Dolly's Dreamings

Lovely last weekday

It's been a lovely day today - my last free weekday for a while as school resumes on Monday.

however, I (and I guess all teachers) can't complain as I have had a good innings and a long summer holiday. I know we work awfully hard in term time, but the long summer is THE perk of the job and I really and truly appreciate it.

Anyway I have been scrapping today and also preparing. I promised myself I WOULD NOT do LSNED this year. Having done it for the past 4 years I am a little stale and the same lessons occur again and again in September.

But somehow I have been drawn in and have now prepared 30 template pages ready for the off tomorrow.

Now I promised a class page today and I am sorry to let you down but I am having trouble with 4 shared which will not allow me to upload. I will keep trying to resolve the issue to bear with me and hopefully page will appear soon.

I have new scrapping again made with Dawn's lush Quirky collection. It is the  photo they took on our arrival at Discovery Cove.

 

and just because variety is the spice of life Ihave a paper page too.

When you arrive at The Caribbean Beach Resort you are greeted by a lot of people and they always say the same thing, 'Welcome to the Islands'. I love it. The resort if based around the islands of the Caribbean with Jamaica, Aruba, Trinidad, Barbados and Martinque.

I really wanted to record that welcome.

The main picture is the gateway to the resort which I think is just beautiful and the smaller pictures are of the Custom House where you check in.

I spent ages and ages making the palm trees. Not sure it was totally worth it, but it was kind of fun.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• TGI Friday (the last for a while)
• Good drying days
• Productivity

 

 

And so it begins

The Bournemouth Air Festival started today and it is 4 days of free fun in the town.

Thankfully the weather is much better than yesterdaya nd looks good for the whole of the festival.

We just popped down to the cliff top to see the Red Arrows this afternoon. It was odd to see them flying in a 7 formation - they are doing it all year in tribute to the two lost team mates. It was just a year ago that the Bournemouth Air Festival was the scene of the tragedy that saw pilot Jon Egging lose his life.

The memorial to him was unveiled yesterday and looks so beautiful. I haven't seen it in reality yet, but what a wonderful sculpture and designed by two local school children.

We had a great view from the cliff top and the display was as wonderful as ever.

It will be my photo of the day but I just haven't downloaded it yet.

I have new scrapping to share today too. Dawn Inskip has a fabulous new collection released today called Quirky and it is available at a great discounted price at her Scrapbookgraphics store.

It has gorgeous colours, really great grungy brushes and is stuffed to the rafters as usual.

This is a page I made of the ever gorgeous Alice.

Remember I have  FREE CLASS on here tomorrow and it is actually focussed ont hese lush colours too. Just a fluke - not by design.

Today I am thankful for

• living in a costal town where they have free shows like the air festival
• dinner with friends two nights in a  row

Todays photos are a little cute - pardon the pun

 

 

 and finally my page a day calendar is

I have a confession to make: I chew on pens. I don’t mean nibble. I gnaw. At the end of the day, it looks as if a cocker spaniel has been sitting at my desk. I can’t count the number of times I’ve ended up with ink all over my chin from chomping down too hard on one.

Many helpful people have tried to diagnose my problem. “It’s a definite sign of insecurity,” one said. “You must be really frustrated or something,” concluded another. Still others have claimed that I have a
compulsive personality. None of this makes me feel very good.

I’ve bought expensive pens that are not particularly edible only to revert to the cheap chewy kind (ironically, perhaps, a pen called a Gelly Roll is my favorite). I’ve made New Year’s resolutions and countless promises to myself. Pray, you say? Oh, I’ve prayed. I’ve begged to be delivered from this weakness, as I explained to a friend the other day.

“Maybe God doesn’t care,” my friend responded nonchalantly.

“Of course God cares about me.”

“I mean, maybe He just doesn’t care whether you chew on your pens. Maybe you should just accept
that you are a pen chewer and move on. It sounds like God has.”

I wanted to be insulted, but deep down I felt relieved. I’d found the answer: Sometimes no answer to prayer is the answer. It wasn’t that God had better things to worry about, but that I should. Pen chewing might not be the most seemly behavior, but it’s not worth losing sleep over.

God, maybe there are some things about me that I’m just
meant to accept. You made me a pen chewer; now help me to move on.

—EDWARD GRINNAN

yucky out there

It's been a bit yuck here today. OK so I know that with the richness of the English language and all of the words I have at my disposal 'yucky' isn't a good word, but it is so apt for today. It's just been yuck. Dark and wet and miserable - and actually a bit chilly.

Mind you - the housework warmed me up ... and yes, it was time!

I haven't taken my picture for today yet but have Monday and Tuesday to add.

This was Monday (OK so we didn't do much and Nigel's holiday t shirt was the best I could manage)

He always makes a 'tour shirt' when we go away and he is a huge Back to the Future fan and so this one was especially apt for him.

 

Yesterday's photo is of one of the new mats I bought yesterday. There was a set of four very heavy distressed marble mats which I loved. I drink largely cold drinks and usually have a glass of iced water with lots of ice at my side. The trouble is that the condensation caused by the ice causes the glass to stick to the mat (and anyone who knows me knows I NEVER have a drink without a coaster) but it sticks to the mat just long enough to get off the desk and then drop to the floor. These are very heavy and won't do that .... I hope.

 

What I actually wish is that we could get more mats like the ones we bought in Death Valley two years ago. They are stone and actually called Thirsty Stone. They are very heavy and very porous and so soak up all that condensation. Must look for those on the internet.

and - updated to say - I FOUND them

Four thirsty stones ordered

YEY

 

Before I post scrapping I must amswer a question from Kat about where the Magic Kingdom Castle picture was taken. It is my favourite spot for a photo of the castle, on the bridge just as you cross from the main circle into Liberty Square. You need to take it late afternoon in the summer or the light is in the wrong direction. If it is a nice day you get awesome reflections.

The scrapping I am sharing today was made a while ago, back in June. I was asked to be a guest Design Team member for Mel and Jill at A Trip Down Memory Lane and was thrilled. I used to love designing for them each month before 'life' took over. It was working with awesome Graphic 45 papers and this is one of the pages I made about our visit to the Harry Potter tour at Warner Brothers.  

The whole tour was fabulous but one of my favourite sections was Dumbledore's office which was so amazingly detailed. The cupboards were all full of incredible things. I also had fun putting Dumbledore's head on the photo before I printed it LOL

 Today I am thankful for

• happy days and holidays

and my page a day calendar

When our teenage grandchildren were small, our visits to their home always brought a chorus of “Can we go home with you?” or “Can we come and stay the night?”

At bedtime, Marinell, the youngest of the three, liked to snuggle down in the big, extralong bed that had been her father’s and listen to me read a story. When her eyelids became heavy, we said our prayers and then I would wind up the little plush puppy that played “Lullaby” as she drifted off to sleep.

One night when saying her prayers, she said, “God bless Mama; God bless Daddy; God bless Paul Mark; God bless Grandma and Grandpa.”

“You left out Stokes,” I told her.

“I’m not going to ‘God bless him,’” she said.

Surprised, I asked, “Why not?”

“Because he wouldn’t let me have the marbles.”

“But we must forgive our enemies,” I reminded her.

“He’s not my enemy, he’s my brother,” she said firmly.

“Then I’ll ask God to bless him,” I told her. “God bless all brothers.”

As I tucked her in, I heard a small voice murmer, “God bless Stokes.”

Later, after I had kissed Marinell good-night and left the room, I thought of the lesson: Were I to look at all people as my brothers and no one as my enemy, there would be far more thanks and blessings in my prayers.

Heavenly Father, remind me that peace does not begin with
other people, but with myself.

—ZONA B. DAVIS

 

 

Beautiful day

It had been a lovely day today - warm and sunny and productive.

I worked this morning and achieved a great deal. I also managed to get the Craft Robo installed and am terribly impressed with the man at Graphtech who was very helpful and we went through the process stage by stage. Nigel and I would never have figured the de-bugs on our own.

So I now have everything I need on my new machine and I am one happy Dolly.

This afternoon I tided and scrapped and just had a generally nice time.

I am up to date on my 365 pages and so here is another one to post on here.

 This is week 28

and it was the start of our holiday.

I sneaked an extra picture in of Bella the Jaguar as I used the Miami photo as the photo of the day, but it was also the day we went to Panther Ridge and Bella was what made us go there in the first place.

I know a few of you snagged the class I posted last week and I have a new class page I am going to post on Friday so keep your eyes peeled for that one. There will be a free download and I do plan to share more of these classes as they are fun to share.

Today I am thankfu; for

• a completed new upgraded machine with bells and whistles and everything I could want
• a productive day
• my Kindle .... I have read a serious number of books this summer - I am guessin somewhere in the region of 20 and many of them have been titles and genres I would not have looked at but as free downloads they have been fab. I have really enjoyed some of them.

I also have some more of those cute pics from yesterday's e mail. This made me cry a little.

 

Lily is a Great Dane that has been blind since a bizarre medical condition
required that she have both eyes removed. For the last 5 years, Madison, another Great Dane, has been her sight. The two are, of course, inseparable.

Once again there is so much we could learn from animals about love and trust and compassion and care.

Finally my page a day calendar page.

Sometimes, a disappointment comes along that knocks me for a loop. It’s been that kind of week: disappointment in a loss; disappointment in a dashed opportunity. Such experiences leave me depressed, angry, sad, and in the depths of an emotional ditch.

Today, I am trying to decide whether or not I will crawl out of that ditch.
Somewhere from childhood I hear my mother’s voice: “Scott, you cannot always control your circumstances, but you can control your attitude.” I bet she heardthose words from her mother, too.


Old saw or not, it’s true: I do have some control over how I will feel and act today. I can decide to crawl out of my ditch of despair or lie in my pain a while longer. I do have choices.

Granted, I have learned over the years that grief can only be healed by expressing my emotions and feeling my pain. I also know that I cannot rush this process. But there comes a time to get on with life and enter a bright new day.

Today, I’m going to find ways to clamber out of my ditch. I’ll take a brisk walk, have lunch with a buddy, and clean off my messy desk. And if I have time, I’m going to do something good for somebody floundering in a ditch deeper than my own.

These are all things I can do today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.

Dear Father, give me the courage
to make decisions. And grant me the strength to climb out of the ditch.

—SCOTT WALKER

 

whizzy whizzy getting busy

I am love love loving my new computer. I have almost everything installed that I need and wow ... I knew the old one was bad but I didn't realise HOW bad until I had a machine that worked - and worked incredibly well. The spec on it is amazing. Utterly amazing. I just wish I had done it two years ago as that is how long I have been struggling with the one I had until yesterday.

I have even had time to scrap - both paper and digi - and the digi is so fast.

But here is a paper page I made this morning for the weekly challenge on UK Scrappers. The challenge was to scrap a place, use circles and use metal.

It is another for the album of our holiday.

 

I almost never use metal and yet I have a whole box full of metal charms, phrases etc. So it was good to get me using it. I used some small clips as swirls and the lovely metal flower is from a Primark necklace I bought solely to break up and use as embelishments. I think the necklace was £1 and there were about 8 of these flowers. Good value for money.

I used some of my precious Blue Awning papers (still my favourite EVER range of papers) and some sparkly thickers.

 

It really is the nicest view of the castle with the water and everything and when we went this year it was a perfect day for good reflections.

 Today I am so thankful for

my new machine. I am in a 'technology is wonderful' place right now

Bank Holidays - even though I have thought it was Sunday all day long

 

Before my page a day calendar Nij forwarded me yet another photography e mail and I have some pics from that. I like posting a few random pictures every day as they make me smile and I hope they make you smile too.

This firefighter is so tender

 

A turtle the size of a grape!

Dawn and Carly would love this baby owl

 

how to embarass a walrus!

 

and this is one proud otter Mommy showing off her baby

 

and so finally my page a day calendar

 My daughters Lindsay and Kendall gave me an unusual present on my 50-something birthday—a gift certificate to get my ears pierced. For years, I’ve resisted getting them pierced, even though my daughters and most of my friends have pierced ears. “I don’t like the thought of getting two more holes in my head,” I rationalized. “Besides, I’ve got plenty of clip-on earrings.” But I rarely confessed the real reason: I was afraid of the pain.

“Mom, let’s just do it,” Lindsay told me as we sat at the kitchen counter.

“Yeah, Mom, pierced ears are cool,” Kendall added. She knew she was hitting a vulnerable spot. I dread the thought of growing hopelessly uncool and stodgy as I get older, and I count on my daughters to tell me what’s
cool.

“I don’t know …” I hesitated.

Just then my son Derek walked in. “Maybe you’re right, Mom. At your age, why bother?” His comment sealed my resolve.

“Get the car keys and let’s go,” I said with finality.

Soon, I found myself sitting in the middle of a busy mall where shoppers could stop and watch a nervous, middle-aged lady get her ears pierced.
First the technician carefully marked an X on each earlobe, then picked up the piercing gun and with a quick pop, pop, she was done. She gave me a handheld mirror, and I could hardly believe myself. I had pierced ears!

“Wow,” I said, grinning. “Let’s go celebrate!”

Father, I know pierced ears don’t have a thing to do with my “cool quotient” in Your eyes, but thank You for daughters who care enough to help me not to stay stuck in my fears.

—CAROL KUYKENDALL

 

And she's back

Well it's been quite a day with a few stresses and a lot of successes and now my computer is so fast things happen when I think them!!

The day started well as we treated ourselves to breakfast out. That always seems such an American thing to do. We went to our local Premier Inn and it was gorgeous.

However, we could put it of no more and so the computer had to be done.

This is the old one just before it was dismantled.

 
Of course, when you bring anything new home it has to have a thorough cat scan first. So here is the cat scan.

Fiki is quite determined ....

 and at last he was in .... but then he was put out! Too scary for cats to be around.

There was a lot to install - scanner, printer, incredimail, photoshop, digi pro, i tunes etc and loads to transfer but most of it is now done.

I can't find a win zip to work, I can't find Arcsoft 2 which I use to stitch my 12 x 12 scans and we can't get the Craft Robo to work (and we had that problem last time too)

But it is looking good, is ast and I am pleased.

Here she is (still have an EHD attached as still transferring)

Beautiful monitor, much larger and crystal clear.

So to catch up on pictures of the day.

This was Thursday - a Hogwarts mini book I made and hate and am going to dismantle.

 

Saturday was salad being prepared

 

Today - well the cat scan of course

 

 

I obviously haven't scrapped today - but this is another of the catch up pages for the 366 album.

It uses a fabulous kit by Fayette from Pickleberrypop.

I promised a page a day calendar page too and so here is the weekend page.

and meanwhile I am off for a lie down to recover from the stress LOL.

My husband, Wally, and I had been sitting
in the Pittsburgh airport for the last few hours, sad and overwhelmed. Wally’s
dad had died unexpectedly of heart failure. We were trying to get from our home
in Richmond to Los Angeles as quickly as possible.

Wally’s sister, his only sibling, was waiting for us, and Wally, as the executor of the estate,
needed to take care of some legal matters right away. “I hope our flight leaves
on time,” Wally said now, running his hands through his hair.

“Everything will be okay,” I said gently. Just then an announcement came over the intercom.
Our flight had been cancelled. “For those of you still looking to go to Los Angeles,” the announcer continued, “there is Flight 466 leaving out of Gate 3A in twenty minutes. They will take passengers on a first-come, first-served basis
…”

All at once, there was a stampede of people trying to be one of the few to make it on that flight. “I’ll stay with the bags,” Wally said. “Hurry and see if you can get us seats.”

I ran as fast as I could. Lord, please get us on this plane, I prayed, afraid I was too late. When I finally
reached the agent, my fears were confirmed. The flight was full. “When is the next one?” I asked.

“At five this afternoon,” he said, “but that’s fully booked, too.” There were no more flights until the next day.

“My father-in-law just died,” I stammered, “and we need to be with my sister-in-law as soon as possible.”

“I’d love to be able to help,” the agent said, “but everything’s booked. Let me take your name and I’ll call you if anyone cancels.”
I gave him our tickets and he typed our information into the computer. Then he looked up. “But Mrs. Hutchison,” he said, “you’re already scheduled on this flight.”

You can always help when I’m helpless, Lord. Thank
You.

—MARY HUTCHISON

busy getting nowhere

Today has been one of those days where I seem to have achieved nothing and yet haven’t stopped really.

We have made the decision to get a new computer and have now purchased said beast and so today I have been ensuring everything on this machine is saved and backed up. I back up monthly but have now been organising stuff and backing it up in a more organised form.

When you take into account that the computer is SLOWWWWWW it is taking forever. I have A LOT of digital files I use and it takes ages. But I am sure it will be worth it in the long run. Well, that’s what I keep telling myself anyway.

I know I could store a lot of stuff on EHDs but I like to have access quickly and so the new big beast has 3TB of memory which should be enough even for me LOL

But I have a lot of copying and installing to do yet.

I dread tomorrow when the new machine goes in and I have to start from scratch, although I know it will be so much better once it is sorted out.

I also spent a LONG time at the coach station today. I took a friend’s daughter and the coach was over an hour late. There was no way I was going to just leave her there and so we waited together and, all is well that ends well. She boarded safely for her holiday.

I have been catching up on my 366 project though and am now only two weekly pages behind and, if all goes to plan I will have those done and dusted by the end of the day.

But meanwhile here is week 26

 
The glorious embossed Memories is by Dawn Inskip - isn't it lush!

I haven't downloaded my picture of the day and fear I may never download anything again! But it is taken and will appear one day.

Wish me luck witht he transfer and meanwhile the final set of photos from that stunning young photographer. Very surrealist, very Magritte

 

and if I ever manage to find my page of the day calendar which is somewhere being exported with all my e mail files, I will be sure to post it!

Wish me luck and if there is no blog tomorrow you will know it did NOT go well!

Scary old day

I am a creature of habit. I fear change - always have, always will. And when change comes in the form of technology that is even more scary.

I have battled for the last 18 months with the world's slowest computer. It is really pants and is so frustrating. I think Nigel has finally come to the conclusion he can't stand the noise as I shout at it.

I do so much graphic work now that I really need something that works with decent RAM and a good graphics card. So we have been looking at new computers.

Yikes

It isn't even the money that worries me .... I have been saving up. It is the transferring of everything, the re-installing of drivers and programs and the fact that I know a couple of things are likely to be a problem.

That is what worries me.

So tomorrow may be D Day and the time to actually purchase the new beastie, so if I disappear, you will know why!

Meanwhile I have scrapped for this week's challenge on UKS which needed tearing (I can do that), stitching (I always do that), photos taken this month and ribbon - but used in a different way not just stuck down flat.

So here is my tribute to Nigel and his trains ... our visit to Swanage last week.

 
The greeny colour paper is actually from a DCWV pad that I bought in America this summer and the train is glossy (lots of spot lamination on this DCWV pad)

It was just perfect for the page.

The Swanage title and the steam train at the bottom are actually scans of a postcard I bought there.

 I have my photo of the day for today which I took in the Dolphin Centre (Our indoor mall in Poole) and it is a sand sculpture.

I still haven't downloaded yesterday's.

 
Today I am thankful for

• Nigel to hold my hand through the maze that is new PC technology with Ram of all types

And here are another few of the photos from that great young photographer.

 
This is one of my absolute favourites

 

I LOVE this one

 

 

and finally my page of the day calendar page.

It’s 5:40 A.M., and I can hear William’s alarm. He needs to take an early bus for his job as a counselor at a summer camp. When he was younger and had to wake up early, I would get up with him. I’d fix his breakfast, pack his lunch, see him off. But he’s 18 now, and even if I wished to do those things, he prefers his independence. “You don’t need to get up,” he said the night before.

From my bed, I am aware of his movements—the clank of his spoon against the cereal bowl, the front door opening as he picks up the paper, the water in the sink when he washes the dishes. His mom will be pleased that he remembered that, I think. I hear his duffel bag brush the floor. And I start wondering: Does he have enough money? Did he remember to pack his retainer? Does he have any sunscreen? Okay, he’s a responsible kid, but I miss being needed. I fear that when that door finally slams shut, it’s closing on me.

I need to trust that all that Carol and I have done as parents will hold him in good stead. Isn’t that the whole point of parenting? If you do a good job, you put yourself out of a job.

I get up and tell him, “Have a good time at camp.”

“Bye, Dad.” He gives me a hug. Nice to be needed for that. Then the door slams shut, and I hear his footsteps scrambling down the sidewalk as he races to catch his bus.

Be with my child, Lord—Your child—as he steps into the world.

—RICK HAMLIN

Catch up time

I have been playing catch up today on all sorts of things.

I have caught up on some house work.

I have caught up on some scrapping assignments coming up on Its A Creative World. If you don't already visit It's a Creative World I really urge you to go look. The girls who contribute are incrediblt talented in such a range of crafts. There are all sorts of styles, all sorts of mediums from gardening and cooking, to scrapping, sewing and recycling. It is a must see blog. Believe me.

Anyway I have caught up on my posts for the coming weeks ont here and I have also caught up on tidying my scrap room. I had so much on my desk froms chool work to odd bits of paper and new supplies and it is now all beautifully clear and tidy.

And finally I have been catching up on my 366 weekly pages.

I am still a couple of weeks behind but will be up to date by next week so I can stay on top of it when term begins and have a finished album by the end of the year.

I made this one a while ago but haven't yet shared it.

 
There are not many photos of the two of us that we both like. All to often I might like it but Nigel doesn't and vice versa. This is one we both like and we have it up at home too.

I didn't share my photo of the day from yesterday as I didn't take it until last night. I went to speedway (not to help .... just to watch) with a friend last night. She was really keen to go and had never seen speedway before. And she loved it. She was such fun to watch a match with as she really got into it.

So my picture of the day is my fella doing his stuff. He is so good at his job as match presenter. I don't know how he does it.

This was him interviewing the riders after the meeting was over and we had won.

 

 Today I am thankful for

• a clean and tidy home, desk and to do list

Sara sent me an e mail the other day which showcased a young photographer Erik Johansson - 21 year old Swedish photographer

His pictures and his use of photoshop are amazing. Here are some and there will be more over the next day or two. As a real fan of surrealist art, I love them. Enjoy.

 

 

 

and finally my calendar page for today

What an opportunity for a newly licensed driver! I was 16 years old, Mom had accepted my offer to run an errand, and my visiting uncle had entrusted me with his Chevy. As the car left our driveway, I heard a scraping sound and glimpsed the wiggling motion of our iron post mailbox. Nothing happened, I told myself hopefully as I continued. But I was sure that something had.

Returning home, I went through the motions of eating dinner and waving good-bye to Uncle Ing and Aunt Helen. Then I slipped up to my bedroom. There I talked to myself, rationalizing the incident. Occasionally, I looked out my window to watch my father watering the grass. Finally, I made my way outdoors and blurted out everything. “Daddy, I hit the mailbox with Uncle Ing’s car, and I’m sure I scratched the car door.”

“No, you didn’t,” my father replied.

“I didn’t? How do you know?” I asked.

“I saw the mailbox sway as you drove away. When you returned, I took a look.”

“Dad,” I wondered out loud, “why didn’t you tell me? I’ve been up in my room very upset about this!”

My father looked at me and simply said, “I wanted you to come to me.”

Sometimes I wonder why I need to confess my sins to God, Who already knows my failures. Sometimes I wonder why I need to voice my requests to God, Who already knows my needs. Then I remember that summer night, when my father simply wanted his child to come to him.

Father, I know I can always come to You. I’ll try to do it more.

—STEPHANIE LINDSELL

Busy busy busy

Some days you do nothing at all -w ell it sure seems that way - and others you do loads and it all comes together.

Today has been a busy busy day - but in a good and very pleasurable way.

I have, however, just had a bit of a shock. Our cats are indoor cats. They don't go out unless we are in the garden and, to be honest, the CFH don't really like the garden. Kira won't stay out unless we are out. Boo hasn't always been an indoor cat and she quite likes an amble round the garden, though poor old thing is a little slow these days ... or at least that is what I thought.

I came ina  short while ago and it was bright and sunny so, whilst I was working int he study I let the cats out through the back patio doors.  Kira hovered in the doorway, not sure what to do, but Fiki and Boo went out.

Some fifteen minutes later I heard such screaming.

I ran out of the study. Kira and Fiki were both in (they are such wimps ... call themselves wild cats ... I don't think so) with tails like fox brushes. I looked out ont he lawn and there was this huge ginger cat who we have seen a couple of times looking all the more huge as he was puffed out and bristling and there was little old Boo facing him off. Now Boo is a very small cat. She is also a very elderly cat, is deaf and has cataracts. She was squared up to this cat who was way bigger than she was and faced him off and he ran away (actually I think she breathed on him and her breath isn't exactly minty fresh these days)

She was such a brave girl and the two Bengals are such wimps.

Maybe that will stop the ginger cat revisiting as he has been eyeing up my birds. Let's see.

No photo of the day so far (though Boo all bristling and indignant would have been a good one)

I have new scrapping to share - another for the Florida album which has kind of come to a bit of a stand still as I have been doing other things.

It is another from the Magic Kingdom and was the last bit of the castle show that we caught. The reason I had to scrap it although the pictures were not fab as I zoomed in heavily, is that of all of the Mickey Mouse incarnations this is my favourite. Black tux, red trousers. Just perfect.

 

Today I am thankful for

• having at least one brave cat (even if it might have been misplaced bravery)
• a lovely lunch out
• A convertible car (nice for possibly three or four weeks of the year)

and my page a day calendar today is

“Look at this!” I exclaimed, reading the morning paper. Dr. Rhodes, a former professor of mine, was being honored at a local university.

I peered closer at his photo. I hadn’t seen him in 20 years, but he looked just the same, maybe a little grayer. His lectures in college had held us spellbound. He taught history not just with facts, but with stories that made it come alive. How I would love to see him again! I thought. Just to tell him what an influence he’s had on me as a teacher. I checked my calendar at work. To my disappointment, I simply couldn’t make the event.

A week later, I was at the airport, waiting to board a flight. There was only one empty seat by the crowded gate. “Is this taken?” I asked the man next to it.

He looked up. “No, it isn’t.”

“Dr. Rhodes?” I shook his hand. “I’m Melody Bonnette, a former student of yours.”

After catching up with careers and families, I said, “I want you to know how much I learned from you—not just history, but how to teach history. My students always said it was the stories I told that made the most difference. I owe that to you, Dr. Rhodes. So thanks.”

I had to catch my flight, but not before I offered a silent prayer to God for giving me the chance to pass on some long overdue thanks.

Thank You, Father, for letting me give thanks for the wisdom I have received.

—MELODY BONNETTE