Dolly's Dreamings

Socialising - surely not

We had a very quiet weekend because the weather was utter rubbish with heavy winds and torrential rain. The winds dropped today but there were some very heavy showers.

We were, however, thrilled that we had visitors today as Sarah and Richard were down for the weekend and we got to spend some time with them. we went out for coffee and cake and then took them on a  very wet tour of the Purbecks.  It was just lovely to see them and it felt so normal which was amazing after a year of not normal. We usually only see them on our weekly zoom meet up so to see them 'for real' was fab.

 

Other than that nothing much to report except a bit of scrapping - much of which I can't share yet.

These two are for a challenge I am going o be hosting at Pickleberrypop

 

 

 

 

This was for a UKS challenge

and this was for a Lottie Loves Paper challenge

 

and - I have finally started my American Icons album but I haven't taken pictures yet.

 

So just a very quick blog post for today.

Today I am thankful for

• seeing Sarah and Richard - it was lovely
• a little bit of normal
• yummy carrot cake

AND i JUST LOVE THESE - mOMMIES AND BABIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Busy walking and scrapping and painting and enjoying life

I have to say - I highly recommend retirement though I have no idea how I ever managed to do anything when I worked.

The days - and weeks - just fly by these days but it is all good.

We have had a few long walks the past few days (my knees and hips want a rest) but that is good.

I have been scrapping for Design Team things

 

These are three pages made using Simple Stories Vintage Travel for A Trip Down Memory Lane

 

This one documents how we are missing our road trips so much

 

 

 

 

This is the iconic El Rancho Motel in Gallup New Mexico

 

and this is the very bizarre Leaning Tower of Zoom which shows they will make a route 66 attraction of just about anything.

 

 

and this was a Pickleberrypop CT page using Together by Dita B

 

 

 

 

 

 

and other scrapping has included

 

A page for a challenge ... Indy and Skinny (a skinny mouse toy he adores)

 and another with my JAC Scrapbox and an Ann Freeman class 

 

Oh and painting too

 

Today I am thankful for

• lovely days of just nice things to do
• Indy having solid poo for two weeks  and trying some chicken
• retirement - always

and these are amazing sculptures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely to have zoom

I think there ARE some good things that have come out of the awfulness of the pandemic. They don't outweigh the bad with so many awful losses, but there are some good things and we need to embrace them because if we only dwell not the awful we will spiral down and down.

One of the good things for me is zoom. I'd never heard of zoom before and it has become a bit of a lifeline to be honest.

We zoom every week with the family who are spread across the country and in fairness I see more of them - virtually - than I did in real life as the distances made it tricky. I value our zoom evenings so good - a chance for a quiz or just a natter is lovely.

I haven't been to real crops in a long long time and so going to zoom crops is great fun. I get to chat sometimes to my scrappy team mates from UKS and I get to crop with the scrapmates lead by the lovely Ann and where some of the people I have been online friends with for years go. And it is lovely.

It was family zoom night last night and it was crop day today, although I only tend to join in after lunch.

 

I have made a lot of pages today but three of them I cannot share as they are class pages for ATDML but oh my - I do love the collection I was working with - really really lush

This is a page devised by Ann that I made at the crop

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a lush box of goodies this month - as always

 

and here are a few other pages

This was for a Lottie Loves Paper challenge

 

This for Scrap Squad

 

and another for Lottie Loves Paper

Today I am thankful for

• zoom - bringing people together
• scrappy time
• new stash to play with

and I share these because, in the most part, they are dreadful ways to serve food to people. I don't get the quirky arty - use a plate for goodness sake

 

 

Stupid but I'd go along with it

nope

 

 

nope - can you imagine that ever being washed properly!

 

nope

 

Stupid but I guess the plastic would at least be washable

 

 

why????

 

hell no

why???

 

never ever ever

 

oh for goodness sake

 

I have refused food before served on wood

 

what goes through their minds?

 

nope

madness, utter madness

 

 

runs away screaming

 

seriously!

 

 

not fit for animals to be fair

The joy of space

I am loving being in my little craft room as I now have so much space and it is tidy and organised. I have even managed to be creative and made two pages yesterday

 

 

My little boy cat who has a very short to do list - largely play, chill out and look cute - and he manages it all every day

 

 

and a bit of silliness with filters.

 

Both pages were made using Lottie Loves Paper sketches.

 

It is also release day at Pickleberrypop and I was gifted some lovely collections to work with this week. As always the picture of the kit is a link

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and I made this with the Berry Blends kit this month which is free with a $10 spend and is absolutely lovely

 

 

Today I amt thankful for

• space
• tidiness
• a lovely walk
• scrapping time

And these are billed as some of the most amazing bridges in the world - wow ... there's a few I'd love t see and some I most certainly would not!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Indy Update and a plea for matchsticks

First the good news. Indy has just returned from the vets and it is healing ell, nothing further needed just another couple of days - and nights - with the cone.  That means another two nights at least with no sleep but it's what we signed up for. They will always come first over and above anything else, us included.

I also want to share other good news. Out of the blue we had a gift from a very special friend, Sue. She loves animals so much - all animals - and sent a parcel to the boys. They were very impressed - they have never had a big parcel before. Inside were two gorgeous blankets from the Lincolnshire Cat Trust that helps cats without mummies and daddies. It was such a lovely unexpected act of kindness. I say unexpected - she is such a special lady that her acts of kindness are very very many.

 

 

 

 

I wanted to nap today but the day has just gotten away from me so some scrapping to share

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Indy healing
• an end to sleepless nights in sight we hope

 

and just some amazing hairstyles I happened upon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's finally not freezing

For the first day in a long time, since January 1st I think, it hasn't been freezing. It was a balmy 4 degrees when we woke up.

We generally walk close to home these days as we are trying o do as we are requested and not even drive out for exercise unless we are having to go out anyway. Today we had an early doctor appointment - one of those lovely 3 or 4 yearly lady checks that I hate so much. After all my gynaecology issues in November I did think they might have done it whilst they were there, so to speak, but no today was smear day. I think we all hate it but also know how lucky we are to have these checks,

As we were out anyway we took our daily walk down the Castlemain Trail which was very quiet. I think in the whole hour we only saw a dozen people, but of that dozen ten of them didn't bother to move over as we passed. I have no idea why people are so insensitive. I think they either don't think or don't care. When we pass people we dutifully go in single file as far over on a pathway as we can as a sign of respect for them and for us. No such care from others. Ah well - we stayed safe and had a good long walk.

 

Other than that my day seems to vanish by just playing with kittens. The hard work and worry seems to have paid off and we are blessed with two loving attentive boys who want to be where we are. Our evenings are spent with hem curled up on our knees and we are rewarded with purrs and kitty kisses. And although they have their manic times, they are, as yet, not too naughty. I don't want to tempt fate but I am sure Kira and Fiki were naughty at their age.

 

I have done some scrapping too.

This was made for a challenge on UKS and a challenge at Pickleberrypop and uses a gorgeous collection by Palvinka Designs called Winter Wishes and the monthly template.

 

 

This was made for a challenge at UKS and at Pear Tree Cutfiles. The New Chapter file was just perfect for our new babies as we do indeed start a whole new chapter in our lives.

 

 

And finally, the first page in my 2021 album. I am planning trying an A4 album this year. I may not do them all portrait and I have no problem with having to turn the album if needed if there are some landscape pages. I am not sure I will like it but wanted to try.

 

Today I am thankful for

• an uncomfortable test over
• a lovely walk
• two gorgeous loving boys (well three with Nigel!)

and just some great designs

 

 

 

 

how clever on the spines

 

stunning

 

beautifully carved

 

 

just logs

 

space saver from the 70s

 

 

 

Cool safety shield at the opticians

 

cycle helmet with style

 

 

 

Love that the shadow says HI

 

 

Library seating

 

and creative advertising that is just great

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A sense of relief

We were due to have a short break away next week - three days in Cornwall - and to be fair our hearts were not in it. Cornwall would have been lovely but quite frankly it's not America and we should have been flying in to Seattle next week to spend almost a month touring some of the most beautiful national parks including North cascades, Glacier, Mount Rainier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Arches, Zion, Bryce, Joshua Tree and Death Valley. Some of the greatest scenic views in the world. Pretty though it is, Cornwall was never going to cut it really.

However, with COVID ont he up and with the cats still not 100% we cancelled it today - and feel relieved. We live in a beautiful part fo the world and days out we can manage safely for us and the felines will be much better. And I feel a weight has been lifted. I really did not want to leave them at the moment.

We had a lovely day today. My best friend loaned us her beach hut and we went today. I grew up with a beach hut. My parents had one at Alum Chine and I literally spend every day of every summer holiday down there (too much sun really which I bitterly regret now after having a malignant melanoma removed but we didn't know any better then) . Nigel and I are not proper beach people. we love to go to the beach and walk and spend an hour but the thought of spending a  whole day on the sands is not something that appeals to us at all. The thought of spending one day out of the entire summer in a  luxury beach hut off the sand but with a great view, lots of shade and awesome facilities was very appealing and today was the day.

We were there early so we could park for free and had a super time reading, people watching, dipping in the sea, eating lunch and ice creams and that is now well out of our system for the year. I a so grateful to my friend for making it possible for us to enjoy our day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have new scrapping to share

 

Very different for me - playing with lots of mixed media with burshos and inks and gelatos.

 

 

 

 

 and I can now share my latest blanket made for my wonderful cousin Joyce and thankfully she loved it

 

(Doesn't go with my bedroom but will go with hers)

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• decisions made and staying home
• the generosity of friends

 

 

and my amazing stuff to share today is these incredible knitted - yes knitted - life size figures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three days and counting

No pain killers for three days - to say I am thrilled is an understatement.

It woke me int he night but I powered through it!

Fiki had blood tests today and despite having PKD since 2012 he is still stage 2 kidney disease which is better than we expected and his thyroid is fine.

Kira started her thyroid medication today and she took tablet no 1 very very well. Long may that continue.

 

In other news three new pages of scrapping to share

As fans of Lake Wobegon we were thrilled to drive through the Minnesota countryside and assign names tot he places in our minds. It was great fun and very pretty

 

 

The Teepee Curios in Tucumcari is another iconic Route 66 venue and we visited early one morning in the freezing cold.

 

 

And I couldn't resist the title for this one. The very friendly Minnesotan sheriff who helped us find the Lake Wobegon trail head and stayed and chatted for ages. He was really lovely.

 

 

Yesterday we went to Blandford for work and had a short walk along the Stour afterwards.

 

 

The circle marks one of the very rare otters - yes it is a dreadful photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• haircuts
• healthier cats
• no pain killers
• pleasant walks

and I came across these ont he internet - the emptiness caused by COVID. Amazing pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An interesting few days

It's been an interesting few days!

I had the second part of my root canal work on Monday - another hour int he chair and although she didn't hurt at all when she was doing it - she really is very very very good - it hurt like mad yesterday. I think the deep anaesthetic wore off late Monday night so Tuesday was horrid as it built and built all day.

Am popping the pain killers but she did warn it could be painful for a week. Oh my!

I do have new scrapping to share though

This is a new collection from Chunlin Designs and it is called Be Happy and it made me happy to play with it

 

 

 

 

and I knew what I wanted to do wuth this one by Kathryn Estry

 

 

I love the story of Waterbugs and Dragonflies and sow e have lots of dragonflies around the house to remember Mommy and Daddy so I scrapped a picture of them and the end of the story.

 

 

I made this for my team challenge which was shiny. The art deco buildings in Chicago were beautiful and covered in gold so I used lots of gilding wax on this one

 

 

 

and another of the gorgeous Ngosi

 

 

We have had a busy morning with the cats at the vets for routine vaccinations and health check, Nigel's hearing test and some petrol station work. Hopefully tomorrow I will get to scrap!

Today I am thankful for

• £10 off at Pets at Home
• cats safely checked, vaccinated and fussed over
• Nigel's improved hearing
• painkillers

 

 

and in keeping with a catty theme - cats hidden everywhwre.

 

This dog must be horrified to realise his shadow is a cat

 

 

a cat shaped bruise on a banana

 

cat in the stain on concrete

cat shadow

 

 

cat grass

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Disney Day

I have had fun this afternoon making something Disney related which is novel for me as I haven't done anything Disney for a long time.

We haven't visited since 2018 and we have no plans to go back for the foreseeable future. we feel very much that we had the best years of Disney - the years when parks were quieter, when it was for kids, when it was not just a money grab where after the price of your ticket you had to pay for extras if you wanted a good experience like reserved seating, dessert parties, after hours etc etc. We liked Disney when it was about the magic and the rides and the characters not about the food and - seemingly more important - the drink. We liked it when Disney MGM (it will never be Disney Studios) was about movies and how they were made and when EPCOT was about education. We liked it when Disney service was world class, when others aspired to have the sort of service Disney saw as the norm.

Don't get me wrong, we loved our Disney vacations and the memories we have will never tarnish nor fade, we just don't feel the need to go these days.

Anyhow I digress. Cal Summers from paper Scissors Story and The Scrap Lab  designs the most amazing mini books - and not so mini books. She is hosting the challenges this month at For the Love of Pretty Paper and this week it was making a 12" x 12" folder.

I wasn't sure what to create but then it came to me. We have been to Disney World and Disney Land some 18 times and every trip we collect the maps and bring them home and we love looking at them to see how the parks have changed over the years (not always for the better but heck) so I decided to make a thicker box file so I could keep all the Disney maps in one place.

 

This is what I came up with.  It is full 12" x 12" size and it 2 1/2" thick so will hold loads.

 

 

 

That picture is it closed and this is the flap open

 

 

I used loads of stitching and foam pads so it has lots of relief and texture

 

 

 

 

and this is the best I could get to show it standing up so you can see how thick it is

 

 

 

It was a fun way to spend an afternoon and in fairness really simple to make. It was the decorating that took the time.

 

Do go check out Cal's store in the first link - posted again here 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the generosity of others who teach great classes
• Disney - I might not go any more but I still love my memories of it

 

 

And these are my find today - a lady called Tania Lisova who make tiny perfect bouquets  - such skill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's a bit of a breeze

It's a tad breezy out there - well 50 mph winds to be exact but there is no accompanying sound of banging as our fence just doesn't bang any more.

We are thrilled

I have had a scrappy day today playing with the new Simple Stories Simple Vintage Great Escape which - full disclosure - I was given as a DT member for A Trip Down Memory Lane.

Do check out the store HERE for these products

 

I have made three pages so far - expect more with this collection

 

This was a visit to the Painted Desert in Arizona which was really lovely and totally deserted

 

 

 

Poole Park - a little closer to home

 

 

 

And a trip to Moreton walled Garden last month

 

 

I had great fun doodling the border

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• lovely new stash to play with (though I have had to give in to my stash ban and buy more)
• safe fences

 

and how amazing are these