Dolly's Dreamings

It's summer!

OK - so it might be the 31st August but heck - summer is here.

I sat in the garden for a few hours today reading and enjoying being warm. It is the first time I have sat int he garden since the beginning of July. unheard of. Shows what a bad summer it has been.

Then we went for a lovely walk across the heath which was beautiful.

Last night we went to Alice's 21st birthday meal. Alice is Jakki's daughter and she is a beautiful girl, inside and out. She is very very special and we were thrilled that she invited us to join her family to celebrate her big day. She isn't quite 21 yet - but this is the first in what I hope are a whole series of celebrations for her. I took lots of photos for her (and have put them all on a disc) but it is not my place to share them as they are not mine, but i think it is Ok to share these few. She looks so beautiful - and so does her Mom, Jakki.

I am catching up on my walks pages and am almost up to date. I will be up to date by tomorrow I hope so i have everything clear for my LSNED which i am really looking forward to. Here is the double page on the Isle of Wight.

Someone asked about my LSNED preparation for my digital album. Here is what i have done so far.

I have created a file ont he computer with a template the right size, 30 dates I have made ready to drop each one into its own page, a master for my little step, weight, food block each day and have also put into the folder all the digi papers and elements I think i may want to use. That way I only have to go to the one folder each day. Time is going to be of the essence for me as I will be back at work.

I know I said i wasn't going to stick to a colour theme, but as it happens I am. It just sort of happened. I am sticking with creams and beiges and black and white like the cover.

I have also made my opening page - my declaration of intent page.

My quote for today is

 

Today I am thankful for

• People like Jakki and Alice in my life
• Sunshine

and finally - a great e mail i received.

Think about it.
UP

This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is 'UP.' It is listed in the dictionary as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v].
It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP, and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends, brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and fix UP the old car.

At other times this little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble,
line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.
And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.

We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP !

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look UP the word UP in the dictionary.. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP . When the sun comes out
we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it soaks UP the
earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP. One could go on & on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now ........my time is UP !

Oh....one more thing: What is the first thing you do in the morning … get up … & the last thing you do at night? Go on U P !

Did that one crack you UP?

Don't screw UP. Send this on to everyone you look UP in your address book..or not...it's UP to you.

Now
I'll shut UP

Hengistbury Head and sunshine!

It's been - dare I say it - a glorious day today. Washing even went out ont he line - that's how nice it was.

We headed off to Hengistbury Head for a walk as it was so nice. So did the rest of the south coast I think! Lots of people walking and enjoying the sunshine.

It was really warm in the sun, though there was a nice cool breeze so it was perfect for walking. We clocked up a nice 8000 steps and so rewarded ourselves with a frappacino - counter productive I know, but my last one for a long time.

We took lots of photos ready for a walks page.

 

 

 

I also want to share my page for the prompt this week - my craft space.

I am very lucky to have a lovely craft space - even though it is way too full and I really need to thin out my stash. I love that there are lots of things in the room that just make me smile - silly things, but each special.

My quote for today is

today I am thankful for

• sunshine
• washing blowing in a warm breeze

 

 

   

5210 prompt 35 and general ramblings

It's been a great day today as i have been to a party - yup, l'il ole me and a party (and I'm off to another tomorrow too!!!)

Our site manager, general does everything imaginable and is totally indispensible man at work retires on 31st August and so the head of senior School (who also retuires on 31st August) had a party for him otday. It was lovely. It was int he garden and apart from one short sharp shower it was dry and warm. There was good food, good wine and it was a lovely way to say farewell.

I will miss ken - he has been such a wonderful man just doing anything and everything and he will be sorely missed.

I bought this for him

and had it engraved with my thanks. It just seemed appropriate.

The page below is for Chicken Soup challenge 7 and I was inspired by the colours but also by the content and wanted to scrap this sleepy picture.

It wasn't the best of visits to the Isle of Wight zoo and we both felt a little sad about it, but this was one cute tiger snoozing away.

And this card made this morning is for challenge number 6 where I was inspired by the colours and by the scallop edges (plus I needed to make Alice a card for tomorrow)

 

Now - onto 5210 - and apologies for it being a little late today.

So, on to a new week and a new theme which we will be with for a while.

 

This session we are thinking about our creative side and where we create, why we create, what it means to us.

 

So get creative and have a go at this week's prompt.

 

 

 

Cathedral and Gathering Storms

We went to Salisbury today which we love. We walked around the cathedral close - though it was bitterly cold in the bright sunlight - and put my new camera through its paces.

i am still getting used to it so the pictures are not brilliant, but I am pleased with it.

We also went to Wilton shopping village and I got some new work clothes including a really lovely navy suit that was £89.99 reduced to £22.00 I was dead chuffed, although I struggled even with clothes shopping. I have never had migraine but i think i may have just had my first. The blog is brief because I am off to lay down again. I had a really bad headache whilst out (I have had a niggling headache for days but it suddenly became incredibly intense) and also felt very nauseus. I came home and went to sleep and have just had a little to eat and am going back to lie down. I hope it has gone by morning.  
   
This is my page for the latest Chicken Soup challenge - number 9.

The colours for the challenge were just glorious. The photo was of an extremely dramatic sky at the beach on our walk one day in July.

Pippa asked yesterday what papers I used for my LSNED. They were Die Cut with A View La Creme that I bought at a knockdown price on holiday. That was the black and cream spotted and the cream scallop. Everything else was from digital kits printed and cut out.

My quote for today is

Today I am thankful for

• a new camera
• bargains

Learn Something new everyday Cover

I have had a very productive day today.

I have been in to work and feel very positive and energised about the forthcoming year (not an easy thing when you are as old and jaded as I am LOL)

I have been shopping and bought several things I have been searching for including brown tops, a navy skirt (not to wear together I might add LOL) and two new bras that actually fit.  And the tops were size 12 and the skirt a 14 (the bra sizes need to remain very very much a secret as they are numbers and letters I am not proud of!)

I also - under duress - emptied the firdge and freezer for its annual defrost (yes it is a forst free but apparently they need defrosting as last September proved whent he fridge stopped working and it was due to a build up of ice) It is no mean feat as it is a huge American fridge freezer, but everything is in the freezer in the garage which was empty or in cool bags with all the ice from the freezer so still really cold.

And I have also made my LSNED cover.

The cover was interesting. I had no real idea what i was going to do and had spent days thinking and getting nowhere.

I knew the size - 6" x 4" and cut the chupboard and then it just suddenly happened.

I had no idea what colours or style it would be but I started on setting up the digital dates ready to use each day and from there it evolved.

And as it happens it is totally right for me as it is a similar style and colour as my 5210 album which you can see here  and that is just as it should be as they go hand in hand this year.

I am planning a special September with the last push of my diet and I know that is going to be hard to keep on track so i am using my LSNED as a part of this. hence the idea that it is a motivational journey for me as well as the usual LSNED

I will be recording my exercise, eating habits and weight loss on each day as well as everything else.

It doesn't look like a book yet as I won't bind it till it is finished on 30th September or, more likely, 1st october as I will need a bit of time to sort everything out.

But here is the cover

My quote for today is

Today I am thankful for

• New school years and new beginnings
• bras that fit

It's Primeval

Yes - a primeval post today in honour of a new kit of the same name by dawn Inskip at PBP.

It's such a goegeous kit and one which I love because it is quintisentially dawn and her daughter. I just always associate dinosaurs with them.

The kit, however, isn't just useful for pages about dinosaurs.

The first page I made was this one.

I am really proud of where I live which I truly believe is a beautiful part of our country and it is known worldwide for the jurassic coastline. laden with fossils and comprising spectacular scenery it is just gorgeous to explore.

This photo was taken at Durdle Door (the cove the other side of the Door) in April this year.

The second page I made was this one

We always said the landscape of Yellowstone was primeval and this kit worked perfectly to convey that idea.

I have had the sort of day where I haven't really been able to settle to anything, possibly due tot he bad headache that kept me awake last night and which i have had for over a week. Ijust can't shift it and it is getting worse.

My quote for today is

Today I am thankful for

• less rain
• central heating

and I want to share this lovely e mail I received from Sara.

Every single evening

 
As I'm lying here in bed, 
This tiny little Prayer 
Keeps running through my head: 

God  bless all my family 
Wherever they may be, 
Keep them warm 
And safe from harm 
For they're so close to me. 

And  God, there is one more thing 
I wish that you could do; 
Hope you don't mind me asking, 
Please bless my computer too. 

Now I know that it's unusual 
To Bless a motherboard, 
But listen just a second 
While I explain it to you, Lord. 

You see, that little metal box 
Holds more than odds and ends; 
Inside those small compartments 
Rest so many of my friends. 

I know so much about them 
By  the kindness that they give, 
And this little scrap of metal 
Takes me in to where they live. 

By faith is how I know them 
Much the same as you. 
We share in what life brings us 
And from that our friendships grew. 

Please take an extra minute 
From your duties up above, 
To bless those in my address book 
That's filled with so much love. 

Wherever else this prayer may reach 
To each and every friend, 
Bless each e-mail in box 
And each person who hits 'send'. 

When you update your Heavenly list 
On your own Great CD-ROM, 
Bless everyone who says this prayer 
Sent up to GOD.Com 

 

 

We're walking ... we're walking

Thanks to Ginger I am now wearing my Walk With me pedometer which downloads to my DS. And so far so good.

I have struggled with a pedometer that works on a waistband or knicker elastic and have never found one that counts like that.

However, thisone looks good and seems to be working fine so i won't have people looking at my shoes and saying 'what's that' to the stupid pedometer fixed on them. It has also meant my DS has come out of retirement and I am planning doing brain training every day as well. So fitter in both body and mind eh!

Fiki has been good today and we have made him play chase and fetch a lot int he hope of burning off some of those excess pounds. Thankfully he sees it as fun - though he was clearly tired this morning.

I haven't been out for a walk today as it has rained all day. It is cold and miserable and more like October than August. I have done step at home though.

I have scrapped another walks page - this time the one from Old Harry and now I am only 2 walks behind and plan to catch that up real soon.

I can also share this page made for my digital holiday album and using dawn's papers and a Shimelle template available from her store at Two Peas.

 

My quote for today is

and today I am thankful for

• a new gadget that seems to work

Card making frenzy

So today has been a bit of a card day.

I don't make cards all that often now, but I quite enjoy it when I get down to it. I am not terribly good at it and so many on line friends make such stunning cards. But I had a go.

I needed to make a retirement card for our caretaker, site manager, man of all trades for his party at the weekend and I find male cards really hard. He is a wonderful man and school won't be the same without him. I have bought him a lovely gift too which, when i get it back fromt he engravers, i will photograph.

I had nothing with returement on but did have a new bottle stamp I was itching to use.

I I have a total of 10 promarkers (it's not really me!) and I think i have used them twice. So yey - third time today LOL.

This is the retirement card I made.

and then I also had to make another new house card

So, now you know why I don't make cards very often. I also made a 21st birthday card but I am not posting that yet as the person concerned may see it LOL.

Also popped to town today. I bought the most gorgeous dress from per Una and the amazing thing is it was a size 14 - yey.  It is very simple but very me, doesn't crease and I love it.

We actually went to town for a new pedometer - which looks good - and for new food to try Fiki on. we had a vet's telephone appointment this morning about his weight. he weight almost 18 lbs and is overweight but it is very hard to manage it. They don't eat much and he actually eats a lot less than his sisters, neither of whom are over-weight. they are indoor cats so he is not snacking anywhere else and they never have treats. we are putting down the right amount of food too. So the plan is to stop leaving their food down all day so they can graze when they want to. They will have an egg cup of food at breakfast and another at tea time and it will be taken up when they don't finish it within half an hour. We will try and make him play more (he is already very active anyway) but the tough thing is the low calorie foods are not suitable for Kira with her allergies (she can only have one brand as she is allergic to maize which is in almost every make of cat food)  so he will have to be fed separately which is just another nightmare. We also have to reduce calories very slowly as too drastic a cut can result in hepatic lipoma which can be very serious.

If he doesn't start to loose weight we will have to have him tested for things like hyperthyorid trouble because he really doesn't eat enough to be the fatty boy he is. We love him to bits and just want to ensure his long term health and happiness.

So, both Fiki and Mummy on diets again in september eh!

My quote for today is

Today I am thankful for

• a size 14 dress
• help with Fiki (our vets are fabulous)

and I received this in an e mail and I am sure many of you will love it.

WHY GOD MADE MUMS 

Answers given by 2nd year school children to the following questions: 

 Why did God make mothers?

1.  She's the only one who knows where the selotape is.

2.  Mostly to clean the house.

3.  To help us out of there when we were getting born..

How did God make mothers?

1.  He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2.  Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3.  God made my mum just the same like he made me.  He just used bigger parts.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mum?

1.  We're related.

2.  God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mum like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mum?

1.  My mum has always been my mum and none of that other stuff.

2.  I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3.  They say she used to be nice.

What did mum need to know about dad before she married him?

1.  His last name.

2.  She had to know his background.  Like is he a crook?  Does he get drunk on beer?

3.  Does he make at least 8000 a year?  Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mum marry your dad?

1.  My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world.  And my mum eats a lot.

2.  She got too old to do anything else with him.

3.  My grandma says that mum didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1.  Mum doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such an idiot.

2.  Mum.  You can tell by room inspection.  She sees the stuff under the bed.

3.  I guess mum is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between mums and dads?

1.  Mums work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2.  Mums know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3.  Dads are taller and stronger, but mums have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

4.  Mums have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mum do in her spare time?

1.  Mothers don't do spare time.

2.  To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mum perfect?

1.  On the inside she's already perfect.  Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2.  Diet.  You know, her hair.  I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mum, what would it be?

1.  She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean.  I'd get rid of that.

2.  I'd make my mum smarter.  Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.

3.  I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Inside my 50 book

It's been a really mixed day today with bright sunshine and torrential rain. But it's been a very productive day. I confessed to Nigel that my filing of all the household stuff was not all it could be. In fact it was very grim so we spent a couple of hours sorting everything out and now all our finances are in good order and I agreed to throw out the statements for things that i have kept for years and go back to pre-decimalisation! OK so not quite that bit, but it did need serious culling.

I did get the chance to take pictures of my 50 book inside though.

It is very simple and just records one special day in my life. I have to say i have never ever scrapped anything so self indulgent that is just pictures of me, but I guess it had to be as it was about my birthday. Nij took so many pictures of me that day.

Page one is just an intro - although it did give me the chance to use the little Prima crystal Cancerian Crab I had been saving.

Page two - me in my jammies I'm afraid - has a hidden tag which shows the cover of the DVD Nigel made and records how special it was.

I have used lots of rub ons throughout the book and the pages are very dimensional and layered which hasn't shown up well.

The left hand page of this double is all about my 50 kit Nigel made me. He actually made the box up  with all of the things in it. It was such a novel idea and way too cute not to scrap. So we didn't have to take too much away with us he wrapped the instructions and a photo of the box and contents so the box was waiting for me at home. He also wrapped photos of my other presents (books and DVD's etc) to minimise packing.

The right hand page was me selecting a healthy choice for my breakfast (and unhealthy stuff I wouldn't let him take a picture of LOL)

This double page is my first big present from Nigel - my Harley ride.

I kept the pages simple and used rub ons that looked like tatoos etc.

Under the ribbon is a little pull out folded booklet with other pictures of the event.

  and this is with it pulled out

The left page is my fave picture fromt he trip, taken by larry of us both in our tour shirts at the Las Vegas sign. I love it.

The little 50's are from the confetti that was in my presents and got everywhere in the hotel room.

You will be relieved to know there are no pictures of me during the afternoon on my birthday. We spent it by the pool and chillling with wine in the room.

The right hand side was me all dressed up and ready for the show.

The last page is me and my other big present. VIP tickets to see Donny and Marie and meet with them after the show.

See really simple, but I am pleased with the record of my birthday.

Finally here is my page for the 5210 prompt yesterday.

I drew a very poor plan of my dream garden (quite realistic in size actually) with all of the features I would want to incorportae and found pictures off the internet to support the ideas. The tag pulls out an explains what i would like and why.

My dream garden would include a folly, a waster feature, a wild life garden, heather beds, a perfect lawn, a secret garden and a huge decking area with seating and sunbeds. I guess it would include a gardener too!

I also had a go at the Chicken Soup challenge this week and found it really hard. I am not sure I like what I made, but here it is anyway.

My quote today is

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel not freaking out when he saw what a mess I had let the filing get into

5210 and my 50th

It has been utterly foul weather here for the last couple of days, but do you know what - that means it is GREAT scrapping time.

I have been working on my 50th birthday little book and have almost finished. But i couldn't wait to share it.

I haven't taken pictures of the other pages yet, but I have just snapped the cover very quickly.

 

It is unusual for me as it is all pink and sugary and girlie - not my usual style

 

and it is very lumpy and dimensional in a 'throw it all on there' sort of way .... which is not me either. But it is fun to do something different and it wasn't planned it just sort of happened.

and I promise the roses won't appear on everything - I just had to try them with pretty papers LOL

 

I will take pictures of the pages when the light is better.

Now onto the prompt for this week.

This is the last outdoor week and I hope you have fun with the prompt. I had terrific funw itht his one.