Dolly's Dreamings

Oh my Oh My

My goodness am I ever glad that it is Friday.

Goodness me, what a week.

I ended with a major headache that I think I have had for a great percentage of the week, a sore throat from over use and a sense of complete and utter exhaustion.

But heck - it is Friday.

And I had a nice parcel to open, though I fear these are becoming a new addicition.

They are just so useable - I love them.

I have another page to share using some very old photos. It was made witht he new collab kit by Dawn Inskip and is of some photos from Universal islands of Adventure and the Jurrasic Park area.

Today I am thankful for ... well sorry to be boring but actually I really and truly am thankful that it is Friday. I really am.

Car Free and Care Free

Isn't it funny how half a week can feel like a whole week when you are just not used to it. I only went back on Wednesday but I am so tired. My body, now it is so much older, seems to take longer to acclimatise to being back in work mode and keeping work hours. I am glad it is Saturday and, if Fiki allows it, I may even get a lie in. However, realistically I know we will still get woken up at 'fur o'clock' and when you have Bengals their cries are loud so you DON'T just not hear them.

Today was my first day of car sharing. Living so close and driving to the same place seemed a waste so we are trialing car sharing twice a week to see how it goes. We are both prepared not to like it and to stop if necessary as it will mean a slight shift in times for both of us, but we figured we would try it out.

So, my photo of the day today is me enjoying being car free.

 

 I have two more pages to share made with those fab photo emphasis templates by Dawn Inskip. The pages use all Dawn products too. You can see why I am hooked can't you.

This one is a gorgeous eagle called Danebury at the Hawk Conservancy

And this one - because I just had to play with the Wonderful World kit again - is THE mouse!

Today I am thankful for

• Well I guess I still want to say Friday
• New technology to try out - am testing an iPad
• Car sharing
• A brilliant special present - hand warmers that work as if by magic. A very thoughtful gift from a super thoughtful friend.

 

Today's 1000 places to visit was Verbier in Switzerland which I could handle. It looks very pretty.

My one minute devotional calendar was another thoughtful piece.

It’s been years since I’ve seen Rachel Rowe, but I still consider her my friend. I met her in Alabama while she and I were in an army-sponsored technical writing/editing program. She was smart, quirky, and could make a mean bowl of bean dip. But what I came to appreciate most about Rachel was that she was the kind of friend who had the courage to tell you when you were wrong.

I grew up in a family of sassy-tongued people. As a matter of pride and to protect myself, I honed my own tongue to a legendary sharpness. I was a word-slinger and I always had my weapon ready. I took pleasure in knowing that I could take out any bully, regardless of size, with just a few well-placed words.

One day, I was offended by a man in the office where Rachel and I worked. I don’t recollect what he said, but I do recall that he had embarrassed me in front of several people. Without batting an eye, I pulled out my weapon, took off the safety, and let him have it right between the eyes. Just before I turned to walk away, I saw tears in his eyes.

A couple of days later, Rachel came by my house to visit. I was happy to see her, and it didn’t hurt that she’d brought a bag of tortilla chips and a bowl of bean dip. While we dipped and munched, she told me that what I had done wasn’t kind; I’d used my gift of words for evil rather than for good.

Far more than for her winning ways with a bean, I admired Rachel for her honesty and courage, and for loving me enough to tell me the truth.

Lord, bless those who have the courage to speak truth with love. Help me to be numbered among them.

Sweet Dreams are made of these

Do you ever get a song stuck firmly in your head - and nothing shifts it.

It just keeps going over and over and over again

Happens to me a lot - especially in the middle of the night when I have a song I just keep hearing again and  again. And it happened with dawns lush new Sweet Dreams collection out today. I could just hear

'sweet dreams are made of these' over and over. However, it is a great new collection which is great for little ones sleeping but also had a really fun quirky element with the closet monsters. I know Dawn is a huge Disney fan - like me - and so I know Monsters Inc will have sprung to mind too. Consequently I couldn't wait to scrap a monsters Inc page using a photo from the MGM parade last time we were there (and I am already so very very excited about going back next summer)

 
You can gett he kit from her Scrapbookgraphics store on special offer now.

I apologise for the brevity yesterday but I just wanted to stay lying down as my neck was so awful. It is still bad but I think a little less intense so the new pain killers are having an effect - thank goodness.

 Today I am thankful for

• a bit of sunshine
• a little relief from the neck issues

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

Its been another glorious day here - quite unseasonal but very fabulous.

But now it looks like we are due a major storm. It's gone quite dark and overcast.

My post will be a speedy one today as I am off to my bed. I am proud I survived the day. The voice is unpredictable, but it's the aches that are wearing me down. So my body is urging me to go lie down and I plan on obeying. Nij is off supporting the boys in Eastbourne as they try to win the championship so if Fiki behaves all should be calm here.

I have a quick page to share todayw hich I made yesterday.

Those of you who are members of UK Scrappers know that each week we have digital and hybrid freebies (well worth checking out) Today there is a great freebie from Dawn. It is a layered cluster and is fabulous. It's really easy to use, to alter, to add papers to and well worth downloading. The papers are all from kits by Dawn too.

 

The pictures are of one of our favourite places in the world - 'our' building at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort and I can't wait to get back there next year.  We have stayed there so many times and most times we have even stayed in the same room - who says we are creatures of habit. We like 5354 in Aruba for all sorts of reasons.

If any of your are planning a Disney vacation I would strongly recommend the Caribbean Beach Resort. It is huge with over 2000 rooms but because it is divided into villages it seems really small and intimate.

 Today I am thankful for

• having a little voice left
• paracetamol - which is helping
• 99 prints for 99p (my photos arrived today)

  

A day of two halves

So today has been a day of two halves. First there was the lovely morning when I COULD walk and then there was the disastrous afternoon when I couldn’t.

It all started well. Nij and I decided that as the sun was shining we would head off on a lion hunt. Bournemouth has a pride of lions for the Pride of Bournemouth celebrations. It is Bournemouth’s 200^th anniversary this year and there are lots of lions all around everywhere. OK so they are not quite as impressive as the London elephants and, even though they have been in situ for only a few weeks some have already been vandalised, but they had to be seen. Plus I have a vested interest. We did one from school. Schools were offered the chance to have a smaller lion to take part in the event. No mention was made, at registration, of the cost of £500 mind you. Anyway we signed up for a lion and, when the celebration is over, we get to keep him. He bears our school crest very proudly. We left the design of the lion to our very talented art staff but I did say I wanted the crest on his forehead and, ever with my marketing hat on, I wanted 125 years of excellence down his mane as it is our 125^th birthday year. He looks lovely and every child stamped their traditional African Adrinka  image on to him on the background inspired by Matisse who the children had been studying. He looks very proud, and rightly so, and I look forward to having him back in school.

 

Anyway I digress. We parked near school and wandered through the gardens, spotting lions as we went. Some were really lovely and very skilful.

 

 

 

I loved this chap - called Dandelion - just appealed to me

 

 

This boy was outside the town hall and had suych lovely detail - I took lots of close ups of him

 

This one - leatherbound - was stunning with lots of detail of all of the literary characters associated with the town and was, not surprisingly, outside the main library.

 

 

We took lots of photos and headed home via Starbucks. Here are some more of the lions.

 

 This one was a gorgeous mosaic.

 

 

And the Elvis lion - are you lion-some tonight!!!

 

 

After lunch the second half of the day began – the part where walking isn’t a very realistic option. We have dog gates (we in fact we have cat gates LOL) on the study and library doors. Think child stair gates but higher. They fit between the door jam and stop the cats getting in where we don’t want them.

I was coming out of the study, was distracted looking at the cats lying in the sun in the lounge, tripped over the bottom fixed bar, caught my foot in the gate (thought I had broken my toe) and then lurched forward bringing the gate out completely and landing full weight on what is already my bad knee that will need an op anyway.

I thought I was going to throw up – the pain was incredible. Just that sick making deep pain. By the time Nij managed to get me to sit up my knee had ballooned. I have been lying on the bed with it elevated and a cold pack on, but it is very very swollen and incredibly painful. I can walk on it – so not broken anything – but boy does it hurt. I also think I may have broken my middle toe (which I know they would do nothing about anyway as when you break toes the treatment is usually to strap it to another toe.

 

So a day of two halves.

 

I have new scrapping to share today. Dawn Inskip has a stunning new collection – you will know why I love it as soon as you see it. It is called Wonderful World from her store at Scrapbook Graphics and it is just stunning and so right for the gazzilion Disney pictures I have.

This is one page I made with it.

 

I once heard him described as 'that corporate rat' ... how dare they LOL  

Today I am thankful for

• Not actually breaking my leg

 

Three cheers for Friday

OK so I always look forward to Friday - I truly do.

I do have another page to share made with the new Ocean Collection by Dawn Inskip. It is a picture of Nigel at The Living Seas in Epcot.

 

This is an old one I love but felt like sharing it with you all today. Those of you owned by cats will certainly appreciate it.

Why God created pets

A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?"   Adam and Eve said, "Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day.  Now we do not see you anymore.  We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us."

 And God said, "No problem!  I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."

 And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.  And it was a good animal.  And God was pleased.
 And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail.  And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal." And God said, "No problem.  Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."
 And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them. And they were comforted.  And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
 After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride.  They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration.  Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well." And God said, "No problem! I will create for them a companion who will be with them forever and who will see them as they are.  The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."
 And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.
And Cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.
 And Adam and Eve learned humility.
 And they were greatly improved.
 And God was pleased.
And Dog was happy.

 And Cat didn't give a damn one way or the other.

Today I am thankful for

•  FRIDAY!!!!!!!

 

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I married into an irish family and so today is a celebratory day. I wish you all a happy St. Pat's Day today.

I have finally stopped running on pure adrenalin this afternoon. The inspection was over but Open Morning was today so i couldn't relax at all until this afternoon and you know what it is like - you run on adrenalin and then whoosh - you crash. I am sooooo exhausted, physically and mentally.

It's been an interesting day though. I am way too exhausted to scrap but I do have a new page to share made with a new kit - well a whole collection actually, by Dawn Inskip. It is called Ocean Collection and it is lush. I love the colours, love the designs and love scrapping my second favourite creatures in the world.

 
I love dolphins - I really do.

Well I am off for a bath, a drink and an early night.

Today I am thankful for

• Courage - and humility

 

I'm watching you!

No, it is not Big Brother - it's a giraffe today!

I have a real thing about animals. All kinds of animals. I love them. OK so I have a particular fondness for big cats, but I love them all. We go to so many zoos and wildlife parks. And I must have at least a gazzilion pictures to scrap.

Dawn has brought out a wonderful new kit called Doodly Zoo (do go check it out in her store at PBP) and it started me scrapping animals pics again.

Over the next couple of days I will share some of the pages I made, but here is the first.

Giraffe's are so beautiful and elegant with eyelashes to die for.

I couldn't resist making this page of a gorgeous giraffe at Busch Gardens.

So - the big news of the day is school is OVER! Yes it is officially the summer holidays and I am so darned happy. I can't believe it is here at last - but it is.

I plan a lot of scrapping, a lot of chilling and a lot of sun bathing with maybe a lot of photography and a lot of shopping thrown in and a lot of reading. LOL

My quote for today is

Today I am thankful for

HOLIDAYS!!!!!

And I want to share an e mail I received today. There were five lessons - this is one of them.

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor
Gave us a pop quiz I was a conscientious student
   and had breezed through the questions until I read
The last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely, " said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people.  All are significant.. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson.. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

Just a quickie but a sunny one

Isn't it funny how life gets in the way of living really. there are so many things I want to do but life is making them impossible at the moment. It will be better this time next week when school is almost done, but for now, life is hectic so this is a brief post.

However it's a sunny one.

The page was made witht he lush new kit called bazinga by Shimelle and available at her store at Two peas.

Today I am thankful for

• wonderful children to share time with

I made this page with Shimelle's bazinga kit again. Summer just makes me think of Florida and our home from home at the caribbean beach. This kit was perfect for it.

My quote today is

A little bit of Florida Magic

I thought a little bit of Florida magic would brighten my day - and hopefully yours.

Dawn Inskip has two brand new templates available at PBP and they are gorgeous to work with.

I had a fiddle with one of them last night and made this sunny page

Lovely sunny Florida days. Unlike today. I think i have quickly become used to the nice bright weather. Today has been grey and damp. We've been spoilt. I hope it is a nice day tomorrow as it is school birthday and part of our brithday celebrations happen outside.

It's also chilly here which makes me appreciate the fact that our boiler is working at all. A while ago we noticed a pool of water in the boiler cupboard. No clue as to where it came from or anything and it didn't happen again - until last week. We had a much larger pool of oily water that had dripped over a while and stained.

The man who fitted it came out today and it was not good news. There is a crack in the boiler. It is only 4 years old and he has never known this to happen before.  Needless to say it is out of warranty.

However, he is a really nice guy and he phoned Potterton to see if they would meet us part way in replacing it as it is clearly a fault and not due to wear and tear. It is an actual crack int he boiler itself and not even at a seam. It looks like they may possibly meet some of the cost .... keep everything crossed as we can not really do with a £1000 bill right now.

Today my quote is

  and today I am thankful for

• a lovely new book that came today - the brand new Jodi Picoult
• a boiler that whilst cracked still works

and a couple of cute pics today