Dolly's Dreamings

A Year in Review

Every New Year's Eve I like to look back on my blog over the past year. I will add layouts to reflect the different elements of our year.

I could easily look back and say 2023 was a pants year thanks to cancer.

Or I could just be positive and say it was the year that, at least for the time being, I beat cancer!

The year began, right at the start of the 4^th Jan with the news that I needed more surgery as they hadn’t got clear margins and the ‘it doesn’t become invasive for years ad years’ cancer had become invasive and so I also need lymph node surgery.  Friday 13^th – another surgery and this time all gone. There followed radiotherapy which was OK but caused lymphoedema which is now an ongoing issue. I dreaded the first annual mammogram but the best Christmas present of all was it was clear – news received just before Christmas. So quite a roller coaster with the old boobies and my mental health has taken a serious battering but on balance I can only look back and feel thankful. Thankful it was found, thankful it was dealt with, thankful for all of the amazing staff in the NHS, thankful for the way it strengthened our faith and thankful for the incredible man who was by my side every step of the way and got me through it.

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed gentle days out for the first part of the year as truly we were not up to doing much. But we did have a new fireplace fitted – and should have done the lounge renovation scheduled for January 2024 then, but we didn’t have the heart for it. So some gentle days out in the first few months of the year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I recovered we started to have longer days out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went for a lovely holiday to Norfolk. We booked five nights away and managed one of them! Koda scuppered that by refusing to eat and so we had to come home early, but we enjoyed what we did very much and, in true US style crammed a lot into 40 hours!

 Some highlights

 

 

 

 

 

We met up with family and friends and enjoyed meeting the new babies in our lives – our grand nephew, my god-daughter’s little girl and a very dear friend’s much longed for little boy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed overnight stays in Gloucestershire and Cornwall

 

 

 

 

Nigel continued to love speedway and be an excellent presenter and I pained and started to teach art too ... and I sold 9 paintings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed autumn and the beach as always

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and we had a fabulously quiet Christmas but did feed red pandas!

 

 

 

 

 

Our boys continue to bring great joy

 

 

 

 

 

And I thank God every minute of every day that we did it all together

 

 

 

so - it has been a  good year. The year we beat cancer, the year we were settled and safe and happy, when life became so much more simple but how content we became with that.

All that remains is to say how thankful I am for the past year, for my soul mate and partner in crime, for our boyz who bring us such joy, for families and friends, for days out and trips close to home, for arts and crafts and hobbies, and for the amazing NHS staff who made it all possible.

 

I hope that 2024 is a year filled with health and happiness, love and laughter for all of us. xxx

 

A lovely few days

The weather might have been rubbish - though we were lucky it wasn't as bad as some other places where people really struggled - but I have had a lovely few days.

I spent Thursday afternoon playing with a new hobby with my bestie. We went on a felting course last week and so we played with the kit we bought although we didn't stick to it rigidly.

 

This was my first non class felted picture

 

 

and today I had a go at making one just from my imagination. I have a way to go, but it is fun

 

 

I also received my new DT kit from A Trip Down Memory Lane and this is my first page using the lovely Acorn Lane from Simple Stories

 

 

Yesterday we went to a reception with the Mayor of Poole to celebrate the remembrance day events the association we belong to has organised. Nigel and I decided a while ago we wanted to give something back to the community we live in and so we are now (we never intended that) the Treasurer and Secretary of the residents association.

Anyway the reception was at the local library and these are some of the photos with the committee and mayor etc

 

 

 

 

I was taking photos and had no desire to be in them, but the lovely mayor insisted I had a photo with her as I had made the presentation certificate.

 

 

I also have this - the benefit of showers is you get rainbows and this was a beauty from the dining room

 

Today I am thankful for

• being safe in the storms
• a new hobby
• rainbows

 

Such stunning Autumn Views

Every Autumn, if at all possible, we like to go to Stourhead. Wonderful follies, a mirror lake and autumn colours - what's not to like.

As we prepare for a big storm to come in, today was the day as it was the only day scheduled to be dry and sunny so we set off really early and it was so much the right thing to do. It was beautifully quiet and blue skies and sunshine. We were only there a few hours but round every corner was a view. By the time we left it was very busy and starting to cloud over. I make no apology for the huge number of stunning Autumn views!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was glorious

 

I also have a little bit of scrapping

 

The first from our Cotswolds trip

 

 

 

 

and a special visit  (both using scrap squad lifts )

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• an amazing Autumn trip
• Phone cameras
• a very productive few days

A productive day

Today was the first craft fair of the season and quite a low key one. I was worried because the footfall was dire and it was terribly quiet but I chatted to lots of lovely people and I was really pleased I sold well and covered the copious amounts of wool I have bought this week. I don't expect to make money on craft fairs but if it pays for some of my craft supplies I am well chuffed. Excellent result today.

 

I have new scrapping to share

I stuck quite closely to the sketch for this one as I was really drawn by the torn papers. I did change the photo format though. It's very bright for me - you know I rarely use brights - but the photo demanded it for this one. Apart from the red spotted paper which was from my scraps box, the others are Vicki Boutin papers and I used some of the tags too. The orange tag I cut into two and the title tag was just perfect. The small blue tag is a printable. And how cute it that camera - one of several printables used on this page which you can find in store here The photo was one that made me cross. I tried to get the shot but couldn't make it work. Nigel, of course, got it perfect first time!

 

 

 

and I also have this to share which was another from ATDML design team this month of our stay at Bodmin Jail

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a good selling day
• putting my feet up this evening - looking forward to that!!

 

 

New releases and more art

 

I played with just one of the new releases today

Credits

Remembrance bundle just because studio

 

 

 

 

This is my little plaque from yesterday  ... its tiny - only 2.5 x 3.5 inches

 

 

and I also did this yesterday - yes I am STILL working on my summer staycation sketchbook

 

and I also share this lovely page of our great nephew who is always always smiling!

 

and today I am thankful for

a lovely swim this morning - I was the only person in the pool for most of it

an exciting new crochet project I have just ordered.

 

Days out and art

We had a lovely day out on Sunday to the New Forest - largely because we wanted to go to IKEA to be honest but we stopped at Eyworth Pond for lunch which was lovely

 

 

 

 

 

and I have cards to share - I taught a class last week at art on painting candles for Christmas cards which was fun

 

 

 

 

We also had fun today at art painting mini plaques and dandelions (I haven't taken photos so they are just in your imagination for now

 

Today I am thankful for

• my art club ... such fun and lovely people

 

lovely days and cat worries

We had another of our lovely days away going up to visit family. It was another in our 'the cats will go in for one night and it doesn't matter if they don't eat because we are coming home'

Well - Indy ate a tiny bit on day 2 but Koda hid the entire time and wouldn't eat. The owner of the cattery who is absolutely lovely and has worked so hard with us to turn this round, expressed her worries when she looks into Koda's eyes and they echo mine. He is NOT a normal cat. We have had 8 cats and none like Koda. She has dozens of cats pass through her hands and none like Koda. He is very very odd. He likes routine like nothing on earth. He panics at any noises or any changes. He cries when disorientated. He paces. He is terribly terribly heart-breakingly anxious. And we chatted about it and I have now googled autism in cats and yes - I seriously think it is a possibility. It breaks our heart that we can't seem to help him and he is getting worse rather than better. He is fine with us, fine as long as everything stays the same. I know I might be clutching at straws but there is something not completely mainstream about my poor big boy. I guess all we can do is continue to love him with all our hearts and keep things stable for him.

 

Anyway, he is fine now he is back home - I mean weird as ever but fine. And we had a lovely couple of days. The forecast was absolutely dire and so we nearly didn't bother going through the Cotswolds on our way, but I'm so glad we did.

This is a little of Burford

 

 

 

Then we went to Stow-on-the-wold as I wanted to see this specific doorway which is incredible with two huge yew trees framning it. Their root systems were amazing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and then we went to Bourton-on-the-water  (a little sad as the last time we were there we were with all of my American family. )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and I couldn't resist this shot of the bench that - last time - was filled with family

 

 

However, this weekend was still filled with family as that was the reason why we went up.

We visited and stayed with my 'alternate' Mum, who has been a part (and an incredibly important part) of my life since I was 4. We took them out to dinner and had just a lovely time. In the morning we then went to finally visit the gorgeous Oliver. He is now 3 months old so it was a trip that was so delayed. He was just as gorgeous as we'd seen on photos and videos but it was lovely to get cuddles.

 

I have some scrapping to share

This is a new Scrap a Sketch Premium Sketch and some gorgeous scrap a sketch printables (those beach huts are so gorgeous) and is Poppy's first trip to the beach

 

 

 

 

This is a design team page for A Trip Down memory Lane and another from Bodmin Jail hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

and this is the little hoody I made to take up to Oliver

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely couple of days away but being back home
• My Koda cat - he is such a mess and I love him to bits

 

 

 

Its new Berry Big Deals day at Pickleberrypop and the releases are all gorgeous

 

Credits

More than words BBD collection by Palvinka designs

 

 

 

Credits

Head in the clouds bundle by Tiramisu designs

 

 

 

 

I also painted this for a challenge yesterday. It was a poignant challenge that I wanted to complete but I found it hard. - The challenge was to paint a pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness month

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• playing with fun stuff.
• Moving on - because in comparisson to so so many my life is blessed

 

 

Creative days and worries

I have had a lovely few creative days and I am trying to focus on the loveliness of that and not on the worries.

 

Breast Cancer is the gift that keeps on giving. I am at my anniversary of my mammogram and later this week will be one year since my call back letter which indicated that most times it is absolutely nothing at all. The worry never goes away. The fear never goes away and the anniversaries don't help. I had my next mammogram appointment booked and it was so not when I wanted it. It is early December and that must be just about the worst time. It will take two weeks for the results which means if I get a call back it will be right before Christmas when everything then shuts down. I know I might not get a call back and they might not see anything concerning, but then they just might and it will be another Christmas of worry like last year. Last Christmas was just so horrible. I was recovering from surgery, knew I would have to wait four weeks for results due to Christmas shut down and was so scared. The thought that there might be similar worries this year seemed too much to bear, So we had tears and melt down and now I have pulled myself together. There is nothing I can do about it. They won't move it earlier, it is where it is and it will be what it will be. Once again I will just have to trust in my faith to get me through a potentially worrying time. I have given myself a stern talking to. There are people in far worse situations, this may not even be a real concern, but when you suffer from anxiety telling yourself off doesn't always work! But, onwards and upwards and let's hope I get the all clear. Now that WOULD be a Christmas gift to remember. Meanwhile I will continue to battle with the lymphoedema and the neuropathic pain and try and move on.

 

But in other news, creativity has been good.

Firstly I have a happy little elephant to share  which I painted last week.

 

 

 

I also have lots of scrapping. Firstly the remaining pages from Scrap Squad's event

 

 

 

 

 

and this was a DT piece for ATDML

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the fact I even get a mammogram at all
• the NHS
• the fact they got the cancer last time
• creativity that helps relax me
• Nigel - he even dealt with a full blown meltdown!

 

Scrapping time again

I have loved doing the 12 days of Autumn over at scrap Squad and the 2nd birthday celebrations ar Scrap a Sketch. Much of my mojo went AWOL along with my surgeries and so it is good to be scrapping again.

Here are some more of the pages completed for the challenges

The amazing portal which caused such controversy on Bournemouth Beach

 

 

I love this photo so much of my gorgeous god-daughter and her little girl.

 

 

 

 

and just a silly Autumn sellfie from last week

 

 

 

 

I will post the last few tomorrow.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely few days
• scrappy time
• getting one of the beach huts for Artisans on the Beach at Swanage ... I didn't think I would be lucky enough to be allocated one! Very excited.

Another Indian summer

We have had another few days of glorious weather and we have loved being out and about enjoying it.

Yesterday we took the ferry over to Studland to Knoll beach and found the most idyllic picnic spot ever. It was like we were the only people there.

 

Our view

 

 

our seat

 

 

 

 

 

It was perfection

 

I have also been scrapping away for the 12 days of Autumn at scrap Squad

 

 

 

 

and these are both for Scrap a Sketch's special 2nd birthday celebration challenges

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a glorious few days out
• Typepad working better today
• art time