What happened to September??

I mean where DID it go??

Last post was the first day of school, I seem to have been so busy since then but yet don't feel like I achieved much.

Georgia started back at school on Day 2, Sam never got the chickenpox in the end either which I am disappointed about.

Week 2 of school saw the start of all the after school activities - dancing and swimming on Mondays, more dancing for show rehearsal on Tuesday, rainbows and brownies on Wednesday; Thursday ended up not being as bad as I thought as clarinet practice is done in school time.

Mum and dad went on holiday, which those who know us well knows what that means for me and all my jobs etc etc involved with that and why.

Then suddenly its almost the end of September, they came home having had a great time, and now after what seems an eternity of waiting and deciding, quite suddenly dad is going into hospital - TODAY!!!

He is due the operation tomorrow for a new hip, and should be in for between five and ten days, so I need to try and be able to be there to help mum out as much as possible too. Trying not to worry, I know it needs doing to give him his active life back, and it isn't like nanna or anything following a fall, so hopefully it will be a full and quick recovery....

And thats it - September gone!!

God bless you Lisaxx

xx

Back to School - or not - as the case may be

Today is the first day back to school. Abigail was very excited about going back, I really do hope it lasts - I don't want a repitition of last year or the year before.

I spoke to the head teacher yesterday and we agreed to keep Georgia off until Thursday, so the usual smart photo was a mix of smart and normal!!

Although when I say smart it is a case of making do - truth be known Abigail's jumper is a bit too small, and Georgia's cardigan has seen better days. But if we are moving there seemed little in it to be buying new uniform for just a few months.
So Georgia is off with he spots - here's a pic for posterity!!!!

Last night I did some writing. I have recently been reading a book that was recomended to me.

Natalie Goldberg - Writing down the Bones http://www.amazon.co.uk/Writing-Down-Bones-Freeing-Classics/dp/1590303164

In it she says we must write every day - every day practice!! she has a few ideas for us, and the one I chose was the time we were most frightened. I wrote about what felt like a near death experience - quite literally at the time, and then when I had finished I tried to make it into a sort of poem. This was the result - although I hasten to say - I admit it's rubbish!! and it hasn't been re-drafted in anyway, but its a start.

Andy from Liverpool

Such a frightening experience
I hope never to be repeated.
Crashing through the breakers,
trying to scramble to safety
unable to fight against nature.

A paddle in the ocean,
Fierce and powerful currents below
Pull me swiftly out to sea
Unable to swim back to shore.

Fighting against nature
More tired with each attempt,
Crashing over with the breakers
Back out to sea, dragged and sent.

The tide is so strong and mighty,
A body weak and tired,
A mind of knowing,
A must to keep trying,
Mind fearful of being,
Expired.

One final try is needed
I pray, I beg, I plead.
Crashing over with the breakers,
A rescuer is seen,
My saviour on the beach.

There, I said it was rubbish, but I guess I have to practice!!

Not 100% sure if this will work or not, but here's to trying.

I have been spending a few weeks trying to track my family tree down.

I managed to get hold of Family Tree Maker and a free trial sub to ancestery.co.uk, which helped no end!

The tree I had to simplify and therefore starts with my granfather - my father's father, so as you can see I am as far back as my great great great grandfather - called Ayrton - how cool is that!!!

Now to see if this bit works ......

and the one I just completed

the prompt was ten favourite things

I used spring fling papers and green inks, and a few images and pics to match my favourite things

More pages of my book of me

"scrap your hands" was the next prompt

It didn't work out the way I wanted first time round, so I went to plan B or was it C.

I printed my handprints with yellow textile paint onto white cotton. I printed all of the text onto transfer paper and then ironed it over the top, then attached to red cardstock with the sewing machine. I tried to asscociate all the things of my hands onto the lo - from creative skills ie sewing, and ironing skills too!!!

well thats the way it worked out anyway it wasn't really planned that way

all about the What if's... was the next promt:

I have blurred out others cos I havn't asked their permission, in fact I wouldn't know where to find most of them any more, the picture was whilst I was on site in 1992 during my time at Lancashire County Council.

Its a simple lo showing my career path and how it might of changed with what if's I used a map background and red card and red and black inks. The black lines with defined paths show my life map (hence the ma) the red lines and handwritten undefined journalling show the what ifs

no regrets at the end though!!

Use the word Be on your layout was the prompt. I have missed one out right now, cos that took longer to come together.



I have sort of found myself in a rut now, looking the same or doing the same with card, so I want to have a play with patterned papers for a change. I used tinkering ink papers from a recent ish kit with co-ordinated cardstock letters and primas and gems.






I was taking some pics last night of this that and the other, and chanced taking one of Humbug. Abigail was trying to get his attention, and the result was pretty good-

I have the purrrrrfect embelishment for this one, so watch this space!!

As promised

"Can I used your robo thing to do some numbers" were the words Abigail asked.

so we cut out a number 42! and she stuck them to her card, put her art in the middle and wrote some words on the inside of the card.

Here were the results

Georgia was more traditional in her approach, she stuck her art to the front of her card, with some fancy wording: -

Sam put his best artists head on and drew a picture of a spaceship and an astronaut.

I used ribbon and paper to creat my card to Gary.

and chocolate and cherries for the cake!! It was a bit unusual, but the end effect was quite delicious