I scream for ice cream!

Has been such a lovely day we had to pay a visit to the icy while we were down at the park - got some strange looks while I photographed the van I can tell you - but as you can see Sam enjoyed his 99.

Mojo Boosting challenge

This is a challenge over on UKS started by Elyce - the idea being that you scraplift a LO nominated from the person who posted before you - and the LO has to come out of your favourites. Elyce picked this fabby LO by Dibby. Now I only usually scrap the boys and this LO was way too girly with all the sewing and flowers so I used the March kit from Sarahscards that arrived the other day. The paper is by Scribble Scrabble and the colours of the kit are perfect for the sort of photos I take. Instead of using sewing I have the lines of the circles and a few Autumn Leaves stamps - added a few bloms and button and the note stamp that came with the kit. Am pleased with how it as turned out.

Amateur Photographer

Sam took my old camera (a Minolta Dimage S404) down to the park to have a practice. He is trying to decide whether or not he would like a camera of his own for his birthday next month. Its too big for his hands and compared to my camera it is quite slow - but it gave him an idea of what he wants. Now all I have to do is find an indestructible small digital camera (that will take short video clips) which are his requirements.

After that we went into the library (which you can see next to the pond in the top photo) as they had an activity day on. Sam had fun doing a treasure hunt and entering some competitions. I found a book called The Cadaver by Guy N Smith which is set in Knighton - whether its any good is another matter!

Park Life

Its not often we stay at home at the weekend especially if the weather is as nice as it has been today. The furthest we have ventured is Cooper Park as we had heard that the swans had babies. Took Sam down as he wanted to have a go with my old camera before he makes his mind up if he wants his very own camera for his birthday or not.

We were lucky with the swans as when we sat down they swan over to see if we had any food or not! The cygnets were so cute and fluffy. But I was so busy trying to take pics that I didn't notice one of the parents getting a bit close - and I got pecked!! You hear these stories about swans breaking peoples arms but I have to say this one didn't hurt a bit - I think I had just been given a warning!!

Gogo Getaway name badge challenge

Janice and Lorraine set us a challenge to make ourselves a badge (in team colours) for the Scrapagogo Getaway next weekend. Yellow isn't a favourite colour of mine but I was trying to think of something different. Thanks to my Scrapdragon teammate Val who gave me the idea of making a personalised Dotee Doll. You can find a tutorial for them here and she was quite simple to make. I have to say thank you to Samsq from Craft Island for sending me some scraps of yellow fabric - have loads left over so might have another go!! The finishing touch is going to be a few gorgeous glass beads which are on there way from Mandi

Dotty (as I have named her)will be my constant companion at the Getaway - she will talk to me if no one else will!!

New card kit

I treated myself to the May card kit from Sarahscards along with the March scrapbooking kit. The card kit uses American Crafts papers which I have never used before - but I am enjoying using it. I'm afraid I am a less is more sort of girl when it comes to cardmaking so they are quite simple.

Cyber Crop prize

My prize for Gerties Cyber Crop class over on UKS arrived all the way from Canada today - and I am so chuffed with it - feels like its my birthday!!

There were loads of the most gorgeous chipboard shapes - I have flourishes and swirls, owls and a gorgeous tree - not sure I will actuaally be able to use them. The boys love the dinosaurs, skulls, guitars and stars - will have to keep my eye on my stash otherwise some of it could be disappearing.

Here are a few pics of what I received.

Springwatch

Don't know if any of you have been watching Springwatch that started on BBC2 last night - it is essential viewing in our house - the boys are a right pair of "twitchers" Well we have our own Springwatch in the back garden - our birdfeeder has been attracting lots of birds - including lots of fledglings. I waste so much time watching the parents feeding their young - and then when the parents hop off the youngsters chase after them! You know when you have baby starlings in your garden - they make such a noise. The photos didn't come out too bad considering they were taken through the patio door windows.

Weekly challenge

This is my take on this weeks challenge over on UKS - and it made me think. The requirement were to use peace as a theme (using a bird motif somewhere), the LO had to be mostly white and follow the sketch supplied, had to use something metal and 2 or more photos. But the hardest bit was to use no patterned paper - but I am pleased with the result. Used Autumn Leaves, swirly stamps, Stamps Away journalling circle and the alphas are Banana Frog and Autumn Leaves. The photo is of Sam at Spynie Loch on our RSPB walk with the Discovery Club. The title isn't stricly accurate as there were about a dozen other kids there - and could they keep quiet????

Page Prompt Challenge

There are 6 of us over on Carolinez Craftz taking part in a page prompt challenge. We each have identical 16 envelopes, one to be opened every week on a Thursady. This weeks prompt was to use fabric which stumped me a bit - but after a look around the local charity shops I found this pair of little boys Next jeans - all covered in vintage patches. My idea was to cut the patches off and use them - but half way through my LO I decided to have a go at stamping directly onto the denim fabric. Pleased with the results - and it adds some texture to the LO.

The papers are Kelly Pannaci ones from an old Scrapagogo kit, and I also used an assortment of Autumn Leaves and Scrapagogo stamps. The photo is of Callum down at Roseisle beach last month.

Pond Dipping

I know we have done this many times before but the boys enjoy it so much. The boys school run an after school Discovery Club where they learn all about nature - and they are all currently working towards their John Muir award. So today the group were off to the gravel pits at Culbin Forest for a spot of pond dipping. As has been the case for most of this month the sun was shining and it was really quite warm. Armed with nets and buckets (or in my case an old washing up bowl)we went to see what we could find. Lots of tadpoles and tiny frogs, some sticklebacks and dragonfly larvae. Of course boys being boys had to wade in further and further until wellies were full and trousers soaked. But you couldn't be cross with them as they were just doing what 10 year old boys should be doing. I must admit it did remind me of Tom Sawyer a bit while I was watching them.

Took loads of photos (no surprise there!) - got plenty of Callum but as Sam was with all his mates he was slightly more camera shy than usual. Did get some of the group of them - when I could get them to stay still long enough - but I don't want to put them on here.

Right I really must go and put a load of very dirty washing on - Sam added to it this afternoon as him and James went down to the stream to play on the rope swing - cue drownded rats for the second time today!!

Scrap your day - part 2

Its the 25th again so another day of snapping everything that moves - and some things that don't! My journal will be a snaphsot of what we as a family have done on that particular day - something for the boys to look back on. Today we have been lucky as the weather has been glorious again and Sams Discovery club had organised a day out for us. And if the sun is shining at the weekend you won't find us indoors. More pics later.

Wonder what a whelk tastes like??

Well my boys never quite found out!!

My friend Wendy took Sam and Callum to the beach in Portsoy today to look in the rock pools. But she also had them collecting whelks - a delicacy by all accounts! They were cooked - and the smell alone was enough to put anyone off - Sam said you could hear them screaming as they went into the boiling water!! The boys enjoyed pulling the things out of the shells with a pin but once they saw what they looked like they refused to try them. And I can't say I blamed them as they looked like bird poo to me!!

A new experience I suppose!

Eggciting news!!

The Peregrine Falcons we went to see on Sunday were sitting on 3 eggs - just read their blog (very clever these birds of prey!) and the eggs have hatched. Only 2 chicks have been spotted so far - but cue another visit by the Burton clan as this we have to see. More info here.

Lucky boy

Last month Callum somehow managed to drop his PSP into the bath - why he had it in the bathroom is beyond me - but nothing surprises me anymore. Cue tears and tantrums when he realised that it was broken - and even more tears when we refused to replace it - even for his birthday or christmas (cruel parents that we are!)I am afraid Callum was going to have to learn his lesson the hard way - and the only way he would get a new one was if he saved up for it. Last night Andy decided to try the battery out of Sams PSP - and lo and behold it worked.

Cue one very happy boy this morning - and he hasn't let it out of his sight!!

Please myself

Thats what I have been able to do today as I am home alone. I had a pre march out inspection this morning so yesterday I cleaned the house from top to bottom - imagining that the chap would actually want to have a look around. No - all he did was stand in the kitchen and ask me a few questions. As we have lived here for nearly 8 years we don't have to redecorate or clean carpets or anything which is a bonus!

So the upshot of all that hardwork is that there is no dreaded chores to do today. So instead I had a go at the weekly challenge over on UKS. Used up some of an old Scrapagogo kit from August last year - I love these Kelly Pannaci papers but never really knew what to do with them but I am pleased with the end result. All that this LO needs is for Sam to do some journalling on it when he gets home from school.

I'm off now to curl up in the chair and read my book. Thats the life!!

Quiet day

Now what did I miss most today?? UKS or my car?? UKS was down from 10am till 2pm for some modifications to the site - not sure I have got the hang of them yet. And my little car had to go into the garage for its 6 week courtesy check - so as 2 wheels are quicker than 2 feet my bike actually saw the light of day and came out of the garage! I cycled into town to pop into the library and to school - afraid I rode on the pavement as there are too many big lorrys along the A96 through town - and I'm always worried that car drivers don't see cyclists. So I have to say I missed my car the most - but it came back being fully valet cleaned - and washed and polished. Can't be bad!

So lucky

We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country - on the drive home I could have stopped the car every 5 minutes to take photos of the breathtaking views. The boys are able to enjoy the countryside and experience all kinds of things that wouldn't be posssible if we lived in a city. They were delighted to catch a newt this afternoon and then to be able to hold it. In the words of Gibby "A dirty child is a happy child" and I think I agree with him.

Peregrine Watch

Feel so privilaged today to have seen a pair of Peregrine Falcon in the wild when we visited the Huntly Peregrine Wildwatch Centre. we have driven past so many times but after discovering that the birds have a blog we decided to pay them a visit. Gibby the wildlife warden was fantastic with the boys - kept them interested the whole time and made them laugh - it was educational without them even knowing it! You can watch the birds who are sitting on 3 eggs at the moment via the cameras in the centre. While we were watching the male bird who was sitting on the nest started screeching which meant that the female was in the area - so a quick walk up the top of the hill to the hide to see if we could spot her. We were lucky to see her throught the binoculars as it was the first time she had been seen today. A beautiful bird - such a shame there are still idiots who want to harm these creatures and steal their eggs.

After the excitement and trying to identify all the little birds we spotted (chaffinch, siskin, coal tit, blackbird to name a few) we walked back down the hill to do a spot of pond dipping - under the expert eye of Gibby.
The boys loved it - especailly when they caught a newt - and it was such a lovely afternoo. We will be going back in a few weeks time when the eggs have hatched.

Blog candy

I have just been pointed in the direction of Heidi's blog where she will be giving away some of the oh so cute Hanglar and StAnglar stamped images.

Rugby practice

It has been another beautiful day here so Cal dragged his Dad and his rugby ball out into the garden - to practice some passes. Some of the facial expressions are priceless!!