Dolly's Dreamings

Happy 4th July everyone

OK so the 4th July ...

Independence Day  celebrated by all of my friends and family in America - and we usually celebrate with you but this year it is a work day and a speedway night so we will be celebrating later int he week.

However it is not just the anniversary of the Independence of America. It is also the anniversary of MY Independence.

I can scarcely believe it is two years, to the day, since I left work. And I can honsetlysay I haven't regreted it for a moment. I left very early - still only 55 when when I retired - but it was the best decision we could have made for all sorts of reasons. Not least of all for my mental and phusical health. Yes we have had to change our life style quite dramatically, but heck - that is good too. We delight far more int he simple (and free) pleasures of life. We have time to appreciate the small things, the every day. And I love being a housewife. 

 

Anyway I digress. Let's see some gorgeous Americana collections and pages today to celebrate

 

Dawn Inskip has her gorgeous Freedom Collection on at half price for today only -

 

 

and here are a couple of pages made with it - it is a gorgeous collection

 

 

Then there is a fab kit from Jen Yurko called American Spirit

 

 

 

and this page features my cousins adorable little boy

 

and finally a jam-packed collection from Cheryl Day Designs called Fun on the 4th

 

 

 

and I made this page of the fife and musketeers outside the American Adventure in Epcot. I still cannot believe they have gone. I used to love watching them so much

 

 

Whatever you are doing this 4th July I hope it is something that brings you happiness.

 

Today I am thankful for

• retirement
• my independence
• the time to scrap on so many creative teams, to paint, to design, to play
• the simple life - it means so much more

 

 

 

 

Typing from my puddle

I feel all that is left of me is a little puddle - OK a big puddle. 

I love my home town, I love the UK but my geedness we arean uncivilised country. We do not, as a rule of thumb, have air conditioning and it has been 27 today and I think it must have been 90% humidity and every time I do anything I just return to being a puddle.

Change the bed- puddle

Dust and polish - Puddle

Hang out the washing - puddle

Clean the windows - big puddle

hoover - enourmous puddle 

So my day has been work, puddle, shower, repeat.

A lot!

 

We did also go to the cineama this afternoon, in the hope it would be air conditioned(and they did finally put it on about half an hour before the end of the film. We saw Adrift and it was actually very good and quite harrowing in places. 

 

I have new scrapping to share made with a new collection by Dawn Inskip called Wonders of the sea which is on offer and also has a FWP 

 

 

and I also have another digital page made for a challenge I am hosting at PBP soon and made with a collection by Dita B Designs

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• fans - and cold water sprays and the car with air con

 

and some more of those great art works

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DeVine

I meant to add this yesterday - a new page made using a sketch from Stuck - it was a lovely sketch and I really wanted to play along.

 

The photos are of DeVine - the tree lady you can sometimes spot at Disney's Animal Kingdom. In all the years we have been going (and I cannot believe it is their 20th anniversary next year) we have only spotted her twice - but she is mesmerizing.

 

 

 

I also have news of Dawn's flash sale on some of her collections for today only ... that's a massive 60% off

 

There is Toxic and I made this with is ... and yes - another tarantula ... I succumbed more than once!

 

There is Happiness - which I used to create this

 

 

and also Cozy - and this is what was made with that

 

 

and I will be back later with Pickle Barrel news

Stage 2 - and I have had enough

I swear - if you see me even contemplating any form of home improvement - STOP ME! I have had enough and I need to remember this feeling so I don't do any more.

This year has been a catalogue of home improvements - not all of which have gone smoothly.

We are still waiting for Anglian to fix the small snags on the patio doors and we are still awaiting the replacement suite that didn't match.

Monday the brand new balcony was taken down.

Today the roofers are in replacing the roof over the archway that the balcony sits on. At least witht eh storms last night they could clearly see where the leaks were!!!

 

I have to say the new roof is looking good. Let's just hope the balcony goes back up OK

 

Needless to say this has cost us thousands - perfect at a time when we have no salary coming in - but heck, that's what savings are for and there are no pockets in shrouds.

 

But I don't deal well with work int he house. I don't deal well with the banging and noise and mess. And our track record of snag free jobs isn't good. The expensive en suite that there was a problem with the main feed with. The hearth and fireplace and gas install that went wrong. The kitchen windows that they took out then got called to an emergency and left me with a gaping hole. The plumber who did al the planning for the middle bathroom and we took all the tiles off, smashed it to pieces and then he came and said he was sorry it was too big a job for him to undertake! You get the picture. I will be glad when this week is over, the balcony is hopefully back up and I can relax for a while. I know it is worth it int he long run but boy have Ihad enough.

 

Anyway, on to happier things - the Pickle Barrel is open - yey

 

You can snag great bargains with the 6 packs and I have two to share today

 

This is Sunsational by Fayette

 

 

and I made this

 

 

and this is Sun and Fun by Tiramisu

and I made this

 

 

Dawn also has 50% off today for her Art Therapy collection

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel's patience - he really is a saint
• the end - hopefully - in sight

 

 

 

 

Back to teaching

No - not returning to work - seriously.

I have been teaching today though.

There is an art and craft week at the church and I did a class this afternoon for a maze book. I was very nervous. I haven't taught a scrapping class for a long time, but it was OK, the people were lovely and they all went away with a maze book ready to be filled.

All good fun.

 

I prefer when I am the student though - and so the other events I will be learning not teaching!

 

It is new release day at PBP and there is a lovely new collection by Jumpstart Designs that made me giggle.

It is called Thunderstorm inside my head

 

 

Oh my don't I suffer from that sometimes. There are some great word arts and I couldn't resist scrapping this photo of me with definite mental issues.

 

 

I am actually a very good map reader - honest - but the map of Bruges had been printed upside down and we both struggled initially.

 

Dawn has a great collection reduced today too The Happiest Place on Earth and whilst not JUST for Disney it works beautifully for Disney - You can get the papers, elements and add ons all at 50% off today

 

Perfect for these pages

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the opportunity to share a love of my hobby
• teaching - in small doses

 

 

 

 

 

watery today

Today is a watery day. There was wet stuff falling from the sky and we have seen very little of that. We need it though as they are already saying we will have hosepipe bans. And it was very little of the wet stuff.

The other wet stuff is coming later int he form of a new collection.

 

We had a lovely morning today visiting a good friend of ours (she started off life as a pupil of mine but I was very very young at the time) and we went to see her new HQ. She has set up an amazing business doing bespoke clothing with printing, heat pressing and embroidery. The machinery she has is amazing and we had a chance to see it in action (I was so terrified to press the 'go' button!) It is an amazing business she set up and I am in awe of someone changing their whole life, taking risks to follow their dreams. She deserves it to be a huge success. You can see her exhibiting and selling at the Poole Boat Show the following weekend.

 

Now the other wet stuff

 

Dawn Inskip has a new collection out today - Ocean Bundle

 

I had such fun with it

 

This page is from our second day at Discovery Cove where we had such a wonderful time. It was even better than the first visit as we BOTH did the dolphin swim and then just enjoyed this special park.

 

 

And this one celebrates the aquarium at our hotel at Disneyland which, of course, contained Nemo (and Dory but she was shy and didn't photograph well)

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely brave go-getting friend who is such a good friend to both of us
• watery fun

 

 

 

 

 

Ooooh it's that time again

It's Pickle Barrel time again and oh my the colours are wonderful this month and I have worked with so many of the packs.

You can find the 6 packs here

 

I gave you a sneak preview yesterday with the pack from Eudora Designs called Time To

 

This is the 6 pack called sugar bug from Jumpstart Designs that I fell absolutely in love with

 

 

and this is the add on

 

 

I made two pages with these and I am sure I will use this for others too. Just loved everything about this collection.

 

These were a series of photos I loved of Emily devouring ice cream sundaes (yes plural)

 

 

and this is celebrating my beloved Olaf cupcakes

 

 

and in complete contrast this collection is by Created by Jill called Can You Hear the Rain

 

 

 

and I couldn't resist making this page of the rainbow we saw at Capitol Reef National Park which the Native Americans call 'the Land of the Sleeping Rainbow' It was just perfect

 

 

 

Dawn also had products on special offer today at 50% off so check out the All Good Things range here

 and I used it to scrap this cheeky little tinker

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely garden - worked hard in it today and am shattered and aching, but very happy
• working with amazing designers - love my digi scrapping
• lunch out in Poole Park

 

 

 

A wonderful day at work!

Now that's not a title you expected to see was it.

A wonderful day - at work. But I have retired.

 

Actually we had a wonderful day at Nigel's work.

He had 6 petrol stations to do in Weymouth today (they take about 10 mins each) and so I donned my reflective waistcoat too and became Nigel's little helper. It was fin and we got to spend the day in Weymouth.

 

It was hot hot hot and glorious.

We walked along the quay and sat and watched the boats in the blazing sunshine.

 

 

 

deep in thought watching the bridge go up

 

 

it was glorious

 

 

and then - as it was hot and lush we did something we almost never do

we went tot he beach and sat in the sun (too long as it happened - and paddled in the water that was surprisingly warm

 

 

 

 

 

summer toes

 

 

and then my feet and I moved to our favourite place for a late lunch in the sunshine.

 

Oh I like this work thing!

 

 

 

I have new scrapping to share - my first page made for one of the challenges in the ATDML cyber crop. It was to use red and if possible red rhinestones. Oh yes - there is red there.

 

 

I used some really really old letters for the word RED

 

I used some really old flowers

 

 

and I used some newish rhinestones

 

 

 

 

and there is a mess of doodling in white everywhere

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely lovely day
• cooling cream - I was sensible but the sun was hotter than I thought
• Living by the sea - I love it

 

An interesting day - in my 50s

Today was kind of bizarre.

Our school was being used for an exhibition about lifelong learning organised by U3A and targeting people retired or about to be retired and showcasing the many things they could be involved with.

 

We found ourselves there not as organisers or school reps but as 'clients' who are going to be retired and have lots of time to fill.

 

We had already decided we would join U3A but it was also interesting to see some of the things we could volunteer for. I am very keen to volunteer in the library service and we also picked up things for the CAB. An apparently I am very desirable to U3A as I could teach and thus have minimal cost for my membership and share my expertise. I am not sure I HAVE and expertise but it is a fun thing to think about.

 

One thing is for sure - I have no plans to sit around and do nothing but neither am I going to rush into things. I plan to have 6 months off completely and restore body and soul and then in April 2017 review what I may or may not do.

 

One thing I WILL be doing however is scrappinga  nd I have done a fair bit of that over the holiday too. I have another new page to share today made with another new release from Pickleberrypop.

This time it is a kit by Fayette designs. Faye is celebrating her 55th birthday and I couldn't wait to use the new collection

 

This is what I made with it. Turning 54 was made all the easier by being in the Magic Kingdom at the time.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a fun day exploring options
• scrapping time
• a little more scab coming off my nose. Still taking way too long! However, it is not cancer this time!

 

 

 

 

 

A lovely quiet day but oh that wind!

Today has been a relaxing day and we went and had a look at the waves witht he high winds. It was spectacular and you'd have thought I would have taken a picture wouldn't you.

You would have been wrong!

I was so enthralled I totally forgot.

 

Our heating is still acting up. It works - fingers crossed - but not on timer and we dare only keep it on for an hour at a time as the boiler thinks it has to stay ont he whole time and the thermostat on either radiator or hot water seems broken so it just gets hotter and hotter and we are scared it will blow.

Booting it up manually each time is scary - partly in case it says no - it is not going to work. However, we didn't feel we could call our heating engineer out as an emergency as that seemed harsh but we do hope we can get it fixed in early January

 

I have scrapping that isn't new but that I haven't shared. I have been doing new stuff but it is CT work. Can't share it quite yet.

 

 

On a horrible windy and wet day like today, what nicer than looking at Hollywood Beach in Florida. Nice guy in front of that palm tree too!!!

 

Today I am thankful for

• fence panels remaining in place
• Retrieving our Christmas wreath from the heath
• manual controls for the heating still working
• Nigel feeling well

and finally some more of those National Geographic photos