Dolly's Dreamings

and the rain rain rain came down down down

In the words of the famous Winnie the Pooh Song

 

The rain rain rain came down down  down .... all day today. I have been humming the said song on and off most of the day.

 

And just so I am not the only one....

 

 

 

I haven't blogged for a couple of days and I fear that may be a feature of my life for a while.

As I draw ever nearer to that golden retirement day I am working harder than ever to make sure everything is as right as can be before I retire that everything other than work is taking a bit of a backseat for a while.

Normal service will be resumed on Independence Day!

I will try and keep up with my blog but bear with me if there are the odd missing days.

 

Exciting week this week though as it is Pickle Barrel Week and the Pickle Barrel is open with new lush lush lush colours.

 

 

 

I was lucky enough to work with a lot of the six packs this month and the colours are wonderful - blues and greens with shocking pinks and pastel pinks and black. Really lush and dramatic and lovely.

 

The first one I want to share today is made with Fayette's pack - or should I say packs as there are so many.  As ever the pictures are clickable links where relevant. This is her six pack

 

 

 

and these are add on packs

 

 

 

 

The colours this month are very pink but there are also some lovely blus and I chose the blues to scrap my favourite fella who says such a lot into a mike!

 

 

 

 

It is a tribute to his performance in front of huge crowds each week at Poole speedway.

 

He was also in front of the mike on Thursday night - and that si why I didn't blog - as he was hosting one of his amazing quiz shows. They are like nothing else (local people who want a quix that is multi media and very different do get in touch!)

 

Today I am thankful for

• being in in the dry (well most of the time - a brief foray outside)
• a decent lie in ... I was awfully tired
• work completed which means I can play tomorrow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

finally the bluebells - but they were grey

Today dawned bright but we had a slower start than we perhaps should have done and when we finally ventured out it was clear rain was on the way.

Didn't deter us though! We have a 4 x 4 and wellies!

 

 

We went to see the bluebells at Pamphill and although more were out it is still not the show we have seen in previous years - the mild wet winter seems to have taken its toll on so many plants.

It also didn't help that it was very very overcast and threatening a deluge - which came almost as soon as we got back to the car. We did still have a nice walk though.

 

 

 

 

and I couldn't resist this shot. I DID NOT pick this - it was on top of the gate post and was very pretty, but it was a shame it had been picked off the tree.

 

 

 

It was our 30th wedding anniversary this week and we both feel very blessed to have been married to our best friend and soul mate. We just 'get' each other and we laugh so much. It is an integral part of our lives. We can't wait until retirement hits and we have time together and know that it will be God's will how long that is. We hope he gives us lots of years.

 

In tribute to that I made this page

 

 

It is so not my usual style and I used lots of little pears and pearl brads on it to celebrate the fact it was the pearl anniversary. I have enjoyed wearing my new pearl ring and pearl bead as well. The pearl bead was Nigel's but I offered to wear it for him LOL

 

Barb you asked about the arrows on the 24 hours page. It is a border stamp that was just too cute not to use on a map page. I don't think I have used it before and I have had it for years.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely Saturday
• 30 wonderful years
• new scrapping stuff to play with - you WAIT till you see what is coming next week.

 

 

 

Feet not touching the ground and Friendship

I feel I am in 'duck' mode at the moment.

You know - the little ducks swimming madly just to stay afloat.

 

 

That's me - right there. Paddling like mad.

Head above the surface, legs going mad.

 

I still haven't got new scrapping I can share as it is all for release later this week.

However I do have another page from Nigel's album.

It showcases his 'hair years'.

When I knew him first he was going out with a best friend of mine at school and my Mom used to use him as an example of the fact that boys with long hair are actually quite nice. I remember her telling her friends. 'Karen has a friend who has long hair and he is such a nice boy'

She didn't know then that I would go on to marry that nice boy.

 

 

Do I like his hair now, looking back? Not a chance.

The picture at the top is with two of his best friends and he was the best man at the third friends wedding. They were just 18 and about to go off to university  and everyone said it wouldn't last. They have been married 42 years and are very happy! And those same friends were all together for Nigel's 60th a few months ago.

I think lasting friendship is one of the greatest treasures in life. I am so proud that I still have 4 school friends I keep really good contact with and several from university.

Friendship matters.

 

Today I am thankful for

• friends
• feet to paddle fast
• Nigel getting a haircut

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paperwork

Today has been a paperwork day - death by new regulations I think.

 

However there was also some NICE paperwork with gesso and cardboard and ink and general messiness.

We also managed lunch by the sea. We love taking our lunch and watching the water which was so still today - buy my was it cold!

 

 

We had dinner out at Frankie and Benny's but I have to say, nice as it was, it was not worth the money - it seemed very expensive for what it was. Ah well. I didn't have to cook.

 

I have a page from Nigel's book to share today as any new work is for things that have not yet been released.

 

 

This one is quite a special page as it is the last photo when they were all together - just the mom, dad and three boys.

 

Today I am thankful for

• work completed
• a new product to sell
• living by the sea

 

 

And breathe ...

Wow - what a day

 

Long long meetings, but very productive, a big issue to deal with and a car that was broken ... and has magically healed itself!

 

My car has central locking and it locked this morning and then 30 seconds later unlocked itself and refused to ever lock again! I tried everything. Nada. Not having it.

It wouldn't have been a problem at school as it would be perfectly safe unlocked but it would, of course, be a day I had to go soemthere else after school and leave the car in a public car park.

Solution - Nigel would swing by school and swap cars so I had his lockable vehicle. Sensible huh! 

He was delayed and there was no time so I resigned myself to the fact I would just have to risk it.

 

Mmmmm

It seems a day to think about its naughtiness cured it!!!

Result - fixed car.

 

I don't get it. Cars are so electric now there is so much to go wrong. When I had my first car my Dad made the 17 year old me do car maintenance and I could fix most things. Now you lift a bonnet and you need a degree in electricity to do anything!

 

However, the day is done and it has been so full on I am actually going to treat myself to a night off. I have earned it.

 

I have new scrapping to share - this time a page made for a mojo challenge on PBP to use a big photo.

I love big photo pages.

This one is of Lake Louise in Canada

 

Today I am thankful for

• an apparently self-healing car
• my husband who I am immensely proud of. He has a new job managing the Darcy Ward Foundation and last night he hosted an evening at the stadium where he interviewed riders and managers and had a live hook up with Darcy too. I was so proud to see the footage and hear Neil Middleditch praise Nigel so much for not only the great announcer he is but also for all the work he does behind the scenes with management and visas and support. I am very lucky to be married to such an incredible guy who is so loved by so many.  I love this picture of Nigel with Neil and Davy Watt and Chris Holder.

 

 

Absolutely shattered but counting my blessings

I am so tired I could drop to sleep right here at my desk. I think it is in part due to a very very long 14 hour day yesterday and to coming down with something. I sincerely hope it is not  what so many of the staff at work have had as that is really nasty. But I am so shivery and achy as well as tired that I think this evening holds nothing more than a bath and bed.

 

However, I do have something new and wonderful to share that is a real pick me up.

 

Dawn has released a new collection today called Count All Of Your Blessings and it is lovely.

 

 

I have so many blessings - so many things to be really thankful for each and every day and I do try and count my blessings daily. They are many and varied, but of all of them three are my standouts. Three fill me with joy and happiness every single day. And this page records them.

 

 

Do go and check the collection out and maybe use it to scrap your own blessings.

 

Today I am thankful for

• being home and able to have an early night
• two of my blessings currently curled up on my bed ready and waiting for me (and my third will be joining us soon I am sure!)

 

 

 

a little breezy and truly AMAZING art

Its a little breezy today.

Well if you call gale force winds a little breezy.

We have battened down the hatches and apart from a picnic ... in the car ... right on the water''s edge to watch the anger of the sea, we have been in.

I have caught up on a mess of stuff and had a lovely day.

 

I have no new scrapping I can share today but do have some old new scrapping if you see what I mean.

 

They are two more pages from Nigel's 60th book.

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

being in the warm and dry ... too many people are not

 

and finally some of the amazing paper sculptures by artist Calvin Nicholls

Artist Calvin Nicholls has been working with paper as his primary medium for 25 years. He caught our attention with his mind-blowing hand cut one-of-a-kind paper sculptures of animals. He uses knifes, scalpels, and scissors to create these intricate and extremely beautiful creations.

Each piece can take take anywhere from 2 weeks (for the small pieces) up to 2 years (for larger scale and complexity pieces) to complete! He creates sketches as a reference and then starts cutting thousands of tiny pieces of paper and pastes them altogether for each animal!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art Therapy and a promo

Dawn Inskip has a new collection out today called Art Therapy and I had such fun playing with it.

 

 

I have had such fun with my colouring books and it is true what they say - it is very relaxing.

I don't get time to scrap int he week but I can always find just 10 minutes to do a little art and be creative. I love it and so I just had to record that with this new collection.

 

 

Such great elements in this collection - do go and check it out.

 

I am not the only creative person in the family. Nigel recently got a new job which we are thrilled about. He is the  coordinator for the Darcy Ward Foundation, helping with events around the world to raise money to help this remarkable young man, struck down in his prime in the horrific accident last summer.

There is an event next week that Nigel is hosting - he does it so brilliantly - and this is the promo video.  I am dead proud of him ... as I always am.

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a clever husband who is respected by so many for all he does
• being home - I am bone tired today

 

 

 

Saturday stroll

We went for a little stroll today ... well that was the theory ... in fact we spent longer in the car than on our feet. Long story.

 

However we did have a lovely day and did enjoy a walk int he sunshine along Christchurch Quay

 

 

 

It was nice to start off with a lie in too.

Yesterday I was sad that I had to get up at 6 and leave for work and leave the two boys in my life at home. I would like to think they spent the whole day missing me ... however this was what happened in reality! Fiki got straight in to the nice warm spot I had just vacated and snuggled down nursing the heartbreak quite convincingly.

 

 

I haven't new scrapping I can share today but have two more pages from Nigel's book to share

 

 

This was one of a series of publicity photos when Nigel lived near the factory where the Morris Oxford was made. They wanted a typical family for a photo shoot to promote the car and how much it could hold - a family of 5 and all of their luggage. They used Nigel's family and we have a series of great photos. Nigel is the little chap at the top - the baby of the family

 

 

 

 

The second one is just a picture I love of him when he was a little boy of about 8 years old.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely day
•  a bit of colouring, a bit of walking, a bit of shopping, a lot of relaxing

 

 

Good bad news

Today saw a return to the dermatology consultant. After 2014 I hoped never to have to see one again, but I think I just need to accept that being 'moley' means that I am likely to have more visits.

The consultant I saw today was lovely and gave me a very thorough check. We had several moles Nigel had circled with a pen ... they were all fine.

However I have two possible basal cell carcinomas but they are slow growing and not dangerous int he same way as the previous melanoma. They will be removed and biopsies taken and whilst I would have liked a visit where they said all was clear at least this wasn't bad news.

 

I have to wait on new scrapping at the moment so time to share another couple of pages of Nigel's 60th birthday book that I never shared.

The books looks fabulous  all printed and he was so thrilled with it.

 

 

 

Nigel is the little lad - the baby of the family and the pictures were all taken in Bournemouth where they visited for every family holiday until they finally moved there in the mid 1960s.

 

Today I am thankful

• yet again for the kind compassion of our NHS