Summer Vacation

....well part of it is right - it is summer but I haven't been away just been doing other things and yet again have neglected my blog!

I have been scrapping, quite a lot actually.  I have also been reading lots, relaxing and spending time at home. Plus I got unexpectedly hooked on the Olympics - that was a real surprise as I didn't think I would. Its lovely as David is around (school hols) and Dan is doing some shift work till the end of the paralympics so is also at home on somedays and Doug has been working from home a lot, this means we get longer evenings as there is no travelling. 

Here are a couple of LO's, this one was for the circle challenge on CBC

Really?

a Royal Visit

Mum found these papers for me - they work so well with these photos that I have been waiting to scrap

Other GOOD news is that David did marvellously well in his exams and got 4 A's - totally amazing I am so very proud, and I have an early birthday pressie of a Kindle Touch, LOVE it read a whole book yesterday now off to order some more.

back again

mainly because its peeing down again!! and the I was supposed to be outside and as with most events this summer its been rained off!!! Its getting a little boring now.
So a quick re-cap of what I have been up to in the last 3/4 weeks
**  University visiting with David - mind boggling so many students for so few places. On the upside we did end the day with a little shopping, a meal and a show, The Jersey Boys which was a mad fast paced start but settled down into a great show. We took full advantage of this years GILT - Get into London Theatre well worth it
** The Hitchin Tilehouse Rotary Club AMAZING Go Hitchin weekend - thought I would share this in pictures

DUCK RACE 

fantastic weather for Ducks!!

PARADE 

amazing band and dancers!      

HITCHIN HARD HALF MARATHON 

Doug did really well and managed to raise loads for The Rotary Club

Then I got back to some scrapping, which I have to say had been really neglected. I did this for the challenge over on CBC - I chose to use script paper.

Fancy That

 MME on the Sunny Side

Hope it fits the challenge? Right really have to go now as I have a meeting will be back soon as I have done loads of scrapping

and so it goes on and on.......

Being home alone in charge of pigs and chickens is not my idea of heaven when the weather is nice. Now, with all this rain the mud is so deep where the pigs are I frequently lose my brand new beautiful flower patterned wellies! I hate having to wear them as they get so muddy :( Have to say the pigs do seem very happy with the mud so maybe its just me lol. On the upside of having the animals we are allowed to use a hose to wash down and fill up the water etc etc. The pigs drink like, well, greedy pigs and Doug has a water butt in a tree - honest you have to see it to believe it is connected to a drinker that has a valve thingy in it - sure there is a technical term but basically it means they get constant water. We have to climb a tree, well lets be honest WE don't we send the boys!!! they are much younger and far more agile, and up until a couple of days ago we passed up full watering cans to them. Such a a palaver. Then 2 days ago I bought an extension to our hose, I can tell you I got some really odd looks and funnily enough the Hose Pipe shelf was jam packed I could have had all of the colours in all of the sizes (I did love that advert I am so old lol) Even the lady at the till asked me was I aware that there was a hose pipe ban!! Anyway filling the water butt is now a piece of cake and no kids are involved making for an all round more peaceful event! The boys do manage to moan a lot!! So just the rain and mud issue to solve now then and looking at the forecast not sure that is going to happen.

Pigs in ..... goodness only knows lol!!

a happy pig!!!!

Right enough, onto a challenge set over on CBC to use flags

It is all about the right hat

and sunshine - remember that!

Colder and Colder

Can it get any colder? I am up and down the garden like a yo-yo defrosting the chicken water - getting bored with it now!


Still I am keeping warm indoors as I have 
just cooked 6 lasagnes - I am smiling as I do it cos that means its 6 weeks and we fly out to Florida. The lasagnes are for the boys - all cooked and ready to freeze to be warmed up and then the dish thrown away - how hard can it be? I was hoping that it would mean they would maybe manage to clear up after themselves. Think maybe when we face time them I will ask to see the kitchen!


I have couple of LO's to share. My first ever LO without a title but I figured the photo kind of said it all - this is for Kaths challenge over on CBC - we had to use bling, wings and pretty things!

Santa Monica Pier

 Jillibean Soup - Blossom Soup

Some misting AND some stamping with paints:)

Finally a LO I did for the sketch on Lets Capture these Sketches #117

 on the water Front  

I did toy with the title Beach Bum - made me laugh!!

Basic Grey Phresh & Phunky

Can you tell I am on a mission to use up my old papers?

cold!!!

Is what I am - I know its mild out and yes the sun is shinning BUT I haven't any heating OR hot water so the house has cooled down to VERY COLD!!! So I am sitting here blogging with a fan heater which either makes me very hot or when I turn it off instantly cold - so yes I am having a good moan! The plumber is due tomorrow so fingers crossed this is the last day of it.


I have THIS bubbling away in the slo-cooker today - smells lovely hope it turns out as nice as the picture looks. I am also trying roasted brussels and bacon - never done that before so if neither work its just roast potatoes for tea :)


I finished this LO for an old and new challenge on Crafts By Carolyn

True Love

Echo Park -Time and Seasons Collection

I found this quote and thought it was lovely - especially as we were standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge