Dolly's Dreamings

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

 

Amur Leopards and lingering lurgy

I think I got through today by the skin of my teeth. I  really don't feel very well. I have a bad headache, aches all over and an irritating cough that is just waiting to develop into something nasty. I wish it would just happen really and get over and done with. And I blame Nigel completely as he has had it for over a week and has shared it. But then I guess that is what husbands are for LOL

It was glorious when I got home from work - the hottest September on record and set to be the hottest October on record tomorrow. It doesn't feel like October. However, when we went for a short walk on the heath a while ago to try and clear our heads it looked Autumnal. Vestiges of blackberries left, remnants of the purple heathered splendour and the dwindling yellow gorse.

Today sees my final LSNED and today - in true form - I have three lessons as you can see.

 

I am so proud of myself for completing a  page every single day even when I was very busy. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it - and I did. They were simple but they are a record of the month.

I have another page to share today too. Dawn has a wonderful new kit out called Jungle. It is made for people like me who have a gazzilion of animal pictures and I had great fun with it. This picture is of Artur, one of the amur leopards at the WHF sanctuary. He was just so beautiful and quite feisty.

 

Today I am thankful for

• completing a  project I set out to do and wasn't sure I'd manage
• Getting through the day without being too poorly

 

Dahlicious Days

Tomorrow sees the first ever Dahlicious Dress up Day

 However, we were celebrating a day early. The Roald Dahl charity does so much good work for sick children and this is a new venture for the charity, inviting children across the country to dress up as their favourite Roald Dahl characters. And let's face it, there are some great ones from Fantastic Mr Fox, the Twits and the wonderful BFG to Matilda, the Witches and the enormous crocodile. I am not a huge fan of Dahl - other than his revolting rhymes which I absolutely love - but the children love the books and I guess if they are reading that is a good things and so what if it is a little sensationally revolting - kids love it. You only have to see the success of the fabulous Horrible Histories.

So I have worn my sticker with pride (forgetting to take it off when I went shopping after school but that's another story entirely) and I proudly received my Golden Ticket this morning.

It was great fun making redunculous delumpuous recipes up featuring Dahl-esque words and utterly revolting ingredients. I love this example by the master himself from The Centipede.

"I’ve eaten many strange and scr umptious dishes in my time,

Like jellied gnats and dandyprats and earwigs cooked in slime,

And mice with rice – they’re really nice

When roasted in their prime.

(But don’t forget to sprinkle them with just a touch of grime.)

"I’m mad for crispy wasp-stings on a piece of buttered toast,

And pickled spines of porcupines. And then a gorgeous roast

Of dragon’s flesh, well hung, not fresh – It costs a pound at most.

(And comes to you in barrels if you order it by post.)

"I crave the tasty tentacles of octopi for tea

I like hot-dogs, I LOVE hot-frogs, and surely you’ll agree

A plate of soil with engine oil’s

A super recipe.

(I hardly need to mention that it’s practically free.)"

 So my lesson for today is about the miracle that is reading.

 
Today I am thankful for

• a real treat at the end of the day - meeting Nij for a spot of retail therapy and dinner out! Heaven
• the joy of reading and the wonder of passing that love of book on

 

Succumbing

I am succumbing - I knew I would.

Nij had a bad throat and cough for almost two weeks and I just knew.

And here it is. That sort of throat that has been rubbed with a mixture of cotton wool and sandpaper and the irritating cough that is just waiting to develop into something more.

Heck - I knew it!

But actually, I am very focused at the moment on counting my blessings. Sometimes, when you see what the world is like walking in someone else's shoes - you realise how lucky you are. You need that some days. It's all too easy to forget. Today I have remembered.

 

 

and no - sadly they are not my shoes - I wish they were.

A girl can dream can't she!

Today I am thankful for

• my life - warts and all.

 

 

Time is never enough

I have been pondering time today. It's been a long long day and, in many ways, a difficult one.
One of the things I did today was attend a funeral of someone my own age. That's a sobering thought. Funerals are always hard. No matter how we view them as celebrations of a life well lived, and this was a life well lived, they are filled with sadness. Sadness over the loss, sadness for ourselves, sadness for the close family members, and also sadness for others you have lost. And when you see it is someone your age you become even more aware of your own mortality and of how precious time is.

Time is precious. Even if you are doing something that seems to make time drag. Time is precious. How often do we think ... 'I can't wait....'  I can't wait till the end of the work day, I can't wait until the weekend, I can't wait until that parcel arrives, I can't wait until we go on holiday, I can't wait until ...... We do it so often.

We are in danger of wishing our lives away and we should be doing the opposite. We should be treasuring each and every single moment. It's not always easy to do - but we must focus on it. We must make the most of every single second. And no matter how long we have with those we love ... it is never enough.

I love this passage

Remember when we were young and could not wait to be adults? It seemed like forever before we’d finally grow up and be on our own. Then before we know it we’re already 40 and our life’s more than half over! And the older we get, the faster the years race by. So we need to treasure and live every day to the fullest. Someone said today is a “gift,” that’s why it’s called the “present.” 

To realize the value of one year: Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize the value of one month: Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of one week: Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of one hour: Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of one minute: Ask the person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

 To realize the value of one second: Ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realize the value of one millisecond: Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.

So that's my lesson for today -and one I really want to try and focus on.

 

Today I am thankful for

• time .... I am going to really try and treasure every moment

Challenges are good

Challenges are a good thing. I am a great believer in the fact that you shouldn't become complacent in life. It is easy to get stuck in a routine in every aspect of your life and a new challenge can be daunting at times, but it is good. A brain needs challenge and working on something different can be just the stimulation you need to get that old grey matter churning in a new way.

I love encountering a  problem that needs resolving. It may be scrap related - perhaps a new way of altering something that demands a range of different skills. It may be work related, thinking through a problem and coming up with different solutions. It may be just the challenge of doing a brain teasing puzzle (like moving from the moderate sudokus that I love tot he difficult ones that I struggle with) But I am convinced challenges are good. It's why I do my DS Lite brain training every day. Even when I am busy I do try and put aside ten minutes - that's all it takes - to work through the challenges each day. And some days I do quite well LOL.

That was my lesson for today

 

I have a page to share that was made for the September challenge ont he Scapology blog here

It was such a gorgeous page to scraplift. I had great fun doing it. There is not a lot of embossing on the page - but there is some. The swirls and butterflies are embossed, though it is a little hard to see from the scan.

 

 
The left side looks a little cock-eyed but I promise that is due to a bad stitch when I scanned the page. It is OK in reality.

The photo was taken in August and just sums up what a lovely summer we had. The weather was generally good, we got out and about a great deal and had a really good time. It is a very happy page.

 

 

 As usual there is lots of stitching. (and a fair bit of doodling too)

Today I am thankful for

• an active brain and enjoying keeping it limbered up

 

 

 

A simple Sunday and Red Arrows tribute

 
It's been one of those lovely Sunday's when we really haven't done very much. A little work, a little tv, a little scrapping, a little reading and quite a lot of chilling.

I guess we all need that to re-charge the batteries.

We have caught up on a couple of episodes of The Good Wife. I am not sure if any of you watch it but we love it. We used to be big LA Law fans and it has a lot of similarities with that, though not so much humour. It is a great series and we are enjoying it for the second time.

Last night and today I did do battle with SnapFish though. A friend let me know that they were doing an offer of 99 prints for 99p and it was too good to miss, but sizing and uploading them all seemed to take for ever, but I finally did it and it was a great price for a lot of photos.

It forms my LSNED

  

I am still working on my album from the outings and events of this year and this is one from the Air Show this year.

What no-one knew that day was that it would be the last time that anyone would see Jon Egging fly one of the arrows. He sadly lost his life just a few minutes after the display eneded when his plane came down in Throop. I wanted to scrap the air festival event but also record something as a tribute too.

 

Today I am thankful for

• Sunday's
• Hot cross buns! ooops!

 

 

Thomas Hardy Day

 
It's been a beautiful day here and we have enjoyed our home county of Dorset by having a Thomas Hardy Day.

I love Hardy - always have. I think it stemed from studying him at school - well we would in Dorset wouldn't we!

For A level one of the 9 set books we had was Tess of The D'Urbervilles - still one of my all time top ten books (it featured in my top ten page a couple of months ago) and another was The Collected Poems of Thomas Hardy. They were amazing books which I still enjoy now. (The others were not so good as it happens ... Washington Square which was OK, North and South which was OK, Hamlet, Julius Caesar (both OK) Chaucer's Wide of Bath's Tale and then two utter pups which I loathed ... Dombey and Son (I think the exam board worked on the premise of picking the dullest fattest Dickens they could find) and Middlemarch which I confess I never read other than the first 100 pages ... I managed to get a B based on Cole's notes!)

Anyway I digress. I love Hardy and as it was a lovely day we set off to Dorchester to visit Max Gate and Hardy's Cottage. We had been to Hardy's cottage before though had never been in, but had never been to Max Gate which the Trust have just opened this year and are working on.

 

Max Gate was the house that Hardy, an architect by trade, designed and his brother built. He lived there with both of his wives, Emma and Florence.  Compared to the cottage we went to later, it was quite austere, but really really interesting to visit. They had a Tess exhibition on as it is the 100th anniversary this year.

 

 

I was fascinated to see the pet cemetery as one of my favourite poems (long before I was a cat owner actually) was written at Max Gate about his beloved cat Snowdove who was killed on the railway track. It was wonderful to see the marker where Snowdove ended and have the poem right there too.

Last Words to a Dumb Friend

Pet was never mourned as you,
Purrer of the spotless hue,
Plumy tail, and wistful gaze
While you humoured our queer ways,
Or outshrilled your morning call
Up the stairs and through the hall -
Foot suspended in its fall -
While, expectant, you would stand
Arched, to meet the stroking hand;
Till your way you chose to wend
Yonder, to your tragic end.

Never another pet for me!
Let your place all vacant be;
Better blankness day by day
Than companion torn away.
Better bid his memory fade,
Better blot each mark he made,
Selfishly escape distress
By contrived forgetfulness,
Than preserve his prints to make
Every morn and eve an ache.

From the chair whereon he sat
Sweep his fur, nor wince thereat;
Rake his little pathways out
Mid the bushes roundabout;
Smooth away his talons’ mark
From the claw-worn pine-tree bark,
Where he climbed as dusk embrowned,
Waiting us who loitered round.

Strange it is this speechless thing,
Subject to our mastering,
Subject for his life and food
To our gift, and time, and mood;
Timid pensioner of us Powers,
His existence ruled by ours,
Should - by crossing at a breath
Into safe and shielded death,
By the merely taking hence
Of his insignificance -
Loom as largened to the sense,
Shape as part, above man’s will,
Of the Imperturbable.

As a prisoner, flight debarred,
Exercising in a yard,
Still retain I, troubled, shaken,
Mean estate, by him forsaken;
And this home, which scarcely took
Impress from his little look,
By his faring to the Dim
Grows all eloquent of him.

Housemate, I can think you still
Bounding to the window-sill,
Over which I vaguely see
Your small mound beneath the tree,
Showing in the autumn shade
That you moulder where you played.

 

 From there we went to Higher Bockhampton to the cottage where Hardy was born - an altogether more photogenic place.

 

 
Another of my favourite Hardy poems (gosh I have so many) was written here about the cottage and was perhaps the first poem he wrote that we still have today, written when he was a teenager.

Domicilium

It faces west, and round the back and sides
High beeches, bending, hang a veil of boughs,
And sweep against the roof. Wild honeysucks
Climb on the walls, and seem to sprout a wish
(If we may fancy wish of trees and plants)
To overtop the apple trees hard-by.

Red roses, lilacs, variegated box
Are there in plenty, and such hardy flowers
As flourish best untrained. Adjoining these
Are herbs and esculents; and farther still
A field; then cottages with trees, and last
The distant hills and sky.

Behind, the scene is wilder. Heath and furze
Are everything that seems to grow and thrive
Upon the uneven ground. A stunted thorn
Stands here and there, indeed; and from a pit
An oak uprises, Springing from a seed
Dropped by some bird a hundred years ago.

In days bygone--
Long gone--my father's mother, who is now
Blest with the blest, would take me out to walk.
At such a time I once inquired of her
How looked the spot when first she settled here.
The answer I remember. 'Fifty years
Have passed since then, my child, and change has marked
The face of all things. Yonder garden plots

And orchards were uncultivated slopes
O'ergrown with bramble bushes, furze and thorn:
That road a narrow path shut in by ferns,
Which, almost trees, obscured the passers-by.

Our house stood quite alone, and those tall firs
And beeches were not planted. Snakes and efts
Swarmed in the summer days, and nightly bats
Would fly about our bedrooms. Heathcroppers
Lived on the hills, and were our only friends;
So wild it was when we first settled here.'

 

And here are just a couple of photos I took today and liked.

 

and this which I think is a comma butterfly (took quite a few of him)

 

All in all it has been a lovely day.

And the cottage and the whole Hardy day is the subject of my LSNED

 

Today I am thankful for

• Great literature and poetry that enrich life so much
• Sunshine in Autumn
• The delicate beauty of nature

 

 

Friday and Finally Finished

Yey -a  huge huge cheer.

Not just because it is Friday - though it is always nice to have the weekend to look forward to

The work

is

finally

finished!!!!!

 

The carpet is still to come in the hall stairs and landing but all building work is done done done. No more painting. No more papering, no more moving furniture, no more packing boxes, no more sorting. Just a finished house. Fresh, clean, tidy and relatively minimalist.

The final room - the downstairs cloakroom.

I love it. Very simple but I think it is lovely.

 
The odd shadow on the wall is only the bounce back from the mirror as I used the flash to take the picture.

And I came home to a wonderful garden all spruced up and cut back too. He's been incredibly busy.

My LSNED is a little indulgence. My reward for almost a month of abstinence was a little shopping trip. I went for a grey jumper. I ended up with a heck of a lot more LOL

 
I didn't buy it all today LOL. Just seemed apt to take a picture of one of my wardrobes to go with the lesson.

Now the weekend stretches ahead. The forecast is good. I don't have too much work to do. Life is good.

Today I am thankful for

• Getting back in shape
• a finished house
• Friday

 
And finally I was sent this e mail yesterday - Thanks Mike.

I had never seen or heard of this and it is beautiful. Do watch the presentation and enjoy.

And have a great weekend

Download Russia_Honor_USA911

 

 

Autumn in the air

It's been a lovely day today, but there is a definite Autumn crispness. But I like that.

I love Autumn. It is my favourite season of the year for so many reasons.So there is nothing nicer than an Autumn day.

Dawn's new kit that I mentioned yesterday - called Happiness - is Autumnal and I made a very Autumn page with it. Nij and I love going out and seeing Autumn colour. One day, when I retire too, we will go and visit Nigel's brother in New England during the fall. It just doesn't coincide with school holidays. But one day - and I know it will be glorious. Until then we make do chasing colour around the UK.

 

The photos are from  Hillier arboretum and Westonbirt National Arboretum. I actually think we may have to go to Westonbirt again as it was a foul day when we went and to see it in the glory of Autumn sunshine would be magical. Maybe this year.

The good news is that the cloakroom is finished. No workmen any more. Our house is our own again and, once the thick layer of dust is cleaned away it will be fabulous.

This is my LSNED page today.

 
I think I may try DS colourlabs and get the album printed rather than print it myself this year.

Today I am thankful for

• a sparkly new dress which I may yet have the confidence to wear ... or not!
• Inner strength to see something through