Don't hold your breath!

OK, so it's been just about 2 months since I last updated the blog.
I am put to shame by those who update theirs on a regular basis, and with wonderful creations to boot..
Oh, I have created wonderful things....in my mind! Yet again, I am falling into the trap of reading and planning, but not actually DOING! On Lisa Vollrath's site there is an article, the premise of which is basically... get something done. I followed that advice once - the mantra being, "It may not be perfect, but it is finished." And I felt good afterwards.
She also has another freebie papercrafting download of pictures for Mother's Day (the rest of the world date...not the one which we celebrate here, 3rd Sunday in Lent)
So why, when I know it works, do I procrastinate so much?! Who knows. I've been accused of being a perfectionist - if it won't be perfect, I don't start it . Could be!
Anyway....today is another day. Another new start!

SO...to get up to date.
Back in April - on a snowy weekend - Keith and I went to Wales for a supporter's trip on the Welsh Highland Railway. This goes from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, and should be open for paying passengers next year. Most of the track is laid, and updates are regularly posted.
Of course, we couldn't go to Porthmadog without a trip on the Ffestiniog!

This week I met up with a friend for coffee in Manchester. First step in my New Year's resolution about getting out more!
Then I visited a Manga exhibition at Urbis . Living so close it is almost unforgivable that I don't go more ofter. Next time I will take in the Art Gallery. Of course, I visited a few shops. And got sore feet!!

I've tried my hand at beading

...and of course, I have been reading around the subject! And inevitably joined a Yahoo group (or more)...
Two I would recommend to anyone interested in beading have blogs linked to them
Beaded Art Dolls, and Bead Dreamz
Despite the niggles that Yahoo groups in general have, it really is a great way to meet up with like minded people. And to all those who run/moderate or are otherwise involved in their group...THANK YOU!

Something else I've got started on is researching my family tree. I am woefully ignorant about my ancestors, I only ever knew my late Mum's mother on that side of the family, and nothing on my late father's side....so I have some work to do!
My sister and I are sharing a year's subscription to Ancestry, and that seems to be worth the investment as I have done an initial trace of Mum's family back to 1807. Now I've got to put flesh on the bones!
So, will it be another 2 months before I post again!
Who knows...hence the post title!

Sluggish...

....as ever! Maybe the lighter evenings and the different quality of light during the day will spark me once more!
More likely, I am just a lazybones. Admittedly, I do waste a lot of time just surfing the Internet...however, some of it is profitable.
If inspiration fails me, or I just want to look at some great ideas, I gravitate back to Lisa Vollrath's site
It's free to register, and well worth it if you are remotely interested in creativity.
Sometimes there are free downloads...and up till Easter you can get a free papercrafting surprise every day...

Freezing on a Tuesday night...

...but the Clarets gained 3 valuable points in a lacklustre game at Turf Moor.
By the time the final whistle blew I was chilled to the marrow (hey! it's football...it's full of cliches!)
I'm not proposing to report on the actual match, as other do it so much better..but I was amused to have my bag searched on the way in - must look like a middle aged hooligan!
Then I managed to drop my ticket (it was a very windy night)...despite NOT detaching it until I was actually inside the turnstile...Luckily it was handed back to me .
Leaping to celebrate the 2nd goal I managed to hit my shin on the seat in front (I hate all seater gounds!)..
And I think that an extra layer (or two) of clothing is called for to ensure that sitting on a plastic seat, in the path of the wind, watching a football match on a cold evening , does not lead to hypothermia!
BUT...we won.That's the main thing!!
(and I've learned how to put a link in a post...)

In the summer,a colleague of my husband ran from John O Groats to Land's End, raising thousands of pounds for charity (link added - Mark's next big run).
Mark is planning to run across the USA in 2011, and his blog will be following his progress.

Dozy bee

Well...it was a bit chilly for taking photos (I'm such a wimp!), but I was quite pleased with a couple of the photos.
I've cropped the one of the bee as best I could.


The camera is still new to me and there is a lot to discover about its capabilities (I'm still mainly shooting on the auto setting - how lame is that with a fully featured digital SLR?!!)

Anyhow - picture number 2 is of 2 trees in the local park. I thought they looked like the shadow of each other.

Worth waiting for?...

4 months between posts...
Still, that's got Christmas, New Year and Valentine's Day out of the reckoning...and the birthday of my younger children - having 16 year old twins makes me feel so old!! (But not as old as realising that firstborn - Beiderbecke anyone???! - will be 20 in October)

Today was a beautiful crisp , clear, sunshiny day here in the North West of the UK. So I took the camera out to see if I could capture the first flowering of Spring.

Crocuses, snowdrops, and the occasional daffodils were in evidence. I even saw a bee trying to get pollen from a crocus - but it was camera shy,, and all i got was a blur...

However, it took ages for my hands to get warm again - and at midday there was even ice to be seen on water in a bucket in the garden.
I fear the bee may not survive.

Yet again I have proved that I can witter on about nothing in particular.
Now that our youngest is settled in a residential school for autism, I can attend football matches again - it's been 20 years since I went regularly!!
Now i have a season ticket to the best club bar none...Burnley FC.
Watch out for a football themed teddy bear sometime in the future...claret and blue of course..
Just don't hold your breath....!!!

In the meantime - here are some photos of mine on Flickr. Today's will be there soon....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smiley-riley/

There has to be a first step...

....and this is it!

I had hoped to do a blog of mini bear making, and various family stuff...with photos of course. But then the computer needed reformatting....and yes, you've guessed it....there was NO back up of 18 months of photographs.

So, without wishing to preach....don't do as I did. make sure you back up those photos...!!

Luckily I still had a few that were waiting to be uploaded to the computer...so I can start again.

This was an attempt at an anime style bear...I got fed up after the body didn't work, so experimented with some copper wire and beads. I think he looks like an extra from The Nightmare Before Christmas.....or then again, maybe not..

Anyhow...I've taken the first step here. Who knows where it will take me...