Dolly's Dreamings

Back to teaching

No - not returning to work - seriously.

I have been teaching today though.

There is an art and craft week at the church and I did a class this afternoon for a maze book. I was very nervous. I haven't taught a scrapping class for a long time, but it was OK, the people were lovely and they all went away with a maze book ready to be filled.

All good fun.

 

I prefer when I am the student though - and so the other events I will be learning not teaching!

 

It is new release day at PBP and there is a lovely new collection by Jumpstart Designs that made me giggle.

It is called Thunderstorm inside my head

 

 

Oh my don't I suffer from that sometimes. There are some great word arts and I couldn't resist scrapping this photo of me with definite mental issues.

 

 

I am actually a very good map reader - honest - but the map of Bruges had been printed upside down and we both struggled initially.

 

Dawn has a great collection reduced today too The Happiest Place on Earth and whilst not JUST for Disney it works beautifully for Disney - You can get the papers, elements and add ons all at 50% off today

 

Perfect for these pages

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the opportunity to share a love of my hobby
• teaching - in small doses

 

 

 

 

 

All caught up

Last December I made a 2016 album going through each month and completed it in just a week. I swore never again!

In January I resolved to make a page a week recording our year and then have the digital album printed at the end of the year.

That way I would not have to try and do so much in one go.

 

Great theory!

 

I started well but keep falling behind so today I have made weeks 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. I have to say it wasn't great fun making 5 pages in a row but I am caught up and resolve to do better and try and do the weekly page at the end of each week.

 

I have been even worse at uploading them so here is week 13 and 14.

 

 

 

 

Today I went shopping for a birthday gift for a friend. I went with no idea what to get and ended up pleased with what I got in the end.

 

Fiki seems a little better again today - I think all the changes int he house have thrown them. Things smell different - not the smells of the things they are used to. (I don't mean my home smells but it will smell to the cats. I so wish I had not watched A Dog's Purpose ... it made me realise things so much more!) However, Kira was sick again today - it's been a few weeks clear of any sick. We still have no idea what causes it - she will be fine for a few weeks then suddenly be really sick multiple times. The vet has no idea why either.

Yesterday we went to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean and it was OK - not by any means one of the best films we have seen and Johnny Depp is getting a little past his sell by for Jack Sparrow. His role seemed to consist of poor one liners. It was lovely afterwards that I bumped into a past pupil who rushed over and gave me a huge cuddle. That's the bit I miss ... seeing little girls pleased to see me. I was pleased she felt she could rush over  with her mommy and daddy.

 

Today I am thankful for

• useful days out when I get what I wanted
• catching up on my weekly pages

 

 

 

 

 

Bank Holiday days

Well that Bank Holiday didn't quite pan out as expected. It started OK but Sunday am at 8.00 we had a call from the hospital to say could we collect Nigel's mother. We didn't even know she was in there. She had called Care Line as she felt unwell and we hadn't heard the phone.

Thankfully there was nothing wrong with her but she'd had another health check and was able to come home and we were able to get her settled back in.

But it kind of threw yesterday.

I set up in the church ready for the week long art festival and other than that we had a pretty quiet time. Thankfully the heat is less oppressive which has perked the cats up a little. We have also got used to the new sofas - it takes a while to sit somewhere new after so long.

I will be glad when the renovations at hoe are finished but the end is almost in sight.

 

I did some scrapping and can share a new page made with products by Heather T at Pickleberrypop

 

This was the defining picture of our road trip last year - Nigel int he driving seat, frap in hand, laughing and having such fun. We so love our road trips. Oh and we were at a level crossing - he wasn't drinking and laughing like that whilst actually moving.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel's mom given the all clear again
• scrapping time
• an opportunity to display my goods at the church

 

 

 

 

Wow - that was violent

Last night we had probably the worst storm I can remember. We don't have bad storms here often and if we do it is usually fork lightning and not a lot of it. We had the mother of all storms last night at about 2 am. Incredibly loud at times, the remarkable thing was it was constant. Just lighning after lightning after lightning for about half an hour and thunder that never stopped. I was terrified. Another little storm about 5 am so a very disturbed night. The good news is that it broke the oppressive heat. I like the sun - not so much the heat. I am an autumn and winter girl really. Odd that I adore Florida so much!

 

Today consequently had a slow start (and actually a slow middle and a slow end) Quiet days are good. We have been busy recently. The cats don't like the heat but Fiki also seems a little under the weather and I am watching him like a hawk. I am ever mindful of the fact that they are 14 and we only ever 'borrow' our furry friends for a while anyway. I am also mindful of the fact they are not healthy cats. Fiki was diagnosed with PKD an incredible 5 years ago now and Kira has a heart murmur. We cherish them every day we have them.

 

I didn't manage to finish any new scrapping I can share today but do have this page to share

 

 

It was made for Dawn's Template challenge this month over at the Lily Pad and he really is my one in a million.

 

Today I am thankful for

• cooking to re-stock the freezer (far better than ready meals but ready in a tick!)
• a bit of a cooler feel
• my boy and girl - we love them to bits

 

 

What a glorious day

We knew today was going to be a beautiful day and so decided to head off to one of our favourite National Trust properties - Stourhead.

And it didn't disappoint. We had a glorious time, walking round the lake and enjoying the views - a bit of a Niagra moment as we couldn't stop taking photos of every slightly different view.

 

I always say that this blog is very much my record of my life and so please do feel free to skip the endless photos I am about to post.  I appreciate not much fun for readers but important for me to record (and some are pretty!)

 

 

Trying to take a photo in the grotto

 

Swans and cygnets  - sadly needing a  zoom so not great quality

 

 

The view you get when you arrive at the gardens - probably the best view in the entire estate. Well I think so

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ducks were very friendly - and very noisy

 

 

 

 

 

Thank goodness we didn't need to break out the selfie stick

That's never a success. Nice passers by!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 above and below - our nice shaded picnic spot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awesome day out and the breeze did try and keep us a little cool. Hot hot hot though and hot hot hot to get back home too.

 

In keeping with the nature of the day I have news of a new collection by Dawn Inskip called Nature Trail

 

 

This is what I made with it using the template with the gorgeous gorgeous notebook

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a beautiful day
• landscaped gardens
• walks in the sunshine
• summer picnics
• retirement

 

Busy busy busy again

The last couple of days have been incredibly busy - not quite sure why - but they were.

With work, with our old suite being sold, a new suite being delivered (which looks like it will have to be replaced ... why does this always happen to us) and work and stuff it has been manic.

But it is the weekend now (yes ours always starts on Thursday and lasts until Tuesday!) and it is hot and sunny and lovely.

I finished a watercolour today - not this one - but haven't photographed it yet but I did this one last week

 

 

 

 

I was quite pleased with the water droplet!

 

I also have new scrapping to share today

 

 

It was made for a challenge that had to be kraft and denim ... loads of fussy cutting too.

 

Today I am thankful for

• beautiful weather
• work done for another 2 weeks (and then only three weeks of work until I finish - yey! and in fairness it is only 6 more sessions)
• a lovely afternoon of art
•  a new suite

 

All safe - yet another attack

No blog yesterday as I worked with Nigel for the day and then had issues when I got home. Yesterday was a good day though. A lovely day to be out on the road int he Dorset countryside - with just two hours of work the rest was fun being together and enjoying being out.

 

We woke this morning to the news about Manchester and were - like everyone - so shocked. we were also keen to check on Nigel's nephew and my goddaughter both of whom live in the Manchester area and go to concerts at the arena. They are all OK but both of them work next door to the arena and all the roads were cordoned off so one took the train and one worked from home. The violence seems so senseless and unnecessary. Today our hearts and prayers go out to all of the people affected, people who have lost loved ones, had loved ones hurt, have seen atrocities and to the emergency services who have had to deal with this.

 

I have new scrapping to share today made with a new collection by Tiramisu Designs

 

This is what I made with it

 

 

Today I am thankful for

family being safe  - but sorrow for those who are unable to be thankful today as their loved ones are not safe.

Busy old weekend

It has been a busy but a lovely weekend.

One of our good friends has set up her own bespoke printing and embroidery company and so we were helping her out for the day. She had taken a stall down at the Poole Boat Show on the Quay. We had been trained on the printing and heat press machine last week and were experts at weeding the prints and were good to go.

The weather was against us int he morning as there were several really really heavy downpours which put off the crowds ... no-one feels much like stopping and browsing for purchases when it is blowing a hoolie and pouring with rain. However it brightened up int he afternoon and business picked up.

Wearing our branded hoodies - we were living breathing advertising boards - we had a great day and it was nice to be able to help out a good friend.

 

 

 

 

Nigel was set a challenge to try and sell the sunglasses!!! He won!

 

 

We were shattered when we got home and so a takeaway and TV was pretty much all we were fit for.  The only good thing was that we didn't have to go to work the next day - or the next day or the next day etc etc.

 

Today was a lovely sunny day and so after a lazy start we headed out to Cranbourne Chase which we both love and visited lots of pretty villages - Gussages and Critchels etc. and had a lovely picnic.

 

We know we are very lucky and have charmed lives really.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In scrapping news this is a new page made for a UKS challenge

 

 

It was a picture that Dawn took of me with the gorgeous Rodney who Carly hand reared.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely weekend
• being able to help a friend
• Beautiful Dorset

 

 

and some more of those clever pictures with the paper cut outs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last chance for Pickle Barrel and other lushness

A quick morning post - how about that!

 

I just wanted to remind you it is the last chance for the Pickle Barrel promotion - just a few hours left.

 

I worked with Jen Yurko's Purr Ball ... well how could I not!

 

 

I had such funs crapping my babies - oh how we rejoiced when they finally slept. These days they sleep A LOT

 

 

 

and I also want to share the gorgeous add ons that Dawn has made to go with the M3 May 2017 collection. They are so beautiful and delicate.

There are Papers, Elements and gorgeous painted overlays

 

 

and this is what I made - grateful again for the most gorgeous model ever!

 

 

So go snap up bargains and have a wonderful day - the sun is shining here and neither of us are working. Life is good!

Quite busy for me

I have adapted well to sloth mode so today was quite a busy day.

Up at the crack of dawn -  despite the ligament in my ankle apparently 'going' again for no reason what so ever - and off to work to invigilate again. It was marginally less tedious today as it was a media exam and so at least there was a film clip to watch - interesting the first time, quite OK the second but by the fourth I had been there done that. Anyhow, work completed int he morning and then art class. Persevering with the water colours - not finding it easy. 

First attempt at a flower completed

 

 

I also have more pickle barrel lushness to share.

 

This collection is called barefoot on the boardwalk by Jumpstart Designs

 

 

and I scrapped this page of Bamburgh Castle and the beach

 

 

and this collection - again with great add ons is called All Day Every Day by Fayette

 

 

That desk was where I sat everyday for 29 years (actually probably only for 20 as my office moved and I bought myself a new desk ... yes I bought my own furniture)

 

I am so glad, every single day, that I am done with it.

 

Today I am thankful for

• busy - ness
• British strawberries - early this year and very yummy