Phoenix Rising

One of my colleagues is leaving work today to become a writer!
its something that she has always wanted to do and thought she would have to leave it until retirement but she's only gone and done it 15+ years early!!!

Sandy wants to write a trilogy of novels based on stories from Ireland (her home country) starting with the potato famine.
She has spoken about Dublin and Phoenix Park in the past and these stories will be entwined within her books so I decided to make a little farewell gift based on the Phoenix.

She's really pleased with it and loved the poem on the back - I didnt write it unfortunately but it is rather fabulous!

I'll let you know when she's been published!

May Tag Swap -Emerald, Mystical & Eye

I've been busy making tags for the UKS monthly tag swap.

This month the theme was Emerald, Mystical and the tag had to include an eye. I am so much happier with this months tags than last months - which were truly rubbish and I apologise to those who received one!!!!

I got really stuck into the glitter glue and snipping with scissors this month and also gave the wax art iron an airing which was fun.

Qu 17 What is Your Super Power?

What a question! I had toyed with the idea of changing it to "What would you like your super power to be" but instead I opted for a super-power that everyone has and should use more - their smiles!

I came across this great little poem to include on my LO:

Smiling is infectious,
you catch it like the flu.
When someone smiled at me today
I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner
and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realised
I'd passed it onto him!

I thought about that smile,
then I realised its worth.
A single smile just like mine
could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,
don't leave it undetected.
Lets start an epidemic quick!
And get the world infected!

Qu 14 What was the last book you read?

An easier question but it still took a while to get round to it!

Qu 16 What is the Truth?

Here is my Lo for Qu 16 - What is the Truth?
Difficult question but it came to me when I looked at some photos of the birth of my niece back in December.
I have used Chilly Weather paper (because it was), lace, ribbon (its a girl) and some flowers and brads.

The journalling says:
What is the Truth?

A Newborn Baby!
Eva was born after a stressful and eventful ambulance dash through a Blizzard. The roads were blocked in ever direction during rush hour as the snow kept falling.
She was almost delivered in the back of an ambulance after Darren called them from the bottom of Dead Man's HIllin Clophill but they got Mel to hospital in time - blue fashing lights and all!
I was so proud to be a birth partner and the experience was amazing and emotional.
This photo was taken just seconds after delivery.

There must be something about the women in my family - Mel (pictured) was born on holiday back in 75!

Qu 15 - What makes me me?

Took a day off to catch up with some essential home stuff like - buying plants from the garden centre before the bank holiday weekend, hoovering and catching up with my 52 question project!

I have used all bits and pieces for this one and kept it quite simple (like me)!

My journalling is the most important part of this LO as I have described myself and my likes and dislikes within the card:

"I am 38 - born 12 October 1972 in Bedford.
I am 5ft tall (or thereabouts), 53kg and have size 4 feet. I have blonde hair and blue eyes and my ring finger is size G1/2!!
I've always thought my nose is too big for my face and would love a nose job!

I hate:-
Being cold
Rudeness
Bad weather
Unfairness and inequality
Cold water
Headaches

My favourite colour is turquoise because it reminds me of the Caribbean sea. My favourite song is "Rule the World" by Take That who are also my favourite band.

I love:-
Scrap-booking
Photography
Reading
Red wine
Vanilla ice cream
Lilies and bluebells
Sunshine and summer
Travelling
My family

These odd photos were taken in Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago at Camera Obscura and using editing, show me as a child, a man, older (at 65) and more female!! Strange"

Bank Holiday Loveliness

Blogging has been so much more difficult since our office was re-organised! I now sit with my back and screen towards the Executive office so that, if they so wanted, they could see everything that I am doing!
I don't get much computer time at home either!

Well, what an amazing Bank Holiday weekend! The weather couldn't have been more "un-bank holiday like" at around 78 degrees!
We went walking with the dog in Woburn woods and Ashridge Park in search of a beautiful carpet of bluebells. I was very pleased when we found some.
I never realised blubells smelled so fabulous until I experienced it en-mass.

We took the opportunity for a photo shoot since no one else seemed to be so enchanted by these wild flowers.
My models were beautiful - my niece Eva - who was very at home with nature, as was Casey, my daughter. I even managed to snap my sister feeding Eva in the woodland.
My family arent too sure about my very over-exposed images but I really like them - I think they look pretty and soft - I wouldnt use the technique with the boys - who were rummaging in the undergrowth playing soilders!

Eva even had her very first taste of food - other than milk - ice cream. She was quite happy to have a go but the look on her face when it was taken away says it all!