OMG ... The cats have brought me a prezzy!

Two of the out side cats (Bilbo and Smudge) were sitting at the back door, calling to come in so I swung the door open and slammed it shut, twice as fast as I opened it .A few moments later I reopened the door a crack to view the gift of a disembowelled bird that lay on the step with the two proud givers licking their lips !!!!
“G ..Good Boys “ I stammered as I shut the door again to give me time to organize the discrete disposal.
Go on say it ‘you soft ***’ but cats will be cats or to me, boys will be boys.

Yeah it's raining!

Well it did rain for me here last weekend. … just what I hoped for… thus preventing that awful feeling of guilt and laziness which passes over me when I don’t go out into the garden but scrap instead.
I woke up to the rain and thankfully a glimmer of inspiration. As I am a slow scrapper I only created three 12x12’s over the weekend. I managed the DLO below and a single LO which have put on my ‘Glimpsing the Past’ blog. I find it hard to date the photo I used, of MIL’s mother. Any ideas? She died 1940 and would have been 40 in1933 so I think it may have been 1930ish but the blouse looks wrong as she wouldn’t have been in ‘up to the minute’ fashion and it doesn’t look like a late 20’s blouse to me. She lived in America but I feel that, as a fashion usually started in Europe it would appear a little later in the USA. Sorry for rambling but any feedback on date would be gratefully received.

THE TREE

I have been meaning to scrap these pics for ages. I followed the growth of this giant flower that burst forth from our tree last year. I have no idea what tree it is as I didn’t plant it but there are a lot of them flourishing in Fife even though they look exotic and in need of warmer climes.

Thanks for looking xx

Inspiration .... where for art thou?

I have to report that I have lost my Scrapping Mojo
I get an idea, run (well amble) to the table, having cast aside all other things that I am in the middle of doing, only to find that inspiration has drained away leaving me with an empty uninspired mind.

Last weekend I went to our Easter Crop and managed to scrap NOTHING!!!
I have to admit it was my job to do the Buffet but that didn’t take all the 8 hours.
So, as I cannot show you any layouts … here are pictures of the food tables as I was setting it all out.

The wonderful cakes were brought by members, as were the sweeties. The Simnel , inparticular, was to die for.

This weekend is totally free but I should do something in the garden, weather permitting. I am therfore praying for RAIN and INSPIRATION so that I can show you some layouts next week.
Here’s to The Return of Inspiration. xx

Was Mothers Day Really a Week Ago

Steve and Emma were off to Ireland again with the boys and it was Emma’s birthday on the Sunday, her first Mothers day as a Mum so she wanted to be with her own Mum too. It was left to me to Cat Sit but I don’t mind as I see the boys at each end of the time I’m there but. I have to say that I was a tiny bit sad that I was going to be to be on my own on Mothers day. This feeling did not last for very long though as they presented me with a wonderful basket full of edible goodies including my favourite wine and a large box of chocs. Also a lovely Nana picture frame with a photo of the boys, a Tartan rug, coconut conditioner (my fav smell) and a film I really wanted to see …the list was endless. Mind you the first thing that popped into my head were thoughts on whether the basket should be utilized for toiletries or crafty bits. The fridge was also full of food for me including Strawberries and Cream.
Was I bothered to be on my own ….. NO.I think not.

The day I arrived I was left to look after Ben and Jake while Emma popped out. It wasn’t for long but I was determined that she would return to two beaming boys. I sang a few baby songs hoping that the words were correct but as no one was around to know otherwise I wasn’t too worried.
The effect they had on Ben can be seen here.


Jake however chortled at everything I sang and listened intently to me reading ‘Its not my Dragon’.

In fact I had to read it 3 times as his bottom lip trembled when I went to put the book down and the only way I could stop reading was to give him the book.

When they left the following morning, I tried to offer my services “Shall I …?.” “NO” came the resounding reply, in unison to all of my suggestions. I was being given a long weekend of doing nothing except playing on my DS game, watching films, eating and Chillin’. Shame I didn’t take any scrapping or card making bits with me …think what I might have achieved!!

What became abundantly clear, on their return was that I need a refresher course on Nursery Rhymes and similar songs. There were far too many ‘Mmm Mmm Mmmmm’s’, Lah la lah’s’,and ‘Dum de Dum’s’ over the few days I was playing with the boys, for a self respecting Nana to cope with and when I couldn’t remember all the words to Speed Bonny Boat ( an over sung favourite of my own two) that was the final blow. I feel I am not a qualified Nana and that study must start in earnest., as Ben and Jake will surely know whether I am cheating very soon !!!!

Can anyone recommend a good revision book?

Just a quickey

Here I am tapping away with two fingers at nearly 2am wondering why I'm not in bed when I need to be up earlyish to visit the twins. I am also going over to Cat sit while they are away for a few days. I have had a little blop and I really should go to bed but my mind has turned to toast. In fact I can even smell it but thankfully, for my ever expanding waist line, I'm too lazy to go and make it ... tired is probably a better word.
I bid you all a fuzzy 'Good Night' and sweet dreams to those happily in the land of nod already ... which is probably most of you.
Will be back blogging in the middle of next week. xx

FOOD for thought!

I have just finished making a hearty homemade soup for supper and thought about the fact that I actually have a third passion (see About Me) and that is cooking. Although I enjoy most cooking and baking, my passion is for creating meals from leftovers and stretching ingredients for all their worth!!!.. The other night I made my Barley Mince (or to be more honest my Mum’s) and it produced 4 large portions but contained only 200g of mince. It was still tasty with the help of ‘old fashioned’ Bisto and very filling served with mash. At this time of watching the pennies it is a useful passion.

I have just finished this LO of Harry(my friends son) and am about to do one to sit next to it. I tend to either produce a DL or have 2 x SL that are visually connected, in some way, even if only I can see it!

I know this is a simple LO but the face says it all!

My next projects will be LO’s of the twins and more for the FH Album but I need to put in a large order to Photo Box. I am so disorganized that I shall probably find some of Ben and Jake that I haven’t scrapped yet so I better have a hunt ... and a tidy!
Thanks for looking .... Angie

Another year OLDER.....and WISER???

Well another year has gone by and I am now 62. Have to say the mind is staying strong … I think … although I am often told that I keep forgetting things, however I don’t think they actually tell me in the first place. The body is declining rapidly but the fat is pushing out the wrinkles quite effectively and the back and knees are just about coping as long as I’m fortified with plenty of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen!!!!
Having said all that I had a great birthday yesterday. Ben and Jake scribbled on my card sent from them (which I will cherish) and gave me a book about being a granny. Steve and Emma gave me a puzzle game for my Nintendo DS which they know I love and DD gave me my own stick thing so I can have back up for my bits on the computer (she will have to show me how to use it though) and a bag of fun bits, a lot of which were edible so definitely no hope for any waist line any time soon.
At my age I don’t want a fuss but our friend Vicki wanted to take me out for the day to Edinburgh. The train ride there was slow, picturesque and relaxing. We slowly (I cant do anything fast) wondered around some shops, mainly to see if I could find something for my birthday from her and to buy Emma’s birthday bits for later in the month. The latter was accomplished quite quickly but I was having no luck looking for mine. I was just about to give up and told Vicki that I would plump for a stash shop on the Internet when I espied a bright jolly Shopping trolley ….yes you read that correctly ... aka basket on wheels! I then quickly weighed up the pros and cons of joining the Trolley Brigade and the pros won so I am now the proud owner of a Funky Trolley (and that is actually what it is called).

I filled it with my purchases and my coat and I was now a very Happy Bunny, as the next stop was a special treat, a Chinese Buffet where we were to have a late lunch. The reason that I didn’t need my coat on, was the fact that it was the most glorious Spring day, as these pictures of Prince’s Street Gardens show.
The food was glorious and so was the pint of ice-cold draught cider. The food was the best I have tasted in a long time but I cannot tell you everything I ate as I filled my plate with so many bits of this and bits of that.

I have, however, come to realise that life is a circle and I too now drop food down me just like Ben and Jake!!!!

I sadly only managed one large plateful (although my eyes and taste buds were crying out for a second round) but I did manage a sweet course, as did Vicki, but could not help wondering how both pairs of very slim ladies sitting close by, managed two plates of each!!!!

On my return home I was welcomed by balloons, flowers and cup cakes with candles … no not 62 … just 2, one with an ‘A’ candle and one playing Happy Birthday.

What a great end to a fantastic day. …Probably the best for years as everything was so perfect.