Stupid computer let me down

Couldn't post recently as my computer wouldn't play - mac wouldn't charge - anyway finally sorted it!!!

Since I last wrote I have had a wonderful lunch with my friend Sam and some other delightful girls,
and evening with Abba and Michael Jackson - really good tribute bands, Michael better than Abba.
It was an awful day weather wise so cold and it was in a park so not good - but you know what dancing helped keep me warm.

Then at my Tuesday night craft meet, which is now on a Thursday we started to make air dry clay dolls..
So much fun but not my best work but hey ho it's the process and the laughs which made it a worthwhile project

 My effort

 This belongs to Carol one of the other ladies

 Susanne created this one

and Jane who showed us how created these two... they need to be clothed now

I have also started on a PaperWhimsy swap which is due in August, have to create cakes and then on the reverse we have to make a pocket and add our favourite cake recipe. These are my 1st three of 11 that I have to do, intend to get them done before going to Spain.

I made this "home time" girl as my latest girl

I had an e mail today about being on the DT for a product, really excited to see what it is they want me to do - there is a 2 month trial period so when I know more I will share with you - really chuffed to face this challenge.

Other stuff going on include the garden getting whipped in to shape.

50 laurels planted and lots of other plants, it's starting to look good.
The ducklings are 2 weeks old now and have spent the last couple of days out of the duck house, following mummy and daddy duck around, amazing how much they have grown.

And finally - tonight is the last chance to leave a comment to be included in the draw, that will take place 1st July, which as we know is tomorrow - I am currently watching the Confederations Cup Final, Brazil v Spain and as it is on late it might get to midnight before I retire and if it does I will do the draw using random.org...so don't forget to leave a comment on this and other posts for June to increase your chance of winning...Good Luck

Zoo trip and Featured Artist and other bits and bobs.

The family and I went to Port Lympne zoo today. We went with our friend Steve and his girls. Not really the best day to go as the weather didn't co-operate but it was fun.
£26.95 entrance fee for 4 adults - didn't think we were going to see any animals at all but we did.

They obviously weren't in a good mood due to the showers - the gorillas were great to watch, the safari was good too. I would love to do a bit of glamping there - to wake up and look over the Kent countryside for miles and see the animals in the watering hole, that would be fun.
Check out on this link Port Lympne Elephant Lodge

Other news I am honoured to be, wait for it, THE FEATURED ARTISTon the blog of Lynne Suprock...how crazy is that, I am bemused that is says "artist" seems strange saying that in the context of me, but my friend Jane said to me that is what I am now. There are lots of wonderful things to read and learn on Lynnes blog - check it out, you won't regret it.

The picture below was one of the auction lots on Hope for Oklahoma organised by Heather Ales to raise funds for the people of Moore, it is a bracelet and ear-rings and a gift of the other necklace. It is absolutely beautiful, so glad I own it.

My friend Jane (not the one mentioned above but another one) came over to play in the Palace Boop a Doop yesterday and she brought me over a gift she made me, this pinny which if for my Art is You visit in October.
She proved she listens to me because it says "Art is...Life" this years theme, it has the heart and wings which is a logo on the website and in case I should forget - my name in appropriately gold lettering. I have to confess it brought tears to my eyes, I shall wear it with pride.

Another early birthday present came from my friend Ian in Alberquerque, NM. He so kindly made me this moon stone - my birth date - 20th July - was the day man landed on the moon, I remember watching it as an 8 year old. What a super duper considerate gift that I will treasure, I have some wonderful friends!

For dinner this evening I made Chilli Chicken, courtesy of Jenny and Aaron of Everyday is a holiday blog

Wow is all I can say, a scrumptious dinner, check it out and give it a whirl it is De-licious!!!

An update before I go on the ducklings, mummy and baby are doing well, growing and happy - so I am happy.

That's it for today

Take care and have fun wherever you are x

Ducklings Update

I missed out on posting yesterday, but there was major excitement and sadness too.
Mummy duck has her babies, 7 hatched yesterday, 2 yellow, 1 black and yellow and 4 black ones - I think they will go green.
Stuart and I went and bought a guinea pig hutch so they could have their own safe place away from the hens as we weren't sure how they would be with the babies - the hens were trying to get in to the house pretty much all day, so we erred on the side of safety.
Stuart was worried about the ducklings getting dehydrated so we put a little terracotta bowl, only about 1/2" deep with water and some duck crumbs for them. All seemed happy.
When China came home off course she wanted to see them so we went in to the pen where they are and she gasped because one of the ducklings had drowned in that little amount of water...who knew - so we were all really sad, replaced the dish with a flat lid of the fish food.. it's a learning curve for us so though we are sad we are hopeful that there will be no more losses. Think the other 4 eggs may not hatch.
It seems that the family wish to keep these ducklings - we shall see, 10 ducks is a lot!!

Stuart then took me out for dinner in the evening, we normally have Chinese on a Friday night but all the family were out so we decided to go out too. We went to my favourite place in terms of cuisine - I LOVE MEXICAN food, seriously LOVE it.
Had a couple of cocktails to accompany my meal

 started off with a scrummy Margarida

then a Pina Colada...mmm delicious.

Now you know why I didn't blog yesterday, think my spelling would have been a mess.

And today I received the item from the "Hope for Oklahoma" auction on Facebook  - the most beautiful necklace and earrings created by Lisa Wiktorek

the photo actually doesn't do them justice, they are the most amazing aqua green with bronze flecks in the beads - beautiful, and Lisa enclosed the free gift too - very generous, check out her shop by clicking on the link above (her full name)

A lovely way to start the day.

I then disappeared in to my studio today to finish a piece I had started yesterday.

This was created for those days when you look at a canvas, a page and your mind is blank - do you get those days? I do - so this is my blank canvas muse

She has a full blank canvas on an easel, pans of paint, paint brushes, tubes of paint, artist books, a sketch of mine that I did a while ago miniaturised on a moo card (they do come in handy)...so what do you think? 

She was actually a re-creation of a girl I did a while ago transferred on to canvas. So that was my fun time today

And finally I picked up 2 of my canvases today from the framers and they are hanging in my hall..unreal 

I think they have transferred really well on to canvas and I am so happy that they are hanging in my home - that is just the best for me.

Well that's it for today, going to read a bit more of Dan Brown's "Inferno"
till next time
Ciao

PARIS IN THE SPRING

Boy oh boy the weather here is more autumnal than Spring like..grey skies, heavy showers - roll on my Summer holiday to Spain in July.
With that in mind I took Stamford to the vets today to get his booster rabies jab, so he is ready for his trip to - he loves the drive down and then when he gets there he is in sunbathing heaven, if ever a dog was a sun worshipper, it's Stamford.

You are probably wondering why I called this post Paris in the Spring, well it is because my friend Francine recently got married and honeymooned there - so romantic.
So that was the inspiration for my latest muse - dreaming of Spring Time in Paris..

Here she is, I gave you a glimpse yesterday...

 The flowers are a gift from my friend Barbara they arrived who knows when but I found them this morning by the dustbin. They symbolise the Spring in Paris. Each has the name of a place in Paris on them. There are swarovski crystal decorations, the little plaque says I love Paris in the Spring and there is an Eiffel Tower. She has a swarovski crystal earring.

This is a close up of the head. To be fair I should have been patient and waited for the medium to dry fully on the flowers but I wanted to share. The tiles all have a swarovski crystal on them too.

Have a dear friend coming over for dinner this evening, hence the early posting so I am out of here

Just popped back to say my mummy duck has hatched 2 baby ducklings - 9 more to go, so excited, she is very protective and all I can hear is their little cheep cheep noises from under her wings. Will let you know if any more hatch...

Till next time Bye