Friends, one of life's greatests gifts!

my dearest mate B told me the most amazing news today.
It's a secret...so you can't tell anyone!!!

BUT!!!!!

She is after many , many many attempts of IVF and a lot of extra issues and drama's thrown in PREGNANT!!!!
We started the whole trying to get pregnant lots of years ago,
and she was one of the most comforting and supportive friend I met throughout all of it!
I gave up the whole IVF thing a few years back,
after yet another unsuccessful, heartbreaking failing attempt,
that left me so ill.....it was not the whole reason for my breakdown,
but a huge part of it.....

She supported me through all of that.
Through leaving nursing.
When Amy died.
When Andrew was diagnosed diabetic.
When my beloved doggies died.
When Poppy was so ill we thought we would loose her too....
When we decided to start adoption , she supported us then.

She has always been there, I feel like she has been in my life forever!
I wont go into details here , cause they are not mine to share.
B and her beloved Hubby will make fab parents.
They have two angels watching over them who I think of so often.

She was so aware of potential upset telling me today,
And I will admit I have been told by people they are pregnant in the past,
said congratulations and then cried when the phone call was finished....
But not today.
I want a blow by blow account of this pregnancy!
I want to know all about this much loved baby!

I love B like she was a sister to me!
A bloody scary sister at times!
And she sounds posh when she swears...unlike me!
Oh I swear...but I dinne sound posh at all!

B......I love you and C!
I am so proud of you both, for not giving up!
and as we said today...enjoy this moment.

new blog candies.....

there are again various lovely bloggers who are giving away scrummy blog candy!
check these blogs and see their beautiful crafting!

Camilla
Heather
Jacqui

I know there are a few more around.
enjoy xxx

3 more sleeps till stitches out!

It's been another hot day, managed to do one card, had planned to do three but just couldn't settle in the muggy weather.
This one is For Nicola as you can see, first time stamping on acetate and then fixing on black card.
I managed to smudge it a wee bittie and leave a finger print on it!
But I still like it.
Even managed to post it off to Nicola today......never trust Elf post!


Poppy is doing well, if not bored by the still only being allowed on lead walks!
She is finding lots of mischief to get up to. We stripped the spare bed ,
and were about to put this quilt in the washing machine, but discovered a huge Labrador sized beg bug in it!
She still is waking up at 6am, wanting to go to the loo and then breakfast!

She was going mad wanting off the lead down the woods, she has a lot of energy building up that is usually got rid of with running and jumping and swimming.......
but not gonna get that till after her stitches have been removed on Saturday and Vets seen her.
That's gonna be a job and a half!
She won't let us near her belly.
But I am encouraging her to let me see so I can check on it each day and she is getting better at this task.....


I love this picture of them both!

This is some of the veggies we bought yesterday, I took it with a mobile I have been lent, as I have killed mine.....and it is driving me mad!
I keep hitting send on txt messages instead of space. so Folk are getting half messages!
And I couldn't get the pictures to download off it!
Andrew managed ....but there was a fair bit of cross words mumbled!!


I loved the flowers on the courgettes...so pretty.
They were also very tasty!

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Turned out to be a bit cooler today, which was much more comfortable.
We nipped out to a wee local stall where the owner sells his excess organic produce
on a gypsy stall in his field and has a honesty box for you to leave the money.
we bought wee baby courgettes with the flowers still on them, tomatoes, all different colours
and so tasty....wee baby new tatties, which cooked up a treat.

But the best thing was his strawberries!
They were soooo yummy!

We ate some, on the way home in the car and then made this with the rest!!!



I say "we".......Andrew made the sponge! but I whipped the cream and folded in the chopped berries.....

Poppy manged to persuade Andrew to let her have some cream ,
and got it on her nose, along with dirt

....from digging behind the shed!!! I have tried to tell her she is recuperating from an operation.....
but she will take no heed of me at all!

feeling hot, hot, HOT!

It has been another beautiful day here in sunny Morayshire!
Emma & family came round for a bleather and some nibbles....
Andrew made yummy scones...Mmmmmmm!

But it wasn't just one of the salsa's that was a wee bit hot today.......

Guess who forgot to put on the sunscreen....
even though I left it out so I would see it and remember to do so...............


Yeap......That will be me then!

We were only out for an hour or so,
and I made sure there was a sheet in the shade for the little one.....

Oh well....Will suffer from that later on!

Was lovely to see Emma & Co. I love her kids,
oh sure Emma and Steve are lovely too.....
Hahaha



The garden is a bit neglected just now,
I am not doing a good job at watering the pots...
and a few are showing signs of that.
But....


some are looking just lovely.





Andrew & I stayed out till really late last night in the garden,
it was lovely and cool , and we used the fire basket we bought.
Even made toast on it!
Poppy loves to carry sticks and we have a nice little collection at the top of our drive.
Drying nicely under the trailer just for this!


It gave off a lovely heat.....

And if you add the lavender clippings we have been drying since last year.........



You get that effect!!!!

Oh yeau BABY!!!

Oh......one last thing......
You done yours yet Emma???

sleepy .......

"it is such hard work, trying to sleep while my mum makes cards in my room!"


Guess who managed to get out of her t-shirt AGAIN at 6 am this morning.....

No wonder she is tired!!!

too much???

quick question....made this Cd for a work mates Birthday party I am off to tonight.....
Oh BTW Emma! You have me addicted to making these CD's now!!!!

Is it too much?
I got carried away with the crop o dile......

on the back i have the wee sentiment that I love just now,
" I hope the distance between where you are
and where you want to be
grows shorter everyday."

Douglas Pagels.

Sunshine, Sunflowers & Sick puppy's.

Today has been a fabulous sunny summers day!
Poor Poppy is not happy about not getting to lie out in the garden all be herself,
but unless she is in her t-shirt she will not leave her stitches alone....having to have the ceiling fan on to keep us both cool.
I would normally take her down the river or to the sea to cool down.

She is in her second t-shirt, a smaller version, with buttons like a child's romper suit at either side of her tail.....
she escaped out of the other one last night ....twice! at 3am and 6 am.....
We both went back to be for a siesta this afternoon.....

She looks enormous in this t-shirt but I wanted it loose enough so she didn't rub on anything when she gingerly stretches.... She really didn't like the lampshade, and she gets out of the t-shirt when I can watch her like a hawk or she is on her lead walk round the block.

Have done very little but just been quietly resting and healing..... been nice to have calm time today. Felt like I needed it.

She did settle long enough upstairs for me to work on Chrissy's Friday fable.



My hubby took me a pile of used and unwanted CD's from his office.
Which is handy, as I love altered cd's now!
I must look around and try some other challenges. I am really enjoyed this one.

Do you do many online craft challenges?
Recommend any?

Right, some supper and juice in the garden ......let Poppy out of her t-shirt, and some chilling out now it is cooler.

update from the infirmary

So , it's been a long, long day!
poppy survived the vets, is now spayed and groggy, but home.
Was managing to convince myself it was the right thing to do and she started whimpering.....

Really don't think she was in pain, it was , a , I can't settle and don't know what to do with myself sort of thing...
She did this for ages, settled and then started again when Andrew came home.
She is now fast asleep...in her t-shirt!
The horrid lampshade collars just seem to drive them crazy!
I used a t-shirt when my beloved Tilly had abdo surgery and was driven nuts by the lampshade.
It knots at either side of her tail, and can be undone so she can pee....
I think I should look into this as a concept for dog post operatios!

this one is a Scottish festival t-shirt....Tilly's was one of mine that said TOO HOT TO HANDLE!!!


Anyway, I am happier now she is home and now she is settled.

Am away to go look at all your posts while Andrew keep watch on the sleeping girl !

poor poppy puppy......

well this day has finally arrived.....Poppy is starving and will not get no breakie...
I am dropping her off at the vets to be spayed this morning.....
She knows something is going on, she is hyper!

She is going crazy cause she didn't get her last biscuit before bed, and now no breakfast!!!!


We missed Puppy class last night, I wasn't feeling well.
So no class now for a few weeks till she heals.

I made this altered CD for the lady who takes the class, she has rotties.


if you look carefully, the backing paper is actually cats and their paw prints....

I didn't manage to line the holes up so well on this one, but I still like it!
Her Rottie is a beautiful girlie dog who wears a pink collar so hence the choice of ribbon colour!

And I made this one for a mate at work who has been poorly....


It looks just like her cat Archie....but I think, i may have stuck his tail on the wrong way!!!



Yes Emma .....they are addictive!
Thank you everyone for the blog comments....
I will be sorting my blog replies later on this evening....
Thank you so much for my gold cards!
How am I going to pick only five people to give it to!?!
you are all priceless!
Am gonna get very little done at work today....

Just for Chrissy

Actually Chrissy.......



I do have a Blue Peter's badge!









But I can't tell you no more about it, or how I won it......

It's a secret!


xx

well I am sagitarian,,,,

You Are a Centaur

In general, you are a very cautious and reserved person. However, you are also warm hearted, and you enjoy helping others in practical ways. You are a great teacher, and you are really good at helping people get their lives in order. You are very intuitive, and you go with your gut. You make good decisions easily.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

first altered cd

So this was made from pinching oh I mean being inspired by an idea from Emma,
The image sent to me from Sammi,
And the Ribbon was from Linda, who I bought the cropodile from!
I didn't get the spacings quiet right, but I love the end effect!

purple purple everywhere, then a drop of pink...

I guess the blog and user name give it away...
I love purple. Even my tattoo has purple in it!
Lilac, violet, indigo.....love them all!

Around my house there are many purple things,
but strangely no purple or lilac painted walls...
I plan to change that this year....Don't tell Hubby!



But today I noticed these things...
Mainly because the purple Crop-o-dile I bought arrived today in its purple case!
I am so chuffed with it!
I have been busy adding eyelets to all sorts.....




And my beautiful Blog candy from Linda!



Thank you very much, I am a lucky lassie!

Thank you also for the beautiful cards you sent with the goodies!



I entered blog candies for the first time in these last few weeks and have been lucky twice!
I am loving meeting the new people through blogging too!
I started gathering stuff up to do my first blog candy.....

I would like to spend more time in the garden today, weeding and stuff,
but since I live in Scotland and it is July,
it is of course windy and raining at times !
The rain stopped long enough for me to take these pictures.....

The mini sweet peas....pink with a surprising purple one are so sweet!




Lavender is one of my favorite plants, I love the fact it comes in so many shades of purple, and even one in white! I love the smell of it after the rain, the way it soothes you and how its oils has so many healing properties.

Right I am off to go and put eyelets on some more stuff! Have a nice weekend!

what rhymes with orange

It seems that nothing rhymes with orange or silver.....

anyway, I was looking at Chrissy's Friday fable.
I really enjoyed the challenge last week, and ended up with a card that was completely different top anything I had made before....
This week made me think about angels, something that I do believe in.
I looked in a beautiful book that a dear friend Jenni gave me,
all about having an Angel at your side.
It was full of quotes, poems and thoughts about Angels.

And this one was what I stuck with.....


"The best and most beautiful things in the world
Can not be seen or even touched
They must be felt with the heart"

by Helen Keller.

And I produced two cards...using the poem and orange as my theme....

the first one I really was not happy with....

I tried to make an angel using mulberry paper and it looked like it had been made by a three year old..... I know we should all find our inner child sometimes....BUT!

Anyway......

I am still not able to find the fairies and angels I know I have,

So I had another go at a card, and this one I love.

It has three tiny angels on it , hiding!



the large flower is made from hand made paper I bought with pressed flowers in it,
and the centre of the flower is a Brad you can tie ribbon through from poppicrafts.

Thank you lovely Sammi

Yesterday I received my first ever blog candy in the post from the lovely Sammi !
This was the first time I have won anything like this and I was so pleased with the beautiful cards and stamped images that Sammi sent me from Auz!
All in a gorgeous deep purple wallet card.
And the wondeful little Bethany Rose the Gumnut!
Go check out her beautiful downloads that are available to buy! her drawings are so fab!


THANK YOU SAMMI !!



I didn't post about it yesterday due to my post about Laura.
But the fantastic pink and black ribbon from the blog candy took pride of place on one the cards
I sent to Laura's family.
The supportive comments and emails I got were so nice Thank you all.
It's so lovely all the support and friendship that crafty bloggers show
in so many sites I have looked at through links from other peoples blogs!

Talking of blog candy...check out
Jill's
Frances
Linda
Shary
to name but a few!

Am off to go have some fun with the images Sammi sent me, and some I got from Emma today,
hope Isabelle is happier now babe!

have a Happy rest of Thursday!
xx

xxx

pink for Laura....

You know when you meet someone, in real life or online,
and you know they are amazingly special?
They touch your life, and most of the time
I am sure they have no idea of the footprint they have left in your heart?
Laura was such a person.
She loved life, she loved fun, she loved pink....
She touched so many peoples lives.
She was loved by friends, family, and people who had just met her!
She was courageous all through her fight against lung cancer.
She took it by the horns. Did interviews to raise awareness of lung cancer....

Last night, just two months away from turning 25....and less than two weeks
before from her pink, black & white wedding to her soul mate Rich....
Laura died.

I haven't known Laura that long,
but Laura was and always will be, such an inspiration to me.
Her love of life, love for others, for Rich,for her family & Friends.
For her wee animals, was an amazing gift to see.

I struggled with cards for her family, there are no words really.









I kept them similar using the Celtic love knots, as her love was never ending,
binding her to her loved ones forever.
With pink, cause she was Pink Mackenzie!


Its not the years you live
but the love you leave behind that you should use to measure your life!

And Laura Mackenzie you will leave so much of that!
It will be truly unmeasurable!

Is Heaven pink already?

sweet dreams Laura!

more blog candy xx

more blog candy...
there are some lovely ladies offering some fab candy out there.....
Check out Linda's site....

take three nurse's and a packet of plastic bugs.....

I used to be a hospice/ cancer care nurse,
I left nursing two years ago due to work related stress/burnout/breakdown....
what ever you want to call it.
Sometimes I miss it but not enough to go back to it.
Well not at the moment!
I met Sheena when we started our training in 1990.
We have been through a lot together and she now lives in London
and is a diabetic nurse big boss thingy....
She introduced me to Sheila who is an infection control nurse also in London.

She actually brought Sheila to my house when I was in the middle of my breakdown
and when stressed or meeting new people I obsessively cleaned.....
And she takes and infection controls nurse to my home.......

Anyway, Shelia sent me the bag of plastic bugs, as you do......
which I shared with Kirstine.
Who is the infection control nurse where I work......

So since I didn't have my play date today.....Belle went to bed as two year olds do!

I stayed at home, had a sleep and then made these cards,.....using the bugs as models!




I know its sad....but I had fun!











I made photos for Sheila and Sheena and Kirstine to use to make cards themselves.....
and will post them off tomorrow.





Here is Sheena's sorry I forgot your birthday card!












And Sheila's thanks for the bugs card












And a "with love" card for Kirstine who gave me a "wash your hands" pen









Man....... I am so easily amused!!!

things that make me smile

I am not a materialist person, but I am extremely sentimental.
I have various things round about me that make me smile.
Make me content and happy to see.
Obviously this includes Andrew & Poppy la Pooh,
and Photo's I love photo's I have them everywhere!
but as far as items go.....
I have a few unusual things that no one else would find that important.
In no particular order!And not an complete list, by any means!











This Scottish pound note in a frame causes much curiosity to visitors to my home.
Its found in my bathroom. It was printed the year Andrew and I met in 1992.
It reminds me when we have times where money is tight,
which it often is since I left nursing..that we have been through
tough times and still have each other, and thats priceless!











My two hoggies were made for me by my lovely mate Rob who I have known since I was 11!
And I love him to bits!
I used to collect hedgehog things years ago and he made me these wee fella's in art class at school!
They have moved home many times in many towns and always make me smile when U see them, They now live on the shelf above my craft desk!

My crystals. I have some in every room.
I carry one in my purse & often wear them in my bra, can I suggest smooth ones for this !


And the last thing on my list is my wee chicken who is a penguin in disguise, from Wallace & Gromit film fame. He looks after my wedding rings when I am busy crafting.

I have damaged a few bits but scratching them with them a few times!




And obviously my wedding rings....I love them, I love being married.
Even though he drives me mad and I bet I do him too a lot of the times!

my impression of Monets Garden

The lovely Chrissie has posted a Friday's fable...and I know it's almost Sunday....
but here is what I ended up with.....















I am really pleased with the result.
The stamp was from the lovely Emma, and the backing card was
smudged with the chalk inks I am very taken with at the moment!
The strip along the side the flowers are attached to what was an experiment
I did with water colours a while back.
I was saving it for a rainy day.
The card it is on has a lovely feel to its texture.
Oh and it was smudged with a touch of purple chalk ink.


















It was certainly a rainy day yesterday!

It's been a good day today, and I have needed that.

It started with a cuddle from Poppy.....










I bought some uber healthy food from the hippy shop.
And a few beautiful crystals....

The new piece's of amethyst are sooooo pretty.
I have several bits already but was drawn to a few more bits.

A late lunch down near Findhorn Bay with a friend.
Then we watched video & laughed with so hard it hurt my ribs!

And then a nice bit of crafting time...

All that is a day that is good for the soul!