so THAT'S where all the toilet roll goes

Oliver and Kinect boxing. Sigh. All very comendable in the initiative deparment until one needs a big poo and there's no loo roll around because he is being Rocky Balboa in the living room.

My entry for the fire colours journal:

This is the last one in the circle of ten, tomorrow I am due to receive my journal back, so will show that off later in the week.

it's all about me

In a fit of rash creativity, I signed up for a swap on UKS (not again I hear you cry) - a fairy in a box swap. No, I don't know what possessed me either. Anyhoo, I have not taken part in any discussions on the thread about it, so frozen by terror at producing something hand made not from paper.... so here 'she' is in her beaded no-face glory.

Apparently I have to give her a name and decorate a box for her to live in too. Effin hell when will the torture end...

And here lies my entry for the Colour My World Art Journal:

This one is sunset colours, and I have used the lyrics from the Garth Brooks (who?) song 'Standing Outside The Fire'. Basically I think the message in it is do or die. Throw yourself in and get on with it or be a wimpy, insipid wraith on the edge of life. That sort of thing.

I struggled enormously with this one. I couldn't get any images to 'work' so have had to resort to typography. Quite pleased with it in the end though.

Also, I have finished (yes, you have read correctly) finished, a very under-used word over here at me and my amusings, my December Daily journal. It is now all ready for the beginning of the festivities on Dec 1st. Lovely. Bring it on.

Oh - and I placed a bet! A real live one online with a real live bookmaker!! Tee hee aren't I the daring one. It was on the next evictee on 'I'm A Celebrity...' (yep, I love it) and I won £44!!! How fabulous. Still, only a drop in the bottomless well of expense that masquerades under the name of Christmas.

And don't give me that old cobblers about the true spirit of Christmas and making your own gifts etc etc because I have made my own gifts before and it costs twice as much as popping into Boots on a 3 for 2, I can tell you. I can fully appreciate the true spirit of Christmas without needing to resort to sparse decorations and an orange and a couple of brazil nuts in our stockings. so there.

I LOVE cold days...

...dark mornings, wintry (wintery?) afternoons, wet days, icy cold days, blustery leafy days, sunny leafy days, sunny cold days, but the most important thing here is that the summer (hateful hot and make you feel guilty for feeling indoors summer) is over for another year and the lovely, lovely Autumnal days have begun with the smell of bonfires, rustle of leaves underfoot and damp and chill which leaves you feeling all crisp and healthy when outside and cosy cosy indoors with heat and steamy drying washing and baking smells. I love it. And it has made me feel all freshly enthused about home teaching.

I want to blog a bit more about our lives at home. This year we are much more into a routine of 'work' and I feel much, much less guilty about the fact that Oliver may not be covering as much as he 'should' be. I generally feel very relaxed about how much we do in 'schooly' stuff, as I am quite confident in his ability to grow into structured learning if and when need be, but I occasionally feel the squeeze of outside forces in the shape of non home-schooled family and friends. I feel stuck in the middle of state-run institutionalised thinking and free as you like home ed thinking.

This is the room we generally work in:

Boring huh?

And this is our new bookcase (in the same room)

which I am inordinately excited about, as I now have 2 whole shelves for Oliver's learny stuff.

I had the idea of getting a giant pinboard for the wall to showcase pics/work/writing but then I read this today on another home edders's blog - DUH! Why didn't I think of this?! So will be shamelessly copying that one day very soon. Want to do a history timeline on it (also mentioned on the same blog) but I can claim that I have honestly wanted to do this for a long time but has remained on my ever growing list of 'things that I want to do but can't truly be arsed to do anything about at this or any point in the near future'.

And finally...

A couple of my layouts were featured on the Papermaze blog on Saturday, so that's nice. Also went to the Scrapaholix crop on Saturday - did two layouts, a gentle and therapeutic scrapping day...

high days and holidays (and a spot of cutting and sticking)

And here we are - returned from the glitz and glam of Butlins Minehead. Yes - that's Butlins Minehead, Hades of the holiday world.

Actually, it really was OK, though in truth it just could never have been as bad as I was expecting - and I can expect really bad stuff I can tell you. For the uninitiated, the place is huuuge and full to the brim of lots of nasty rough people tee hee. The pool was brilliant and the accomodation was pleasantly nice (since we are tightarses and refused to upgrade from scab class). And for the record - I didn't choose Butlins - the Sun newspaper break system chose it for us.... That said, we probably would go again because Oliver loved it (being a child and all) and we like to see him happy....

(I am hopeful of Disneyland Paris next year).

Art journalling:

Not overly happy with the style of this entry, but have been you-tubing art journalling, and I really wanted to go more scruffy and collage-y, so this is my next entry:

which is a bit weirder and wilder, and I am happier with this one. Find I am struggling with 'letting myself go'. Not normally an issue for me, but think maybe scrapbooking is making me too neat a crafter....

Have also started a cross stitch, which I haven't done for years and I forgot how soothing I found it to repetitively stitch. The one I am working on is a lovely Celtic image, will get a pic on here sometime soon.

Playing Boules at Dunster Castle:

Trying to get a nice head shot of Oliver. Pah.

He simply does not appreciate my need for decent photos to scrap. Reckon if I could see his thoughts at this point they would be a child's version of 'shove it up your arse'.

Mark enjoying the fair at Butlins tee hee.

yeah, yeah, I know

I've been a bit slack in the old blog department lately.

I never really feel inclined to post without a photo or two, and since I have been pretty crap at doing anything arty over the last few weeks, I haven't had much to share. I made an abortive attempt at Shimelle's latest offering: the 'Learn Something New Every Day' class, running throughout September, but that went to shite after less than 5 days, when I realised that trying to focus my mind on learning/re-learning and re-discovering something about myself everyday was just too big an ask and I got pissed off pretty quickly. My last entry would have read: 'today I have learnt that this class is just not working for me.' I found the prompts confusing and mourn the loss of another tenner down the drain. (and another lesson learnt tee hee)

Anyhoo, once I cleared my desk of this debacle, I got down to some real life scrapping - actually the thing I enjoy the mostest - and did this layout with my most recent pic of the boy:

and this one for the challenge over on Sarah's Cards:

I am pleased with both, and feel I have eased myself back into enjoying scrapbooking again.

live in the moment

Whilst out and about this morning I was amazed (and not in a good way) at the number of people engaged in some mobile phone activity - either texting or gabbing loudly for the world and his wife to hear.

For frig's sake. (whoever frig may be) why can't people just enjoy the moment they are in anymore?? They seem so intent on being in everyone else's moment at the same time, they can't enjoy theirs....

Anyhoo, I bought some glue at the Range, and I noticed that I put a couple of things back which, right now, I can't really afford to buy. I never used to do that. This is, for those who don't already know, the first month since last year that I am in charge of my own funds - I am responsible for the money I earn, and for feeding us for the month. I was worried that I had learnt nothing - once a spender, always a spender, but - actually, I have known all month in my mind, my running bank balance and what I have available to spend. I have rejected the things I know I cannot buy within the money I have, I have sold a few things on ebay to give me a bit of spare cash and I have - surprise of all surprises paid some cash in to the bank to cover a cheque I had to issue unexpectedly. Now clearly, in normal-world this is no big deal, but in Janice-world, this is testament to a lesson learnt. Good for me I say.

Finally got around to finishing last months layouts, just did a bit of tarting up really:

And this one - really like the pinks and blues in this, not really my favourite colour combo of all time, but I am happy with the finished result.

Went to Knightshayes (NT) which was fabulous - I love the house and the gardens are so, so lovely there.

Then I took this photo:

which cost me my camera for the rest of the day as I thrust my hand out to stop Oliver from banging his head on the eagle's beak and the camera swung round and bashed on the bird and the lens jammed. Shitsticks. So you'll just have to trust me - it was all gorgeous. Got to playing a bit of hide and seek and when it was my turn (groan) I lay down behind some lavender bushes on some flagstones and prayed I would be found quickly. After I had coaxed my creaky body down to the prone position I became painfully aware that at my age I probably looked more like a victim of a heart attack than a young fit parent playing hide and seek. Luckily Oliver tripped over me before any do-gooders could rush in with a bit of CPR.

juggling and balancing

Yeah well, he was fine - OK?? Nothing to worry about. Paranoid Mum, that's me, you have no idea. He's been a couple more times, and each time I feel more relaxed about it. The girlies seem to be able to manage the kids pretty well from what I hear. Can't help feeling sorry for the kids dropped off there day in day out, obviously there because of parents working, whereas I have the luxury of taking Oliver there for his benefit, not the other way around. I really am very lucky in the life I lead....

Have completed this layout for the sketch challenge over on the Sarah's Cards blog:

Quite pleased with the end result - I like these papers (My Mind's Eye), they are very vintage, but not as easy to work with as I'd thought.

Also finished this one from the crop:

AND completed my entry for the green art journal in my Art Journal CJ. Really enjoying this particular CJ actually, getting to work towards a style. I want to produce my own journal of my innermost thoughts and fears, but want it to be really arty, and I'm just not there yet.

By the way, I am not very religious although this entry uses the lyrics from the song by Joan Osbourne which I heard on the way home the other day in the car. I have always liked the message in them:

If God had a name/What would it be/And would you call it to his face/If you were faced with him/...........

If God had a face/What would it look like/And would you want to see/If seeing meant that you would have to believe..../

I just like the idea that if you could see God, would you choose to because then you would have to believe in him.....

I had yesterday all planned (whilst Oliver was otherwise occupied) - I was going to toddle around the antique/secondhand places for some bits. My wish list was not unreasonable, I thought, a couple of bone-handled knives for buttering, a nice cup and saucer for tea in my craft room, a nice individual wine glass (I have recently managed to smash our last two...), and some more odd plates. Could I find any of these???? Could I buggery. AND it pissed with rain. AND Topsham (said place for antique finds - or not) was full to bursting with snobs. And old people. And worse - snobby old people. How dare they be there to spoil my me time.

And I can't even begin to talk about the cats and dog..We spend our time dodging round the house so that they don't meet, and this is one helluva small house, believe me.

And BREEEATTTHHHHHE. Now where did I put that paper bag.....

on the edge (no change there then)

This morning I dropped Oliver off at a holiday playscheme. For the whole day. I have never done such a thing before. Obviously I don't need him to be looked after by total strangers all day, since I don't work by day, but my thinking was this: he gets to spend time with other children doing organised activities/enjoying himself. He takes another little step away from me and my influence. IF he has a good time, then my day by myself is an added bonus. When I dropped him off, the staff were all young girlies who gave me no confidence they would be on top of things - whether the kids are playing nice/getting along or if any child is emotionally struggling. I have come away feeling so tense I could snap in half, and feeling like I could just sit and cry. I am so worried that Oliver will be unhappy. I guess this is the feeling that I would get if I had to leave him at the school gates. It doesn't feel good I can tell you.

Four partly finished (for various reasons) layouts from my Saturday crop:

They all needed bits and pieces that I either A) don't have yet (my lovely new Stampin' Up stamps on their way...) or B) had at home and not in my bulging bag of stash which I took with me.

Report back later on the success (?) of the playscheme......

the mouth of babes and all that

Feel I really must teach Oliver some public toilet etiquette. Although you might think 'what is she blithering on about - what public toilet etiquette?', believe me, there are things one should just not say out loud in the confines of one's cubicle. Personally I think that hearing Oliver loudly announce mid-piss 'phew, that's better, my balls were really hurting', is one of those cover your ears and sing la la la I'm not listening moments. I was busy assessing my escape route via the small window behind the toilet.

Art-wise, have completed the next pages of the Colour My World Art Journal CJ, these pages are the colours of autumn, and inspired by the legend of Icarus. Apparently 'all limits are self-imposed' is a quote of his. Hmmm. Think his limit was kind of imposed by the sun, but, hey-ho, who am I to question the might of the Greek Myth.

Have also done some scrapping, but as this may pop up on the Papermaze blog sometime, will hold off blogging it here.

During my weekly sojourn to Tesco last week, Oliver asked if he could 'go to the Worlds'. Now by this he means the annual World Pokemon Trading Card Tournament - trust me, this Tournament is a big deal in game-world. I prevaricated, as you do, amongst the milk and yoghurt section, saying yes, sure, when he was older, blah blah, and he then asked if he could just go to watch. Absent mindedly I asked where they were being held, and he replied 'Hawaaii', with the same lack of guile he would announce that they were being held in the next town. I threw back my head and laughed loudly, and mirthlessly. Two aisles later, I was still trying to find the words to explain why this was just not going to happen. Bless him to bits, gotta love a boy for trying. I love my son. He got lots of kisses and smiles for that one.

a tale of fifteen tops

I wanted a new top - something casual, something 'cool' as in hey man, a top that said 'she's a cool dudette who looks ten years younger than her 42 years'. I tried on fifteen different tops - short sleeves, long sleeves, shirts and vests and all of the buggers just screamed 'who ate all the pies.' NOT quite what I had in mind. On the last trip out of the fitting room, the lady asked if they were any good, to which I informed her no, and that I was off home to cancel my night out on Saturday.

Sulk.

On a more positive note, I have completed my next art journal layout:

Found this one a bit easier than the first one, but still not exactly what I imagined. A bit like the fifteen tops debacle....

And the kittys:

The house is one giant hairball.

happy days and the longest most full of pictures post EVER

Came home today after my mini retreat with the Exeter Scrapaholix girls. What a fabulous hotel - bursting with carved wooden stair cases, tall, tall windows and more nooks and crannies than you can shake a stick at. The gardens were so, so beautiful and tranquil - the sort of beauty that has been hundreds of years in the making - loads of history with this place. Had a brilliant time scrapping - did 5 layouts in all, pretty pleased with them on the whole. The best thing was actually feeling the value in time for me. Just me. I am not a great fan of the whole 'me time' bandwagon, but yesterday, walking alone in the gardens and having the unexpected revelation that I could sit in a deckchair if I wanted to - I did. I took some deep breaths, closed my eyes and also realised I could sit there for as long as I wanted to - and no-one was going to disturb me.

The Hotel main entrance:

The music room:

scrapping with a view:

So whilst I felt the absence of Oliver and home very keenly, I also became fully aware of the true value in time alone, and I will definitely be looking to do this at least annually, and be encouraging Mark to do the same. (not scrapbooking, obviously).

And the food - yumsters. Breakfast is soooo my favourite meal of the day when I stay anywhere. Everyone in front of me was asking for a smidgeon of scrambled egg and a sliver of bacon (wimps) but I was straight in there - 'I want everything, and I also want 2 eggs please' said greedy little me. And I had 4 rounds of toast. So there.

layouts:

Brrrr...

the joys of the British seas. Rachael lent me, well - gave me really (since I have no intention of returning them) three r's to complete my title for this one. Hereafter she shall be known as Rrrrachael. Ha ha.

Harvey

The first of many layouts methinks of the pooch. This one tells his story - found straying in Ireland, blah di blah. There were originally no buttons on this layout, but a sloppy smudge of pen forced my to seek a cover up. Many swear words and gnashing of teeth led me to the button solution.

Time out

Think this is my favourite of the weekend, I like the papers, and the ever present lovely lovely scallops. Also love this recent pic of Oliver. Clearly not one taken by me - it's in focus.

Looking back through history

Taken naughtily inside St Michael's Mount under the noses of the NT armed guard. (aka volunteers). Like to think it's a bit atmospheric - looking back through history - through the historic windows out to sea.... geddit?? There was some heated discussion on whether or not St Michael's Mount looks out over the Atlantic, or the English Channel..... my money was on the Channel, but since I seem to be finding as I get older that things I always believed to be set in stone are in fact absolute bollocks, I plumped for the 'I'll look it up later' option.

I didn't want you because

yes, yes, I know I'm a miserable hateful old cow, but this layout does in fact reflect on my wrongness in not wanting Harvey to start with....

And so to felines:

Think the two awake ones are girly cats, and the one snoring it's head off oblivious to the world is the boy. Hmm.