Dolly's Dreamings

In love with our home town

We had a lovely afternoon today as we used one of my retirement gifts.

I had a gift of afternoon tea for two at the Royal Bath hotel in Bournemouth from two sisters I taught. I had both of them in school from the age of three and it was a lovely gift for them to have given me.

We decided today was the day.

Last day of October and we were in three quarter length sleves and it was bright and beautiful and Oh My the sunset was immense.

 

We walked along Bournemouth seafront for a little while. Although it is our neighbouring town, and the town we both lived in before we were married, we rarely go to Bournemouth other than to visit Nigel's mom - Oh and I used to go there to work everyday! It was nice to see Bournemouth beach, with it's iconic pier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was like being abroad - and not just because of the weather. We were the only people speaking English, Bournemouth has always been known for its foreign language students but add to that the large Polish community now and we were in the minority.

 

We then headed to the Royal Bath. The Royal Bath used to be the only 5 star hotel in the town at one point. Now it doesn't show its stars outside and it is clear to see why. I in no way want to diminish my gift - which was lovely and a very special special treat, but I would not recommend the Royal Bath.  We had a school ball there which was poor. The food was poor and the service poor, but we approached today with an open mind. I have to say it was shoddy. We chose to sit outside as it was so beautiful. It was a good job Nigel had tissues as he was able to clean the table.

 

 

 

They were all covered in crumbs. We chose the cleanest. We had a pot of very tepid tea, poor sandwiches and the cakes were laughable. I swear the eclairs were Iceland's best min eclairs, the Victoria Sandwich was one small slice of cake cut into two pieces or chunks and we were not given plates until we asked for them and then mine had to go back as it was dirty. We had to ask twice for the prosecco that was included. The scones were lovely though. All in all it was very disappointing and I would not recommend it, but the gift was special as it got us out and gave us the gift of a perfect sunset too. 

 

After tea we walked out onto the cliff top and we marvelled at what a wonderful late afternoon sunset we saw. We stood for ages as it got darker and darker and more and more beautiful

 

He looks very red int he face - twas the sun shining on him as it set

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

we then drove to 'our town' neighbouring Poole not expecting to see the beautiful light over the harbour and Brownsea Island as we drove round Sandbanks and Evening Hill. Just magical

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

 

• a wonderful gift
•  a fabulous sunset
• an amazingly beautiful home town we love
• retirement - time to do all of these things

Autumn Bounty

We enjoyed a walk in Bournemouth gardens today and then took Nigel's mom out for lunch.

The gardens were gorgeous with so many autumn colours and so many flowers and fruits in just a very short distance. Nature really is bountiful this time of year

I could do with some help identifying some of them - oh and apologies they are all square - I had my phone on square format and didn't realise until the last two pictures!

 

can anyone tell me what this is

 

 

and this which was on the same shrub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This looks like a camellia but I didn''t think they flowered this time of year

 

 

no idea what these next four are either - any help much appreciated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loved this one with the leaves at different stages

 

 

 

 

 

I also did some scrapping again making pages for Shimelle's challenges running this weekend.,

I made two pages - one I love and one I don't.

 

This is the first -t he one I love. It was a challenge to use a big title and I also used the idea of picture letters that the example used.

 

I used photos from our drive down Big Sur to fill the letters of the word Coast and then printed them out and cut them out.

 

 

I printed the word adventure on card and cut that out.

 

 

I used a piece of coredinations card stock that, when ripped, had the most gorgeous sea colour on the tear and added splatters and stains.

 

I also added some stickers and tried to pull out the bright pink of my top with a couple of embellishments.

 

 

 

 

The second page was to use bright colours for outdoor pages. I tried - I really did but I don't like bright colours and I don't like the page.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely Autumn walk and nature's bounty
• challenges that push my boundaries

 

 

 

A day of two parts

Today has been a day of two parts... both good but very different.

 

We KNEW we had to paint the other side of our fence. Of course we knew. But we really didn't want to.

However, the heath side had no paint therefore no protection from the winter weather so paint it we must. There is a run of 17 panels. We said to each other we would do 5 or 6 - three session ahead, 5 or 6 each.

It was hard hard work and damp and cold but we were so proud that we did 9 panels - more than half of them. Mind you I was like jelly by the end of it. Lots of stretching and bending and it was hard to work the paint well in to the grain. But we were proud.

Actually the other 8 were the older panels and they do have paint on - maybe we will not paint them. We will see how we feel when we heal!

 

The other half of my day was a scrappy half. I followed a couple of Shimelle's challenges and made two pages for the WOW album. (WOW as in Way out West not as in awesome! )

 

This is my first - possibly the title page.

The challenge was to use lots of small pictures. Well, I have 6500 to choose from.

 

The hardest bit was making the map as I had to get different state maps, join them, recolour them and then print off. I added the line of our route manually. Doesn't look far does it - but it was 3500 miles.

 

It looks a bit crooked but I promise it is straight really. The scanner sort of skews it a little. I know it is straight as everything was done with a ruler.

 

 

The other page is another for the same album but it was a challenge to use Autumn colours. Nigel and I never celebrate Halloween but I was kind of thrilled to see Disneyland all prettied up for the season and we could not resist a photo in front of the Mickey pumpkin.

 

 

I even used halloween elements I bought specially for the pages I knew I would do.

 

I didn't use leaves but I used die cuts for the tendrills of the pumpkins.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a job well done
• time to scrap and just chill out
• my CFH. Kira was awfully sick this morning. She has always been a sicky cat - she eats too quickly, drinks too much and then is sick. She seems perfectly well, but I hate when it happens to her as she gets distressed when it is happening even if she seems fine once it is over.

 

 

and today finally some more of those totally pointless things

 

stairway to nowhere

 

 

 

stairway built just like the diagram

 

 

 

I hope there is no fire

 

 

 

 

Yes that gate will do the trick

 

 

 

a very special seat

 

 

 

always good to have a warning for things

 

 

bet that cost the council a fortune

 

 

 

well I am glad you said!

 

 

 

thank goodness there is a peep hole

 

 

 

 

a door to nowhere

 

 

I'll just pop that in the drawer

 

 

 

 

now there is a useful sign

 

 

most useful windscreen wiper in the world

 

 

Separate but the same

It was quite funny today - we both had to have blood tests and they were within five minutes of each other - 8 miles apart. Well it tickled me. Nigel had to go to the cottage hospital for his and mine was at the surgery. I have to say the nurse who did mine was brilliant. I am notorious for being very hard to get blood out of. They can never find a vein. She found it first time and it was really easy. I was most impressed. I ended up with less of a mark than Nigel.

We had a lovely time at Baiter today sitting and watching the world go by. We saw oyster catchers at the water's edge.

 

 

and we were watching the flocks of starlings flying around and grubbing for insects on the grass and we saw an albino starling  with the flock. I wish I could have caught the picture. She wasn't completely white but a very pale beige colour and totally integrated with flock. Nigel and I were only talking about albinos the other day when we saw a girl in Poole and saying how they are found in so many different species. I have seen a photo of an albino squirrel and a fox. Having googled it (you gotta love google) the starling was  leucistic rather than albino - not a word I have ever heard before. Here you go ... you're welcome!

 

Leucism in birds is caused by a lack of melanin, a pigment responsible for black, grey and some browns. A leucistic bird will have white feathers unless its normal plumage also contains carotenoids which are responsible for yellows, and which are unaffected by the condition. They can often have normal coloured eyes, bills, legs and feet.

Leucism is inherited but the extent of the condition can vary between adults and their offspring and it can also skip generations if the leucistic genes are recessive.

Leucistic birds will have weakened feathers, which are more susceptible to wear and tear, and, as a result, they may have difficultly flying. If they have very large patches of leucism, they are going to be more conspicuous and vulnerable to predators. In some cases a leucistic bird may not be recognized by a potential mate.

On the theme of nature we have enjoyed watching Autumn watch on the BBC this year as it was filmed at Arne, one of our favourite places to walk. Apparently Arne - and other heaths int eh area like ours - are one of the most biodiverse areas int eh UK. We are proud that we have all 6 species of native reptile on the heath next to us (and have had all of them in our garden too) but to be honest I was dismayed that there were also over 200 species of spiders.

 

The land next to us is SSSI land (Special Scientific Interest) because of this little reptile the sand lizard. We have had several int eh garden including two hibernating that I accidentally dug up when gardening and placed back safely.

They have all been female though - never seen a male which has the green flank.

 

 

 

 

 

We had a baby adder int eh garden a few years ago and a big adult adder in the culvert at the end of our drive. The heath wardens came and asked us to borrow a bucket and they caught him and moved him. We also had a massive 2 foot grass snake in the garden and Nigel and Chris had to lift a fence panel out and encourage him to return to the heath.

Bring on all of the reptiles you like - just keep the 200 species of spiders away please.  However, one of the unique spiders found only on heaths in Dorset is the ladybird spider. Very pretty but still no thank you!

 

 

Dawn Insip has a new collection out today called Feeling Blue. It is a collaboration with On a Whimsical Adventure

 

 

This is what I made with it

 

 

I also worked with a new collection by Paty Greif called Pumpkin Patch

 

 

 

 

and I made this page about the pumpkins of the Magic Kingdom

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a pain free blood test
• the wonders of nature all around if you but look

 

 

 

Phew for another week

I have made it my business to keep Thursday at cleaning day - and Oh boy did I clean today.

 

I have decided I hate patio doors and their frames. Too much work. I hate cleaning windows. Any tips on what to use gratefully received. I have tried it all. I even bought windex from America this year. In fairness I bought it to clean the car windscreen so I could take better pictures but it came home to try too. 

 

I did a little scrapping too and made this page for the Simple Recipes on UKS this week. I used the colour scheme which kind of dictated the pictures I used. I used the pictures from the amazing houses at Eureka. I had read up about it and how there were amazing Victorian mansions and they really were.

It was like being on a Disney set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

a job well done

housework as a keep fit regieme

 

I have some great pictures to share that made me smile of things that are totally unfit for purpose!

 

 

Rather pointless sign

 

 

 

 

 

A very effective barrier

 

 

 

Special parking places????

 

 

 

I's be disappointed with the balcony to be honest

 

 

 

Just another escalator

 

 

 

 

because ordinary water is so fattening

 

 

 

 

I'd never have known without the subtitle

 

 

 

 

busy day for this then

 

 

 

 

 

 

useful door????

 

 

 

Built as per the diagram

 

 

 

Lucky with the weather

I am loving that the weather is still so goo that we can enjoy walks in the sunshine and sit outside and eat our packed lunch each day.

It wasn't quite as warm today but plenty sunny enough to still be out.

 

I have a new page to share today made for a challenge on UKS - it is of Jack Skellington's House, the complete overlay of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland

 

 

 

I also have news about sales by Dawn Inskip with no less than 4 collections on offer today only at half price.

 

First there is Heroes

 

 

 

This is my Daddy - in every sense my Hero.

 

 

and this was the amazing poppy field that flowered out of season in October a few years ago

 

 

 

She also has Yesterday on special offer

 

 

This is Nigel's Grandmother and then the second one is his Mom

 

 

 

 

There is also 50% off Hopes and Dreams

 

 

 

and finally Quirky

 

 

so go check out those bargains.

 

Today I am thankful that

• we had another lovely walk and picnic
• Nigel's mom is OK - she was poorly this morning but the doctor has been

 

 

 

 

 

Glorious Day

After a cold and drizzly day yesterday today has been glorious. It was a non work non duty non anything day so we were a tad late up.

We disappeared over to the Range as they had the only cat food the CFH like on offer so we stocked up on that and also on bird food. The birds are eating machines and we have had to rationalise what we give them. The price of peanuts and mealworms is excessive.

We also picked a few bits up for Christmas including some bells for the Christmas tree. They do look quite pretty but they have another purpose - they will tinkle when anyone - naming no names but Fiki - touches the tree and alert us of impending doom.

We didn't have a tree

last year as Nigel was so poorly but hopefully we will go through that drama with Fiki this year. It wasn't the same without a tree to be honest.

We then picked up a frap and went and sat at both Sandbanks and Poole Park just enjoying the sunshine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

we are ever so lucky to live here. I thank my lucky stars every day.

 

I have new scrapping the share, made with a pickle barrel collection again, this time from Mel designs called Breath of Autumn

 

 

 

again I used Jo's beautiful daughters for it

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely day together
• new Christmas pretties
• bargains - always a good thing

 

Loved this except my best friend is a boy and the coffee was a frap!

 

Busy few days

I missed blogging for a couple of days as life was a tad hectic - enjoyably hectic though.

Saturday we were at a craft fair all day and I didn't even bother switiching the computer on when we came home. It was a better day with good footfall so it was worth doing.

 

Sunday was Nigel's birthday and so we went out for the day - we ended up at Montacute and Tintinhull Gardens - very pretty and though cold it was lovely.

By the time we had eaten out and had wine I was too floppy to blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal service now LOL

 

The PickleBarrel sale ends today so do go and snag a bargain whilst you can

 

I worked with Roll with the changes by Created by Jill

 

and made this about how the weather changed at Mount Rainier

 

 

 

and I also made this page using Jumpstart Designs Autumn Sunset

 

 

 

It features one of my friend's beautiful daughters again

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the chance to catch up with a good friend - tea and chat, what's not to like
• a catch up day

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS is kind of what it is like

I wanted retirement to be about simple pleasures and just enjoying time together and we have had a busy week but today was lovely.

It started badly as I have been having trouble with what I hope is something simple. I had a doctors appointment and I am being fast tracked for another gastroscopy. She said it is unlikely it is the C word but the symptoms dictate I have to be rushed through under the two week programme.  I am glad they are thorough but a tad worried.

 

Other than that we had a lovely time. we wandered the shops, had lunch by the sea, walked round Poole Park - still one of my favourite places in the world - had a constultants appointment with no treatment YEH! about my jaw which I just want left alone and then shopped again and had dinner at Prezzo. Just lovely to be together and chill out.

 

It's a massive day for scrapping with new products at Pickleberrypop and By Dawn Inskip.

First of all Dawn has a lovely new collection called Memories out

 

 

and these are things I made with it

 

 

 

 

It is also Pickle Barrel Day - new packs all coordinating so you can mix and match or snap up the six pack bargains

 

 

I worked with several of the collections.

 

This is a collection by Dita B called nature walk

 

 

and I love the page I made of Nigel at Shasta Dam

 

 

Do go and check out the Pickle Barrel designs and Dawn work - they are all great value.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a very thorough GP
• a lovely day
• delicious food, though eating is hard at the moment.

 

 

and finally - I have to share this video which I think is not only superb, very cleverly made and entirely watchable but is also an amazing message. Do watch it. It is certainly food for thought.

 

 

 

A bit overwhelming

I have more new scrapping to share today - another page for the album of our amazing trip, but it's hard . I think the problem is that with 6500 photos I am at a loss as to what to scrap, how, etc.

I want to record it all, but clearly that is a stupid plan.

At the moment I am scrapping with no structure, simply spotting a  photo I like and scrapping that.

I need to get my act together and try and do this more logocially.

Maybe another day!

No matter what, each page is a memory captured safely in an album.

 

Today's page was a challenge set by Nigel - do a Grizzly Peak page.

 

 

The background paper is some coordinations cardstock I bought when away and it was cream with the yellow when you sanded it off so just right for the colours and the distressed feel I wanted.

 

 

We loved the theming of Grizzly Peak as it was so like the national parks we had just been visiting hence the title of the page. It really was very authentic.

 

Today I am thankful that

• the shopping is done and Nigel didn't go too mad that I came seriously off his carefully prepared list. Next week I WILL stick to the list!
• the house is all clean

 

 

and thanks to playing with my ipad pro, this is a Banksie version of Fiki