Day 238 to 240 of 365

Still playing catch up!!



Day 240 - Decorating the living room. Look what we found behind the mantelpiece. Not sure how old it is but it's being covered up!!!

Day 239 - Buckie harbour on a grey summer evening.
Day 238 - Favourite fruit at the moment.

Day 235 to 237 of 365

Day 237 - The Gordon Chapel after it's face lift of the last few months. It's nice to see it without all the scaffolding. The stained glass windows will be back after the by-pass is finished.

Day 236 - The start to the day.

Day 235 - Flowers from my boys.

Day 230 to 234 of 365

Day 234 - Samuel helping to choose the new sofas. He spent most of his time asking for an electric recliner for his room!!
Day 233 - The view from the top of the hill at Glenlatterach. We were searching for the reservoir but couldn't get to it as the gate was locked!!

Day 232 - Sunset over the old harbour in Buckie.

Day 231 - Relegated to the kitchen while we decorate the lounge.

Day 230 - Mossy waiting for any popcorn that might fall his way.

Day 229 of 365

:: Trying for an up-to-date self portrait on the old Fuji camera!! My Nikon was dropped, accidentally, during the summer holidays and is in the shop getting fixed ::

Day 228 of 365

:: The last day on the X-Box before school begins ::
Trying to get him to sit still was another matter!!

Day 227 of 365

My "Sammy Alan" is blooming.

I bought it as Samuel's name is Samuel Alan!!

Day 226 of 365

Saving hard for next year's holiday

Day 225 of 365

Another layout!! I know two in two days whatever next? A third?

Today was the turn of colour after all the white space yesterday. I used My Minds Eye - Quite Contrary patterned paper on a red sheet of Crate paper, Prima crystal swirl, Garden Basics flower and a bunch of stuff that's been gathering dust in a drawer for the last year!!


The 'All in the Family' quote is one of a set I bought when I first started scrapping in 2006. You see you should never throw anything out....just in case.

At last a layout

Today I actually managed to do a layout. It has to be the first one in about 5 months. I did cheat though and scraplifted a layout by Kathy Bridgewater who had hers published in the Scrapbook Inspirations Ideas Book.
It's amazing to realise that you can do a whole 12 x 12 layout without buying any new stash!! I used Cosmo Cricket and Basic Grey papers and doodled lots of circles.

I also used a corrugated letter (which I have to admit I never thought I'd use) and the title numbers are Thickers I got from a kit last year.

The photo is one of about 3 pictures I managed to get of Samuel this summer. At 13 he's now not such a willing volunteer to have his picture taken. A bit like his Dad really!! He only had this one taken as he was with my nephew (who's 3) on a wooden train at Baxters.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed scrapping but have to admit I am the snail of the scrapping world. I took about 3 hours to put this lot together!!

Day 224 of 365

:: A fluffy red plant that manages to survive in the garden ::

Hooky update

This afternoon was hooky time. I've not done any in the last few weeks so it was good to do a square or two.

I'm still doing my 101 granny squares and am almost half way.

And I'm also making a cushion for my nephew who took a shine to mine on the settee when he came to visit last week. He loves Thomas the Tank Engine so guess what colours I'm using?

Crafting

A little bit of crafting was done this morning as it was still raining. I'm cracking on with the chipboard birds but I've also made some with flowers etc so that they're not all the same. Two more to go and they'll be done. All I have to do then is put them somewhere safe for the next 4 months!!

Also on the conveyor belt of crafting today is a card for my cousin's wee girl who's Birthday it is on Friday 13th. It has pink on it and I think that's all that matters :0)

I actually used my Cricut for the first time in months and it worked surprisingly well once the layer of dust was blown off. I used the "Joys of the Season" cartridge and adapted the Ladies Dancing figure from the 12 days of Christmas. One good thing about the Cricut is you can use small leftovers of paper so you don't have to cut up whole sheets to get one little item.

I think she turned out quite well but I'm glad I don't have to make cards for a living as she took ages!!

Day 223 of 365

:: The view this morning from my craft room!! ::

More rain....will it ever stop?

Day 222 of 365

Click to enlarge
It only took a thunder storm for one hour this afternoon for the burn to be nearly overflowing again. The water is coming down off the hills and gushing through the village at a great rate of knots.

Day 221 of 365

:: Clear out Time ::

Surprisingly it's done nothing but rain this morning and as such was the perfect opportunity for a wardrobe (closet) clear out. I have so many things that I've thought "I've not worn that for a while but I'll keep it just in case". (Anyone know that feeling?) Today was the day that it all went out. Blouses, jumpers, skirts shoes, bags..... the lot.

It took a while but it's now done. My clothes, John's stuff, bedding and curtains all ready for the next charity bag that comes through the door and now a tidy wardrobe too.

What's the bet that I say that 'I've got nothing to wear' when I go back to work next week?

Day 220 of 365

:: I think he's trying to tell me it's time for a walk!! ::

Fuzzy picture as it's very difficult to keep an excited dog still!!

Day 219 of 365

:: Making homemade burgers.......delicious ♥ ::

Quote of the Day

This was Samuel's quote from yesterday while having a bite to eat before shopping!!

"Oh look Mum you can get free water if you order a salad".

"Yes, it means they will give you a free bottle of water if you buy a salad".

"I know Mum. It's called sarcasm!!"

Mum......LOL :0)

And this one while walking around town.

Picture a guy standing in the street singing Opera.

"Mum what language is he singing?"

"It's probably Italian."

"Yeah but it's not over till the fat lady sings!!!"

Who said teenagers can't make their parents laugh?

Day 218 of 365

Yesterday saw Samuel and I take a trip to Aberdeen in search of school shoes!! Not an easy task and every year it's the same argument. "Can I have white trainers for school?" Answer..."NO". "But all my friends have white trainers and they'll laugh at me if I wear black". "Then they're not really your friends then are they?" "But Mum....." "You can have white trainers when you leave school!!" "Oh great" and so it goes all the way to Aberdeen.

In the end a compromise. Black trainers with a little bit of silver on the side. He's happy. I on the other hand am not............. Kids trainers go up to size 5 1/2 and once they go into a 6 it's classed as an adult size and the price goes up by £15.00. How many teenage boys have tiny little feet? Not too many!!

Robbing sods.

On a plus note I did manage to get school trousers with a small waist and longer leg. At last. Normally I have to get a longer leg and sew the waist in by a few inches!!

This Moment......

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

Day 217 of 365

:: It's almost time to harvest ::

Day 216 of 365

:: Hooray! It does exist ::

The sun is finally out in Fochabers.

Day 215 of 365

Change of plan this tea time. A fish supper followed by a walk along Lossiemouth beach.

Presents

I know it's a bit early for making Christmas presents but I have 5 "Crafty Things" to make for the girls at work. I always try and give them something I've made. Last year was felt mice. Another time it was name plates. This year I thought I'd go for something different and make a charm to hang up at work/home.

Ruth and I popped into our local craft shop last week and I got 5 Maya Road bird key chains.


They're just plain chipboard that needs to be covered.
Perfect for using up scraps of paper, of which I seem to have loads.
A few bits of bling and a homemade beaded charm and we're done.

As one shape was an owl I had to give it some Googly Eyes.

One down - four to go!!

Baking Cookies

Remember the other day when I said my sister had bought me some American measuring cups? Well she also brought with her some shortening and a recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies which she had "borrowed" from Deb over at PaperTurtle

As I seem to be "Home Alone"this week I thought I'd try them out.

Peanut Butter Cookies

(All measurements are in American Cup size)

In a large bowl, combine and mix:
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar (packed)
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a separate bowl, combine the following:
1- 1/4 c. flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

then add it to your egg/sugar mixture:

Shape dough into 1" balls and place 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Use a fork to squash the cookie balls, making a criss-cross shape on top.
Bake at 180◦C until set but not hard, 8-9 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet. I think next time I won't squash mine as much and make them slightly thicker.

Eat, eat, eat!!

Day 214 of 365

We had about 20 minutes of sun today so we popped over the road to the new Ice Cream Parlour to treat ourselves to an ice cream.

Day 213 of 365

:: Water Lillies on the pond ::

Day 212 of 365

:: Peacock tail from one of the many Peacocks wandering about the Black Isle Wildlife Park ::