Dolly's Dreamings

Topless!

OK so yesterday I was topless in a bit of a hurry as it was imperative to get the beetle off me quickly

 

Today I have been topless in a whole other way. It has been glorious and sunny and warm and for the first time in ages I haven't been cold and so on the way home ... well it had to be done.

I went topless for the first time in 2012.

Photo of the day ... me arriving home.

I feel summer is a coming! And boy do we all need a bit of sun. It was sunny at the end of March and the start of April but I was poorly I didn't really appreciate it. This I am ready for!

I have a new page to share today which is another made from the Pickle Barrel and this time it is using a lovely collection of papers, scatters and word art from Jumpstart Designs called Uniquely You

It has the same gorgeous colour palette of the soft pinks, greens and lilacs and it wonderful.

The little girl is pretty cute too - as ever. It was fab to have face time with her the other day - well with all of them. We all have I Phones and so can speak for free and see each other. Did I mention I love my I phone!

Today I am thankful for

• sunshine
• owning a convertible
• a new dvd to watch. Nigel has finally downloaded our holiday footage from 2010. What is it they say ... the cobblers children are always the poorest shod!

 

 And my page a day calendar today is

One steamy summer day, I hurried down to our neighborhood pool in a tizzy. Things seemed to be going the wrong way in our family. “God, why won’t You change things?” I prayed. “I’m tired of all these problems. Nothing I do seems to matter, and I’m working so hard. Where are You?”

I pushed through the metal gate at the pool and ran over to thank my neighbor Mary Ann for watching Thomas, my nine-year-old son. Mary Ann is Megan’s mom, and Megan is very special to me because she’s my four-year-old goddaughter. Born with a heart problem, Megan has gone through three heart surgeries and had her gall bladder removed, but she has amazed everyone with her determination and spunk.

Thomas and Megan were sitting cross-legged on a striped beach towel at the edge of the pool, drinking juice boxes and sharing some Goldfish crackers. Mary Ann called me aside to whisper, “I’ve got to tell you what Thomas did. All the big kids were hurrying to the other side of the pool to eat a snack. Megan didn’t have her flip-flops, and the pavement was burning her feet. Thomas gave her his flip-flops. He dipped his feet into the water to cool them off while he waited for her to walk. Megan was thrilled to be wearing big-boy shoes, but she couldn’t walk very fast, and she kept tripping. So Thomas took off his towel and wrapped her up. Then he picked her up and carried her, letting her wear his shoes the whole way. He walked barefoot. Julie, you should have seen him.”

Lord, You want to pick me up and carry me, but I try to run alone, burning my feet and stumbling along. Help me trust You to carry me.

—JULIE GARMON

Is that blue I see before me?

I am sure that at several points today, and even still now, when I look up into the sky I see blue instead of grey.

Seriously.

I am sure it is blue.

Well after several days of grey rain and bitter cold (colder in than out) you can understand my surprise.

I am now thawing out quite nicely and the sun is gorgeous. I actually sat in the sun for a few minutes and it defrosted me a bit.

I came home to find that my little CFH had also discovered the warmth of the sun and were basking in front of the patio doors.

So a warm and sunny picture of the day.

 
 I have a new page to share today which was made with Dawn Inskip's new lush collection called Minsitry of Magic.

as you can guess it is a lush Harry Potter themed kit and you better believe this is going to be scrapped and scrapped after I have done the Harry Potter studio tour next month.

 

Awesome isn't it?

Here is a page I made with it.

Expect more!!!!

 

Today I am thankful for

• Friday
• The fact that my husband is INSISTING we go out to dinner (I love it when he insists on stuff)

 

And my page a day calendar today is

A lady I knew casually stopped by my office the other day. “Oh, I see you love purple! So do I!”

After she left, I looked around my office. Purple had been my mother’s favorite color, but I’d never been particularly fond of it—until Mother’s death. Now I surrounded myself with it. A purple vase. A picture of an iris. The lavender border on a piece of stained glass.

Loving the color purple was one way I’d become like Mother. But what else had her legacy to me included? Was I as filled with laughter as she had been, always ready with a witty comment? Was I as eager to study the Word of God as she was, rising early to spend quiet time before the day’s work began?

And what about my own daughter? What would be my legacy to Amy Jo? Fast-food meals? Hurried phone calls? An inflated sense of my own importance?

Perhaps I could incorporate another “hallmark” of Mother, too. Her ability to listen. That unhurried way she would sit and listen to folks who stopped by. I’d inherited Mother’s favorite color. Had I inherited her talent for listening, too?

I picked up the phone to call Amy Jo. We’d have a leisurely dinner. I’d listen to what’s going on in her world. I’d work on leaving her a legacy worth inheriting.

Maybe I’d pick up some irises for her, too.

Remind me, Lord, that listening to each other is good practice for listening to You.

—MARY LOU CARNEY

and it rained and rained and rained and rained and rained

Oh boy

That drought must be wearing thin now - surely. It's been a shocking day with high winds and torrential rain. Yuk yuk yuk.

However, it does make it a good day for being in and being crafty.

We did pop out briefly (well Starbucks don't deliver .... yet!)  and on the way back from Poole we called into Pets at Home to see if they sold the sort of dome for the feeder that would stop the large birds from gobbling everything up in record time. They didn't. But we did get a new litter tray for the CFH. Their old one was in need of replacing and we have to have a big one as - well frankly Fiki is enormous.

 Of course, as with any single thing that comes into this house, even if it not for them, it had to have the full CFH inspection.

 

 

 and just because ...

He looked a little baffled to be honest

and no it doesn't usually sit in the middle of the kitchen. That was just for photography purposes. It lives in the far corner of the utility room, well away from us.

I am loving being on the Pickleberrypop Creative Team and having lovely things to work with.

One of the designers whose work I have loved for a long time is Indigo Designs. I already had a few of her kits and today I worked with a new one which has just been released.

It is called The Story Never Ends and is an amazing collection.

and if you click ont he picture or THIS LINK it will take you right to the collection in store.

Isn't it fabulous?

I made this with it this morning.

Little Emily doing what she does so well - just looking beautiful. The photo was perfect for the kit too.

Today I am thankful for

• a nice warm dry home to be in whilst it is horrible outside.

And finally the last few of the howlers from the children.

 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and have a good work week next week x

 

 

Days like this

Some days  are very gentle - nothing much happens and other, well others are busy busy busy. Really busy.

But mostly good busy. I have had some lovely moments today which remind me very vividly about what a privilege it is to work with children and engage with lively little minds who love learning. It really is a blessing.

And ... I can't quite believe it .... but it is Friday again. Already. How cool is that.

I have another page to share today made with Dawn Inskip's fab new kit called weather report.

Now I did promise myself this was N OT going to be another post about the weather. But it has to be a little bit - so sorry in advance.

The page records a momentous weather experience we had.

 
We had gone to stay with my brother-in-law over Easter. He lives in Concord Mass and had arranged to take us to Vermont for the weekend. I had never been anywhere really snowy and he said Vermont would still have lots of snow. I kept joking with him on the phone, 'You promise I will get snow?'

Vermont was fab with lots of snow. We returned to Concord and spent Easter Sunday in t shirts looking at spring flowers. Monday 31st March 1998  Jim knocked on our bedroom door before he went to work and told us if the man came to clear the drive of snow that afternoon we were to ask him to come back a little later. We laughed and told him to stop winding us up. I went to the local school (how sad am I ... but I am always keen to visit other schools and the Alcott School is lovely ... named after Louise May Alcott who lived int he town) It started to rain and then they started sending kids home. I asked why and they said it was a snow day! There was NO SNOW! These Americans seemed crazy. At lunchtime it started to snow and wise old Karen, weather expert extrordinaire, sat by the window saying 'Well it's not going to lay is it ... it's far to warm and wet'. It was about that time the temperature started to plummet and the snow began to settle.

What started being called the Spring No'oreaster quickly became the Blizzard of 98. It closed the easter seabord of the US, paralysing all travel. By April 1st it was NO April Fool's joke. We had been due to fly home that afternoon but all airports were closed. 28" fell in under 24 hours. It was a record breaker. I guess Jim promised me snow and delivered ont hat promise.

But Oh my it was so pretty and I am so glad I saw it. I wouldn't want to live with that happening all the time but as a one of ... well fabulous.

 and this is my photo of the day. After not having it for over 4 weeks because when they went to fix the problem they broke a bit off inside the engine and couldn't find it so had to strip the car to pieces (hey ho!) Nigel got his beloved car back today. A month without it and he really really appreciates it.

 

Today I am thankful for

• being part of a fabulous team
• sorry - I have to say it - Friday

and finally my page from my calendar today

 

Dr. Erfle flipped on the light box and affixed the X-ray of my horse Dancer’s hind leg. “I’m afraid I don’t have good news.”

I gritted my teeth.

Dr. Erfle pointed to the kneelike stifle joint. “It was broken right here. And now her body is stabilizing the joint by fusing into one solid bone. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything that can be done. She’ll never be sound enough to be ridden.”

Tears streamed down my face as I loaded Dancer into the horse trailer and drove home. I had purchased her a year ago as a saddle horse. As soon as I’d brought her home, my 20-plus-year-old gelding Czar had fallen in love with her. I’d ridden Czar over 20,000 miles in the mountains; he’d saved my life more than once. He’d never cared for any other horse until she showed up.

The following day, one thought plagued me. What value is a broken horse? I can’t even ride her at a walk. But as soon as I thought of selling her, I knew I couldn’t.

That evening, as I pulled open the file drawer to put away the veterinarian’s bill, I thumbed through the Ds. Right behind the file labeled “Dancer” was “Divorce.”

Again tears streamed down my face. I’d been broken by my divorce. It was almost as if God’s still small voice was saying, “It doesn’t matter to me if you’re broken. I still cherish you.”

Dancer had enriched my life by being a companion to Czar. She might be broken, but she was valuable to me—just as I was valuable to God.

Lord, thank You for cherishing me, even though I’ve been broken.

—REBECCA ONDOV

So today has been a better day

The jinx of yesterday appears to have gone.

So many tiny little things just didn't go right yesterday from crafting to dinner to even the bottle of wine we treated ourselves too in the evening tasting horrible.

Today was a new day - and what a glorious one too.

Considering the forecast for this week was pretty dire, the weather has been lovely.

Nigel suggested we went for a walk to Badbury Rings this morning and it was a perfect day for it.

 

We were also incredibly lucky (but i needed a more powerful zoom or a tripod LOL)

I heard a woodpecker knocking away and he sounded close so I traipsed through bushes and brambles to locate which tree he was in. I found what I thought was the right one and then tried to find him. Took me ages as he was very well camouflaged as he was right at the top of a tree which was about 50 feet high and he was nestled up next to a light bit of trunk and so hard to see. But I found him and I was thrilled. Took me best part of 20 minutes and the picture is pretty rubbish but heck! We get loads of green woodpeckers in our garden but rarely see the great spotted, though we do hear them a lot.

The best gift, though, was the kestrel. As we were walking round the top ring we saw a kestrel rise up in front of us and swoop down to our left. It looked like he had swooped down to the ring below but he could easily have just carried on flying. As we carried on we looked eagerly down in case he was there and he was.

We had binoculars with us and we watched him for ages. He had a slow worm or snake and was pecking away at it. According to the internet it is unusual for them to eat lizards and snakes but he was and you can just about make it out in the picture. Most amazing of all was that as we watched he slurped the whole thing down in one go like a piece of spaghetti. And compared to him it was a big old slurp! Whata  treat though to watch that happen.

 

I know the photos are poor but it was such a special moment I am glad I captured it at all.

Catching up on photo of the day these are the past few days

This is a sculpture we often admire outside the RNLI Headquarters in Poole - snapped out of the car window on my I Phone. (Did I ever mention I love my phone!)

 

and although it is poor quality he had to be photo of the day.

I have new scrapping to share too. I am loving being on the CT for Pickleberrypop and am getting to work with some gorgeous stuff.

 Emily was looking forward to being a  bridesmaid but the wedding had to be postponed as Anthony was so seriously ill but she got to be that pretty princess in the end and she looked gorgeous.

Credits
Blue Wave Set 2 by PrelestnayaP
Moonrise Meadow by Jumpstart Designs

 

 And I am adding in a page I made for one of Shimelle's challenges today - it was a scraplift of a Jamie Warren page

  

I used all Pickleberrypop materials

Fayette Designs Time 4 my Story  
FlyPixel Studios Treasured Moments collection

 

Today I am thankful for

• lovely Spring sunshine
• The beauty of the birds both out and in our garden

 
My page a day calendar has good advice for everyone today

When I don’t like something, I want people to know about it, and I generally won’t stop complaining until everyone else is unhappy. But a few months ago, this habit nearly caused a disaster.

I had been asked to speak at a high school by its PTA president. On the day of my talk, I arrived early and ate lunch at a restaurant a few blocks away. The food was good, but the restaurant had some of the ugliest decorations I had ever seen. Naturally, I couldn’t wait to tell someone about it.

When I arrived at the school, the PTA president escorted me backstage and waited with me while the students filled the auditorium. I thought that as a resident of the area, she would appreciate my observations about the restaurant’s décor. But before I could bring up the subject, she asked if I was familiar with the restaurant.

“Yes, I ate there today,” I said, delighted to have found the perfect opportunity to unleash my tirade. “And actually—”

“My husband and I own it,” she interrupted.

I was dumbfounded. “Oh … I, uh, well … that’s terrific,” I stammered.

I wondered how many times my careless complaining had offended others … and resolved to keep my criticism to myself.

And that PTA president? She asked me to come back again next year.

Lord, help me to choose my words carefully to encourage, not disparage.

—JOSHUA SUNDQUIST

Good Friday Greetings from Monkey World

Firstly I would like to wish all of my readers a blessed Good Friday - such a significant day in the year and one filled with reflection and thoughtfulness as we near the joy of Easter.

We have had a lovely day here today as we took my Mother-in-law out to Monkey World. We had wanted to take her as a belated Mother's Day treat as she had been away with her other son that weekend but we had had to delay it as I hadn't been well.

Today was a perfect day as it happened. True it was  a tad chilly, but it was bright and clear and crisp and just lovely.

Monkey World is such a great place to visit. The monkeys and apes are lovely to watch and, like the rest of the country, we feel that we know them as they are seen so often on the TV. True Nigel and I prefer to see big cats given the wildlife choice, but we truly love all animals and so a visit to any place where such good work is done to help living creatures is a joy for us. The late Jim Cronin and his wife Alison have rescued so many poor chimps, orangutans and monkeys of all sorts and the organisation works hard to boost education and promote understanding of the care needed for these, and all creatures.

They have fabulous enclosures and are so well cared for. I took loads of photos and here are just a few - not the greatest as many were from behind glass with a lot of reflection, but you get the idea.

 

 

 

 We watched this lovely lady for ages as she draped a sheet round her

 

 Then stood up and hung it on the fence to make a tent - so clever

then wrapped herself up in it 

This is the memorial to Jim Cronin

and finallyt he one I chose for photo of the day.

 

I have a new page to share and it is a page of my mother-in-law and so seemed appropriate to share today as we had been out with her.

It was when she was a little girl and the original photo is tiny, sepia and very damaged.

I did a class a few years ago and used this picture as a test to restore and then, just as an interesting exercise, I re-coloured it. I quite liked the effect and so saved the file and used it for the new Yesterday kit by Dawn Inskip which I mentioned yesterday that I absolutely loved.

 

Barb - you asked about the kit for the invitations. It is a kit by Dawn Inskip from her store at Scrapbookgraphics and it is called Fever Pitch. Although it is red white and blue it is very UK based but if you look at digi stores there are loads and loads of 4th July/independence day kits available - I have a few myself LOL.  For example this page was made with one of my favourite 4th July kits

 

Dawn also has an american kit that is great and has an alphabet too

And Barb if you want any help with it just shout!

 Today I am thankful for

• a lovely day out
• that the world is blessed with people like the Cronins who do so much good for animals.
• the sacrifice of Good Friday

 My calendar page today is, not surprisingly, Good Friday based

At our church from noon to 3:00 P.M. today, we recall the Seven Last Words of Jesus, spoken from the Cross. Of them all, the one I can hardly bear to hear is this cry of abandonment from the Son whose trust in the Father has been absolute.

Bible students believe that Jesus, Who knew the Scriptures so well, was in His agony reciting Psalm 22, which opens with this fearful outcry. How uncannily the lines, written hundreds of years earlier, describe His suffering! “They have pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16, NIV).

The congregation kneels as we read the Psalm aloud: “They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing” (Psalm 22:18, NIV). And once more the familiar marvel of the Living Word repeats itself; lines I’ve read a thousand times light up with new meaning. This time it’s the final verses of the Psalm: “Future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn—for he has done it” (Psalm 22:30–31, NIV).

We are that future generation, those people not to be born for 2,000 years. We have been told about Him, we know that “he has done it”—suffered death in order to rise with the promise of everlasting life. We know how the story ends.

Our friends Mark and Penny are such passionate partisans of the Dallas Cowboys football team that they can’t bear the suspense of waiting for the final score. Rather than watch the games, they record them. Then, when they know how it has turned out, they can enjoy the plays, the tackles, the passes that brought it about.

We can bear that grief-stricken cry from the Cross. We know how it turns out.

Lord Jesus, help me endure the dark times in my own life in the knowledge that defeat is not the end of the story.

—ELIZABETH SHERRILL

 

A lesson to be learnt

As a teacher I know for a fact that we learn something new everyday. As a scrapper, and a veteran of LSNED class each September I know we learn something new everyday but that some days we have to look hard to un-earth that lesson. There are some days, though, when a lesson makes itself very obvious, and not always in a good way.

Today started off with that lesson as I attended the funeral of a work colleague who passed too young, too suddenly and too unexpectedly. Yes there was the obvious lesson that life is short and we should make the most of each and every second of it. But there was also a much harsher lesson. So many people had turned up to show their respects; people I hadn't seen for a long time and we were all unified in our concern over the passing of someone we admired and valued. But what was the sad lesson was that we were all paying respects after they had passed. I for one had not spent time telling him when he was here how much his kindness meant, how he was always so helpful and thoughtful. I was doing it when he wasn't there to hear me. I was doing it too late. So a lesson learnt. I plan on trying to change and remembering to tell people how valued they are whilst they are here, not when they have gone. I don't want to feel like I did today - that there were things I could have and should have said and just didn't. Not because I didn't care, not because I didn't have time, not because I didn't think it was important ... just because I didn't. For whatever reason. Lesson learnt ... I hope.

I have a photo of the boy monster today, who loves having his 'mom' home for the holidays to the extent that I am not left alone at all. That includes going to the loo. I have explained to him that nothing exciting goes on in any of the bathrooms, that the visits are brief and that I come back but no, not good enough. He runs ahead and beats you to the door and then just wants to stay. Bless him. It just means absolutely no privacy! And so it is a cheat photo of the day because I just didn't take one.

 

I do have new scrapping to share today though. I so often post how I love Dawn's work and how lucky I feel to be a part of her CT. Her work is unique and I think that is, in part, because of how she creates. Hew digital designs are created in real life more often than not, using pens and paints and watercolours and sewing and fabric. It is what makes her work so special.

I have dozens and dozens of kits of hers and I love them, but every so often one comes out which just moves me and becomes an instant favourite and such is today's collection. It is called Yesterday and it is amazing and you can buy it HERE .

 

As with all of her collections it is stuffed full, but it has such gorgeous colours, such wonderful elements and is just beautiful.

This is one of the pages I made with it.

The photo is of Nigel's gran and her beloved Teddy that she had when she was little. There is quite a story behind teddy and she cherished him all of her life. When Gran passed away we became custodians of Teddy and he sits in pride of place in our spare room. He isn't ours - he belongs to the family, but he graces our home at the moment. One day he will pass to our niece and nephew to care for as a treasured family heirloom.  He is extremely valuable but his value lies in far more than the money - it lies in tradition and heritage and family.

Now, to answer a question raised by Barb - I am afraid I will not be watching the Olympics at all. Well, I may catch a glimpse on TV. But other than that, I have no interest in them what so ever. I am not thrilled we are hosting them. I am not excitied that some events are local to us in weymouth. I am sorry, it just doesn't interest me at all. Now the Junilee - that is a different matter. I love our Royal Family - a trait I inherited from my Mom and we will be celebrating the Jubilee in fine style.

I have just done our street party invites. We organised a street party for the Royal wedding and everyone was so thrilled so we will be repeating it again this year. People have already been asking us if we are doing it again. In reality we didn't actually 'do' anything. It was a bring your own affair, we simply suggested it. Oh and rigged up all the bunting and flags and outdoor PA system LOL. However, the people in our road seem to feel we organised it and hope we organise another, so we are.

This is the invite (courtesy of yet more Dawn Inskip designs) which we are posting through doors. It is a small road with only 32 houses but that is enough. (It looks a little lopsided as I have obviously removed the names of the roads etc)

 

Today I am thankful for

• a bit of a wake up call that I hope I can learn from
• no pain relief at all - first day!!!!

My calendar page today is this

“I’d been picking the wild grapes from those vines along the veranda, but before I made jelly from them I thought I’d stretch out on the sofa for a short nap,” my elderly mother explained as she recalled the details of that day on the phone. I could just see her on the old maroon sofa, slippers kicked off, glasses folded on the paper stand, purple grape juice staining her bib apron.

“I don’t know how long I slept,” she went on, “but when I really woke up, I was already halfway across the street on my way to Helen’s house.” Helen was another senior who lived kitty-corner to Mom in the little village. Helen had lived alone since her husband was hospitalized. “I felt so foolish,” Mom continued. “I was wearing my slippers and apron, and I didn’t even have my glasses on. I thought for a minute I should go back home and change, but something told me I was needed.”

Helen invited her in. Just as they were about to enjoy a cup of tea together, Helen’s phone rang. “Hello? Yes, this is Helen speaking. No, I’m not alone. A neighbor just dropped by unexpectedly.”

As Mom watched, Helen suddenly sat down, her face ashen. Replacing the receiver with trembling hands, she looked at Mom with tear-filled eyes. “That was the hospital calling. My husband just passed away.”

Suddenly Mom knew why she had come and Who had urged her on.

Lord, help me to follow through faithfully on Your nudges.

—ALMA BARKMAN

 

Turning a corner

So today is all about turninga  corner - in many ways.

Firstly we had the dentist again today. Gosh I feel like I have spent so much of my precious holiday at dentists and hospitals and so on. Today was a check up on how things are going and it looks like they are going well. the infection appears to be gone - though the foul taste seems to have reappeared - and it is healing. So that is brilliant news. (The fact she found a problem in the tooth next to it is not such good news and we will deal with this in three weeks time. She wants the hole to heal first. Yikes.

It also seems our camelia has turned the corner too. Well not literally. It is actually sited 'in' a corner which is probably not the best place for it, but we have always said we are not gardeners. My MIL bought the camelia the week we moved in and we have been here 21 years now. I don't think in 21 years we have had anything like 21 flowers, ever. Some years we have had none and some one or possibly two blooms.

THIS year it has flowered, quite well considering the poor thing is probably in the worst place ever with the worst people caring for it. So it is my photo of the day today.

 
I have a new page to share today and it is one I made as a CT piece for Pickleberrypop and is using a new kit called Shabby Rose collection by Indigo designs. I love her work and have several of her kits I have bought in the past so it was a joy to be able to scrap with this brand new one.

The photo is of Nigel's grandmother who was such a beautiful lady. She was an artists model for a while when she was younger and even in her 90s she was beautiful - and very very like the Queen mother actually.

 
Today I am thankful for

• seeing an old friend. It was great to bump into Linda and Kyla today and to see Kyla's little boy for the first time and what an adorable little boy he is too. I was lost in a  world of my own when they called my name and I am so pleased they did. It was good to see them. Linda has been such a good friend and I owe so much to her regarding my scrapping and my love of all things crafting. She's a special lady.
• I am also thankful for time spent with my little fur boy who just wants to be where I am and on me and being loved by me. I miss him terribly when I am at work!

 

 

My one minute devotional calendar today is this

I’d been working on my speech for weeks, maybe years. It was the final night at home for our two daughters before they headed off to college. I wanted to remind them to do their best and to choose their friends wisely and not to dillydally away their study time. I needed to make sure they knew how important it was to attend class and to take careful notes.

I summoned them into my bedroom. “Girls,” I began, “there are some things you should remember when you’re away at school.”

We stood awkwardly in silence for a few moments. Then Katie, the eighteen-year-old, casually stretched out on the floor to hear my lengthy instructions. She’s always been the jokester. Twenty-year-old Jamie plopped down next to her, put her hands behind her head, and stared at the ceiling fan.

“Let’s just talk, Mom. Like we used to,” Katie suggested.

“Yeah, that’d be neat,” Jamie agreed.

Skip the speech? But do they know enough? Are they ready? I wondered.

Then we did something we’d never done before: I joined them on the floor, and the three of us, our feet touching one another’s heads, formed a triangle. We talked and laughed about everything from the funny things that had happened during their childhoods to what color toenail polish looked the best and whose Barbie dolls were dressed the finest.

As we said goodnight, I smiled from way down deep. Laughter would always hold us together. The rest, I’d leave up to God.

Dear God, when I’m way too serious and sometimes even try to do Your job, remind me of Your priceless and powerful gift of laughter.

—JULIE GARMON

Another fabulous day

The weather has been lovely here, although I am prepared to admit it looked more lovely from inside than it did from outside as it was considerably colder than it looked.

We decided we ought to make a start ont he garden. Neither of us are keen gardeners and we have a large garden front and back and so it needs some tlc from time to time.

We have what I laughingly refer to as a 'naturalised' garden which roughly translates to not looking much different to the heath that it is adjacent to.

Over the years we have learnt that little grows due to poor soil, poor drainage and poor care! So it is heathers, azaleas and rhodos all the way really. However, grass and weeds thrive terribly well and it was time to give the lawn its first cut and clear out some of the dross.

Our gardening usually involves moving large parts of it to the tip and today was no exception.

However it did look so much better when done.

The fact that we have only tackled three beds out of a total 8, one of which is massive and about the size of the other 7 put together, is immaterial. We started and that is the main thing. We had to stop as the bin was full. That's our excuse and we are sticking to it.

So one of the weeded beds is my photo of the day

 

However, THIS was meant to be the photo of the day. It is mother's day today; a day I always find really hard for two reasons. I don't have my beloved Mom any more and I miss her every single day and I never was a Mommy myself. It is a day I struggle with.

However, I did have an amazing card today from the three fur babies and what was amazing was that Nigel made it. And properly made it. He used stamps and letter stamps and inks and my Promarkers (gulp) and foam squares and punches and I think it is just fabulous.

 

I have a new page to share today which is another made as part of my CT commitment at Pickleberrypop. (Gosh I wonder if I will ever get tired of saying that or used to saying that!)

I used the following kits - all from Pickleberrypop of course

Day of Grace Clusters by Trixie Scraps Designs 

Day of Grace Full Kit by Trixie Scraps Designs

Charming Photo Masks by Indigo designs  

Elinor looked so pretty on her christening day - just like a little porcelain doll - and she behaved impeccably too.

 Today I am thankful for

• a very thoughtful husband
• a tidier garden and hands and knees that ache due to good honest hard work
• The West Wing - we are so enjoying that and I am sad that we are on our final series of DVDs.

 

Artist at work

I couldn't resist the blog post title today - on two different levels.

Firstly this scrapbook artist has returned to work. Artist? I hear you ask. Well I guess it is the closest to artist I will ever be. Half term was great but now it is back to the world of reality and hard work.

But the title also refers to this great little artist - Emily. The photos are a few years old, taken on a day when we all went out for dinner and bad Mommy forgot to take anything for Emily to play with and so teacher Auntie Karen found pens and paper in her bag. Emily was very happy just doodling away. When do we loose that uninhibited part of ourselves where we just 'go for it' and don't have to think and plan when confronted with a blank piece of paper?

The page was made using Dawn Inskip's latest collection Art Smart

 
Being back at work meant I forgot to take a proper picture of the day so this is a photo that links in with being back at work - my Newton's Cradle from my desk. It is one of those things that is a finger magnet. Everyone, adult or child, who comes in just has to have a play! It begs to be played with.

I titled the picture coveted as I always did covet it. It was Daddy's and I always used to playw ith it. I told him he didn't need it and I should have it. He bought me my own. But it wasn't like his so i offered to swap. No! I really really wanted it.

And the sad thing is, now I have it I wish I didn't - I wish with all my heart he was still here and refusing to let me have it. Be careful what you wish for!

 
Today I am thanklful for

• being good at paddling!!

And some more of those random but amazing photos

In the resort town of Skagen you can watch an amazing natural phenomenon. This city is the northernmost point of Denmark, where the Baltic and North Seas meet. The two opposing tides in this place can not merge because they have different densities.

In the Chinese province of Shandong is a bridge across the Gulf of Jiaozhou . The bridge length over 36 km is calculated for eight car lanes, and is the longest sea bridge in the world.

 

Paris computer games store. In fact, the floor is absolutely flat. 

 

An unusual tunnel in California 's Sequoia National Park .. and I have driven through that one
 

This statue, created by Bruno Catalano, is located in France

The longest traffic jam in the world recorded in China . Its length is 260 kilometers

 

 Marcus Levine - slaughtering an artist in the literal sense. He creates his paintings by nailing a white wooden panel.. At his latest series of paintings exhibited in a gallery in London , Marcus has spent more than 50 000 pieces of iron.

In the city of Buford (USA) lives just one person. He works as a janitor and as a mayor.