no thank you!

it's been trying to snow again today... but I said no thank you. Have you got that mr weather man? I said NO THANK YOU!!!
ok, feel better now that's been settled :-)

So, for anyone who's interested, yes I did get the telly going. And I feel thoroughly ashamed as it was so easy. I can't actually believe I never got to grips with it before - Not that there was anything on the box, obviously...

So, I came up here and made a cute card instead. It was originally destined for CPS, but I missed the challenge deadline as something weird happened to my computer and it shut itself down and wouldn't come on again. Disaster! Carl got it going again this morning. Something about the plug? I dunno what he did, and nor do I care. As long as it's fixed i'm happy. I can't bear life without my pc. When it breaks i'm on a wobbler til it's mended again. Embarrassing as that is to admit I have to, coz it's the truth. The thought of a day without going online would kill me ha ha.

Here's my card:

Gotta love that poodle eh!

Captured this on our way home from the Downs walk this afternoon. Sunset over the fields, just a couple of minutes from our house.

Beautiful.

Right, off to have a go at organinsing and doing my preps for my 365 album. I've had lots of help from Deb who's fantastic completed book prompted me to have a go myself. Do check hers out - her photos are amazing and her book is a real inspiration.

later
jkxx

I am my Dad...

....or that is the joke in the house today, anyway.

The reason for this uncommon mirth is that the boys are off to an event in London shortly and I, being left behind on my own, will have no idea how to operate the TV. Vin has offered to write me a detailed guide - with diagrams if necessary - so that should I decide to settle down later with the pup on my knee I will at least be able to turn the damned thing on, if not find something worth watching. Unbelievably, I haven't always been this useless. Once I could flippantly flick between channels like the best of them (when we only had four, admittedly), I could turn on and off... well it was manual those days, see? I could even switch to aux and insert, play and watch a video. Probably even a DVD! But all that was before we had 77 handsets which all look the same, but apparently operate any number of functions and aspects on a television set, and the peripherals which go with it.

We go down my Dad's quite often to re-acquant him with the buttons and whatnots on his own handsets. He forgets what does what and thinks things are broken, and last time I found him sitting with a whole draw full of batteries, sadly trying one after the other - all to no avail, before we realised he'd actually unplugged the blooming thing before he went to bed the night before, and somehow it had slipped his mind. I did ask why he had so many batteries, and did any of them actually work, but got no satifactory answer and to be honest I was so grateful we'd got it going again without WW3 erupting that I decided not to pursue it... if he's happy to have more batteries than Wilko's in his drawer who am I to argue?

Anyway - you can see why they think I'm turning into my Dad, can't you? I can't work the telly it's true. And most of the time I don't want to, but tonight...? Yeah, maybe I will.

So, i'm off for a crash course in domestic technology. Just hope we've got a few spent batteries kicking around in case I can't work it. It'll give me something to do trying them all out til the menfolks get home to save me from dying of boredom.

Couple of things today: My first card for Card Patterns . It's a great template so I thought i'd have a go :-). And a layout of the boy with the pup. That dog is spoiled rotten, and very very much loved!

it's on the cards

I've got the card-making bug...there's a lot of it about.

Checked out the Daring 'schooldays' challenge this morning and couldn't resist. Also made another valentiney type card.. God knows what I'm going to do with them all - it's not like I have that many sweethearts!

This is my take:



And this is the other one:



On the home front all is well. I've done a few extra hours at work in an attempt to limit the financial damage the snow days (weeks...) wreaked on my pocket. My menfolk are off to TNA in London tomorrow so i'll be hey there lonely girl I guess. Oh well, at least I have the pup... that's a good thing... right?

I love her really, just wish she wasn't such a little mare all the time!

have a great weekend all, more soon.
jkx

The (daytime) Burns night celebrations went down well at work yesterday :-) My oldies obviously can’t stay up late partying, so I threw them a bit of a do in the afternoon instead. We had Haggis with tatties and neeps which I addressed of course ;-) That came in to the sound of bagpipes...and the chef also made a fantastic Raspberry Cranachan all steeped in scotch whiskey.



We followed this with a few of Rabbie’s poems, a fun Scottish quiz, and a good sing-a-long of all the old faves to round it off. Great fun!

I popped over to Daring Cardmakers earlier and was inspired to join in their latest 'What's the Point?' challenge. I made a valentine's card, tho I won’t be able to give it to Carl now as he’s blooming well seen it! Doh!



It's my intention to make ALL my cards this year... One, in an attempt to use up some of this mountain of stash which is threatening to engulf me if I'm not careful, and two, because the car payments are gonna cripple me and I won't be able to afford to buy any !

I’ve also been trying to organise my 365 pics today on Deb’s advice – crikey, what a pickle I’m in already! Methinks that advice came just in time. I aim to be fully sorted by the end of the week - and have caught up on my weekly pages before the begining of Feb.

ok, that's it from me
take care all
jkxx

Diet....? What diet..?

My holiday's looming... less than 7 weeks now - and the diet's gone to pot. I don't know why. I have good intentions every day, but somehow, somehow, I never quite manage to get by on a leaf and a sliver of steamed chicken. I seem to have a built in self sabotage button. If it's not wine and nibbles, it's something else.

Today it was the choc chip cookies. Now, I made those for the boys.... I made myself a sugar free jelly which I was of course, happy to share. Unfortunately for me - and my diet - the boys generously offered to share their warm, crumbly and moist confections too, and I very nearly succumbed! Which is quite mad as I'm not even a sweet eater!

It's the word diet that does it I reckon... as soon as I say i'm on a diet, I just wanna scoff! Anyone else find that?

Anyway, I DIDN'T eat them. Didn't even taste them... so while the rest of the day might have been a disaster, at least I resisted the treats. :-) But boy, did they smell good!

EASY CHOC CHIP COOKIES



Ingredients
250g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
170g unsalted butter, melted
200g dark brown soft sugar
100g caster sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
325g chocolate chips

Preparation method
1. Preheat the oven to 175 C / Gas mark 4 and grease a baking tray. I'm thinking of buying some of those non stick liners you can get which you just wash and use again. If anyone spots any in Lime green please let me know where!
2. Sift together flour, bicarb and salt. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar and caster sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough onto the prepared baking trays, with each cookie around 4 tablespoons of dough. Do not flatten the dough. Cookies should be about 8cm apart.
4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking trays for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
ENJOY! ( or not, if you're on a diet! lol!)

doesn't get much warmer does it?

Took the pup for a lovely long walk today. Long walk for her anyway. Someone said they thought Chi's got enough exercise just running round the garden. All I can say is, they've clearly never owned one! We walked right along the old railway, past Sewell turn, and down towards the abandoned quarry at the lower end of Totternhoe - a good few miles, there and back. Think she was tired? Nah.... I mean,I was.... but her? No chance!!





I'm still trying to find time to do a bit of crafting, but my free hours just run away from me. I have a new crochet set( xmas pressie) and I really really want to learn. Anyone been buying the new Art of Crochet Partworks on sale now? I was tempted but being skint had to say no. I think i'll try google and youtube instead, never know what you might find there. And I also found this place - which might be good too - need to check it out.



In the meantime, I made a LO - I have so few pics of me and Carl and all the kids together, seemed a shame not to :-)



anyway - gotta run, got a roast on and i'm starving... it's all that exercise see... just makes you hungry! :-)

jkxx

Ka'nt believe it....

I'm going to do something tomorrow that i've never done before.... and that's no small feat for a scaredy cat old bird like me who resists change at all costs.
I'm going to pick up a brand new car.

That's a 'New' car...

Yeah.

Me.

I know....Don't really go together those words, do they?
Everyone knows I'm the original banger queen... never had a decent car in my life as i've never really been that bothered what I drive as long as it gets me there, and hopefully back again in one piece. But the time has come - and with the gov't scrappage scheme, it'd be mad not to - so I'm finally saying farewell to my ancient fiesta - which I love... but with luck, also waving goodbye to all the horrendous garage bills she constantly saddles me with.

In honour of this momentous event, I made a LO to mark the occasion.



I'm sure photo's of the sparkly machine will grace this blog before very long - well, assuming I manage to make it home from the other end of town behind the wheel of something which actually goes, without mishap....

So! Stay tuned!
jk xx

late start

So, I fiiiiinnaaally got my 2010 family calendar!

I'd wanted the 2010 Mum's Family Calendar by Sandra Boynton...



...which is the one my daughter gave me last year, but it seems they're like gold dust now and as I couldn't find that one anywhere, I opted for this one from Lakeland, instead.



Same pocket idea which I found brilliant for stuffing receipts, coupons, letters from the college with dates etc and lots of other useful bits and spaces for an airhead like me who has a memory like a seive :-)

I feel I should mention that my return to blogging hasn't gone too well so far.. the truth is I've just had no time to make anything even faintly interesting, lol. Why I imagined I would have is the question here, obviously!

Anyway, I did actually manage to make a couple of quickie type cards last night, so here they are. I made them for someone at work who's feeling really sad and down, but as I don't know her that well I haven't made up my mind which one to give her yet. I only know her predicament as she confided in me out of the blue, but from my own experience I know when you feel that way even the smallest kind gesture from a colleague can make you feel world's better. I hope so anyway.



Hopefully be back tomorrow with something more creative as I'd really like to do something crafty everyday - just to keep my own spirits up!

til later
jake

Pants on the ground...

...Looking like a fool with your PANTS on the ground!



Hysterical - Who doesn't love General Larry!

And in a bid to bring some summery cheer back into my snow filled, windy, rainy, cold and miserable old january life - I made a layout - Hope it cheers you up too, if only coz it reminds that summer WILL come again soon... we have to have hope!



jkxx

{LOVE} in a cold climate

With cold on the brain - it's absolutely bitter here, and no let up in sight - I decided to scrap the picture I took this morning as today's 365 photo. I was feeling a bit down. The snow's been a nightmare and I was again unable to get into work. I don't have the luxury of being paid when I'm not there so obviously I was thinking about losing money again, and feeling a bit sorry for myself.

Just after Carl left (he walks) I looked out of the window to see how bad it was and check on state of the road outside. Looking down, I spotted a message on my windscreen... 'I love you' scrawled in the snow :-) Now, anyone will tell you, Carlo's not the most romantic man... but c'mon... how sweet is that? I just had to take a snap, and then I thought "why not scrap it too?"

So here it is:

{Love} in a cold climate



It's not hybrid, though it looks it. It's not rocket science either... nor cutting edge. But it's done - and as it's the first i've done in months, I'm happy. I'm back!

Back to blogging - at last!

After a four month break, i'm back.

Life's been manic to say the least, I don't know how I've got through it all, or where the time's gone but after a four month break I've realised miss my blog and really miss crafting, so for now, it's back to both of them :-)

NOT that anyone will notice, so it's really just for me, but then what does it matter who sees/reads/responds anyway? It's just somewhere to put my pretties and hopefully motivate me to make some more.

Ok - off to try and scrap a page - yikes! it's been a looooog time!

panicky times

Ho hum...not coping too well this week...
True, there's some good things happening - like me getting my puppy... the chi puppy i've yearned for for almost 5 years now... but there's also a lot of other stuff going on, and after the crap year i've had it's taking it's toll. I'm utterly worn out and feeling pretty damn close to breaking tbh.

I keep trying to push it all down and stay on top but it's hard when you constantly feel on the verge of being engulfed. I need that Euro lotto win tonight... I know they say money can't buy happines but it can buy a lot of other stuff! Like a puppy passport...And a ticket round the world.... and that sounds pretty damned tempting from where i'm sitting.

PUPPY UPDATE: cha cha is now eating solid food and is growing bigger every day!




Isn't she just the cutest thing you've ever seen?

And somehow I managed to do a quickie Hybrid LO, though really i've no time at all at the mo. It's just a simple page, though there was quite a bit of cutting out, but I loved the doodles.. and I LOVED the pics - and how could I resist when they went together so well?



Doodles are Kate Hadfield's. Safari Malarky and Spring Greens available from the Lilypad.

later x

Pedal Power

So the holidays are well and truly over. Vin's back to college this week and my tan's fading fast... Still, we had a lovely fortnight in Lanzarote with the family, met our brand new Grandson, spent lots of time playing with our other Grandkids, chilled out, got sunburnt, and ate and drank too much. Yep - heaven :-)

I've managed to get a quick hybrid page done this morning. These doodles from Kate Hadfield were just perfect for the pics of our day out in Matagorda on the 4 wheel bike. If you've never ridden one of these let me tell you it's... an experience. Lol. Absolutely mad - but such a laugh. The truth is whoever was steering - and I never knew who it was but I knew it wasn't me... then we were all over the place. Great fun! However, I spent most of the time taking the pictures... I value my life - crap as it is much of the time ;-).

Roadworks Alpha

Are we there yet? doodle pack













Happy Memories :-)
jkxx

long time no post

Well it's been a very long break without a post from me. I've been unbelievably busy (still am as a matter of fact...) and that's meant I've not had much time for playing on the pc. Not had much time for any kind of playing tbh, so even scrapbooking - once a daily activity, has had to take a back seat. I still love scrapping/crafting etc but unchecked I can let it get in the way of other important things, so i've decided that for now it'll have to go on the back burner until I find time management a bit easier... Also, I'm seriously going to sort this room out and de-junk - it's too small a room and there's too much stuff in here taking up space and not being used. So clear out time at last.

The GOOD news today however... the GREAT news today...Is that one of my dreams is finally coming true.... after almost five years of pining for meemee...I'm going to be getting a Chihuahua puppy of my own!

I am. I am. I am! Not might be... not one day maybe... just... I am. I really am.

Deposit's paid, puppy's chosen, she's named, and first cuddles by us have been shared... So she's ours! :-)

Just need to let her grow a bit now and become big enough to leave her Mum, and then she's here.... with us... forever. I can't wait. Her Mexican name is Muchacha, but she'll just be Cha Cha to us, and the breeders are kindly already calling her that already so she's getting used to hearing her name :-)

Here she is just 12 days old, cradled in her new daddy's hands....


Look at that cute lil face! Still got her eyes shut here.



I can't believe she's mine... I love her to pieces.


And here with Vin, who's besotted already.



At the mo she's only a little over 2 weeks old, and her eyes opened on the 14th day. She's a light sable colour with dark tips... muzzle, ears and tail - what could be sweeter? But we know she could change as she grows, however, we're getting photo updates from the breeders, and we are of course welcome to visit anytime.

Eyes open now - 14days old.


Sooo stand by for the CHIHUAHUA layouts from ME folks!!

Goin WILD with Sanna!

Lotta birthdays going on round here...
I'm surrounded by Leo's. Lucky I like em, eh? :-)

Brother, Sister, Son, Grandson, Daughter, Son in Law, Granddaughter... like I said - a LOT!

But today's celebration is my sister's... the animal print madwoman we all love to pieces, and tonight we're going wild with her. Oh yeah!You can guess the theme for the party... We've been planning this for months! So today's ultra busy for me - hall preparations, picking up gas for balloons, picking up the cake etc etc. Plus, I still have to help dispose of the old kitchen and all that related crap, and do a million other things as well, Sooooo..... best crack on now!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANNA!
LOVE YOU SO MUCH, YOU WILD THING, YOU!

Last night's MOJOHOLDER , based on a layout by Micayla Metcalf- lots more fabby inspo on the blog, plus Sarah's brilliant sketch :-) Micayla Metcalf

Have a great weekend peeps!
jkxx

coming together

Yep, things are definitely coming together now. And I'm personally feeling much happier since I cut back on all my crafty commitments. Now when I craft it's when I have time, when I feel like it, and I do whatever I feel like doing - without guilt. Years ago I loved the buzz of beating deadlines, and getting free product, and seeing my stuff in print etc, but all that's just not imortant any more. I still love to look at my friends wonderful creations, and obviously share their joy at their every success - I just want no more of it for myself :-) I guess I simply don't have time... there are just so many other things I want to be doing.

I still dabble, I still enjoy creating, it just isn't taking over my life anymore lol.



I made this little card for last weeks daring card makers challenge in between supervising plumbing, electrics and fitting of kitchen... the kitchen's almost all in now - and i'm going to love it when it's finished. One bad thing did happen - I discovered the tiles i've covetted for months had gone down to half price in the Homebase sale... and I MISSED it! I was WILD! I wanted those tiles badly - now I have to start a new search, and then pay full whack - what a bummer!

Still, I'm not going to moan. All the good Karma from last year is coming back to us finally and a small thing like sold out tiles is not going to spoil it. It's funny... you do good things and try to be the best you can and you sometimes wonder why you get no luck for it. Then suddenly you do, and it's a great feeling.

So, remember today - try to be a little kinder than is strictly necessary to everyone you encounter... at the very least you've been good, and maybe made someone's day. At best, you may one day find your good heart is rewarded in some way. Maybe not in the way you expect, and possibly not when you expect it either. But good may still come your way sometime... you just never know.

looking ahead

Great news - I think we've found someone to take on the kitchen work. Our initial plan had been to have a go ourselves but faced with such a hugely daunting task we've chickened out and decided we need a man who can... so the chosen one's coming later to take a look, draw up some plans and let us know what it's going to cost. Being poor as church mice we're praying it's not more than we can afford... the fact it's someone we know may help tho... so, fingers crossed for us, pls!

This week's mojoholder guest designer was Jennifer Maguire and you can see her LO, Sarah's sketch and the team's interpretations on the blog here

Here's mine:



thanks for dropping in! :-)

jkxx

dark clouds looming (silver lining maybe?)

I was hoping for sunny weather as I have a lot to do outside - but no such luck. As a matter of fact we need nice weather so we can EAT outside! Our table - our entire dining room - is engulfed in kitchen fitments awaiting fitting.... not much fun but there's work to be done before they can go in.... and well... i've just got to get on and accept I guess, so no good moaning. That said, I hate eating off my lap in the living room... so need the weather to be resonable so I can eat al fresco - even if it's with my coat on lol!

I tried for insp from daring card makers and joined in with their challenge to make a card with pretty edging... got it done, but forgot to upload and link... doh!

Anyway, it was fun doing the scalloping :-) and I have another card now for my 'just in case' box.


I hope to have a go at this week's too - not that I play bejewelled blitz or whatever it's called on facebook - but only because I have an addictive personality and I wouldn't dare start something else that might steal my (too little) time! I waste too much time on there already.... No, I just fancy having a go at something glitzy and sparkly :-) So thanks to the girls for the idea.

OK, garden jobs now
thanks for popping by
jk xx

Happy Birthday to my Dude.

It's my son's birthday... 17 today!

He really is the most amazing kid... musically talented, with a lovely, funny personality... A good student, friendly, sensible and honest, kind to dogs and old ladies... honestly, just the sort of boy any Mum would want.... but tell me please, where have the years gone?

One minute they're a babe in arms - the next, almost grown.

I love that my boy's so individual. Proud that he has the courage to be unique, to be HIM. Amused at his quirkiness and amazed at his wisdom sometimes.
Happy Birthday son, we love you more than anything in the world. Well, fact is, you are our world... and that's a true story.

Vin's Card - had fun with this!



And a special (and talented young female friend of his)painted him this canvas :-) WOW!



ok, that's it. Got a lot to do now.

jk xx

mojoholder 119

Forgot to put up this weeks mojoholder LO. We lifted a great page by Marjolein, and you can see the other girls takes on the blog, plus a fab sketch by Sarah too.

Here's my LO. No digi elements today but I did use some Magistical chipboard. This is from the new release and it's called antique filigree, painted and inked.

A recent pic of Vin who turns 17 tomorrow, and who this summer is growing into the person he's going to be more and more. Can't say it's not without trauma sometimes... but there you go. Kids grow up whether you want them to or not. And he's not the worst boy in the world by a mile. Love him to bits however much he drives me insane on a day to day basis!

At work, 3 people are down with the swine flu and it's kind of like a ticking bomb... everyone's just waiting to see who gets it next. At the mo it's only staff affected... no resi's thank goodness, but who knows.... by tomorrow? Under advice, we are quarantined - no visitors for a week which will be tough on the residents and the families. Also, as people go sick it gets tougher and tougher on us remaining workers, with everyone doing more to cope with the lack of staff. Personally, if I'm going to get it I want it like NOW. I don't want anything to stop me getting on that plane for my holiday and my first glimpse of our brand new baby boy - to say nothing of my girlies, the rest of my fam out there, my grandkids... and my meemee. God, I love that pup and miss her so much... when will I get a doggie of my very own? and could anyone replace minnie in my heart?

Anyway, one tired lady needs a shower, soooooo... more tomorrow. Maybe.

hugs to all
jkxx