Dolly's Dreamings

Just a LOVELY collection

I see a theme running today based around that word LOVE.

I have had a LOVELY day today - completely different, manically crazy and I am shattered but it has been LOVELY.

 

Nigel has had a LOVELY day too, away on a training course which he has enjoyed and he has brough back lots of LOVELY Bourjois make-up as freebies for me. LOVELY.

 

The weather is warmer, the wind has dropped and the sun even appeared - LOVELY.

And I have a new collection to share with you which is also LOVELY in every sense of the word.

 

It is called Love Bytes and is by Dawn Inskip at Scrapbookgraphics and my oh my it i stuffed to the brim with LOVELINESS.

 

 

 

and this is a page I made with it.

 

 

The picture is the day Nigel fell in LOVE with our little Kira girl. She was just 6 weeks old when this picture was taken.  And he loves he even more now than he did then .... and he was pretty smitten.

 

You can snag the new collection at a very special price for the next few days so be sure to check it out.

 Today I am thankful for

• a really LOVELY day
• loads and loads of really lush free makeup

 

 

 

Nothing new but it is new

So there is no chance for new scrapping this week - well not anything I can share anyway.

Life is a bit busy - but busy is good really.

But I do have a new page that I haven't shared before although it was made months and months ago.

It was another page made for Mel and Jill at A Trip Down Memory Lane.

 

It isn't a great picture as it was an exceptionally lumpy page - lumpy in a good way.

 

The picture is a new little baby Elinor at just a few hours old. Isn't she adorable.

 

You can see more of the detail in the picture above.

It was made using the gorgeous Graphic 45 papers - I do love their ranges.

 

Today I am thankful for

• less wind threatening our trees and fences
• a rare treat of a frap on a Wednesday
• The last of the very very early mornings behind us.
• help from someone finding missing items

 

 

 

 

 

Blowing a gale

Having promised I wouldn't write about the weather .... again ... I have failed at the first hurdle.

 

The weather is wild.

Real gale force winds and NOT nice when you have a garden full of very tall trees where you sit and watch and try to assess if they fall are they tall enough and close enough to hit the house.

I hope I never have to find out.

I have a page to hare tonight made from a kit by Studio Lalie designs at Pickleberrypop called Weekend in Paris. It is a gorgeous kit and perfect for scrapping anything but I couldn't wait to scrap Paris.

 

The photo was taken on our first evening in Paris and the start of what was to be a truly memorable holiday.

Today I am thankful for

• being inside in this wind

and I know lots of you miss my page a day calendar posts - I do too.

But this is a lovely post

 

 

Am I An Angel? No, No
by: Phyllis Murphy, Source Unknown

I was catching a later flight to St. Louis, then on to Minnesota. A couple of seats in front and the aisle over sat a very pretty lady. She smiled back at me, I smiled at her noticing her pretty floral dress.

The rest of the flight was uneventful, but as I was getting off the plane I noticed her again standing by the prompters seeing what flight she was to take and what gate. I stood beside her looking for my gate, and flight number. I commented to her that I had noticed her on the flight to St. Louis and she had on a pretty dress. She said "Thank you", I asked what flight she was taking? She said to "Phoenix". I looked and she had a two-hour layover, I also had a two and a half hours layover and asked her if she would like to go to the cafeteria for something to eat or drink. She said "Sure". We introduced ourselves on the way down the ramp, and she told me that her name was "Phyllis". I laughed and said "my name is Phyllis also".

As we sat in the booth she began telling me that she had been told she was dying of cancer and had less than 6 months to live. She was on her way to visit her children and grandchildren before she began taking treatment. She then told me that she had never flown before and she had prayed a specific prayer. She was
afraid she would get lost at the airport and not be able to fine her way to the gate, and didn't know what she was going to do for the two hours she was there.
She prayed, that someone would meet her at the gate and stay with her until she left the airport. She then asked me "Are you an Angel God has sent"? No, I assured her I was no angel, but did God use me to answer her prayer? Yes.

Then came the rain and floods

Having seen the flooding out in the forest yesterday, today's rain doesn't bode well really.

On the way home we saw water gushing up through a manhole cover and it is wet wet wet and so incredibly windy.

I fear flooding is on the way for a lot of poor people on flood plain areas - and even those not. The poor people whose houses flood not only have to deal with dirty water flooding through their houses and destroying everything but then find their home is uninsurable and unlikely to sell. It must be dreadful on every level.

Our risk here is fire not flood - though just as scary and worrying. Oh and the horrifically swaying trees in this hugh wind.

As I said to someone today - whatever would we talk about if it were not for the weather.

 

So let's move on to something sunnier altogether and a Florida page.

The children always used to laugh when they asked what I always wanted to do and my answer was quick and always the same. My dream job .... a Shamu trainer.

What joy it must be to train and work with those majestic killer whales. We used to watch the shows again and againn and the bond between whale and trainer was incredible.

However, sadly that is all in the past since the tragic death of one of the Seaworld trainers as they are no longer allowed in with their charges. And they hate it.

I feel for them. They must have worked so hard to train for the job and now the very special part of it has had to be curtailled for health and safety reasons.

So the photos for this page are NOT from our 2012 trip as the trainers were no longer allowed in the water with them - and the show was all the sadder for that.

 

 

 

The journalling talks bout the sadness of no human/whale interaction any longer in the same way.

 

 

 

 

I was so thrilled about capturing the exact moment here too

 

Today I am thankful for

 

• being dry for most of the day
• being warm for some of the day
• no time for lunch - brilliant for the diet

 

 

 

sunshine for Sunday

It's been beautiful here today and so around lunchtime we decided to stop work and head out where the three dimensional people live.

We weren't out long but it was lovely; mild and bright and we managed a little light shopping too as we ended up at Stewarts and had a bit of a mooch.

On the way back we were struck by how flooded everywhere is. I know that more built up land meand less soak away but I can't remember there ever being so much flooding, and I am talking out in the country.

I have a page to share which was based on a sketch and the speed scrap that I didn't get to take part in.

The photo is one of Fiki adapted with an i phone ap that I just wanted to scrap.

 

It was a really unusual sketch and had great fun playing wit it.

 

I have some pretty gorgeous dies now ad I had great fun playing with them to make swirly embellishments

 

 

 

 

I made the title block digitally bu the little bird is anothe die a he is just  way too cute .

 

Thus ends another rather busy weekend.

 

Today I am thankful for

• sunny sundays
• sketches (love them)
• salad - good job I like it eh!

 

 

 

Still standing whilst I get awfully messy

Our snowman is still standing, but with the warmer temperatures is shrinking fast.

If I am absolutely honest he doesn't resemble a snowman any longer, just a random shaped lump of snow .... but we know!

 

I have had a mess of work to do today but did take a bit of time out to scan a very messy page.

Those of you who know me well know I don't really do messy.

Oh I have inks and distress inks and glimmer mists and cosmic shimmer and paint and glitter but I don't use them. Ink is just for stamping and distressing edges and glimmer mists and cosmic shimmer are just for looking at, never using and certainly not spraying.

So the challenge on UKS was a hard one for me as I had to get down and dirty. And it was hard.

As a result I have ended up with a page very different to my usual offerings.

The picture I have used is lousy - a really bad picture. It was taken in the dark from a lomg way away, but it is a special image for us.

Last time we visited Florida we had tried to see Fantasmic twice and both time it had been rained off.

This visit we hoped we would be luckier. When it started to rain around 5 pm we thought we were done, but the rain stopped and Fantasmic took place and it was even better than we remember it. It is a very different show in Florida to the show in California, but just as magical.

 

Telling the story of Mickey's imagination it showcases so much and has amazing special effects. This image, though poor, was my favourite and it is my favourite incarnation of the mouse too.

 

The paper is really old but was just what I was looking for.

 

I had to use sewing - not a challenge for me - and sewed round the papers.

 

 

 I had great fun making and printing off many of the embellishments

 

I had to use a line from a poem and so - as the show ends with the words .... Some imagination huh  ... I went for the poem by Roald Dahl used in Willy Wonka.

 

and then of course, there was the mess - the cosmic shimmer paint. In red! Dangerous!

 

 

Well - it is DIFFERENT if nothing else.

 

Today I am thankful for

 

• Time to catch up
• Fiki losing a quarter of a pound in a week. On target for a pound in the month

 

 

 

 

 

 

He stood for a week

Nigel's snowman is still in evidence. True he doesn't look like a snowman any more just a sort of snow pillar but he has been standing for a week now and is still far from melting. He looks very lost with all other snow gone. My snow cat disappeared ages ago.

I am so glad it is Friday and the weekend is here. I have masses to catch up on plus a course I attended today to digest and cogotate over. And to cap it all I feel poorly with a very bad throat and swollen glands so I am glad to be home. I can sleep and do my catching up in my own time.

I have new scrapping to share made with the new kit by Dawn Inskip called Photo Frenzy.

 

 

I much prefer to be behind the camera than in front of it and this sort of confirms it.

 

It was a fun page to create.

 

Now speaking of fun I have a great article to share today.

 

Dream Home designed for Cats to share

Apparently some people think this is odd.

Me - I think it is fab. Would I like to share a place like this with the CFH and mad old Boo. You are dead right I would.

 

 

 

 

OK - I admit it. Crazy cat lady!

 

Today I am thankful for

• the weekend
• Strepsils

 

 

Lovely Day Today

There are highs in every day - you just have to know where to look for them - but some days they are easy to spot and today was such a day.

The highs were easy to find.

I had a very productive day and even went out during the working day - work .... but out.

Plus a project I have been working on for a while was finished and I am really thrilled with it.

Plus it is less cold, tomorrow is Friday, I ate treacle tart and I saw my home in the daylight.

What's not to love about today!

 

I love days like this.

 

I have new scrapping to share as well.

Dawn Inskip has a brand new collection released today and my oh my is is a whopper.

There is so much in it - you HAVE to check it out - you can catch it at a reduced price HERE

It is called Photo Frenzy.

 

This is my first page with it and it the man behind the camera.

 

 

I love the picture in the middle where he has turned round as he spotted I was snapping him snapping flowers.

It's a fantastic collection with alphas and frames and cameras and doodles and papers and just very very useable.

 

Today I am thankful for

• great artwork
• a completed project
• a chance to share new ideas
• enthusiasm
• oh .... and I am sorry but it has to be there .... treacle tart

 

 

 

And I have the most beautiful story to share from my best friend who had it on her Facebook page.

 

LETTER FROM A MOTHER TO A DAUGHTER:

"My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through.

 If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep.

When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl?

When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way... remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day...

the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.

And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked.

When those days come, don’t feel sad... just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared.

With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you... my darling daughter." - Unknown

 

 

 

 

Still standing

The snow has almost completely gone after last night's glitch and milder weather today, but the remnants of Nigel's snow man are still there. Sadly snow cat went ages ago.

I came home to a garage almost unrecognisable as Nigel has done such an amazing job clearing it out, moving things and so on. In fairness we really need to not keep a load of the stuff we have - but that's not my style.

I was late back today so a very brief post today

This page was made a while ago and I think it has to be one of my fabourite photos of 2012 - and there were good ones I loved last year.

It is of Stourhead and it was just so breathtakingly beautiful in the bright early morning light.

 

 

The photo just demanded a page where it could stand out.

 

Today I am thankful for

• my weight loss being on track for a stone this month - fingers crossed.
• Fiki trying hard with his weight loss. I hope on weigh day on Saturday we are both doing well.

 

 

 

More of the white stuff and a bit of a windfall

It was a very interesting drive home today. It started snowing!

Now I am addicted to the weather reports and there was no snow on the BBC or met office sites for our area but it is snowing and jolly heavily too.

It was a tricky drive home as it was coming down thick and fast and visibility was rubbish. Pretty but a little hairy and it is settling. I can't believe it is settling as everywhere was so wet from the thaw today but settling it is. As you drive across the heath it was pretty much white out.

The problem is that if this freeezes overnight it will be lethal.

Anyway - on to happier thoughts.

I have had a bit of a windfall. When we sorted out the spare room I found some cross stitch pictures that I will never have time to do and really don't have eye sight good enough. One was a brand new vintage bear kit so I put it on e bay for a fiver thinking it just might sell. Now I have no idea what was special about it but six separate buyers messaged and asked if I would send it to Russia and it was someone from Russia who bought it in the end. For an outrageous sum of money giving us enough for our tickets tot he Eden Project when we visit later in the year and the hotel too. Maybe it was a picture of a famous Russian bear. I have no idea. But I am very happy.

 

I have a new page to share today which was made with the Pickle Barrel bonus kit that you could get free if you bought several Pickle Barrel packs.

 

 

 

and the pictures are little tiny Elinor.

 

Today I am thankful for

• an unexpected windfall
• being home safely
• Nigel doing the ironing - well I never!

and a beautiful inspiratiONAL STORY TO SHARE TODAY

DO IT TODAY!  by: Robert Reasoner

When I was superintendent of schools in Palo Alto, California, Polly Tyner, the president of our board
of trustees, wrote a letter that was printed in the Palo Alto Times. Polly's son, Jim, had great difficulty in school. He was classified as educationally handicapped and required a great deal of patience on the part of his parents and teachers. But Jim was a happy kid with a great smile that lit up the room. His parents acknowledged his academic difficulties, but always tried to help him see his strengths so that he could walk with pride. Shortly after Jim finished high school, he was killed in a motorcycle accident. After his death, his mother submitted this letter to the newspaper.

Today we buried our 20-year-old son. He was killed instantly in a
motorcycle accident on Friday night. How I wish I had known when I talked to him
last that it would be the last time. If I had only known I would have said,
"Jim, I love you and I'm so very proud of you."

I would have taken the time to count the many blessings he brought to the
lives of the many who loved him. I would have taken time to appreciate his
beautiful smile, the sound of his laughter, his genuine love of people.

When you put all the good attributes on the scale and you try to balance all
the irritating traits such as the radio which was always too loud, the haircut
that wasn't to our liking, the dirty socks under the bed, etc., the irritations
don't amount to much.

I won't get another chance to tell my son all I would have wanted him to
hear, but, other parents, you do have a chance. Tell your young people what you
would want them to hear if you knew it would be your last conversation. The last
time I talked to Jim was the day he died. He called me to say, "Hi, Mom! I just
called to say I love you. Got to go to work. Bye." He gave me something to
treasure forever.

If there is any purpose at all to Jim's death, maybe it is to make others
appreciate more of life and to have people, especially families, take the time
to let each other know just how much we care.

You may never have another chance. Do it today!