Dolly's Dreamings

A Mini Book and a video

Today I finally complete my beach mini book.

I had started it in the summer and completed half of it - January - July and had put it aside to finish the second part once the year was over.

 

The mini book is about Dorset beaches in all of their beauty. Regular readers know I NEED the beach. I need the water and the waves. We go to the beach so much - at least once or twice a week, often more. I love it most in the winter. I am not a fan of hot weather and sitting on the beach appeals to me not at all. I like the cold, the wind and waves, the sound of the waves, the feel of the sand, the tang of salt. And thankfully, the county where I live is diverse from wide sandy beaches, some of the best in the country, rugged coast, peaceful harbours, busy quays and, of course, the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast. And we love it all.

 

So here are the pages of this mini book which kind of grew and has a lot of flaps and pockets and tags to cram in as much as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

and - should you want to see as it makes the interactivity clearer, there is a five minute video.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Living in Dorset - the best country in the world (I think)
• Having the courage to do the video
• a positive glaucoma review

 

 

and for those of you who are digital scrappers do please come and sign up for our huge event at Pickleberrypop. It is free and there are great things to win

 

Just go to the forum and click on the register at the top of the page

 

 

Lovely long walk - in the drizzle - and a little bit Frozen

Saturday  ought to be for having a lie in. Could someone please tell boy cat that. Yes, we were woken at 'fur o'clock' again.

Our alarm goes off in the week at 6 am and Fiki likes to make sure that, just in case it is a weekday and the alarm has broken, he waked us as 6 am even if the alarm hasn't sounded. We managed to ignore him for almost an hour but succumbed in the end.

 

We went for a walk along the Castlemain Trail today, even though it was drizzling. Three or four miles of brisk walking was just what we needed.

 

I have done some scrapping today, as well as work, and made this page for the UKS monthly challenge

 

 

It was a word challenge to use some of the words from Frozen.

Regular readers of my blog will know my chosen phrase this year is 'Let it Go' so it was a good time, on the last day of the month, to reflect on whether or not I had indeed managed to really let things go. As it happens I haven't done badly at all and feel all the better for it.

 

And sticking with the Frozen theme you have to see this video - several members of staff are quite keen that if we ever have snow I ought to do a version. Mmmm. Singing coach would be required or better still dubbing. Anyway - I think this head is amazing and what a super thing to do for his school. To me that is what inspirational teachers are all about. Yes the learning, yes the skills, but also the fun and the making school days memorable.

 

Enjoy

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• organisation
• cool You Tube videos
• Long walks
• Fiki - who I guess gave us the gift of time.

 

 

Sunny Sunday

It's been a beautiful day here. Yes cold, but lovely, so we headed our for a walk before I settled down to takle my CT work that I was behind with.

All done now.

And speaking of CT work I have  CT Page to share today too.

It is another page with Dawns wonderful new collection called Faith Hope and Charity

 

This time it is Emily and it is a s pecially poignant page for me. The photo was taken when we went up for her Grandad's funeral. Nelson was a larger than life character in every sense. He looked every inch the naval captain he used to be before becoming a QC. He was an amazing man and we were all mourning his loss. I remember being so sad for Pauline without him and for the kids without their Dad. I looked at Emily, a little bewildered by all the people and the tears etc and she was lost in thought and it was such a symbol of hope, Hope for the future through the eyes of a child.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely sunny day and a fun walk
• relaxing and not doing something every single minute

 

 

And I have an amazing video to share that someone posted on facebook ... some people are just so skillful

 

 

Perfect Picnic Place

 

No - don't worry - we are not stupic enough to have gone for a picnic today - it is freezing.

But I have finally scrapped the picture of our perfect picnic spot we found this summer. OK so it has taken me a while.

It was in response to a challenge on UKS, the first I have done in an age.

 

It was actually quite a chilly day in August and so we didn't stay as long there as we would have done if it had been warm. We just ate the lush pastries we had bought in Swanage, having been over there for a job Nigel was doing.

The view was terrific.

 

 

I did something I have not done before but will do again - paper weaving.

 Had a lovely trip to Wimborne Market today and bought a display stand ... more plans ... and some bird food and the bird feeder has been crazy this afternoon. So many tits and robins and the male and female blackbird and the woodpeckers and pigeons and a jay and as I sit here typing I am watching the heron in one of our trees. The heron is a regular visitor to our garden trees but we often can't see him as his favourite place is on our roof. He is a spectacular bird, though our neighbours witht he pond beg to differ.

 

I have to share the video below. Sue had it on her facebook page and I defy you to watch it and not cry. It is a bit of a whistle stop tour of 2014 - so much happened. Have the tissues ready.

 

 

 

And the video also included these words I love from Robin Williams - little did he know, eh!

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• new skills learnt
• the birds in our garden
• lovely Sundays
• scrapping time.

 

 

Home is where the heart is

I love Saturdays ... I really do.

It is about being at home.

A long lie in with my boys and my girl (OK incase you are worried that would be Nij, Kira and Fiki) followed by some work and some crafting - a day at home.

Lovely.

I had palnned not to go out today as the forecast was grim but actually it turned out to be very very nice.

I still didn't go out though.

 

I did make a couple of little hearts today - just because.

 

 

 

 

 

They look a lot nicer in reality.

 

The white is a really thick handmade card/paper that is just lovely.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely day in
• being home
• Crafting - I miss it so much when I don't have time

 

 

 

 

 

 

and finally - incase you haven't seen it - inspired advert of thge year in my book (pardon the pun)

 

IKEAs paradoy of Apple - love it!

 

 

busy days

Ni blogging yesterday as I was off oooop north to see my folks.

We had a fabulous visit with Pauline, Sam, Chris and the girls, swapping christmas presents and enjoying great company and a fabulous meal. It was like a little mini Christmas day and very special.

Sadly Emily was very poorly and Chris not brilliant. I hope Em is better in time for the real big day.

I do have pictures but I am a lazy mare and have not downloaded them yet.

These are just a couple I put on facebook

 

my surrogate Mom and my god-daughter- love them to bits

 

 

 

and the edible and totally wonderful little Elinor (sadly Emily was poorly and in bed :( )

 

Today I have felt rubbish - not really part of the plan to have ANOTHER cold so soon.

 

But we did go out for breakfast and had a cold and windy sea view.

 

 

I have bnew scrapping to share - this time made with another Pickle Barrel collection by Jennifer Labre called subtle beauty

 

 

 

 and very fitting as it is Emily from a few years ago at Christmas so she is still on this post.

 

 

 

Such a pretty pretty littl;e girl and now a very pretty young lady.

 

I also have a brilliant video to share - well I think it is brilliant. In my opinion it doesn't matter how you get the message out - just get it out

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• being on holiday - better to feel rubbish at home than at work

 

 

 

And finally - do check out Dawn Inskip's facebook fan page as there is an amazing freebie

 

 

 

Oh My

I thought I was doing really rather well chilling out on holiday.

Seems not as well as I thought as I had meltdown this afternoon.

I guess it was to be expected. So much has happened and I knew I was at breaking point so I guess it was good (not pretty but good) that it all poured out today.

 

Hopefully I am now on a better road to relaxing.

 

I do have a new page to share today though, made with  a brand new collection by Dawn Inskip

 

 

It is called Wonder and it is wonderful

 

I saw the penguins and I just had to - absolutely had to - scrap the new John Lewis advert.

 

 

They always hit the right note and the advert heralds the start of the Christmas period.

 

And in case you missed it when I posted it before - here you go!

 

  

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel understanding sometimes I just don't cope and sometimes I just can't pretend I do.

 

 

 

 

 

First real chill

Today saw the first real chill in the air. There was ice ont he cars this morning and a lovely wintery feel. I do like a cold day - I know I am odd.

Nigel has been busy putting our house lights up in readiness for Thanksgiving - we will be lighting them as we share our own thanksgiving meal and think of so many family and friends across the pond in America.

 

I have a page made a while ago to share today - another for the Disney album.

It celebrates Port Orleans Riverside and our resort hopping breakfast trip. We will definitely do that again another year.

 

 

It was a lovely day - well actually every day in Florida is lovely

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

my friends - so many and so important

a frosty bright day

 

And finally I have to share this - it was our assembly focus today and is not just incredibly skilful but the words of the song are just beautiful

 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do

 

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

IUts been a dark day and cold and rainy but it feels Christmassy.

Nigel was out and busy so I have made Christmas cards, been Christmas shopping (mmm - that was with mixed success as most fo the things I seem to have bought are for me ... but I am sure Nij will like them!)  and I have even done Christmas scrapping.

I made this page with LouCee Creations new Santa Paws kit. I swore I would never dress my cats up but this sort of happened, but in typical Fiki style he looks more football hooligan than santa baby.

 

 

 

Last night we had a fabulous meal out and then saw the best firework display we have ever seen - and yes ... even over Disney.

It was at Ashdown School and we watched for from stood by the roadside as we just happened to be there and we have never ever been so close to fireworks - huge wonderful fireworks. They filled our field of vision and we were right under them. Itw as awesome.

Nope not a single picture. Far too excited to get the phone out.

 

Barb I took the firework pictures with my phone - so no tripod hence why they are a bit blurry. The video was from my phone too.

 

Today I am thankful for

• Christmas shopping
• new stuff
• my lovely lovely cats who are such company

 

 

and finally ... because if it is starting to feel a lot like Christmas then the fabulous awesome new John Lewis advert needs to be here,

 

I love it - they do the best advert each year and this is just superb.

 

I defy you not to have a tear in your eye.

 

 

Some light

It's been one of those tunnel weeks. You know - the long dark sort.

There was a glimmer of light last night as we went to see the fireworks at Poole Quay.

It was lovely. Very cold - but actually it only seems right if it is cold. The fireworks over the water, the sound of the waves lapping, the smell of the sea and the bangs and beauty was just perfect and restored my soul, which has been a bit bruised and battered. I will add some more pics but I haven't downloaded them all.

Here are two

 

 

 

 

and here is a bit of video of the last minute - worth watching to the end! It was lovely.

 

 

However, I had more light at the end of my tunnel with a beautiful sunrise as I left for school at 6.45 this morning. God is indeed gracious.

 

 

I have new scrapping to share too.

This is a page made with Fanette's new Inspired by You kit

 

 

Picture was also taken on Poole Quay. You can tell we really do love our home town.

 

Today I am thankful for

• brief moments where my earache wasn't too bad
• laughter - amidst everything

 

 

That Friday Feeling

Considering I have been a whole day out all week and thought every day was a day further on that it was, I was not expecting to feel that Friday feeling today.

But I do.

It is Friday - YEY  - and time to catch up on all sorts of things.

 

Firstly I have another page made witht he lovely Believe collection by Dawn Inskip.

 

 

Nothing beats Christmas through the eyes of a child.

 

I have a super cute video to share too. Thanks so much Barb for sending this on to me

 

I hope you all enjoy it ... and stick with it - the end is so worth it.

 

 

 

 

Now I KNOW you are smiling

 

Today I am thankful for

• thoughtful cyber friends who I have never met but who touch my life and our hearts
• animals of all shapes and sizes
• Friday
• Amazon - gotta love that on line shopping

 

Have a fabulous weekend everyone