Around the Home - 365+1

DSD by Athena - Home

I have been around my home today.  We woke this morning to see snow on the hills but it had been raining outside on the frozen ground and the yard was a sheet of ice.  We went next door to visit our grandson with a little advent gift and the ground was treacherous.  It's freezing again tonight, so the view 'Around the Home' is from the top landing looking down the stairs. 

Paint, Gloomy, Wintry Day - 365+1

DSD by Athena - All about me

I could have taken a photo of the paint pots that seem to live by the back door, but instead decided to use a photo of an art journal I started but never finished!  That is quite common for me, good intentions but then get fed up and move on, or simply run out of time.  I used an old poetry book I had bought when I was about 19, it wasn't a very good one, no idea why I kept it.  Anyway , it made a good base for the journal.  One day I may revisit it and finish it.

Irene Alexeeva

After all the very heavy rain and flooding we have had last week, we woke to a hard frost this morning.  The flooded field had frozen overnight and the reeds were sticking up through lace-like ice patterns.  Perfect for photographs!  It was rather gloomy all day, the freezing fog never lifted in our little part of the world although, according to my husband it wasn't as bad elsewhere.

Aimee Harrison - Wintry Day

I really didn't like the 'sad' prompt, I don't want to think about sad things.  So I am giving you another wintry day photograph, a close up of the fine shards of ice that had formed between the grass. The kit I used is called 'Wintry Day' so I thought that was an apt title.

I've come to a bit of a conclusion about next year's photo challenge.  I have been playing around with various apps for my phone, so will be taking the photos with my phone and, although I may do the occasional layout, I will be sticking to photos, hopefully meaning I don't get behind!

Texture 365+1

DSD by Athena - Home

I love my cushions, the red one has a lovely watered silk texture and the cream one has textured embroidery.  I used the mosaic texture in Photoshop Elements on the photo to create some additional texture in the background.

Two Layouts for 365+1

Gingerscraps - Scrap Your Life

DSD by Athena - Elegance

I'm hoping to move on from the Olympics soon, but took loads of photos of the closing ceremony so there may still be a few to come!  I didn't see any exhausted athletes last night, so chose one of Jessica Ennis at the end of her race.

The second layout is the last medal awarded for the men's marathon , I loved the flags lined up behind them , all the medals are represented here, even though the prompt is Silver.

Hope - 365+1

I know my layouts have been a bit Olympic-obsessed but that is how I am feeling at the moment.  Thinking about hope took me right back to the opening ceremony and how it built up the excitement and anticipation of what might be to come, but as someone who NEVER watches sport, I have become totally absorbed and enjoyed pretty much everything I've watched.  I'm still slightly surprised with myself!

NIne - 365+1

DSD by Athena - Basics

I'm not very pleased with the people at 3 mobile just now, we moved our network to them a couple of months ago and all was going really well, much better than previous provider.  But since Friday, we have had hardly any signal at all.  They say that they are working on the transmitter, let's hope it is fixed soon!

Cold and Shiny - 365+1

DSD by Athena - Late Harvest, Connie Prince - Spring is my thing

The sun came out briefly this afternoon and I popped out at lunchtime to have a walk around the grounds where I work.  There is a little rockery garden with a pond.  Despite the brief respite from the rain and a little glimpse of sunshine the water was still COLD and when the light hit it, definitely SHINY.  So two days in one here.

Empty- 365+1

DSD by Athena - Late Harvest, Alter Me

An empty bottle is always a sad sight.  Or maybe not, if you are involved in emptying it! I'm on catch up as I didn't have time to post last night.  Hoping to be back soon with today's layout. 

Gothic - 365+1

DSD by Athena- Elegance, Maya de Groot - Going Out with a Bang

Cheating with an old photo from New College Oxford taken in 2008. Had a busy day today and the weather was not condusive to taking photos. 

Silhouette - 365+1

DSD by Athena - Basics

This is a silhouette I made from a photograph of my son, his wife and my grandson walking along the road.  I used it on their wedding anniversary card earlier this year.  Isn't it amazing how you can recognise people by their silhouettes,  I love this little family group, it speaks to my heart.

Rebecca reads Scrap 365 for 365+1

Scrap-lifted from a design by Emy Buxton in Scrap 365 July 2012; Kit: Chris Greiser & Athena Gray Collab

I'm on a bit of a catch up, so this is my layout for Wednesday 15th June, Same but Different.  Here is Rebecca reading the copy of Scrap 365 that I picked up on Wednesday.  I used one of the layouts in the magazine to inspire this one.

Rebecca - Same but Different

DSD by Athena - Home

Continuing the theme of 'Same but Different' my phone is featuring again today.  However, when I looked my fellow 365ers photos, which mainly featured cute toys, I realised I was going to have to try harder!  I was particularly inspired by Jennie's post about her rag doll 'Cinders' and remembered that I too had a rag doll.  Poor Rebecca was stuffed in a bag at the bottom of the wardrobe.  She must be 40 years old and has a rather grubby face and her hair really needs renewed.  My mum made Rebecca from a pattern in the Woman's Weekly and I have the patterns for her clothes.  One day I will revive Rebecca but for now she will be repacked in her bag and go back in the bottom of the wardrobe.

Reaching Up - 365+1

DSD by Athena - Noteworthy

I'm often asked what the +K is on some of my posts on Twitter.  You can give bloggers who influence you a +K for different topics that they blog about, but that is only a small part of the overall Klout score.  One of the things that Klout does do is raise the profile of your blog with PR companies who might then ask you review appropriate products.  If you are interested in joining Klout to see how your score compares, you can find it at www.klout.com.  There are lots of other sites that also measure influence.

I have chosen this for today's theme 'Reaching Up'  as True Reach is one of the factors that Klout measures.

Ornament - 365+1

DSD by Athena - Home

We don't have many ornaments, I'm not a big fan of dusting!  However, we both love this 'ornament' of a saxophone which I gave my husband last year.

Minimalist - 365+1

DSD by Athena - Basics

Beautiful - 365+1

DSD by Athena - Pure Elegance

Handmade (with love) - 365+1

Template - by Sine, Designs by Dydyge - For all you are, DSD by Athena - Noteworthy

The prompt of 'Handmade' certainly gave me a dilemma, I have so many things I could show that I have made myself.  However, I think the horseshoe and presentation 'book' that I made for my son and DIL's wedding is one that I am most proud of.

9AM - 365+1

DCC - Template 14, DSD by Athena - Noteworthy

9PM - 365+1

DSD by Athena - Home

This was an interesting prompt!  Suzie asked us to take a photo of what we were doing at 9pm.  I was watching Titantic, the telly mini-series leading up to the centenary of the sinking of the Titantic or 'Drownton Abbey' as it seems to have been nick-named on Twitter! 

Clock - 365+1

Paper - Wilma 4ever, Text - Cottage Arts, Element- DSD by Athena

I've had a few days off from the 365+1, but will be catching up over the next couple of days.  This is my kitchen clock with a little bit of PSE trickery!