Dolly's Dreamings

So I have had a cracking good time

Yesterday was going swimmingly. Nigel went to work and I went to art. I had a lovely time - they are a super group of people. We had a cinema visit planned in the evening - to go and see Skyscraper. The film was actually very good. When you suspended disbelief it was a good film and an enjoyable couple of hours.

What was not so enjoyable was the fall. Oh yes - following on last year's fall over an unlit step and causing an avulsion fracture in my left ankle, I surpassed myself last night. The cinema was dark as the adverts were playing and as I apologised to the two people in the row that I had to disturb, I stepped into a void. The steps are clearly marked with white tape/paint. However, a seat int he row in front of mine had been removed for repair and the empty space had no markings on it. Consequently, I thought I was stepping onto solid ground and I stepped into a void. As I fell I broke my fall, very carefully, on the arm of the next chair. I landed hard enough to bend the arm of the chair. Oh, my - the agony.

It resulted in an A and E visit (once again the NHS were amazing) and they diagnosed cracked rib/ribs. There is, of course, no treatment for that other than pain killer and rest. They checked breathing was OK and were very kind. It was not a good night. I slept little and very movement hurts like mad. I had no idea cracked ribs were so painful. I feel like my entire side should be jet black but it will take a few days for the bruising to become visible. 

Cinemas are truly dangerour places - well for me anyway. In the words of GOT - the night is dark and full of terrors.

I have some new scrapping to share - made pre-injury

This is a page made with a selfie we took at the beach last week

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this is another with two similar photos taken the same day

 

 

 

and finally this is a page made with a new collection that is absolutely brim full of stuff called Roughing it in style by Jumpstart Designs

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel looking after me
• pain relief

 

 

It's been a cinema week

Having missed out on films in November and December, for the best of reasons ie being in America, we have been catching up and int he last seven days have seen four films

We saw Darkest Hour which I thought was OK but it wasn't a hit in my book, although Gary Oldman was unrecognisable

We saw Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri which was very good - choice language but a very different sort of film. I can see why it won awards but it isn't by any means our award winner of the year 

We then saw Molly's Game which was good, great Sorkin dialogue but very long

Today we saw Coco - my favourite of the week. I was pleased we had been in Disney for the release and had learnt a lot about the film and about Dios De Muertos (which we knew nothing about)

The animation int he film was utterly superb and the story was wonderful and yes, I cried. Always a good Disney if I cry!

 

Couldn't resist sharing the trailer - go see it - it's fabulous

 

 

 

 

Nigel had a little minor op on his back to remove three large skin tags today and we are glad it is done. They go off for histology but the doctor said they were fine. He is a little sore now but no stitches which is great.

 

Dawn has a new collection called Hush out today. These are the elements and there are papers and stitches too

 

 

and this is what I made with it

 

And I have another pickle barrel collection to share - this time from Jumpstart Designs called So this is love

 

 

and this is what I created with that

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a cinema week
• a successful mini op
• working heating as it is awfully cold out there.

 

 

and these were off t'internet - my friends who are teachers will really identify with these ladybird spoof pages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pickle Barrel lushness

Today is THAT day again - when the new Pickle Barrel collections are released and wow - what an amazing collection of 6 packs this month with the most gorgeous colour scheme.

 

I was lucky enough to be hosting the Pickle Barrel Mojo challenge this month - you need to check that out HERE

And this is the page I made using 6 packs from Laura Burger, Dita B and Jen Yurko

 

 

Because the pickle barrel is a set colour scheme, everything worked so well together.

 

This is one fo the 6 packs - Bygone Summer by Dita B

 

 

 

 

And this was one with Jen Yurko's sticking together

 

 

 

Dawn also has 50% off her Worn and Well Loved papers, kits and frames just for today and these are two pages made with that lush lush collection

 

 

 

 

 

Today I have had a scrappy day - which has been lovely.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a scrappy day
• great kits to work with

 

 

 

 

 

Bank Holiday days

Well that Bank Holiday didn't quite pan out as expected. It started OK but Sunday am at 8.00 we had a call from the hospital to say could we collect Nigel's mother. We didn't even know she was in there. She had called Care Line as she felt unwell and we hadn't heard the phone.

Thankfully there was nothing wrong with her but she'd had another health check and was able to come home and we were able to get her settled back in.

But it kind of threw yesterday.

I set up in the church ready for the week long art festival and other than that we had a pretty quiet time. Thankfully the heat is less oppressive which has perked the cats up a little. We have also got used to the new sofas - it takes a while to sit somewhere new after so long.

I will be glad when the renovations at hoe are finished but the end is almost in sight.

 

I did some scrapping and can share a new page made with products by Heather T at Pickleberrypop

 

This was the defining picture of our road trip last year - Nigel int he driving seat, frap in hand, laughing and having such fun. We so love our road trips. Oh and we were at a level crossing - he wasn't drinking and laughing like that whilst actually moving.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel's mom given the all clear again
• scrapping time
• an opportunity to display my goods at the church

 

 

 

 

A little scrapping a little watching

Today has been a tad unusual int hat we went to the cinema int he morning. Gosh I don't think I have done that since I was a child and went to the Saturday cinema. However, there was a film showing that we had missed and really wanted to see. It was Jackie (as in Jacqueline Kennedy) and I came out feeling a tad unsettled. I cannot decide if I liked it, hated it, felt it was powerful, liked her, disliked her. It left me with many questions ... I guess good value for money then. Both Nigel and I have always been fascinated by JFK and also by Jackie having visited Hammersmith Farm on Rhode Island and learned a bit about the Bouviers so it was a much watch for us.

 

I have also managed some paper scrapping, making a page for this month's challenge on UKS which was a colour challenge using Kraft and Denim

 

 

 

 

 

I also have digi scrapping news to share. Dawn has four amazing collections on offer at 50% off for today only and they are amazing.

Secrets collection   Follow your heart collection 

True colours collection   and my favourite Photo Frenzy collection

and these are a couple of pages made with them

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the opportunity to go to the cinema in the day time
• scrappy time

 

and finally - thank you so much to our friend Mike who sent us this clip - what amazing children and they are called the Leahy's

How cool is that!

 

 

 

 

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Bank Holiday - again

This time of year there seems to be a lot of holidays. I am not knocking it. When I was at work those holidays were so precious - but they do seem to bunch together somewhat.

Nigel is off to speedway - that goes with Bank Holidays - and I am up for a quiet night of TV and possible scrappiness.

 

Last night we went out with the family as both of Nigel's brothers were here - it was a lovely evening with much wine, good food and laughter a plenty.

 

Every time I take a picture of my mother in law with her three sons I do worry it will be the last one.

 

 

I have new scrapping to share today made for one of the mojo challenges on Pickleberrypop.

 

Every month there are LOADS of challenges on Pickleberrypop - all diverse from scraplift challenges and templates to recipe challenges and kit challenges. Often they offer freebies as does this one.

 

I was again hosting the template challenge and this month worked with the free template from Tiramisu Designs

You can snag the template here ... it's free and you can play along

 

I made this page using Tiramisu's Sea Breeze Bundle

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• holiday (OK so mine is pretty permanent)
• treats - Nigel's oldest brother treated everyone to dinner yesterday which was exceptionally kind of him

 

 

and finally I have done a bit of drawinga gain.

This time I tried to sketch a landscape from one of my photos of Venice. I bit off a little more than I could chew really but for a first attempt it was OK.

 

 

 

How did I ever work?

How did I ever find time to work? Goodness knows.

After a shocking night - no idea why but I simply did not sleep but for a couple of hours - I have been busy busy busy.

I have had another meeting with Poole Museums about helping with their education programmes which was quite exciting.

I met Nigel for lunch - lovely and simple and nice

I finalised the order of a new suite - very scary

and we sorted out holiday stuff.

 

Goodness me - when I think what I used to do this is NOTHING - but it's amazing how you slow down and this has filled - and I mean filled - a day.

Plus I have done so much uploading of pages as Dawn has special offers and it is also Pickle Barrel release day.

 

So - Pickle Barrel time and Oh My I am in love with the colours this month. Totally and utterly gorgeous and I have worked with loads of the collections this month as I have had time.

Remember the kits are $1 each, all mix and match, and you can get great deals on 6 packs. And let me tell you - the collections are stuffed this month.

 

The first I worked with was Royal Seal by Dita B Designs

 

so pretty and delicate and this is what I made

 

 

Then I worked with Moments and Memories by Lorie M

 

 

and this is what I made with it

 

 

I will share two more tomorrow but do go and check out the collections for yourself - seriously - they are awesome

 

How funnyt hat Dawn's special offer today is on a  similar colour theme

Her Tickety Book kit - and coordinating items - is on 50% off today only

 

 

and this is my page with that

 

 

So lots of pink and lilac scrapping this week.

 

Today I am thankful for

• meeting interesting people and some exciting opportunities
• wonderful wonderful digital designers to work with
• helpful staff to resolve issues
• new boots which are just the right height and very comfy (and were cheap - spare pair ordered!)

 

 

 

 

poor Nigel

I feel so sorry for my hubby. Yesterday he washed both of the cars and they looked fab. In fairness it wouldn't have been hard to make mine look fab - it was filthy dirty ... possibly the worst it has ever been. I had clearly parked it under a tree full of sick birds!

However, he washed them and they shone. He even hoovered the inside.

Today I went out and it rained and rained and I was on muddy country lanes and gravel paths and it looks filthy again. Poor Nigel. I even made a mess inside with a dripping brolly and muddy shoes. Ah well, there are worse things.

And one of them is a poorly cat.

Kira was sick this morning. Nothing unusual really. She goes through spates of eating her breakfast and bringing it up 10 minutes later. The vet has seen her and she seems healthy. No signs of tumours or infections, kidney and liver function fine and she stopped losing weight. So as she was hungry we waited half an hour then gave her new breakfast. That usually does the trick. She bought that back up too.

We didn't give either of them their lunchtime snack (a small cap full of crunchies - and fed her half a meal at tea time and she wasn't even a little hungry. She seems perky and is - as ever - very vocal - but not eating. I am hoping it is just a little bug. though as they don't go outside that is unlikely. I do worry about them - they are my babies.

I have been to Kingston Lacy today - behind the scenes - helping to sew costumes and seeing areas not open to the public. It was great fun and good to meet the rest of the team too.

I have also finished my frames - but not photographed them yet.

I do have new scrapping to share though.  It was made with a new collection by Fanette Designs called Deep in the Forest

 

 

The page is another for the digital album that is filling up quite nicely

 

 

The photo is from Shasta Dam on our first day on holiday. It was  magical moment, early int he morning and so quiet - we were the only visitors there.

 

Today I am thankful for

• new opportunities
• my cats - I just hate it when they are poorly ... they cannot tell you what is wrong.

 

 

and I share these - someone sent this to me in an e mail. It was an article from the Mail

 

King of the camera: Photographer spends ten years capturing incredible sepia portraits of big cats 

• Photographer Goran Anastasovski captured the astonishing series of sepia snapshots of the big cats over 10 years
• The 46-year-old documented the behaviour of animals such as lions, tigers and leopards at Skopje Zoo, Macedonia
• He insisted that the photographs show that big cats have a lot of the traits humans value - such as love and bravery 

There is a link HERE ... his work is stunning - absolutely stunning ... such an amazing set of photographs. Enjoy 

 

and this is his website

 

I lost ages on there! Do go and look - his work is breath-taking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

no stopping us

It was a bit grey and bleak today - not raining but one of those special English days.

However it didn't stop us going out. After a lunch of home made soup (OK so it tasted fine but do you know what - I really don't think it was worth the trouble.) we went for a walk.

I never fail to be amazed at some fo the houses in our town. Not right by us but in areas like Liliput and Sandbanks. There are some seriously incredible properties. I think the people who live in them, apart from being millionaires, must spend their time being worried about being burgled though.

So many of them are all glass and have water frontage. We looked at a new one just been finished and at first assumed it must be apartments as the building was huge. But a little further along the huge sign had pictures of the inside and details. On three floors with balconies overlooking Poole harbour from every main room, and with an indoor pool, gym and a boat dock and slipway, it has 6 bedrooms, all en suits, a media room, two lounges and views to die for. No idea of the price but I am guessing between 4 and 5 million at least. Nigel and I agreed we'd be lost in just one floor of it.

 

I have been digi scrapping today as I am trying to garner enough pages for my next photobook that I have a credit waiting for.

This was made for a challenge on PBP this week.

 

 

The challenge was to use black and white and just two colours - red and kraft. I actually used some Christmas supplies from Created by Jill for most of it.

 

Having been an Angels fan since 1981, touring the stadium with no access denied was a dream come true for Nigel. I loved seeing him enjoy it. I couldn't resist the picture of him with Mickey though. For a period of time Disney owned the Angels and there has always been a connection with Disney and the Angels ... when Gene Autry was wanting to find a place for his baseball team he first looked at Long Island but the town planning dept were insisting he call the team the Long Beach Angels and he wanted it to be called the California Angels. That was in 1961 and whilst he was looking his good friend Walt Disney told him there was a lot of land near where he had just built a theme park in Anaheim - Disneyland of course. Gene Autry went to look and the rest is History!

They have been called the California Angels, then the Anaheim Angels and now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

 

No matter what they are called - he loves them. We have more Angels clothing and memorabilia in this house than they had in the team store as it was end of season! Me ... I like the Dodgers! They were the first team I saw play for real but ... don't tell Nigel ... I prefer the Angels now!

 

The techniques used ont he page included stealing the A logo from the internet, using a mask to fade out the top picture, and winding ribbon through the lettering.

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely walk to blow the cobwebs away
• accepting that I am not a domestic goddess!!
• the chance to help make dreams come true.

 and this just made me laugh!

 

Frosty and wonderful

It was -2 this morning - a thick frost and nature in all of her beauty. The sun was bright all day, the sky blue and the walk wonderful.

 

There are days that you just think how lucky you are to be alive. Today was such a day.

 

I also have a tidy tidy scrap room. Barb in answer to your question yesterday - I can't really answer it well. I kept some collections together like Basic Grey, I sorted other by theme such a texture papers, animal papers, shaped papers, travel papers and yet others in colour groups. I am guessing it would make no sense to anyone but me - but the folders are all labelled and I should be able to find things more easily.

 

Having such a beautifully neat and tidy room means that I didn't get to paper scrap today - but I did do a lot of digi scrapping and I have new work to share.

 

I lioved the chance to work with a new designer who has just joined Pickleberrypop - Kathryn Estry. This was one of her collections called Silly Snowman Gang

 

 

I so enjoyed making this page of my friend's two beautiful daughters.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Game of Thrones - I have been watching it from Series 1 again as I have been tidying and crafting.
• beautiful winter weather and sunshine
• long walks
• patience