Glorious Sunshine - and pressies!

It has turned in to the most glorious morning. The sky is blue and the sun shines so the world looks doubly beautiful today. We have driven into Doolish to get stuff Rhiannon needed and all the Manx Hedges are crowned with gold. The daffodils and gorse are in full bloom, and primroses peep shyly through the grass and as we pass by the flowers dance and curtsy in the breeze as if waving to us like royalty. In the distance the sea is a gleam of silver and sparkling diamonds - a day that makes me feel glad to be alive.I should maybe explain that a Manx hedge is a dry stone wall which has turf laid over and down both sides and is often left to Mother Nature to colonise in her own inimitable fashion - with sometimes a little assistance from the Commissioners and farmers whose land they are on. They are one of the delights of a spring drive anyway.
When we got back there was a package from America waiting for me - from Barb on the Fancy Simple blog. Really scrumptious goodies as my little prize for a Trendy Tuesday entry.I will try to upload a picture (blogger isn't playing at the moment)later. I haven't done much with the quotes this last week or so - so must get back into the swing again. I find it makes me think and is fun.

These Hands - - - -

Have your fingers frozen to the bone? Are they all typed out? Are your hands covered in any of the following? paper cuts? glitter? paint? rasberry jelly? Are you a manicure kinda girl? Do you wear any jewelry? Your hands are a critical part (yet often ignored) aspect of your daily life.

So... for today's Trendy Tuesday Challenge. Take a photo of your hands. (scrap it if you like...) and tell me about them!


The Tuesday fun challenge for this week on A Fancy Word for Simple blog was about hands, so here is my page for the challenge. It is very significant for me as my eldest daughter has a "thing" about my hands - and has had since she was toddler just learning to talk and walk. She has always stroked them whenever we meet,and still does, so this photo was taken with the intention of it being added to her Scrapbook, so the prompt forced the issue and it is now finished. I wrote the poem for her, and it says
THESE HANDS
These are the hands that held you
When you were oh so small
These are the hands you always stroke
Whenever you come to call

These are the hands you always hold
Whenever we go for a walk
These are the hands that you will hold you close
When you feel the need to talk

These are the hands that are filled with love
To share amongst you all
These are the hands that hold you up
If you ever start to fall

These hands are the legacy
That I bequeath to you
May your hands be always filled with a love
That is strong and brave and true

The colours are clearer and brighter IRL, as the pink is much brighter and the mounts are chocolate brown, just brads and letter stickers complete it as the sentiment in the poem is what matters to me most on this LO.
TFL

Todays quote - -

- - from a Fancy Word for Simple
One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.
-A. A. Milne

I just love this - its just how I feel about my scrapping stash! I have it all in boxes and bags scattered all over the place as I have no where to store it properly. Its completely disorganised at the moment and so when I want something it is just like a Treasure Hunt - cos I keep finding stuff I thought I'd used or lost!! Makes it very time consuming finding anything - so I spend more time FINDING than scrapping!

Never mind though - I know my little cottage can't run to a scrap room, and to be fair I wouldn't want to live in a different type of house as this one fits me like a glove. I will have to try to find a photo to upload.

Tranquility

There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden, or even your bathtub.


--Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
Todays thought from A Fancy Word for Simple - - -
Sunday is very often my day of peace, as on many occasions I have the cottage to myself - or it usually feels like it. as often only Rhiannon will be in-in her room. I potter about in the quiet, and usually get to do a bit of scrapping.I do know that silence is essential to my well-being, and this - most tranquil of my homes gives it to me by the bucketful.Often the only sound to disturb the peace is the birdsong, from Cheeky or the busy little birds in the garden! Mostly the two go together!!

This home of mine wraps me in its peace and silence when I am here alone, and I love living here. The thick walls muffle the sounds of the worst of the weather that my island has thrown at it, however stormy and wild the wind might be.So indeed I do NOT need to go to India!

And here is another page


- - from my little Inspiration album. Which is why I came online in the first place and got distracted by Shimelle and her new class. I have lots of plans for this weekend, I hope to finish my Ornamental Memories album, which I signed up for with BigPicture Scrapbooking, before Christmas, didn't get to do (except download for future use,) BUT I did take lots of photos of my decorations, so am able to print out my pictures to go with the journalling - - and make another page for the 8x8 Calendar Album. Now need to get my supplies ready for the new class - so excited! I find Shimelle so inspirational

Thought for the Day

You don't need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for twenty minutes and watch your heart start beating. -- Barbara Sher

I really do need to take notice of this quote - it doesn't only speak to me - it shouts out loud and dances up and down to make me take note! I have made start - I have started my next Scrap project - I am going to make an 8x8 layout for each month, use it as my calendar and at the end of the year put the Layouts in an album. To this end I have created the document I intend to use and printed out 12 copies for the twelve months, on white card.
All I need do now is the January Layout. I have chosen the photo(this one) I am going to use, so am off now to scan and print an extra copy.This has really got my heart beating and kick started my mojo! If this keeps me scrapping the way the Christmas Journal prompts did I will be so proud of myself! Wish me luck.

I know I am a behind - -

Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson



- - but I really like this quote so I have been thinking about it. I adore my "spare moments", it gives me time to enjoy the view.I have too many that I don't use well I know - but those I use to be creative, relax, listen to the birds,listen to music are all my favourite bits of my day too. I am going to make a concious effort to use my spare moments to their fullest in 2007!

A little trip out.

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
-Henry David Thoreau

Take some time today to notice the details. Look at the simple things in your day and see the fancy. You might be amazed at what you notice.

This Quote is from A Fancy Word for Simple and when I saw it I knew I would try to apply it to one of our drives. Anyway I tried to apply it to today and really see the scenery as we drove.

Doug has taken me for one of "our drives round the Island" this afternoon. The very first of the year, and it is some time since we have been out like this. I always enjoy it so much, whatever the weather.
Today was bright, with blue skies when we set off - but as soon as we hit the Sloc the soft feathery fingers of mist drifted across the road, floating by almost, and as we climbed it thickened steadily until we were unable to see the hillside and crags or the road in front of us.It always amazes me how mist turns the world silent, mysterious and other worldly and deadens all sound. But low & behold - as we reached the top of Cronk-Na-Eary-Laa - it just vanished as if it had never been and there we were, in the sparkling blue again! - and bright sunshine making the moorland green and fresh, the brown, drying fronds of bracken are a bright russet, and the yellow gorse flowers quite golden and is filled with colour ! I love my Island world - so much variety in so small a space!!
Dropping down into Purt Ny Hinshey, the sea was dancing and sparkling as the sunlight hit the waves , and we stopped at Fenella beach car park and walked round the castle,looking for the seals before strolling up to the town to call in at The Bonded Warehouse - a favourite Antique/Collectables centre. Nothing for us today though, so back to car and on with the drive! The picture is of the harbour and you can just see the castle in the background.
The coast road on this western side of the island is very much our favourite route. I love going through the villages and past the "Big House" that is Bishops Court before coming in to Rhumsaa. We stopped at the Swimming Pool Cafe for a snack and cup of coffee before venturing into the town to the shops. I like the shops here very much, it is a small town with no "big names" from the UK High streets, so has lots of independent shops - a great bookshop, and delish fancy goods shop (The Tide)that is a feast for my eyes and the Craft centre has goodies in it that I can't get from my nearest Craft Shop so I have come home with some bits & bobs for scrapping! Doug also found a sports shop with stuff he needed, so he came home happy too! Altogether a lovely afternoon.