Dolly's Dreamings

Mardi Gras

I have to say - if I am brutally honest - I am glad not to be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. We don't like huge crowds and that would certainly be a feature. Whilst it would be kind of fun to see the parades and floats and the carnival atmosphere, I know I would find it reasonably intimidating to be in huge crowds, and partying and drinking are not really our style. We do hope to visit New Orleans one day ... I have always wanted to go ever since my daddy told me about when he had visited when he was a young lad in the navy. He had a funny story to tell about it too. He was 17 and a long way from home. Like his older brother he had joined the Merchant Navy and was, at that point was caught up int he Battle of the Atlantic. He was walking along a street in New Orleans with some of his mates, having docked for 24 hours shore leave, when someone punched him int he back. He turned round to see his older brother Len. They happened to be int he same city at the same time - such a fluke.

Anyway I digress. It is carnival time in New Orleans and in so many other places across thew world as people celebrate Fat Tuesday, Shrive Tuesday, Pancake Day - whatever you choose to call it.

Our carnival here will include pancakes - the only day of the year we eat them - and some quiet reflection ready for the start of Lent tomorrow.

I know there is always a lot of talk about what people are giving up for Lent and, whilst I do usually give something up for Lent, I try and focus more on what I will DO for Lent. That might be a more spiritual focus of some sort for the 40 days.

However, in celebration of Mardi Gras and carnivals and masquerades I have a new page to share.

Made with

Masquerade bundle by Kathryn Estry andThe Bigger Picture templates by Miss Mel

 

This is the page I made

 

The photo is from one of the parades we saw last September in Disneyland.

 

Today I am thankful for

• our neighbour who worked for 5 hours with Nigel today to fix the floorboard problem we had. It was hard hard work and both he and Nigel struggled but all is well that ends well.
• Box sets - currently working through Ashes to Ashes again and loving it - so very very clever.

 

 

 

 

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bit of a grimmer day

The weather wasn't so nice today - though I did manage to get out for a walk whilst Nigel was at a meeting and did we did take lunch and sit in the car by the water.

I have done some scrapping though - I couldn't wait to scrap the picture we took on Studland of the phonebox ... funny how something so mundane can be a shot that catches the eye.

 

 

Nothing like having a picture that stands out and is nice and big eh!

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• having a very ordinary day
• neighbours - we have very good ones. We can call on them for help

 

 

Out by a day

The trouble with a long weekend is you haven't really got a clue what day it is.

All day yesterday we felt it was Saturday

Today has been a Sunday day.

Nice to know we still have Sunday to come.

 

Last night we watched Bridge of Spies which we hadn't seen and we really enjoyed it. I can honestly say we have loved every Tom Hanks film we have ever seen (and I think we have seen most of them) bar one - Charlie Wilson's War. We couldn't get into it and the sound was dire. He is a very prolific actor and the list of his films is immense.  I just had a rough count and we have seen 29 of them and some have been real favourites we have seen over and over. The Money Pit was a film we watched on video and one of the few we had to pause as we were laughing so much we couldn't catch our breath. League of their Own is one of our all time favourite films as is Apollo 13. I love Philadelphia and the Green Mile and we enjoyed the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons are are awaiting Inferno and Sully on video.  I think he is a terrific actor - one of the truly greats of our time.

 

I have caught up on my weekly pages today and am up to date at the end of week 8. I am so pleased I am doing this bit by bit and not in one foul swoop this year. Not every week holds something exciting, but this week did.

 

 

They are not works of art - very simple pages and journalling to record the mundane days of our first retired full year

 

 

 

 

 

I like the fact I don't have to worry if there is not a photo for every day - for some days there are many, for other nothing. It doesn't matter. It will serve as a nice record for the two of us.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a chilled out day (and actually - as it happens - a chilly day too)
• ibuprofen gel - I am struggling with my neck - goodness knows what I have done!

 

 

 

Stunning Studland

We have had a busy week one way and another this week and so were looking forward to our 5 days weekend! It started today.

The weather was glorious and we planned to go and do the Swanage Treasure Hunt Nigel bought me but we never got there.

We went over on the ferry and got sidetracked and walked along Studland instead. It was a super morning - a little bracing in the wind but bright and sunny most of the time and a spectacular sky. Just a small selection of what I snapped - it was a very pretty day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

we remembered the selfie stick today - yey!!!

 

 

 

Looking over towards Brownsea Island

 

 

 

 

 

The white building in the background is the Haven Hotel back on the Poole side and - special to us - where Nigel proposed to me some 33 years ago

 

Walking down to Knowle Beach nearer to Old Harry

  a little bit blowy - bad hair day!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then back along the roads through Swanage and Corfe and for a lovely late pub lunch.

 

 

 

 

Awesome day #lovedorset #loveretirement

 

Lots of new goodies to share today too.

Dawn Inskip has a whole new collection out today called curvy with elements, overlays, papers and word art

 

 

and this is what I made with it

 

 

I also have the last two Pickle Barrel collections to share

 

Piney Branch by Created by Jill

 

and I made this of a favourite photo of Daddy and I

 

 

and finally a gorgeous huge collection by Fayette called Normal (is there such a thing )

Normal 6 pack

 

Normal add on pack

 

 

from which I made this - a fitting page today as my new normal is having time to spend with Nigel and get out and about and enjoy where we live

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• gorgeous February days
• 5 day weekends
• lunch out - and such a bargain
• My home town - I am forever grateful for where I live

 

More Pickle barrel fun

The Pickle Barrel promotion is still going strong on Pickleberrypop and you can find the 6 packs here

 

I worked witht he Painted with Dreams collections by Jumpstart Designs here   and here

 

 

 

and these are the two pages I made with the collection

 

The two pictures are some 35 years apart! Who would have thought how my life would pan out when I was that naive graduate

 

 

and this one is my friend's gorgeous daughter

 

 

I also worked with a collection called Innocent by Sarah h graphics

 

 

and there are also masks and papers to go with it

 

I made this with it

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• some great customer service - really outstanding
• Nigel home for the weekend. I hated he had to work three days this week. we have got quite used to our one and half days!

 

 

 

 

How did I ever work?

How did I ever find time to work? Goodness knows.

After a shocking night - no idea why but I simply did not sleep but for a couple of hours - I have been busy busy busy.

I have had another meeting with Poole Museums about helping with their education programmes which was quite exciting.

I met Nigel for lunch - lovely and simple and nice

I finalised the order of a new suite - very scary

and we sorted out holiday stuff.

 

Goodness me - when I think what I used to do this is NOTHING - but it's amazing how you slow down and this has filled - and I mean filled - a day.

Plus I have done so much uploading of pages as Dawn has special offers and it is also Pickle Barrel release day.

 

So - Pickle Barrel time and Oh My I am in love with the colours this month. Totally and utterly gorgeous and I have worked with loads of the collections this month as I have had time.

Remember the kits are $1 each, all mix and match, and you can get great deals on 6 packs. And let me tell you - the collections are stuffed this month.

 

The first I worked with was Royal Seal by Dita B Designs

 

so pretty and delicate and this is what I made

 

 

Then I worked with Moments and Memories by Lorie M

 

 

and this is what I made with it

 

 

I will share two more tomorrow but do go and check out the collections for yourself - seriously - they are awesome

 

How funnyt hat Dawn's special offer today is on a  similar colour theme

Her Tickety Book kit - and coordinating items - is on 50% off today only

 

 

and this is my page with that

 

 

So lots of pink and lilac scrapping this week.

 

Today I am thankful for

• meeting interesting people and some exciting opportunities
• wonderful wonderful digital designers to work with
• helpful staff to resolve issues
• new boots which are just the right height and very comfy (and were cheap - spare pair ordered!)

 

 

 

 

A work day

I am not sure if I can really cal l hat I have been doing today work, as it was so much fun, but work it was. I went to another preparation session for my volunteer job at our local National Trust property. I am working as part of the education team and they are a lovely group and we have made real headway into the new plans for the coming year and I am just thrilled to be a part of it all.

We also had a private tour of the house to hone our knowledge which was a great privilege. I am so looking forward to it all.

As I have been out all day I haven't done any scrapping but still have plenty of new, un-shared stuff to share.

 

I am working through an album showing all of the Disney rides - it is going to take me a while as I have only covered about 8 attractions so far. This was one I made last week of the Peoplemover. If you have never done it I urge you to so so. There is never a wait, it is a nice sit down and has some lovely views of the park and Space Mountain. It is one we really enjoy. 

 

 

I used lots of ink on this and then I added the stars and to me it turned it into a pair of Converse!

Hey ho.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely day meeting people and sharing ideas
• new challenges
• looking at new furniture - our suite is 14 years old and a bit tatty so we have been exploring options.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK Scrappers sketch 2

There is a whole new challenge on UK Scrappers this year appearing ont he first and third Monday each month.

Follow this link to find out what it is all about. 

There will be two sketches per month that you can play with, released on the first and third Monday of every month. Hosted by Mini Owner, your pages need to be uploaded to the UKS Gallery.

Here is the link to the gallery

Sue will give you a  new sketch and I will aim to provide a very simple digital template for digi scrappers to play with. These will be PSD format and kept basic so you can embellish your heart out.

This is the information for Sketch 2

You can download the digital template HERE

 

Download UKS Sketch 2

 

Have fun playing

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You can always find the positives

Sometimes there are things in life you don't like and, whilst it may not ALWAYS be possible, you can often turn it round and make that negative a positive.

Now I don't like paying extra for a green garden waste bin.

It's not the money I mind - it's £38 a year I think. I just wish they would include it int he council tax bill. Yes I know that wouldn't be fair on people who don't have a garden but presumably they could include it int he council tax bands that do. That way I wouldn't SEE the money - it's just part of the service we pay for. It is the paying EXTRA that I don't like. I guess we are very lucky int his area as we have just three bins - I know some places have more. We have a general waste bin, a recycling bin (we are actually very good at recycling) and a paid for green garden waste bin. And woe betide you if you use them incorrectly. We are incredibly lucky with our recycling as it all goes in one bin, tins, cans, paper, card, cartons, the lot. No sorting - so we count ourselves blessed. It's a bit of a challenge that our general waste bin has moved to fortnightly like the recycling. I am dreading it int he summer. One of the main things we throw in there is litter waste. Our cats are indoors and they use litter trays and it's not a pleasant sort of rubbish!

Anyway I digress. Turning a negative into a positive.

Our green bin collection starts this week (they don't collect for a few months in the winter as I guess they assume everyone is like us and avoids the gardening when it is cold or wet) and so we were motivated to get out in the garden ad fill the bin! If we hadn't paid the extra we probably wouldn't have bothered. So thank you council - you made us clear a load of dead leaves and pine needles and reveal soil again! Positive into negatives.

I am, however, struggling a little more to find the positives int he billions of pine needles that fall. We love our pine trees but oh my - everywhere is covered. The lawn is barely visible and they do the grass harm. I am surprised there are any needles left on the trees.

 

Spring is in the air though and the birds are singing their hearts out morning and late afternoon - and eating us out of house and home again.

 

I am pleased that I finished the photography challenge on UKS and the pages that went with it. There were three challenge pages to complete.

A page with multiple pictures from the challenge

 

 

a page following a  sketch that was posted and using at least one of the winter snap pictures

 

 

 

 and a page using the picture of yourself that was part of the challenge  (a photo taken this week)

 

I chose to scrap a page using that picture about loving my life. I was very nervous this time last year. I had handed in my notice and hoped I was doingt he right thing. I was getting ready to be part of the interview process for my successor and worrying that I had made a mistake.

A year on from them I LOVE my life.

 

 

 

We don't so anything earth-shatteringly wonderful but it is all just lovely. We go for long walks, we laugh, we enjoy lie ins with the daily paper, I scrap, I volunteer, I go to art classes. It is just a lovely life and so much less stressful. I am away from some people's negativity, surrounded by smiles and positivity and sharing my life with my best friend. No-one knows how much time we have so making the most of every moment and smiling your way through the days is key.

 

 

 

 

It was a very cathartic and happy page to scrap.

 

Barb you asked if we were really that close to the Hollywood sign. I did use a zoom but not a massive one. We were very close - the closest you can get legally!

 

Today I am thankful for

• a cleared garden - well in part
• our wonderful refuse collectors. Complain about the time scale or the cost if you must but they do a jolly good job and are always very helpful and friendly and it's not a very nice job.
• my retirement life - I love it  Nigel was worried I would fin it hard to get used to but I took to it like a duck to water. I was ready for the change, ready to lose the stress, the angst, the worry, the pressure, the accountability. 29 years as a Head  - been there, done that. Loving just being a nobody!

 

 

 

 

Yet another beautiful day

It dawned misty again and it burnt off into the most glorious day again. I didn't even have a jacket on when we walked along the cliffs and the beach. Utterly springlike.

 

This was before the mist burnt off completely

 

 

 

The tropical gardens

 

 

 

 

 

and I even bought myself a spring wreath - have been going to make one for years. Bought this instead

 

 

 

 

New scrapping to share today

another for the WOW paper album

The closest we have ever managed to the hollywood sign

 

 

Last night we went to the cinema - we almost never go but there was a film we both really wanted to see, and we were so NOT disappointed. It made us laugh and cry - a real feel good film and a true story. It is well worth seeing

 

 

 

and here are a couple of trailers ... enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• my life - I love my life