Picnic in the Park

Easter Sunday 2011. most of these pictures were taken at Wicksteed Park, Kettering, Northants. We had a lovely day, picnic'd in the sunshine on Easter Sunday, the weather was phenominal for the time of year.

It wasn't me !

My Grandaughter Eloise, April 2011. looking very guilty about something. Butter wouldn't melt...eh?

Eloise's first professional photo.

You make my heart smile

My dear little 15m old grandaughter Eloise. look's like she's saying 'peace dude' !!

Foxton Locks - Leicestershire

Foxton Locks (grid reference SP691895) are ten canal locks consisting of two "staircases" each of five locks, located on the Leicester line of the Grand Union Canal about 5 km west of the Leicestershire town of Market Harborough and are named after the nearby village of Foxton.
They form the northern terminus of a 20-mile summit level that passes Husbands Bosworth, Crick and ends with the Watford flight
Staircase locks are used where a canal needs to climb a steep hill, and consist of a group of locks where each lock opens directly into the next, that is, where the bottom gates of one lock form the top gates of the next. Foxton Locks are the largest flight of such staircase locks on the English canal system.
The Grade II* listed locks are a popular tourist attraction and the county council has created a country park at the top. At the bottom, where the junction with the arm to Market Harborough is located, there are two public houses, a shop, trip boat and other facilities. The area is popular with gongoozlers.
Alongside the locks is the site of the Foxton Inclined Plane, an inclined plane built in 1900 as a solution to various operational restrictions imposed by the lock flight. It was not a commercial success and remained in full-time operation for only ten years. It was dismantled in 1926, but a project to re-create the Plane commenced in the 2000s, since the locks remain a bottleneck for boat traffic

Spring

Don't you just love the springtime? It's my all time favourite time of the year, the trees are fresh with either their newly opened leaves or blooming with cherry, almond and horse chestnut blossom.  The pp I used on this LO is My Mind's eye, 'La Paperie'  and the ideas for the side bar came from "Embellished emotions" adding your personal touch to  poems quotes and Sayings by Trudy Sigurdson
I love this book, although I don't outright copy her ideas it's such a useful book for giving you ideas and colour combinations
The poems says:

And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.  

.Shelly.

The Joy of being a Grandma

My two gorgeous grandsons Harvey aged 2 and Zac just 4 months. April 2011.

Two cards

Two cards I made with stamps given away free with my mnthly magazine 'Simply rads andPapercraft'

Mummy's little sweetie

My Grandaughter Eloise age 1yr 3m. April 2011. She is the most giggliest, cutest, loving little girl. here she is with her little toy she named 'Duff' .

bougainvillea

Bougainvillea, one of my favourite flowers, you can see them flowering everywhere in Greece, growing wild, run down and dry but still blooming profusely, they, to me are the epitome of Greece.

Mad Hatter

My Daughter Amy, messing around with her daughter Eloise's hat!! Looking COOL Amy!! March 2011.

Kerkyra

A few of my favourite photo's of Greece, the Taverna on top left is in Paxos, The houses are in Parga, the mainland of Greece, and the church is in the Harbour at Parga. 

My Story

 

In November 2010 I had been feeling quite unwell, very tired and listless, then I started to drink a lot, when I say a lot, I mean a pint every half hour or so, maybe more, then of course I was peeing every 5 minutes too, Then after about a week of this I notice my eyesight going very blurry and scratchy, I went to the opticians to get an eye test and he asked me if I was diabetic? I said ‘no’ not that I know of…. Anyway the next day or so got worse, I couldn’t even climb the stairs without a lot of effort. Mike said I think we’d better go and see the doctor, the next day we went. And without so much as a blink, the doctor said I think I know what’s wrong with you.. He did a urine and a blood test and there and then declared me a diabetic !  I was 61yrs old.. I had just retired and was enjoying my retirement, but  ah ha, we don’t escape that easily.
 I went into hospital whereupon I was put on a drip for 3 days, declared a type 1.  I have to take insulin now for the rest of my life. Although with modern technology the actual act of injecting, with a cartridge loaded pen, isn’t  a problem at all, it’s the constant watch of your blood glucose level , not too high, not too low!!
Well it’s been 4 months now since the day I was diagnosed. I now carry with me in my bag the assortment you see in the picture. It’s all ‘in case’ in case of a hypo (v.low glucose levels)  jelly babies, a digestive biscuit.  And  insulin pens, test meter, test strips, finger pricking devices, tissues… to mop the blood!!
So, Diabetes, I have you,  I’ll make the best of my life with you if I have to, and I thank my darling Partner Mike for all his support too, without you, what would be the point?

JOE

I Love my coffee, there's nothing better on a cold morning, a cold evening or just anytime. The stronger the better. The paper I used here is Ella Blue, Martha Stewart edge punch, 'doily lace' Vellum flowers from my dear friend Marcy, also K & Company little flower stickers which are my favourite.

Amy 1982

My daughter Amy's first 'real' photograph. Age 1yr. Newmarket Suffolk. 1982

Spring Cards

Cards

A couple of cards, one for Easter one...well just because....

Turning back time

Mike's daughter Sooz, at about 1yr old till she was about 17. Now she is 21.

some easter cards

From then til now

My Son Steve, on his very first day at school aged 5, and then first day at middle school. then as he is now aged 40! He always loved clothes, even his school uniform, he still loves new clothes now.

birthday cards

The top card I made today with the Iris Vellum overlay sent to me by my dear friend Marcy in the USA. she is such a true friend. The bottom card is one I made for one of my grandchildren.

Me. aged about 6

I found this old crinkled photo, I tried to patch up the creases - it's not too bad, you can still see the patch on the lower part of the photo, but I wanted to keep it as it's only of only a few I have at this age. I used Tim Holtz's idea-ology pp for the background, slightly distressed, some home-made flowers and stamped flourishes in the corner to make a vintage look layout.

Eloise with Nanny Glitter and Jaz

I spent a wonderful day with my daughter Amy and her daughter Eloise, we had lots of cuddles and fun with Jaz, who was protecting her like she was one of her own. Such a sweet dog. In the first picture Eloise is just chillin' with a book before nap time. then cuddling on Nannys lap, below Jaz is just guarding her puppy!!

Just Gawjuss

The picture of my little grandaughter Eloise aged 14months. the dearest sweet little girl ever! (well, she is my grandaughter) !! I am biased. lol

Eloise

Beautiful or what? this is my grandaughter, amazing blue eyed sweetest pea ever. Must put this in my scrapbook.

cards

A couple of cards I made today, Ella Blue pp stack for the top one, and die cuts with a view Alphabet glitter stack for the b/w card.
The roses on the top one I made by rolling up a piece of pp lightly, taping the end to form a loose roll the squashing it flat with my fist!!! brutal, I know, but it seems to work.the leaves can be made by tearing leaf shapes or I've used silk leaves from another flower.