Why no blogging???

This is the question I have been asking myself this weekend. What has happened to my blogging addiction?? I had a fantastic time this afternoon following a blog hop set up by Mel. It was themed 'All about me', so it got me thinking all about me!! (Do pop over to her blog and look at some of the fantastic projects there is a whole lot of talent out there!!)

I think I have great excuses not to blog, the usual 'I haven't enough time' springs to mind immediately. This is truer than ever as a few things have changed recently at the house of Furrypig........

DH got a job (hurrah... was nearly 6 months) but it is in Worcester (boo hiss.... not at Worcester as it sounds a wonderful place) but this means he is away Monday to Friday and just back for weekends. He also took the lappy with him, which is great as we can skype every day and the kids love it, but I am left with the desk top so it means I cannot multitask whilst blogging/surfing . I often used the pc whilst cooking, watching tv, supervising kids etc etc but the desk top is upstairs in the study so not as easy and I have been nipping on in the evenings before bed time and then I just end up going to bed!!

I take DH to the station every Monday morning and this means getting up at 5.15am which seems to leave me tired for the rest of the week. (it saves £11 on cab fare though so I do it so I can spend £10 on craft stash...... well that was my reasoning!)

I have just started a university course one day a week that ends in December. It is called 'Independant and Supplementary Prescribing' and basically means I can write prescriptions like a Doctor if/when I pass. It is all day Tuesday and means I have to have childcare for DS pre and post school and be more organised. Plus it is not an easy course with 3 written assignments, practical assignments, and 2 written exams!! Tuesdays used to be a quiet day with just 3 hours at work now it is my longest day of the week, though I should be getting the time back from work.

Work has been stressful as there are loads of changes happening there and I am nervous of change! The future is unclear for us at the moment but I am trying to remain optimstic, but sadly a really wonderful colleague has resigned and this will be a huge loss for the clinic. Not gonna waste any more blog time discussing work as it makes me start feeling anxious again.

I had a funny patch of skin and a Dr at work suggested I ask the GP for a dermatology opinion. I had that the first week in May, followed by a skin biopsy the second week in May and my stitch came out the third week in May. As we approach the fourth week in May I am waiting for the results, I know what the likely diagnosis is and although it sounds awful, it should be fine and it should involve just a simple treatment and therefore a simple cure. But it is unknown at the moment and it is a bit of a worry and I didn't want to discuss it with people which made it harder. It actually made it impossible when I turned up for work with a big pressure dressing on my head that stayed on for 48 hours!! I did get lots of questions so now everyone knows I have had a biopsy and we will wait and see............

My camera broke! I was gutted and meant an end to project 365 for me as got all in a muddle trying to use DH's digital SLR, tho' I am getting better but I do miss my little point and shoot camera as it was so easy to have in my bag/take everywhere. I may get it mended so will get a quote and see if not will ask for a new one for my birthday later in the year. In the meantime I need to learn how to use the big one!

I have managed some Layouts from my first ever Shimelle class that I loved and can't wait to do another one! I have also made several cards so will get round to blogging pics at some point. I have missed keeping up with all your blogs as I felt so many of you were my friends as I had daily insights into your world. I am trying to get back on track and keep up and also think it will help me to blog through some of the experiences as writing things down has always been a helpful therapy for me and hopefully it will mean I won't need to access any real therapy as I do feel I am getting rather anxious at times. Reading your posts also is a form of therapy for me as the insights and creativeness are just what the doctor (or independant prescriber!) ordered!

So I will make more of an effort to blog....... I hope xxx

My 99

I have seen these 99 on several blogs now and thought I would join in as I love doing these fun things and it is easy and I have been a bad blogger recently and need to catch up!!

The things in bold are the ones I have completed

1. Started your own blog (here it is!)
2. Slept under the stars (whilst on a beach!)
3. Played in a band (I was in a school band and a singing group!)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (not sure I have ever really done that)
7. Been to Disneyland (bit of a Disney fan)8. Climbed a mountain (only a small one!)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (remember I was in a singing group!)
11. Bungee jumped (no thanks...ever...)
12. Visited Paris (several times but would like to go with the kids)
13. Watched a lightning storm (tropical ones are the best!)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (scrapbooking!)
15. Adopted a child (no, but would not rule it out )
16. Had food poisoning (yuk a few times always fish)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (well seen it but not allowed to go to the top when I was there)
18. Grown your own vegetables (loved my veg garden in London!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (whilst travelling in India)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (not recommended I fear!)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (might do this again I suspect!)
24. Built a snow fort (well the children did?!)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (Indonesia whilst young, single and skinny and tanned!!!)
27. Run a Marathon (would love to do this but so unfit!)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (maybe one day before it sinks)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (think I did the equivalent in rounders?)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (well I think I am satisfied (would be if A had a job!) but human nature is we always want more)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (with my friend Clare on our Italy trip)
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (with Clare again)
41. Sung karaoke (love Karaoke not done it for ages mmmm.....)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (Zimbabwe, Zambia and recently Egypt)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (with a patient not for me)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (don't do heights!)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started your own business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (in Scotland, Cape Cod and New Zealand fab experience)
63. Got flowers for no reason (if I buy them myself LOL!)
64. Donated blood (they never want it!!)
65. Gone sky diving (never gonna happen!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (accidentally!)
68. Flown in a helicopter (over Vic falls in Zim did not really enjoy it...it's the height thing)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (my bear)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (not keen)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square (NYC my 40th bday treat)
74. Toured the Everglades (love the Everglades, real Florida)
75. Been fired from a job (not yet!!!)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (prob never will)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve (must have done in my youth)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (no thanks.)
88. Had chickenpox (twice)
89. Saved someone’s life (well, I am a nurse!)
90. Sat on a jury (but not on any exciting cases)
91. Met someone famous (loved meeting Kenneth Williams (RIP) and several others too)
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo (never say never!)
94. Had a baby (twice)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit (when our move fell through)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

So I have completed just over half... interesting. I would love to see what you have done please let me know in the comments if you complete the 99 list so I can have a nosey on your blog and see what you have been up to!!! Thanks xxx

More from Shimelle's crop party

The fourth challenge I completed over at the crop party was a sketch from Shimelle

I took this photograph yesterday and actually really like the finished page.

The fifth challenge was a scraplift from Shimelle we had a choice and this is the LO I went with, just to celebrate cupcakes and remember the recipe from Debbie at country heart and home. First time I have ripped paper on a layout and like the affect!

Number six was to use two 4 x 6 photographs

again the pics were taken yesterday our first picnic this year. Enjoying using green!

Challenge number seven was scrap including some stampingthis really great sentiment stamp was sent to me (sorry can't remember who gave it to me but I love it!) Need to add some more journalling but neither myself or DS's frind could recall the year!

Onto challenge number eight an adventureI have had this photo ready to scrap for over a year. Such a stunning memory of our night at Magic Kingdom last year but not sure the page does it justice. I have actually added glitter to the background firework paper and some gloss but it doesn't show up very well. Needs a proper title and journalling but not sure yet... any tips???

Finally I completed an earlier challenge to scrap with scrapsI used some of the leftover papers from my previous school LO (sorry poor pic as taken tonight) and now I am happy but exhausted so gonna enter the challenges then go to bed!! NN xxx

Shimelle's online crop party

Firstly sorry I haven't been here for ages I have been away on holiday and haven't had a chance to catch up since I returned, but will do soon.

Events this weekend have forced me back to blogland, as I have been joining in with Shimelle's first ever online crop party. It has been such a great weekend for me and I have worked really hard to try and join in lots of the challenges though I have missed out several!! Thank you Shimelle for everything you did to put this crop together even down to emailing me from your train journey I do appreciate it!

Do go over to Shimelle's blog and see for yourself what all the challenges were and more importanly what everyone has created as the other scrappers are just awesome! I literally drool over some of their amazing layouts and I am completely in the shadow of their greatness! Having said that i am really pleased that I had a quiet weekend, with lots of sunshine and managed not only taking some pics but also scrapping them already! I just need to keep on scrapping and I am sure my confidence and ability will improve.

The first challenge I did was using 4 patterned paper squares as the background

a nice simple one to begin with. Really want to scrap some of the school photo's as well as having them on the wall.

Second challenge I did was a layout including handwriting

I am sooo pleased with this one. I used a favourite photo from last year in Florida and just managed to find all the papers and bits to go with it. Quite bright but it seems to work and even DD likes this one! Using lots of things in my stash too and finally used one of my Martha Stewart journalling tags!

My third layout was about my neighbourhood

This is absolutely up to date as it is the post match photograph from DS's local footie team, his last match of the season and a win!! Again I used lots of untouched stash so feeling really pleased. On the back is a photocopy of the photo with all the boys names and some journalling.

Happy Easter!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Easter Sunday full of hot cross buns, Simnel cake, choccie eggs and all the other traditional goodies!

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This is our Easter/Spring cat Tinker in the daffodils. I did take a couple of pictures of DD, the cat and the Daffs but she was not keen on them so I decided not to blog those snaps.

Do you celebrate Easter in any particular way? We often have an Easter party but we have been away this Easter and I have to work quite a few days in the next couple of weeks so I haven't managed to fit one in. I have a couple of chocolate eggs for the children and gave them each a t shirt too. I did make a few Easter baskets in a couple of different styles for friends/teachers/school. Simply made out of yellow card and filled with orange shred, mini creme and chocolate eggs and chocolate bunnies! I really enjoyed making these but was a bit lazy about decorating them!

Visiting friends

We recently visited some good friends and had a great time, good wine, fine food, fab company... what more could I ask for. Their teenage daughter had made one of the puddings a fantastic Easter meringue nest all chocolatey and gooie in the middle...... scrummy! I was so impressed and had to take a picture of the Magnificent Meringue

the children had a great time with their friends too and ended up singing Kareoke (?sp?) style at the end of the eveningOur friends have the most wonderful dog Diesel and he is so well behaved, this is him squeezed into his basket ready for bed.

Earlier on in the week I had made a birthday card for my friend trying to use some of the prompts from Shimelle again, scraps of paper and card, brads, flowers and stickers!

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I also made a thank you card for a dear online friend who yet again sent me something to brighten my day,

sorry it's late but hope this card has finally arrived xxx

All black

Friday 26th March was the day I had planned to go to the NEC for a meet up with some of my MSE crafty mates and a stash spend. Sadly due to 'circumstances beyond my control' I didn't make it this time but still had the day off work. I did miss them and the fun, the spending and all the chatting and demos so was a bit sad!

I decided to bake another carrot cake for the family as the last one had gone down fairly well on DH's birthda,y except for the walnuts so I left them out. I somehow managed to set the oven completely wrong so it was on top and bottom heating and after a short time I smelt burning and opened the oven door (big mistake!) The kitchen filled with smoke, the alarm went off and I found this very sad looking lump of charcoal in my baking tin!
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I tried to salvage it but sadly there was very little that could be eaten! The burnt and blackened remains were given to the birds but even my feathered friends are not keen! It did make me laugh (after I had finally got rid of the smell of smoke!)