Dolly's Dreamings

Sun sun sun

It's been wall to wall sunshine here which has been lovely. Means we can't go to the beach as we know it will be full, but we have been enjoying it at home. The boys went out on the balcony for the first time today. It took Koda a good half an hour to venture out. He so wanted to go but couldn't quite bring himself to put four paws outside. He managed it in the end.

Indy wasn't nearly so worried and I think will enjoy it.

Had fun with his though - I am sure that is what Indy sees

 

 

 

To nice to scrap much but I did make these - this first one was for a LLP challenge using  sketch

 

 

 

 

 and these three were for UKS Challenges

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• lovely sunny days
• my big boy getting a bit braver
• the balcony

 

 

Lovely trip out

To celebrate a fully working boiler, hot water and re-stabalised cats we headed out to Moreton Walled Garden's this morning. It wasn't bright sunshine but it was hot and dry and so lovely to be out.

We even enjoyed sitting and having a drink and a cake - life feels more normal

 

 

 

 

 

 

They had lots of sculptures and this was one I loved - called Breaking Through the ivy was beginning to grown through it. I just liked it

 

We then went to St Nicholas church which had been closed the last time we visited in July. It was lovely to go inside again and see the gorgeous clear glass etched windows which are so unique. We also finally found T E Lawrence's grave in the new churchyard.

 

 

 

 

I even scrapped some of the photos already!

 

 

and I couldn't wait to scrap this one of Koda that I took yesterday - my beautiful gentle giant.

 

Over at Pickleberrypop Anna of Indigo Designs by Anna is the gal Friday and was the Gal Friday CT member. I thought you might like to read my crazy answers in full

 

1.What is your favorite color (or color combination) that you just love to scrap with?

I love teals and aquas and neutrals. Primary colours scare me.

2. Would you rather fight one elephant-sized pigeon or 50 pigeon-sized elephants?

I think 50 pigeon sized elephants. Can you imagine the mess of a massive pigeon! And it would fly!

3. What would you do if you found a penguin in your freezer

Eat it. In the UK it’s a chocolate covered biscuit.

4. What is your most unusual talent?

I have spider radar ... Even little ones … spotted at 100 yards! It’s  like a superpower. It’s not a happy one

5. Do you work outside the home?

No ... I took early retirement after being a head teacher at a school for girls aged 3-11 for 29 years. I hate the phrase, but I was burnt out. Loved the children, hated the politics and paperwork. People said I’d miss it and take a long time to adapt to not working 12-14 hour days. Took me less than a week!

7. If you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be and why

My husband calls me a fly because I do everything so fast and ‘buzz’ round everywhere. I think I’d like to learn to be a sloth.

8. What is the one thing you know to be true that very few others do?

Spiders can kill you .... I know this to be true which is why I am so happy to have my superpower. Science and common sense say it’s not ... I know the truth!

10. If you could learn any skill in the world without trying, what would you choose?

I’d always wanted to learn to play the piano.

12. If you have free, unlimited service for 5 years from an extremely good cook, chauffeur, or masseuse, which service would you choose?

I have a chauffeur ...and he does the occasional massage so definitely a cook. But there could be a deal breaker… Would they wash up as well?

13. What is the funnies thing that has happened to you?

I used to drive a very old mini in the days before remote keys. I got into my car in a car park one day and looked down and was horrified. ‘Someone’s stolen my stereo’ I cried. I looked round. ‘And my seat covers’. And the penny dropped. Not my car! Cue Karen slinking out of someone else’s car and relocating it and hoping no one noticed.

14. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Definitely morning. Could write a novel at 6am can’t string a sentence together after 9.30pm

15. Describe your life using film titles.

Cat woman

Love Story

On the Waterfront

Arachnaphobia

16. What 2 totally normal things become really weird if you do them one after the other?

Eating off a plate then becoming leftovers. I can be eating it and then when it’s been left for five minutes it becomes untouchable and the worst thing in the world.

17. Do you have any pets?

I think probably everyone knows I am a cat girl. In 2020 we lost our two beloved 17 year old Bengal cat brother and Sister within 8 weeks of each other and we were devastated. On December 22nd we brought home two new babies, 2 Bengal brothers just 12 weeks old and they are healing our wounds with love. Our cats have always been our ‘fur children’

19. If you could make a rule for a day and everyone has to follow it, what would it be?

Be kind to everyone ... animals and people

20.If you could know the absolute and total truth to one question, what question would you ask?

Do the cats know how much we love them and do they understand what we are saying.

21. What book do you think everyone should read?

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse .... and The Shack

23. Is a hotdog a sandwich?

It’s not even food

24.What's the last thing you watched on tv?

Taskmaster ... addicted

25. What Disney character are you most like?

Moana – I love the ocean

26.Are you right or left handed?

Right

27. What's your spirit animal?

A cat

 

Today I am thankful that the work is done, the cats are OK and we have a lovely retired life. So much to be truly thankful for

 

 

Upheaval again

Well it's all work here again this week.

Yesterday and today we are finally having our boiler replaced. I swear I will never take hot water for granted again. Yes we have the immersion heater but you have to remember to put it on and more importantly turn it off and it costs and arm and a leg too.

The bad bit will be today when they try and refill the system as that was a major issue last time as the pipes were blocked with years of gunk. Keep everything crossed for me please.

 

On a happier note new releases today at Pickleberrypop and I have two to share

Credits

Foundation words 18 by Fayette Designs

Let’s get lost Bundle by Fayette Designs

 

 

 

 

Peaceful and calm bundle by CarolW Designs

 

 

and other things

 

Lots of stencilling and I confess I spent a very happy hour yesterday sorting all my stencils out. I hadn't appreciated I have over 60 stencils. Time to stop now

 

 

This was for a challenge and is the elder statesman Fiki

 

and this was for the winnie the pooh cybercrop I joined in with

 

Today I am thankful for

work not being too bad so far

sunshine

 

Just a quick update

Its been lovely here - warm and sunny and busy.

We have been coping with no boiler and were told it would be done at the end of June but yesterday we heard that there was a cancellation nd so they are doing it Tuesday and Wednesday next week which is good.  We are struggling with hot water and will not be taking it for granted again.

 

We had a fab day out in the Dorset countryside today which was lovely and as I was desperate for the loo we did something we haven't done in years - we stopped at a beautiful country pub for a sit in their garden and a cold drink. It felt almost normal and was lovely.

 

These first pictures were from yesterday when we headed out to see some of the galleries exhibiting for Dorset Arts week

 

 

 

 

 

 

and these were from today

 

 

 

 

 

 

and some new scrapping

 

 

Picture from Wednesday

 

pictures from today - I don't hang around

 

 

 

and my latest painting

 

Today I am thankful for

• an earlier fix hopefully for the boiler
• living in Dorset - I love it
• my boys - Koda pictured today x

 

 

 

 

 

New releases

It's a new month so that means new releases over at Pickleberrypop and they are lush this week.

I have been busy working on a few of them this week.

As always I declare I get these collections for free - and how lucky am I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this one was made with the freebie

 

Wanderlust - Berry Blends collab - by Indigo Designs by Anna and Prelestnaya Designs
Free with $10 purchase from store June 1-8

 

 

Take your wife to work day

Today turned out differently than planned. Nigel had to go to work in the Purbecks and so I cancelled art so I could go with him and help him and we had a fab fab time. The traffic was horrendous - a bank holiday week went he schools are off and people have just come out of lockdown is NOT the day to travel to the Isle of Purbeck really but heck. It was glorious weather and we did the jobs and had a fabulous time.

Note to self I do need to STOP taking pictures of Corfe now"!!

 

 

 

Our lunchtime picnic spot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news Koda is much better today. Bad day yesterday and we have no idea why. He didn't want to get out of his bed in the morning, half-heartedly ate his breakfast and threw it up - was very unhappy and quiet. By the evening he was fine and we have no idea what caused it. We felt so sorry for him.

New scrapping to share

Our timid little baby Koda

 

 

Me being daft

 

 

Koda again

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel having such lovely jobs
• Dorset
• Koda being well again

 

 

Coping well

Well as Meatloaf says - two out of three ain't bad.

We are coping with no boiler. It's OK - the weather is lovely and things are fine

My leg is so much better which is awesome

 

Just the cats tummies to sort again! It's not awful but it's not right and we can't get it right.

Anyway - we have been enjoying the balcony which is good and the sunshine - though not the pollen - is most welcome.

I have a little new scrapping to share - made for challenges of course - I do find they inspire me to get scrapping.

 

I couldn't wait to scrap the cottage picture and I used a flower stencil for the background

 

 

This was another photo from the same day too. I am pleased I scrapped them both within a couple of days of taking them

 

This was a Scrap Squad sketch and records the book club we started on UKS. This is our first book - which I raced through because I really loved it. Very good book. Can't wait till we all discuss it.

 

 

and finally a tiny tired tiger yesterday morning

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely picnic out
• hot water and sunshine
• a healed leg
• my boys no matter what their tummies are like

 

 

 

well it has been interesting

We have had a couple of interesting days here.

I have done something to my leg. Not sure what but dreadful pain like the most severe calf cramp ever. It was so bad I spoke to the GP as I was worried it was a DVT. Looks like it isn't. Prescribed rest and keep an eye on it to watch for DVT signs.

Then Nigel got up yesterday and notices water all over the worktop in the utility room. The boiler was leaking - a lot!

The man we have used for years came out within three hours which was brilliant and he condemned the boiler. It is cracked and so the system had to be drained and we have no boiler now for between 7 and 14 days. We are lucky it is nice and warm and thankfully we have an immersion heater for hot water.

Oh and the cats had upset tummies again and were so stressed by the noise and work again!

 

However, in true Dolly style, I am thankful for the fact we were here not away, that the plumber came quickly, that the cats seem better today and that my leg seems less painful. So on balance, all is pretty good.

We had a lovely walk two days ago at another part of the stour and saw this utterly picture perfect view as well as other views

 

 

 

 

 

I was so down yesterday I bought myself flowers - a terrific triple bunch for £5 ... looks lovely in my new jug  - and I won a pencil from Scrap Squad for making lots of nice comments on people's pages

 

 

 

 

 

And some scrapping with a new collection by Bellisae called Seize the Day at Pickleberrypop

 

 

and another with a new collection by Carol W called Hot Mess

so from a boilerless home - have a great bank holiday weekend

Today I am thankful for

a prompt and efficient heating engineer

being here when the leak started

a healing leg

the river stour

 

Socialising - surely not

We had a very quiet weekend because the weather was utter rubbish with heavy winds and torrential rain. The winds dropped today but there were some very heavy showers.

We were, however, thrilled that we had visitors today as Sarah and Richard were down for the weekend and we got to spend some time with them. we went out for coffee and cake and then took them on a  very wet tour of the Purbecks.  It was just lovely to see them and it felt so normal which was amazing after a year of not normal. We usually only see them on our weekly zoom meet up so to see them 'for real' was fab.

 

Other than that nothing much to report except a bit of scrapping - much of which I can't share yet.

These two are for a challenge I am going o be hosting at Pickleberrypop

 

 

 

 

This was for a UKS challenge

and this was for a Lottie Loves Paper challenge

 

and - I have finally started my American Icons album but I haven't taken pictures yet.

 

So just a very quick blog post for today.

Today I am thankful for

• seeing Sarah and Richard - it was lovely
• a little bit of normal
• yummy carrot cake

AND i JUST LOVE THESE - mOMMIES AND BABIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sat here like winter

Happy May eh! It's been quite the month for weather and the past two days we have had gale force winds and even more rain. We have had a lot of rain and a lot of cold and a lot of wind throughout glorious May. You'd think it was winter.

Hey ho - rain means nice cosy day indoors (with the heating on) and scrapping and jigsaws.

We did have glorious weather on Wednesday though - and we had the most normal day we have had for ages. Nigel found a new walk at Stanpit marshes and we booked to go to Prezzo - we are now allowed to eat inside.

We had a super walk enjoying very different scenery on the salt marshes and seeing wildlife and the bailey bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we got to the restaurant they asked if we wanted to sit outside and it was gloriously sunny and a really pretty garden so even though we had steeled ourselves to sit inside for the first time since August we sat outside and the food was utterly delicious

 

 

 

I have a little scrapping to share

 

 

 

 

 

They were all made for Scrap Squad challenges

 

I also had a gorgeous box of happiness arrive from Adam Westwood at Dotty About Flair

 

 

and I organised them all into a new storage box

 I also went back to Art on Tuesday and it was lovely to see everyone

This is what I painted - best seen from  long way away really though there is lots of detailed work

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• being indoors int he warm and dry
• scrappy days
• eating out but being in too