Sunday 31 January 2010

BY2010 Project

I joined the BY2010 project over at Liberty Cottage




Here is the first sketch


and here is what I did with it.  I turned it around so the set of 3 photos were under each other at the side.




There are a few of us joining in.  We are supposed to link to the next person on the list but as mine is  the last blog I will give you the whole list so you can go back and see what the others have done and hopefully pick up some inspiration.

http://libertycottage.blogspot.com/


http://kscraftycorner.blogspot.com/

http://cardsbyjones.blogspot.com/

http://craftygrannyscraftycorner.blogspot.com/

http://whoopidooings.blogspot.com/

http://mycraftydesk.blogspot.com/

http://chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com/

http://www.curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.com/

http://clearingthebrambles.blogspot.com/

http://socksandscrapbooks.blogspot.com/

Saturday 30 January 2010

100 Questions

I found this on here and  thought I would share my answers.


1. How old will you be in five years? 43

2. Who did you spend at least two hours with today? My youngest son

3. How tall are you? 5’9”

4. What do you look forward to most in the next six months? work on our loft conversion starting

5. What's the last movie you saw? Bridget Jones The Edge Of Reason

6. Who was the last person you called? my daughter

7. Who was the last person to call you? my husband

8. What was the last text message you received? from my husband

9. Who was the last person to leave you a voice mail? the high school

10. Do you prefer to call or text? text

11. What were you doing at 12 am last night? sleeping

12. Are your parents married/separated/divorced? divorced

13. When is the last time you saw your mom? last Saturday

14. What color are your eyes? Brown

15. What time did you wake up today? 6.45 AM

16. What are you wearing right now? Jeans, top and cardigan

17. What is your favourite Christmas song? if carols count then Little Donkey complete with halved cocnut shells accompanying it

18. Where is your favourite place to be? Home

19. Where is your least favourite place to be? anywhere where people are smoking or the smell of cigarettes is lingering

20. Where would you go if you could go anywhere? A nice beach with no distractions, not too hot, not too cold

21. Where do you think you'll be in 10 years? more than likely here in this house but hopefully with less debt and responsible happy grown up children (apart from my little one)

22. Do you tan or burn? tan if I use enough lotion, burn if I skimp on it

23. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? I can't remember

24. What was the last thing that really made you laugh? a gross tale my husband recounted of what had happened to him during the day

25. How many TVs do you have in your house? 4 but not all working

26. How big is your bed? King size

27. Do you have a laptop or desktop computer? a desktop

28. Do you sleep with or without clothes on? Pj's

29. What colour are your sheets? cream

30. How many pillows do you sleep with? 2

31. What is your favourite season? spring

32. What do you like about fall? colors, cooler weather

33. What do you like about winter? Closing the curtains on the outside world

34. What do you like about the summer? light nights, hate the heat

35. What do you like about spring? a sense that the biting cold is at an end for a few months

36. How many states/provinces have you lived in? we have counties in the UK but only 1

37. What cities/towns have you lived in? 2

38. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet? shoes

39. Are you a social person? not really

40. What was the last thing you ate? crumpets

41. What is your favourite restaurant? Chiquitos

42. What is your favourite ice cream? Ben and Jerry's half baked cookie dough

43. What is your favourite dessert? cherry pie and either custard or icecream

44. What is your favourite kind of soup? cream of chicken preferably Heinz

45. What kind of jelly do you like on your PB and J sandwich?  Don't do peanut butter and jelly - just peanut butter

46. Do you like Chinese food? Yes

47. Do you like coffee? Of course

48. How many glasses of water, a day, do you drink on average? about 2 pints

49. What do you drink in the morning? Coffee

51. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed? right side

52. Do you know how to play poker? No

53. Do you like to cuddle? depends who with - husband and kids yes but kids don't like to as much now they are older.

54. Have you ever been to Australia? No

55. Do you have an addictive personality? I don't think so

56. Do you eat out or at home more often? at home

58. Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you? Yes

59. Do you want kids? had 4 and definitely don't want any more

60. Do you speak any other languages? no

61. Have you ever gotten stitches? Yes

62. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance? no

63. Do you prefer an ocean or a pool? neither I hate swimming

64. Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat? window

65. Do you know how to drive stick? I'm assuming this means with gears - yes it is the only way I know

66. What is your favourite thing to spend money on?   Pizza, pretty scrapbook papers, rich indulgent yarns and very soon new furniture and decor when our loft is converted

67. Do you wear any jewelry 24/7? wedding ring and 2 other rings

68. What is your favourite TV show? Eastenders, Lost, sad reality shows

69. Can you roll your tongue? No

70. Who is the funniest person you know? my middle son - he has hilarious one liners

71. Do you sleep with stuffed animals? No just my husband

72. What is the main ring tone on your phone? depends if I remember to reset it when I take the memory card out - if so then Charlie by Red Hot Chili Peppers if not then the LG default tone

73. Do you still have clothes from when you were little? No

74. What red object is closest to you right now? son's wallet

75. Do you turn off the water while you brush your teeth? no

76. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Closed.

77. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees? neither but the bear will just eat me right? Whereas the bees will sting me to death so I'll go with the bear

78. Do you flirt a lot? I don't think so

79. What do you dip a chicken nugget in? Hate chicken nuggets

80. What is your favourite food? spicy pizza from Dominos with the little dips they provide in the box lid

81. Can you change the oil on a car? No

82. Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket? Yes

83. Have you ever run out of gas? No

84. What is your usual bedtime? anytime between 10 and 11

85. What was the last book you read? MC Beaton - Agatha Raisin Kissing Christmas Goodbye

86. Do you read the newspaper? usually on a sunday

87. Do you have any magazine subscriptions? not for me but pay for one for my son
89. Do you watch soap operas? yes - Eastenders

90. Do you dance in the car? err no

91. What radio station did you last listen to? Radio 1 I think or it could have been Radio Aire

92. Who is in the picture frame closest to you? youngest son

93. What was the last note you scribbled on a piece of paper? shopping list

94. What is your favourite candle scent? Clean Cotton by Yankee

95. What is your favourite board game? I don't really have one

97. When was the last time you attended church? a memorial service in December 2008 (I think)

98. Who was your favourite teacher in high school? she was called Mrs Nicholson

99. What is the longest you have ever camped out in a tent? a week in France when I was 17 - never again

100. Who was the last person to do something extra special for you? Curtis bought me a Cadburys Creme Egg when I was poorly.

Friday 29 January 2010

Skywatch Friday

This week my sky is one of the pictures I took yesterday of the new bridge but this view is from the old bridge which was the only way the people at that end of town had of getting into town before the new one was built in 2008.


For more skies from around the world visit Skywatch Friday

Thursday 28 January 2010

Celebrating The End Of The B Fortnight

We have a new bridge that was the subject of a Channel 4 programme in 2008 fronted by Kevin McCloud.  Being right at the other end of town it isn't something I have ever really been to before.  The rest of the family has but not me for some reason.  I thought it would be nice this morning to have a walk down there with the dogs and finally walk across it. 

I also discovered a new challenge yesterday called 52 Walks In 2010.  It just means to take your camera on 52 walks over the year and photograph where you have been.  I've decided that my first walk can be the first week of this month when it was snowing.  The pictures from that are in the posts at the beginning of the month.

Today is Walk 2 with my camera.  The sun was in a strange place which made some pictures turn out with shadows but never mind.




The dogs were really unsure of the rushing water under their feet.





This boat wreck apparently caused huge problems during construction of the bridge.



This is one of the benches that adorn the middle of the bridge.



Now we move on to the B Factor at Leeds United.  There are a few players qualifying for the B fortnight and it just so happens that they are the more 'photogenic' ones.



First up is Luciano Becchio who is frequently referred to in this house as beautiful.  The kids were over the moon to have their picture taken with him earlier in the season.



Next up is Bradley Johnson. 


The one and only Jermaine Beckford


Local lad Ben Parker. Yikes this pic makes me realise how much my son's hair has grown.
It's down to his shoulders now. Pic was taken in May.


and last but by no means least is Leigh Bromby.


To end the B's I have some music that is not the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Black Eyed Peas and Boom Boom Pow.

Wednesday 27 January 2010

B Words

After the disaster for A with the Apple Cake I had a go at this recipe for Blueberry and Lemon Friands.  One of my friends on Facebook, who is also doing the alphabet through the year, made them so I decided to have a try.  I put them in muffin cases and they were actually quite nice.  I'm not a fan of blueberries and I can't stand blueberry muffins but these were totally different.




I have just about read another book in the Agatha Raisin series by M C Beaton.  By Friday when we start on C I should have it finished.







The next B is a bit silly but when the dogs were sleeping on the settee (where they shouldn't be!!) I realised they are Black and Blonde.  Yes silly I know.






Oh and I just thought of another B - Braces.  My son had a nightmare orthodontist appointment this week where anything that could go wrong did go wrong.  I have absolutely no chance of a photograph of him though - that's teenage boys for you!!!

Still not got around to the scrapbook layout for my A page.  I need a few extra hours during the day I think at the moment.  I really need to get on top of my deadlines and try and get some me time.

Monday 25 January 2010

Busy Busy Busy

Too many things to do with too little time to do them.  None of which includes the mundane everyday things that have to fit inbetween everything else.  I've not even done my knitting for a few days.

Anyway being the fortnight of the B I will leave you with this - Brandy by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Friday 22 January 2010

Gloomy Friday Sky

The photo for this week's Skywatch Friday is a view over the school playing field, across the industrial part of town with the graveyard at the side.  Quite an eclectic mix really to have a school, chemical factory and graveyard so close to each other.  There are also some maltings a little bit further down where they make malt for beer etc.




If you fancy looking at more skylines which I can promise you will be more exciting than mine then head over to the Skywatch blog

Friday 15 January 2010

Skywatch

Snow is almost gone but the skies are very boring and mostly grey so I'm not going to bore the pants off you with a pic of that.  Instead I am going back into the archives to August and an Isle of Wight sky.



This was taken at Ventnor beach.  Not really sunny while we were there but definitely more exciting than current skies.

If you want to see skies from around the world then pay a visit to Skywatch Friday.

Thursday 14 January 2010

A To Z - A

1st to 14th January is letter  A in our walk through the A to Z so what have I done for A?

Well I went to the library and discovered the Agatha Raisin series of books which will also do for B too because the author is called M.C. Beaton.  This is the first one and I am about half way through it.




I made an apple cake which didn't turn out too well but you learn from your mistakes I guess.



There was the yarn I dyed apple green





Music wise there is only one A as far as I am concerned - Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and I'm sorry if there is a bit of overload over the next year but I might just have to try and find a song/lyric to fit each letter.  Here are a couple of piccies.



The man himself



and being daddy to his gorgeous little boy who looks so much like his mother (Heather Christie) it is unreal.

Another A in our house is Autism.  I have one child with autism and one with aspergers and it plays a big part in our lives but we are working on ways of dealing with it on a daily basis.

I have a scrapbook layout planned for A on something I haven't discussed yet so will hopefully have that to share soon.

Tomorrow is the start of B.

Friday 8 January 2010

Snow Is Boring Now

When it first started snowing it was nice and pretty and not something we are used to but the novelty has certainly worn off now. Even the kids are bored of it. Although I can't quite believe that my son took his football to the park yesterday and didn't fall on his butt.






I have two skywatch pictures this week - the first (above) is of our christmas tree which we have put out in the back yard for now until it can be chopped up and recycled.  Ironically we took it down the same day the snow started so it looks nice sat out there with snowy branches.  The sun melted some of it yesterday and that blue sky was yesterday afternoon.  We have had a sprinkling again overnight.

My second (below) is on tuesday when we got the bulk of the snowfall. 





and some more snowy piccies


my plant pots


the snowman the kids made but he is unfortunately no longer there


Tuesday 5 January 2010

Snow Day

We had a snowfall overnight.  Not a huge amount but most things grind to a halt in the UK when we have snow. 

Schools are shut because the councils don't seem to be able to clear the roads properly so the teachers can't get through the snow.  Even better - they can't provide enough coal for the boilers in some schools or grit for the walkways around school so it isn't safe either.  Not sure what reasons ours closed for but HEY.... A DAY OFF





and look at this - the bin men actually emptied the bins.

Sunday 3 January 2010

New Challenge Blog

I'm delighted to be part of a new scrapbook challenge blog.  If you can find the time we would love to see you over there.

My own shop blog challenge is up for January.  The challenge is NEW this month.

Saturday 2 January 2010

OK Then Wacky socks

Somebody commented yesterday that they wanted to see wacky socks.  I finished these on new years eve from some leftovers from other projects.

They were quite a challenge for me as they involve lots of picking up stitches which I have a phobia of but I managed it.  Don't think I will be wearing them in public.


Pattern can be found here



My next project is this.  Can't decide which colour beads to use yet though.





Yarn is one I dyed myself a couple of days ago and is Apple Green - in fitting with this being the fornight of the letter A

Friday 1 January 2010

Happy New Year

Happy new year to everybody.

My picture for skywatch friday is one I took a few weeks ago on holiday of the fireworks.



I also took a picture last night of the last sky of the year but it didn't turn out too well.