Instagram Fun

Santa was very good to us and brought us an ipad2 - it has proved a huge hit with the boys who are using it to play highly addictive games (air hockey and fruit slice are my favourites!!)

But what I am most chuffed with is Instagram - and this was the only reason I wanted an iphone but it seemed like too much money to shell out just for a phone app! Here are some of my recent photos - and with any luck we will get out again either today or tomorrow for another walk.






I am taking part in a new photography project for 2012 and am thinking it might be fun to play along in this format.

More fresh air

Another day and another chance to drag our guests out for another walk and show them more of the Scottish countryside. This time we headed over to Culbin forest and a walk along the Hill 99 trail.

Totem pole in the woods.























Callum pulling an odd face as per normal.














Andy and Will.























A rare photo of the four of us together.













Not sure why Uncle Will is trying to eat Callum!!













And some photos of pinecones - because I could!




And the walk was followed by a visit to Brodie Countryfare for a yummy lunch.

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

A quiet time for reading for me as I have a houseful of visitors at the moment and for once here is some half decent programmes on the telly to watch.

I picked up Bringing Up Scarlett by Annie Sanders in my local library as I have read some of her books before and have enjoyed them. This one has started slowly but the story is starting to bui,d and I think I am really going to enjoy it - once I get some peace and quiet!!!!



Review
'A tricky subject matter but one Annie Sanders has handled perfectly, and woven a superb around too. With a set of extremely likeable characters... there is something there for everyone to love and the touching emotional story at the heart of it will surely pull on the heart strings of every reader... Brilliant' (CHICLIT REVIEWS )

'This heart-warming novel is a great summer read.' (SOUTH WALES ARGUS )
Book Description
It's not the promises we make that count, it's the ones we keep...

Pop over to The Book Journey and see what everyone else is reading during the festivities.

Christmas Day Walk

We have a sort of tradition in our house that we have to go out for a walk whilst lunch is cooking - and more often that not we head over to Lossiemouth Beach as it isn't too far to go.

Last year we walked through the snow on the beach which was a bit of a surreal experience - this year it was beautiful blue skies and sunshine - and a force 9 gale!!

Needless to say we didn't stay too long as it felt,like we were being sandblasted to death - but I did manage to take some photos:

Happy Christmas

To everyone who visits this little part of blogland - thank you all so much for your comments over the last 12 months - and hope to see you all again in 2012 ♥

52 Weeks In B&W : Week 52

Another gravestone shot from Elgin Cathedral.

Skywatch Friday

We have no snow at the moment (boo hiss!) so will have to make do with a snowy photo from the other weekend.

See more skies from around the world here.

WOYWW 21st December

Another late in the day post.

I have a few more Christmas cards to make but they are for family so no rush to get them in the post or anything. I was lucky to nab the very last red Martha Stewart Christmas paper pack from my local shop for local people. It is gorgeous - all Nordic looking with plenty of reindeer. It came with some gorgeous felt embellishments along with stickers, gems and die cuts - all for under £15.00.

The 2 little gingerbread chaps were cut out at my local crop using Erikas die - and these might end up of cards for the boys.



And I am trying to finish off the 4 pages I started at the crop on Sunday - I am bad for bringing them home half finished and then sticking them away and not finihsing them off! This is one of the wild black bears we saw whie we were in the Smoky Mountain in America earlier in the year.




Please pop over and see Julia at The Stamping Ground (http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/) and find out what everyone else has been up to today.

Military Wives Choir

The Military Wives Choir was the product of the BBC Two reality show The Choir. Proceeds from their single will go to The Royal British Legion and SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) Forces Help.



The single went on sale today and I for one will be buying a copy. I have to admit the only reason I watched the first programme was because we spent 6 very happy years posted at what was then RAF Chivenor when Andy was on Search and Rescue. We loved seeing all the different places shown in the show (including both of our married quarters and the play park where Sam used to play!)

Have everything crossed that they reach number one and knock X Factor off the top of the charts for Christmas.

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!



Gwenni Morgan is not like any other girl in this small Welsh town. Inquisitive, bookish and full of spirit, she can fly in her sleep and loves playing detective. So when a neighbour mysteriously vanishes, and no one seems to be asking the right questions, Gwenni decides to conduct her own investigation. She records everything she sees and hears: but are her deductions correct? What is the real truth? And what will be the consequences of finding out, for Gwenni, her family and her community?

I picked The Earth Hums In B Flat by Mari Strachan up after reading the review my fellow reader and scrapbooker Donna has written on Goodreads - thought it sounded interesting and a bit different. The story is told by Gwenni, a twelve-year-old-girl living in a small Welsh town in the 1950's. She is trying to find out the truth behind the disappearance of a neighbour but discovers there are secrets in her own family. It is both funny and sad - but a beautiful story - and a fabulous debut novel by this author. I woke up extra early this morning just so I could finish it!!!

Have just found out she has written another book called Blow On A Dead Man's Embers - will have to find a copy of that one next.

Christmas Crop

Today was the final Hopeman crop of the year and when the snow started falling last night I feared it might be cancelled which was what happened last year.

We have been meeting up in the Memorial Hall in the village for over a year now and I have to say they are a lovely bunch of girls - and as always we had such a laugh! To mark the festive season we had a longer than normal crop from 10.30am till 6pm and everyone brought along something to eat. I have to say there was enough foo d on the table to sink a battleship - but this crafting lark is a serious business and you need to keep your strength up!!

Here are some photos of our day.

Key Lime pie made by Kate.



Erika made everyone a little goody bag - containing some yummy Tim Holtz birdcage chipboard.























Everyone hard at work.























Erika also made some delicious banana muffins complete with Santa and glitter.






Sarah managed to knit a whole scarf - afraid I didn't manage to capture her in full concentration mode - with her tongue sticking out!!























I managed to take up 2 spaces and this was the mess I made.
























And finally Clare hard at work.

Snow Day

Last Sunday we woke to another covering of the white stuff - and me being a big kid wanted to go out in it! The boys were too engrossed in XBox games so Andy and I went for a walk along the Linky which is the stream that runs behind our house - stopping off at the deli at the end of our road for a delicious lunch. Can't fault it!!

52 Weeks In B&W : Week 51

I think my numbering has gone a little astray but not to worry.

This is part of the graveyard at Elgin cathedral.

Skywatch Friday

The view from a snowy walk along the stream behind our house - you can just make out the wind farm on the hills in the distance.

WOYWW 14th December

A bit late in the day but never mind.

My desk has been temporarily cleared and "operation Christmas card" has been completed and are now all signed and sealed and waiting to go to the Post Office in the morning.

I wasn't very adventurous this year so went for the less it more approach and as I couldn't bear to have a production line in operation I only made a few of each design - here is a selection:

Plain cream and white using the Martha Stewart dove punch and Personal Impressions stamp.























These cards were made using the free stamp that came with Craft Stamper magazine recently. And I used up scraps of Basic Grey 'Figgy' 6x6 pad.












































And I think this is my favourite one using a Craft Concepts embossing folder through my Cuttlebug and some pearls.










































Pop over and see Julia at the Stamping Ground to see what everyone else has been up to.

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

Not really sure why I picked Swimming Pool Sunday by Madeleine Wickham (aka Sophie Kinsella) to read over the weekend - it is about summer days and swimming (with a darker undertone) when I should really be reading something more Christmassy (as I am still feeling quite baa humbug!) But I am enjoying it - it is light and quick to read - perfect for these dark evenings. And I have just found out that this author is bringing out a new book in February next year - which is great as I think that I have read all but one of her books so far.



On a shimmeringly hot Sunday in May, Louise is at a neighbour's pool with her daughters - and glaring at her resentfully is her estranged husband Barnaby. While the children splash and shriek in the cool, blue waters, she lies blissfully back in the sun and dreams of Cassian, the charismatic new lawyer in her life.The day seems perfect.

But suddenly the bliss is shattered. The consequences of a terrible accident develop into a drama of recriminations, jealousy and legal power-play. Friendships crumble, the village is split, and the needs of a child become secondary to the dangerous contest in which the grown-ups are engaged.

Pop over to The Book Journey and see what everyone else is reading today.