Dolly's Dreamings

Days just fly but memories remain

I seriously don't know where the days go - they just vanish

However, whilst days fly by some memories last forever, indelibly marked on our collective unconsciousness. Today is such a day

20 years ago ... cocooned in a school where we don't have TVs or radios on,  we didn’t hear the news immediately... I remember going outside just before collection time and talking to parents... some very worried. We had a lot of parents who worked for J P Morgan who had offices in the twin towers. For me it is also inexorably linked to Daddy. We watched the news coverage together as I packed his case for his final visit to hospital. He never came home, passing just three days later.

The world changed for everyone that day. Visiting the 9/11 museum and the memorial was something we both felt we HAD to do and it was hard. There was much I couldn't watch or listen to and we left emotionally drained after our visit. The anniversary seems even more poignant in light of the withdrawal from Afghanistan and it seems we are once again on the precipice.

The world needs to remember and pull together forgetting these petty differences that seem to consume everyone so much

 

This is a photo I took at the 9/11 museum in 2018

 

I have been scrapping a lot as I wanted to complete my album on our little mini break to Wales. No idea how a three day break has ended up with a thirty page album but there you go!

 

But I have completed it now which is excellent.

 

So here are some welsh pages ... I won't bombard you with all of them in one go!

 

This is the title page

 

 

 

 

I have also been working with some lush digital things. One of my favourite designers - TirAmisu Designs  - was our Gal Friday this week and I worked with her gorgeous Gal Friday Just September collection which is heavily discounted and has a free gift at the moment.

 

 

and I don't think I shared this one though I made it last week

 

 

and finally I have two pieces of art to share. One was just a bit of a fun doodle and the other was a painting from art this week. we had to use acrylics as watercolours and paint a picture completely from our imagination. I found it really hard to not have a reference photo but I gave it a go.

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• relative peace in the world I habit - so many people are NOT living in a safe peaceful place. They loose loved ones, see things no-one should see, live in fear of their lives and the lives of those they love. I pray that all of the leaders of the world can work together, setting aside differences and trey to bring peace to all

 

Hug your loved ones just a little closer today because none of us know what lies just around the corner, ever!

 

And Nigel is out - well in!

I guess we have been lucky so far throughout the pandemic but Nigel was 'pinged on Monday night. He had been near someone who tested positive and so has to isolate. Of course it was speedway - I knew it. We did lateral flow tests which were negative and today he had a PCR test which we are sure will be negative too. He wasn't told until almost a week after the contact which seems a bit daft as he did all sorts since last Wednesday, but heck. He is being a good boy and isolating from everyone except me.

So it's been quiet here.

yesterday I was stewarding at the art exhibition and I haven't shared photos of my work on here so here it comes. I have my own wall and 14 paintings exhibited which I am jolly proud of (the cabinet is also full of my stuff)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also have a mess of scrapping the share. It has been a big summer of challenges and so I have been scrapping A LOT

 

This one was very different for me with brights and mixed media

 

 

 

 

 I have worked hard to try and restore my poor nails- drinking horrible marine collagen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used glitter on this - Lord I hate glitter - the devil's dandruff!

 

 

 

 

 

I have more but I think that is enough photo overload today. And just because I am bored doesn't mean everyone else is.

 

Today I am thankful for

• our lateral flow tests being negative
• Nigel having no symptoms - fingers crossed it stays that way
• my wound slowly healing though I have the worst ever reaction to a dressing. The site where the supposed hypoallergenic dressing was is covered in burns and blisters, raised red and angry. It's incredibly painful. It seems I get a worse reaction every time. This is the worst I have ever had.

 

 

Just a quick update

Its been lovely here - warm and sunny and busy.

We have been coping with no boiler and were told it would be done at the end of June but yesterday we heard that there was a cancellation nd so they are doing it Tuesday and Wednesday next week which is good.  We are struggling with hot water and will not be taking it for granted again.

 

We had a fab day out in the Dorset countryside today which was lovely and as I was desperate for the loo we did something we haven't done in years - we stopped at a beautiful country pub for a sit in their garden and a cold drink. It felt almost normal and was lovely.

 

These first pictures were from yesterday when we headed out to see some of the galleries exhibiting for Dorset Arts week

 

 

 

 

 

 

and these were from today

 

 

 

 

 

 

and some new scrapping

 

 

Picture from Wednesday

 

pictures from today - I don't hang around

 

 

 

and my latest painting

 

Today I am thankful for

• an earlier fix hopefully for the boiler
• living in Dorset - I love it
• my boys - Koda pictured today x

 

 

 

 

 

Sat here like winter

Happy May eh! It's been quite the month for weather and the past two days we have had gale force winds and even more rain. We have had a lot of rain and a lot of cold and a lot of wind throughout glorious May. You'd think it was winter.

Hey ho - rain means nice cosy day indoors (with the heating on) and scrapping and jigsaws.

We did have glorious weather on Wednesday though - and we had the most normal day we have had for ages. Nigel found a new walk at Stanpit marshes and we booked to go to Prezzo - we are now allowed to eat inside.

We had a super walk enjoying very different scenery on the salt marshes and seeing wildlife and the bailey bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we got to the restaurant they asked if we wanted to sit outside and it was gloriously sunny and a really pretty garden so even though we had steeled ourselves to sit inside for the first time since August we sat outside and the food was utterly delicious

 

 

 

I have a little scrapping to share

 

 

 

 

 

They were all made for Scrap Squad challenges

 

I also had a gorgeous box of happiness arrive from Adam Westwood at Dotty About Flair

 

 

and I organised them all into a new storage box

 I also went back to Art on Tuesday and it was lovely to see everyone

This is what I painted - best seen from  long way away really though there is lots of detailed work

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• being indoors int he warm and dry
• scrappy days
• eating out but being in too

 

 

Ooops - been forgetting

Apologies if anyone is still reading this on a regular basis (apart from Barb - I love that you still visit)

I have been very bad at updating - no reason - just been forgetting

I will aim to do better as my blog is my record for me of our life. In fairness the last few days we have done little - possibly why I forgot to blog.

 

I have a mess of new scrapping to share

Bluebells a couple of weeks ago

 

 

A bridge photo from last month that I liked

 

Our first meet up with neighbours for a picnic in the garden - it felt good to get back together

 

 

a couple of digital pages using collections by Indigo Designs by Anna

 

 

 

 

 

Nigel had a massive bruise from his second vaccination (though no side effects thankfully) and he let me decorate it like the stickers (neither of us got a sticker )

 

More of the bluebell walk

A photo from Hamworthy where we love to walk

 

 

 

another of Route 66 using new stamps and papers

 

 

 

Plus I painted yesterday and did this painting of Indy

 

Today I am thankful for

• a walk on the beach this morning
• scrapping and painting time

 

Lovely days

We have had a lovely couple of days with some highlights too.

 

Yesterday Nigel had his second vaccination. It was originally booked for Saturday at a large venue, but there was a mix up for a lot of people who should have received a letter rescheduling and didn't. They were only doing Pfizer that day so Nigel couldn't have his. They said they would reschedule but he could book himself in on line if he wanted. He did it on the journey home and found a slot on Monday at the small pharmacy I went to for mine. When we arrived there was no one else there and so Nigel was cheeky and asked if I could have mine too and the lovely man who did my first jab said yes of course. So we were both second jabbed and mine was much earlier than I expected at just 8 weeks. And thankfully, 24 hours in, we have had no side effects at all. So excellent news.

Last night we had a wonderful evening. My bestie and her hubby cycled over and we had dinner in the garden. It did get very cold but we were able to sit in the early evening sun for several hours and just feel a bit more normal.It was lovely

 

 

Today we had a walk round the park - still one of my favourite places in the world actually.

 

 

 

 

 

and this was too cute - a goose decided to join us and follow us for a bit on our walk.

 

 

I did a painting yesterday

 

and a couple of new pages to share

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely few days
• vaccinations

and these were just clever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At last

I can finally say I have turned the corner and am feeling much better - thank goodness.

We had a trip to IKEA yesterday - just to get some drawers for the kallax really and a walk by the beach today and so life feels a little more normal.

I just need Indy's dodgy tummy to be a one off at the moment and then I will be truly happy! I don't want to have to do another round of treatment for him.

I have some new scrapping to share but only one page as the others are for release at the weekend for the ATDML cyber crop

 

 

 

and a few new paintings I have done

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• feeling better
• scrappy time
• the beach
• sunshine

 

 

A whole new experience

The boys will be six months old next weekend and so we bought them a rather nice half birthday present which, of course, they have had already because I think we were more excited than they were.

Koda likes to stretch and scratch and he has been inclined to stretch and scratch on the wallpaper which we are not very keen on! So we did some research and ordered them a scratching barrel. Think postbox made of lovely beech wood (which smells divine_ but a bit fatter and with three little dens cut into it and covered in lovely sisal matting for scratching.

It was so perfect watching them explore it - cue lots of photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope the novelty doesn't wear off as it is quite a statement in the lounge!

 

Koda also has another picture to share

 

 

and Indy snuggled in with Nigel the other morning which was too cute

 

 

OK enough cats onto some painting

 

ONE MINUTE PEOPLE

 

Tree exercise

 

a lantern tutorial

Two very different styles now

 

A loose fox (didn't like this)

 

and a detailed pink cosmos

 

 

and finally a robin I really like and coming to a Christmas card near you

 

 

I will post scrapping tomorrow - promise

 

Today I am thankful for

• Indy starting to put weight on a bit
• the boys bringing joy
• painting - I love the process even if not the finished picture

 

 

 

what a change

Well the weather has totally changed. We have been so blessed to have beautiful unbroken sunshine for the last few days and enjoyed some amazing walks but today is wet and windy and wintry. Just makes us appreciate the sun more I guess.

 

Sunday's walk round our neighbourhood

 

 

 

and Monday a walk in our back yard - the heath ..

 

 

and yesterday Baiter and the water again

 

 

It was new release day today at Pickleberrypop and I worked with two lovely collections. I have to say the Other side of the Lens collection is a new favourite

 

 

 

 

 

 

and I want to share a very different painting I did last week ... I have no idea why it was just something I fancied playing with - the fairy is obviously copied but the rest is just made up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• sunny says
• the rain - it makes things grow
• my boys - loving being home with them - they are incredibly loving little cats

 

 

A painting day

Today was a day I set aside to paint. I tend to always gravitate to scrapping and I neglect painting so I am going to try and paint at least twice a week. Well that's the plan.

 

I followed a tutorial today t try and paint in a more loose style and this is what I painted

 

I left Nigel's hands in the first one so you can see the scale

 

 

I really enjoyed it

 

I also have new scrapping to share as I forgot to blog yesterday

 

I made these two pages using Simple Stories Quarrantine as part of my DT work for A Trip Down memory Lane

 

 

and this one

 

 

 

 

and then also this

 

Today I am thankful for

• creativity
• a lovely day
• new paints (not used them yet

 

 

 

No snow

Well it appears everyone in the country has had some snow recently - except us. Yes I know it is dangerous and disruptive etc etc but I love it and feel very cheated. There is a slight chance tomorrow. Oh I so hope so.

 

We had a morning out yesterday as Nigel had a job to do in Weymouth - we even had a letter with permission to go. So it meant we could walk along Weymouth seafront for a change but oh my goodness it was cold. No snow of course ... just cold.

 

 

There was a lady just getting ready to go for a swim. Oh my oh my!

 

 

 

 

Today I have scrapped and walked and just had generally a lovely day - again! Even though there is no snow!

 

This was for a challenge on UKS - A4 for the 2021 album. I am really struggling with A4 but am persevering

 

 

 

and another from the same day

 

 

and a painting of a rust VW camper - no idea why - I just fancied it

 

Today I am thankful for

• a change of scenery
• a scrappy day
• retirement
• but NOT for SNOW!!! Did I mention we haven't had any!