Dolly's Dreamings

An easy rhythm

Our life has settled into an easy rhythm at the moment. we are waking a bit later since the change int he clocks but I don't feel any real need for the days to be longer so waking later is fine.

We walk for almost an hour everyday and now know our neighbourhood in quite a bit of detail! But the weather has been lovely so it nice to get our daily exercise outside - who knows, even that may be stopped.

We both have hobbies to keep us occupied.

I finished one of my most difficult paintings today - the Guildhall in Poole. There is leeway when painting fur. But a detailed building shows every mistake and this painting sure shows a lot of them, but what is life if not a challenge eh!

It is a watercolour from a photo I took last year.

 

 

I also have two new releases from Pickleberrypop to share.

 

 

I love anything with cameras and film strips so this was gorgeous to work with

 

 

 

And this one was just fun to make

I fear the lockdown is turning me into a domestic goddess though. Today I baked bread from scratch and didn't use the breadmaker and I batch cooked a load of lasagna for the freezer. And both were delicious.

 

I hope that wherever you are you are staying safe and well.

 

Today I am thankful for

• domesticity
• fresh baked bread
• a project finished
• Kira being no worse and possibly a little better

 

And int he words of Eleanor Farjeon's poem - cats really do sleep anywhere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lockdown

We are at the stage where things change every day relating to the way we live our lives at the moment.

We had been told by the government - quite rightly - to adopt social distancing everywhere. And people simply were not doing it. The weather has been awful for so long and the escalation in the disease coincided with mother's day and fabulous weather and so throwing caution to the wind it seemed as if everyone was playing Russian roulette and being out together - not social distancing. We live right on the heath and I have never seen so many people around. Closing restaurants and pubs, gyms and so on hadn't worked.

Yesterday we went out for a drive, taking our lunch as usual, to say goodbye to Pooole Park and the ocean for a while. It was actually very quiet after the silliness of Sunday (we had stayed in all day of course) and so we did go for a walk. We only encountered a couple of people and we were all respectful of each other's distance.

 

My mother's Day present from Nigel and the cats - Florence the Flamingo

 

 

Spring in the park

 

 

Nigel social distancing

 

We ate our lunch in the car at the ocean and we came home to hunker down. And last night the lockdown was ordered. we are still luckier than most European countries in that we are allowed to take a form of exercise outside each day if we are careful, we can still go, as little as possible, to the supermarket and to get medicine and key workers can still go to work. But other than that all but essential stores are closed and we all need to stay at home, allow the disease curve to flatten and help our wonderful NHS stay safe. Boris Johnston did NOT like what he had to say last night. It is a hard time to be the leader of the country and it is against all the freedoms he believes in but he has to be the face of the government and express the needs of the country as a whole. Churchillian - yes I think so.

Photos from the last couple of days

 

Our last Starbucks for potentially months

 

 

These flowers were all fallen over in the garden so they came indoors with us

This morning we went for a walk and we encountered 4 people and we all stayed so well away from each other and shouter cheery hellos across the gaps. We came home, we did work in the garden and we stayed in and safe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have also been painting and scrapping to keep busy. I am OK if I don't just stop and think about things.

 

I have decided I am going to make an album documenting what is going on in the world and with us personally.

 

 

 

 

A page for a Scrap Squad scraplift

 

 

 

and recording Florence in her new home Simple Stories Vintage Garden District

 

 

I hope that whatever you do and wherever you are you stay safe, your loved ones stay safe and that we get through these awful times together

xx

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel - I couldn't do this alone
• Lockdown - I think it is what the country needed
• our NHS staff and the delivery drivers, the supermarket staff, the farmers, the police, the people keeping the banks going, the bins, everything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strange times so bring on the crafting

These are strange times to be living in - for everyone, world wide.

I spend my time torn between thinking it is all an over-reaction and being a little worried. I cannot see this going on for months and months - surely? Deaths in China have slowed already and are slowing in the north of Italy and yet the US and the UK amongst others are saying  this could go on for months and months. I get the social distancing to slow it down but to cancel all public exams seems and over reactiona nd way too early to make that decision. Wouldn't it have been better to have said to the kids keep revising over your extended Easter and we will review mid April when we know more.  The kids and staff will all have been off - I know some teachers are still going to be working - for weeks, possibly two months, so could the schools not resume in June and run through to August or beyond to make up the time and then the exam group kids could sit their exams. They could be delayed not just cancelled. There are thousands and thousands of Year 11 and 13 kids - and Year 6 kids - who are suddenly potentially leaving their school forever with two days notice. It seems a very very hasty decision to me. Unless - and this is where my worries lie - unless they do know much more than they are saying.

 

However, at the end of the day, I can do nothing about it. It is out of my hands and all of our hands so I will do what I know how to do - I will scrap in the face of uncertainty. At least Nigel and I know we enjoy being together, we are used to being home together and love it and we both have loads we enjoy doing at home froms crapping, designing, doing jigsaws, playing games, playing rock band with the wii etc etc. I pray everyone else will find peace with it too.

 

This is my scrapping today  based on a sketch by Shimelle

 

I wanted to record some of my art as art had been transformative in my life in the last two and a bit years.

 

I made and printed the block using material from my good friend Dawn Inskip who inspired me to paint. I think she would have been pleased and I still miss her such a lot.

 

 

 

 

 

Now this is a very odd page. Nigel rarely asks me to make a page specifically for him but he did. He has loved his biscuits over Christmas and was tickled by the fact they were Fox's and that it said they were lovingly baked by Foxes. We call Fiki fox and so that was why he liked it. When the box was empty he asked if I could scrap it! Not my usual sort of page but he asked so I did.

Everything on the page, even the border, apart from the background paper and the two foxes was just cut off the box. He liked it - that is the main thing.

 

 

Finally, this is a page made for a challenge on UKS

 

 

It is a paper page but I printed the film strips out - they are from Jen Yurko.

 

So stay safe everyone. Find what makes you happy at home.Care for your neighbours and for each other and stay positive.

 

Today I am thankful for

• gorgeous gorgeous new scrapping goodies to play with - at just the right time.
• being home bound with Nigel
• faith to help me stay positive

 

 

 

A very nice weekend

I had a lovely treat today. Ann Freeman, who is on the DT of A Trip Down Memory Lane with me, messaged to say she was coming down to Dorset and so we met up this morning. I don't get to meet many scrapping peeps down here on the coast so it was lovely to meet someone whose work I admire so much in the flesh and it was great to sit and chat.

 

In other news, not much other than scrapping to share. I am keeping my head down and trying NOT to get drawn in to all the coronavirus stuff, although I do think the media is responsible for such a lot of hype and panic. As we await the next stages in the UK I fear for our businesses and our travel industry. I fear firms like Virgin Atlantic and BA won't be able to survive, I fear our supply chains will be so disrupted, I fear elderly people forced to self-isolate will suffer more from loneliness and isolation and depression than from a virus. I fear that this will be the way of the future and that this will happen more and more often. I fear that it is NOT bringing out the best in so many people. I don't fear the virus so much - but maybe I should.

Anyway - onto happier stuff and scrapping.

The good news is that if I had to self isolate I could happily have sufficient scrapping supplies to last me - oooh probably a twelve month or more.

I have been finishing up by DT work for ATDML using the Heidi Swapp Storyline Chapters and have two more pages to share

This one celebrates how we did not expect to be in Wisconsin for dinner and happened upon a Cheesecake Factory which was just perfect for us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I have been waiting to use this cut file for a while now

 

 

 

 

 

And then just because .... I made this one today for a challenge on Scrap Squad. I loved the sketch so much I think there are likely to be a couple using it for different albums ... I loved the photo of Kira safe in her Daddy's arms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Meeting a fellow scrapper
• scrap time
• Nigel - if I have to isolate with him for a few weeks we will have great fun

 

and these made me laugh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fear not Friday 13th and a little bit of girl power

Well, it's been quite a week, hasn't it.

The world seems to have gone into overdrive with coronavirus. Italy in total lockdown, America closing Disney and banning travel from much of Europe.  Countless other countries taking special measures, closing schools, stopping large gatherings. And here int he UK we are in the delay phase and await other measures but for now... hot soapy water for 20 seconds should see us through. Made of stern stuff we Brits. However, I am confident we will be following suit all too soon.

 

We have, I am sure, enough food to survive on should we need to self-isolate. We haven't bought special stuff, just our normal food but I am sure we will not starve. (Starbucks might be an issue though!)  However if just one of us has the virus the other is safe to live as normal, going out etc,  provided we stay 6 feet away from each other at all times. How bizarre.

The really good news is that if we go into lockdown I have plenty of scrapping supplies to see me through the first year!

 

I am taking it seriously, really, although I feel there is so much fake news out there and misreporting of facts that no-one really has the full picture. Nigel's Mom's care home closed its doors yesterday - as have most others - and I think that is a really good thing. The elderly and those with underlying conditions are vulnerable and must be kept safe, but I think maybe the mass panic isn't helpful.

 

The school I work at is still all guns blazing so I have worked a lot this week. Thankfully only 4 more sessions left (I am tired) and we also enjoyed a wonderful night out at the theatre to see Fascinating Aida. This truly wonderful talented trio of older ladies are such good fun - not for the fainthearted but we had a truly fabulous time.

 

We also fitted in a cinema slot before they close the cinemas and saw Misbehaviour and I STRONGLY recommend it. I grew up watching Miss World but I also grew up and have spent my whole adult life championing the rights of girls and women to be whoever they want to be. I was at an all-girls school from the age of 11 and have always taught in all-girls schools where demonstrating in every possible way the importance of equality was key. Go and see the film. Times have changed so much since 1970 but we still have a way to go.

 

 

I have also scrapped of course.

I have been lucky enough, as part of my Design Team work for A Trip Down Memory Lane to be given a new scrapping kit made up of Heidi Swapp Storyline Chapters and it is beautiful.

 

This photo was very special. It was taken as we were waiting for our lift before going on our holiday of a lifetime and we were so very very excited after all the planning to be finally going

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and I had fun with a cut file for this one

 

 

 

 

 

Wherever you are stay safe from coronavirus

Today I am thankful for

• a wonderful night at the theatre
• a great film
• girl power
• gorgeous scrapping kits to play with

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dental work again

I had the rest of the crown work done today and the new crown fitted and, unusually, it really hurt. I wasn't too excited when my dentist - who is wonderful and very caring - said be prepared for it to be sensitive for a few weeks! Yikes. I hope not.

Took painkillers before the injections wore off but we will see. The stress of the dentist has also contributed to an IBS flare-up that is ongoing this week. Still, things could be much worse.

We did a weekly shop at Tesco amidst some pretty empty aisles and it prompted us to go buy cat litter and dry food. we bulk buy their wet food but whilst we could find stuff to eat from what we have in if needed, the cats obviously couldn't cross their legs for a two week isolation period.

 

I have done a little scrapping today to share too

I made this for my DT work at A Trip Down Memory Lane and now, due to new legislation, I have to state I got the products - Heidi Swapp Storyline Chapters papers for free as part of my design team work.

 

 

And this is a page I made for a challenge at Scrap Squad scraplifting some great pages.

 

 

Today I am thankful that

• the dental work is done
• we managed to get loo roll

 

 

My best ever mini album

I am, for once, really pleased with myself. I have made a mini book I am really proud of - and that doesn't happen often. I made the book before we went away last year following instructions from the legendary Cal Summers over at The Scrap Lab and Paper Scissors Story. I knew it was for Route 66 but this last week I finally got around to filling it and I love it. Sorry, this is very photo heavy and hopefully, there is also a video now... it did have the song 'Get Your Kicks on Route 66' on but it breached copyright so had to remove it. Real novice at this video malarkay

 

 

 

 

Video I Hope

 

 

 

 

There are so many pockets and pull outs and flaps that I have been able to record the whole of the Route 66 section of our massive vacation in this sturdy book. It stands 5" x almost 9" and is almost 3" thick so it's a meaty little book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had fun making all the embellishments too

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't believe how many photos there are, how much room there was and how pleased we both are with this record of an iconic trip.

 

Thank you Cal for being so generous in sharing the design.

 

Today I am thankful for

• the generosity of fellow scrappers
• the completion of a project
• food for thought - and faith - from bible class today

 

 

 

 

A great weekend in process

The good thing about working is that when you are NOT working you really appreciate it. I have had a lovely coupleof days and crammeda lot in.

 

I spent time sorting out my finances, setting up a new e mail system (I didn't want to but it is done now and I am glad) the housework, the laundry and still had time for fun.

We went to the cinema yesterday and saw Military Wives. Go see it. It was fabulous but take tissues - lots of them. It was a really good film. We also had dinner out at Pizza Express which was a lovely treat.

And I had time to scrap. I caught up on a few of the Mojo Challenges at Pickleberrypop. If you don't usually do them I urge you to check them out. There are really good challenges and for some of them you get freebies to use like a kit or a template. The Forum is here   

I made this with the template this month

 

 

I made this with a free mini kit - also a mojo challenge in the same forum

 

 

And I made this for a challenge on UKS

 

And I also found time for paper pages too

This was for a FTLOPP challenge and very different to my usual style but the photos of Fiki holding Nigel's hand were too cute.

 

 

And this was a challenge on UKS. I think probably the only time I will ever scrap a brothel. Part of the old wild west times and - according to the sign - it is only SLIGHTLY haunted.

 

Barb thank you for the comments on my nails in the wedding photo. It is the first -and last - time I have ever worn false nails. They were not proper acrylic nails like you get these days, just the stick on sort. Having said that, my nails these days are usually that length but real.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely couple of days

 

Ooops - forgot again

No blogging for a few days - partly I was busy but largely because I just went and forgot!

Now trying to think what I have done int he past 5 days.

 

I went to see Dark Waters with Nigel. It was good - and a very sobering story, but a little too soft paced. I think it could have been edgier, but then the man who really fought the case was a very unassuming guy, so it kind of worked. I also went to see Emma with my bestie. It is one of her favourite books and we both really enjoyed the film. It was beautifully shot, faithful to the book and a nice way to spend an afternoon with my friend.

 

I have read a couple of books and, the last two days, I have worked. It is mock exam time again and I am only in a few hours every day but the early mornings are a killer. I am in school by 7.30 but the upside is I am back home between 10 and 11  which is when my day usually starts for real when I am not working, by the time we have had breakfast, read the papers, etc etc. So I feel I am not using 'my time' really, although today I was in in the afternoon too.

 

I have also done a fair bit of scrapping. There was a mini cyber crop at FTLOPP so I played along. . These are a few of the pages and the albums are coming along very nicely now.

 

This one celebrates the oldest continually serving McDonalds, opened in 1953 before Ray Kroc took over. It was actually the McDonald brothers #4 store. The first three are no longer still working restaurants. though we also visited #1 in san Bernadino which is now a fabulous museum. This one is in Downey CA and has the iconic twin golden arch architecture the first ones always had.

 

 

Nigel and Barry Briggs - once a great hero of Nigels and now a great friend. It was so lovely to visit him in Dana Point.

 

This was one of my favourite of the old motels - the Cactus Motel in McLean on Route 66

And Nigel in Iowa looking proud that he has been hunting and 'caught' two fraps!

 

Today I am thankful for

• gainful employment. What I earn is bonus money so I can use it for scrapping
• scrapping fun
• watertight pipes
• cinema fun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I survived, I achieved, I had fun

Yesterday saw a dentist visit. I am a dentistphobe (I am sure that is a real word and if not it should be) at the best of times but I got myself into a bit of a state with this visit. I knew it was to have a crown and I was terrified. Silly really - I have had worse. I have had a root canal filling then a crown. But I had a bit of an anxiety attack. The dentist is wonderful. She totally gets my fear and is so kind and gentle. It didn't hurt then and doesn't hurt now apart from terrible jaw pain. Having TMJ means any dentist visit leads to a week of flare-up of the TMJ. Such is life eh.

So that was the I survived.

The I achieved is that I finished all 14 challenges for the cyber crop at Lottie Loves Paper, completing the last few pages yesterday and today.

 

This one took forever. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Stamp and distress flowers and cut them out. Mmmm - very time consuming and very busy.

 

 

 

 

This one had to be black and white and blue only

 

Just a fab sculpture to record

 

 

Final challemge completed today

 

 

I also did some digital scrapping with a new collection called  Believe in You Bundle by Lara’s Digi World

 

 

 

So that covers the 'I survived' and the 'I achieved'.

 

The 'I had fun' is that I went round to my besties today and after a lovely lunch we painted. It was a lovely afternoon.

 

This is from her too - my sort of humour exactly.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a successful dentist visit and a dentist who calms me down
• lovely scrapping time
• painting with my best friend

 

Now - think of me because we have a leaking pipe and a damp patch on the kitchen wall and we really really hope we get it fixed tomorrow. I know it is small fry compared to all of the poor people who are flooded, but it is really worrying me and I need it to be fixed so we can repair the wall. Fingers crossed everyone.

 

and finally the penultimate post of those punny signs