make a chevron pattern coping Jemma's idea, and came up with this layout.
Messy Play
the story behind the photos being in the journalling
Messy Play journalling

I had a reading to do at the church tonight and as Ann is still very unwell I stayed and did her reading as well. That made me too late to want to cook so a perfect excuse, if I needed one, to get a take away, and eat and read my book at the same time.
So it was quite a bit later that I logged back on to UKS to discover that the booking form for a scrapping retreat I want to go on has at long last gone live. The retreat isn't till Oct so plenty of time really but there are a limited number of places and I didn't want to loose out. My photo for today is

the booking form and cheque going into the post box at 22:23. It's a good job the box is just at the end of the lane outside my back gate as I am already for bed and in my dressing gown and slippers not something I want many people to see lol.
As usual I had three cats following me down and back again and now have one on my lap purring away to her hearts content.

today I am thankful for the opportunity to read aloud
to have two retreats to look forward to

A funny story

A friend emailed this story to me and I just had to share it with you all

The 'Middle Wife' by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself,but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my
students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater. She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday.' 'First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.'
She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me.. The kids are watching her in amazement.

'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. 'She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)
' My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man... They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.' (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.) 'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!' (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands mimicking water flowing away. It was too much!) 'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe... They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, (placenta) so there must be a lot of toys inside there. When he got out, the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there.'

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another ' Middle Wife' comes along.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

As Seen - reader

It's Thursday which means the sale at the church, we are also doing the read through the bible and today I remembered to take a photo. I did do a short reading myself as Ann's voice was still not up to much, 1 & 2 Kings today not my favourite part of the bible because of all the names, I do find it difficult to pronounce them.

I am now baby sitting for my son and daughter in law, and all's quiet on the western front, hope it stays that way.

today I am thankful for a free bus pass
and that I can be of help to my family

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Relaxing day

Today has been another beautiful day weather wise sunny and very warm. The sky clear and blue. I got all my washing dry and aired outside which makes it smell so fresh.

At the church this week and next leading up to Easter we are reading through the bible, each of us doing a 20 minute slot at a time. It's good to declare the word of the Lord out loud.
I wasn't due to read today but my friend who was to read Ruth is not at all well so I took her place, then stayed to listen to 4 other readings. (I meant to take a photo but I forgot doh!!)

I haven't done any scrapping today although I really wanted to somehow I just haven't had the energy, think the weekend has caught up with me and I've been tired all day.

Realising I haven't got a photo for today I decided to take one of the moon. I noticed yesterday how clear the sky was and how bright the moon. So this is my daily picture today.

today I am grateful for a relaxing day
for being able to have a rest in the afternoon

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

More layouts and As Seen - artist

Today has been a good day. A brisk walk to the doctors this morning, she thinks I probably have a nasal polyp but she couldn't find it but has given me a spray to use.
Into town and picked up Rufus, we fed the ducks,
went to the library, picked up lots of books but I wasn't able to read much of any of them before he was off to find another. Went into Early Learning and bought a couple of small items and Rufus played on anything he could find. We went to the play area in the Brunel centre and Rufus can now climb onto the little tree stump, think he was pleased with himself for being able to do that.
Rufus fell asleep so I was able to go to the Range and buy some bits that I wanted, then we caught the bus to his home and played with paints getting nice and messy, I even had my hand painted at one stage and made prints on the newspaper.
So what did I choose as my picture for today? Rufus and the paint

To finish today's post here are the other three pages I did over the weekend
Neil, Me & Napier
Cuddle up & dream
Our Little Mischief

Today I am grateful for a lovely sunny day
time spent with Rufus
having dinner cooked for me.
Speaking to Helen on Skype, nice to see as well as talk.

Monday, March 26, 2012

A weekend away

I back, I'm on line, I've pages to share.
10 of us went to Foxham for a weekend of scrapbooking and chatting and having fun.
I managed to do 5 layouts a minibook and Shirley's wonderful messy play class that lasted all day Saturday. It was a great weekend, but I failed to take many photos, just shows that the only reason I normally do is because I spend so much time alone.
Still I did manage to get a photo each day.
Friday's photo is of the room we scrapped in a large conservatory
as well as this space there was a kitchen diner a large lounge and another conservatory on the back.
4 double bedrooms, 2 with en suites and a huge and I mean huge bathroom downstairs and one up in the converted attic. Plenty of room for us all.
Saturday I woke early as usual and this was the scene that greeted me a real promise of a lovely day

We had a meal out on Saturday evening really nice food and atmosphere, but rather noisy.

Sunday a great day scrapping and a minibook class, nice easy one to do that looks stylish.

Kathy went outside for a smoke and suddenly poked her head in and said there was a mouse or vole or something in the grass I grabbed my camera and found this
poor little thing I'm sure he is a youngster and looked completely lost. going round and round trying to find a safe place to be.

Home again at just before 11 this morning and I have still not unpacked completely but I did fill my minibook with photos
Minibook 31/12/2011 RufusMinibook NYE 2011 Rufus frontMinibook NYE Rufus Inner 2Minibook NYE 2011 Rufus back

Here is a couple of the layouts, I'll share the others another day.
Cafe Capers
Concentration

the only drawback to the weekend is sleeping, the bed was rather hard and the duvet didn't stay in place so my photo for today is my own comfy bed which I am looking forward to falling into tonight.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Scrapping Frenzy and As seen - takeaway

Sale went quite well this morning, weather was lovely so that helped.
Have done some scrapping this afternoon. I had to seek out other things to use as most of my stash that I use constantly is pack up ready for the week end retreat. still have plenty of patterned papers and photos so not too difficult to achieve
Fun Fun Fun
Coming home this morning I could smell the fish and chips from my local takeaway and knew that I would find myself over there this evening to get some naughty battered fish and yummy chips.

Today I am thankful for more energy than I've had for a while
for lovely fish and chips and not having to cook myself
for still enjoying scrapping with paper and not feeling the need to digi scrap.

for those who have been following my daily photo I won't be able to post over the weekend as we do not have wifi in the cottage. but I will take a specific photo each day and post them all when I get back.
I may do a quick post tomorrow morning but if not see you all Monday night.

Counterfeit challenge 2 - using your punches

For the second challenge of the month we are encouraged to use our punches.
Special Holiday
I love my punches and do use them a lot but what I have never done before is use the bit that is cut off, you know when you use a border punch there is a strip that is wasted well waste not want not, I've used them to go under each bit of the journalling. Also used a scalloped circle punch to make these flowers
Special Holiday Punched borders and flowers

the kit we are counterfeiting and using this month had a bottle of glossy accents in it. So I wanted to use mine somewhere. The scalloped circles have been punched out of the dotty paper so I did a little dome of glossy accent on each dot, doesn't show all that well but it does make it tactile.



There is a lot of journalling on this layout so I thought the easiest way of getting it all on was to print it out on Safmat and stick it where I wanted it. For anyone who is interested it reads (I always want to know what people have put)
John and I were married in 1965, I think we would have liked to go to Scotland for our honeymoon, instead we went to Eastbourne.
In 1969 we intended to go camping in Scotland we’d bought ourselves a tent and equipment had looked up suitable camp sites planned our itinerary studied the maps etc etc. Then the transfer for work that John had put in for came through, we had to go to Plymouth instead to seek out accommodation. Within the month had move down there, using our camping equipment for a week in the empty flat until our furniture arrived.
Along came children one and two and we knew that the journey from Cornwall to Scotland would be just too much for them. Helen didn’t travel very well at the best of times she wouldn’t have cope with such a long journey.
We promised ourselves that we would celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in Scotland, definitely wouldn’t we?
1990 (our 25th year) saw the International Camping and Caravanning Club gathering in Shepton Mallet and as we were very active member of the CCC we just had to go, it was only held in England once every 10 years.
So 1991 our holiday was very very special and had been planned and dreamt over for so many years.
I took lots of photos (well lots for a film camera) recorded what where and when in a note book put them all in a photo album with a snippet of information so that all these years later I can make a scrapbook album of that wonderful time.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

As seen - Bible study

I did go out today, cycling down to Asda I haven't been on my bike for months except to take the kittens to the vets for their check up, so was good to get the exercise. My neighbour had pumped my tyres up for me the other day so I thought I ought to use it. Weather has been lovely again and getting decidedly warmer.

On the way back from Asda I thought it might be a good idea to get my blood pressure tested because I have been feeling giddy and it might have a bearing but although it a tiny bit high not enough to worry about and not enough to give me the dizzy spells so I'll have to wait for the doctors appointment on Tuesday.

I am completely packed for the weekend now all waiting in the hall ready for the off

bet I've packed more than I need but if I didn't pack this amount I would need what I had left behind, that's Murphy's law.

I went up to the church for the monthly bible study tonight we did an overview of proverbs, not a book I find easy to read but it was good to study it with others. So that is my picture for today.

Haven't done any scrapping today, been too busy making sure I had everything ready.

Today I am grateful for a pharmacy that does more than just dispense medication
Sunshine and warmth
making the effort to go out tonight

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

As Seen - Morning Sky & Frogs spawn

A lovely day again today, warm with sunny intervals. The sky at 6.30 this morning was a deep blue with streaky clouds and vapour trails

I finished the UKScrappers weekly challenge layout and did a bit more preparation for the weekend
Ice Cream Face (IRL)
the criteria for this challenge was food related, spring colours and sewing/material/ribbon we didn't have to use all three but I managed the sewing and the ribbon

this afternoon I took a walk down the back lane to Asda coming to the little pond I notice a lot of activity, the frogs were back and had laid a lot of eggs, I do hope this year they hatch before the muddy pond dries up, last year they didn't manage it and I was really surprised to see them back. So in true Dolly's style here is my second photo for today :D
I really fancied a curry while I was in ASDA so had a meal there saved me cooking this evening. I also bought lots of chocolates to share over the weekend they are tempting me now but I am resisting, hope I can resist for the next two days too. :D

Today I am thankful for getting most of my stash sorted, my case packed and food ready in a bag.

Sian you asked had I made an appointment with the doctor and the answer is yes next Tuesday, the delay is because I wanted to see a particular one and she is away until next week. Thank you for your concern.

Monday, March 19, 2012

As Seen - made a start

I'm going on a scrapping weekend on Friday, as usual I want to get organised early as I really don't cope with last minute packing. Therefore my picture for today is the first box packed.
I have also made up 3 or 4 kits, just papers together with a sketch and photos, all the embellishments I will hopefully find in my colour organised boxes.
Really looking forward now to meeting up with my friends, my second team the Crumblies, we have been chatting on line since the beginning of 2008 and have met up several times since then.

So today I am thankful for having made a start on the packing.
for sunshine and warmth today and a clear starlight sky tonight

Sunday, March 18, 2012

As seen - Limo

Mothering Sunday, and I actually knew what was planned for today before the 11th hour. Neil had phoned me last night to say we were going to Laycock to the Agriculture college to see the lambs. Very enjoyable afternoon and we actually saw a lamb being born. Rufus was fascinated with it and he was also fascinated by the pigs.

I was going to use the photo of the new born lamb for today's as seen,

but on the way home I couldn't resist taking this photo of the car in front of us.


I have also got a layout to share, the one I finished last night
Cuddle up
I actually got my sewing machine out for this one, not done that for a long while
I am gradually and very slowly getting some of my stash mountain used, and I actually cut into a lovely paisley paper that I bought when Noah was a lad.
Cuddle up title

Saturday, March 17, 2012

As seen - through square eyes

Well I've done it again, not gone out, not taken any photos spent most of the day sorting out my photo on picasa, it was originally a mistake and I was going to try and delete them all from there but I discovered something rather useful. Picasa will seek out every face on every jpg and put them all into folders all I have had to do is make sure that each folder is named and all the photos in it are correct, a long task as all my files are stored on an external hard drive and a portable one so it is still working to scan each and every one.
So I've just taken a photo of my computer screen on Picasa

I have also done a layout but it didn't get finished till after dark so decided that artificial light on a dark coloured layout was not a good idea will photograph it tomorrow.

Today I am thankful for not having to go shopping.
for a phone call from my son inviting me out tomorrow for mother's day.

Friday, March 16, 2012

As seen - purchased

I went into town today had to deliver something to my Son in Old Town, and I wanted to purchase a spray bottle as on of my Glimmer Mist, the red one, leaks like mad and won't spray properly I end up with get big blobs and very red fingers, I chucked it away in discussed but one of my team mates on UKS suggested I get the bottle and decant just as much as I need each time and wash the bottle out thoroughly after use.
I did get one in Boots in Old Town, I didn't actually have to pay as I had so many points on my card. The little Boots give you this information the large ones just take your money and tell you nothing.
I walked down town and looked in Bon Marche came out with 3 tops oops, still I didn't buy the skirt I tried on so a bit of saving there :D

I came home shortly after that as I was feeling really groggy again. I felt better once indoors, could have been I was too hot.

I have also put some jumpers in a bag to go to the sale so feel I have justified my purchase. lol

I've been playing with Picasa still not sure what I am doing did manage to make a collage and did find it's image location, once, can't find it now but I hope this will work

Today I am grateful for a successful shopping expedition

Thursday, March 15, 2012

As seen - attractive tractor

It's Thursday and that means the sale at church. Today I wasn't feeling up to much at all so came back before the end. I tried to make an appointment with the doctors but the best one to see is on holiday and I'll have to phone again on Monday. I've been suffering with giddiness for a while and Ann reckons it may well be a build up of wax or even an infection in the sinuses and she insist I make the appointment :(. I'm very reluctant but have tried.
My photo for today is this little tractor picked up at the sale isn't he cute and I do like his roller going to have to use this in a layout before too long

I had a text from my daughter today just one word Passed. She has passed her driving test first time. (well first time if you don't count the attempt 22 years ago)

I did manage to finish the layout I was doing for the weekly challenge on UKScrappers, challenge criteria 3 or more photos, paint or misting, doodling
Day beds
I do like this little wire cat that someone gave me a while ago
Day beds wire cat

Today I am grateful to my friend for sending me home early have felt rather groggy most of the day, but quite a bit better now.

Counterfeit challenge 1 - Number four

The first challenge this month is to utilize the number 4 in some way or other. I've gone for the obvious and used it in my title.
Mittens @ 4 mths
I have a subtitle too counterfeiting the wood effect tag the paper for that was from a freebie that came with one of the magazine a good many years ago. I don't have many alpha stamps but I have a zillion font so I printed the words onto the woodgrain paper using 3rd Man font. Then painted in the outline with white marker pen
Mittens @ 4 mths subtitle

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

As seen - squashed bed

Well dear readers I failed in my quest for this week, I didn't manage to go out, pity really as the sun did decide to make an appearance today which was more than it did yesterday. Still never mind.
I was hoping to have a photo of a hot air balloon going over quite low, my neighbour was out the back walking her dogs and she knocked to say it was low but by the time I grabbed my camera and dashed out the front it was no where to be seen going out the back I could just see it very low clouded in mist too faint to capture. :(
My photo for today has now to be this one
which is quite appropriate as I have been trying to do a layout for the weekly challenge on UKScrappers. It is of the many places the cats sleep during the day.
Not quite finished it yet so will have to show you that in a later post.

Today I am thankful for staying in and not feeling guilty

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

As Seen - Surprise

I started the day with finishing my book. I don't often read a book right through I usually get fed up part way and give up. But I found another book that gripped me (I wrote about the first one here). This latest read Kitty and her Sisters by Maureen Lee.
Am I becoming a book worm again?
After I had dressed I did a bit more fiddling with the layout that I had mulled over yesterday. I had promised myself that I would go out every day this week so forced myself to get ready and catch the bus into town. I decided a walk round Queens park would be a good idea and it was, thought the weather wasn't up to much I still found enough to photograph
This photo of the park was to be my photo of the day.
But ...
when I went to bring my washing in just before it started to get dark look what I found sitting in one of my panties
It made me roar with laughter, I was convinced my neighbours had done it but they say not so I really haven't a clue who put it there. He is joining my bedroom collection and I'm calling him Blue Tiger, Blue for short.

Before I came home I popped into the library to see if I could get another book by Maureen Lee and picked up The Old House on the Corner, promising start.

I did finish my layout too this one was done for the Monthly challenge on UKS
A Grandson brings Joy

Today I am thankful for having a nice park in the middle of town
a friend who has a sense of humour
My camera
A place for me to put the pictures of layouts I have done that I am pleased with, to put in the poems I write and to add snippets of things that have caught my eye