ZOOM IN, ZOOM OUT

Rather belatedly (again!) I am joining in with HELENA'S weekly meme:

 

I went out to take some photos in the garden just as dusk was setting in a few nights ago:

ZOOMING OUT

I had just snapped this picture of the new growth around this archway:

ZOOMING IN

Imagine my surprise  shock when I moved to walk through the arch and saw this huge grasshopper!!

you can see the red dust which I still haven't got around to cleaning off after the Saharan rain a couple of weeks ago....also the wires ready to tie in the climbers...there was no way I was removing them to take the picture!!

hoping you all have a good Easter weekend....the sun is shining here: I hope it is for you too!

thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

 

HAPPY EASTER

Just wanted to wish you all a Happy and blessed Easter....hoping the weather is allowing you to do something fun!

For me it's been working in the garden, while Craig built cupboards in the hall...more storage ...YAY!. Poor Boo doesn't know where to put herself- she can't get in the garden, as the neighbours in front of us (Spanish) have lots of company today and are setting off firecrackers every five minutes or so and Craig is hammering in the hall....there's no place  for her to have forty winks!! 

I also wanted to share this layout, which I started at DEB'S house LAST WEEKEND and finished when I got home:

I love this photograph!

Hope all you UK folks remembered to put your clocks forward....they went forward an hour here too!....enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

EASTER MONDAY ON THE COSTAS!

The post title is possibly a bit of a generalisation...but I'm guessing that it wasn't REALLY too different on other beaches around our area!.


Monday was a beautifully sunny day, and up here in the valley there wasn't too much wind. However when we decided to head for the coast for some lunch, I reminded DH how windy it could be down there and we both took pullovers with us....good decision! It was rather a cool cold wind down there and the pullovers went on right away. Being a holiday Monday, we had to park some way away from the sea front, and when we rounded the corner (being blown off our feet) on to the 'promenade' I couldn't believe this sight

The half-naked ones being sand blasted and hiding behind windbreakers HAD to be British...certainly holidaymakers at any rate! The Spanish and local residents among us were to be seen...

...gawping at those brave souls, whilst cosy in our sweatshirts and pullovers!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

A 'VINTAGE' Easter Layout......

......inspired by this week's Sketch Challenge over at  ANOTHER FREAKING SCRAPPY CHALLENGE (AFSC). If you've been following my Blog, you'll know that I'm on a quest to get some of my old, original (boring) scrapbook pages re-done...and  over at AFSC , the idea is to scrap about YOU, preferably in your 'younger' days.


My problem is that my mum is NOT a hoarder...and got rid of SO many family pics when my Gran died, and she fell heir to all of her photographs as well- admittedly a lot of them were of the headless, blurry sort so who can really blame her! So when I saw that the Challenge was to create an Easter layout, I was initially a bit stumped...then it occurred to me that we got married just before Easter (in 1980!), and that I had a few Honeymoon pics on a page somewhere. I rooted out yet another old album, and sure enough- all of three pictures on a page, which, of course, I forgot to photograph before carving carefully cutting it up.


This is the sketch from AFSC

 

and this is my take on it

The pictures themselves are very poor quality, and badly faded...and there were originally an awful lot more of them, but I have my mother's genes and got rid of far too many that, at the time, didn't cut it! I was too busy thinking of saving space rather than posterity, at that point in my life...thank goodness for the digital age!!

So there it is..no Easter Eggs or fluffy bunnies, but another page re-done, and lots of happy memories brought to mind whilst doing so...and apart from leaving a legacy for future generations, that, to me is what scrapping is all about!

If you stop by next Saturday (24th), it will be party time! Our lovely friend DEB over at PAPERTURTLE is hosting a Housewarming Party Bloghop, and a bunch of us are joining her (unfortunately in cyberspace and not in Arizona :<). There will be recipes for Starters, Soups, Salads, Mains..and of course DESSERTS flying through ether..hope you can join us!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

I got one-

-an Easter Egg, that is. We went out for coffee (in the rain again!), this morning and, as we were leaving the Cafe/bar, DH dragged me into the little jewellery shop next door- and this is what he bought me:

It's an Easter Egg charm for my Pandora bracelet...which is much better for me than the chocolate ones!

In saying that, I have had my fair  more than my fair share of chocolate - thanks to DD's generous nature! It did help with the frayed nerves last night..and by today sanity has just about returned!

 Today I am trying to re-focus on WW and at least not putting on any weight this week. This is my downfall-all that chocolate lying round the house and not being able to walk past it! However, the girls have gone back to Barcelona, taking their eggs with them-and some chocolates we had been given- so the temptation has been removed! Isn't it sad that at my age I can't say 'NO' !

Thanks for stopping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

EASTER SUNDAY

It's been another mixed day, weatherwise, here. This has caused problems-mainly in the laundry dept! DD arrived home on Friday, with a friend and three loads of washing in tow!


 On top of that, there are now seven of us sleeping, eating, showering etc. here. Because there is a distinct lack of sun and heat, the seven towels are not drying at any great rate.....add to that the said DD's washing- and we have the equivalent of a Chinese laundry! 


Did I mention that there are SEVEN of us?! Did I mention that we only have three bedrooms, and that DD and friend are having to sleep on the sofas( DD having kindly given up her room to mum's friend)?.... and that means not only is the associated bedding that goes with 'camping' lying around, but also that DH and I are having to get up early to let them move into OUR room, so that the rest of us have somewhere to sit - while the two Sleeping Beauties dream on!


DID I MENTION THAT I'M  VERY CLOSE TO SCREAMING POINT? (Deep breath here!)
                                           

On the up side, DD made these delicious Easter nests

and, even though none of these are mine

I'm hoping that a little bit of at least one of them, might come my way!

I hope you've all had a lovely day...and a much sunnier, warmer one than we have.

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx