Dolly's Dreamings

Something I am proud of

 

 

 

 

 

 

I scrap a lot - and there are not many pages where I think, 'wow I am proud of that'

This is one I am proud of.

It was made for a challenge over at Dotty About Flair and was about making a bucket list page.

 

Driving across the US was most certainly our number 1 bucket list dream and we did it - of and some - in 2019. I have scrapped so many albums of this but this page is for a frame so the map can go up and be displayed. And Nigel loved it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, remember I get these for free to promote them, it is new release day at Pickleberrypop and against here are stunning new collections

 

Credits

Bucket List Escape the Ordinary collection by Heartstrings ScrapArt

 

 

 

Credits

Lifestory Templates April 2022 by TirAmisu Designs

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• well life really. We are very lucky to have our home, our boys, our health and each other.

 

Productive day

Well today has been - albeit slowly - productive.

We left early to go and visit our new stairs. They look fab even in their raw state and are now off to be powder coated and the decking installed on the platform and the steps themselves. It will make a tremendous difference to the patio.

 

We then went to look at artificial grass as the grass we have down will need to be replaced and eventually bought some of that but it is going to take longer than expected to come.

 

Finally we bought - only a year late - new kitchen flooring that we have wanted to sort out since last March when the kitchen was replaced. It was a lot more expensive than we thought but heck - it will see us out we hope.

And we even managed to install the new rotary dryer (my old dryer had more broken lines than good ones) and still found time to sit on the new patio furniture. Today was a good day.

 

Consequently very minimal scrapping took place - just one paper page and it was from a more is more challenge s I really struggled

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a very productive day
• jobs done
• excitement (till the workmen come then it will be dread.)

and these were too cute not to share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely going out days

We have had a couple of trips out again.

Yesterday we headed off to the Forest for a picnic. We ended up at Burley and sat on the grass in the sunshine before wandering round the shops and enjoying he vintage cars that had gathered for a mini informal rally

 

 

 

 

 

This morning we went to Compton Acres and it was one of our nicest visits there with not a cloud to be seen and so much colour. The Japanese garden looked glorious as the acers and azaleas were gorgeous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So Sunday and Monday were lovely. Saturday evening however, was a bit worrying. Not as worrying for us as it was for many. We had a big heath fire, biggest in years, over a little way from us and very very close to some houses. We could see the fire from where we were but we were safe. The fire brigade are utterly amazing. No houses were lost and they had it under control in just over 3 hours. But it is worrying when it happens. These are NOT my photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the aftermath. So much damage to wildlife. It is nesting season for the ground nesting birds on the heath. we would have lost reptiles (we have all 6 UK native varieties on the heath and it is why it is protected land) and the foxes, rabbits, deer and badger would have babies too.

 

 

 

I am thankful we were safe and that although people had to be evacuated and roads closed no one was hurt and no human homes were destroyed.

 

I have some new scrapping to share largely from he fabulous DAF crop running all weekend but also combining with Scrap a Sketch and Scrap Squad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• everyone being safe after the fire
• our emergency services
• lovely days out
• challenges

 

 

 

Busy and it's not good really

Oh dear we have been busy. Well, by our past standards we have been so NOT busy, but by retirement standards it has been full on the last couple of days.

I don't know how I used to run a large school, cope with girls,  staff, a board of governors etc because now the simplest things seem like hard work.

However,, the things we needed to do are done and it's been good.

Nigel had positive news from the doctor and I now have Dolly's Designs for sale in a fabulous local cafe.

 

That rotating stand is mine and full of my stock for sale

I have found time to scrap too, of course.

 

This was made for a DAF member to celebrate her 500 followers on Instagram (yes you too can follow me on my relatively new insta page at @scrapdolly ... if you are on Instagram please do follow me ... I could do with more followers as there is a heck of an echo at the moment.

It was based on a special Lisa Sikorski sketch

 

 

 

 

 

and there is a DAF cyber crop on this weekend so I have been playing along with that and with other challenges but at a slow pace - just two pages today

This was for a DAF challenge and a scrap squad challenge ... it was to use unloved stash that never sees the light of day. Brads and rub ons are my new focus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this was a DAF and a Scrap a Sketch challenge

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a bit of a quieter day
• the support of a local business

 

A couple of glorious days

We have had a couple of beautiful days. Yesterday we walked round Creekmore Lakes and the light was gorgeous and then, a complete surprise, my lovely cousin Ann turned up as she was visiting from 'oop north' and so we spent a lovely time with her.

 

 

Whilst she was here and we were all sat enjoying lunch and the sunshine on the balcony, the contractors working on the heath had a bit of a to do with our wall and the upshot is we have to have a new wall! Thankfully not at our expense but still tedious to have to have it done.

 

Today we went for a walk to the bluebell woods which was lovely and then I have largely been scrapping.

 

 

 

 

 

I had a lovely selection of Vicki Bourtin Sugar Rush papers given to me in order to promote them as part of my design team work and these are four of the pages. The papers are bright for me but I did enjoy using them.

And two of them are photos from today!!

This was from today

 

 

 

 

 

and this

 

 

 

 

 

 

and these two from photos earlier in the month

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Berry Big Deal Day

It is new release day at Pickleberrypop.

Please note I am given these kits to work with in order to promote them. However I only do it because they are always superb.

It is Berry Big Deals day today and so all of the kits coordinate from all of the designers so you can mix and match and this month they are utterly awesome.

 

Credits

Happy Little Fox BBD Bundle by Jen Yurko Designs

 

I love this photo and this collection because it really shows that Indy is Fiki Fox reborn - our secret fox.

 

 

 

 

Credits

Wake Bundle by Natali Designs

 

 

Credits

Celebrate Life BBD Bundle by TirAmisu Designs

 

 

 

 

Credits

Inspired by Spring BBD Bundle by Chunlin Designs

 

 

Credits

Take a Break Bundle by Bellisae Designs

https://pickleberrypop.com/shop/TAKE-A-BREAK-collection-by-Bellisae.html

 

 

 

Do go and check them out whilst they are on offer until late Thursday

 

 

Glorious Bank Holiday weather

The weather has been glorious - unusual for a Bank Holiday. I am so pleased for all the people who only get to go out on Bank Holidays and weekends. It has been lovely for us but in fairness, we can go out any day. And we have made the most of it too, with outings and enjoying our brand new patio area in the sunshine.

yesterday we went out early and, for a change, visited the next door town of Bournemouth where we rarely venture.

We had a lovely walk through the gardens which looked utterly gorgeous

 

 

 

 

 

Not quite the London Eye - but still....

 

and the beach of course complete with view back to our home town and the Purbecks and the new beach bars - they didn't have those in our day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

and it would have been rude not to

 

 

 

As the beaches were likely to busy today we headed inland and visited Poundbury, which does have the most amazing architecture, and had a picnic in the Dorset countryside

 

 

 

 

 

Poor farmers don't get a bank holiday weekend - there were hundred of birds following him enjoying their own Easter treats

 

 

 

and finally a quick visit to Moreton walled garden

 

 

 

 

 

Two lovely days out and two lovely days out in our garden too.

 

Oh and scrapping - it is Autumn theme this week at Scrap A Sketch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elaine thank you for your lovely comments about Dawn. I cannot believe it is almost 3 years. I miss her so much still. She was an incredible lady and I was blessed to call her a friend. I know that she is playing with Fiki - who she loved to bits - and she was there to welcome him.

Today I am thankful for

• sunshine
• picnics
• days out
• new love of our back garden

 

 

Quiet days

The last couple of days have been quiet - little outngs for walks and scrapping and relaxing. It is what I dreamed of when I thought of retirement. Not every day needs to be exciting. Quiet and chilled is good too.

We enjoyed a lovely meal out for our anniversary and the garden is coming along nicely too. We are never going to be green fingered but we are doing OK!

And some recent scrapping

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and another for the Cornwall album which has been sadly neglected really

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

lazy days

relaxing

 

 

New release day

 

It's new release day today at Pickleberrypop and, as always, full disclosure, I get to work with these kits for free in order to promote them for our fabulous designers.

Credits

Beginning all in one Natalie Designs

 

 

 

 

Credits

April Showers full kit by Jen Yurko

 

 

 

Credits

The blossom bundle by Tiramisu Designs

 

 

There are some truly gorgeous things in store so do go and check them out.

 

 

Wet wet wet

Well I guess we could interpret the title in two ways really.

It is certainly wet wet wet outside - cold and great and damp.

But Wet wet wet also had a hit with Love is All Around and it sure is here as we celebrate another year happily married.

We have celebrated by changing our credit card. Oh my what a palava that is these days. There are sooooo many places needing change. First world problems eh!

 

I have new scrapping to share with you though

I have been loving playing along with Scrap a Sketch and Scrap Squad challenges and also Peartree cutfiles and Lottie Loves Paper and including DAF too.

 

A Very unusual flower at Upton House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love this girl to bits x

 

 

 

 

and a daft moment

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• admin jobs done
• marrying my best friend and staying best friends!