IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE
AND TO SEE JUST WHO, IN THIS SMALL HOME DID LIVE

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE -
NO TINSEL NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY THE MANTLE JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF A FAR DISTANT LAND
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS.
THEN A SOBER THOUGHT CAME INTO MY MIND

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
T'WAS THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COUL D SEE CLEARLY
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN DISORDER
NOT HOW I PICTURED A LONE SOLDIER..
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ,
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED

I REALISED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS, WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT
AND SOON ROUND THE WORLD THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY

THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP BUT WONDER, HOW MANY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME?

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED, I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE.
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS"

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP.
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHTS CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE, ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR, SO WILLING TO FIGHT...

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE
WHISPERED "CARRY ON SANTA, CHRISTMAS DAY IS SECURE"
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND - AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!"

THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN BY A BRITISH PEACE KEEPING SOLDIER STATIONED OVERSEAS.

THE FOLLOWING IS HIS REQUEST - I THINK IT IS REASONABLE.

PLEASE WOULD YOU DO ME THE KIND FAVOUR OF SENDING THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN

CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND MUCH CREDIT IS DUE TO OUR BRITISH SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN FOR OUR BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES.
LET'S TRY IN THIS SMALL WAY TO PAY BACK A TINY BIT OF WHAT WE OWE!

simply decorated candles with pressed flowers

Small candles in glass holders make an inexpensive and pretty gift anytime.

Make sure to wipe away any excess paraffin or oil on the candle surface using a paint wipe or similar and then make sure the candle is dry.

Paint some PVA glue thinly on the candle where you want to place your flower. Adhere the pressed flowers and then paint over them with PVA to protect and seal. Some colours may change under the wet glue but should return to their natural colour once thoroughly dry.

Flat flowers such as viola, verbena, pansies. lobelia and non-brittle, semi-pliable leaves such as chamomile or small fern like leaves and weeds are all suitable. Thick leaves and bulky flowers are not suitable for this method.

The decoration does not need to be removed prior to lighting but as with all candles, should not be left unattended when lit.

They are so easy to do...enjoy!

scrapbook memories

These pages were my first attempt at scrapbooking. I tried to capture the lovely memories of my children before they got into being typical teenagers. Thats not fair really, my son was and still is lovely but omgoodness! the girls put me through my paces. They have mellowed since, LOL.

Playing with parchment

Here are some recent cards made partly with parchment. Previously I have used parchment just for tracing and adding colour and the largest card shown above is just that. After seeing the beautiful work that Pergamano artists can do I'm keen to try my hand at more complicated work and treated myself to a starter's Pergamano kit. So far I have advanced to embossing and adding some colour and am thoroughly enjoying it. The small cards are pretty basic but I think they are pretty. The tall slim card is my favourite. I used a pattern that came with the kit and I think it looks just like Broderie Anglais, which I love! I placed a posy of decoupaged violets within the frame and a little bow to finish. My next project is using a perforating tool and it will be a Christmas card. Can't wait!!
I used a lightweight parchment that Joanna Sheen used to stock but will be using a heavier weight as I get more confident.
http://www.joannasheen.com/craft-supplies/inkjet-printer-friendly-papers-and-acetates/20-a4-sheets-of-translucent-parchment/
I've also got my eye on some gorgeous die cut decoupage that will look lovely with the broderie anglais effect and will be doing lots of repeats of this card design. I'm loving it!
http://www.joannasheen.com/craft-supplies/3ddecoupage-sheets/pack-of-6-floral-reflections-diecut-decoupage-sheets-set-1/

sorry, I can't make the links work.

An Autumn Journey

(mixed media collage of
pressed autumn leaves,
paper, tissue and gold ink)



Autumn is my favourite time of year. When I was a child I did all the usual autumnal things such as hiking to the next village to find the best horse chestnut trees, returning home with my pockets stuffed full of conkers and then, selecting the biggest and best conkers for my arsenal, sometimes bartering or swapping the finest specimens with friends. Holes were pierced through the conkers with Mam's darning needle and then threaded with string, securely knotted underneath. Only then could I wrap the loose end of string around my fist, find a suitable opponent, take aim and fire! I don't remember being such a good shot but I remember too well, wincing at the pain of having my knuckles crushed in conker battle - ouch!



Another pastime was harvesting hazel nuts. Our local pit wood teemed with an assortment of trees, each having its own seasonal fascination. We knew where the hazel trees were hidden and we would snatch the nuts from branches and crack the shells with our teeth to find the sweet little kernels inside. Spinning jennies were fun to watch and acorns were collected to make into beaded necklaces. Windswept piles of autumn leaves just begged to be jumped into, kicking up a whirlwind of crisp and crunchy motion.



Dark autumn evenings were always best for fun games of hide and seek. With military precision we kids would hide behind hedges or walls, up trees and in any dark recess we could find. The old gas street lamps gave little exposure to our daring escapes back to home base, racing against the seeker in an attempt to thwart his call of 'BLOCK 1 2 3'. Thrilling squeals of delight, bravado, hoops and calls of encouragement added to our enjoyment. Its a rare occasion these days that I hear children playing joyfully in the street after dark but when I do it brings back happy memories. I think there is little to compare to the sound of childrens' joyous laughter.


These days, I love a gentle walk in mellow autumn sunshine, soaking up the peaceful serenity of drowsy nature, bathe in its rustic colours and selectively dwell in positive acceptance on the changes that life and seasons bring.


(pressed autumn leaves. grasses
and late daisies)

Summer Passing

Some are saying it has been a poor summer but I think it has been pretty good, considering the awful winter we endured. But all good things come to an end and although I hate to see summer passing, it has to happen eventually and already I've noted those tell-tale signs!








Nature has grown in abundance until it can grow no more. It has reached its full potential and is looking for rest. The petunias in the hanging baskets are beginning to look tired and the Virginia Creeper, heavy now in leaf is showing signs of turning red. Its autumn colours gradually creeping in. I love to see the tumble of leafy tendril led vines reaching to the ground. It makes a lovely softening frame to what is otherwise quite a boring garage door.


Our back garden is so overgrown it could be termed 'wild'. We don't have the stamina anymore for heavy gardening so I'm hoping that a good fairy will come along and help us out before next summer. Nonetheless, 'him outdoors' has managed to grow salads, beans and tomatoes along with perennial strawberries, redcurrants, raspberries, plums, cherries and apples. This summer we treated ourselves to a blueberry shrub which should add to our fruit harvest next year.



Although varied, the harvest has not been more than we could eat except perhaps for the redcurrants. My sister managed to pick 5 lbs of them which she made into jelly for fundraising. I in turn added raspberries and blueberries to flapjack mixture for grand kids. Celery and shallots, peas and beans were mixed in small quantities as casserole or stir fry mixes and frozen. Tomatoes were cooked with onion and peppers to make sauce for pasta or as a coating sauce for chicken, pork etc. Glass jars with button lids are ideal containers for storing sauces. Sterilised jars are filled with hot sauce mix and sealed. A vacuum forms inside the jars and the button depresses with a pop. So far I have found this method very reliable.



We had a good crop of cucumbers, which were delicious! Some of the surplus were given away or pickled along with onions and peppers. I have kept a few jars of mixed pickles back for Christmas and will use them as Christmas presents.





Heavens above! I've used the word Christmas and its still summer...just! I have enjoyed being creative with garden produce this year. Still to come are plums and apples. I will let 'him out doors' make cider with the apples or leave them for our Fieldfare visitor if it comes back this year. Meanwhile, I need to look for a good recipe using plums...in abundance.

A few years ago I created a pressed flower picture and called it 'Summer Passing'. The original is in Southampton but I have kept a framed print, which is now hanging on my wall.
Here it is.

Barbara's Wedding

Here are some pages from my daughter's wedding scrapbook. It seemed to take for ever to complete but worth it in the end. She and her husband are well pleased with it.






The wedding took place at Gretna Green in March of this year and was attended by close
family who had travelled from Newcastle, Hartlepool and Southampton to share in this joyous occasion.











Parents, sisters, brothers and children were all booked into very nice accomodation for the eve and day of the wedding which took place in a little chapel in the the same hotel complex.

The groom recited his reception speech in verse and I used this as part of the scrapbook embellishment.

A disco followed on in the evening and Barbara donned a chinese style dress for partying.

The night was finished off by lighting a chinese lantern for good luck and the happy couple watched it float away across the night sky.


I hope they get to look at their wedding scrapbook for many years to come and relive those happy memories.

What a lovely day

What a difference a warm sunny day makes! After a good night with my sleep machine followed by sunshine all day I feel like I'm on top of the world. The best day I've had in ages and so productive... for a change.
I spent this morning sorting through a mountain of papers and documents that have been accumulating for too long. Its a job thats been on my 'to do' list and nagging away at the back of my brain like a toothache for what seems like forever. I'm amazed at how much I can shred and I'm so proud of myself for actually achieving this mammoth task after so long. I really think I developed an aversion to anything vaguely connected to paperwork after working in an archive for twenty years.
Morning over, I gladly succumbed to the glorious sunshine and enjoyed an exotic Solero ice lolly while catching a few rays in the garden...yummm! All that sunshine just begged to have some laundry to dry, so who am I to argue about that? Two loads of washing were soon swaying in the breeze. Realising I was on a roll, I filled my salad keeper with three types of home grown lettuce, washed the leaves and gave them a spin before putting them in the fridge to crisp. My OH is so pleased we are actually eating some of his produce!
I can't have a sunny day without enjoying a salad for dinner. I made a tuna and mushroom pizza on a garlic bread base and served it with new potatos and green salad. Very nice it was too.
I hope the weatherman gets it wrong tomorrow aswell and this glorious weather continues.

nb. I can't write a blog without showing a picture even if its got nothing to do with the story. I created this picture several years ago, entirely from pressed flowers on a chalk background. I have since tweaked it using photoshop and given it a craquelaire effect. Hope you like!

Is my mojo back

I think my mojo is back. Where has it been?? I can't believe its almost a year since my last blog entry,
I made this card for my daughter's birthday on Tuesday. It took me an unbelievably long time I am so out of practice. The lace background and flowers are from Joanna Sheen. The butterfly is a peel off mounted onto card, cut out and coloured with Sakura pens. I cut up an aperture blank card for the inner frame, message mount and butterfly mount and finished off with a touch of silver pen. I hope she likes it.