Annabel

I love the new stamps LOTV brought out a few months ago.  The one I've used for this card is called Annabel Upside Down.  The papers are also LOTV called Bonnets & Bowties.  The sentiment is a Stampin Up stamp.  The challenge at Sketch N Stash was to chose a sketch.  I chose Sketch 59.  I'm also entering this card into Charisma Cardz challenge #15 which is Anything Goes, and Cute Card Thursday Challenge 329 which is Pretty Papers.

Show chickens

Today we went to see a friends show chickens.  I've never seen this breed of chicken before but they are beautiful. They look like they've got massive big afros (lol).  These chickens are definitely not for eating.

This one is called a Black Poland

This one was having a good dust bath

This one looked like it was having a very bad day,but it should look like this. I'll never complain next time I have a bad hair day lol!!!

 

Sketch Saturday #315

Every time I need to make a birthday card I always seem to leave it until the last minute.  I was so relieved that the sketch for this weeks Sketch Saturday was perfect for what I needed to create this card.  The papers are Lillibet - A Tale of Friendship, the image is a digi from A Day for Daisies called Pearls in my Hair and the sentiment is from a Stampin' Up set called Express Yourself.

Liverpool - Chester - Liverpool Bike Ride

Over the last few months I have been building up my cycling miles on our tandem as my hubby kindly entered me into the annual Liverpool - Chester - Liverpool bike ride which consists of 50 miles.  I was really worried as I did not meet the 50 mile mark, I think the furthest I cycled was 32.
On Sunday I joined 3,000+ cyclists and left the Birkenhead Tunnel at about quarter past 8 and after a comfort break at a rugby club, we arrived at the Countess of Chester at 11 (25 miles).  After a sausage in a bun and an amazing tasting energy gel (rhubarb and custard), we carried on with the return journey, and arrived back at Liverpool at 1.30.  I am really chuffed that I was actually able to cycle the 50 miles as I didn't have much faith in myself, but actually cycling to the start from were we parked the car and return journey I actually cycled 57.1 miles.  The amount of times tho' that cyclists shouted "She's not pedalling"!!!! I would have had quite a bit of money by the end lol!

Say Cheese

The stamp I've used on my card is Penny Black "say cheesecake".  The papers are Lili of the Valley Bear Necessities.  I love their papers, there is always a pad suitable for the cards I make.  I'm entering this card into Sunday Sketch & Stamp #210, another great sketch, and also Penny Black Saturday Boys, Boys, Boys.

A Tale of Two Blue Tits

We've been lucky enough to have blue tits use our nesting box with the camera again this year.  We watched the next being built and the eggs appearing.  She laid 8 eggs.

We were lucky enough to put the telly on just as the eggs had started to hatch. We saw the mother actually eat one of the eggs (that's something I never knew they did).  All 8 eggs hatched.  Its been amazing watching them changing daily. They grow so quickly.  The end result is 7 chicks have survived which I think is such an achievement.  There must have been enough food to fatten them up.  This morning one has fledged, and then there were 6.

 

A Birthday Present with a Difference

I'm celebrating a milestone birthday very soon. John decided that he wanted to give me a birthday pressie with a difference. This he most definitely did. I spent a morning in Tewkesbury husky riding. We arrived the night before and had the pleasure (I am being sarcy here) of staying overnight in a herders hut. Lets just say that it was an experience. How I missed a plug in kettle, electricity and an indoor toilet. It was cozy tho'.

After a windy night spent in the hut, it was my time to limber up and have a go at husky riding. We were first introduced to all the dogs by name (sorry but I can't remember any of their names), allowed to stroke them, then we were ready for the off.  They are beautiful dogs and so friendly. We had to keep Archie in the herders hut tho'.  I do remember that the beautiful one on the bottom right of these pictures was the only male of the pack, and his markings were gorgeous.

 

First we started off with just 1 husky, and by the end of the morning we were riding with 3.  I had a brilliant time but I can't believe how tiring it was.  Its not as easy as it looks as you have to push off yourself, and the dogs need lots of encouragement, and sometimes a bit of a push.  I swear that the 2 dogs I had (below) were posing for the camera. What do you think lol!. Thanks John for a pressie I definitely won't forget x