Owl Cluster and Other Cute Things

 Life here is chaos as usual and today the lovely Lilly came back to stay for a few days. Charlie of course was overjoyed!! he spent all afternoon rushing around the garden entertaining Lilly with his antics. Eventually he wore himself out and Lilly was exhausted after laughing so hard at his antics....so peace reigned for at least five minutes and they sat quietly together on the grass just watching the world go by. It's lovely to watch them and see the pure joy on Lilly's little face. She is Charlie's heroine, he loves to entertain her and follow her around, his own little best friend.

 

Wild Child...rushing around the garden...well Charlie is, Lilly just laughs hard at his silly nonsense! Look at his ears flying as he does a running turn..that boy was really moving but he never knocked Lilly once. He loves to show off and she is his ideal audience.

 

Quiet reflection after all that energetic activity. How peaceful they both looked.

 

The wisteria behind the house is out and blooming beautifully. I love this plant, it winders above our dining room door and across the back wall of the house...and it has a perfume!! Pure bliss at this time of year as the wonderful scent drifts in through the door. It does have it's downside...the blossoms fall and walk straight in doors, but it's worth it.

Bedtime for Lilly was fast, her little head hit the cot and she was very quickly fast asleep. All the walking she did today and her fun with Charlie had worn her out, so this evening has been peaceful with time for me to clear away the remnants of the days fun..mess in other words!! But tomorrow will start early and it will be a long day. Where do these infants get their energy? I wish I knew and I'd get a double helping for me, a single on for Lilly. That way I would stand a chance of keeping pace.

Before I go I thought I would make today's gift something cute...I'm in a cute mood. So, it's an owl cluster, in two different colour schemes to add to your pages. Have fun!

You can download them here at Media Fire

or here at 4Shared 

 

Have a good day tomorrow and have some fun...you know it's good for you!!!

Technorati Tags: owl cluster,cute,free download,scrapbooking

Brain Freeze and Crazy Dots!!

The brain freeze is mine...the crazy dots are the result of my doodling.

Too much thinking is bad for me, it's given me brain freeze!!! It's a bit like eating real, really cold ice cream, your brain hurts!! I've been trying to workout installing WordPress and using it as CMS. Not that I'm doing it, Cindy Reilly is patiently putting up with me and my constant indecision. First one thing and then the next, the idea being that I setup a website with a gallery etc.

I have done a website for my Family History work using DreamWeaver but it was a while ago and I'm struggling to get back into things. Today was my worst day yet, reading too much, swaying one way and then the other until my little brain was doing triple flips!!! Warning...brain freeze!! So, I have stopped reading for now..tomorrow is an other day.

The news from our house is that Charlie is back in disgrace. He has naughty down to a fine art and he adds to his talents in this field all the time.....unfortunately!! Over the weekend he was all leaded up for his walk, sitting at the door quite excited, but then again dogs always are when a walk is in the offing. DH got him to sit, opened the door....and Charlie put his now famous Houdini move into action and DH was left with a lead...no dog....just a limp lead.

Well, the yell told me something was not quite right...to put it mildly. So, it was all hands to action stations. My son did not appreciate being hauled out of the shower...yet again!! Charlie always seems to escape when Chris is in playing water babies.

It was an other chase me Charlie...literally!! Eventually, after many a heart in mouth moment, the rogue was caught and brought home. Was he sorry ....or even a little ashamed? Not a vague chance!!! His tail was wagging, eyes bright and he was bouncing!! I swear that dog is going in shackles or my hair will turn gray!!

I am happy to say that Lilly is doing well, no further problems with her walking. She came to see us last week and she and Charlie were as buddy buddy as usual.,Or I should say she and "Cha" (her name for Charlie) were buddy buddy. He really is great with her but Lilly always wants to share everything with him...which can be a problem!!

Lilly was bathed and ready for bed and she wanted to give a dog biscuit to Charlie before she went to bed.

 

 

One for Charlie before I go to bed.

We didn't anticipate that her curiosity would get the better of her.  She just had to try the new dog biscuits before Charlie did. All went well as she took the biscuit from the tin....then she wandered in the opposite direct to Charlie. The mouth opened ....and in it went, her mouth not his!! There was a little bit sticking out...just!! I grab the camera as her mum grabbed for her....she little madam just strolled over biscuit in mouth!! I know, trust me to go for the camera..but her mum was moving in Lilly's direction, so it was OK.

 

Look at me...I've got a biscuit.

After we had extracted the offending biscuit both she and Charlie looked with pleading eyes asking for an other biscuit...the cheeky pair!!

Please..just one!!! We'll be good!! (Those two good...not a chance!)

And still with the photographs, I thought you might like this one of the first wall flower in my garden, a touch of brightness, struggling through a sea of green.

Now, the Crazy Dots Paper Pack. I drew some doodles and ended up using them for a pattern which I thought I'd share with you.

You can download them at 4shared here

or at Media Fire here

Have a great evening and hopefully next time I post my brain will be "unfrozen"!!

Technorati Tags: crazy dots paper pack,free download,charlie and lilly,scrapbooking

Ate a what?

Do I look sorry?

 

I was going to blog about something intelligent and useful tonight...so that you would all start to think perhaps I wasn't totally insane...but... Charlie did it again!! He ate his bed!! Not a blanket..a bed, mattress, cover every thing.

Well, he didn't eat every last crumb of it, it was more a case of slash and rip...big time. This is the second bed in a month that he has demolished..two, soft comfy, warm beds!!!! Now he's got yet an other new one, a large molded rubber type bed with one confession to comfort in it...a  fleecy pad and that's it!!

It all started after I had taken him out for a walk and then settled down to work. Charlie got on his bed and seemed to snuggle down for a well earned rest...note "he seemed to" . I was just getting into my stride when I turned to check he was okay and there it was...a large white mass...eek!! He can not only rip zips, cloth and stuffing...but...he can do it silently.

I was cross!!! I grab the shredded mess and bundled Charlie into the garden...yes, before I murdered him!!! I cleared everything up in a large dustbin sack and called him back in, making sure he knew I was not amused...big time!!

I jumped in the car and headed for Pet City..yet an other bed was on the agenda. When I arrived I asked some advice from a friendly assistant who after discovering  he was 2 years old reassuringly advised me that it was doubtful that he would outgrow it. I was just unlucky to have a born chewer...just the sort of good news I wanted at that moment!!

A large molded rubber bed seemed the answer...it's rock hard and not easily chewed..or that's the theory!! I dragged this monster from the shop and tried to wrestle it into my car but the cars parked either side were too close to allow me to manoeuvre it in. Next I tried the tailgate, dropped the parcel shelf and tried to thread it in that way...the head rests were in the way and the stupid thing was too deep!!

At that point I decided to think laterally....if I reversed the car out of the parking space then I would be able to get it in the back door!!! Eureka!! So I put the bed down, climbed in the car, reversed out enough to clear the back door and jumped out. Where the heck was that bed? It was nowhere in sight!!!!

It's at this point that I could feel the breakdown coming on!!! Breath deeply, calm down...it can't have just gone!!

A man going back to his own car noticed me looking puzzled and muttering to myself and asked what the problem was. I explained that the dog bed I had just bought had vanished..gone, whilst I had been reversing out. He gave me a strange sort of a look and pointed down under the back of my car. "What this bed?" he asked.

There it was..in my rush I had put it behind the car and reversed...luckily I had gone straight back and there it was sitting there undamaged, hidden underneath. Be grateful for small mercies!!

I felt a complete fool!! Needless to say my thank you was a hasty one and I pulled the offending item out and shoved it in as quickly as I could and beat a hasty retreat!!! I will strangle that dog...an other fine mess he got me into!!

He spent the rest of the afternoon "helping" my DH with the garden...well out of my way!! Even there he just could not stay out of trouble and joined in with the digging!!

 

"What you doing dad?"

"Really...I can help.....I'm good at digging"

Today's freebie is a Quick Page, my gift to you. I have kept it simple to leave room for journaling or any other little extra touches you want to add. It's a 12inchx12inch, 300dpi, Png file.

 

You can download it here

 

Have a great evening and stay away from dogs!!!

 

Technorati Tags: charlie and the bed,quick page,free download,scrapbooking

The Great Escape

OK, it's me...I admit it...I was a crazy woman, at least I was for an evening. But believe me you would have been too!! Honestly...you would.

Charlie as you know is an adorable dog....but...there is always a but in life. He  arrived to us as wild as the heather..cute but all over the place. In the past few weeks he has come on so well and he gave a convincing portrayal of a well behaved dog, sometimes even a calm dog.  It just shows what can lurk hidden just below the surface (no not sharks again!!).

I had been working with him doing lead work and after a little tussle, he was a star!!!! No pulling and a happy face for both of us. OK, now here's where the but comes in. Things were looking good...always a bad sign, lol.

So..... imagine the scene...it's evening, dark outside and just about dinner time.

I got the lead and the poop bags, jacket and rewards...perfect all ready to go.

Charlie sat like an angel...lead on...told him to wait...and opened the front door.

Why, oh why do I not quit whilst I'm ahead? Do I never learn? The answer is...no.

In a flash without moving his rear end from the floor, he twisted his head, thrust his head forward and in the flash of an eye...I was standing there with a lead in my hand and a terrific view of a dogs butt disappearing into the darkness down the path!!!!

My heart was in my mouth as I rushed after him and he ran towards the main road...it was rush hour!!!! I called loud...trying to sound playful of course....trying to tempt him into coming back......fat chance!!! He stuck his head down and ran!!

It's at this point it gets really bizarre!!! In answer to all my noise my son came running into the street.......... in his dressing gown, wet hair, no shoes and face covered in shaving foam...but we did what you do...we both ran in the opposite direction calling Charlie's name..back towards the garden. Skipping almost, trying to tempt him back (we must have looked totally crazy!!).

Success!!! He was following us, he wanted to play!!! But......instead of turning into our path...he ran off down the road in the other direct........aaaah!!!!

At the other end of our road is a country lane..narrow..dark..but used as  a rat run in the rush hour..so, very busy at this time. We stood and watched Charlie disappear at speed into the night, not even a backward glance at we stupid humans...just nose down and totally focused. By this time I was breathless, upset and totally wound up.

We rushed for our cars to find him, praying that he would not cause an accident and get hurt or hurt someone else. Eventually my son found him a long way down the lane standing in bright headlights from stopped cars, but was Charlie frightened or worried, not a bit!! Not him. .(is this dog stupid?)

My son had to lure him with a laser torch, then he grabbed him and bundled him into his car....only to have him jump out the open window the other side. It was open a bit where he had been calling the dogs name.

But all was not lost, the trusty laser torch lured him again and this time the windows were shut!!

You can imagine what was said when we finally met up at home......dogs were not a popular subject!! But Charlie....he still was bouncing from his adventure and despite being well and truly "in the dog house" he was obviously very pleased with himself!! We on the other hand had jangling nerves and were prancing around like over strung puppets!! By this point I really felt like I was a crazy woman and I think that half my street would have agreed, after seeing my dog chasing display!!

Before I go, I painted the Two little Boys I promised. I found the boys much harder to do..don't know why. But they are finished and I hope that someone can use them.

You can download them here

Have a great day and don't walk any dogs!!!!!

Technorati Tags: dog fun,the great escape,charlie,free download,graphic design.scrapbooking

It's Almost Tomorrow!!

I'm late tonight, very late with my post. So it will be a quick one before it's tomorrow!!

The snow really started to go today...but, guess what..yep it's started to snow again tonight!!! Bah!!

I have been slow getting things together as I have had an "iffy" tummy (sounds like I'm five years old!). I don't know if it's a bug or something I ate but all day I have had a problem. Hopefully I will wake up in the morning and feel on top of the world, or that's the hope.

The latest on Charlie is he's found a new little friend...Lilly. I think it's a case of worship rather than friendship, lol!! Lilly takes his adoration in her stride..she would, she's still at the age when it hasn't occurred to her that not everyone is a member of her fan club. Have a look at what I mean.

It's a case of where you go I follow!!

But she soon got tired of all his attention and went back to Teddy!!

My little freebie today is a template which I hope someone can use. I have been trying to make some to use with my 365 Project photos but so far none that I have been happy with...I'll need to stick at it!

Anyway here's today's. The download includes a psd and png files.

You can download Template 01 here

I hope that life is being kind to you, it may be cold outside but remember...keep a little warmth in your heart..the world is not so bad.

See you tomorrow and take care!

Technorati Tags: template 01,scrapbooking,free download,charlie,lilly

 

Last Part!!

Hi All! I have spent today trying to get my car to go..like me it has decided that it doesn't like the snow and ice!! I started off digging the poor thing out..it was covered in snow. I had parked it next to my neighbours and for one awful moment I thought I was digging out the wrong one as they are a similar colour.

But no, it was my little cutsie under all that white stuff. She was a sorry state, icy, snowie and very cold! Yesterday she started on the first turn of the key but today she gave a pathetic splutter and died. By this time she was not the only one that had almost terminal cold...my hands were white..even with gloves on..and wet! My feet..even in boots were tingling, so I decided to adjourn to the kitchen and a warm cup of tea..and a quick call to the RAC, lol!!

The bad news is they have an other weather warning out for more heavy snow on Thursday/Friday!!! Eeek...take it back...I don't need any more!!

I didn't take a photo of my car as I was too busy scraping and digging, but I have one of the garden that I had taken earlier. It looks lovely..if you only have to look at it!!

And here's one of the man himself...I told him not to eat the snow...but would he listen..no!! I had cleared the paths yesterday but today I had to do it again. As I was clearing them..yet again..Charlie decided to help and eat them clear!!! Needless to say I had more success than he had...but he had fun, despite a cold tongue.

OK, enough idle chatter!! Today is the last of the Element Packs in the Colour Basic Kit and it's slightly different from the others...this one was made with boys in mind..no bows or flower. This should please Bettina as she made a fantastic January Screen Saver Page using a photo of her grandson and of the papers form the Colour Basics Kit....but she would really have liked some boy stuff in the kit.

It is a great page and what a wonderful photo! I love the layout and the hearts are a clever touch, they set it off to perfection...beautiful!! Thank you for sharing it.

So Bettina these are for you...well, and the rest of you too, lol!! Have a look and see what you think.

 

 

You can download the last of the Element Packs here

That's it for today, it's evening now in my corner of the world..a dark and icy one too. So, stay warm or cold...depends where you are, lol!! See you tomorrow and there could be a little something for you!!

Technorati Tags: colour basics,freedownload,element pack 3,phtographs,snow,charlie

 

Colour Basics Part 2 and Charlie!

Hi All, before I get around to Part 2 of the Colour Basic Papers some news on Charlie's progress.

He and I have been training...he is doing a wonderful job...at training me!! I just think I am getting somewhere then he just puts me back in my place..the cheek!! He's still rushing around, he wouldn't even stop for the camera. I tried and tried to get some decent photographs of him bit I ended up with just bits...a front, but without the head...a rear..the middle. All I wanted was a complete dog!!!

See what I mean!! This one was of his rear..nice tail, but not quite what I was aiming for.

 

I try ignoring him when he's hyper in the kitchen..the theory being he will calm down and go lie down in his bed. It normally ends up with me pointing at his bed and firmly shouting "BED"!!!! He will not do what the book says..he started well but his anxiety is showing.

Leaving him is a nightmare...he hates being left on his own. I don't just mean when I go out...this dog hates you going into the next room without him!!! I do leave him on his own as his "help" with the chores is not very constructive..if you get my drift. Plus I need to go to bed...I have to admit he is much better at night than he was.

I did finally get a photograph of  his head..yes all of it!!! It's not the best picture I have to admit, it was dark and he was very, very wet!!! I know, I was this wet too! He makes photographing active kids look like a cake walk...this dog is so fast, I just keep missing him as he zooms past me. Here he's looking as if to say " What is she doing now?" He thinks I am very strange...cute but strange. Mind you so do a lot of people...not the cute but the strange, lol!!

 

 

OK, now for the the Colour Basics. I have been doing some more work on sorting out all the elements that I made to go with these papers and again I will have to sort them into three downloads.....so watch this space for them after the papers!!

 

 

 

You can download Part 2 of the Colour Basics papers here

Well, that's all from me for today. Have a great day and see you soon!!!

 

Technorati Tags: colour basics papers part 2,free download,charlie