Dolly's Dreamings

Enjoying the water

There are lots of places in the world I think I might like to live - but all of them involve water. I have a thing for water. It is what does it for me every single time. Lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, beaches, the ocean, the harbour. It is always water. Without water any scene doesn't seem quite complete to me. So today when we thought of lots of great places int he countryside to go for a walk - I bailed at the last minute. And we re-routed to the quay.

I realise how lucky I am to live in a  town where there is water everywhere. We walked through Poole Park - cue Lake - to Baiter - cue sea - to the quay - cue the harbour - and then through the old town via Starbucks. Lovely. Who needs to go away when you live in a town like Poole.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have my next LSNED page to share

 

 

and I also have a new page made for Shimelle's class to share

 

 

I loved the welcome on our first day in Florida last trip. I even used glitter to do the letters and you KNOW how I hate glitter!!!

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely Sunday morning
• living by water
• a lush lunch

 

and my final batch of those awesome bar codes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New business venture!!!!

I am going into business ... apparently ... as a Chinese laundry

Masses of washing from Nigel's mom this week plus how we get through the amount of clothes we do I have no idea. Still, as my mom would have said - it was a good drying day.

 

I might sideline in a personal shopper too as we had a job sourcingt hings for his mom she needed.

We did manage a short walk at Baiter and we saw a film today - American Made - rubbish - don't bother!

 

No new scrapping today but this is another page I made for the Shimelle class - the prompt was to tell a story of travel - either the journey to the holiday, the getting ready etc. It made me realise that I had never told the story for the lost bag. Nigel and I are experience travellers, especially to Florida, and it is true what they say - Familiarity breeds contempt - or at least over-cockiness.

 

We always use Alamo, know their system well and use the self check desks. It saves a mess of time and I (yes always me) am always on a hurry to leave the airport. Especially the car hire desks as they are nver air conditioned and in Florida that is an issue.

Anyhow, we made a mistake - a huge mistake and what was potentially a disastrous mistake.

We used the self check desks, went to the garage, picked our car and we were off. Old hands eh! We knew the way and everything.

 

We had travelled about 5 miles out of the airport when, for some unknown reason, I asked Nij if the rucksack he had used for hand-luggage was on the back seat. We both looked and no – no rucksack – and Nigel said it definitely wasn’t in the boot. We stopped to check. Nope. Such a horrible sick feeling inside. It contained all our duty free, two ipads and 2 cameras. Nigel remembered where he had left it – at the self check in terminal for the hire car. And because I had rushed him he had left it there. It had been so hot in the garage collecting the car as we had had to wait as they didn’t have our size available, we had rushed putting everything in to get out of the heat and not checked.

We both felt sick. It would have been a huge loss and for me, no cameras was a disaster. We u turned and headed back.

Sometimes life isn’t simple. The only way we would get back was to go to rental return. There were two terminals – A and B. thought B, Nigel thought A. We went to A. We had to go into rental return and explain we were NOT returning. That took precious minutes of explanation and we both knew the longer it was the less chance we had of getting the bag back. Eventually, leaving the rest of our luggage in a car we hoped would not get put back in the car pool, we ran to the terminal – me to the rental office in the garage and Nij to the rental desks in the terminal. As soon as I saw the office I knew we were in the wrong place. Different office. Tried ringing Nigel. No joy. He didn’t realise for a while he was at the wrong terminal then he spoke to a manager who was our saviour. The directions to the terminal were complex and he could see I (I had caught up with him by then) was in a state so he took Nigel the staff way to the other terminal to the Alamo desks. The man who helped at the self check was there and said yes Nigel had left a bag there but it had now gone to lost property. Th manage helping took Nigel to lost property and it was there. Praise be. However he needed ID to reclaim it. Identifying the contents was not enough. Our new friend even offered to use his ID. Nope. They ran back to the terminal where I was waiting, collected the passport for ID, ran back to terminal A and finally reclaimed our bag. We were so grateful for the help of everyone. It took a further 15 minutes to explain why we were NOT returning the car, why we were leaving through the employee exit (the only way we could get out) and get on our way again – but we did.

All told it was probably only an hour from realising we had lost it to being back on the road, but it was a horrid hour and very stressful. However, the Florida sunshine worked its magic instantly and we both calmed really quickly and enjoyed being ‘home’ in our favourite state.

I had never recorded that. Now I have

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• sunshine to dry the washing
• being able to help Nigel's mom
• walking in sunshine
• a scrap class I am enjoying
• the Chinese take-away I have just nommed

 

 

Who needs sun?

It wasn't especially sunny today but heck - who needs the sun to be with them when it is this humid! Brisk brisk walk today and boy did we get hot picking up the pace a great deal.  All goo though.

 

Kira is =going through one of her sick spells again and why she has to 'perform' on our cream bedroom carpet I have no idea. Bored with cleaning it now. It takes for ever. Could she be sick int he kitchen on the tiles floor, in the lounge, hall, stairs, dining room on the carpet that you can put bleach on and resists any stain at all. No - just the cream bedroom carpet. Ah well - we said we could do it when we joined.

Another page featuring 2 photos today for Shimelle's new class. Again very different from my usual style.

I printed all the elements off and the top picture is a Disney picture not my own. I even went to the trouble of handcutting the lettering for the title.

I cannot believe I have never done a true Fantasmic page before.

 

 

It looks almost digital but it is not. Honest. The papers are very old Basic Grey and everything else was from digital kits printed off - in some cases recoloured.

 

Today I am thankful for

• Kira just being sick rather than ill. No-one knows what causes it and it just seems to go in phases
• a long brisk walk
• a new commission. Love that I am getting those for my frames and stuff

 

and I found these fab church signs on the internet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scrapping heaven

I always say I am a digital scrapper and a paper scrapper in equal measures, but often I seem to digi scrap for convenience. This weekend has been the exception. I have enjoyed playing along at a cyber crop and it has gotten my mojo going and I have made a heap of pages - eight paper pages in two days to be precise and I like them. I truly do - and it has felt lovely to be covered in glue and ink and to be cuttinga nd sticking. Such fun.

I have also made a paper page today for the next prompt in the Shimelle class - which I am loving.

 

Shimelle often uses 4" x 6" pictures which I don't often do, but this page was so simple to complete I can see me using it again.

 

I scrapped Animal Kingdom photos of an elephant from the safari. I do love elephants. I also made it as part of the challenges I have been loving on ATDML

 

 

The embellishments were all printed onto card and cut out and the title was a seriously old Hot off the Press book of alpha tiles. I had forgotten those and it just worked for this page.

 

And despite the scrapping we also fitted in a nice long walk today. My ankle is swollen now but it is getting stronger.

 

Today I am thankful for

• scrapping time
• paper and glue and pretty supplies
• challenges that get me thinking.

and these are more the bad design ideas.

hope they don't use these for navigation

 

 

so where did they extra legs come from

 

so exactly HOW early was I meant to pay

 

great drainage

mmm... keep those windows closed

 

 

just no - no no

 

skinny pedestrians on the Golden Gate - glad I didn't try and walk it

 

goes with the cushions

 

safe parenting?

 

bad bad bad design for display

good and secure

Save

Lovely few days

Friday is always 'date day' where we try and do something special. It might be something special at home - we love being at home - or it might be out. Yesterday it was out.

We met one of my oldest friends for coffee and a catch up before she heads back out as a missionary. Then, on the spur of the moment, we decided to go to the cinema to see The Dark Tower which was OK ... not great but not a total waste of time. Then, as we were there, we went to Pizza Hut for some dinner. All in all a lovely day.

Today I have been scrapping as there is a cyber crop on at ATDML and I have had such fun making pages which I will share in due course.

However I do want to share digital news - Dawn has a new collection out called Explore. These are the elements

 

This is what I made with it

 

 

I also want to share my second page made for the Shimelle Magical Scrapbook class - it was another challenge - a double page and I don't really do double pages.

It shows a sequence of photos when Nigel met Mickey.

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• dedicated scrapping time and challenges - I do love a challenge.

 

 

 

Pleasantly busy day

Today I have been at a lovely garden party at a friend's house who is the founder of Live, Love Laugh Ladies clubs. She was raising money for Diverse Abilities which is a local charity.

There were a lot of ladies there and I had a stall alongside many others. It was nice to meet everyone, chat, buy some lush goodies and enjoy the cake! And hopefully Michelle raised a lot of money for the charity. My stall looked OK and I sold well today, so win win all round.

 

Yesterday I did the first page for the new Magical Scrapbook class Shimelle is running #magicalscrapbook

It took me well out of my comfort zone as it was about using a big picture (I am fine with that) and also a whole mess of stickers in the white space area. THAT was well out of my comfort zone - even Shimelle herself recognised I stretched myself there. I was, however, pleased with the page and can't believe I hadn't scrapped the photo for the 2015 album before (I think I might have scrapped it digitally but no a paper version)

 

 

 

I am looking forward to seeing how this class progresses. Heck it is Shimelle and Disney - what's not to like!

 

Don't forget the Pickle Barrel is open at the moment too - great 6 pack bargains to be found so go over and check them out.

 

I have another pickle barrel page to share, this time using All The Best by Tiramisu Designs

 

The photos are from the Falkirk Wheel which we visited because Nigel had seen it on TV and was keen to see this feat of engineering. I was not! I was prepared to go because he wanted to but was not keen. It was terrific. An amazing feat of engineering and a beautiful trip with a lovely canal ride. Well worth visiting.

 

 

 

And this page was made using Inner Peace by Created by Jill which is just gorgeous

 

 

 

The photo was taken early one morning at Jenny lake in Grand Teton National Park. We were the only people there and it was utterly beautiful.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a good crafting day
• meeting interesting people - just nice to chat
• some new health drinks to try

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Garden prettiness

Nigel worked really hard int he garden this morning, trimming hedges and bushed. I was not allowed to help. I haven't been allowed to help with this annual job for years. It stems from the first time we bought new electric hedge trimmers and I begged to be allowed t use them and the first time I did, within the first two minutes, I cut through the cord. Now I am totally banned. He is no fun!

 

It does look fabulous though.

 

A little shopping to pick up things I had ordered for my craft fair demo (those of you local there is an art and craft festival at St Paul's Church Canford Heath on from Monday 29th May - Saturday 3rd June with all sorts of demonstrations and workshops and yours truly is doing a short mini book class. It should be a fun week.

 

Nigel and I watched the new Happily Ever After show today on video. We can't wait for our next Disney trip and we were not going to watch the new show until we saw it in real life but I am so glad we did as you would never see it from the perfect angle it was filmed. People sometimes ask us why, as adults, we love Disney so much. THIS is why!

 

 

 

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

 

I have new scrapping to share - another page made for the cyber crop on UKS

 

 

everything had to be either a circle or in/on a circle. To me, of course, that screamed mickey ears.  Yes, I do know I have quite a serious obsession!

 

Today I am thankful for

• a tidy garden
• Disney in our lives
• sunshine and iced tea

and these food fails made me giggle

 

 

 

order a cheeseburger with mayo on top

 

 

pizza with extra pepperoni

 

 

a burger with nothing on it!

 

a bean burger! What they expected and what they got

 

 

what do you want for dessert ... nothing. Ok then!

Smashing day #loveretirement

Nigel bought me a treasure hunt for Swanage and we had been keeping it until the weather was nice and the schools were not on holiday (quieter) Today was that day.

In glorious sunshine we headed off to Swanage and the Purbecks and enjoyed a nice drive before parking up and exploring the town on foot for the treasure trail.

 

It was a bit whiffy at the front as the bad weather had dredged up enormous amounts of seaweed which was drying and smelling and the water looked very unappealing, thick with kelp. Before the grockles arrive they will dredge it all so there is nice clean water. Not sure of the effect this has on the ecosystem though. Anyway I digress. We had a lovely few hours meandering and enjoyingt he sun and solving most of the clues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We finished off by buying me a new little tiny notebook computer for taking away on holidays so we don't have to lug the laptop which is a bit of a beast and dinner out. A thoroughly gorgeous day. Do I regret retiring? Um ... no!

 

I have another page to share from the cyber crop at the weekend.

 

 

It was a class to use washi tape and the only tape I have is really quite Disney themed and so Mickey it had to be. Even then I had to use some patterned card as well to add the yellow

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a wonderful leisurely day with lots of walking, lots of sunshine and lots of laughs
• a new toy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new art block

I confess I am loving my art classes. I especially loved using pencils. I had never really sketched or drawn before and so it was a real revelation and I thoroughly loved every minute.

However, we have now started a new block of work - watercolour flowers. mmmmm - not sure it is going to be me to be honest. We had a wonderful session today where an artist demonstrated different techniques but I struggled. In part it was because I did not have the right paints (now ordered) but also it isn't really me. It is a little too free and fluid and flowing and I like tight and small and precise and controlled. I am not an artist with abandon. We will see how it goes. Always good to learn though.

 

Barb you asked a smashing question - do I find it quicker to scrap digitally or with paper. Really good question. The answer is digitally but perhaps not for the reason you might think. The majority of my digital scrapping is for design teams I am on and so I am working with collections that I need to use. That means I don't have to select colour schemes and THAT is the big killer for me. I scrap very quickly with real life supplies once I GET the supplies. What takes me an age is selecting the supplies. I spend way too long thinking about the papers, the colours, the cardstock, the embellishments. And then there is also the fear. If I use that bit of paper, that flower, that button, then I won't have it to use again. Nigel has tried endlessly to explain I will still have them - they will just be on a scrapbook page displayed beautifully instead of on a shelf or in a drawer, but he doesn't understand. I won't have them to USE! What if I think of a better page and wish I had kept them for that! Oh the angst. I don't have that problem with digital - I can use things over and over and over if I want and they never run out. So the answer is I scrap faster digitally simply because the angst, the indecision isn't there.

 

I enjoy both form enormously - I really do. I couldn't choose between them and would hate to give either up.

 

You might like this video - it's not new but it kind of shows the addiction we scrappers all suffer from - it makes me giggle.

 

 

I have new scrapping  to share today with a new collection coming for iNSD at Pickleberrypop designed by Eudora and it is lush. The collection is called Happiness way and it is gorgeous - it will be in store real soon and you need to visit her store here

 

This is the page I made with it

 

It's just such a pretty collection.

 

Today I am thankful for

• opportunities for new learning
• a new album that arrived today

 

and for today only