Dottie has arrived ...

safe and sound but exhausted after the long flight.

And hungry too! She says the food was just plain lousy! So we headed straight home for her to have a lovely warm bubble bath and something to eat!

Dottie was taking rather long in the bath! So I went to check on her. Just as I had thought, she was dozing!!!!!

We had supper ready and a mug of frothy hot chocolate with a dash of honey!

That warmed her up nicely! Poor dear didn’t realize that she was visiting in the middle of winter!

She's so sweet and wants to chat but is soooo tired and soooo ready for bed!

We're leaving pretty early in the morning, so Dottie needs all the sleep she can get!

Oh bless her cotton socks! I think she was asleep before her head touched the pillow!

Nite nite all

Hugs
D & D
oxoxox

Have been playing ..

... yet again!! Should you want to swap, please e-mail me!

Traded - Jaqi
Hugs to all
Denise
oxoxox

Something more …..

….. to play with! I was rummaging through some old papers, photos and postcards tonight and I came across this postcard written to my late Grandfather, Frans by his little sister Marie! It is dated November 1914 so that must have been during the First World War when he was stationed in Kimberley!

I think I am so lucky to have some remnants of the past! They are few and far between and I do treasure them.

This postcard made me giggle and think ‘so there were “naughty” postcards even then.’ LOL

On my Mom’s side I am of Dutch descent and on my Dad’s, I am a direct descendant of one of the many British families, the 1820 Settlers, who came to South Africa for a ‘new life’.

Please use these creatively for your own use.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great weekend and JUST ENJOY!
Hugs
Denise
oxoxox

I know

….. I said no freebies etc, etc, etcetera. I was referring to digital. I don’t do digital ‘cause I’m a block-head and not a designer. I don’t know my left from my right, remember? Let alone, this layer and that layer!
I’m not a regular blogger and there have been so many encouraging comments from wonderful bloggers out there, I want to say thank you and give you a little something to play with. I think the vintage lovers may be able to do something with this photo. They are ancestors of mine but who, what, where, when or why, I do not have a clue AND I do believe that they would not mind at all at being ‘used’ artistically.
Have fun and please let me know should you use them.
Hugs
Denise
oxoxox

Another mishap

to share!
Constructive criticism please! Which way should the transparency have fallen? Only teasing!
I trust everyone is having a great weekend.
My DD has gone to a 21st and I was instructed, 'Don't wait up for me, Mom' I said, 'Ok, Babes, enjoy' YEA RIGHT!
It's not the key in the latch that us parents listen for nowadays, it's the remote opening the door!
Oh, how times have changed.
Thank you to all who have visited My Mess and left such wonderful and encouraging comments. They are so appreciated!
Hugs
Denise
oxoxo

I came across ..

..... this tonight and needed to share"

The Touch Of The Master's Hand

by Myra Brooks Welch

It was battered and scarred, And the auctioneer thought it
Hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar,
Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three". . . but no!
From the room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its bow.
"One thousand, one thousand,
Do I hear two?""Two thousand,
Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand.
What changed its worth?"
Swift came the reply:
"The touch of the Master's hand.
"And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on,
He's going once, and going twice -
He's going - and almost gone!
But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,
Never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the MASTER'S hand.

I thought this rather thought provoking!

Happy weekend everyone and thank you so much for your thoughts and comments.

Hugs

Denise

oxoxox

oh what ..

…… a mixed bag tonight! I had a blonde moment/senior moment, call it what you will! A rose is still a rose, right?! Last night I was trying to master the link thingie and couldn’t and in my frustration forgot to show my next ‘mishap’ I must say that the image of the young girl on her own is very angelic BUT put a transparency over her and she transforms into a “Chucky’??? I am soooo not a movie watcher but did watch THAT one (under duress, I might add) I do view dolls in a very different light now! I don’t care how cute and cuddly they look! That movie taught me, ‘Do not judge a book by its cover!’


And then I received a mystery parcel today! 10 yes TEN packets of charms. I knew I didn’t order them because I can’t afford the rand/pound exchange rate, let alone the rand/dollar. Process of elimination and then a light bulb moment! The culprit/generous giver is my dearest sister in law in the UK. I had pointed her in the direction of a blog give-away, card posting, voting and her words were, ‘I thought you deserved a prize’ so she ordered the charms and had them sent to me. Yes, I am often gob smacked by the generosity of others but Sis, this was totally unexpected and greatly appreciated.

And then of course the highlight! My DD arrived home from uni/varsity/university today for her mid-year vacation/holiday.

I have had a good and rewarding day, today. I so hope yours was the same.
Hugs
Denise
oxoxo

I do

…… seriously need to introduce you to Bonnie http://www.bouncingbonbon.blogspot.com . She is the lass/young lady/gal who pointed me in the direction of ATC’s and all things altered. Yes, it’s all her doing that dinner gets burnt or just doesn’t happen at all because I’m busy trying to be creative, with the help/hindrance of my DS aka tease, tormentor and pain in butt. Get the picture?!?!?! Bonnie told me about tags and suggested where I should go to see examples. Who says we cannot learn from the youth? Bonnie, you have been so helpful, kind and considerate; I thank you and salute you. You are very special!
Hugs
Denise
P.S.Can't get the link thingie right :(

While I

was waiting for the paint to dry on another of my 'mishaps"

.... I thought I would share my third arch with you! My dimensions are my own 'cause I don't think there are any strict rules and anyway I am an Aquarian. I prettty much make my own path and mis-takes!

Thank you for stopping by, and NO, I have not relocated according to Feedjit. I am still in the Johannesburg area and not Pretoria. I thought my sense of direction was wacky. Turn me around twice in my own kitchen and I AM LOST!

Hugs to all

Denise

Shhhhhh!

DH is asleep and I think DS is in the bath, bathing away the ills of the day! You know the saying, ‘Seize the Moment’ (before your tormentor strikes) This card is one made from the ‘mishap’, the nearly stolen images by said DS in bath at present moment.

I would love to know what she is saying to the bird. Perhaps it’s something like, be patient, spring is coming. Perhaps, be patient, your mate will return! Perhaps she is saying, ‘I love you little friend, visit often. Bring me news from afar’ Perhaps, the little bird is saying, ‘Don’t fret, I am here.’ I guess the possibilities are endless.
You decide, whether you would like her in your collection.
Hugs
Denise
oxoxo

My first

...... try at doing a Gothic Arch!

I stained the background paper with a USED teabag. Yes, I am a teapot, spout and all with milk and honey!
TFL
Hugs
Denise
oxoxo
P.S. Please check out Chriss's 'nother blog which is going to prove awesome with all sorts of yummy goodies! Go to http://artisttradingcardsandme.blogspot.com

I have an ATC

or two up for a trade.

Please mail me should you be interested!

Traded - Jessie

Warm hugs to all and thank you for paying a visit!

Denise

oxoxo

Just a snippet

This is what happens when DS teases and torments me when he's bored! I had just printed a collage sheet onto a transparency and photographic paper. He made a grab for them and they landed on top of each other! And when we looked at the images they were spooky looking. So I had to use them and this is how one came out.


Accidents aren't always bad!
TFL
Hugs
Denise
oxoxo

Isn't this just

……..so cute! Everybody should have a pair of Little Red Shoes. Cookie is having a giveaway over on her blog – a series of 6 of her gorgeous Mary Jane drawings.
Please pay her a visit http://cookiesunshine.typepad.com and have a look at her other beautiful drawings. Cookie writes the poetry that goes with them too!! What a talented lady!

Hugs
Denise
oxoxo

Oh just

... a P.S. to my previous post. Mom had 22 ladies over today for a soup and breadroll lunch!!! She did have help though! I am exhausted all over again and I had nothing to do with it LOL!

Hugs to all
Denise

My Beautiful Mom

I eventually found the photo of my Mom. Dippy Dorothy here had forgotten she had already scrapped it!
So, I scanned part of the page!

My Mom, her name’s Phyllis, turned 80 years young in December last year. She still works three mornings a week for a trucking company, drives herself wherever she wants to go, loves going visiting and entertaining at home, enjoys the movies and on a Friday, her and her gentleman friend go to the local Pensioners Club for lunch and dancing! Oh and in between she walks quite a lot, goes to Gym once a week, is very involved with her Knitting Club where they make blankets for the needy and various other charity work. I sometimes think my Mom runs on Duracell batteries!!!

This is just a bit of my beautiful Mom I wanted to share.

Warm hugs to all and thank you so much for the encouragement. Enjoy the weekend.
Denise
Oxoxoxox

I am just

... such a bird brain?!?!?! nearly, almost computer illiterate! can't remember what I have been told on how to do things! I write them down and then can't read my own hand writing LOL. Do you think those men in white coats are coming for me? You know the ones who have those sort of white shirts with extra long sleeves that sort of tie up in your back area?!?!? like you are hugging yourself? and they call you 'Dear'? and then I have to contend with Dottie's antics! Check out Chriss and Jaqi's blogs for the latest on what this lassie has been up to. When this week is up, I think Jaqi is going to take a serious dose of Valium or Vacation.

Jaqi, I have to say, thank you so much, for keeping us entertained and up to date on Dottie's experiences. You are a wonderful hostess!

Warm hugs to all from a chilly and wet South Africa

Denise

OXOXOXOX

I have

……. been playing with Chriss’s bleach idea!! Oh what fun! I didn’t have white glossy cardstock so used a piece of silver for Dreamer and I used photographic paper for Tea Time. That was interesting because the ink dried soooo fast. I used a bath sponge for the backgrounds. Thanks for the idea, Chriss.

And then I tried ordinary white cardstock and kiddies el-cheapo water colours and stamped the background using a piece of string wrapped round a container.

So, as you can see I have been very ‘busy’ playing and loved every minute. Now all I need is for the builders to get finished so that I am not interrupted when I am ‘busy’ LOL A bit of background – we’re building two granny flats, one for my Mom (80 yrs) and one for DH’s Aunt (76 yrs) The flats are about 110 sq metres each. The buildings went up quickly but those finishing touches are taking forever! In all honesty we cannot complain. We had heard such horror stories from people who have had renovations done and/or building done that we were a tad nervous but the guys and gals we had were great. Yes, we did have mishaps, like them hitting a water pipe twice (not a problem, we have borehole water for the garden) and the electricity cable once (couple of hours without electricity, no problem if you live in SA and have suffered load-shedding) and the plumber connected the cold and hot water pipes the wrong way round. All said and done, we got off lightly. The gas cookers need to be installed and then I think we’re good to go! Correction, the old dears are clear to move in!

My header was made by ME! I used a piece of drawer liner paper as the background and bits and pieces from my stash, scanned it and then sent a Distress Call to Jessie who kindly came over to hold my hand. Thanks again Jessie, you’re a star.
Thank you to all for your kind, warm and welcoming comments. I do so appreciate it.
Hugs
Denise
OXOXOX

P.S. I so DID NOT want this post to look like this!!! Still learning!