Day 17, Chips on the Pier

Day 17 already! I am pretty amazed that I am still here to be honest, this is not my normal sort of challenge and it’s most definitely out of my comfort zone, I really did think I would have failed by now. But I’ve found I am enjoying it and I am enjoying reading so many other varied and interesting blogs. Most importantly I am finding it interesting thinking about what I might talk to you about. Will it be interesting enough, will it get a reaction, will it even be read? Then I’ve thought: Stop worrying and just do it, it doesn’t matter if its not read, its important that I show up and do the deed. So here I am again, day 17, ready to write …. something!

Yesterday we went to the beach, we had a glorious day. We left the house soon after I posted my blog page, drove to the coast, arriving at 9 am in Overstrand, parking at the clifftop car park. We walked along the cliff top into Cromer, we had taken our cameras so a few photo stops were had. Once we got to Cromer we carried on along the beach until we got to East Runton, then climbed the path into the village and walked back to Cromer along the main road. I made a quip about owning a caravan on the cliff top and suddenly we are now all about owning a holiday home somewhere… who would have thought it! Anyway we carried on back into Cromer and went to our favourite chip shop for lunch. Queuing outside and taking our chips to eat on the pier, I took a photo of our lunch looking out over the pier bars onto the sea. Then about 5 minutes later I burst into tears. Honestly I cannot believe it, the emotions of the last year, of being secluded at home, going no-where, being forced to be home just all came welling up. To be outside, free, without restrictions, in the fresh air, with hubby at the beach listening to waves crash, watching the seagulls watching our chips, it was all too much. I did not realise just how much I had missed being able to go out and do something so freeing. Anyway hubby was amazing, he looked after me, didn’t tell me I was silly, he understood and we talked. Eventually I pulled myself together, we finished our chips and we carried on back along the beach to the car park. In all we were at the beach for 4 hours and we walked 7.5 miles. We went home exhausted but happy.

We hit our half way point for our monthly walking challenge.

Last night I played with a couple of my scrawlrboxes and made some art.

Today has been a quiet day. We have been searching the options of owning some kind of holiday home on the Norfolk Coast. Lots of ideas, not much money, not much choice (everyone wants staycations this year as we probably wont get much foreign travel again!) We watched the Formula 1 Qualifying – Hamilton gets pole again (shock) but Perez and Verstappen get 2nd and 3rd place – that’ll do nicely thank you boys, good luck for tomorrow! Unsurprisingly Vettel is out of qually in the 2nd round. I do miss him being a challenger, but its SO good to see him in the green of the Aston Martin. Looking forward to the race tomorrow, Imola is always a good if emotional, track. RIP Senna and Ratzenburger.

My Notebook challenge yesterday and today is to use a Nib pen and Herbin Ink in the books. For this 3 day session I have Chosen a specific poem. I had not actually read it before, but its a lovely poem and seems to fit my spring time feeling, and also seems to fit me with trying to learn lettering (failing in this challenge) and test the pages – its definitely testing them! The Archer and Olive (most expensive) book yesterday definitely fared worse than today’s (mid priced) Mindful Giraffe book.

The day has been glorious here in Norfolk. I managed to get 3 loads of washing dried on the line, and yes I cheated and got the bed sheets done in the dryer. Cheeky but nice 🙂

We have just watched Prince Philips Funeral. The weather was wonderful. Glorious sunny day, barely a cloud in the sky. So good to see the family observing rules, and respectful of all the families around the world that have had to do similar limited services. All the readings and music chosen by Philip. A lovely respectful service befitting a graceful, down to earth Prince.


Disclaimer: 

All opinions expressed here are my own.
I paid for any products discussed.
I received no payment and I am not affiliated in any way with any brand mentioned herein.

Day 16, Quick Hello

Just a quick hello this morning to say Hi. Guess what – we have PLANS for today!!! Hubby has the day off work, so we have shipped the children off out the door to school, and we are going OUT….. IN THE CAR… Together…. Somewhere OTHER THAN the village for a walk… Oh my golly gosh we are excited. We have charged up the cameras, the car has petrol, and we are readying ourselves for a walk, probably to the beach. Wish us luck!!

Breakfast Council meeting was held, and it was agreed upon that this could happen, because the Chairman is looking forward to an EMPTY house all day so that he can sleep!

Chairman of the Council

I may post again later with my daily art which I will have to do this evening.

A little piece of colouring from last night was a free doodle page from PenPusher.

Alphadoodle from PenPusher

Disclaimer: 

All opinions expressed here are my own.
I paid for any products discussed.
I received no payment and I am not affiliated in any way with any brand mentioned herein.

Day 15 – Sleep deprived crazy

Today started well, despite a rubbish nights sleep (no idea what was wrong but don’t you just love the peri-menopausal leg twitch and wide awake-ness when you just want to be asleep!) Anyway despite not being awake, I managed to tease the daughter enough to get a FacePalm and eyeroll and the announcement that I am “in a pedantic mood” ha ha. The weather is a bit changeable. I had to drive the kids to school as it was raining at the time they needed to leave but had stopped by the time I drove them, typical. They have to walk 1.5 miles each way, so I am happy to give them a lift occasionally – just not TOO often – the fresh air and exercise is good for them 🙂

Today’s art has been finished nice an early – I’m quite impressed with myself!

My Journal Page is using my Scribble & Dot A5 Dot grid notebook, I brayered 2 different greens and Titanium buff acrylic paints, then when it was dry I layered it with Gold Acrylic. After this I used items from my February kit from Kia. The theme today was “Collecting Memories” and the base colour was formed because of the Green of the shell washi. I have even added some writing – for a very real change!

April 15th journal page
April 15th journal page “Collecting Memories”

After this is my Daily lettering challenge, although I think I chose more of a collage page than a lettering page, the purple square at the bottom is me playing with gouache received in a sale Scrawlrbox a few days ago (oh I haven’t written about them!) Today its is a quote of my choice from any BAFTA film. My quote is “I want the Fairy Tale” from Pretty Woman. I love that movie and I definitely need to get our daughter to watch this sometime. She is more Marvel and Wizardry based, however there is the occasional rom-com in her remit.

BAFTA Page I want the Fairy Tale
BAFTA Page I want the Fairy Tale

I’ve just watched a Maremi SmallArt YouTube video “Don’t Overthink – Just Journal Away in 10 minutes”, and as part of it she said about getting free digital downloads, and added a link to tell my friends, so here you go. I hope you like them as much as I do.

Last night I completed a LifeBook class from Week 12. Pia Rom is the Tutor Artist, and I really liked her style of tutorship. She completes her page in real time with little chat, you can watch and play or watch and do it later. I made this whilst our son was at Scouts.

Life Book Week 12 Tutor Pia Rom
Life Book Week 12 Tutor Pia Rom

The other thing I am super pleased with myself about, I created myself a lino cut stamp for my logo! I have had the kit for ages, its an Artful Lino-cut box set and this is all I’ve done with it so far! but I’m pretty happy with it.

Logo Stamp
My Logo Stamp

Well that’s it for today, its only 11 am and I need to do something “house” that actually will manifest itself in something “Arts and Crafty” I am sure 🙂


Disclaimer: 

All opinions expressed here are my own.
I paid for any products discussed.
I received no payment and I am not affiliated in any way with any brand mentioned herein.

Day 14, I’m going out today!!

Oh I am so excited!!!! Today is the day that I get to visit my Crystal Healer for the first time in a year. We have remained able to do sessions remotely and its been wonderful, but today, as the UK has opened its doors this week, I’m going to the Healing Hut!!!! I absolutely cannot wait to attend at midday today. My healer is wonderful, she has seen me through many many many years of therapy. She has seen me at my worst and at my best. She has seen the highs and the lows of this middle aged woman that became widowed and has found a new love, that also came with two amazing children, moving in together, getting married, becoming a full time step-mum, peri-menopause and oh you know pandemic and all that brought with it. I’m going to see her today, in the flesh, for the first time in a year…Whoop Whoop lets hang out the bells and whistles and do happy dances….

In the meantime I have spent the morning catching up on my daily art challenges, and you know, adding a new on into the mix!

Here is my daily journal page. Today I have used my Mindful Giraffe notebook, brayered Acrylics in Yellow, Red and Black. then used stickers and washi tape from my most recent subscription pack from Kia.Creates

Mindful Giraffe April 14th
Mindful Giraffe April 14th

After this is my Day 6 page for @acornishgeekletters lettering challenge for the BAFTA quotes

Now for the new piece. This week, Jolene at Live Art Journalling has released her April Apothecary pack and daily videos, I have completed days 1 and 2 yesterday and today, and here are the pictures to show you. I have no idea where this is headed, that’s the fun of the daily videos. Day one was to make the pockets, day 2 has made the journal cards and tags, I am excited to see where this is going. When I did this is January, I made along with Jolene, learning the processes etc and what I did/didn’t like, then I made another one using her apothecary pack that I bought, therefore using the same kit items and techniques, I now have 2 mini journals, you can see one of them in my art gallery.

Well that’s me for today, I’ve got stuff to do (washing to get off the line as its about to rain!!), early lunch to be had, Crystal Healing session to attend…

Until tomorrow, happy blogging!

Day 13, Tech Day

Its been a bit of a tech day today! We have some concerns over the way the page is broadcasting to email and social media, so this has meant we have spent a lot of time trying to understand what WordPress and our Website Host configure for each other and therefore where there may be a conflict. Apparently being a website owner is a tough job, never again shall I say being a Web Developer is an “easy thing to do”….

It also means I have spent all morning looking at new base themes for the website. OMG how difficult is it to choose a theme you like?! It has resulted in me being very bored and leaving it all alone!

The sun is shining again today, its still chilly but the washing is on the line, the kids are at school, I don’t plan on going shopping (the pictures for the city centre yesterday were horrendous! I know we’ve all missed shopping but have we all forgotten literally overnight that we need to be careful, stay 2 metres apart and you know, be safe!) I shall be taking my time before going back out into the world.

Today’s art

Piece 1 is for my April challenge. Today I have been inspired by Kate Cranes recent Wanderlust class (I mentioned it the other day) and I’ve done another silhouette page, this time as part of the test and its in the Archer and Olive notebook with acrylic paint brayered on and black cardstock diecuts and black acrylic paint pen. The quote I made up “Winter secrets become April delights” The sticker for Winter Secrets came from the recent Lollipop Club Box.

My Lettering piece was from the film Devils Wear Prada and was completed using Gelly Roll pens:

I have made a Shepherds pie for tea, but actually I think its a cottage pie – who knows the difference? 🙂

Oh well thats enough for today, sorry I feel I don’t have much to say today, this daily chatting is hard isn’t it? How do people write a diary every day? I never could get the hang of that!


Disclaimer: 

All opinions expressed here are my own.
I paid for any products discussed.
I received no payment and I am not affiliated in any way with any brand mentioned herein.