life goes on

Redirected sewer

2010-05-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

New conservatory started yesterday.... Only took 9 months of waiting. Had to have so many different agreements.. Have had to send my dogs on holiday.. Could lose them in all this. lol.

Today the sewer is being redirected.. Otherwise the main sewer would have been sat in my new conservatory.. Not good...

Am hoping all this doesn't take too long.

Mobile at last

2010-05-13T01:35:00.001-07:00

Look at this space age gadget.. Love it. It means I can walk without crutches.. Another 3/4 weeks and hopefully I won't have to wear it at all... Can take it off to shower and go to bed.... So nice to shower without one leg sticking out of the shower door. lol

I love my dogs even.......

2010-05-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

Did I say I love my dogs... Finding it hard right now.. Had to throw half a bar of my favourite chocolate away..

Tom started it... heard him and Merlin arguing and turns out they were fighting over my well hidden half eaten bar of chocolate! Rescued it but turns out that it had been licked to melting point. YUK.. Now I have to find a safer but just as easy to reach place to hide my chocolate. lol..

I love my dogs!!

Merlin makes it better

2010-05-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

Looks like I am strangling poor Merlin but am really having a cuddle. lol . He has been desperate to get up on my lap ever since I broke my foot. I call him my teddy bear.

Not fair....

2010-05-02T06:01:00.000-07:00

Two weeks, have been sat in a chair doing nothing.. I ache from head to foot and can't sit long enough even to make some cards or do some scrapbooking.... Reason for this.... A broken foot. Can't believe I was stupid enough to do it in the first place. To make matters worse it is a bad break!! Have to stay off the foot another week.. then maybe will have a walking boot...

So how did I manage to break a foot.. Good question.. Walking the dogs. Turned over on my foot. Hurt like mad but managed to walk home a half a mile on it..

Dogs so amazing.. Must have sensed I was hurt and instead of dragging me all over the place as they normally do, they trotted quietly and calmly matching my pace exactly.. Even stopping and waiting for me to continue.

Tom is so funny. He knows there is something wrong with my foot and tries licking it better every chance he gets..

hello again

2009-05-24T01:50:00.000-07:00

Thought it was about time I updated my blog... Can't believe how quickly time is going.... Have had a good week.... Found out I had been allocated a garage for my car.... Feel so much happier now car is out of sight at night....

Thought I would show a picture of Tommy and Merlin.. Merlin is now 7 months old and think he is going to be bigger than Tom.. They seem to be getting on better.. Lots of rough and tumble but it doesn't seem to get nasty....Looking forward to the good weather and lots of walks...

Hope this video will work.. Tom & Merl enjoying a summer day yesterday....

2009-04-19T13:42:00.000-07:00

Well, have done it again.... It has been a while since I last posted.... Busy with work and busy enjoying 2 weeks off for the Easter break.. Haven't made any cards for a long time but wanted to make one for a neighbour whose husband passed away 2 weeks ago.. As you know I love my pergamano and it is perfect for condolance cards.... This one is a mix of pergamano and a decoupage flower and backing paper from one of Susan Winter's CDs.

parchment on black

2009-02-19T12:19:00.001-08:00

Well here is my attempt at working on black parchment paper... not so easy.. Need a lightbox to trace the pattern but really like the effect..

and another one

2009-02-13T07:58:00.000-08:00

This one took just over 2 days to do.. My next project is experimenting with the black parchment paper.... ..

Thank you to all who commented on my last post....

First love

2009-02-12T08:54:00.000-08:00

Long time no craft... Last week no work because of snow and a good excuse to get my pergamano stuff out. It has been packed away for so long thought it was time it got a good dust down... Pergamano was and remains my first love. It is so time consuming but so satisfying to actuall finish a piece.. This card took 2 days to complete from start to finish... Working on it every available spare minute... Think it is one of the best and nicest pieces I have ever done...

Week off next week, so maybe will get some more pieces done..

2009-02-07T02:05:00.000-08:00

Well, have has nearly a week off work due to snow. Hoping it will be back to normal for Monday.

Dogs have loved it.. First time snow for Merlin.. And looking in my pics folder it snowed this time in Feb last year... Didn't last as long though or cause so much havoc...

Just waiting for the better weather so we can get pup housetrained.... He asks to go outside with Tommy and then he comes in to do his business.. lol....

We got to get it right sometime....

HELP

2008-12-30T13:30:00.000-08:00

Beginning to wonder what we have done... This new pup is a real live wire and not giving Tommy much peace at all.... He is settling slowly at nights and we can leave him in his bed for short periods in the day... That way I get some me time... In a couple of weeks I am hoping that this will be just a dim memory... lol..

New pup

2008-12-26T02:53:00.001-08:00

Firstly, hope everyone has had a good Christmas.... Seems to have flown by this year.. After a busy day yesterday... Cooking and eating and drinking, we are having quiet time today... Don't need anything at the shops thank goodness..Might do a little bit of scrapbooking later... Have some very special pictures to scrapbook this year.... One of them here.. lol.

Had the best Christmas present ever.. A friend for Tommy.. So far so good. Have had a few sleepless nights... and last night had the bright idea (or Jim did) of putting one of my tops with my scent on it in his bed... It worked... Had a quiet night..

Right now New pup, called Merlin... Kennel name Tycadnol Merlin and it seems to fit him somehow.. anyway, right now he is curled up under my computer chair.. Worn himself out chasing Tommy around the house and learning how to climb stairs...

Have still got a week off before having to go back to work so hopefully we will be in some sort of routine with him by then,,,,,xxxxx

Best Christmas present...

2008-12-17T08:09:00.000-08:00

Jim has given in at last and agreed to a new addition to the family for Christmas... A little puupy. Cairn terrier same as Tommy.. Still can't believe it... I have spoken to a breeder and we go to see him next Tuesday.. If all goes well we can take him home with us the same day... Will keep us on our toes this Christmas.... Will post some pics as soon as I can...

sick

2008-12-10T10:51:00.000-08:00

Was off work sick last week... Shouldn't have gone back but most people feeling the same.... Lots of my children off with this flu bug.... Down to half a class last friday... Roll on next week and then 2 weeks off for Christmas... can't wait...
Just off to try to finish my cards.... way behind this year....

tagged

2008-12-04T08:29:00.000-08:00

To all those I think I tagged... The picture is or was on Jeannie's blog... And haven't checked back for a while because spent last weekend and the beginning of the week in bed with the flu!! Still feel rough but much better than I was... Trying to catchup with my Christmas card list...

2008-11-24T14:31:00.001-08:00

I got this award from Jeannie... Absolutely no idea what to do with it but am thrilled..... Thank you Jeannie...

This award states that:
This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY- nearness in space, time and relationships.These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends, they are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.

I have to pass it on so watch this space..

Birthday

2008-11-23T06:22:00.000-08:00

Had a birthday last week.... Some of the cards that came my way.... Love the creativity of my cardscrapping friends....

Have finally got my craft space back... spent all day yesterday moving things around.... Still finding homes for everything.. will get there in the end....

Where has the time gone..

2008-11-14T09:05:00.000-08:00

I am ashamed.. Have neglected my blog but have been run ragged in work....

I teach nursery children in a school that has piloted something called the foundation phase... Basically it is a different way of teaching but turned out not so different to how we were taught 30 + years ago. Play is now considered to be vitally important for the child to develop all skills necessary for their adult life...

Anyway to cut a long story short our school was chosen to pilot the new foundation phase 4 years ago and is now coming in to all nursery classes in Wales.

We were inspected last February and came out with flying colours in our foundation phase so we have become a bit of a show school for those schools just starting it... It means lots of visitors coming around and asking questions etc.... Looking to see how we do things.

This week we were visited by the welsh assembly for Wales... The director of education in Wales and a delegation of educationalists from Germany...

It is nice in a way but a lot of pressure on us teachers... Don't really like being on show...

So hence no time to blog, craft, or anything else for that matter...

Another busy week next week and then we are into our lovely Christmas activities and concert practices... Looking forward to that... And somewhere along the line I want to get all my christmas cards done.... Help!!!!

yeh!

2008-10-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

A whole week off... Got so much to do but at least I don't have to get up so early.. phew!!

2008-10-18T05:31:00.001-07:00

A whole week gone by... Another saturday.. lol.. They come around too fast these days.. and they don't last long either.. Will be back in work before I know it... Macarthur glen was great.. loved the demonstration at the paper mill shop.. was there ready and waiting for it to be set up. Bought a lovely new stamp for christmas.. A penny Black.. And have been painting and colouring like mad (time allowing) ever since..

Bought some cuttlebug embossing folders too... on the web not at paper mill shop.

Now I am well stocked with card and everything else I need just need a couple of months off work to play.. lol..

Week off soon so going to play with all my stamping and painting stuff.. Just got to get the house to myself for a couple of days.....

See ya..xxxxx

All work and no play..

2008-10-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

I don't seem to have time for anything these days... Love my job but miss my crafting so much.. Just 2 weeks and it will be half term for me... A week off... Got loads planned though. Oh! Going to Macarthur Glen Bridgend tomorrow. The paper mill shop have some christmas card demonstrations with some new stamps... Might pick up a few ideas... Been messing about with water colour pencils when I have had a spare 5 mins.. Quite liking the effect so maybe do some painting this year... That will be a first for me.. lol...

Hoping I can pick up a few goodies tomorrow too and I want to look for a new school bag.... So for once going to ignore the full washing basket and carpets that need a good hoovering and enjoy the day.....

2008-09-27T12:32:00.001-07:00

Been a while since I have visited my blog... Have had no time to do anything with my cardmaking... Am missing it big time but need to concentrate on work for a while... But still in love with my cricut... thought I would post some cards I have made... nothing fancy.. I was just trying the machine out... I love it!

Fast Forward

2008-09-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

Can't believe how quickly these last few weeks have gone. Loving my new job in nursery but no time to play with craft stuff.. Going to have a play with my cricut when I finish writing this.
Feel so much better after 2 days of lovely sunshine. Hoping to have some sunshine tomorrow... Weekend off.. Would be nice to get into the garden for a little while... Cut the grass maybe!!

stormy weather

2008-09-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

Today is dry.... The first dry day all week. Thursday and Friday were horrendous. There didnt seem to be any let up in the rain at all.... Friday brought lots of little floods which made driving conditions slow... Poor Toomy seems to have been damp all week but has been such a nuisace because he has constantly barked to go out .... He is the only one who seems to love the driving rain.

We have been promised more rain in the coming week... We shall see...

No time for craft this weekend.. Lots to do for work..

wet wet wet

2008-09-05T09:19:00.001-07:00

First week back at work over.... Went quickly but am so tired... Fridayd night and can have a drink... and a lie in tomorrow.. lol.

It has rained every day. They said it was going to be worse to day and they were not wrong.. lots of little floods and a 20 min journey took me over an hour this afternoon.

Have also had to put the heating on.. The house feels so damp.... Seems we are going to have lots more rain over the weekend...

work!!

2008-09-03T14:49:00.000-07:00

Back to routine and after half a week am shattered... Finding it really hard to get up in the mornings and have to be up every morning now as a change in my working hours....

Am hoping the weather improves... Am fed up with dodging showers...

Might be getting my craft space back soon too... But not getting my hopes up just yet...

wishing

2008-08-20T05:23:00.000-07:00

I was still in Tenerife.. It has done nothing but rain since we came home.... Got up to sunshine this morning but within an hour it was raining again... Can't help thinking that if we had 2 weeks we would still be basking in the sunshine..

A short video of part of the trip up to Mount Teide.. Can't believe just how high we travelled that day. will post some more of views right from the top...

Tenerife..

2008-08-16T06:58:00.000-07:00

Can't believe the week went so quick. Talk about relaxing. Have booked to go back next year..

Jim and the girls making the most of the pool. Our apartment was just behind me. Perfect spot..

We had everything we needed on site so didn't have to move unless we wanted to of course...

cricut wonderful..

2008-08-16T03:07:00.001-07:00

First thing done with my wonderful cricut expressions....

Still getting used to what papers etc cut best but so far love it .......

cricut

2008-08-02T01:15:00.000-07:00

Desperate to get some scrapbooking done before going back to work I dragged out my robo only to find something was drastically wrong with it. Not cutting well at all and after several frustrating days contacted the makers and arranged to send it to them for them to check over... Lost without it.. But.... A really good friend from a card group... (some of you will know her well) Convinced me that the new cricut expressions was the business.. Egged on by several other cardmaking friends I convinced myself that I couldn't possibly live without this wonder machine and it just so happened.. (because I was meant to have it ) my local craft store had one in stock... yey!! So yesterday took a trip to local craft store JUST to have a look.. lol. And of course I couldn't leave it in the shop could I? It had my name on it...
Now this machine looked soooo complicated It took me a while to pluck up the courage to unpack it and put it together.. Needn't have worried. Piece of cake. Was plugged in and used in about 10 mins.. Different to my robo which took 2 days to master.... lol.
So have planned a stay at home day today just to play.....

lazy time

2008-07-24T12:04:00.000-07:00

A whole 6 weeks off..... Week one , nearly gone. Have had a sort of lazy time.. Met up with friends for lunch on Tuesday. Shopped yesterday.... Bits and bobs for school. Been in to sort out classroom today and tomorrow Sophie and Emily will be coming back from their week away with their dad..
Two weeks to go and then will be off to Tenerife... Can't wait.

Sophie's graduation

2008-07-17T12:18:00.001-07:00

Sophie is 11 !!! and it is now popular to have a graduation before they move on to high school.... She really did not want to go. Mainly I think because she did not want to wear a dress but doesn't she look gorgeous..

She had her hair and 'makeup' done.... So had a right pampering. Her aunt made some jewellry for her.. Not on the photo, it hadn't been delivered.

She has had a busy and tiring week. Yesterday she had a school trip to London to see The sound of music. Had lunch in a place called the Rainforest Cafe. She was mega impressed with that. Didn't get home until 10pm last night. Tonight the prom and then tomorrow night is off on hols with her dad.... A whole week and she can't wait.

2008-07-14T03:03:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it is so long since I last wrote.... Thought you might like to see a picture of the village where I live. Looks good on a sunny day but we haven't had many of those lately.

Finish up work this week for 6 weeks.. The time has flown by. Will be off on our hols before I know it...

The other pics of the canal which runs through pontnewydd... Lovely for long walks with Tommy.. again taken on a gorgeous day... Planning a few walks on my 6 weeks off.. If the weather is good enough....

3 weeks and counting

2008-06-25T01:37:00.001-07:00

Can't wait for summer hols... Got so much planned but like other years probably won't get the half finished... LOL. Am going to price up have my attic floored and lined so I can move my craft stuff up there. Could also put all the computers up there maybe then would have a clutter free living room/dining room. We'll see.
Can't remember the last time I sat down and had a really good craft session. No room at the moment...

snail..

2008-06-21T02:19:00.000-07:00

Saturday at last.. Been a busy week so having a lazy day today. Had planned to go out but weather not good so just as well not going.

Healthy week at school and so much going on. Kids have loved it though.

Will be finishing up soon and can't wait.

Have bought some giant african snails and kids just love them.... One little boy found a snail in his garden and has decided to keep him as a pet...

The african snails are still small but growing quickly..

Even my dad can't resist taking a peek in the tub when he comes into my room.. lol.

Fathers day

2008-06-17T01:19:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday.. Fathers day. Quiet day for us and didn't really do anything different. Dad had lots of cards though so that was nice for him and Ali bought him a CD of his favourite music...

Weather has been glorious this last week. Sunshine every day. Dad has been making the most of the garden. The new lawn mower he bought is so easy even he can use it.

Folly Farm

2008-06-07T12:12:00.000-07:00

Been on my own most of today. Ali took the girls to Folly Farm in West Wales. They had lovely weather and ate lots of rubbish and bought lots of little pressis back for everyone.... Enjoying some white chocolate chip cookies that Ali brought back.

And what did I do with all this lovely time to myself.... Washing, ironing, cleaning, shopping etc etc...

Still on my own. They have all gone out for tea. Won't be back till later tonight. Think I'll watch a dvd...

And look at this.. A curly haired pig. Didn't even know they existed.... Sophie took loads of pictures. We are going to scrapbook them next weekend.

cut grass.

2008-06-04T13:05:00.000-07:00

My grass is neat and tidy again.. It was beginning to look like a jungle.. Too ashamed to show a photo of what it looked like before we began... Dad bought this fab new lawn mower this morning. Up until now we have been struggling with a hover mower which was really hard work on this lot. The new one is a rotary mower. With wheels so it just pushes along. Can't believe how easy it is.... Should have got one sooner.

And managed to sort some more plants out too. It is such a lovely evening. I have enjoyed being outside.

Am beginning to get more flowers along the edge of the patio too... Looks a bit pathetic at the moment but have more to do.

Now I need a coffee and then I daresay it will be time for bed...

and another day

2008-06-03T01:43:00.000-07:00

Well..Have nearly finished all reports for school. Hard Hard work.. And it is my assembly next week and nowhere ready for parents to come to watch.... Weather is awful but that is just as well, at least I don't wnat to be in the garden rather than do reports... LOL. Am trying to get into a routine of taking Fran to work, girls to school etc... Thank goodness for my dad. He will take them when I am working and pick them up.

Been thinking about my mum a lot these days. A friend at school lost her mum recently so I suppose it brings it all back. I am sure she would love our patio. It was such a mess last year and she was desperate to be in the garden with her flowers. Have got plans to fill the patio with tubs of flowers.. Jim not a flower person so not sure how he will cope with that... LOL.

This pic was taken when the pation was finished.. .will have to get some recent ones....

Too much to do

2008-06-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

When will things quieten down. Work is mad. So much to pack into 6 weeks before we finish for the summer holidays.

Daughter waiting for her own place but no sign of anything suitible. House bursting at the seems. Desperate to have some scrapbooking and cardmaking time but just when I think I am winning something else comes along to knock my plans all about.

Can't believe what a year it has been. Coming up to the year mark when we lost mum. It seems just like 5 minutes ago. Still not used to her being around sometimes I feel like she is just in her room having a rest and will be downstairs any minute and then I realise that isn't going to happen. And have to find time to do this blog thing properly.. lol.