Saturday 31 May 2008

day 152






Day 152
Prompt 152
"Remember: Always let your conscience be your guide."
-Pinocchio








I certainly did that yesterday. I had a wonderful day with DD and DH in London. We started with lunch in the Rainforest cafe - one of our favorites, where my conscience allowed me to eat just as I liked!!! Then we shopped mercilessly on Regents and Oxford streets. Followed by achieving one of my life time wishes of seeing the Osmonds in concert. I'm still on an incredible high it was superb.

day 151

Day 151
Prompt 151
"The past can hurt. You can either run from it or learn from it."
-The Lion King


I'd rather run a mile! I am getting better at reflection and learning from my mistakes especially my common one of never saying no, which throughout my past has been my downfall many a time. But I still need to learn from it a little more.

Thursday 29 May 2008

day 150

Day 150
Prompt 150
"the flower that blooms in adversity is the most beautiful and rare of all"
- Mulan


Ha ha any flower that blooms when I have it in the house blooms in adversity! I'm not too good with house plants in general but I do love them to bits. I especially adore these min gerberas that I was given for my birthday from a colleague. They are so happy and cheeky looking lets see how long they last under my care.

Wednesday 28 May 2008

LO 20 and 21






Here's me catching up with my 365 LO's LO 20 is of "play" the best word to describe me that week, and using dry brush painting which is a new technique to me. LO 21 is the quote on space and letting each of us grow and diversify.

day 149

Day 149
Prompt 149
"Reach for the sky"
- Woody, Toy Story


Oh this is easy today. One of the things I've always told DD is to reach for the stars. We also used to wish upon the first star we saw at night, and count reflections off ours watches in the car as our angels. DD is today completing her art homework requiring us to visit the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and sent the art teacher a post card of an art piece she particulary likes or dislikes filled in with why! What a fab homework, we have no problem completing this one. The piccy is of DD completing the task and with such eloquent writing she makes me realise she truely is reaching for those stars in all that she does.

Tuesday 27 May 2008

day 148

Day 148
Walt Disney week
Prompt 148

"Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all ?"
- Wicked Stepmother from Snow White


DD and I had a real giggle debating in the mirror who was the fairest. Both of us insistant the other is. I just love her to bits.

Monday 26 May 2008

day 147

Day 147
Prompt 147
“If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life? It is other life, it is love, which gives your life meaning. This is harmony. We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth.”
- Mitsugi Saotome (b. 1937), Aikido instructor, author


I have spent the weekend re-discovering the joy of my family. We have had a wonderful if wet weekend with delightful friends old and new. The challenges have been more to do with the weather than growth but the challenge has been enjoyable due to the company we were in. The Oxford Ditch Cruising Club, are a friendly, happy, sociable and determined crowd and we are very glad to be a part of such a great group of people.

Sunday 25 May 2008

day 146

Day 146
Prompt 146

“Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.”
John R. Wooden (b. 1910) basketball coach, author


We are all very busy considering each others feelings and taking the micky nicely out of one another, over various aspects of the boating bits going on. I know we all can take it and are having a jolly good laugh, not like last season when we knew no-one and were ridiculously nervous!
I try to do this more and more. I believe people are generally becoming too selfish and we all need to heed this type of warning before the world becomes too miserable to live in! It's not always easy to do though!!!

Saturday 24 May 2008

day 145

Day 145
Prompt 145
We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.”
- Max De Pree (b.1924), author, former CEO of Herman Miller, Inc.


I am indeed giving myself space to be myself but whilst I'm surrounded by my loved ones. One is reading the other is fiddling with boat bits. So alls right with the my world!

Friday 23 May 2008

day 144

Day 144
Prompt 144
“Strive to be first: first to nod, first to smile, first to compliment, and first to forgive.”
Anonymous


This is the start of a new me and I am certainly going to be the first to try hard to love myself, to work very hard at my close relationships and to be the first to smile that is something that has been missing this last week and I want it back for me as well as everyone else. I already am a person who compliments people naturally and I forgive quite easily but that is another area I am happy to work on improving. The photo is one from my birthday dinner, and I liked the smile I want to recapture.

day 143

Day 143
Prompt 143
“Open your heart - open it wide; someone is standing outside.”
- Mary Engelbreit; artist, entrepreneur


I have backtracked to find a picture for this, as I'm playing catch up after having a couple of days where I couldn't play. I decided this reflection of myself in the garden that needs serious attention was appropriate. I am looking to the wider picture of my life and more certain than ever that I need to attain work life balance. I have decided to endevour to work harder at the areas that are important to my family unit, to join in thier hobbies in whatever way I can and make sure we are closer as a unit because of this action. I had a very hard time this week keeping everything in perspective and to be honest failed miserably. I did extremely well at work but at a cost to my family that I will not allow to happen again. Luckily they love and understand me well enough to bear with me, I don't know that I'd be so forgiving.

Wednesday 21 May 2008

day 142


365 Days
May 21, 2008
Day 142
Prompt 142

“I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance.”
Pablo Casals (1876-1973), cellist, conductor


I care too much some times, I'm not going to bore about todays marathon trek to get things ready for tomorrow and friday. I came home to DH working in the garden, he wanted me to look at the tree with him hence this piccy. I needed to have that breath of fresh air, after a very tiring day. Reviewing the garden did bring back the reality of life to me, I could almost say I woke up and smelt the roses. (Well tree)

Tuesday 20 May 2008

day 141

Day 141
Prompt 141

“Once you choose hope, anything's possible.”
Christopher Reeve (1952-2004), actor, producer, director, and writer; best known for his role as Superman.


I have to choose hope as all around me flap preparing for our visit at the end of the week, I just hope to get through it in one piece without anyone resigning through the completely unrealistic pressure that it causes. I know that the staff will be professional but what with new mum's, young teachers and teachers nearing retirement, there are a lot of them that just think it's a step too far. They all believe in the system, but some of the inspectors can be a little unfortunate in their interpersonal skills at times. Well fingers crossed and lets hope they see what we are really like because we are good at what we do and we just have to show that to them.

Monday 19 May 2008

day 140

May 19, 2008
Day 140
Prompt 140
"Dream"

Journal your dreams, how do they compare to your hope and goals from january 1st! Do you dream big or small?


I am glad to say that for not half way through the year I have achieved some of and am well on the way to others of my goals.

Mum sort her sight out done

Mum sort her hearing out done

Dad sort knees and change car in discussions

Me lose weight 2 stone and 2 lbs done (more to go)

Me keep my weight los goal realistic not over stretch it, well in hand.


I dream of all sorts of things and normally many of the above are mingled in in the typical jumble of dreams. I dream of DD growing up happy and healthy, successful and fulfilled. I dream of giving up work and having time to do eveything I want to fit in to my life. I dream of wonderful holidays and peaceful meals with everyone chatting about their days. I dream of an old age that we enjoy everyday of and hopefullybeing able to enjoy randchildren and being able to spoil them rotten and give them back!

Sunday 18 May 2008

day 139

Day 139
Prompt 139
"One"


I have been just one for the last 23 hours, I have been feeling poorly with a head cold and have slept through a lot of those hours. I did go out and find some caches with my friend this morning as we are behind target at the moment. We found 7 in 2 and a half hours, and will do some more catching up soon. I then came home and rsted on the bed for q couple of hours before I could do some tidying and cook dinner. So now the washing is done and the ironing under wy. Everyone is fed and I can go and see if I can find some umpff to scrap. One is a good place to be when I need to do something for me, but I wish I'd felt better and could have got more done.

Saturday 17 May 2008

day 138

Day 138
Prompt 138
"He[art]"



I will add the photo for this prompt tomorrow as DD has taken her laptop on the boat with her for the weekend. I have had to come home from my weekend at a friends as I am starting a rotten cold and just need to sleep.


I decided as soon as I saw the prompt what to do for this one. I still remain in contact with my best friends daughter who is 30 in 3 weeks. My best friend died of breast cancer 9 and a half years ago, I had been her carer 24/7 for the last 2 and a half years of her life. She was so special to me I still miss her greatly. I would have done anything for her and she me. I still think of her virtually every day, and when I spend time with her DD it is always with mixed feelings, the last couple of years of her life were so incredibly difficult that it still hurts me immensely, some of the rubbish she had to endure. I have with Sal's help made 40 invites for her daughters 30th birthday party at the drop of a hat really as she asked me to. I never can say no to her. Not that I want to but a little more notice would have been nice. So the art style cards she wanted seemed ideal for my heart being well and truly in them.

Friday 16 May 2008

day 137

Day 137

Prompt 137

"Create"


I've just borrowed a laptop to be able to update my blog. My buddie and I are busy creating in our pj's! We have finalised an order for birthday invites and have 40 to make tomorrow, and have decided on our projects for tomorrows cropping frenzy. 20 6x6 LO's to do each in preparation for Stratford Scrap-a-ganza swap.

Thursday 15 May 2008

day 136

Day 136
Prompt 136
"Inspire"


I could go on about how I hope to inspire the children I work with, but feel the need to think about home. I am inspired by the Internet, books and definitely my scrapping mags!!! I love them I have 3 on subscription and am awaiting the forth to start coming soon. I personally prefer the American mags but do buy some of the English ones when they look good. I do have a pet hate though for the plastic wrapped ones I like to have a flick through to see if I want to buy the mag first and loathe the wrapped ones that don't allow that!

Wednesday 14 May 2008

day 135

Day 135
Prompt 135
"Discover"


I got DD to help out today as I thought it was time to discover the new me, now that I sincerely hope I will reach my half target for my weight loss tonight at SW weigh in. I only need to lose 1/2 a lb to get the 2 stone off! Than I can concentrate on the other two. I do feel as if I am discovering a whole new me, as I emerge from the fat suit I've hidden in for the past goodness knows how many years. I hope I continue to feel as happy and enervated as I do at the moment, as it's so refreshing and invigorating. It makes all of life so much better.

Tuesday 13 May 2008

day 134

Day 134
This week I am bringing back the one word prompts, interpret as best suits you. Whether this be through your journalling, or/and your photos.

Prompt 134
"Play"


I decided immediately that this had to be me playing with my faithful friend. Ollie is always ready for a game and never fails to bring a smile to my face with his irrepressible, contagious childlike behaviour.

Monday 12 May 2008

day 133

Day 133
Prompt 133
"Just a perfect day

Drink sangria in the park

And then later, when it gets dark, we'll go home

Just a perfect day

Feed animals in the zoo

Then later a movie too, and then home"
Lou Reed
What is your perfect day - journal


Well I think I've probably had it today! I started with a lie in whilst DH and DD set off for work and school. Then had a lovely fresh fruit and yoghurt breakfast, followed by a little walk to find a cache to add to our collection. I then went to work for a couple of hours to help out with the SATs. Just to get home and be picked up by a good friend and treated to lunch for my birthday at The Mole which is a wondeful local restaurant. I came home to walk Ollie and find another cache, and found the duck still on her nest, lucky as we thought we'd scared her away accidentally. Practically perfect as I now have time to go and scrap too!!!!!

Sunday 11 May 2008

day 132


Day 132
Prompt 132
"There's nothing you can do that can't be done.

Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.

Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game

It's easy.

There's nothing you can make that can't be made.

No one you can save that can't be saved.

Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time

It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,"
Beatles


I can do everything I have to and I can do it because I love my family, I need to, if you saw the mess DD has left for me to arrive home to. It's a good job I have had a really fantastic weekend to set me up for it. Third load of washing on and food shopping done and put away. Weeks menus planned and anti histamine restocked.

It has been easy today just to get on and get through it all, as I'm working all week this week to help out with the Year 6 SATs, I needed to be one step ahead, and I think I'm just about there now!

Saturday 10 May 2008

day 131

Day 131
Prompt 131
"If I lay hereIf I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told

Before we get too old

Show me a garden that's bursting into life"

Snow Patrol


I don't feel too old for anything, even though I had another birthday yesterday, the pic of me today is at dinner last night. I could easily stay here laying or otherwise forever. I could easily forget the world, and just enjoy the river and all it's abundant wildlife.

day 130

"Summertime, and the living is easy
One of these morningsYou're going to rise up singingThen you'll spread your wingsAnd you'll take to the sky"
George Gershwin
These lyrics just sum up the weather we are having here in the UK at the moment, hope you are having good weather wherever you may be
See you tomorrow


I have had a truely wonderful birthday and the weather has been superb. I have had my hair cut and had a wonderful day with Shirley and Hazel. Coffee stretched into 3 and lunch, many thanks to Shirley for a great day. I then joined DH with the boat after collecting DD from school. To meet freinds with their boats and then 10 of us go for a really fabulous meal at the Beetle and Wedge using a beautiful Thames launch to get there and back.

Thursday 8 May 2008

LO 18


Here's my LO for last week, I journalled pretty much the same around the edge as was on the blog for the day. So rose to the challenge. I loved this picture and was glad to have an excuse to scrap it.

day 129

Day 129
Prompt 129
"Don't ever say you're on your way down,

God gave you style and gave you grace

And put a smile upon your face"
Cold Play


I am very up today as tomorrow is my birthday! I love today the best as it's full of anticipation and excitment. No not at what pressies I may or may not get ( as I am lucky enugh to already have had them). But at the thought of eating exactly what I like for one whole day. Everything that I have not allowed myself for three and a half months, I can chose any of them tomorrow and not worry at all. I know this is not the atttitude but I really don't care. For one day diet is not a word in my vocabulary. I promise to get right back on track on saturday.

Wednesday 7 May 2008

day 128

Day 128
Prompt 128
"Need a little time to wake up Need a little time to rest your mind You know you should so I guess you might as well What's the story morning glory? "
Oasis
So whats up today?






I don't know about time to wake up. I feel like I need time to go to sleep!!! I quite liked this piccy I took of me resting my eyes (for the camera only of course). Got to run to do tea then off out to weigh in fingers crossed!

Tuesday 6 May 2008

day 127

Day 127
Prompt 127
Its my little girls 5th birthday today, so todays quote has been inspired by my youngest daughter
"You are the sunshine of my life

That's why I'll always be around,

You are the apple of my eye,

Forever you'll stay in my heart"
Stevie Wonder


This was easy, just had to convince DD to let me take even more pic's of her. I loved two of them but this one was so cheeky I thought it fitted today perfectly.

Monday 5 May 2008

day 126

Day 126
Prompt 126
"The time to laugh is when you don't have time for it."
Argus Poster


I certainly don't have time to laugh today which is probably why I am! I cooked dinner for Mum and Dad after taking Mum to the garden centre for a little walk round. Then rushed to scrap with my bessie mate for an hour or two. Only to come home to realise how far behind I've let myself get. I wanted to do some sorting in my craft room today but have run out of time and energy. It will have to wait now for a week or two. Have to go and make the beds now.

Sunday 4 May 2008

day 125

Day 125
Prompt 125
"Out of chaos comes the dance of balance."
Denise Kester


Tee hee, bit of a dance and certainly rebalanced in our house. We all got up at 8:30 to start a major spring clean. Every now and then we just decide it needs doing. Normally it leads to chaos but today it's gone like clockwork. I should still be working but I've just stopped for brekkie! Bathrooms are done, as is dusting, hoovering and ironing. Windows next and then an afternoons rest on the boat I think. Thought you may have a giggle at DH being game enough to put the pinny on for you.

Saturday 3 May 2008

day 124

Day 124
Prompt 124
"Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries."
Corita Kent


I have just started to play with my new toy, DH bought my birthday pressie early, as I needed to be there and make sure my new photo printer did what I wanted it to! I'm so enjoying having a fiddle and printing some pictures that had been waiting for me to go and get done. I have printed this one, that I took last week of our boat coming back to her moorings after having her bottom painted etc, ready for the season. I have no excuses left now I must get some projects done now I am fully equipped!!!!

Friday 2 May 2008

day 123

day 123
Prompt 123
"There's no time like the pleasant."
Oliver Herford


I have decided to try to aim for at least one picture of me a week, as I have been veering off track again lately. So I took this of quite a tired me after a very pleasant but long day teaching reception and year 1 for half a day each. I don't normally work friday's but to help out with Mr Gordon Brown having doubled my tax this month I need to do the odd extra day to try to stay where I was! I fully support the teachers striking last week but would love to know when someone is going to do something about the support staff being so poorly paid. Sorry no soap box for me really. The weather has been lovely and I had a great time with the children.

Thursday 1 May 2008

day 122

Day 122
Prompt 122
“A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams”annon.


Ollie's new house was certainly made with love but I don't know about dreams. He is often found dreaming away the day in it though!