Dolly's Dreamings

Completed Christmas Journal December 2020

I wanted to share the finished Christmas Journal

I did finish it on 1st January but it has sat on my desk awaiting binding - which finally got done today

 

Rather than share the pages individually I have taken a video of it to show all the things that open and pull out and unfold as I confess I am a little bit proud of it.

 These are some photos but I hope you might look at the video as I am so pleased so many pages are interactive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have included a lot of news about COVID, lockdowns, restrictions, vaccines and Brexit - December was a big news month for the country as well as for us.

 

Do have a look at the video if you get the chance

 

 

 

That was quite a night

Well it's been an eventful two days - mostly in a good way

The boys continue to make progress. I think Nigel summed it up well when he said they had missed out on three weeks of handling and fuss that Kira and Fiki had before they came to us and so we need to put those three weeks in. And a week in they are transformed really.

They now run (fast) freely around the house, though they chose to go back to their room to sleep at the moment which is not a bad thing. They know their food, water and litter is all there and they have hiding places if they want them. They spent most of yesterday evening out playing with us and we were rewarded with requests for fuss too, which is a bit of a first.

 

Indy likes joining in with Bananagrams - his spelling isn't good but his biting is excellent

 

 

 

 

It made us laugh when Indy tried to take the new toy dynamite upstairs to his room. He couldn't manage it so Koda helped.

 

I was very poorly in the night with sickness caused, I think, by pasta that had seen better days and I ate cold. Consequently, I had little sleep and was feeling very delicate so it cheered me enormously door to be let out to play before breakfast and I even got mega fuss from Koda too who is still very reserved.

We packed all the decorations away today and it feels lovely yo have a clean clear house again - just ready for destruction.

These are the last two days journal pages - I have enjoyed it this year and look forward to completing it 

 

The heart lifts up for journalling about our Christmas wishes and some photos

 

 

And some pages I made for ATDML using the gorgeous Simple Stories Jingle all the Way

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• our little boys - slowly slowly and we will all get there
• Nigel - my rock ... in sickness and in health
• clean tidy house

 

 

Belated Merry Christmas

 

Well a very belated Merry Christmas from all of us here – it’s been lovely and very different.

The kittens are making good progress but we are very glad – sounds boastful – that they came to live with us as I am sure a lot of other people wouldn’t have been prepared to put the time and patience into what they need. They are extremely shy – especially Koda, and they just need lots and lots of love, patience and reassurance. They are both eating well and playing constantly but are still a little hestitant with us though Indy had mega fusses from both of us throughout the day today. They are reluctant to lave their room and we are now leaving the door open all the time and spent much of our Christmas playing games sat on the floor in the hallway in an effort to encourage them out. They have started to explore – very tentatively. They are extremely loving cats and we know that, with patience and reassurance, they will come out of themselves and be gorgeous fur babies. I have to say I am disappointed with the breeder. They seem not to have been played with and interacted with at all. It seems they associated humans with food and going to the vets. The first two days they would hide when we got the food ready – I suspect that’s what they did there too. Now they are rubbing all over us trying to get it more quickly. They are both happy to be hand fed fresh turkey too and will come and sit on our knee to have that little treat. Coupled with the fact they were with their Mum much longer than normal it is amazing they are adjusting as well as they our. Kira and Fiki had been raised in a family home, literally, and were so brave and confident. It’s been hard for our little boys, but we will get there together. We have the rest of their lives to reassure them that they are safe and loved and can relax. One thing I had forgotten though – and it came back to both of us really quickly – is how windy kittens are and how smelly that wind is. Bless them! It’s a good job we love them to bits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas day was lovely. It is the first Christmas Day that we have been able to open some of our presents. Usually we are either hosting lots of people so busy or visiting the care home straight after church. So this year was lovely. We played with the kittens and fed them then watched a beautiful service from our church and the other churches on the heath – we were worried not being in church on Christmas Day would feel awful but the service was so uplifting and so well done.

We followed that with presents and champagne and both had lovely gifts. Nigel was very moved by the cat bead in memory of Kira and Fiki.

We gave the kittens their gifts but had to scale them back as it was sensory overload for them. They did like their new Gingerbread house though and the present from Miss Jessie.

We had a very late lunch at about 4 pm which was yummy and then a relaxing evening.

Boxing Day was an almost exact repeat for us and we had more lovely gifts. I was especially thrilled that I am now officially a resident at Grey Sloan Memorial.

We enjoyed a very nice very cold socially distanced hot chocolate with the neighbours in our drive – we are blessed to have such lovely neighbours.

Today we have again spent much time encouraging the kittens – well Koda really as Indy is so much more confident and likes his fuss.

I also caught up with my journal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also made these for two challenges at Pickleberrypop (yes the kittens will be featuring a fair bit)

 

 

 

Today I amt thankful

• enjoying Christmas together
• our new babies - a way to go yet but our love will win them round

 

Final preparations

It seems like we have been getting ready for kittens for a while now and we made the last big final preparation today. We have open bannisters and when Kira and Fiki were little they used to fly around the house and we worried about them falling through the bannisters and all the way down to the bottom so we covered the stairs. We lived with the bright yellow plastic for six months until they grew. This time we bought much more aesthetically pleasing clear plastic and our stairs are now again protected for little baby cats. The things we do for love.

We had a lovely get together with the neighbours - on zoom of course - last night and celebrated as we always do. We usually go for a meal with the three closest houses, but this year we celebrated on line with a quiz and a few drinks and nibbles.

Sadly the either is bad and so no viewing of the Christmas star here - clouds are way too thick.

I have scrapping to share and Freda the regency photos were from Weymouth.

I have been lucky to work with Simple Stories Jingle all the way from A Trip Down Memory Lane and have this page celebrating he gorgeous wooden ornaments Ann sent in remembrance of Kira and Fiki

 

 

 

 

 

I have also caught up with my December journal

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• preparations complete
• almost time to have out babies and bring some joy
• good neighbours

 

 

 

 

 

December is crawling by

I have been a bit remiss in updating this month - my head is all over the place. I will aim to do better.

I think one of the reasons is, for us, December is crawling by so slowly as we eagerly await the patter of tiny feet just before Christmas.

We have been making preparations this week. Shopping is all done –t here is just the two of us so we didn’t go mad and we like things simple. Today we got the boys room ready. We know so much more about Bengal kittens than when we had Kira and Fiki 17 years ago. Then we had no idea what to expect plus we were introducing them into a household where two other cats were already established. However they were pretty bomb proof and coped perfectly – even if we didn’t. We were also out at work for much of the day and so they spent a great deal of time in their room during their early months. With the boys we want them to feel safe and secure and be able to be in a shut in place at times and so we have converted a spare room for their room. Eventually their food and litter will move to the utility room where our cats have always had their essentials and they will have the run of the house, but initially they will be in their nursery which is warm and cosy and safe for them. We have had such fun putting everything ready. They have a mix of pre-loved beds from their ‘brother and sister’ and new. They have lots of cozy places, a sofa which is fully protected plus protected carpet. They have a new box (they have lots of proper toys but experience has taught us that boxes are always the favourite) with exciting holes prepared and of course, having been owned by Bengals for the past 17 years, most things are spotty. We just cannot wait for them to arrive next week.

Other than that we have iced our Christmas cake (probably shouldn’t eat a slice and drive!) and we had a fab Christmas party – via zoom – with the family last night. Such a laugh and drinks were partaken of.

So we are pretty much ready for Christmas and for our new family.

I have some new scrapping to share

This is a catch up on what is fast becoming my most interactive – and fat – Christmas journal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plus these

This was made for a UKS challenge

 

 

and this is my first December page for A Trip Down memory lane and will be one of the first pages for the boys' album using the gorgeous cocoa vanilla Merry and Bright

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• not many days left until we are a fur family again
• a doorstep visit with my bestie today and a lovely walk along
• fun and games at family Christmas quiz night last night
• Taskmaster - recently discovered totally addicted

 

 

Warming up but more sad news

It appears the cold weather has based and we are back to a mild December.

 

It seems that 2020 isn't quite done with its sadness yet. I had a phonecall on Wednesday morning to let me know that my wonderful wonderful cousin Joyce had passed away. I grew up knowing her as Aunty Joyce because she was only 9 years younger than my Daddy. She was an amazing lady who had a challenging life as she raised 12 children. She had so much love to give though and whilst times may have been hard their home was filled with love. I remember visiting many times when I was a little girl. As I grew up I began to appreciate why my Daddy thought so highly of her and held her up as an example of the right way to live and the sort of person to aspire to be. She was an incredible lady who I loved very much and I also admired her. She was inspirational in so many ways to so many people. I think of her children as my cousins though in truth it was Joyce who was the cousin. She was very much the matriarch if the family and was the keeper of family history, tracing our family tree back and back and back. I was pleased we had been up to see her a few times but the distance made it difficult and I didn’t see her nearly as often as I would like to. We kept saying that as soon as all this nonsense over Covid was over we would go up and see her. Sadly it was meant to be. I feel so sorry for her children and grandchildren as her loss had left a huge hole in their lives and I am thankful that she was healthy until the end and passed quickly with minimal suffering. One thing is sure, Angel has another angel. I love you and miss you Joyce. Xx

Nigl had work on Thursday and I went with him for some of it and we ended up at Lulworth which was lovely and quiet - much nicer than when filled with summer crowds.Today we went for lunch at the beach - a picnic int he car - and then a lovely walk.

 

 

 

 

 

I have new scrapping to share - some for the December daily and others that are just scrapping

 

This one focusses on music and the flap lifts to show pictures of Lulwotrh

 

 

today focusses on food

 

 

This was made for the teal challenge on FTLOPP

 

 

This was a just because it needed to be made

 

 

and this uses a new collection called Boho Christmas by Jumpstart Designs

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• knowing my cousin Joyce who enriched my life
• gentle days
• the ocean - I love that we have not just any coast but an amazing coast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's beiginning to feel Christmassy

It is starting to feel Christmassy. It is hard this year as we still mourn the loss of our babies - the house feels so empty and I miss having babies to nurture. Plus Kira was very very high maintainence in her last month so was a full time job. Plus I live in dread that something will happen and we won't be able to get the babies before Christmas. I so need to have babies in my life right now.

We saw a new video the breeder filmed for us last night and Oh my how cute - and how naughty. They will keep us on our toes.

But it is starting to feel Christmassy.

The new releases at Pickleberrypop have a definite Christmas feel. Images are linked to the store

 

This is the free use it all mini kit by Jen Yurko for the mojo challenge this month

 

 

This was by Love It Scrap It and was adorable - plus I can use it later for the kittens as it will be their first Christmas

 

 

Holiday Spirit Bundle by TirAmisu Designs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Delights All in One Natali Designs

 

 

 

 

 

I have also been working on the Christmas journal - up to date so far

 

 

As well as recording hat we are doing each day I am recording he news as well

 

 

 

 

 Yesterday we went to the cemetery and put wreathes on both graves - all 4 parents now together there.

 

 

Today I am thankful that

• there are fewer tears every day
• central heating - it's been awfully awfully cold

 

 

Brrrrr

The weather is really quite cold at the moment, but it is much colder when you are in a house where the heating is turned off.

Whilst we have no cats we are gloss pointing any doors and radiators that need doing so it is chilly. But it is nice and white. 

I have a couple of pages to share today

This is the Stuff Your Stocking page using the two mini kits that you can get today free with a $10 purchase. The kits are from Lorie M and Lara's Digi World and so you can also get 30% off their store for today only.

 

 

And these are the next batch for my Christmas/December journal

 

 

 

 

 

and finally a page made for the FTLOPP green challenge

 

 

 

Today I am thankful that most of the painting is done - the smell is quite strong.

 

 

 

Stuff your Stockings at Pickleberrypop

There is a fabulous event running at Pickleberrypop at the moment.

We are on Day 4 of 12 where you can pick up superb minikits which all coordinate AND get 30% off products by that day's designers.

 

Today - 4th December - you can get this superb mini kit by et designs with a $10 purchase

 

I have been trying os crap as that is my usual therapy from everything life throws at me and it is a therapeutic way of dealing with things

I haven't done JYC or December Daily for quite a few years now and so I decided that this year might be a good one to do something

 

I have made a cover and will make lose pages and then bind it all when finished.

This is the cover which has a real wooden door on it

 

I am so used to Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas that this has to have a manifesto page

 

 

 

Day 1 - the tags all pull out and have journalling on the back

 

Day 2 - the day we lost my beloved Kira - hard to scrap but essential to record

 

Day 3 - lots and lots and lots of fussy cutting parcels for this one.

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel being such a support to me - we are helping each other through out grief

 

 

 

 

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

Yes I know it is early, but it really is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas here.

Yesterday - in readiness for Thanksgiving rather than waiting for the 1st December this year - we put our Christmas lights up. I love lights - we have fairy lights on our mantlepiece and headboard all year. This year we bought some new lights for two trees on the balcony but the one of us who ordered them ordered white cords and he realised he had made a mistake. So the other one of us spent over an hour painting the wire. Not the easiest task I have ever done.

 

and today I have made the front of my Journal Your Christmas book. I love JYC and have done 8 of them but I ran out of ideas and haven't done one for a few years but this Christmas promises to be nothing if not different so I thought I'd have a go.

 

 

It will be bound when finished and I had fun making the door and the wreath.

 

It is also new release day at PBP and these are two pages I made.

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Christmas - I do love it
• audible - I tried a free trial and I am enjoying it