Dolly's Dreamings

Pencil drawings

I love watercolour - I really do - but I love the precise nature of pencil drawing. I love the slow pace, the time, the detail you can get.

The pictures take much much longer than watercolours, but these two have been a labour of love.

I have done drawings of the two boys and today we went out and bought frames for them.

 

Here are the two boys (I have to say they look nicer in real life) They are by no means perfect but we like them and they do capture the two of them, the differences in colour etc.

 

 

 

 

 

In other news we had a lovely day out for Mother's Day yesterday and the boys (all three of them) bought me chocolate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the pleasure that art brings me. I may not always like or keep the finished products but I love the process.

 

 

Sunny walks

We have had a couple f days of nice walks in the sunshine. It is my favourite sort of weather - crisp and cold and sunny. I love it.

Yesterday we went to Weymouth which was lovely

 

 

 

 

 

 

and today we walked at 'our' beach and it was lovely too

 

and I have scrapping to share

 

This was for challenges at Scrap Squad and Hey Little Magpie and it uses a photo of the Kingfisher I painted which I was quite pleased with

 

 

 

 

and this again was for challenges of Osmington Mills from Sunday

 

 

 

In other news I have done a 4 day pastel pencil course. I was stupid enough to buy the pencils - the full set of very expensive pencils - before I realised that pastels are probably NOT for me.

 

They are messy, they are imprecise, I find the hard to control and I love my polychromos

This was what I did before the course of Koda's eye (the left is the reference photo)

 

 

These were the three fur lessons (they are tiny - just 2" square)

And this was the eye lesson

 

I'm not impressed but I will have another go - one day.

 

And I painted this happy little cow too

 

Today I am thankful for

• new art supplies - though NOT the pastel pencils
• lovely walks
• the sea - always

 

There's a chill in the air again

It's been lovely and sunny here but goodness is there a chill in the air. But I am not complaining - my favourite sort of weather.

We headed out yesterday to Osmington Bay which was lovely - on the South Coast coastal path.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also stopped at St Mary's church and we were amazed at the yew tree which is believed to be 1700 years old - incredible.

 

 

 

here are a couple of really quick art pieces I did last week

 

 

 

and finally some scrapping ... I enjoyed this one of Shepton Mallet Prison - it make me laugh

 

 

 

One of St Mary's hot off the press

 

 

 

 

and more snowdrops

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a nice painting morning
• finally getting my prescription sorted out

 

 

Prison Visiting

Headlines are not always what they seem!

 

Yesterday we went to do something we have wanted to do for ages and just never got round to. We went to do a tour of Shepton Mallet Prison. And I highly recommend it.

The jail - which goes back to the 1600's, has a fascinating history. It housed its first inmates in 1625 and saw so many changes in its long history, including becoming the county jail, the place for executions, an American military prison, the place where the national document archive was housed, a category C prison for those service life sentences and it finally closed as a prison in 2013. You can read all about THE HISTORY OF THE PRISON HERE

Our tour guide was excellent and the two hour tour passed in a flash.  We learnt so much about how inhumane the prisons were, how they had hard labour and were totally separated from each other, wearing hoods whenever they were with other prisoners. We learnt about the executions, both by hanging and firing squad and also about the long drop building which became standard in the mid 1800's as a 'more humane' way of execution. The good executions could take a man from the condemned cell next to the long drop, tie his ankles and place the noose and then drop all in 7 seconds! We learnt about it being the second most haunted place in the country and we spent time in the cells, both old (1600's) and new (victorian) We learned about the many things filmed there and it was all fascinating.

The levels had been build up over the years - this is Nigel crawling out of one of the 1600 period cells.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After our prison tour we broke out of jail and went to meet our wonderful godson and his wife at a local pub for a superb lunch and a lovely catch up. The food was fab - the company even better. My goodness you should have seen the desserts

 

 

 

Today we went to see the snowdrops at Kingston Lacy. Thankfully we arrived early as by the time we left it was VERY busy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a wonderful couple of days
• our godson and wife - they are a blessing in our lives

 

Ups and downs

Well it has been a mixed bag here.

Friday late afternoon we got the call to say that due to the nurses strike my results appointment on 7th had been cancelled and I was being referred back to Poole at Mr Tatterton had no appointments until March. We were devastated and another lady rang back to say she would ring me Monday and try and get me in with Miss Mella at Poole quite soon.

Of course it was late Friday so it wasn't possible to do anything about it at that point so I had quite a depressed day on Saturday. I haven't really let any of this get me down - I have been quite surprised at my resilience to be honest. I am not generally known for my glass being half full!! But Saturday was a real down day and I just couldn't shake it.

Nigel took me out for dinner at Wagamama and yesterday we took a drive along the coast calling in at Milford on sea, KeyHaven and Lymington and it did really cheer me up. We made a plan to call the hospital on Monday afternoon if we hadn't heard anything.

 

Keyhaven

 

 

A street that looks kid of like Diagon Alley in Lymington

 

 

Today I woke feeling worried but suddenly in my feed this popped up as we were on our way out

 

It was just what I needed to see and that message - couple with the sea which always helps - make me feel so much less worried and happy that it was not anything I needed to worry about because He had it in hand.

About half an hour later, whilst on the beach - the phone rang and it was the hospital to say I have an appointment on Wednesday this week - so a delay of less than 24 hours. God is indeed good.

Oh and the beach was beautiful

 

 

 

 

And we drove past the hospital on the way home to give a thumbs up to the nurses out on the picket line because even though my initial appointment was cancelled I support them whole-heartedly.

 

I have new scrapping to share.

This is a free with purchase collection at Pickleberrypop

 

 

and this I have just made with the free February mystery box collection

 

 

and finally a painting I did last week - bit of a different style for me to be honest

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a timely reminder that He has me in His care and He is looking after me though I may not always understand
• living by the coast
• a thoughtful supportive husband

Surfer Dudes and snowy scenes

After lots of wind and rain - which is back today - yesterday was a lovely day. It was predicted to be showers and very windy but we seemed to miss them and saw lots of blue sky. Nigel decided today's walk - through Bournmouth gardens to the pier and the beach. It was lovely and definitely not windy. The surfer dudes had clearly seen the same weather forecast as we had though and there were more than 20 congregated round the pier trying to catch some good waves. There were some big breakers but I think they were probably disappointed there were not more. They were all in the same place which seemed a bit silly to be honest as they kept bumping into each other and it did cause a couple of altercations.

 

The little black dots are all the surfers

 

 

 

 

 Looking back the other way towards home

 

 

I have actually scrapped too!! Some of it I can't share but some I can

 

Nigel bought me this new Simple Stories collection for Christmas and it was perfect for a Narnia page

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was for the mystery box challenge at Pickleberrypop

 

 

I have had to suspend a lot of my DT commitments for the next couple of months. I am still in pain from operation 1 and - providing it goes ahead on 31st January, much of February will be recuperating from operation 2 which is a bigger operation this time, and then hopefully, if things have gone well, I might be starting the radio therapy in March which I gather will leave me very tired. But I hope that is the scenario and we don't go with the worse option of things not being good and having to go down the chemotherapy route. I just wish they would put the date in stone. It is still 'provisional' and is still 3 weeks away. Which I know in the scheme of things isn't huge but when you know you have something bad inside you it seems like forever.

Today I am thankful that

• we had a lovely day out yesterday
• the beach
• positive thinking - I am working HARD on it

 

I am not a huge fan of tattoos (though I understand I get a teeny one before radiotherapy!!) but these are amazing works of art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yet more bad news

Well it transpires that what we understood from the hospital wasn't quite right. My lovely MacMillan Nurse rang today.

 

I WILL have lymph node biopsies (which means removing the lymph nodes) They will try and find the sentinel lymph node but the previous operation might have disrupted the flow. In which case the might remove two or three but hopefully not all of them as 'that has quite important consequences'

My operation is scheduled for 31st January, almost 2 months since the last one and I fear what may have happened in that time.  I have sobbed, I have felt angry but at the end of the day there is absolutely nothing I can do. I cannot change the date, the treatment plan or the outcome so I can either mope and sob and scream and be angry until the 31st or I can just get on with life because the outcome will e the same no matter what. So that is what I plan to try to do. It's not easy, but I will try. Because I can't live another 25 days in this state.

 

On to other things because Lord only know there has to be other things.

Yesterday - before we knew the lymph node stuff when I still felt positive - we went to see the Narnia exhibition at Mottisfont and it was magical.

Cue photo overload

Little wardrobes were included in the decor at the entrance and there was a wardrobe gate

 

There were wardrobes int he woods with scenes like this one of Mr Tumnus' House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside it was all Narnia themed so beautifully

 

Peter and Edmund's room

 

Lucy and Susan's

The wardrobe into Narnia

 

and going through the wardrobe

 

 

 

 

 

 

They had an exhibition of the original illustrations which are rarely seen outside the USA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the Whistler Room became Cair Paravel and Aslan's room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a truly magical experience.

 

No scrapping I can share yet

 

But I do have some art

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• having this dreadful thing picked up early to give me a fighting chance
• faith - it is all, alongside Nigel, that is keeping me going

 

If you are a praying type - pray I find the strength to get through this both physically and emotionally. I need all the help I can get 

A Kingston Lacy Christmas

We have struggled to feel Christmassy this year so going to Kingston lacy to see the different trees was just perfect.

The house is always beautiful and to see it all decorated was fabulous

 

The little selfie shepherd's hut on arrival

 

awful photo but I need to remember I looked poorly

The laundry tree

 

 

Beautiful wreaths on the door

Trees of peace in the entrance with paper doves made by local school children

 

 

 

 

The silent night tree

 

 

 

The spider tree

 

 

 

Gorgeous 3 kings centerpiece

 

The three kings tree

 

 

 

Beautiful faux candle trees

 

 

 

 

This was stunning and there were two identical trees in this gorgeous room

 

Home for sherry and treats

 

and it is even already scrapped for the journal

 

 

 

 

I am signing off for Christmas now - I hope that whatever you do, whoever you share the season with, you receive the blessings of our Lord and that he is at the heart of your Christmas.

Let's stick to scrapping

OK - this post is going to be pretty much about scrapping because life hasn't been fab to be honest. Every random illness that could have hit me has hit me, I feel lousy and so let's move on!

 

In happy news we became a great Aunt and Great Uncle yesterday. That sounds awfully grand and awfully old. Our neice delivered a little baby boy very quickly and very safely and we are thrilled for them.

I have been scrapping - slowly - and some bits were made pre-op too. So here we go

Journal day 14

 

 

Journal day 15

 

 

 

It was my DT slot at The Flair Hut Today and this was made for that and also used yesterday's sketch by Lisa at Scrap a Sketch (made before I was ill)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally - because I can  - some gorgeous pictures of our wonderful boys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

friends to listen to me

Nigel - I couldn't do any of this hell without him

a new baby in the family and another on the way

 

 

Running before walking again

Oh dear. It seems I never learn and have been guilty of doing too much again!

Yesterday we decided to do something Christmassy. We went into Bournemouth to see the Christmas tree trail in the gardens and also to grab a bite to eat at Wagamama. It was blisteringly cold - too cold to be it - and I overdid the walking and felt ill when I got home, but it was lovely to have dinner out, which was delicious, and the lights were pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I haven't been very well the last few days - tired, an infection, and general unwellness and do today was very quiet - a really gentle walk along Mudeford and a browse round Stewarts before back to the doctors yet again. It's wearing a bit thin to be honest. I look dreadful - totally exhausted. Even Nigel agreed.

 

 

 

I have two new Christmas journal pages to share

Day 12

 

 

Day 13

 

Plus these two are design team pages for A Trip Down memory Lane using Cocoa Vanilla Merry and Bright

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel's unwavering support and patience
• Our GP surgery which truly is marvellous
• Faith - it is all that is keeping us going at the moment

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving

To all of my American friends, readers of this blog and family over in the USA (who I know visit) we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

I absolutely loathe that the UK has adopted Black Friday in a big way and yet not thought at all about Thanksgiving. There is no national day of thanks but there are endless days of pure glorified consumerism as if Christmas hadn't been taken over enough by the shopping gods. I find it sadder each year.

Thanksgiving - every day not just today - is a central part of our lives . I end every blog post I make with thanks. I have a sign by my bed which is the first thing I see each morning and the last thing I see each night that says 'hem your blessings with thankfulness'. There are so many hardships in life. So many people are suffering in the world as a result of war, poverty, ill health, loss and we are suffering with health issues here at the moment but there is always, always something in every single day to be thankful for. Some days it might be harder to find and may seem very transient. Some days it may seem to take a lot of thought to find it. But it is there if you look, I am convinced. And so thanksgiving is important for us. We may not be celebrating the settling of the pilgrim fathers and the founding of a nation, but we are certainly celebrating our many many blessings.

The turkey is in the oven, the trimmings are prepared and it is a lovely thoughtful day.

We began our day with a walk by the sea as we so often do but today oh my goodness it was wild. We went to our favourite beach and for much of the walk we could not be on the promenade as the waves were covering it - but it was glorious in its roaring splashy beauty and yes - I got wet taking pictures!  I love the power of the sea - not by any means the roughest we have seen but rough for this secluded little beach and it was high tide too

No promenade left here

 

 

 

Doesn't he look happy to be asked to stop in the wind for photos!!!

 

 

 

This was one of the ones that 'got me'

 

 

I have new scrapping to share too

These were all made for my design team pages for A Trip Down Memory Lane this month

 

 

 

 

 

The birthday boy is a huge Taskmaster fan and got us into it too so it was fun to make him a taskmaster card with him and his wife on

 

 

 

 

 

And I love these two people so much

Today I am thankful for

• so so many things every single day and I do try to focus on them each night
• thanksgiving day
• turkey and all the trimmings
• living close to the beach