Dolly's Dreamings

Good days - but fearful of the bad

I am working really really hard to be positive about the cats - some days I am more successful than others.

They are well - very well. Playing, eating, interacting, but I can't shift the fear of this dreadful illness that comes with no symptoms until almost too late - so they will have another blood test this week to check no drop in blood count and platelets. The numbers are now in all likelihood in 4 figures. I don't want our perfect beloved kittens to add to that total and my heart breaks for all of those who have lost precious fur babies.

 

We are trying to stay busy. Nigel had work out in the forest on Thursday so we enjoyed a walk and even a sneaky dessert at a beautiful country pub.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and I have been scrapping for a Peartree Cutfiles crop this weekend

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our very long walk last week

 

 

 

For the Wales album

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and these were done Friday

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• my boys being OK
• Nigel being very patient with me
• a catch up with friends yesterday
• scrapping which sees me through some difficult times

 

Just more sorting

The last few days seem to have been about sorting in my craft room - although how much has been sorting and how much has been just shifting from one place to another is a little confusing!

 

We also popped into town as we needed some things and - well Sprinkles was there! So were some new boots - I cannot walk in any of my high boots any longer and my flats are not dressy enough so I wanted a mid heel boot - and I found the perfect pair at a bargain price.

 

Other than life has been simple and homely and just the way we like it.

 

I did manage - after the sorting - to make a page for this week's UKS challenge

 

It took an inordinate amount of time for a very simple page.

 

We absolutely loved watching the pelicans at Pismo Beach - never seen a wild pelican before and there were hundreds (and the smelt bad too - I was glad our room was on the side of the hotel away from them and overlooking the beach as the rooms overlooking the cliff did have a definite whiff!

 

I had to use material of some sort so there is one small crochet and felt flower. The title - and long long long it is - was cut on the silhouette and I hadn't gauged it properly so it is much smaller than anticipated and I am amazed something that thin and spindly cut at all. Well done Silhouette.

 

 

 

 

I also have a new digital page to share.

This was made with

Credits

Making memories #8 by Heart Strings

and No2Alike bundle by Fayette

 

 

 

That's my boy!

 

 

And as January is drawing to an end and we enter February the month of Valentine - new header!

Today I am thankful for

• an end to the sorting for the time being - I am done!
• finding some dies I had forgotten (the discover word on the page was one of them)
• NOT finding my pencil set for my new art course but finding a  cheap alternative in town.

 

 

 

 

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Nature Lover

I am - at heart - a real nature lover.

My idea of fun is a walk in the countryside, a chance to view natural wonders etc.

I am NOT a pollen lover. My nature love is a little curtailed at the moment as I struggle to keep my eyes open outside. I am really suffering this year - no idea why it is worse than ever.Maybe it is yet another gift of aging.

However, when the pollen isn't bad I love to be outdoors.

I especially love it in America where the scenery and the wildlife is even bigger and bolder.

One of our favourite trips was our Wild West tour and Yellowstone was a standout.

We snapped the pictures of this elk, caught in the afternoon sun, grazing by a stream.

 

 

I made it with Dawn Inskips new Artworks Templates and also her Adventure Seeker collection

 

Today I am thankful for

• a wonderful bit of nature of my own ... Nigel has worked all day on the garden and it looks fabulous
• the luxury of being able to visit so many beautiful places and so many national parks in America.
• anti-histamine. Nuff said!

and still on a nature theme ... these wonderful creations bring a whole new meaning to the phrases flower tubs and flower beds!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bit of a beach day

OK - so that title may be a bit misleading.

I would hate you tot hink I had been tot he beach or anything!

It is blinking freezing outside now - but I have had a beach day.

I have made a selection of 16 cards all on a beach theme.

Not sure I want to see lighthouses or beach huts for a while, but the cards are done and I am done with card making for a while now.

 

My new colouring books have arrived and I intend to devote myself to colouring for the immediate future!

 

I do have a new page to share though made with brand new released by Dawn Inkip.

This was made with her new Artworks layered template #22

and it also uses one of my favourite collectiosn of hers ... besotted.

 

The photo is of Padi. Padi was Bruno's mate and we were there the weekt hey were first introduced to each other and they went on to spend a lifetime together.

 

It was lovely to see them as an elderly couple whiling away their twilight years.

 

 

Barb you asked how long it took me to make the Chillax page yesterday - I am guessing about an hour and a half. I don't have patience for more than that for a page really.

 

Today I am thankful for ]

•  a newly mown lawn
• new PJs
• colouring books
• NO MORE beach huts

 

An incredible Bird experience

 

 

No blogging yesterday as we were off having THE most AMAZING adventure which I now plan on sharing … be prepared for a lot of photos and I seriously have only selected a tiny portion.

 

 

 

Dawn Inskip, who designs those amazing kits and collections I am so lucky to work with and who is such a friend, invited us for a really special day to visit where her daughter works at a bird of prey sanctuary. It was an incredible experience. Her daughter is so knowledgeable and clearly has an incredible bond with the birds, some of whom she had helped to hand rear and train.

We met so many birds I can't remember all the names and breeds so no doubt I will be e mailing for help!

The first bird we met way Marbles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To see a young girl so at one with the creatures she cares for and see the love that she has for her work shining through everything she said and did was a treat in itself. But she also enabled us to have a one of a kind close up encounter with so many stunning birds. Not just a quick, ‘hold this owl, take a picture and we will remove the owl’ type of experience. More of a chance to see the birds properly, study them closely, really interact with them and learn so much about them.  They have such a huge selection of different birds of prey, from more different types of owls than I knew existed to eagles, vultures, hawks, falcons, storks, pelicans and more.

 

Then we got to meet Rodney. Barn Owls are my favourite birds and we had heard a lot about Rodney who had been with the family at home when he was a baby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of the staff clearly love their work and treasure the experience to work with such beautiful birds and that was evident from all we saw. We were able to hold the birds, see flying displays, learn so much from Carly as she really does know so much about the birds in her care and even fly birds with her.

 

I'm not sure who this was ... but they were seriously LOUD!

 

 

I know this was Lincoln and that it was an eagle but I can't remember the type of eagle. I was listening - honestly - but we met A LOT of birds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was an incredible day we will never forget. I foresee lots and lots of bird pages coming up in the near future, but meanwhile, I hope you enjoy a small selection of the photos on this post.

 

Carly flew a falcon on the lure and was brilliant.

 

 

 

 

 

we all flew owls

 

 

 

 

and the gloves got bigger and so did the birds. I never ever ever thought in my wildest dreams we would get to meet a bald eagle. She was beautiful and as she is not yet fully mature she doesn't have her white head feathers yet. What an amazing bird - and a little tiny bit scary and very heavy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

and I love this one

 

 We also met Sid and I have never ever seen a bird love a human like this. The bond with Carly was so strong.

 

 

 

 

 

and finally Carly handled the giant Sea Eagle - a truly magnificent bird but nearly as big as she is. She was very skilled handling him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I said finally - I lied a bit. There was also a gorgeous little farm with free ranging ducks, geese, hens, a donkey and the most adorable little piglets

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Paul, Dawn and Carly for an amazing adventure.

 

Today I am thankful for

• wonderful experiences
• beautiful birds
• good friends