Fellow Scrapbookers!

To raise a knowing smile and laugh please visit Victoria's blog. It just sums up scrapbooking perfectly.
Enjoy!

Crop LOs

I cropped yesterday at A Maze of Memories while Pat did the class. I thought about doing the class but it was a summer LO using photos of this summer. At the moment I'd rather forget this summer and didn't have any photos.

I really appreciated the chance to get away and  enjoy three hours peace and quiet.

The first is an old photo that was passed on to me by my SIL. DH had never seen it before - hence the lack of journalling - all we know is who is in the photo (I've written that at the bottom of the page).  Bazzill cardstock, all patterned papers and embellies by DCWV "The Linen Closet" (in a handy kit!),ribbon from John Lewis - thanks Pat!

The second is photos of the view from the hotel patio where SIL had her 60th birthday lunch. All papers are Club Scrap "Nature", flowers are Prima or from stash ( again thanks Pat for the dark green fabric flower with pearls!),ribbon from stash and ribbon brad by docrafts, alphas by DCWV and Doodlebug. The sketch is by Tiare Smith from Scrap'nFit.

Today I am not feeling happy or talkative. I am,in fact, very upset. It's all to do with Dad being in hospital and how he's reacting. I won't go into details but my world has well and truly been rocked and not in a good way.

What's Rocking My World Friday.

Oops - nearly didn't make it!
I've spent most of today either snuggling (damp weather is not good for my joints) or on the phone.

It's been a funny old week and not in a good sense. Dad was taken into hospital on Tuesday and is still there. Apparently they want to do some scans and as they weren't done today he'll probably have to wait until after the Bank Holiday weekend.
I'm firstly grateful to the carer who was with him when his legs gave way and promptly called for the ambulance.
Thanks to my nephew who has done most of the visiting and has kept me informed by text.
Thanks also to my friends (you know who you are) who sent me Weds. funnies in spite of having major problems themselves and who made me some gorgeous ATCs - really cheered me up.
Thanks (again!) to Twilight and the Headbangers Bible. As I was home alone, apart from Max, on Thursday afternoon I watched "New Moon" and then listened to some oldies but goodies.
Thanks too to my friend Pat who is taking me cropping tomorrow - I just hope I can find my mojo.
I have done some crafting this week - my August ATCs. I know one has arrived safely so I've  posted  a picture of them. The theme was "Butterflies".
Hope all the Rockettes and my blog readers have had a good week.
Hugs.

Getting to Know Me

Ally tagged me on her blog today and these are the questions I'm going to try and answer:
Gettin' to Know Me...



1. If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing it that way; if you are not anonymous do you wish you had started out anonymously so you could be anonymous now?


Nope... I don't blog anonymously and wouldn't want to. I don't ever leave a negative comment as I was brought up to believe that if you can't say anything nice, say nothing.

2. Describe one incident that shows your inner stubborn side
Far too many to list. It's usually just my family that see this side of me.



3. What do you see when you really look at yourself in the face in the mirror?


I see my mother. As a child everyone said I resembled my Dad but as I've aged I look more and more like my mother.


4. What is your favorite summer cold drink?

Diet coke or a fruit laden Pimms!


5. When you take time for yourself, what do you do?

I take a book and have a long soak in the bath (good for my joints) or I spend time in my scrappy corner.


6. Is there something you still want to accomplish in your life? What is it?

.I always wanted to play the piano but my fingers are too small. I also wish I'd persevered with the M.Ed I started with the Open University.


7. When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the class shy person, or always ditching school? Describe who you were if not one of these.


I was one of the class nerds (and the greatest producer of red herrings he'd ever known, according to my English teacher).

8. If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what do you see?


I'm at the vet's with Ben, our white rabbit.

9. Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people or events?


I find it relatively easy to share my true self although I do keep some things back. I enjoy (and find comfort in) my posts for Rocking My World Friday.


10. If you had the choice to sit and read or talk on the phone, which would you do and why?


I would sit and read - in fact I'd rather sit and read than do many things - esp. the "h" and "i" words.

Who to tag?   Jacquelin and Val

Normal Service Has Been Resumed/Rockin' My World Friday!

Yay! I am back in both home and  cyberworld!

My laptop developed a major and frustrating fault last week just as I was going to my Dad's. Thought I could deal with it but....it was beyond me. Add to that 36 hours without internet connection followed by access with a weak link and I was pretty much offline all week. No crafting either apart from a 3rd b'day card for my great niece.

So my grateful list this week also tells you the tale of my week away.

First is my DH who spent all last night and this morning working on my laptop and fixed it. Love you D and I missed you.

Next is Max who hasn't left my side since I got back and who patiently (if somewhat bemusedly) listened to me on the phone while I was  away.

My Dad who isn't well at all  - we still managed some quality time even if part of Tuesday was spent at hospital getting his eyes checked (he has cataracts).

The staff and customers of the Grand where I had my usual wild Saturday night - the band were great and it was so good to meet up with old friends, even if I didn't get home until 03:00 Sunday morning!

Barbara, my Dad's next door neidhbour for letting me use her wifi.

Tracy, my Dad's other next door neighbour who has turned my messy hair into a sleek blonde bob.

Sally, my best friend forever (we've known each other since she was 18 mths old and she was also my bridesmaid) - we bumped into each other in a coffee shop as she was visiting her Mum. Since her family home is in Preston and she works in London and neither of us knew the other was visiting this really is amazing!

My nephew and his girlfriend for services above and beyond. He borrowed Twilight and New Moon on DVD on Friday evening and they watched them back to back. They definitely wanted to see Eclipse. So off we set on Tuesday for the Metrocentre for the 18:10 showing. Got caught up in traffic,legged it across the wet car park and arrived at 18:10 only to find....it wasn't on. This despite the iphone listings (as we stood in the foyer) and the Odeon website saying it was! Cut our losses and had a meal at Frankie and Benny's - very yummy! Further searching on iphone revealed the film was showing (for one performance only at 20:00) the following day at Teesside Park. So after work on Weds. off we set. Asked if I was getting excited I said that I wouldn't until I saw it start! Well I did! What a wonderful film and OMG Edward on the big screen! Lots of sighing and drooling. Thanks Anth and Lesley!

And last but not least my DS who has been home this week and stayed around especially to see me. He leaves tomorrow so don't know when I'll see him again. And special thanks to him for allowing me to get my laundry fix!lol

For The Love of Twilight

Hah! Managed to find OH's camera - he said it was broken but I got it to work - then couldn't find any leads etc. Soooo, I borrowed a USB thingy (note the technical terminology here) and managed to upload both my LO and today's stash from Crafty Steals.

The LO was made with Club Scrap (A Study in Red) papers and embellies, title was done with Doodlebug rub ons and thickers.

The stash is American Crafts "Botanique" and I couldn't believe how much was in the kit for $39. Postage wasn't too bad and it only took six days - result!!

Also had some parcels from QVC last clicks - they're now hidden away.

Max and I are home alone tonight but we have plans...well, I do.
Watched "Twilight"  at lunchtime then finished the LO. Sorted my new stash while listening to Muse (apparently some of "New Moon" was inspired by their music  - and no I didn't buy it specially! I bought it for DS ages ago and have now inherited the CD...pity I can't find the Arcade Fire CD I bought as well).

Next is a walk for Max - if it's not raining too hard and I feel up to it - my right leg is painful as I messed my injection up and had to use two syringes.
Then...pizza for tea while watching New Moon with a glass of chilled white wine - I know I'll feel awful tomorrow anyway so what the heck?!
After that bath and bed.
Tomorrow I'm joining Sue-bubbles in a duvet day whilst gearing up for the England match - surely they won't be as bad as they were in South Africa? Personally, I wouldn't bet on it .

May check into Facebook later.
Hugs,
Sue xx

Latest Creations and a Challenge for You!

I suddenly realised that I haven't uploaded any LOs for a while - I have done some crafting in between reading/rereading/watching/rewatching the Twilight saga.
The four LOs were all for July challenges on WeScrap - unfortunately I've forgotten most of the details! doh!

As far as I remember...the double page Le Touquet LO was made using Club Scrap (Mirror,Mirror) papers and a We R Memory Keepers gromlet; Friends used K&CO (Roam) papers and fabric brad;the Christmas in July LO used a kit by In My Mind's Eye (Festive Collection);Dreamer was made using papers by Memento (from France).

I'm hoping to do some more crafting this week as OH is off to Manchester for a couple of days, so Max and I will have the house to ourselves.  I'm planning to start on the August sketches and challenges for WeScrap as I have some lovely photos from Saturday when OH and I went to his sister's  birthday lunch at Danesfield House Hotel (Marlow).

Uploading will be delayed though as my camera is also going to Manchester...
and on Friday I'm going to visit my Dad for a week - should have internet access (even if I have to visit a local bar!lol) but will only have limited craft supplies.:(

Your challenge is....Can you guess the theme of the LO I'm hoping to start tonight?

The first person to guess correctly before I leave on Friday (10:00) will receive a crafty prize which will be posted week beg.23rd August (when I'm back from Dad's).

The clues are there! Hope you join in!

What's Rocking My World Friday?

Where to start? The beginning of the week I suppose...

First I'm grateful to Twilight (again) as the DVD of "New Moon" eased the chore of dealing with the ironing mountain which is no more - until I next do the laundry! I did have to stop and sit down a couple of times - I cried at the same bit of the film as I did with the book. Speaking of which ..Robert Pattinson made me cry again on Wednesday. I thought the DVD of "Remember Me" would ease me through the afternoon - oh boy! Definitely a full box of tissues job. Crying is good for your eyes - mine must be fighting fit by now! The DVD is now on its' way to Carole - if anyone else would like to borrow it please let me know and Carole can post it on to you instead of back to me. 

Best thankfulness of the week is reserved for DS and his girlfriend who arrived on Tuesday evening to spend a few days with us. They're now on their way back to Bristol to pay the deposit on and pick up the keys for the house 10 of them will be sharing for the next year. DS made my lunch today - thank you for a wonderful toasted ham,cheese and tomato sandwich!

Thanks to OH for taking us all out to Prezzo last night for a yummy Italian meal - good food and good company - perfect.

I'd also like to thank Gordon Ramsey for his baked cheesecake recipe (it appeared in the Sunday Times magazine several years ago)  - it is always delicious esp. when served with a mixture of summer berries and it went down well on Tues. evening.

I'm also grateful to Facebook as a fun way of keeping in touch with people and a place for interesting adverts for "must have" items such as sparkly Team Edward T-shirts and mugs with the words - "I'm having trouble dealing with the fact that Edward Cullen is a fictional character" - priceless!

And finally I am grateful to Krister Henriksson and the team that made "Wallander" - I've been recording series 2 on BBC 4 and watching them whilst having lunch. I really hope there will be a third series, if only to improve my speaking of Swedish...at the moment it's limited to "Tak" which means thank you (and I learnt that in Denmark over 30 years ago)lol! I can pronounce Malmo with a Swedish accent too.

I have lots of things to be grateful for this week but am feeling a bit flat today for obvious reasons.

Hope your weeks have been as good.

Hugs,

Sue xx

p.s. mustn't forget Sue-bubbles for making me buy yet more stash from QVC! She recommended a kit in the last click section and two others "fell" into my basket as well. Naughty me!

"Remember Me" - a warning.

This was going to be a jolly post highlighting two very yummy actors - RPatz (as his fans call him - have discovered I'm not actually old enough to be his grandmother , only his mother) and Pierce Brosnan.
Then I watched the film..
Nothing wrong with the storyline or the actors, BUT......
Halfway through I was depressed and telling my DS and his girlfriend not to watch the film..I persevered and things improved...until the end...
I'm not going to spoil the film for those who want to watch it - suffice it to say I wept buckets at the end (def. a whole box of tissues job) and still can't get it out of my mind..
You have been warned.

ATC Swap - August

Time for a new theme girls - this month it is Butterflies as chosen by Karen (nice one!!)

Partners are:

SusieJ to Alma
Val to Carole
Alma to Karen
Carole to Donna
Karen to Fiona
Donna to Maria
Fiona to Bev
Maria to SusieJ
Bev to Val

Have fun with this one and any problems or addresses just email me.
Thanks again for joining in.
Hugs,
Sue xx
p.s. I would show you the ATCs I sent - if I could find them on the computer - I know I took a pic and I know I uploaded it - just don't know where!

Quick update: the November theme is Nature in Winter (nothing Christmassy allowed!!).Thanks Fiona! Great choice.