What I've been up to

Today was 'The BIG Garden Birdwatch' run by the RSPB, and I have done it for many, many years and it is amazing how the bird count changes from one year to the next. Obviously I've only been in this house for coming up to 4 years so there was a while before my 'feeding station' was established. I think it is even more important this year as we have had such a bad winter, it will be good to see the results.
So, without further ado my count for the hour I chose, which was 9am - 10am, today was :-

Blackbird 1

Blue Tit 2

Chaffinch 1

Collared Dove 1

Dunnock 1

Goldfinch 2

Great Tit 2

House Sparrow 10

Robin 1

Starling 20

Wren 2

I didn't see the wood pigeons or the long-tailed tits during that hour but was especially pleased to see a pair of wrens, they are so beautiful  - so tiny with the most amazingly large song.

and what this blog is supposed to be all about a card I've made.  As you know my scanner is dead and my photography skills are zero.

The image and sentiment are digis from River City Rubber
The card, paper and ribbon are SU
Bling from my stash

And finally I share this I found on a blog today.

Five Finger Prayer

This is so neat. I had never heard this before. This is beautiful - and it is surely worth making the 5 finger prayer a part of our lives.

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers..

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president no matter how you voted, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger- the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

xxx

It's all about good things........

What a wonderful time I had at my dear Granddaughter Lily's 1st birthday tea a short while ago. She is so precious and such a good child words fail me.
It sure was a cupcake fest and I had a sugar hangover the next day.

A good time was had by all and I went hope fair pooped!

Still making the effort

2 cards I have made this week.
I am still struggling to get a decent photo when it's either night or the sun isn't shining. Bear with me on this, it can only get better. :-)

The second card I made as an RSVP to my darling Granddaughter's 1st Birthday tea party which is on Saturday. Hopefully I'll take a couple of decent pics to show you.
Please ignore the awful strip of ribbon across the top of it, that is hiding a booboo! as my scoring tool slipped when I was marking across that piece and scored down into the piece on show....don't you just hate it when it does that.....doh!!
The weather here today is really cold and frosty...Brrrr!!!! Roll on Spring I say.
Take care out there!

Where has the time gone................

...........I don't believe how long it is since I last posted.
Today is my darling Granddaughter Lily's first birthday :-O and yesterday was the anniversary of my dear Mum's passing.  I still miss her dreadfully, so bought a bouquet of flowers and placed her lovely picture with them in her remembrance.
On the crafting front I have made a few cards, not many since the mountain I made for Christmas, but am trying to make 1 Christmas card a week so it won't be such a mountain to climb this year.
I still have no scanner and the old rubbish camera doesn't do my cards any favours.  I would love to either sort out my scanner or have the means to get a new one, failing that a new camera and a decent light box and spotlight to take decent pics.....not much to ask...surely? :-D
Let's see if I can show you something or other.......................

The snow we had this year, very, very cold weather and snow and ice that lasted weeks

 The problems I have taking pics of cards :-/ this is Lily's birthday card as you probably have worked out for yourself. ..lol!!

 An even worse pic of the inside...under the fairy which is encrusted with pink gems which you can't see  are the words 'Sugar and Spice' and under the butterfly is an oval embossed nestie for me to write  on

 This is a card I made for the forum's first comp of the year, the theme of  which was 'New'...we had to use something from our stash which was either new for Christmas or something we hadn't used yet.  I used 2 Clarity stamps which I've had for ages and never shown an inkpad to.  The tailor's dummy by Clarity had a stand but instead of inking that part I used the 2nd Clarity stamp which says 'Feminine' and mirrored 2 imaged together to form the stand if you know what I mean!  The sentiment is an old SU stamp

 Now this boy has adopted me.....he is one of the local strays, but the weather was so bad this winter that he decided he like me and my house and my 2 boys tolerate him quite well.....and now we are 3..lol!!  I call him 'Splot' :-D

Let's see if I can keep this up.
Watch this space...or not....as is your fancy.
Bye for now
 xxxx