National adopt a greyhund month

So April is adopt a greyhound month how I wish we could but 7 hounds is probably quite enough. They have been so good recently are a much happier settled pack but still they take a lot of time and money and even though my heart says we need another greyhound my brain so NO!

Over the years we have been so lucky and had Puddin, Dill, Poppit, Sandy, Jim, Lucky, Mac, Ranger, Ruby and now Orin yup I love greyhounds but lurchers are fun as well just have so much more energy than you're average couch potato greyhound.

Eric and I are finally over THE BUG (touching wood) but Eric seems hell bent on causing himself injury, at the weekend a rib popped whilst just walking dogs and has been agony and then yesterday a saw shuddered and slipped cutting his arm very deep and narrowly missing the main artery. I honestly thought we would have to go to A & E but eventually stopped the bleeding and used loads of steri strips to close it.

I've been busy beavering away on a digital wedding album I was asked to do but can't show that yet even though I've finally finished it, made quite a few cards to order can't show them either LOL and been busy making my cards I sell for greyhound gap charity but both boxes are currently out for people to sell for me and I didn't photograph them LOL.

Last few days we have been enjoying warm days and no rain and just as we acclimatise to it it's set to turn cold and wet, hounds have had a ball sunbathing on the deck and I've rather enjoyed no muddy paws LOL.

Just 3 more weeks then I shall be off with Dawn to Norfolk on our yearly long weekend away, we just scrap, chat and chill and very occaisionally goes for walks on the beach, I need to see and smell the sea at least once a year so I'm already looking forward to that. Always good to step outside of the routine and recharge the batteries but then it's always just as good to come home, 3 days away is just perfect.

Sue x

woohoo

My first paper layout that I've put together myself in several years Photo is my Mum and her brother.

Because I've been digi scrapping whilst hands have been rubbish I've got out of the habit of being able to put together my own layouts. Crop kits I save for when Dawn and I go away as it saves taking so much stuff LOL. I admit I did struggle with this but felt rather pleased I got there eventually and it's my first page of a family heritage album I'm doing this year that will be all paper.

Hounds have been fab, some days they've not had even one walk let alone the three they're used too because both Eric and I have been struggling like so many people with this cough and cold that just won't go. Dr has put us both on antibiotics so hopefully we're finally on the mend and even better the sun has finally come out and the forecast is dry and mild yay !!!

Still snowing -seriously!

So Eric and I spent the long Easter weekend bank holiday in bed sick running fevers! we took turns and shifts in bed and the hounds were very helpful piling on top of us to help sweat it out LOL. We both still have hacking coughs but it appears we will live after all. On the plus side no chocolate passed these lips LOL.

Instead of an Easter egg I bought Eric this enormous walnut whip (his favourite) and inside there are 5 small walnut whips, he hasn't opened it yet but I think I may have to help him.

Just before I got sick I had set up the dining room for a serious card making session, well I have made a few ready to sell to raise money for greyhound gap, as usual photo's are rubbish but there is no light here at all today and yes it really is snowing again.

Going to crop on Saturday as I am definitely suffering from cabin fever now LOL.

Hounds have been fantastic and so quiet and well behaved whilst we were busy dying.

My son held the fist meeting for this years walk last night it's had to be put back as Stuart got accepted into the police force he was a community officer and they need him to complete his training so looks like it may be September. There is also a new member coming aboard a retired police officer whose hobbies include walking and wait for it photography, yup I will be in heaven getting some decent photo's LOL.

Now off to make a few more cards.

sue xxx

More snow

We are now officially in Spring and yet again more snow, started yesterday and we now have 4-6 inches! honestly will spring weather ever put in an appearance.

Eric and I have struggled on with filthy colds and generally feeling quite rotten but hounds are all well and happy.

Went to hospital Friday to see hand surgeon,  well what can I say it didn't go to plan, chap who went in before me was pacing up and down and looked agitated, we were sitting right next to the door and could hear him getting very angry, then all hell let loose and he upturned tables and cabinets, Eric rushed in to help my surgeon and got punched in the face before they were able to restrain him. Eventually I saw my surgeon but we were all very shaken up by then, x ray showed wrist fusion is good and we discussed what could be done to thumb as it has collapsed into palm of hand with no movement and the other 3 fingers which also don't move but decided I needed a break from this merry go round of operations and recovery. Decided to see him again in September and then decide which op to do next and how best to do it so I'm having the summer off yay! wanted to ask about other hand as I'm a tad worried the main nerve is again getting squashed again but my head was all over the place. Came home and 2 managers rung to thank Eric and then the police came to take statements. Rang us up at 10.30pm and woke us up to say he had been released with a caution and was very sorry. 

 

Saturday just as I got back from town when my hand surgeon arrived here with flowers champagne and chocolates as a thank you, he lives at least 40 miles away. He really is a lovely man, I've made him a funny card to say thank you for regrouping so quickly and seeing me so we could get home!

 My lovely flowers

 and the card I made my surgeon.

A quieter week

 
Thank goodness this week has been quieter! last week was all go LOL.

Twizzle has been to the vets for her annual boosters and check up and Tom our lovely vet said she was in super condition and couldn't find any trace of her back condition, I had gradually been reducing her pill until I stopped it altogether so that when she went to see Tom we could say it seemed better. The x rays indicated a congenital deformity with some of the disc's but it may have just been a trauma from which she has recovered.

Mojo has stopped one of his heart pills as they are very toxic to take long term so we're keeping a close eye on him, so far so good and Alfie and Orin are much happier and the tension between them has gone thank goodness. Gangley is still enjoying her walks and has regained some lost muscle and doesn't stumble no where near as much. Poor Belle has ripped her dew claw, we're hoping it will fall off on it's own as the vets would just pull it off and from past experience that's painful.

I was asked to make two cards, the first is for a 75 year old who was a former banker and this is what I made

the second well I was given so much info I didn't know where to start but the lady loved them both.

Finished a paper layout, it was a kit from papermaze last year and I managed to cobble some bits together to almost re-create it again as I loved it the first time. So it's me on the left then Vikki and Mum. taken in 2005!

Then I did a digi layout of my favourite photo ever of my daughter when she was 3 years old, her dress was green Velvet and it had a matching bag, I just love her cheeky little face, I've scrapped this photo before but it was in her album that I gave to on her 30th birthday!

So Eric has a filthy cold that just won't go (he's dead meat if I get it LOL) and I am on my 2nd course of anti biotics for a tooth infection, the tooth has to come out as well just to add insult to injury! Apart from that the Taylor human and hound pack are okay and have thoroughly enjoyed 2 days of sunshine this week and no muddy paws LOL.

Oh and my poor old faithful mobile phone finally bit the dust, after much research and trying different phones I now have a HTC windows8s and love it! very 21st century for me. I can actually speak commands like "call" or "text" and then speak the message cool   !!!!!!!!

The project

 On Saturday my cousin Sandra and her Mum had arranged a surprise birthday party for her Dad, my Uncle, for his upcoming 80th. Sandra had asked sometime ago if I would do a digital montage and then when we were discussing it she thought something for each table would be nice and I decided to do 4 flip books and print them twice so each table had a book and at the end of the party Uncle John could take one set home and Sandra the other.

So once I got going I really enjoyed doing them but have to admit was really nervous on Saturday as to what people would say! Uncle John loved them and I got lots of lovely compliments whew!

The party was a huge sucess, Sandra's son did all the catering and the food was fab! and Georgina one of Uncle John's grandaughter sang, she has the most amazing voice, another chap sang as well all the golden oldies and inbetween background music, which was great as you could actually talk to people and catch up. Best party I've been to for years.

This is the montage which we put in a clip frame measuring 20 inches x 16 inches.

 A flip book is simply 1 piece of 12 x 12 card stock folded both ways with a small piece taken out along one fold, so you end up with 4 6 x 6 squares on each side to put a layout on and then fold it up into a book.

Each book had the same front and back

Front

 Back

Then I decided having seen the photo's to do the first book as son and brother

The second was family, husband, Dad and grandad.

The third his time in the army

and the last book was fun stuff.

 The layouts have been kept simple because with them being just 6 x 6 inches I wanted the main focus to be on the photo's. Eric was brilliant and spent a whole Sunday editing them for me as some were so old and in poor condition.

Have to say I'm really fired up to start my heritage family album now LOL.

Hounds are all well and happy AND Gangley who we have been walking twice a day to try and stop and further muscle wastage decided to go out and walk with the pack yesterday! really was a special moment as she hasn't been out with them for almost a year!

Happy Birthday Elmo

When we adopted Elmo we had to chose a birthday for him for his insurance so we decided that as his approx age when he arrived was probably about 12 months we would tie his birthday in with his gotcha day and today Elmo celebrates his 2nd birthday and one year gotcha day.

I made pilchard cake and poor Mojo has been beside himself all day waiting for a piece, I put in the pantry to cool down and bless him he's been hoping I'd forget to close the door so he could sneak in all day.

I did also make Eric a cake as it seemed a tad mean just to make one for the hounds LOL.

Happy Birthday Elmo xxxx (Elmo is the black dog)

Eric took a video whilst I sang Happy Birthday and I was going to post it but having listened to it I changed my mind because
a) I got the fit of giggles which turned into snorts
b) I can't sing
c) I sounded like a country bumpkin LOL.

trust me you're missing nothing.