Jeudi Journal - Tomorrow

 "Well, here we are, with two sisters, who are planning their holiday to Scotland.  The weather reports have been off-putting about going abroad with so many countries in Europe suffering from Forest Fires and some parts of America being flooded that the girls decided it was best to stay nearer home.  Ok the weather was not so good but as they intended doing lots of sight seeing it didn't matter.  Besides which they knew of some lovely beaches just outside Edinburgh, their mother had talked about her younger days spent in a place called Portobello and walking up to Musselburgh with her father when she was small.  So if they decided they wanted a beach day there was always there.  And if they went further afield St Andrews was another place mother remembered.

It was the night before the planned trip, several places had been marked out on the map, a book with mileage/directions in it was packed and the girls felt ready.

"What are you wearing to travel in?" enquired Bernadette.

"I didn't see anyone today so I'm wearing this again tomorrow" came Rachel's reply.

"You can't travel all day in something you wore today" 

"Why not?  I didn't get up until well gone past lunch time and I'm going to get in my pyjamas shortly."

"Oh I give up" said Bernadette, adjusting her glasses which had slid down her nose.  "At least I hope you are putting new tights on"

"Of course" replied Rachel, and I will wear more suitable footwear for driving, never could get on with the pedals in my car and my Doc Martins."

"I can see this is going to be a great holiday if you are not taking that many changes of clothing"

"No, I will change daily, it's just I like this dress and wish I had not worn it today so I thought I could get away with it tomorrow.  Besides which mother will be pleased, less washing"

And with that Rachel pranced off to their bedroom to get into her PJ's.  Tomorrow was going to be super - a holiday without parents!"

As you can see I tore a map page up (the only one I could find) to make my background and laid it down with gaps between various parts to indicate some of the roads the girls might take on their holiday.  Having just had a few days in Scotland I really enjoyed thinking of these two off for a trip - and without grown ups!  This now enables me to enter into Art Journal Journey's challenge, set by Chris, which is "Where in the World".

The snarky comment was "I didn't see anyone today so I'm wearing this again tomorrow."

WOYWW 742

 Hope I got the number right - my head is not working at all today - too much on my mind.  It's Tuesday night and I don't want to waken early in the morning so taking an extra tablet.  As you can see my desk is in a bit of a turmoil (like my head) and I have a special card to make as well.

Here is my normal desk

The aftermath of time away and a search for a suitable die to use for a special card which I should have done weeks ago.  It's for a special friend and I am so annoyed with myself that I did not start earlier.  His birthday sort of got in the way and I extended the week of celebrations into two.  Here is my table where I am working.

So cross as one of my boxes for my Lavinia stamps got broken in travelling.  That is it top left.  below it is the card I am working on, suitably covered with a new stamps and that's the other new stamp on the right.  That one covers the wooden stamp I used for the card.  There are my pens brought back from the caravan, a stamp pad and some scissors.  Sum total of this morning's work.

Anyway, we ventured north of the border and had some time in Scotland.  Surprised to see how Gretna Green had changed since we were last there - and we saw four weddings that had taken place in the blacksmith's cottage.                   

This spells LOVE and is composed of locks that people have written their names on and placed on the structure.  It goes around the back as well and, obviously, they sell locks in the shops.  The two 'owd codgers in the photo did NOT put a lock on.

This is the Blacksmith's cottage where marriages take place and above is the piper who stands there most days playing his bagpipes.

That's it for now, see you at Julia's desk later.

Jeudi Journal - Nothing

"Nothing screws up your Friday like realising it's only Tuesday" is the Snarky we have to work with today alongside Chris' Challenge at Art Journal Journey which is "Where in the World" .  Follow the link to see some great samples before entering your own journal page.

"Polly was so looking forward to her holiday in Paris.  It was the 'City of Romance' as far as she was concerned, walking along the Seine hand in hand with a handsome Frenchman was her dream.  She would meet him on the steps of Sacre Coeur - he would be one of the street artists from just around the corner who had followed her as she wandered looking at the beautiful artwork on display.

She had been doing a bit of research in her lunch breaks - all the exciting places came up on her screen and she could not wait to see them.  She and her friend had already booked for an evening show and she was so looking forward to seeing the Mona Lisa in the Louvre although her mother had told her that she really must see the Musee d'Orsay as the building alone was spectacular.

She had sat at her desk, her word processor had been switched off, her drawer tidied, everything was left so that nobody would have to do anything whilst she was away.  Two weeks of heaven with her bestie, Jan.  Their first holiday without parents.  She just could not wait, her bags were packed at home and ready and all she had to do was remember her tickets and passport and they could be off.

Just before leaving the building she decided to give Jan one last ring.  Just to make sure she was ready.  Oh dear - Jan's mother answered the phone.

"Polly, you do realise it is Tuesday today" she said.

"What!" exclaimed Polly.  Silence followed as it dawned upon her.  She was awfully mixed up.  "Nothing screws up your Friday like realising it's only Tuesday" she said to herself.  "I guess I had better switch my machine on again, I've another three days to work."

I painted my page a turquoise colour and then. stamped some images in Nocturne ink on the surface - oops, the ink would not dry so I had to sprinkle some clear embossing powder on them.  I stamped a couple or so on card and stuck them down for a bit of contrast.  To colour or not to colour?  I decided to leave them black and white for contrast.  Hope to see you over at AJJ soon.

WOYWW 741

Another Wednesday and we all meet up again at Julia's to show our desks and generally natter.  Now, for weeks I have been going on about my class at the Club, well it turned into two consecutive classes.  We were let down at the last minute last month and luckily I was ready so stepped in with my decorated tins, Sarah Anderson, style.

Last Saturday was part two of my class (which would have been done in the afternoon last month) when we did something else in the style of Sarah.  I must add that I had approached Sarah for her to do the class originally but she couldn't and she did not mind my taking it and doing her 'thing'.  (Sarah and I go back way over 30 years when we both tutored at Paddy's Place in Whitefield, Manchester.)

I did show you two tins I had decorated in my post of the 12th July but here are some of the other samples (not stuck to tins so use your imagination please) plus a tiny tin I found in my stash and some toppers for it.  Which shall I use?

This one was extended for this last Saturday and had a little Journal Clip inside it which had a little book inside.  Now these Journal Pins (bottom right with a tag sticking out - little book at the top fits in the top of the Journal Clip) are to attach to your journal pages and there is further room for journaling on tags or in the little books that some have tucked in the top.

Here are some more samples - these are like Sarah made

And on researching the internet I found other people doing them - differently again:

This is one using Aall & Create Images - I just had to make this book to go in the top.

So there we are minus the 19 that I gave out to club members.  At last all is revealed and I hope I can stop making them now as I did get carried away.  If you want to know how to make them just drop me a line and we'll work something out.

Just ever so briefly - the birthday last week ended on the Thursday when we took ourselves off to Bowness in Windermere for another Afternoon Tea.

This was very busy with people enjoying the AT but I must admit I did prefer the one at the Lancaster House Hotel.  Sorry WBI.  This one had roasted red pepper soup served in little enamel mugs, fish and chips (my favourite), crispy chicken, pigs in blankets, mini beef sliders, smoked salmon and pickled cucumber, scones with ja and cream, chocolate brownies and lemon meringue pies.  It was served with an alcoholic drink - I had Prosecco and Chas had a bat of beers.  I presume because of the alcohol it was £10 per head more expensive and they did the 10% service charge automatic.  The cakes came home we could not fit them in our full tums.

Now to diet ...

ps I have had to drive down to reception to get internet access as I am at the caravan again - what we do for our blogs!

Jeudi Journal - Mouth

Tim's Snarky Comment this week is "I try to be a nice person but sometimes my mouth doesn't cooperate", so coupled with Chris' theme at Art Journal Journey (Where in the World) this is what I have come up with for my Journal along with my story that accompanies it each week.

'Today we find Maddie, whom we met last week, showing her friends some of the postcards and photos she brought back with her from her visit to America.  Plus she wanted to show off the new feature wall in her bedroom.  She lounged on the floor with her friends, Gill, Sonia, Helen and Sue all hanging around, either on the bed or on the floor like she was.

"This is a photo of me wearing my cute fannypack when we went up in a helicopter for a trip to the Grand Canyon,  it was truly magnificent.  Have any of you been?  You really should see it.  And here I am using my cell phone.  Oh, that was the day we went to Ventura.  We stayed in this tiny motel, it did the most fabulous food in the tiny restaurant at its entrance.  Most of the waitresses were grey haired and utterly charming.  

I'll never forget the day we went to the drugstore, my friends car broke down and we had the hood up and it came pouring down with rain.  We were wet through ...  Oh, Helen, where is everyone?  Is there only you left?  Did they all sneak off?"

"Yes," replied Helen, "to be honest I think they got a bit fed up with all this talk of America.  The new wallpaper behind us contributed to it.  It's ok if you like it but it's not everyone's choice and, besides which, they hadn't a clue what you were talking about half the time.  Words like 'hood' and you keep referring to your mobile as your 'cell phone' does get a bit too much now you are home in England.  Sue and Sonia were saying that they think you are using Americanisms on purpose and not that you just fell into the lingo."

"Oh dear' said Maddie, "I try to be a nice person but sometimes my mouth doesn't cooperate.  Glad you stuck around."

I am not happy with this journal page, nor the story, it was a bit rushed, having to do two of them in one day due to going away.  I started to base it on my own experiences of times in America with my friend, sadly passed.  I always remember that when I came home it took me a couple of weeks to return to 'mobile' for my phone and I still think 'cell phone' sounds much better.  Funny how Americans have different words for the same things but that the English are now picking up on them.  I no longer go to the 'chemist' but always to the 'pharmacy' and I think lots of people do and you often read of these stores being a 'pharmacy' over here now.  But, I think we will always carry a 'bum bag' around with us over here, as where we wear it.

WOYWW 740 (sorry, His Birthday Edition - Long)

Whew!  It's Wednesday, that means it is WOYWW day.  Thank goodness his special birthday came and went without a hitch.  A lot had gone into the planning including me taking in three deliveries last Friday and hiding them plus lots of cryptic messages from his bestie who had taken him out for the day along with another friend.  

We have been at the caravan for his birthday week and, despite the weather (mixed), we have had a lovely time up to now.  I even managed to get some crafting time in so here is my desk

Or to be honest, the dining room table. I do have a table up here which I can put up and use (it's up now) but that afternoon I used the whole table to work on whilst he sat outside with his Kindle.  I soon joined him with mine as I am now on book 17 of a set of 29.  (I will probably put them to one side whilst I read yours Lynne, I have it with me).

Saturday saw us off to Arnside.  It was a glorious day and the ride to the small seaside town is always enjoyable, travelling through Milnthorpe with its lovely stream running alongside the road.  Whilst there we had to go in the shops and we bought some reusable drinking straws.  We decided to buy the large box (not realising it was more expensive than we thought.  Common sense should have told us that at £6 a straw this box was more than £18!!!  Oh dear where were our heads?  The missing two are now in my 

bag for when we are out and about.  These will be stocking fillers.

Arnside was quite packed being such a lovely sunny day and we walked to the end of the stone jetty and sat awhile. It was chilly with the breeze coming off the water so we didn't linger as long as intended.

Looking across the estuary as we left Arnside

Sunday was a chill day.  We did go into Morecambe as I wanted to buy a birthday card for my beloved (yes, I know I normally make them but as this was a special birthday I wanted nice words) and to get things in place for the next day.  Like his box of presents which had a box of chocolates added that day, note I had no birthday paper.  We had a lovely walk along the prom as well, not too busy up towards the Bolton le Sands end.

Then it was his birthday morning and that meant breakfast in bed but as we had slept in a bit (really - time on iPads/Kindles) we decided not to go for the full breakfast as Afternoon Tea was booked for 2 pm.  Now I know some of you have seen photos of the Afternoon Tea at the Lancaster House Hotel (which had been my second choice, so my first choice was now to be had at the end of his birthday week).  What a fabulous Tea it was.  A Lancashire Scran!

Morecambe Bay Shrimps (not beans Julia) lol.  You will note that the Tea was served on slate beds held together with empty cotton spools from the weaving sheds of old.  Clever!  Everything was delicious.  The top layer (below) - the tiny cups held the Creme Brulee.  The tiny spoons were the Parkin soaked in Toffee Syrup and to be honest, large enough - the taste was heavenly.

We took a doggy bag home and with a couple of tiny pork pies, a bit of cheese, it was enough for the evening before bed.

and so it was to bed after a lovely day

I well imagine there is at least one more card at home and there were other presents here apart from booze.  The owl card was telling him about the Afternoon Tea but it helped swell the fireplace so it's here in the photo.

Tuesday was a lovely sunny day and so Sizergh was his place of choice.  A leisurely morning with me thinking that Thursday's choice of Afternoon Tea would not match up to the one above, and off we went.  The first thing I saw when I got to Sizergh were these sheep - I wonder what breed they are?  Not seen sheep with black bodies and white heads before?

and I caught this dragonfly on a leaf, it stayed ages

and here is the birthday boy himself by a huge thistle of some sort.  I loved the fine stuff that is with the red flowers at his feet.  This is across from the kitchen garden where they grow flowers by vegetables.

This bit of the garden just needs some of Lavinia's fairies.  I am sure they are there in the night time by that water.

This is the Lake in front of the Castle

Because it is school holiday time, there are games around the Castle and we had a game of Croquet.  Not a clue what to do so our own rules meant that I won 20 - 22.  But I let him pose with his mallet as it's still his birthday celebrations.

I dressed up as if I was going to a party at the Castle.  I flatly refuse to let you see me with the hat on my head.  I looked like Old Mother Riley.  Maybe I chose the wrong hat!  That stole was warm.

Thanks if you have read to the end.  Hope you had a smile at my dressing up.  Promise - will not do another so huge again (for a while anyhow).

Jeudi Journal - Liquor

Today's Snarky Comment from the Tim Holtz Book is 'Nothing says "I mean business" like using a cart at the liquor store', and my lovely friend, Chris' topic, at Art Journal Journey this month is "Where in the World".  Which is something to do with travel - you need to follow the link to AJJ where you will see Chris' lovely sample and explanation of the challenge.

"Maddie is at the airport returning from spending five weeks with her good friend Marnie who lives in Los Angeles, California.  The girls have had a lovely time, Marnie showing her friend the sights and sounds and the two of them sampling all the delights of the restaurants around where Marnie lives.  

There were lots of Mexican restaurants close to Marnie's and Margarita's had become a favourite tipple of Maddies.  Nevertheless as she wandered around the duty free store, booze department in particular, she was totally awed by the vast array of beers and spirits.  Her father and brother would be in seventh heaven if they had so much choice of beers but Maddie was off to the spirits section where she could buy herself some Tequila to mix her own Margarita's when she got home.

Not speaking to anyone in particular, but purely because she could not believe what was before her eyes in the brightly lit duty free shop, she muttered to herself "Nothing says 'I mean business' like using a cart at the liquor store".  Then she smiled, she had picked up the lingo in the five weeks she had spent with Marnie and her friends.  Her 'mobile' was now a 'cell phone' and an 'off licence' was now a 'liquor store'.  What would they make of her when she got back home to England?"