40 – over the hill! Hill? I don’t remember any hill……

What a week since I last blogged – lots has happened, but most significant is that I am now the other side of 40.

Had a lovely birthday, and my celebration really started the day before. My parents bravely offered to look after all 3 kids overnight at the cottage, so we could have a night away on our own. My husband had booked Galgorm Manor, a lovely hotel we have stayed in once before (before kids) and been to several wedding receptions there too. It is right beside the Maine river. I lived near here growing up, and played by this river many times.

We explored nearby Gracehill village, where I went to primary school. It was a Moravian settlement and very historic but totally unspoilt. I will include more pics at a later date, as it is a fascinating place, but here are a few photos for now.

Unbeknown to me, by dh had also planned a HOT AIR BALLOON trip from the hotel. Unfortunately it was too windy, so was postponed, so I have that to look forward to at a later date. I have always dreamed of going up in a hot air balloon – looks like it will finally happen!

The actual day of my birthday was a beautiful sunny day, and we spent most of it in the glens of Antrim. There are 9 glens – The most visited is probably Glenariff. There are beautiful views down the glen to the sea, with Scotland beyond and a lovely waterfall walk.



We returned to relieve my parents of our kids and take them over to Portstewart for an icecream and a walk in the evening. A lovely end to a great couple of days.

Since then, have done a bit more digital scrapping.

The first two are using Lara Paytons new Classroom Memories kit. Wasn’t it kind of Lara to choose colours to match my children’s school uniforms! Both these layouts are using photos from Jane’s first day of primary school in 2004.

Credits

Kit – Classroom memories by Lara Payton at Dusty Bear
Word Art – Krista Mettler, School Rulez kit
Gingham ribbon (recoloured) by Corina Nielsen Designs
Font Little Days

Credits
Kit – Classroom memories by Lara Payton at Dusty Bear
Photo bender by Lara Payton at Dusty Bear

Fonts – Little Days and Adorable

Lara’s Dusty Bear Yahoo group is doing another great quick page exchange using Classroom Memories, and I plan to send in the second layout as my quick page. Check out the details by clicking link on right for Dusty Bear Yahoo Group.

I started scrapbooking last autumn, when I made a start on a paper scrapbook of our trip to Disney. Since discovering digital scrapbooking I haven’t done any more pages. So I decided I would have a go at digi-scrapping some Disney pics. Here are my first 2.

Credits

Paper- Wishing on a Star by Weeds & Wildflower Designs
Alpha – Playing With Wire Alpha by Weeds & Wildflower Designs
Font – Curlz MT
Template – August template by Blue Flombingo
Mouse swirl black ribbon, mouse pearl stick pin, mouse newspaper, magic dust trail and circle – all from Seebees Freebies Dream Trip Collection

Credits

Paper – Apprentice SM redo from Seebees Freebies Dream Trip Collection
Magic word art – from Seebees Freebies Dream Trip Collection
Fonts – Emma and Speedball No.3
Journalling paper – from Express Yourself by Ronna Penner
Eyelet – by jlr at Scrapmonkey

Finally, last layout for this blog post, is one I created for a challenge at DiscTalkRadio using their August kit. The challenge was to use as many of the lovely papers as possible.

Credits

Kit – Southend by ScrapKitchen – available at DSTR this month
Template by klund-kamryn
Font – Jump Start


Visited several National Trust properties a bit further west of here yesterday, but I think I will save my photos and ramblings on that until another post.

Got a 40th birthday party happening on Monday, so need to get a bit more sorted for that.

If you have a moment, please sign the guest book or leave a comment.

Take care, and come back soon

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10 Comments

  2. What a sweet thing for your Hubby (and parents) to do for you for your birthday. Sounds like you had a great time. Love those photos and as always, your layouts are wonderful.

    Reply

  3. What a wonderful birthday, and what a great idea your DH had! I have thought a hot air balloon rid would be fun too, if I could get over the height thing. LOL Love your photo’s, they are always so pretty! Great layouts too. Have a great party!

    Reply

  4. Just fabulous JanMary – happy happy birthday – and take it from me who’s just on the opposite end of the 40’s they are wonderful years! Your dh is wonderfully romantic and thoughtful – like my Miles… thanks for sharing your special time. Really sad about the hot air balloon, but something to really look forward to in the future! All your layouts are wonderful – thanks for sharing them too! Can’t wait to see the rest of your photos. Actually, my birthday will arrive soon, mid-septemeber, but my dh has given me my prezzie early … a new puter! I wheedled it early as we had to go to the ‘city’ to visit with our daughter, so could pick it up, physically… hehe, so busy transfering all my ‘stuff’… Thanks for letting me know you updated. Do you use HELLO at all, to chat – and if you do then would you like to add me? My user name is lalalime

    hugs,

    Barb

    Reply

  8. Happy (belated) Birthday! The “otherside of 40”? lol! I’m nearing there myself in March! Just turned 40 this year myself…lol wasn’t so bad. Your celebration sounds wonderful and the place you stayed looks heavenly. So glad you had a great time, esp. alone!

    Reply

  9. looks like you had a wonderful birthday, gorgeous photos as always. beautiful layouts too! Thanks for your nice comments on my layout at scrapartist 🙂
    Chrystina

    Reply

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