Dolly's Dreamings

Scrapping and stress

Our bedroom refit starts on Monday. It's a huge undertaking. Everything has to be cleared - we have a lot of stuff in there - and even the floor is being replaced. Not the flooring (well that too) but the actual floor. All new electrics etc etc. Plus the existing fitted wardrobes have to be taken out (there are a lot of them) and the floor and electrics done then all the decorating,m then the new furniture built and then the carpet. It's a lot. The only bits we are doing are the clearingt he room, the decorating and the pitting away. This has been a project in the planning for the last 6 months and I am excited and terrified. The man coming to do the rip out and the floor was on holiday until today. We are hoping he is back safe and sound and ready to go Monday, because the company installing the new furniture which has to be built in situ starts the following Monday. We have borrowed clothes rails for the clothes, the bed will move to the dining room, every room will have 'stuff' in it and you have to bear in mind I am very OCD. I don't cope with mess and untidiness in one room let alone every room. Then we have two nervy boys to cope with who will be terrified of the noise.

So bear with me the next two weeks.

This is what the bedroom looked like when it was redecorated last time - although even then the wardrobes etc were 20 years old. They are now 32 years old and very worse for wear.  The carpet was replaced shortly after for cream.

 

 

 

yes that is 8 double wardrobes all to be emptied!!!

One of the things I am excited about it the whole decor is neutral so having been tied to aqua for the past 12 years I have new bedding in navy, in pink, in yellow, in green because now I will be able to have any colour I want.

I keep holding onto that thought as the hell starts!

 

I have however also been scrapping.

This is my first page for the 12 days of Summer at Scrap Squad

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this is a digital page with a ket that is available FOR FREE if you spend $12 at Pickleberrypop in July

Credits

Berry Blends Kit
Beyond the Sea by CarolW Designs, Indigo Designs by Anna,
Jen Yurko and Palvinka Designs

 

 

 

And finally the July Premium Scrap a Sketch sketches went live today and this is a page I made with one of them - do check out the new sketches and printables and stencils at www.scrapasketch.com

 

 

 

 

 

And finally a few photos from the other day

Our beautiful bay

 

and our harbour

 

 

 

One of our beaches

 

 

 

A less known place for the locals

Fishermans quay

 

 

The cross channel ferry back from France - the Condor  - just coming back into the harbour

 

The very narrow harbour entrance with the cross channel ferry going past the local chain ferry over to Studland

 

and the cross channel ferry int he harbour sailing past Brownsea on it's way to dock

Yes I am indeed so ver very proud of my home town.

 

Wish me luck for the next two weeks.

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel calming me down when it all gets too much
• the generosity of people lending us rails
• renovations - I think!!!

 

 

Family time and IT'S BACK!!!

It's been a lovely few days. Nigel's brother and sister in law are over from the US visiting with his Mom and so it has been nice to have the chance to catch up with them.

 

They took us out to dinner for our anniversary which was wonderful and very kind of them - we had a super evening and a lovely meal.  And we were pleased to host them at our home too.

 

My knee appears to be up and down - and I am convinced that there is something 'lose' inside as yesterday I could barely walk on it at all and then there was a pop and it was much better. Who knows. I have now made a doctor appointment as I knew if I went to early they would just say see how it goes. It has been 'going' for three weeks and will be four by the time I get to see the doctor so I hope they refer me for x rays or an MRI or something because it is now stopping me doing anything. It is stopping us going out, walking and even the supermarket is an ordeal.

 

Nigel took me out for a drive int he sunshine today and I did manage to hobble round hobbycraft and buy a treat for myself (I have been very mardy!)

 

But I also got a BIG TREAT. Can't remember the last time I bought anything new to wear. I really don't need new things. But I fell in love with these and they are wonderful - they arrived today and are comfortable and just gorgeous.

 

 

I have been catching up on digital scrapping for new releases coming up but I can share this one made for a challenge

 

 

and this one also for a challenge

 

 

and finally a paper page I made this afternoon for another challenge

 

 

 

And finally - you must be wondering what is back ... GAME OF THRONES. I almost got up at 2 am to watch it live but settled for watching it at 7 am on catch up. The eight and final series and I was beyond excited. I am a huge fan for so many reasons (and not just Kit Harrington!) I think it is beautifully crafted with great dialogue, awesome scenery and cinematography, a programme where most fo the strong characters are women and I confess I am a little bit infatuated with Emilia Clarke. I can't believe there are only 5 more episodes ever! 

 

Today I am thankful for

• family time
• painkillers - they almost work
• new boots
• Game of Thrones.

and these just made me laugh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quite a scrappy weekend

What a scrappy - and yes that is S-crappy - weekend I have had. There was another cyber crop on Saturday with 5 challenges - which I managed - and in addition, I have made another 4 paper pages too - so 9 paper pages and 2 digital - quite a productive weekend. So I guess I better share some of them then.

 

 

These are the 5 I made for the cyber crop over at For the Love of Pretty paper

 

This was my first and was my favourite actually.

 

The word was a wood veneer that I embossed as it didn't go with the page

 

 

and I had to dye the sequins with alcohol inks

 

 

This is a beautiful house in Concord

 

This one is an odd size as it was for my Home Town album which is an 11" x 8.5". I had forgotten this album and how much I liked scapping this size. 

 

 

Another page for Williamsburg - I have so many stories I want to tell of that day

 

 

and our first picnic of the year followed by our first ice-cream. Long may this continue

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a productive weekend of lots of scrapping and also managing the housework, good home cooked meals, a walk and chill out time.

 

 

An evening of history

We were thrilled yesterday to get the opportunity to go to our townhall/civic centre and meet with the mayor of Poole (A wonderful man called Sean Gabriel and he is just exactly the sort of person you would want for a mayor)  and sit in the council chamber and hear him speak about being mayor and then see all of the wonderful items the council hold dating back from so long ago. Poole is an exceptionally old town with charters going back as far as the 1300s and a borough charter from Queen Elizabeth 1st.  It was fascinating to hear the history of some of the pieces and apologies for unedited photos. It's been a bit of a day and we have also had no internet until now.

 

This is the very special silver oar pinned to mayoral robes when he is on board a ship as he is admiral of the post of Poole. It features on the crest on every street sign in the town - yes even on my street

 

 

 

This solid gold medal was presented so long ago for services rendered to the crown scuppering a  French ship

 

 

These very rare Elizabethan spoons had a really funny story attached about how they were 'lost' and re-discovered.

 

 

 

 

This is one of the pair of Mayoral maces (and we learnt the history of the mace too which was fascinating)  and they are very rare furnace gilding with mercury and gold and date from 1776 .... amazing. The details on them after all this time are exceptional with the town crest prominently displayed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a beautiful silver ceremonial spade

This is one of a pair of much smaller maces that date from Charles 2nds reign in the 1600s and survived the English Civil War because someone removed the royal crest and it was then replaced after the Commonwealth with the crest of William and Mary. They are absolutely priceless and exceptional.

 

 

 

 

Behind Sean, you can see the borough naval flag flown on every ship or boat the mayor boards whilst he is on it.

 

It was such an interesting evening and made me even more proud to live in such an historic town. I hope, when Poole merges with Bournemouth and Christchurch next year they don't 'steal our stuff' and take our identity. Bournemouth is a 'new' town dating from Victorian times. They have nothing like the heritage of Poole. And yes, of course, I am biased. 

 

I also have new scrapping to share today made with new Pickleberrypop releases.

 

This one was made with Sweet Elves by Jen Yurko and features the ever lovely Alice and my bestie, her Mom

 

 

And this is a holiday page because it is wet and horrible here and who doesn't need a bit of bright and a bit of Minnie - it is made with Merry and Bright by Sherwood Studios.

 

 

No trip report today because - well because I am tired and I have a mess of things to do. Sorry - I will be back tomorrow!!!

 

Today I am thankful for

• living in a town with heritage
• special evenings
• the internet - boy do you miss it when it is gone.

 

 

 

 

 

Friends of Poole Park

Today has been gorgeous - really sunny and warm and lovely and we got out and about. We were up early to take my car in for its first service. They were so nice at the garage but can you possibly explain why they have to change every single setting on a car. I am surprised they had time to do the service by the time they had altered the mirrors, the seat, the steering wheel, the temperature, the vent direction, the map size and the radio. I mean seriously!

Anyway, from there we went to do our stint at Poole Park. We are proud to be Friends of Poole Park and today was the Poole Park Count so we volunteered. It is once a year when they audit who is in the park, the demographic and the way the park is used with tally charts and questionnaires.

Armed with tally charts and six different coloured felt tip pens (I did feel I wanted to say that Nigel wasn't really allowed different colour pens as he has a history with covering himself not in glory but in ink ... but I let it go ... silly as he ended up with colours all over his hands!)

It's actually a reasonable challenge as you have to tally everyone, identify male/female/age group/ ethnicity/dog walker/pedestrian/buggy/cyclist/sport etc etc It was reasonably hectic early int he morning. It's a good job they don't do it on a busy Saturday. But we had fun in the sun 

 

 

 

We then did a few questionnaires each and I ended up talking to a fabulous couple. They were both 93, sharp as tacks and wonderful to talk to. The lady had been born in Poole and was telling me fascinating stories of how the park was years ago and how she used to go scrumping int he orchards which have long gone and are all housing. Such an enjoyable morning.

We then went to visit Elfin and she was out of bed which was marvellous news.  She has walked a couple of steps, with support, and was sat in a chair. She was in good spirits, assured us she had no pain at all and whilst still quite vague and confused we can see progress on the medical side of things

Yesterday 

 

 

 

Today

 

I have a new page to share today made for a UKS challenge and also for a journalling prompt over at Created by ATDML

 

More baby photos of me - this time in my Dad's paratroopers red beret

 

 

Speedway news, Helen and I had great fun watching the first leg of the British League finals last night and Poole did really well ... everything crossed for Wednesday now.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely day in the sunshine
• a well-serviced car
• Poole Park - one of my favourite places in the world - we are so lucky to have it on our doorstep.
• Elfin getting better every day

I remain eternally garateful that I used to have the best job in the world but even more eternally grateful that I dont have it any more and am retured. Some teacher humour follows ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a difference 32 years and a new school year make

The schools went back this week. Having spent my whole life, apart fromthelast two years, living from holiday to holiday, always knowing excatly how many days it is before I have to go back, now I cannot WAIT for the schools to go back. Apologies for those of you who teach - but your time will come. 

We enjoy very simple pleasures in local places and in the school holidays they are bombed. We have our life back again.

We went into Poole early this morninga nd it was so quiet it was actually eerie - but lovely.

We went to visit Lake Pier and it was so quiet - the car park has been rammed all holidays.

 

 

Yesterday I met my good friend Helen at The Kitchen in Poole Park where we sat and chatted for a couple of hours inthe sunshine and relished that we were not at school

 

 

 

Today we had work to do in Bournemouth so we combined it with a meal out and a leisurely drive back all along our gorgeous coast. If I hadn't got a parking ticket whilst waiting for Nigel it would have been just perfect. Ah well.

 

I have also been scrapping something different - my wedding. We have been married 32 years and so it was about time I made a wedding album for us. I have done them for other people - never for our own wedding. One of the reasons is it was 32 years ago and the photos are dated. They are faded, the pictures are all very formal and not great quality and there are none of the arty shots you get these days. But it IS our wedding and I have decided to be brave and scrap them anyway.

 

Here are the first few (prepare - on and off - for a few of these pages I am afraid. )

 

This is probably the only photo I really like that was taken by the professional photographer so I guess it was inevitable it was going to get scrapped early on.

 

 

 

This was me getting ready. I remember it as a very special time with my mom and my best friend. My bridesmaid Sarah was a later addition just for the photos.

 

 

And this was made for a siblings challenge - my Mom and her big sister

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• school holidays being over (sorry folks)
• a lovely day
• courage to scrap pictures I don't like but that are a very very happy day

and I kind of liked these vintage supermarket and shopping pictures - simpler times eh!

 

 

I love this so much - reminds me of a scene in The American Adventure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a difference 32 years and a new school year make

The schools went back this week. Having spent my whole life, apart fromthelast two years, living from holiday to holiday, always knowing excatly how many days it is before I have to go back, now I cannot WAIT for the schools to go back. Apologies for those of you who teach - but your time will come. 

We enjoy very simple pleasures in local places and in the school holidays they are bombed. We have our life back again.

We went into Poole early this morninga nd it was so quiet it was actually eerie - but lovely.

We went to visit Lake Pier and it was so quiet - the car park has been rammed all holidays.

 

 

Yesterday I met my good friend Helen at The Kitchen in Poole Park where we sat and chatted for a couple of hours inthe sunshine and relished that we were not at school

 

 

 

Today we had work to do in Bournemouth so we combined it with a meal out and a leisurely drive back all along our gorgeous coast. If I hadn't got a parking ticket whilst waiting for Nigel it would have been just perfect. Ah well.

 

I have also been scrapping something different - my wedding. We have been married 32 years and so it was about time I made a wedding album for us. I have done them for other people - never for our own wedding. One of the reasons is it was 32 years ago and the photos are dated. They are faded, the pictures are all very formal and not great quality and there are none of the arty shots you get these days. But it IS our wedding and I have decided to be brave and scrap them anyway.

 

Here are the first few (prepare - on and off - for a few of these pages I am afraid. )

 

This is probably the only photo I really like that was taken by the professional photographer so I guess it was inevitable it was going to get scrapped early on.

 

 

 

This was me getting ready. I remember it as a very special time with my mom and my best friend. My bridesmaid Sarah was a later addition just for the photos.

 

 

And this was made for a siblings challenge - my Mom and her big sister

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• school holidays being over (sorry folks)
• a lovely day
• courage to scrap pictures I don't like but that are a very very happy day

and I kind of liked these vintage supermarket and shopping pictures - simpler times eh!

 

 

I love this so much - reminds me of a scene in The American Adventure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An unexpected bonus

Today is the first day I can honestly say I am starting to feel a little better. The pain is definitely easing but I a made the mistake of trying to see what it was like without painkillers.

Mmmm

Little early for that - but it is definitely much better when I am on the medication.

 

I couldn't manage much at art yesterday as came home early feeling a bit sorry for myself but i was so lucky that I had a real treat. Nigel phoned to say his friend David from Wessex Marine was taking a Targa out to see the fireworks and would we like to go. Oh yes please. We love the fireworks. We know we are very lucky to live in a seaside town which puts on fireworks every Thursday throughout the summer (and Bournemouth do the same on a Friday) We love watching them but to see them from the water is even better. 

It was a beautiful calm evening (the reason why we said yes - rough weather would not have suited the ribs)

Lovely balmy evening leaving the marina, going along the quay and watching the fireworks

If you are not familiar with Targas they are stunning boats - maybe not so sleek looking but Oh my they are quality - built to a very high spec and they smell of wood. There is wood everywhere. It is a gorgeous boat.

 

 

Leaving Salterns

 

A massive boat transporter used for delivering the huge luxury Sunseeker boats amongst other things 

 

 

Our beautiful quay - absolutely heaving with people!

 

 

A big sunseeker. Poole is the home of sunseeker and there are always incredibly outrageous yachts. This one, David reckoned, would be about £22,000,000 and no, I haven't made a mistake with thee zeros 

 

ahhh   fireworks 

 

 

 

This morning we walked round Poole Park, along Baiter, up through the High Street to collect our daily frap.  (bear in mind I never have fraps any more I have green tea lemonade but heck, you get the idea) It was way way way too hot to be walking .

 

Just because they were pretty

 

 

A wonderful old shop we always admire in Poole High Steet

Love this tree. Actually I love all trees but this is a stunner

 

 

New scrapping to share

 

This was made for the mojo challenge - a template challenge - at Pickleberrypop using the Lolly Bag by Laura Burger and her free template

 

 

 

This was a page for FLOPP challenge yesterday - had to be music elements, a song title and splatters. The splatters are silver and look better in real life but I still don't like them

 

 

And this was another FLOPP challenge - this time music that you love and as I love Christmas music it just had to be this

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the fan running behind me as I type
• friends
• a lovely firework cruise
• pain killers. You don't realise how good they are till you try and stop taking them

 

 

wow - so that is what drugs do

I had a bad night last night so I upped my dose of tramadol. The doctor said I could if I needed it and I have resisted - taking just the minimum dose to try and help the nights and grinning (well kind of) and bearing it during the day. I didn't sleep again and didn't want another day of pain so took extra this morning. My oh, my. The pain is almost gone (I mean I know it hasn't gone but I guess it just blocks the pain receptors so you don't feel it) but oh my do I feel peculiar. Vaguely nauseous, very sleepy and so spaced out. It is NOT a feeling I like and not sure I want to repeat the process again. It was nice to be pain-free but then I am also of the opinion that the pain is there for a reason, partly to remind you to be careful about what you do, and I could do without the spaced out feeling. Tis powerful stuff though.  Maybe it will mean a decent night's sleep though ... I am planning on going to bed very very early. Let's maximise on the tiredness effect

Last night we went down to the beach to see the blood moon. Of course, we saw the exact same thing as most people in the UK. Nothing! After weeks of no clouds, the cloud cover was thick and we saw nothing. Did have a nice sunset and a good long walk though.

 

I finished a painting I have been doing today ... just for fun and because I fancied painting somewhere local

 

The colour looks much nicer in real life but it has been quite cloudy today to take photos. Cloudy and - we have had rain. I am guessing less than a millimetre but heck - more than we have had in weeks and weeks. And more is forecast tomorrow,

 

I also made another page for Summer Fiesta over at For the Love of Pretty paper. I am afraid I couldn't resist the title

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the tablets working - but not the spaced out feeling
• a quiet day
• cooler weather and a teeny drop of rain
• my wonderful husband who is being an absolute star helping me with the things I cannot do at the moment

 

 

and some pictures taken at just the right time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glorious day and a cool down

It has been so very very hot. No cool anywhere, especially at night.

 

We headed to the beach today and it was much cooler there. There was quite a breeze and it cooled us down. So did venturing into the sea ... only to paddle though I got much wetter than anticipated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walk completed, picnic eaten, we returned home finally a little cooler. Just might need to sleep on the beach tonight.  I stress we NEVER take it for grantedthat we live near such spectacular beacher... our home town is wonderful 

 

 My second pet portrait commission was posted off today so I am relieved it is going to its new home. I also started the new Shimelle layering class and this is the first page I made for the class.

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• living here
• the beach
• cool ... er breezes
• completing a job

 

 

Bird watching delight

I went to meet my friend Helen today and we dropped into a secret bird hide and had such a lovely hour watching the birds.

We saw loads and sadly I didn't have my proper camera with me so the pictures are very  poor, but I was thrilled to see lapwings (lots of them around)

 

We also saw egrets and herons

 

and we think these were godwits we just were not sure what kind of godwits (all ideas welcome)

 

 

 

and deer including a little fawn

 

 

 

 

 

It was heavenly and nice and cool int he hide. Hot as heck when we came out though.

We had a lovely morning AND she sourced me a lime green zoodie the colour of my car!!!

 

The rest of the day involved scrapping and sitting under the umbrella on the balcony keeping cool. We do love it out there.

 

Scrapping to share ... a page made today of the beautiful Poole Sea Cycle. It is such a crafters dream - all knitted and representing our town.  It even has its own facebook page here

 

We were lucky enough to see it when it was first shown to the public and delivered in Broadstone. I do love it.

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• good friends
• secret hides
• bird-watching
• glorioius weather
• fans!!!

I happened upon these yesterday (more to follow another day

 

I though they were very clever ... classical pictures in a modern setting