2012 !!!!! Welcome Back to My Blog!

At last I have managed to post on my own blog! I have been AWOL for months as blogger didn't like me at all :( and couldn't leave comments on other blogs either :(

Anyhoo, I'm back now (hopefully no more problems) and off we go ...............

Some "NEW" JACK PHOTOS

Watching the deer at "The Scottish Deer Centre", Cupar




Being a "duck" at our flat in St. Andrews . . it took a while to get this photo as Jack didn't realise he wasn't to eat the pringles straight away LOL




I'm ready to go to the new "Glasgow Museum of Transport".....



Jack and his wee friend Kayla looking for boats on the River Clyde.....

Changes

A lot of things have changed since I blogged in May and I will keep it short and without drama :D
We are now a family of 5, Craig, Lauren, Blair, little Jack and I.
Alan left the family at the begining of June.

We are doing fine and had our usual holiday in St Andrews making lots of new memories and were very lucky with the weather.

I've been to tons of crops since I last blogged but don't seem to have produced much (this sounds familiar) and plan to change this as of Sunday when I'm cropping in Stirling . . if I make it there .. . that's a whole other story lol >>>>>
Last Friday I hurt my back and have SI joint dysfunction !!! The pain has been terrible and I've been doped up to the max since then. Fortunately, I'm feeling much better today and think all the various pills and gels are now working :D

I had the most wonderful weekend down in Debden at the beginning of the month with some amazing friends and I travelled with my good friend Izzy. Have already booked for next year ;)

Onward and upward has to be the motto for this year and I intend to keep it going . I have the support of my loving family and wonderful friends . . what more can I ask

chat soon
Val xxx

YEAH!!!

At last I have my blog fixed !!! It's only taken 2 months!
Just a wee note to say I'm back xxx

STILL HERE ! !

Just life getting in the way of blogging again :)

I've been to so many crops over the last couple of months that I can't actually remember them all !

I've had my usual one at Stewarton every Thursday evening (just love this weekly crop), a couple in Stirling on Sundays :). One in Uddingston which Izzy and I are going to again next week OR it could be the week after next :). The charity crop for Arthritis Care in Kilmarnock (next one in Milngavie in June).
We have one lined up for Edinburgh at the beginning of June and another new one in East Kilbride also in June PLUS the all day Stewarton crop and the Stirling crops next week and again in June ! ! !

The big question is . . . did I actually scrap?? Well, yes and no :D I do tend to do a lot of chatting and a little less scrapping but I have managed a few layouts over the last few months AND since I haven't uploaded any for the best part of this year I could bore you with quite a few . . . eventually ;D

I decided to make a couple more Pop Pop Fizz Fizz mini albums ( these were little albums made from cd folders shown on the old days of "Club Scrap" tv weekly) I have been trying to find thick card to make the folders as they are impossible to source ready made in the UK. My friend Lynne gave me some card to try so tonight I'm going to be making templates :D

Only bit of unfortunate news is that I have slipped something in my SI joint and have been a lot of pain for weeks ( now have a walking stick which I'd had for a couple of weeks before venturing outside with it, purely vanity I suppose). I was meant to have a weeks bed rest and lots of diazapam but that only lasted two days lol Now ready to start physio next week . . . the joys lol

I'M BACK . . . .

And hopefully full of inspiration and raring to go . . . . to all the crops I have lined up for the next few months :D
Next Sunday is the all day crop at Stewarton and I'm really looking forward to it :D
Next week I have a crop in Stirling then The Sincerely Yours craft show at the end of the month, crops in Uddingston, Kilmarnock and Stiling in May and then Milngavie and Stirling so far, in June !!!! PLUS . . . . the weekly crops in Stewarton on Thursday evenings.

CROP TART ME ??? YOU BET YA :D :D



I have found my camera cable now so expect a pile of layouts hitting your screen any day now !

ALL SCRAPPED OUT. . . .

I had another super break at "South Littleton" in Rattray :) :)
3 days of crafting with friends what could be better?? AND . . . I got to feed the beautiful "Big Maxxxxx" :)

I managed a few layouts in between chatting, laughing and eating :) Actually I had better check my layouts for "squintiness" as I did have rather a lot of painkillers while I was scrapping (bad back/neck)and this could reflect on my layouts lol.

I have said many times before how wonderful South Littleton is for a relaxing break or a scrapping weekend and this visit was every bit as good.
Hazel, if you are reading my blog could you please adopt me ??? I am very quiet, clean and good with horses and I promise to clean the scrapping room for you every day ;) ;)

TO THE "BARM" AGAIN . . .

South Littleton . . . . here I come again lol

On Thursday I am off to Perth for some R and R staying in a hotel overnight and then on to South Littleton in Rattray on Friday ( after a lunch stop) for a scrapping weekend with 5 friends :D

I am not organised craft wise (no surprise there) but my case is organised and the ironing etc at home is all up to date :D

I'm actually dreading going into my craft room as it's in such a mess! I was looking for something a couple of weeks ago and turned the room upside down and then . . . closed the door ! Thankfully, anything I've needed since then has been in one of my totes.
So, that's a job for tomorrow :)

Oh! I've found my camera lead so be ready for PHOTOS!!!!!!

AT THE "BARM"

Or as most people call it "South Littleton Farm" Rattray, Perthshire.

Lauren, Jack and I had 4 super days in "The Bothy" at South Littleton ( Jack calls it the barm lol) The weather wasn't too bad and didn't keep us indoors as there was far too much exploring to be done by our 2 year old animal lover :D
Jack loved all the ponies and horses but he adored Big Maxxxx ( the biggest horse there ) We spent many an hour feeding them carrots, apples and hay :D. The Highland cows were a big favourite too and they were so friendly coming over to the fence when they saw and heard Jack approaching :D

We had a few tears when he realised we were coming home and Maxxxxx wasn't coming with us :( we've assured him we'll be coming back later in the year.

Hazel and David, thank you once again for a super break and I'll be seeing you again next weekend ;) ;)

A BIG WOO HOO ! ! !

I am so chuffed this morning :D

Late last night I read on facebook that I was one of two winners in an Echo Park competition :D It was totally unexpected and I'm delighted :D I think the prize is either "For The Record" range or "Springtime! both are new releases and both are equally beautiful. I'll be delighted with either as I adore Echo Park Papers . . . you probably realise this if you read my blog regularly lol

OK THIS IS NOT FUNNY . . . .

I know I can be scatter brained and forgetful and a little dolly dimple at times BUT this time someone has definitely STOLEN/ HIDDEN my camera cable ARRRGGHHHHH!!!

I know I put it away safely . . . I can't remember where BUT I know it was somewhere safe and now it's gone!!!

The upshot is . . . still can't share new photos or layouts :(

Yesterday I had a lovely lunch with friends, one of whom took, shall we say an alternative route to the restaurant *cough* Izzy lol. After lunch and chatting we had a little shopping trip to Craft World, well it would have been extremely rude to bypass a craft shop ;). I have to say that I was very restrained and only bought some ribbon, white cardstock and 4 12x12 papers !! Shock Horror lol.
It's ok I'm not ill just all shopped out after last Sunday :D

I have signed up for a photography course which starts tomorrow, the great thing about it is it's FREE ! It runs for the whole of February and I'm looking forward to the first prompt tomorrow :D It's called "The Joy of Love" and can be found on facebook ( I've tried to add a link but it's not letting me :( )

TIRED OUT :D

Having been at home most of the time since late November I am so tired after being out all weekend BUT it's a happy tired :D :D

The Thursday evening crop at Stewarton was thwarted by FOG !! Not just a little fog but PEA SOUP FOG !! I'm beginning to think I'm destined not to get there at all on Thursday evenings lol.

Saturday morning still saw fog but the fact that it wasn't dark meant that I was ready to scrap and headed off to Cumbernauld :D I have to admit I didn't scrap too much and spent more time chatting and laughing :D

Sunday morning I was raring to go and had great intentions of scrapping up a storm . . . after buying as much stash as I could carry home lol.
In the end I did a couple of layouts and again chatted, laughed, drank tea/coffee and chatted some more . . . it was great to relax and meet up with old and new friends alike :D

I will photograph my creations tomorrow and upload ( if I can locate the dreaded camera cable yet again lol )

FIRST POST OF 2011

Better late than never though lol

2010 didn't end too well and 2011 didn't start well either due to boring health problems BUT things are improving now so onward and upward :D :D

Now that all the Festivities are well and truly over it's back to serious crafting :D Begining with 3 crops this week alone !!! YES 3 !!!

On Thursday evening the Stewarton weekly crop
On Saturday the Cumbernauld all day crop AND
On Sunday the Stewarton all day crop !

I shall be all cropped out :D

Watch out for layout photos next Monday :D :D

SNOW AGAIN ! ! !

Well, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful . . .

I think we are in for a very long winter and goodness knows what January and February will bring as these are usually the real winter months !

We've had about 1 inch of snow today which is nothing compared to other parts of the UK . . BUT the fact that the side roads and most pavements were covered in black ice prior to the latest snowfall makes traveling on foot or by car treacherous.


Frosty the Snowman
Was a jolly happy soul . . .

The snowman Jack, Blair and I built over two weeks ago has finally melted away. All that remains is a large puddle of ice and a carrot ! Somehow I don't think that will be the only snowman of this winter :D


O Christmas tree O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches . . .

Our Christmas tree has been up since the 8th December, Jack loves it and likes to sit with only the tree lights lighting the room. We thought he might take the baubles off but so far it has stayed intact lol


He's making a list
Checking it twice . . .

The "LIST" is complete and if you are not on it you know you have been very naughty ;) Santa has only the wrapping and delivering to do now :D

SNOW MUCH FUN . . . .

Thought I'd share some photos of Jack having fun in the snow on Sunday and Monday :D








We took him to our local primary school on Sunday and he had so much fun sledging down the hills and then being pulled home on the sledge by Grandpa and Mummy :D

SNOW ! SNOW ! SNOW !

Snow arrived here late last night which was unexpected as all the forecasts had said.... none till Sunday and even then just a thin covering !

So . . . no cropping in Cumbernauld for me today BUT I'm going to pretend I'm at the crop and shut myself in my craft room till 4pm and SCRAP!! :D

I did manage to the crop in Stewarton on Thursday evening and even got there and back without a hitch ( with a little help from Lynn ;) ) which was a huge improvement on last week :D
Im already looking forward to next week and especially the following week as there will be "chocolate" involved. . .shhhh don't tell everyone lol

I've decided that I am following in my friends Izzy and Lynn ( another Lynn :D ) footsteps and have become a "crop tart" lol as I now have crops lined up in Stewarton, Cumbernauld, Doune and Dunoon !!!
Any other recommendations gratefully received ;)

MORE NEW STASH !!! . . .

I must stop going places where I find loads of lush new scrapbooking stash .. NOT lol

I have made a few little purchases recently and should now stop before I spend all the Christmas money lol

It's very hard for me to resist Christmas stash as I have a complete mental block with anything remotely festive and can't stop myself ( it's frightening to think what my attic will be like in another 5 years or so, it's groaning with decorations already)

On Thursday evening I ventured out to the crop in Stewarton. I'd had such a good time at the Sunday all day crop and having missed last week due to bad weather I was really looking forward to it. All the girls are so lovely and welcoming and it was good to relax and chat for a few hours :D The journey home was another matter and what should have taken about 25 mins took me an hour and a quarter !!! AND I didn't hit the motorway once lol. Alan has said he'll take me over this weekend so I know how to get there and back safely next week :D

So what have a bought . . . .










Not all Christmassy ;) and I did buy some My Mind's Eye, Fine and Dandy range but can't upload photos for some reason. The Prima papers and pad "too cute" are well, too cute lol and I have big plans for the Tando Christmas stuff ( including large trees which I haven't uploaded) . . . best get into my craft room tonight and get to work instead of just talking about it lol

I'M MAKING A LIST . . . .

Checking it twice . . three times . . four times, as usual :D

Have started serious Christmas shopping now, which I love :D and got a few bits and pieces yesterday and today. I'm adding to and ticking off "The List" as I go and I'm happy! happy! happy! Did I say . . . . . I LOVE CHRISTMAS . . . . .

I was cropping with friends on Sunday and was quite productive with layouts (unusual for me as I tend to chat more and scrap less at crops)lol
I also bought some lovely stash which, of course I NEEDED ;)
We did a mini class with mica mists and chipboard which was fun and the mica mist colours are to die for YUM! ( a couple seemed to land in my basket ;))


Friday 12th . . ..

I was meant to be at a crop yesterday but the weather here was awful, torrential rain and high winds, so I decided to stay safely at home, disappointing but safety first ;)

This weekend will have me doing a bit more Christmas shopping :D armed with my trusty "list" lol

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
fa lalalala lala la la

ADDING TO THE LIST . . . .

I eventually had my consultation with my neurologist today, I say eventually as the hospital is a maze of buildings and I didn't have a clue where I was going! The pouring rain and fading light didn't help matters lol

I don't know yet if my brain is bigger than a golf ball BUT I do know that I now have "vertigo" to add to my long list of health problems AND parts of my left arm are numb !!!! I've got to laugh though as it's not life threatening and I'll just keep popping even more pills.

My MRI has been booked for a few weeks ahead and I think they are going to give me a complete overhaul . . .I'm sure I heard one of the docs say . . . . we have the technology, we can make her better, faster and stronger . . .LOL

I am ashamed to admit that I left the hospital after having blood taken and forgot my sister Isy who was sitting patiently in the waiting room OOPS . . I did remember about her eventually and went back . lol

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED RECENTLY???

Well, I've learned that even when you help someone as much as you possibly can . . . . sometimes it's still not enough !

I've learned that "friendship" means different things to different people !

I've learned that you can outlive your usefulness !

I've learned that the more you do, the more you are expected to do !

I've learned that familiarity CAN breed contempt !

I've learned that making too many excuses for someone is a mistake !

AND

I've learned that sometimes, just sometimes I need to put myself first .