The Abbey Gardens, Suffolk

I took several photos of the Abbey Gardens on my way home from work the other day and they may not be of interest to those who live locally but really I'm shariung them for family overseas, both as a reminder to those who have visited them in person and those who have been away long enough to miss them.

We also have a nephew living in Texas who is planning to marry here in a couple of months time and every now and then when walking through the park you see wedding parties having photos taken against some of the stunning backdrops.  In fact last night we watched briefly as a couple sat on the edge of the Abbey ruins arm in arm whilst a professional photographer snapped away.  By the look of things they were posing and taking shots either for an engagement announcement or wedding invite type of thing. 

Why not?  The gardens are stunning and on a perfectly sunny evening with the light just right what more could you ask for?

 

There are so many lovely spots to enjoy and all of them great for photo opportunities too.

 

 

This is the entrance into the gardens which is very impressive and you will often see groups of tourists taking photos especially during the more touristy months.  To us it's always been there and is pretty much a daily part of my life as hubby drives me past it every morning in the car on the way to where I work and as I walk through it every day on my way back home again.

 

  

 

This is a view looking over the rose garden which is not yet in bloom but it won't be long before this is awash with colours and beautiful scents from all the different roses.

 

 

And of course the Abbey Gardens is full of history from St Edmund (King Edmund) and the magna carter right through to the American servicemen  commemorated with gardens and monuments.

 

What is it they say? ' One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth'.  Maybe that's a bit of a romantic view but there's no denying the beauty of creation when you're surrounded with it in all it's splendor and God is known as the 'creator' God after all. 

 

Romans 1:20 puts it this way

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

 

Just watch a documentary programme on how things in nature work and fit so perfectly together and then tell me there isn't a greater being that thought it all out.  Someone said believing in a big bang theory as suddenly causing all this to happen is like believing your ford fiesta could explode and magically transform into a ferrari LOL!

 

One day we will all of us stand before God - believers AND non-believers - and each have to give an account of ourselves.  Being a good person won't cut it and neither will ignoring the fact that God exists - there will be no excuses accepted - the bible makes this clear time and again.  God himself has given us all of creation to look at to prove He exists.  All we have to do is believe it, accept it and & trust in Him.

 

 What I will say is that the more I learn, the more I realise how blind we are, even those who believe.  Blind to the truth that is staring us in the face if we would only stop a while 'be still (stop striving) and know that I am God' - Psalm 46:10, and begin to see it for ourselves.  Want to see what kind of control God has over nature and all creation and how the story ends?  Just read Revelations.  Want to know how it began?  Read Genesis.  Want to know how we can have hope that there is a better plan for all of mankind, that God will one day wipe away every tear?  Read any one of the 4 gospels - try Mark for instance.  And just in those 3 books of the bible you have the beginning, the end and salvation (Jesus) inbetween.  You don't have to take my word for it - read God's word. John 1:1 -  In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.

 

And there endeth the lesson for today! :-) I'll get off my soapbox now but I make no apologies for speaking truth.

 

Blessings

 

Suezie

Charlie

It seems I either post loads or not at all.  That's because my life can be pretty hectic at times with back to back stuff happening so by the time I get a breathing space I have loads to share and it pretty much all goes here on my blog in a couple of days.

There was a time when I could do a bit here and there to keep it consistent but when I'm not at work or church we seem to be always doing family stuff.  Doing things for my family has always been my way of showing my love for them so I doubt I'll ever change now.

Speaking of love.  We never knew just how much joy was coming into our lives a year ago until we really got to know this little cutie.

 

Meet Charlie.

 

Anyone who knows me well knows my grandchildren have been my most favoured photo subjects for about 14 years now - ever since the first one came along and Charlie ADORES his older brother.  In fact mummy tells me that Charlie sometimes cries when Zacheriah goes off to school - how sweet is that? And Zach is so good with him.

 

 

He is clearly now an expert at drinking the ol' moo juice and even so clever he can do it one handed LOL!  We walked on up to the Abbey Gardens yesterday early evening for Papa's birthday celebrations and were lucky enough to get into this picnic area in the children's playground.  Not only did it have stools and tables but it had a gate so we could sit. relax and enjoy without any fear of Charlie wandering off anywhere.  He will be 1 year old in June so he's walking incredibly well and babies are mighty quick once they figure out they can take off walking!  We've already planned to have a 'teddy bears picnic' for his first birthday - one that family and friends can bring a picnic along to, oh and of course they must be accompanied by a teddy bear - this might be the perfect spot if we can get it.

 

 

The sun was something to be contended with even though we had quite a bit of shade, especially when it gets in a little boys eyes but it was a glorious evening.  The kids had such great fun playing after our picnic that we couldn't believe we hadn't done this more often.

 

We're really fortunate I that we live just 5 or 10 minutes walk from the Abbey Gardens.  All this free outdoor space, open air, play areas, natural beauty, history.  We agreed we should be doing this as often as possible in the summer months.  Next time I might even invite my mother or other friends and family to join us. 

 

These are days full of memories in the making.  Oh and don't even get me started on the scrapbook page I feel brewing when I look at this little guy.  I'm lovin the navy blue and yellow pinstripe with the green for a colour theme.

 

Shame I was so busy running around during his baptism.  I might've got some beautiful shots otherwise.  By the time I'd finally stopped and given it some serious thought it was towards the end of the day, he'd had a nappy change and gotten out of his suit.  I might have to be quick and 'fake' it before he outgrows his little outfit.  Funny how the white sailor's romper suit I made 14 years ago has done all 3 boys at different ages yet still fit!

 

Enjoy Sis!  So cool talking to you last night by the way.  Praying we get the chance to make it over next year so we can hang out for awhile.  I know Dave would love to celebrate his big 60 with his brother and sisters around.  It's all he wants for his birthday.  Simple things huh?

 

Hugs

 

Suezie 

Sneaked in a Bit of Cardmaking - Just!

I've spent pretty much the entire day trying to get a single card done for my darling hubby today.  It's taken me most of the day because he was in and out all day and I had to quickly hide it each time I heard the car pull up!

Today is his birthday and after such a busy time with our youngest Grandson's baby baptism I couldn't find time to get hubby's card made.  Add to that I hadn't gotten out anywhere special to get a gift and I just couldn't find the WMS stamp set I had in mind to use so it looked like it was heading for disaster.

We changed our original plans for today to boot and so he went down the allotment this morning giving me an opportunity to make a quick start.  Part way through today we did manage a nice pub lunch together but after that he was in and out the house like a yo yo!

I managed to finish it but it was right at teh very last minute and just before we headed out to the Abbey Gardens with the family for an impromptu picnic to enjoy some R & R and take in the sunshine (vitiamin D).

This is how it turned out.  I had plans to use my WMS 'my kind of guy' stamp set but just couldn't lay my hands on it.  I went through my baskets of WMS stamps that I keep in CD cases and found everything else but not the set I needed to lay my hands on.  Fortunately I'd managed to grab a gift card in the grocery store which caught my eye because of the 'man card' theme which made me think of this set when I saw it.

 

Because the card was full of masculine type images and text including a moustache on the carrier card  I decided to improvise and remove the gift card, cut up the carrier card and make do.  Recycling as a necessity! 

 

 

 

 I cut the main text into a strip to set the theme for the card.

 

 

 

Using the carrier card meant that I needed somewhere to put the gift card so a quick cut with the WMS envelope die was the perfect answer - my Big Shot was still out from making the cupcake pokes so this took me seconds to cut and it looked great on the front of the card.  It was all shaping up nicely thanks you very much.

 

 

Next I added a green fold over slip to tuck the gift card into and used an image on the front of the carrier card adedd 3D as a tab to pull out the card.  Because I had made this tab 3D it sat nicely over the envelope.

 

 

And because there was a second image the same I used it inside the cardas well  to mirror the theme on the front.

 

 

And there you have it - one quick, easy masculine card made on the hop.

 

Hubby knew to pull the tab without being told so I guess it worked well.  And would you believe it?  When I went looking for a last little bit of equipment to finish off this card I found the missing WMS stamp set!!!  I told myself to look in that basket but then shook off the idea thinking there's no way it would be in there.  I sooooo have to be better organised with my crfat stuff.  Anyone got a room my daughter can rent so I can have my craft room back LOL!

 

Will post a few more shots later.  For now enjoy :-)

 

Blessings

 

Suezie