Sarah's Pigeonhole

the card making plan

2012-02-12T16:56:00.000Z

I've been making quite a few cards lately, for birthdays and such. However, I usually forget to take any photos, or, more honestly, they're usually put together at the last moment and I literally don't have time to wait for some half-decent light...

But, last week I made one for Luu, a good luck card for a Uni interview. So, I've managed to get a photo.

I like making cards, and giving cards, but I don't really like that moment (or ten) when you sit down and think - yikes, what shall I do??? So, when I got this Octopode stamp last autumn, I came up with a sketch for my cards. I put some cards, papers, ribbons and whatever else I came across that would work on this style of card into a kit bag, and hey presto! No-stress card making.

Oddly enough, since I started this method of card making, I've had no male birthdays. But, I have a hot air balloon stamp that will work for the boys. And, actually, I should probably get a male Octopode. Yes, I think I will...

And, did the good luck card work? Well, yes. She's had an offer from that Uni, but has also now had another interview at her favourite University, and should hear from that one by the end of this week. Fingers crossed...

No photos!

2012-02-07T20:05:00.000Z

Ages ago, I won a giveaway on my friend Lisa's blog of a Bite Sized Scrapbooking Bundle. Basically, scrapbooking in bite sized chunks, sounds good to me. Especially when I'm trying to move from the right-hand side of the page. So, I pulled a photo, used the Scarlet Lime kit, and scrapped another story.

If you're interested in the journalling, it says "How am I supposed to become a world famous scrapbooker, when my children do this to me?" Total irony on the world famous bit. But seriously, this is about the usual standard of photos of my girl's - so that's the story that gets scrapped.

At the moment I'm really trying to get into scrapping the stories, there are so many of them still to do...

Scarlet Lime Kit

2012-01-24T19:30:00.000Z

Way back, in November, last year... I was tempted by the Thanksgiving/Black Friday sale at Scarlet Lime. And splashed out a whole five dollars on a sight unseen kit. Now, the post and packing added another $15, but I thought I'd go for it - my first order from the States!

It took a couple of weeks to reach me, but it was so worth the wait. There was quite a bit of purple in there, as well as some greens, some wood effects, some trims and embellishments and a set of stamps.

These are the first three layouts I made using the kit. I whizzed them up one afternoon, and then realised that I had completely used my fail-safe scrap-booking combo - can you spot it? Yes, everything on the right hand side of the page! Nothing wrong with that - but I'm now on a bit of a mission to mix it up a bit. Which includes the layout in my last post, using Shimelle's project.

I'll be back soon, with some more from this kit, and a move from the right-hand side of the page....

9 pilots

2012-01-22T14:39:00.000Z

So, I sat down yesterday afternoon for a little blog hop, and came across this post on Shimelle's blog. And decided to join in. I shopped my stash, came up with some suitable papers and a photo I took on holiday in Cornwall last year. The photo had a couple of stories I wanted to tell, but I just wasn't sure how to scrap them.

And about an hour later, had this layout. Thanks for the inspiration, Shimelle.

'Tis the season

2011-12-28T17:27:00.000Z

This year, I decided to go a slightly different way with my Christmas cards. For years I've made my own Christmas cards, but this year, with working full time, it just wasn't going to happen.

I decided early on - in about October, that this year, I would do just one piece of art, using the She Art course, that I did earlier in the year. Then, this would be printed out for my cards. I finally got around to doing the canvas, which is actually 12" by 12", late in November. I got it scanned at work and set about printing them off at home. I decided to go the easy route - and print straight onto the cards. However, three hours later it just wasn't happening, and I even ended up with the printer spewing out dozens of copies onto ordinary printer paper, which promptly got put to one side.

About a week later, whilst considering buying cards, I decided to just go with what I'd got. Although the prints were on very ordinary paper, they were printed at best quality. So, a production line of cutting and sticking brought me a neat pile of Christmas cards in about half an hour - result! Some doodling around the edge of each picture gave just a little bit more of a hand crafted edge. And I also have a Christmas piece of art, as I said - Result!

A birdie told me

2011-11-09T18:51:00.000Z

Ages ago, I made a papier mache boat. Do you remember? And I wanted a bird to go in it. But, you know how it is, I had in mind the perfect bird. And, I just couldn't find a pattern.

Every so often I'd look at the boat, and the bird that was looking after it. And wonder, will I ever find the right birdie sailor?

So, a couple of weeks ago, while wandering around the internet, something prompted me to go on a bird hunt. And I found just what I had pictured in my mind. I bought the pattern from The Paper Shed, although this pattern doesn't seem to be available at the moment. But, there's an owl one! I may just have to go shopping there again!

The pattern arrived, and after about an hour or so, I had the sweetest little bird for my boat.

I think there may be a little flock of these on the horizon.

13.1 miles

2011-10-27T19:58:00.001+01:00

I did it.

On Sunday I completed the Great Birmingham Run. It was hard, really hard. But, it was a huge achievement, and I've raised over £400 for Macmillan Cancer Support, who do a brilliant job in the UK supprting people with cancer.

I sort of aimed to complete in about 3 hours, and my official time was 3 hours 10 minutes. Not too bad for a short, overweight, forty-something who only started running 8 months ago specifically with this goal in mind. All of the people mentioned in this post ran as well, including my brother - who is happy and healthy, and ran a very respectable 2 hours 20 minutes.

I feel so much fitter now that I run, and I plan to carry on. But only for a couple of miles a couple of times a week. And, that last sentence still amazes me - I still can't quite believe that I'm a runner!

I'm a Winner!

2011-10-17T19:51:00.000+01:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was having a little blog hop - as you do. I was visiting the lovely, creative blog
Efemera Ink when I was invited to hop on over to another blog. So, off I went, to yet another inspiring blog, Scattered Scarlet . Where I was invited to leave a comment, which I did. And in return, I am now the very happy owner of "this little bit of nonsense".

Thank you, Effie. It's so lovely, and is inspiring me to do something creative.

I'm missing my makings - but, I have less than a week now, until I run my half marathon - and then I can return to real life, and the long list of ideas I've gathered over the past few weeks and months.

One of the first things on the list is that header, up there...

Strictly knitting

2011-10-03T14:00:00.001+01:00

It's that time of year, Strictly is back on our screens. Last year, I knitted a pair of wristlet/fingerless gloves mostly whilst watching Strictly. I knit while the chat goes on, then watch when the dancing starts.

Just after last Christmas I bought another ball of the wool, cast on and knitted a few rows. Then, put it away. After all, I didn't need another pair of gloves for the summer... But now, my Strictly gloves are back on the top of my to-do pile, and by the end of the series, I should have another pair of wrist-warmers. It may take that long, as I am an extremely slow knitter.

Hello, anybody there?

2011-09-25T16:55:00.000+01:00

Hello, anybody there? I know, I know, you thought I'd fallen off the edge of the blogosphere, didn't you?

Well, not quite. I've been busy, busy, busy. Getting used to working full time, and then when I get home it's all train,train, train for the half-marathon. Which is in just four weeks... eek.

Oh, and we're also looking at Universities for Luu for next year. We just came back from Chichester this afternoon, then out for a 4km run, and now about to have dinner.

The pictures? It's against my self-imposed blogging rules to post without any. And I'd uploaded these to blogger in May (!) so, I thought you may as well see them. Back in May we were very busy in the garden, and re-vamping the shed for Mark to go and "play" in.

outrageous cookie time

2011-07-18T18:28:00.001+01:00

Last week, on this post, I was intrigued by the sound of Outrageous Chocolate Chip Cookies. So I printed out the recipe, added a couple of ingredients to the shopping list, and on a rainy Saturday afternoon Phoebe and I baked.

We muddled our way through the American recipe, and baked some pretty good cookies. We used crunchy peanut butter, which did give them a nutty texture, and half a bar of milk chocolate instead of chocolate drops.

I had mine with a glass of milk - American style.

What have you tried out for the first time lately?

Busy, busy, busy

2011-07-11T21:34:00.000+01:00

I know, it's been a while. What can I say? Things have been a-changing around here. The biggest, for me, is that I'm now working full time - which is really eating into my crafting time. Added to that, my half-marathon training is eating up even more time. And when the creating goes on the back burner, the blogging follows. And as for scrapbooking? That now seems to have been relegated to the monthly crop at Bromsgrove.

But, you know what? If I take a moment and think about it, there's still a lot of creative craftiness going on around here. So, that's what I'll try to bring to my pigeon hole.

Shall I promise to speak soon? I think it's better if I just say, hope to see you soon...

See you soon...

new furniture

2011-05-19T08:16:00.002+01:00

When I was a bit awol from this blog, over the Easter holidays, I wasn't busy doing nothing. We spent a few days having a sort out and move around of furniture, which left us with nowhere to put the hamster cage in the living room. Ikea was suggested for a unit of some sort - but I decided to keep my eyes open for something secondhand.

Within just a couple of days I spied a pine chest of drawers outside a local charity shop. It was no good, a liitle bit small, and with a big chunk out of the top. But inside the shop I found another much more suitable, but very dark chest of drawers.

A day spent sanding and re-painting, and Poppy the hamster has a lovely new place to reside...

And I have somewhere to store my crochet, knittting and hand-sewing stuff, as well as my "good" stationery - you know what I mean, not the functional, stuff - the pretty stuff. And I prettied up the inside of the drawers with wallpaper samples, from the diy store where I bought the paint.

Oh, and I also gave the coffee table in the conservatory a face-lift. It's a good shape, and very sturdy. But had turned that orange that laquered pine goes.

Now, what else can I paint?

been a-thrifting

2011-05-18T19:45:00.002+01:00

Earlier this week, Luu and I did our weekly food shop, and then popped into a couple of local charity shops. There were lots of treasures, but only three for us. This suitcase, which has been on the thrifting wish-list for a liitle while, although we did ponder, should we? do we really want it? But for the princely sum of just £2.00 and with some '80s Snoopy stickers it had to be. Luu is going to use it in her room for storage.

She also bought this linen top, which she will wear as a dress, destined for those hot days, which are on the way back...

And the third item? A 1990s road atlas for 40p, destined to be chopped up as backgrounds for some more of my pictures. I've a couple I'm working on at the moment, I should be back with them later in the week...

a running update

2011-05-17T08:47:00.001+01:00

I've just found this post, that I actually wrote on the 12th April - and then left it floundering, as I had no photo to go with it. So, I thought I'll let you have this, and then I'll update you a little more...

I haven't told you about my running lately, have I? To remind you, I'm training to do a half-marathon later in the year - gulp...

At the moment I'm following these podcasts, and they're really, really good. I'm just about to start week seven. Which means that I start with a 5 minute brisk walk - followed by 25 minutes of running and then another 5 minute walk to cool down. I did the same session on Sunday, with Mark and Phoebe along with me - on their bikes, and I did it! I amazed myself when Laura, who talks you through the podcasts, said at 24 minutes - you've got a minute left, if you can, why not run a bit faster... and I did. From my quite ploddy jog, I upped the speed - and ran.

So, with Laura's help - I should be able to do 5km in another couple of weeks, at the moment I'm doing about 4.2km.

Anyway, since then, I've been building on my time and distance, and last week completed my first 5km, in about 40 minutes. I was SO pleased. To be fair, I did it along our local cycle path and canal, so it was fairly flat. But I wanted to achieve that milestone. I'm now back on the footpaths, so that means some hills are involved, and I'm working my way back up to 5km, and beyond...

Since I've started running, at least two people I know have started running, using these podcasts. Because, if I can do this, anyone can.

April stuff

2011-05-16T17:24:00.001+01:00

Sorry I’ve been gone for a while. Here’s a brief round up of some of what I’ve been up to…
We’ve had this little one for a year

I turned another year older. And so did Mark.
We went away to Cornwall for 5 days, just before Easter, and enjoyed the fabulous British weather, and had a great break.
We went to St Ives…

To Porthcurno beach…

To Mousehole..

And to Geevor tin mine museum

There’s plenty more, but I don’t want to get you too excited with too much in one post…

Tuesday Play

2011-04-12T18:44:00.000+01:00

It's the Easter holidays around here. So, today, Phoebe and I had a quick shopping trip out. Then came back to do some art, based on the She Art course that I did. Mine's finished, Phoebe's is still a work in progress. Then we watched Harry Potter.

a bit more arty stuff

2011-03-22T15:07:00.000Z

A few more of my pictures following the She Art class

I “collected” the quote on the first one when we went to the eden project last autumn. I think it was a “what I wish I’d known when I was at school” quote. How true, and I wish I had known it…

This next one I’ve done for my sister’s birthday, I hope she likes it…

I’m trying to move these towards “my style” – not sure if I’ve quite got it yet, but I’m enjoying the journey

…and another hobby

2011-03-19T09:02:00.001Z

So, I have another hobby that I haven’t told you about. This one is totally outside my comfort zone. It doesn’t involve a creative bone in my body. There’s no paper, no glue, no fabric, no wool, no paint… and definitely no scissors.
I’ve started running. Those of you that have seen me in real life, or perhaps just had a tiny glimpse of a blogged photo, will know that I don’t have a runner’s physique. I have been heard to say in the last few weeks, that the last time I probably ran, was for a bus, in 1989, and I probably missed it…
So why have I started? Well, I had a conversation at a family birthday celebration at the end of January that, briefly, followed this train of ideas

my brother’s two brother-in-laws both ran the Birmingham Half Marathon last year
my brother, while he was in hospital, said that he would run it this year
he thought that they would forget this conversation
they didn’t
Paul’s sister-in-law also got roped in
then they asked me

Obviously I dismissed the idea, and had another slice of cake. But, after I got home, the idea played in my mind.
Could I?
I did a bit of googling, and decided that it is do-able. I have until October to go from sitting on my lardy bum, to running 13 miles. The next morning, I put my trainers on, went to our local cycle route, and walk-jogged for half an hour – as suggested. And, you know what? I did it! it was –3.5 that morning, with a beautiful thick frost, and I managed to go faster than my usual gentle stroll.
I’ve since found a series of podcasts, called C25K, that are really helping. I have an intermediate goal of a 5k run in June, and then the biggie, the half-marathon in October. I’ve registered my interest in it, and I’m telling more people that I’m going to do it, and you’re next on my list of telling people…
I will be asking for sponsorship closer to the time, probably for Macmillan Nurses, but I’ll do what Paul wants – because that’s why I’m doing it, to raise money for the cancer charity of his choice. And, don’t worry, I won’t be in anybody’s face asking for money, that’s not my style. But, if you think you might sponsor me, let me know, and I’ll get back to you later in the year…

she art workshop

2011-03-03T19:01:00.001Z

Want to see what I've been up to this week? I've been getting messy with this workshop. And I'm having a ball!! Learning lots of techniques, and being inspired by a fabulous group of artists in the She Art Community.

I've been following the techniques outlined in the lessons - but I'm already starting to feel my way towards what is more my style. I'm sure I'll have more to show you in the future. But, if you fancy having a go, there are some tutorials on Christy's website, and I believe the workshop is running again soon.

I'm off now to get my bags ready for Saturday's 12 hour cropaganza at the Bromsgrove crop, with 3 classes being taught by Kirsty Wiseman

california gurls

2011-02-28T10:16:00.001Z

I did these LOs a couple of weeks ago, but thought you might like to see them. California Gurls is mis-spelt because of the Katy Perry song which we sang a lot when we were in California last year. Mark took the photos on his phone, and there's not a "good" photo amongst them, but when all put together, they show just how much fun we were having at Disneyland, and it's not often that we get our photos taken together.

I did take a photo op - and made the girls sit in Mickey's car. We had to wait a couple of minutes, because there was another family taking photos, we got chatting, as you do... And the mom told Mark that he was really lucky to be married to me - because I have such a cute accent! Those of you that know me, as well as those that don't, are allowed to laugh at this point...

And, finally, a card that I made for my sister-in-law's birthday...

speak soon, sarah x

i need another hobby like i need a hole in the head

2011-02-27T17:27:00.002Z

Two posts in one day, wonders will never cease...

So, a couple of weeks ago, I came across this workshop, it played in my mind, I got some paints and stamps out and had a dabble, and then I signed up. The workshop opens tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to it. I'll let you know how it goes...

friday night project

2011-02-27T15:54:00.000Z

It's been half term around here, the girl's mostly do their own thing, but on Friday I took the day off work, and we went to Worcester for a mooch around.

There are loads of charity shops, where Lou got a couple of items, and independent shops, including a couple of old-fashioned sweet shops, where Phoebe bought quite a few different types of sweets. And, of course we had to pop into the scrapbooking shop...

I was very restrained, all we bought was a house/shelf thingy each... We came home and started to decorate them straight away - instead of leaving them hanging around... Three people sat around one table came up with three very different items.

Lou painted hers - complete with stars in the night sky in the roof, and a garland of daisies. She added some paper flowers and bling from my stash. And it is now home to one of her my little ponies.

Phoebe painted hers white, and then added some Amy Butler papers. We came up with the idea of adding some hooks to the bottom, for some of her necklaces, and she added some bits and bobs from around her bedroom.

I painted mine white and added some Sassafras Indie Girl papers, and some stuff from my stash...

hope your week's been good, as well...

the good stuff

2011-02-08T14:45:00.001Z

Last week my sister and I had the same day off for the first time since last year, so we went out for the day. Worcester was the destination, to go to this shop

Went to the Bromsgrove crop on saturday, and made this card with the very talented Deb

One of my recent discoveries - who knew these were so yummy! Made me happy, I thought I didn't like peanut butter, probably still don't, well, not on sandwiches anyway.

What's making you happy?

the good stuff

2011-01-29T13:59:00.001Z

Making me incredibly happy this week, is post from foreign parts.

After reading this post, I ordered a couple of brooches. Owls, of course, and the words - well "hope" is working it's way into my life this year, so it had to be...

And then, out of the blue, a card and a very thoughtful gift from my friend Lisa. I can't tell you how happy I was when I saw the envelope - even before I opened it. You just can't overestimate the excitement caused by receiving post...

Also making me happy this week is family birthdays. My Mom's and also both of my sisters-in-law, all in one week. We're off to celebrate Mom's and one sister-in-law's this afternoon - lots of family gathered together = happy.

What's making you happy?

inspired by

2011-01-28T18:25:00.001Z

Inspired by my friend Lisa's post with photos of herself, and some newly received papers, and a sketch here, I also used some old favourites and came up with this layout. Hello me x

the good stuff

2011-01-20T19:31:00.001Z

we watched a programme on BBC4 last week, which set us off dreaming of something like this

i'm scrapbooking some photos from last summer, on papers from about three years ago

i finally ordered some scrapbook papers I've been lusting after since last summer - note to self, order them, don't pither...

the sun came out - look at the shadows on my jug above

phoebe gave me a love heart

i'm thinking, in the spirit of optimism and hope, a series from me, of the good stuff. what do you think? want to play along?

the owl series

2011-01-16T13:30:00.001Z

Some time last autumn, I came accross this blog. Oh, my! Post upon post of Owl-y goodness.

On this blog there is a gorgeous print-yourself calendar, which I obviously had to have. And then my friend Lisa e-mailed me with the link, as well.

I made the owl mask, and used it as part of my costume to a quiet Hallowe'en get together at my sister's. Along with my owl t-shirt and an owl egg cosy, tucked into the outside pocket of my jacket, I really was an owl-lady!

the owl series

2011-01-16T13:26:00.000Z

There's plenty more life in the owl series.

Here are two little beauties from Paperchase.

sea colours

2011-01-15T13:30:00.001Z

Back in November, when I went to the craft show at the NEC, I bought a kit to knit some wristlets. It consisted of a ball of sock wool, and instructions to knit a square, then sew into a tube, leaving a thumb hole - my type of knitting! And I'd wanted some wristlets for some while, and the colours of the wool - so my colours. Blues, and greens - and just a dash of orange.

My friend saw me knitting them, so for Christmas, she gave me the wool, needles and patterns to knit two scarves. These are "fancy" yarns, and I'm still knitting the first one, as you have to pick up a loop in the yarn about an inch on from your current stitch, so it requires a LOT of my concentration... But, look at the colours up there at the top, sea colours...

mushroom pot

2011-01-06T19:25:00.001Z

It all started yesterday when I bought a new spice rack for the kitchen.

Actually, it started when I bought these mushrooms, a year ago.

But then I bought the spice rack, and ended up with some empty jars.

And, I already had the reindeer moss, just because I knew it would go with the mushrooms, somehow...

Then I had an a-ha moment when i came across this post, and this happened

happy days

2010-12-30T15:33:00.001Z

The eagle-eyed of my readers may have noticed a distinct lack of scrapbooking on this blog. Now, there's not been a lot of blogging, I know, but even less scrapping. There is a reason for this, and I've thought long and hard about sharing this, but it's part of me, and although it's not my story to tell, it is part of me and my story.

So, here goes.... This is a transcription of the hidden journalling, behind the photo of my brother, my sister and me...

It's all letters and numbers

I started the day with a list of numbers. You know, 6.40 alarm went off.

1 cup of tea

3 red lights

1 green light

4 cups of fruit tea

You get the idea...

But, by the end of the day there were some new numbers.

1 word

6 letters

Cancer.

My brother has cancer. He's had the op, and today found out that it's not the better seranoma we hoped for. But the teratoma. Which means two lots of chemotherapy. But, that has it's own numbers.

2 doses of chemo

6 weeks

2% chance of recurrance.

He should be done by Christmas.

This was originally journalled on Tuesday October 26th 2010, inspired by the day's prompt on Shimelle's on-line class, True Stories. And finally scrapped on 30th December 2010.

So, there you go. Sorry to end the year on a bit of a downer. But, his outlook is good. He had his (hopefully) last lot of chemo yesterday, and, as a family we shall spend new year's eve together and say goodbye to the old year, and look forward. To a happy and, above all, healthy new year.

To all of you who pop by my little blog, thank you for visiting, and here's to a happy, healthy 2011.

the owl series

2010-12-03T13:22:00.001Z

My beloved owl bag. If you've seen me in the last year or so, you're bound to have seen me with this bag.

Now, I love a good handbag, I have a few it must be said. But, I LOVE this bag. It's just the right size and shape for most outings. I bought it in the Animal shop in Newquay, when we were on holiday last year.

It has a special addition of two badges. Phoebe bought me the night owl badge - not because I am one, far from it, just because she knows I love owls. And the perfect badge, well that would be because I am, perfect that is, lol.

the owl series

2010-12-02T13:21:00.001Z

A recent charity shop find, quickly sprayed white, and now living on a shelf in my living room. I have to say that this was inspired by the wonderful Dottie Angel. Pop and see her forsaken souls if you get a chance. But, please don't blame me if you get serious thrift shop envy!

the owl series

2010-12-01T13:18:00.002Z

I love a nice cup of tea or coffee or fruit tea or, indeed, hot chocolate. And how better to drink it than from one of my owl mugs?

These are both from Paperchase, and hopefully this gorgeous mug will appear in my Christmas stocking...

the owl series

2010-11-30T13:41:00.000Z

Back to the mini-series. A card I whipped together for my 13 year old neice at the weekend - with an owl stamp. So sorry, I have no idea where or when I got this stamp. And I used my new owl tape to extra seal the envelope.

the owl series

2010-11-22T17:13:00.000Z

Like many other crafters, bloggers and assorted people out there, I really like owls... So, imagine when I popped into habitat today, and saw this... owl... tape... Owls and stationery in one cute bundle. How could I resist?

Obviously it came home with me. There was some gorgeous Christmas stuff in there too, so I'm sure to pop back if only to look at the lights. You see, I neeeed more fairy lights.

It got me to thinking, I'll show you this, and then move onto to show some of my other owls

Large Pumpkin Alert!

2010-10-27T15:43:00.001+01:00

As with most supermarkets, Tesco's have pumpkins in stock. Today we bought a "large pumpkin" for carving, and pumpkin pie baking. To show just how large this particular specimen is, I got Phoebe to take a photo of me holding it, in one hand...

And, to show I don't have giant hands, here is the large pumpkin next to 50p, incidentally the cost of this "large" specimen, for comparison.

And to show I don't have a special "large" 50p, here it is with a ruler next to it. It has a "large" diameter of 6 inches, or 15cm, in new money...

And, just in case my "large" pumpkin is feeling a little inferior... Here is the "extra large" version I bought a couple of weeks ago...

Do you think a man may have labelled these?

Mwa-ha-ha-halloween

2010-10-26T17:06:00.000+01:00

We do like a bit of decorating around here, and hallowe'en is one of our favourites, right behind Christmas. We're not having a party this year, so that means it's all a little bit tasteful, and not too full on! These few bits are in the living room, Luu and I did the house, a couple of years ago

It is decorated with some of the papers from Somerset Studio, some grungeboard swirls, pom pom trim, the bird is from some wrapping paper and Luu made the pumpkins from Fimo.

This year's additions are these words, from Hobbycraft.

Which have simply been painted, covered in patterned papers and a sticker added to the window.

I made this little picture by painting a deep frame black, and simply framing the corner of some patterned paper, and then adding the little dude who didn't quite fit.

And, finally, another spooky little corner of our house...

One Day

2010-10-16T08:05:00.000+01:00

For years, we've been saying we'll go to Clevedon - one day.

Last Saturday, that day came. And we went.

October Crop

2010-10-06T13:11:00.001+01:00

So, Saturday was the Bromsgrove Crop. And I actually had a plan of what I wanted to do, instead of turning up with loads of stuff, flicking through my photos, and then trying to put a page together with what I have in my trolley... I decided that I wanted to try some different technique type things - well, it was my plan, so it had my vague description...

But, first, I did this layout, following Deb's sketch

Now I've taken a picture, I can see that I still want to add some journalling, but someone at home has borrowed my "good white journalling pen". Again, the photo's not great, but it was taken on a dull February afternoon, and it captures Phoebe brilliantly, next to a cake stand full of her cakes. And, can you see that cluster? Could that be a "technique type thing"?

We then had a quick card making class, designed by Deb, but I don't have a photo of that - oops. But, it's a lovely masculine card, do pop over to her blog, if you get a chance...

Then onto my plan. Last week I came across this blog, and like her style, so, if you look you will see that I have blatantly "lifted" these...

I'm very happy with this, I like that the papers I happened to have in my trolley go so well with the colours in the photo. Want to see a close up of the technique?

Then came this layout, with bunting - that I can't believe that I haven't done before, as I have my fair share of bunting at home! It also has pinwheels on, that I had actuallly worked out how to do a couple of weeks ago, as my orchids currently have no flowers on, and I thought that pinwheels would brighten them up - really should take photo of that... Enough of the rambling - back to the story... The photo is one of my sister, brother and me, taken in the seventies, and the title should have been "smile please", to go with our fixed smiles. But I didn't have another "e".

So, that's my scrapbooking catch-up. Now all I need to do is put them into albums, and do some more scrapping!

September Evening Crop

2010-10-05T13:07:00.001+01:00

Apart from the monthly Saturday Bromsgrove Crop, Helen and I also try and go to the Thursday night one. And in September I got these two layouts completed. That was after taking about an hour to catch up with everyone, and settle down.

I had finished these by about 9, and was going to start another one. But, decided to pack up slowly, and carry on chatting...

September Crop

2010-10-04T12:48:00.001+01:00

The September crop at Bromsgrove was a long one, 11 till 11, with three classes by Morag Cutts. If you're a Bromsgrove cropper, or you hop around their blogs - you'll have already seen these - but these are mine...

Luu and her boyfriend, Joe, before she went to her Prom. Joe couldn't go, as it was a joint Prom with Luu's school, and the local boys' school, that Joe didn't go to. But he came to see her off, and that's a convoluted way of explaining why he isn't dressed up for Prom! But, look how his shirt matches the papers...

After the classes had finished, Helen and I challenged ourselves to do another layout using the leftovers from the class kit.

Luu and me, taken by Luu on a cable car in San Francisco. Not bad for leftovers?

And a close up of the cluster of embellishments, or "pile" as Helen calls it when she's playing up at the crop...

Then, I finished the day off with double page layout using photos taken at Disneyland, when we were in California.

Minnie is just about my favourite character - so, when I saw her I shrieked out loud, to Luu's embarrassment. I practically ran over to her, only to be politely told she was there for a private party... and could I move. Oh, well. Oh, and Mickey got into the photo, but he plays the supporting role, in my eyes.

The photos of Phoebe are really bad quality. But, just look at her face! That's why I scrapped them. It was the end of our day at Disneyland, and we were watching the awesome firework display, before a last ride then a long drive across LA, to our hotel.

May Crop in October?

2010-10-03T14:34:00.002+01:00

Well, there hasn't been much scrapping on this blog lately, has there? To be honest there hasn't been much in real life, either. But that may just be changing...

So, for a little catch-up, here's my (paltry) contribution to my albums... Back in May, I did these layouts at the Bromsgrove Crop.

The first is of Mark and Phoebe crabbing at Bude, back in 2003.

Then, using a sketch provided by Deb, I did this layout. Again using an old photo. This time of Luu, taken in 1998, just after Phoebe was born. The story behind it is that she had got herself dressed that morning (to "help" me out) in her best black velvet dress. During the morning my Mom and Dad popped in, to see if I wanted anything from the supermarket, I can't remember if I did... But Luu decided to go with them, and when they got there, by chance there was a photographer. So, she had her photo taken, in her best dress, on a Saturday morning at Tesco's.
It's really not my normal style - whatever that is... But, sometimes it's good to go out of your comfort zone, and I think it works quite well with the style of the photo, and that pink velvet chair.

And, finally, a layout that was put together really quickly, of Phoebe on holiday in 2009. Much more my style...

San Francisco Farmer's Market

2010-09-16T15:14:00.000+01:00

I'd read about the San Francisco Farmer's Market before we went to California, on the sfgirlbybay blog ( a good place to spend some time, by the way). So, it went onto my list of possible places to visit.

We went to the Saturday one, and were there by about 8.30, just in time for breakfast. A coffee and a cherry pastry for me - yumm.

Then Mark and Phoebe found us some delicious sausage-roll-type things to keep us going…

While I just sat and admired the view…

Then off we went, looking at, and smelling the lavender

And admiring the variety of shopping baskets…

Please, can I take this one home?

And, to round off our morning?

…a bag of strawberries.

Possibly the biggest strawberries I’ve ever seen. But, hey, this is America… And they were delicious

What's New

2010-09-14T10:40:00.001+01:00

since the last time i posted

phoebe left primary school :: phoebe got good SATS results :: phoebe started secondary school :: luu left secondary school :: luu got good GCSE results :: i read jane eyre :: i enrolled on an evening course :: i went on holiday to cornwall :: i went body boarding alone for the first time :: i read the twilight saga - twice :: i finally did some scrap booking at the september crop :: phoebe had her leaver's ball - and looked beautiful :: luu had her prom - and looked beautiful :: i read to kill a mockingbird :: we watched the meteor shower, and i saw one extra shooting star going in a different direction :: we had a fire on the beach - it's good to be married to a pyromaniac :: we celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary :: the weather was hot, then it rained, then it was hot, then it rained, and now it appears to be autumn :: i read one day :: luu gave me the "first conker of the season" last week - collected on her walk home from college :: we went for a sunday morning walk at the lickey hills - and vowed to do that more often :: i finished my crochet blanket :: we collected conkers, lots of them :: i read jaws :: i pondered this blog, and inspired by this post, i came back ::

what's new with you?

American Stash

2010-07-21T15:54:00.001+01:00

A quickie, to show I haven't forgotten my blog...

When we were away, I only managed to do a little bit of stash shopping, and this is, pretty much, what I got... Not much, really. But, I had limited luggage space, and lots of other exciting stuff to do!

I only saw one dedicated scrapbook store on our trip, and that was closed. When we drove by the next day, I did point it out again, but it fell on deaf ears... So, the things I did get, were from stores on the high street - they were pretty good, and covered lots of different crafts. One had fabulous fabrics in, more than we generally get in dedicated fabric stores here. Oh, if only I'd had more time, some more dollars and some more luggage space...

California - Part One

2010-07-05T13:23:00.007+01:00

So, you worked it out, then? I spent the last two weeks of June in the good old U.S.of A. Specifically, driving Route 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

And, to quote my Facebook staus - "It was AWESOME!"

We first had the idea for this trip of a lifetime last year, when we decided to sell our VW camper. We decided that, if Mark got a new job, and there was enough redundancy settlement left, and the van sold, then we would book a BIG TRIP... Well, the stars aligned for us, and just after Christmas, we booked our trip.

Now, this was a huge decision for us. We usually camp in Cornwall. We hadn't even been abroad for 5 years, and that was 5 days at Disneyland Paris. And here we were, spending a huge amount of money on a holiday!! But, do you know what? It was absolutely the right decision for us, as a family. Lou has now left school, and starts college in September. So probably won't want too many more holidays with us. And Phoebe is old enough to appreciate the trip. And we now have a catalogue of memories. On the way home, Phoebe told me that "It was the best holiday, ever!" And she was right.

So, how am I going to document this? Well, I did a bit of journalling pretty much every day, and I'm going to put together some sort of journal/scrapbook/mini-book of our trip - it's a bit of a loose idea at the moment. I'll let you know how it's coming along over the next, days, weeks or months...

But, for the blog - I think I'll jump right in with some photos from the first part of our trip.

Our plane...

Our local streetcar stop (we had the pretty streetcars)

Chinatown.

Golden Gate Bridge.

Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco.

One of San Francisco's hills.

Leaving San Francisco.

Our first view of the Pacific.

Wondering where I've been?

2010-07-03T12:16:00.002+01:00

I'll be back soon, with news from my road trip... promise.

A sunny summer saturday

2010-05-24T10:38:00.006+01:00

Spent making rafts...

Sending Teeny Tiny Ted to sea...

Adding a sail, some fancy new decking and the obligatory shades...

And then setting sail a little flotilla of boats from around the house...

Before cooling oneself down...

While some sat and made daisy chains...

And me? I sat and supervised from under the shade of the umbrella...

I name this boat...

2010-05-18T09:10:00.002+01:00

Want to see one of the things I've been up to during my blogging absence?

I've been making boats. Well, I've completed one, helped the girls with theirs, and started a new one. So, yes, I think that counts as making boats.

I found the instructions for the boat here, and lots of inspiration for future boats. Some of them have the sweetest little birds sailing them. So, of course, my boat needed a bird as well.

I searched for a suitable pattern, but ended up using a pattern I already had, found here, and previously used to make badges. I made it up in felt, with the stitching on show, and think they look pretty good. But I'm still on the search for a "plumper" bird, so if you see one on your travels, please let me know.

And what's this boat called? Miss Belle - one of the characters in the Enid Blyton book I rescued from re-cycling and used for the papier-mache.

bread pudding and bunnies

2010-05-14T17:13:00.001+01:00

Oops, where does the time go?

I promise to be back soon. But, in the meantime, feast your eyes on these photos I uploaded on the 30th March(!!!) But never got around to adding any words... I made bread pudding and chocolate bunnies - both for the first time. And very yummy they all were...

stash shopping

2010-03-30T14:52:00.001+01:00

Last Friday, I went with my Mom and my sister the the hobbycrafts show at the NEC. It's a show we've been going to for years - but this one was just not as good as it used to be.

Want to see what I bought? From what is perceived to be one of the biggest craft shows this country has to offer?

Impressed? Hmmn, thought so.

But, really, perhaps it wasn't so bad? But, there's a story - isn't there always?

As I was about to make my first purchase of the afternoon - I realised I had left my purse at home.... Thank goodness I was with Mom and Helen. Mom promptly leant me £20.00, and Helen said she'd pay for anything I wanted. Phew! Mom then said, as it's my birthday next month - I could use the £20 towards my birthday present, and Helen said to look for pressies, as well. So, the goodies in the bag above were bought with the cash - and I still have more than £12 left! Yes, the show was that good...

To be fair, I did find some other bits that Helen was going to give me for my birthday - but when I saw how little I had bought, I bought them off her. Want to see???

There were definitely sellers that have been there before, that weren't there this time. I wonder what it is? The internet? Or the economic situation? I don't know, but people certainly seemed to be spending, judging by the bulging shopping bags and trolleys.

I'm sure I'll be going to the next one, as it's not too far from where I live, and it's always better to see things for real, and to be enticed by things that might not be noticed whilst internet browsing. But I do hope that more sellers go back to it...

blankets and chocolates

2010-03-15T12:03:00.004Z

So, Saturday morning Phoebe told me that her Ted was cold, and she thought he needed a blanket. She asked me if I would crochet him one, and went for a rummage in my wool drawer, coming up with a ball that has shades of green and pink running through it. By the end of the day, Ted had his very own blanket, which, I'm told, he finds very cosy. I just did a basic granny square, going round and round, until it looked as though I was about to run out of wool, then finished off with a simple round of double crochet. So, one happy daughter, a cosy Ted and a day long project completed for the very reasonable price of just £1.29.

Sunday dawned all sun-shiny, and with special treats for Mother's day. I had cards, chocolates and a set of very gorgeous crochet hooks...

All rainbow colours, instead of the usual grey. Obviously they have been put straight to good use. I've started another blanket, the same as Ted's, but in a different colour, and hopefully,
quite a bit larger, as well. So, that would be two crochet blankets I have on the go, now.

Time Marches on...

2010-03-01T12:40:00.004Z

So, it's March, and the sun's shining this morning. And it's the day to find out about secondary schools. And the news is good... Phoebe will be going to her first choice school.

We had a chat on the way to school this morning about going to secondary school, and, already, she seems more grown up. What will she be like in September?

Tea Party

2010-02-19T06:39:00.001Z

Luu has her birthday this weekend. We spent quite a while trying to work out how to celebrate. Fitting in friends, family and a boyfriend (eek!). But, she finally decided to have a tea party for her friends on Friday - now, that I can do. Followed by a sleepover - not quite so keen on that idea. But, they're nice girls, and usually keep the noise down. As well as actually sleep..

Now, we have no problem whipping up a few cakes in this house! But, this has to be a bit more special, so using this book as inspiration, we popped online here, and ordered some extra special sprinkles

Then, when off to the pictures, Luu popped into Morrison's, and found these on the shelves...

So, armed with extra-special sprinkles, a practice run on piping the seven minute frosting...

A dust-off of some of my cake stands...

...I think we may just be ready.

Cropaganza...

2010-02-10T15:30:00.001Z

Last Saturday, the crop that I go to, had it's Cropaganza! Thirteen hours dedicated to scrapbooking!! Lib did a great job, as ever, organising a fab day. We had a little shopping, some lovely chilli and cakes, and three classes taught by Morag Cutts.

Above is the mini book - just need to put some photos and do some more embellishments in it.

We also did a kit layout...

I didn't think I had any suitable photos, but when I looked through them, I found this picture of me, my Mom and Dad on the right, and my Auntie and Nana. I think it really suits the retro feel of the papers, how about you?

We also did a sweet wall organiser using the same papers as the mini book.

So, after spending all afternoon on the classes, I decided to have a change of tack, and went back to scrapping some of the older pictures I've recently had processed.

I've had these papers a little while, knowing I wanted to use them with these photos, again I think they have a retro feel. The photo is my brother, my sister and me, sat on the sideboard... Note the fringes... We think that Mom used to cut them especially when she knew we were going to be photographed.

And the last one is me, strawberry picking - and looking as though I have a fair few in my mouth.
I got home just after 11.30 in the end, shattered, but already looking forward to the next one...

2009 Questions and Answers

2010-02-09T18:15:00.001Z

My friend, Lisa, tagged me to answer some questions. I (nearly) finished them last night, but the mighty internet conspired against me, and wouldn't let me find the song lyrics I wanted, and I'm still having trouble... So, here's (most) of my answers...

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Went to a crop

2. What are your New Year’s Resolutions?
To Focus
To lose some more weight...

3. Did anyone close to you give birth in 2009?
No

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness

5. What countries did you visit?
England, and Cornwall (does that count?)

6 What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Smaller sized jeans

7. What date(s) in 2009 will remain etched in your memory and why?
February, when Mark phoned home to tell me he had been made redundant.
August - Mark's new job, and a surprise!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Keeping everything together, when it felt like it was all falling apart

9. What was your biggest failure?
Thinking it might all just fall apart....

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury?
No

11. What was the best thing someone bought you?

The Christmas presents from my girls. I had no idea Luu made a special trip to buy them, and she bought me a necklace I had admired the week before - and she wasn't even there!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My girls - they really are lovely...

13. Whose behaviour appalled and depressed you?
No one. really

14. Where did most of your money go?
Hmmn, just getting by for the first part of the year, and then catching up with life after August...

15. What did you get really, really excited about?
Going to the beach, and thinking about a very special beach trip for 2010!

16. What song(s) reminds you of 2009?
Paolo Nutini - Sunny Side Up, album

17. Compared to last year are you...
a.) Happier or Sadder? happier
b.) Thinner or Fatter? thinner
c.) Richer or Poorer? bit richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
NOT over-eating!

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worried about things I had no control over

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family, simply

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I didn't fall out of love, does that count?

22. What was your favourite TV program?
Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't this time last year?
Hate's a bit of a strong word...

24. What was the best book you read?
Yay, Twilight!!! Sad, but true. I read all four books in five days in October - I couldn't even sleep properly while I was reading them, I HAD to know what happened next! I want to re-read them, but I can't risk the sleepless nights!

25. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I was 41, and I wished that I was at the seaside.... And ate lots of cake, baked for me by my girls...

26. What was your best musical discovery?
Lisa Hannigan

27. What did you want and get?
Mark to get a job

28. What was your favourite film of the year?
Up

29. What did you want and not get?
Size 10 jeans that fit...

30. What one thing would've made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
see 29... Oh, and if I had bought the Take That tickets I was offered on the day of the concert... But, we had no money, sigh.

31. How would you describe your fashion concept for 2009?
Same as... Jeans, t-shirts, Converse

32. What kept you sane?
My family
Scrapbooking
Reading other people's blogs
Cake and Gin
Trips to the beach

33. Which celebrity or public figure did you admire most?
Kirstie Allsop (tongue most firmly in cheek, but she does make me smile!)

34. What political issue stirred you most?
The economy - don't even get me started on the bankers... The on-going war.

35. Who do you miss?
My aunt

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Lisa - thank you for tagging me...

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned.
I've known it for a long time, but this year showed it.... Things will turn out right in the end

38. Quote a song line that defines your year.
mmm, think the chorus from James Morrison, wonderful world

Well, that's a bit about me. How about you?

My famous parking space...

2010-02-08T18:10:00.001Z

A couple of times on my blog, I've put photos taken as I park my car at work. Well, that space is very nearly famous!

As I got out of my car one day last week, a chap in a woolly hat asked if I would mind moving my car, as the space was going to be used to put a camera in, for filming! Ooh, have the BBC been lurking on my blog? Well, no. The series Doctors is often being filmed around where I work, and last week they were filming in our car park.

I may have to start watching, to see if me or my car make an appearance in the background...

dishcloths...

2010-02-02T11:11:00.002Z

So, I've worked out how to crochet from a foundation chain. With some help from my Mom. And to practice, I've been crocheting... dishcloths!

Does this mean I have too much time on my hands? Well, no. I can actually do this while watching TV, so, quite productive, really... And, the dishcloths are really good. Even Luu commented that they are better than the others. And they're good practice projects - next up, decorative edgings - on my dishcloths...

And on the scrapbooking front, I've finished my Christmas layouts, here's just a couple of them.

I have some great pictures of my sister, brother and me in the mid 70's, just begging to be scrapped, but focus. Before I move onto them, I'm working on a mini-album of my December postings...

Mostly...

2010-01-18T12:44:00.008Z

This week I have mostly been playing with these... And more to follow...

I have also done a bit of this...

And this... And more to follow...

And my Mom gave me this...

She bought the kits to make one each for my sister and me...

I'm thinking that making things runs in my family... And more to follow...

Snow...

2010-01-18T12:14:00.007Z

Ok, so I'm a bit late, the snow's (nearly) all gone. But, snow got in the way of blogging - just the getting to and from work was.... interesting.

But, the snow last Wednesday, was quite beautiful, until it got all grubby and messed up...

It sat in perfect piles on top of everything, the pots in the garden looked like bizarre mushrooms.

By Friday it had nearly all gone, just a memory blanketed in mist and fog.

So, on Saturday, Phoebe and I decided to recreate the snowy wonderland. Phoebe baked the cup-cakes, then together we made seven minute frosting. We used half the quantities of that recipe, and had more than enough for 12 very generous toppings. In fact, we also spread it over some available biscuits. We then glammed them up even further with snowmen, snowballs and edible cake glitter. The icing itself is a bit like meringue, or marshmallow. It's not as sweet as other icings, so huge amounts on the top of the cakes was perfectly acceptable to us. Definitely an icing to be used again...

A Focus Journal

2010-01-11T14:21:00.007Z

So, with a plan to focus in mind, a book is needed. No, not just a book - a journal, that sounds more like it. With the snowy weather going on around here, and no real desire to venture out to buy one, I made one. It's actually very similar to the ones that I made (but didn't photograph) as Christmas presents.

I've decided that I need to write lists to help me focus - so, this is my book for lists. I've started today with the following list (don't worry, I won't blog every list...)

clean fridge - done, but I broke the bottom glass shelf, oops, nowhere to store the fruit juice and meat, but on the other hand, much easier to reach the veg and salad!
eat properly (ok so far...)
outside photos - done, but very monochrome, not pretty enough to show
water orchids - done

I've also started a "to do this week" list, with a bit of crafting and a bit of organising on there so far. This is for the not quite so urgent things, and means I won't have to carry over too many things from day to day.

Whilst doing a teensy bit of blog hopping this morning, I came across this post. Obviously, I've printed it off. I think that if I can tick off most days in a week, the bigger picture will show that I am being focused, even if I do fall occasionally...

Focus...

2010-01-05T14:20:00.001Z

So, I've decided on my word for the year...

focus

I need to focus. On organisation in our home. On decluttering. On not faffing around. On making lists. And reading them. And doing something off those lists. I need to focus on the things that I enjoy - and do them. I need to continue to focus on my family. And friends. I need to focus on my weight loss, a stone and a half in the last six months, and hopefully the same again in the next half year...

And I need to focus my camera - lol... And, I'm seriously thinking about laser eye treatment - so I would be able to focus on the world around me from the moment I wake each day...

Happy New Year...

2010-01-02T19:21:00.014Z

So, here we are, 2010... How did that happen? Surely it's only five minutes since the Millennium?

So many things to think about for the new year... Will I have a word for the year a la Ali Edwards? Think so, just not quite sure of it yet, (maybe it should be commitment?), my gut feeling is organise, but spoke to my friend Lisa today, and hers is ahead - which I think is great, fits with my desire to be organised. I'll come back to this, soon...

Well, I completed my idea to document something from each day in December. Even if I didn't blog on the actual day. I really like the fact that I now have pictures and words down to describe MY December, and plan to print it off and make it into a mini-book.

I did learn something from my version of December Daily, and that is that I can't blog on a daily basis (back to commitment?). But, I do want to blog more regularly. I just need to organise myself, and commit to it... As well as, take more pictures, get them onto my computer and blog on a regular basis... Ooh, these words are definitely starting to stand out, aren't they?

Hmmn, been away, looking for a picture to add to this post, and ended up looking at a list of words, and accomplish jumped out at me. Could this be the word? It feels better than organise - which I do want to be - or perhaps, achieve? Or focus?

Like the little bird up there? I sewed him up last Sunday - to keep the fingers busy whilst watching films...

Christmas Eve

2009-12-24T22:01:00.001Z

Wow, how Cristmassy has this weather felt? Snow... on the ground... on Christmas Eve...

Mark had to work, this morning, but the rest of us went to visit my aunt, who lives the other side of town. Everywhere looked so pretty on the way, with the snow. And it was also quite misty, making everything a bit eerie, but in a good way. And disguising some of the less savoury sights on a trip across this city... And then I remembered, I had my camera in my bag... So, on the way home, I snapped away, from the back seat of Dad's car.

The picture above is of The Old Grammar School, Kings Norton. It, and the nearby Saracen's Head, won the BBC's Restoration programme a few years back. Well, all of the restoration has been completed, and two old buildings have been saved and put to really good use as community buildings - I know this, as I go to my slimming group in the Saracen's Head, or St Nicolas' Place, as it has now been re-named. I used to go to Brownies in the Old Grammar School, many years ago, and got married in the church that lies between the two buildings, also many years ago...

I'm quite chuffed with the pictures I took...

This is a church hall, near the city centre. I had to take a picture, as it is just so incongruous. It almost looks New England-y, but there it is, in the middle of Birmingham...

We got home, closely followed by Mark, had some lunch, then set off to see what time the crib service was to be. Picking up an extra table from Mom and Dad's, to take to Helen's - we're all off to her's tomorrow...

So, we got to the church, to find we had missed the crib service - by two days! Oh, well, better luck next year... We never made it last year, either...

Off to Helen's we went, to help get ready for the big day... The veg was peeled, the dining table was laid, but the table we had taken round didn't fit where it needed to go. So, Mark and Simon decided to bring in the table from outside. But, before they brought it in, they decided to clean the glass top, with warm (they say tepid) water, when the temperature was around zero. All I will say on the matter is - don't try to put your drink down on the outside table...

After a little drinky, home we came, to make sure all was tidy for Father Christmas. Christmas pyjamas were put on - Father Christmas had thoughtfully left us a pair each, this morning. Then a mince pie, carrots and a glass of milk were left for our night time visitors.... And then it was time for bed...

Stockings finished...

2009-12-23T19:58:00.002Z

Hmmn, no work today, but today's the day for a minor melt down. Well, it had to happen, didn't it? It's all so very nearly ready - but, not quite. So, I had to lock myself in the bedroom to finish the wrapping and sorting. It's felt a bit single handed this year, but, it's all done now.

Dad brought the ham round, so that's been cooked, very yummy, as usual.

Then, down to the sewing - stockings don't stitch themselves, you know. Even Mark entered into the spirit, and stitched his own stocking. We all put our names on them, so Father Christmas will know who they belong to. Luu's is very intricate, with beads individually stitched on; Mark's is very simple, just his name; Phoebe's is more colourful than the rest, with bright beads added; and mine is fairly simple, just a heart as embellishment.

I wonder what will be left in them TOMORROW NIGHT, excitement is mounting around here...

Christmas pressies and stockings

2009-12-22T20:30:00.001Z

Where's the time gone? Only two days left to complete all of those ideas I've had! Oh, well, what doesn't get done, doesn't get done... But, I'm sure it will.

Helen and I decided to do the BIG Christmas food shop today. And we had decided to go early... So, off we went at 5.30 this morning! Boy, was it cold.

It was really not too bad - Tesco's only had half-light until about seven, which actually made it quite relaxing. There were lots of staff stocking up the shelves and pushing their on-line shop trollies, and we managed to get pretty much what we needed - only forgetting a few things...

We were home and un-packed by 8.30 (and that's only because we spent an extra half an hour sorting a present from Dad to Mom). Which made for a very looong day. So, I got the girls to help do the last of the wrapping - well, not quite, but there are some things they couldn't wrap...

Luu and I then set to making some little notebooks, using the bind-it-all, some cheap notebooks from the poundshop, and some scrapping stash. They turned out pretty well, all personalised on the front, but I never took any pics before wrapping them.

After tea, we made a start on some little stockings - an idea that I'd had earlier in the month, and bought cream felt for. It was very pleasant, sat in front of Top of the Pops2, Christmas edition, stitching away. Interspersed with much hilarity when we realised that Phoebe had sewn the top of her stocking together! Nothing that couldn't be sorted with a quick snip of the scissors...

Christmas Crafts with Nanny

2009-12-21T19:14:00.001Z

Last year, Mom decided to sort out a day, just before Christmas, to do some crafting, with the grandchildren. We all had such a good time, that we decided to do it again. Today's the day for Christmas Crafting with Nanny, 2009.

Mom had sorted out some gingerbread coloured felt, and cut out shapes using gingerbread cutters for the kids to sew up and decorate. The biggies sewed their own - in fits and starts, but the littlies had their's sewn up for them. Although little Miss H did give instructions as to how hers should be done, as befits a 4 year old...

Lots of tv watching and playing went on amongst the kids - then they finished off the day decorating masks. Cats for the big ones, and a dog and princess for the littlies. Lots of glitter, feathers and felt.

I spent most of the time (after sewing gingerbread decorations...) hooking a Christmas wreath. Mom had done a class with her WI, being taught how to "hook". She bought Helen and I a kit each, to make our own wreaths. Helen and her girls have already made theirs, and in fact, Helen completed a second one, as she has double doors to the living room - so needed two. They have all been made using the same instructions and fabrics, but they all look different. Mine is quite large, thanks to Amber's cutting, but it's just right for the back of the front door, where it hides the back of the wreath decorating the front door, if that makes sense...

Each of the kits included a hook, used for pulling the fabric through - but we also used one that Mom had, that belonged to my great-grandmother! This crafting thing must be in the genes! Don't you think? One of the differences being, that grandma (as we called her) used to use fabric from jumble sales, whereas ours came from the Rag Market. Although, Helen and I think that we could make wreaths, or possibly hearts, from the girl's outgrown pyjamas...

Michael Jackson Party

2009-12-20T21:36:00.001Z

Today's the day for my friend's son's birthday party. Callum's birthday is on Boxing day, but Jayne decided to have his party before Christmas this year. She organised some dance teachers to teach 25 seven and eight year old boys how to dance like Micheal Jackson. And, they loved it.

She got them each a hat and a microphone, and covered 25 white gloves with sequins. They learned a short routine, and danced before their parents, when they came to pick them up. Ann and I were roped in, as her very good friends, to look after the food, the drinks and the parents.

We then had a chilled out evening at Jayne's, with chilli (cooked by me) and chocolate fudge cake, brought by Ann.

Saturday

2009-12-19T23:16:00.002Z

Still no desire to go anywhere near the shops on the last weekend before Christmas. Luckily, my planning has paid off. Pretty much all of the presents have been bought. However, they haven't all been wrapped up yet - but, there's still time.

Haircuts this afternoon - I had a good few inches chopped off mine, and it feels much better.

We were supposed to be going out this evening. To a do organised by the factory that Mark has recently been made redundant from. But, he decided not to go. Mark is one of very few who has got a new job - and he didn't want anyone to feel that he was gloating in any way. He also wants to look forward, not back. And only a few people from his department could go - the ones he would have liked to meet up with couldn't make it.

The upside of not going out? The Strictly Final!!!!!!!! It's a new Christmas tradition, round here, to spend the last Saturday evening before Christmas watching the Strictly Final.

In the words of Craig - it was FAB-U-LOUS!!!

The dancing was great, the atmosphere was great, now if only Brucie didn't present.... I would have been happy with either Ricky Whittle or Chris Hollins winning, they were both brilliant - in different ways. But, our favourite, Chris, won. Thanks, I'm sure, to the voting that Phoebe did!

While we were watching, Luu came to tell us that it was snowing. And it was. The most perfect fat snowflakes were laying a blanket on the ground. Could we be in for a White Christmas?

Party Day... Another One...

2009-12-18T21:46:00.001Z

Each year, I go to a corporate work's Christmas "Do", and today's the day. It's always an afternoon event, Christmas Meal, followed by a disco, then onto Broad Street for a couple of hours, for those that want...

This year, we went to Telford, where a small number of employees are based, and someone had suggested it would be "fair" to hold a Christmas event there. So, three coachloads of us went up the M6 to join the dozen, or so, staff in Telford. The meal was good, then the disco kicked off with half an hour of karaoke. Now, it had been suggested around my department that I would be taking my turn! But, I keep telling them, I don't do karaoke! Sing Star? That's completely different...

The karaoke was not too bad, definitely different It kicked off with just about the biggest poseur there, but, he got us all in the mood. He was followed by good singers, bad singers who thought they were good, appalling singers up for the fun of it, and, of course, a truly dreadful effort by the exec team. But, all good fun...

We got back to Broad Street to round off the day with a few G&T's. Ann's husband came to pick us up - we just had to get to the front of the Mailbox - no problem, apart from the sheet ice everywhere. And Ann and I being the most fall over pair you are likely to meet. But we got there safely, and waited, and waited, and waited... Probably for about half an hour, it was absolutely freezing! At one point, we were going to ask the taxi drivers if they wanted us to warm up their seats... But it was very festive, with families making there way home from the German Market, and people heading out for their Friday night out.

I got home and watched Love Actually. Mark got home just after me, and went straight to bed. Only one of us had a headache the next day...

thursday.....

2009-12-17T18:53:00.005Z

Thursday, work, not much more than that....

Work-a-day Wednesday, and Webbs

2009-12-16T18:47:00.001Z

Wednesdays mean work - so not too Christmassy. But after I got home, Helen rang to see if we wanted to go to Webb's. Er, yes... So, off we went.

It was so pretty, all of the railings outside were covered in icicle lights, and they also had what looked to be very pretty lights outside, but it was too drizzly to take a closer look. Instead, we all had a lovely mooch at the decorations, and the little villages inside.

Merry Hill, again?

2009-12-15T20:46:00.001Z

Merry Hill? Again? Anybody would think it was nearly Christmas...

So, a shopping day was organised with Mom and Helen. Where to go was left to the "lists". But on the day, the drizzly damp weather meant that Merry Hill it was. The end of the day left us with much shorter lists, and we had a lovely day, complete with the obligatory hot chocolate - to keep the sugar levels up, you understand.

Christmas Trees in Town

2009-12-15T19:57:00.003Z

Luu had today off, the end of her exam leave for her mocks (eek, GCSE's next year!). So we took ourselves off into town for some Christmas shopping, and also an outfit for her college interview, on Friday. Luckily, we found the perfect outfit quite quickly, and our shopping list for the day was soon completed.

So, we rewarded ourselves with a couple of hazelnut hot chocolates and a Christmas Pudding Cupcake. We sat in the Starbucks in Selfridges, looking out at the real Christmas Trees for sale on their balcony. Yes, Pedlars in Selfridges are selling real Christmas trees in Birmingham city centre! And they looked gorgeous, but there were still quite a lot left - I suppose people may not really want to drag a tree through town, but I'd like to see them try!

Party Day!!!

2009-12-15T19:55:00.006Z

So, today's the children's Christmas Party. It's hard work, and great fun, all at the same time. And even though we may mumble and grumble and say never again... We've already asked the DJ to come back next year. We only had the one turn up, phew! And he never turned up till ten minutes before the party was due to start - and then took half an hour to set up! Luckily not too many people turned up that early!

The party seemed to go well, we had plenty of thank yous and hugs. And Father Christmas turned up and gave all of the children a present, as they'd ALL been good this year! We set up a little "grotto" in the corner of the hall for Father Christmas, which he seemed to enjoy, even though it tried to fall down on him... And, yes, my decision about the tacky seventies style Christmas lights was right, they looked the part in our grotto.

A bright and early start

2009-12-15T06:30:00.008Z

It's the children's Christmas Party this weekend. The one my friend and I have organised, for the children and grandchildren of staff where we work, for the last five years. So, yesterday also included filling our cars with the presents etc, that we have bought, and kept stored at work.

The plan to do the food shopping was a little different this year. We decided to meet up early, at a supermarket between where we both live. So, at eight o'clock this morning, we met to buy party food for 66 children, and accompanying parents! All this at a supermarket where neither of us normally shop. This caused some light-hearted grumbling, when we couldn't find the things that we needed, most noticeably the Party Rings. I mean, you can't have a party without Party Rings! Eventually we found them, but not with the biscuits! I mean...?

We rewarded our early start, and hard work(!), with a cooked breakfast in the supermarket cafe. And were delighted to see three ladies, probably in their seventies, meeting up to exchange presents over tea and a bun. We did wonder if that is our future?

The rest of the day was spent quite quietly at home. We don't really want to be venturing out to the shops on a Satueday this close to Christmas, unless we need to. As a family, we have done quite a bit of on-line shopping this year, and I have done most of the rest on Mondays and Tuesdays, when I don't work, all-in-all, a nice balance.

The afternoon was spent doing quite a bit of wrapping, and sorting, and hiding... And the day was rounded off with a marathon sit down in front of Strictly. I can't believe it's the final next week, and I can't believe I will be out that night! Oh, thank you for digital recorders! I shall watch it all on Sunday, even if I do know by then who has won, and i shall be able to fast forward through the Brucie cringy bits...

Oh, Christmas Tree

2009-12-15T06:11:00.005Z

Hmmn, it's getting close to Christmas, now. Only two weeks. A work day, so pretty quiet Christmas-wise. Mom and Helen got their Christmas trees, they have real ones. I've had the same artificial one since Luu was a baby. In fact, I chose it the year before.

We decided to go artificial as we like our decorations up the first weekend in December, and we'd already had a year when we had to get a replacement tree!! So, we chose our tree from a local garden centre, and decided to get it on boxing day, when their half price sale started. Being seven and a half months pregnant meant that the early start was easy, and there we were, as the doors opened. In we went, and looked for our tree. But they had none! Such a lovely, if pricy, tree, of course they had sold them all. What to do? We looked at the ones they had left, but they weren't a patch on the chosen tree. So, we didn't get one. We decided to keep looking - for that perfect tree.

Towards the next Christmas, we kept an eye on all the shops and garden centres, waiting for them to get their Christmas stock out. The shops started to get all Christmassy, and the search for the tree began. Luckily, it didn't last too long. Our garden centre had OUR TREE in stock!!! So, we got it. And we still use it. And each year it still surprises me that it is still so lovely. In fact, last year was the first year since we had it, that my Mom did not ask, "Oh, have you had a real tree, this year?"

A Year Ago, Today...

2009-12-10T17:48:00.007Z

A year ago today, I took the plunge into the wonderful world of blogging! Where I was going with it, I didn't know. And, if truth be told, I still don't really know..

There are so many lovely blogs that I read, some scrapbooking, some knitty, some crochet, some design types, some in languages I can't read (they have the lovely pictures), some with lovely pictures - and I do wonder what mine is? I flit around through these blogs - and am influenced by them - but can't quite pin down what I want mine to be.

This blog has brought me back into touch with one of my school friends, Hi Lisa,and through that renewed friendship I have made more friends by joining the monthly Bromsgrove crop, Hi Lib.

This blog has tracked the changes of an ordinary life. This time last year we were getting our heads around Mark's four day week. Since then, we have spent six months living under the shadow of impending redundancy. And then the utter surprise of a new job. Now we are living with the demands of that new job, combined with quite hefty amounts of courses and training for it. And the factory that was due to close by November? Well, it's still open, at least into the new year.

This blog has documented some of the stuff that we do. The crafty stuff. The family stuff. The dreams of the seaside. It has seen birthdays, holidays and baking. What will the next year bring? Who knows. But, I hope to still be here, and if I could ever commit to it, I will be a tad more organised in the coming year, and perhaps, do a few more than the measly fifty posts I have managed in the past year.

I shall now away, for a celebratory G&T...

Sarah x

wednesday 9th

2009-12-10T17:33:00.006Z

So, work today, so not particuarly a Christmassy type day. But... did manage to sort out a dj for the children's party my friend and I organise at work. Huge phew! As the party is this Sunday, and we've been let down by 2 djs, the one has done this party for us for the past five years, but has just not returned any calls or emails, and the second said he could do it, he just had to check the times of an event that evening, and still has not come back to us!!! It was starting to look like a cd player in the corner...

Watched the second part of Kirstie's Homemade Christmas this evening. Such a sweet programme, and even more ideas of things to do for Christmas. I have a little list of things to do, for after the Christmas shopping has been done, and after I break up for Christmas, which would be next week - woohoo!

And today's photo? Another one from last Friday, of the Christmas Tree outside St Martin's Church. No, it wasn't snowing. That's the flash bouncing off the drizzle - but quite pretty, nevertheless. And if you really squint your eyes, and because I said so, you can just see the church in the background...

8th December

2009-12-10T17:19:00.007Z

Yesterday, got some very sweet new lights for the holly tree outside the front door, so got them put on. And very lovely they look too. Sadly, it's too dark to get a piccie.

Today I nipped to Webb's to admire their Christmas decorations, hopefully I'll take Mark and the girls to have a look, too. Popped into Hobbycraft while there, and stocked up on a couple of Advent gifts for the girls, then dropped in at Gallery Textiles for some cream felt for planned Christmas projects....

And, as there are no pics from today, one from last Friday, of the wheel, in town, which was shut, so I couldn't go on it, phew!

Off to Merry Hill...

2009-12-07T20:40:00.005Z

Today's the day. Helen and I off to Merry Hill to really put a dent in that Christmas Shopping List!

Well, that was the plan. Unfortunately, our lists weren't that great to start with, due to lack of letters sent to Father Christmas around here! But we did our best, and came home with heavier bags, and lighter purses.

The picture was taken in TKMaxx. I had just picked up the perfect present for one of my friends, when I noticed somebody had been arranging the letters - and, no, it wasn't me! Luckily, due to "the plan" for the Christmas book, I had my camera with me, so I whipped it out and took the picture, forgetting to turn the flash off! So, then had to shove the camera in my bag, and whizz off, before anybody could question the strange behaviour of the lady in the household section!

Deck the halls...

2009-12-07T20:18:00.007Z

It's the first weekend in December. That means it's time to put up the decorations!!! Yay!

This is what the living room looked like at 10 o'clock in the morning. And after many trips into the loft, this is what it looked like by 3 in the afternoon. Just in time for my traditional glass of sherry. The Christmas music had been playing all day, just to keep us in the mood...

On a side note, Phoebe wrote a very (unintentionally) funny piece about not being to help with the tree, and having to do washing up instead! Luckily, I printed it off before she deleted it, and will be able to pop it into my Christmas book - because that's where these (nearly) daily rambling are heading. There are lots of scrappers out there doing things like Journal Your Christmas or December Daily, and I really fancied having a go. But following my pretty poor attempt at learning something new everyday in September, I decided to wing it myself, and try to get some notes here on my blog, to help put something together at a later date - well, that's the plan, anyway...

A cropping we shall go...

2009-12-07T20:08:00.005Z

It's the first Saturday of the month - it's time for the Bromsgrove crop!

Off Helen and I trundled to enjoy a day of scrapping, laughing and festive merriment - complete with a visit from Father Christmas himself! Who invited us all to delve into his sack! Thanks for a lovely day Lib.

Mark and the girls had been to see Mark's mom, and they got me this sweet little robin - oh how well they know me...

4th December

2009-12-07T19:56:00.005Z

Friday the 4th dawned cold and frosty, but treated me to this lovely view when I got to work.

After school a family trip to the German Markets took place. All of the cousins, plus Nanny, made their way into town, to enjoy the festive lights and delights.

A trip on the wheel was planned, but, due to technical problems, it wasn't turning. Phew...

We munched our way through hot pretzels, yummy German hot dogs and chillipoppers (chilli peppers stuffed with cream cheese, then deep fried).

The littlies got their adrenaline kicks from a slide down the helter skelter - complete with coconut mats.

We then meandered back through town, mooching in some of the shops, before making our way home to a welcome Friday night glass of wine...

3rd December

2009-12-03T16:48:00.003Z

So, today I ended up with a surprise couple of hours at home, by myself. So, before I left work, I sorted myself a little to do list:

fill advent calendars - check
sort pressies in bedroom - check
move wrapping downstairs
sort craft table - check (although Charlie cat does think it's his bed!)
tidy PTA paperwork away - check
check girl's trees in loft (bought new earlier in year, and forgot what colour they were - black for Luu, white for Phoebe) - check
check Christmas lights in loft - too high up, so left for another time. Aargh - running out of time, hope they all work before a panic/manic dash to the shops at the weekend
take some photos for the blog, as home in the daylight - check
update pressie lists in "my book" - check
blog this list - check

Still have to go and collect the turkey for the school Christmas Fayre, but that won't be until later, so not really for this list.

I'm quite pleased with what I achieved with my little to-do list - one of many over the next few weeks, I'm sure.

2nd December

2009-12-02T22:27:00.005Z

Luu's tree has now been finished. But no pics yet, I'll try to get one tomorrow.

A quick trip to the chocolate shop to stock up on humungous tins of chocs ready for Christmas - and some "emergency" chocolate, just for me... Also, some advent chocolates.

Then, this evening, a very unusual shoppping trip - the only presents bought? Presents for me...

December the First...

2009-12-01T16:14:00.005Z

So, December is here, and the countdown to the most wonderful time of the year!

Phoebe made the tree, Luu's is still a "work in progress", at the moment.

Is it 25 days to the big day? Or 24? I think 24, but Phoebe has it at 25, so there we go.

A bit of Christmas shopping today, and some of it already wrapped! And the first Christmas card has gone in the post - but it has gone overseas...

made this weekend

2009-10-19T12:50:00.001+01:00

This last weekend has been one of those quite ordinary weekends. You know, one where you don't really DO anything. And then I thought, actually, we did do quite a lot...

On Saturday we cleaned and tidied the house, set up the new laptop to our home network, set up the printer as a network printer, Phoebe did her gymnastics, Mark and I had our flu jabs, the lawn was mown, the girl's and I had our hair cut, we enjoyed a delicious home made chilli and the day was rounded off by watching Strictly - quite a lot for a quiet Saturday.

Sunday was a lazy day - all the housework had been done the day before. All we did was the weekly food shop, Mark did four hours of homework, the ironing basket was (nearly) cleared, we popped to a couple of garden centres looking for planters and looking at fish, cooked and consumed a Sunday Roast before sitting in front of the TV watching Doc Martin (oh, how I want to live in Cornwall, AND have a dog!), laughing our way through a re-run of Top Gear (the one with the old Leyland cars, that Helen and I saw them filming, but that's another story) and dreaming of going whale watching again while watching Last Chance to See..

Yep, just another average quiet weekend. Then I remembered the crafty, creative makes that had also made their way into the weekend.

Phoebe made banana cakes, using a banana loaf recipe that she'd made a couple of weeks ago.

While the house was being tidied on Saturday, Mark inadvertently threw away some very important bits of paper that were lying around on the computer table. These were lists of various important bits of info that Luu had been jotting down while surfing the net. So, pulling a few bits of card from my stash, I made her a book to keep those scraps of paper together and not looking like intended rubbish...

The cover was made from a quick card I had started to make...

The inside pages have been folded up to make pockets for those important bits of paper, and some blank cards left for new notes...

And some pictures added, well, just because... Then all put together using my Bind-It-All. It's already been put into use - I might just have to make some more...

Sunday morning saw me showing the girls how to make paper boats, the picture's at the top of this post. We used pages out of magazines headed for recycling - carefully choosing pages with good colour combinations. And very pretty they look - "sailing" along the window ledge in the conservatory.

So, there you go, a quiet weekend at our house...

Sarah x

and she's back...

2009-10-16T16:54:00.009+01:00

Dear Blog,

I am so sorry I have neglected you. It has been many weeks since I visited you, but I thought of you often. And pondered our reunion many times. So, please accept my apologies, and welcome me back with open arms and mind.

your friend,
Sarah x

So, I've been an incredibly bad blogger. Also, didn't do too well with my Learn Something New Every Day. I think I knew it was going to be a commitment too far for September. And it turned out to be. Mark ended up juggling two jobs for the month, which meant home life got a bit hectic. But, he has now officially been made redundant, and has started his new job. So life is still busy - but in a different way. Also, I had to do the round of secondary schools with Phoebe, as her application had to be in at the end of September. One week we had seven schools with open nights! Needless to say, we didn't get to all of them! But, the form has been submitted - so, now we have to wait until March to find out where she'll be going next year. Loads more happened, but I won't get bogged down in that just now, better to just get this much posted, I think.

So, for something to look at, a couple of layouts that I did in September. No, fibbing, the last one was done at October's crop...

Sarah x

On a Roll

2009-09-03T19:35:00.009+01:00

So, in the last hour, I have...

Finished the cover for my Learn Something New Every Day folder
Designed (ha ha) a sketch for each page - hopefully this will make it easier to do each page. I won't have to think about a new layout each day
Done Day 1
Done Day 2
Done Day 3

I have gone with the idea of using up my stash. So, I'm using a binder from Paperchase (a birthday present back in April), the cardstock is Papermania from a couple of years back and the papers are a Basic Grey set I bought earlier in the year. It's a Christmas set - but just my sort of colours, and I don't think they look too Christmassy, and I really don't think I will use them all up at Christmas...

The pics aren't great - taken on a really gloomy day, about 15 minutes after any reasonable light was around, as there were no batteries charged for the camera when I was ready...

Oh, and I had some "help" from Charlie

back soon...

1st September 2009

2009-09-03T12:32:00.004+01:00

Ok, so I didn't actually manage to post yesterday about what I learned on the first - are you confused as well? But, I have a reason - or excuse.

After a day at work, I picked the girls up from home, dove to Ikea, and spent five (yes, five) hours there. Then drove on the motorway in torrential rain, to finally get home at 10 pm. Then I had to go to look after my Mom and Dad's cat and house. Not bad, as reasons (excuses) go, is it?

So, I haven't actually done a page yet, or finished my cover page... But, I have a plan! I will be able to catch up at the crop on Saturday! As well as decorate a post box for my friend's wedding...

And, what did I learn on the first?

"Teenage Daughters love you, when they want a lift home, in the rain."

back soon...

Learn Something New Every Day

2009-09-01T17:27:00.010+01:00

So, I've signed up for my first ever on-line class, Shimelle's "Learn Something New Every Day"...

I've got some cardstock, some papers and some embellishments ear-marked. Now I just need to work really hard in class - and learn something new every day!!! Not really a problem, I know I learn new stuff all the time... The problem will be my utter lack of organisation, and taking the time to identify what I've learned - but that's one (or two) of the reasons I'm taking the class.

This is day one - and I think I know what I've learned today - but, the day's not over yet, and there could be something even more important to be learnt.

Not to put even more pressure on myself - but I'm also aiming to blog what I've learned, each and every day in September.

See you tomorrow...

Edited - something else I've learned today - how to add a blinkie...

Life is a Roller Coaster...

2009-08-03T18:40:00.009+01:00

...just got to ride it. Or words to that effect, as Ronan Keating sang.

So much has happened in the last few weeks, I almost don't know where to start...

Luu had two weeks work experience before school broke up. She worked at a friend's florist shop - and loved it! By all accounts, she did really well, worked really hard and learned loads. During the first week she started to get a rash on her face - which we thought was an allergy. But as it got worse over the weekend I took her to the doctors, who said she had shingles. She had anti-virals prescribed and off we went. But very worried about potential scarring on her beautiful face. But by that weekend it was no better, in fact it was much, much worse. So, back to the doctors, who this time said it was Impetigo ( a highly contagious skin infection). He was very surprised no-one else in the house had caught it - down to my good housekeeping I think LOL!!! So, the poor thing had unwittingly spread it around her face - while treating the rash as shingles! So now she had a course of anti-biotics and some cream to apply. All the while not telling the mother-in-law - as Luu is now on a cruise with her nan, and her face is all cleared up - no marks left, thank goodness. She was not allowed to go into school for the last few days, and missed out on a trip to Drayton Manor. But we did spend some quality time together, and made a lovely bag - which is now in Norway - with no photos to show, unfortunately.

The weather, as we know, was pants at the end of term - so there was no Sports Day - again...

School finished, and there was the year six Prom to help organise. I think it was the best yet, the children behaved so well and looked so lovely. My niece especially so - and she loved her ride in the fire engine limo with a group of her friends.

In the garden, we now have plenty of tomatoes - which we have grown from seed! Very impressed with that. But, the courgettes are rubbish... We also have plenty of Chillies - indoors though - which were also grown from seed.

Then, out of the blue, Mark got a call, and was offered an interview for a job that was so far up his street you wouldn't believe... He went along, did his best, and the next day was asked to go along for a second interview! Woohoo!!! We had a very busy week as he prepared for his second interview - as he had to deliver a lesson to apprentices and management. Anyway - HE GOT THE JOB, and yes, that is shouted out loud. Lots of tears, too, on my part anyway! This is especially good - as the day before the second interview he got his notice of redundancy letter, to finish in November. He now has to negotiate trying to finish early, while keeping his redundancy... Watch this space on that one...

The same day we heard off the insurance about the van - yes, Ruby is still in the garage. Anyway they agreed to some slight changes in the parts to be fitted - as some of the standard parts are difficult to source. So, it's all systems go with that. Especially as today, we managed to get one of the parts that was really difficult to get - as it had melted, being plastic, but they don't usually need replacing so nobody makes replacements.

So with one thing and another, karma has come around to give this family of mine a lovely hug. With the cherry on the icing on the cake (yes it really is that good) coming in the form of a very unexpected cheque in the post today.

Hopefully, more regular posting will now happen, as, hopefully, life settles back down to normal - whatever that may be...

Sarah x

It's July!

2009-07-08T16:23:00.001+01:00

Where, oh where has the last week gone? I uploaded these pics last week, thinking I would spend my lunch (half) hour at work doing a quick post - but that didn't happen. So, just so you know I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth - Hi.

Been doing a bit of scrapbooking - some more pages done, but no photos yet. And I'm off to the crop on Saturday - but at the moment I'm mithering about photos - not sure what to scrap next. The photos I had printed off for last month's crop are not speaking to me at the moment. I printed some off on our printer, but the quality is a bit pants, to say the least. I'll give them another go, but I think my next scrapping "need" is a photo printer. Any suggestions?

Speak soon...

Sarah x

Let's go to Arkansas

2009-06-28T07:20:00.005+01:00

Not much creating going on this week - as this monster landed in the garden on Tuesday.

As we have decided to sell Ruby - our VW camper, we quickly needed to find somewhere else to lay our weary bones when we head to Cornwall in August.

After much searching and camping-nerdy conversations we decided on this tent. And in a camping-nerdy way, it's fabulous! From it's sewn in groundsheet (no more floods this year!) to the storage pockets (no more treading on DS charger plugs this year!) all the way down to the fabby velcro thingies to hold the guy ropes when you take them down (no more cursing knotted guy ropes this year!)

As you can see, Charlie Moggins went for a mooch around. He has decided he will not be travelling to Cornwall - he will stay at home and be looked after by Nanny and Grandad.

As we sat in the tent on Friday evening, chatting over a glass of wine - cue neighbours thinking "what are the neighbours up to, now?" We started to worry that the tent (plus car, plus trailer) may be too big for the compact pitches at our favourite place in the world... However, after a quick look at some photos of us camping there a few years back, we think we'll be ok. Fingers crossed.

The garden is now back to normal - save for that flattened area of yellowing grass. So, a couple of pics of some of the flowers in the early morning sunshine...

Sarah x

oh, and the Arkansas in the title? Why, it's the name of the tent, of course.

Speedy Scrapping

2009-06-22T20:21:00.005+01:00

So, my friend Libby set a challenge on her blog. And, as I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by my scrapping - ie. too many ideas, not enough time, and no conviction to actually do anything, aka "lost my mojo", I decided to join in, and have just completed this layout in about 15 minutes. Not necessarily one of my best, but not too bad, eh? And it felt good to scrap.

So, the challenge was to use a range of products. Ok, I don't have loads on there, but it all came from different manufacturers:

Patterned Paper - Crate Paper "Road Trip"
Journalling Sticker - Sassafras
Surf Town Sticker - Karen Foster Design "Surfin' Wild"
Other paper - from my stash

Now, let's see if I can find my mojo, think I've left it under a pile of stuff!

Sarah x

Family Tree

2009-06-17T13:10:00.003+01:00

So, here it is, my completed family tree. Started at the crop last week(ish). Some of it was quite fiddly - but worth it in the end.

Sarah x

Stuff

2009-06-11T16:41:00.003+01:00

Have you noticed? My post labels are all "stuff"?

When I started blogging, I wasn't quite sure how to label my posts, and, well, "stuff" seemed appropriate. As, like many, I have loads of "stuff".

So, when I needed a new folder for my A4 papers, this one just had to come home with me. What more could I want? It's pink, and it's labelled - Stuff.

Sarah x