Happy Halloween!

Another first for me this year, I carved my very first pumpkin!

I googled it and found one on the Martha Stewart site which is so apt for me - just call me Martha etc :)

so had to use it.

This is the link to the pattern

This is how she looks in daylight

Hope you have a Happy Halloween and don't get tricked too much.

xxx

Grenada Seafaris – A Thoroughly recommended trip!

Howard from Grenada Seafaris came along to our welcome meeting at the hotel to tell us about this excursion.
It sounded and looked like a fun trip so we booked for the Sunday morning.






We joined the boat on a beach just a short drive from the hotel, you side astride the seats like riding a horse but ride the waves instead J

A short thrill ride up the coast we stopped at a protected marine reserve and Albert told us about the conservation project and the history (geology) of the island, we saw black volcanic sand beaches at Mango Bay and heard and saw the results of the destruction caused by “Ivan the Terrible” the last hurricaine to hit the island.

A little further on we were invited to snorkel with Albert at Molinere bay where an artist called Jason deCaires Taylor created an underwater sculpture park.

I "borrowed" this photograph from their website as I haven't yet developed my underwater camera film.

It’s quite eerie to see statues of people on the sea bed though.  An array of fish were around and I was lucky enough to see a moray eel and a barracuda.

On the way back to the boat I swam though a swarm of jelly fish the size of golf balls which was very worrying, I felt a sting on my elbow. Howard said that it was due to the current changing and bringing them in from the ocean. The sting must have come from tendrils of a different type of jellyfish as the golf ball ones are harmless evidently.

However, it only stung for a few minutes then disappeared.

We bounced back along the coast to Port Louis which was the original French settlement. The waters in this large lagoon were perfectly still and provide perfect conditions for mooring yachts and larger vessels. This area hosts the influx of visitors for the annual sailing festival held in January of each year.

We found this building very amusing, you can see it would have been beautiful in the past but is rather run down now. Ironically it is the Ministry of Housing for the island!

Then back to the jetty for transfer back to the hotel.

A fun, exciting eco trip combining the thrill of riding the waves and being educated not lectured J

For more information see their website http://www.grenadaseafaris.com/ I would totally recommend this to anyone visiting Grenada.

A tour of Grenada & Kissing the Monkey!

We took a half day tour of the island and saw the following sights...

This the view of Grande Anse Beach, the longest stretch of white sand on the island and home to a lot of hotels.

Port Louis bay & Fort George, St George's Bay

"San Francisco Hill" the route towards the local market in St George

Halifax Bay where Harry Belafonte filmed Island in the Sun.

Concord Falls, one of the many waterfalls on the island.

The water was freezing :)

Mount St Catherine.

The Grand Etang Lake, a volcanic crater.

A Mona Monkey

A Kiss!

Robert caught this just right, the monkey was taking a banana placed on my shoulder by our lovely guide Danny. It looks like he/she? has come in for a smooch :)

Back at the hotel, more wildlife..

The cheeky birds who steal your lunch and drink your water.

A lizard @ 6 inches

An Iguana on the beach @ 2 feet long!

Just strolled across the beach.

An adventure by sea to follow.

Mudfields - Fun in the Sun.

Another class taught at the Cardinal Colours 2011 retreat was the following by the lovely Anita.

It uses papers & stickers from the Echo Park Summer Days range, see the original here and was a fast, one hour, class to finish the retreat on the Sunday afternoon. 

I bought a kit home and made the following showing Lianne in the mud at the Creamfields Festival earlier this year.

When she came home her wellies sat in the porch for days absolutely smothered in mud!

I wish I had taken a photograph.

I crossed out the cream and added Mud.

Another great page Anita, Thanks!

If you'd like to make this page, contact Jill at Cardinal Colours as she may have some kits left.

xxx

Stampin' Up Class at Scrapology's Crop

Mrs Wonka (aka Zoe) came along to the crop with Natalie, to teach a class with Stampin' Up products.

See Zoe's blog for details on SU products here.

These are my cards -

We started by making a decorative folder to store them in... 

stamped with snowflakes...

This is how is looks open with the cards...

And here are close-ups of the cards.

The kit was excellent value for money with loads of products left over.

I hope to make a few more soon.

TFL

xxx

Desk Ted in Grenada - the finale

Who's key Ted?

relaxing at the waterfall...

tinkling the ivories...

jammin' with the locals...

chatting up Claire and Alicia....takes me back to the key, Ted???

or could it be the cat???

Ted, so glad you had a fab holiday!

Thanks for sharing...

And....an apology to Harriet as I have been spelling her name wrong - sorry! :)

Scrapology had a crop!

 A bit delayed due to my holiday but.............

Lynn and I planned, shopped, scrapped, baked, packed, arranged furniture and generally prepared for our very first crop. We held it at The EllenorLions Centre in Dartford on Saturday. We had lots of locals and other people traveled from as far as Southampton and Eastbourne.

Buckets of sweets and scrapbooking embellishments marking each scrappers place.

23 scrapbookers getting started at the beginning of the event.

Although they all bought their own projects, we assisted and advised using many of the techniques featured on the Scrapology blog over the last year.

I made vanilla cupcakes for everyone.

Robert was a star in the kitchen cooking lunch and washing up too!

What a fab husband to have - and no, I'm not sharing :)

Zoe Pierson and Natalie O'Shea came along too They taught a card making class using Stampin' Up products, which was great fun and good value for money.

We have lots of products left to make a few more cards.

This is what we all made, a folder of four Christmas cards.

I'll blog mine soon.

We had a great day and the feedback we have received confirms that everyone who attended enjoyed themselves too.

So I guess we should get planning again!

Desk Ted in Grenada III & Nail Art

Well Desk Ted, as the saying goes....if the cap fits....

Grenadian coffee ice-cream - yummmm

served by the lovely Adonis.

Then off for a dip in the pool,

or a float on the flip-flop-lilo..

careful now Ted....

and a relax on the sunbed with Robert, boys together :)

Meeting the local talent, Janice...

who does the most amazing nail art....my fingers..

and my (ugly) toes -yuck :( 

Mine and Harrietts toes...