Ten years a Blogger!

Thank you, I have purloined the above picture, a day late too... working yesterday, then headache to follow, so there we have it amigos!

Aforementioned picture above taken from a Blogger friend, Veronica, whose Blog I enjoy greatly....

A reintroduction briefly if I can, although knowing me, I don't know how to be brief! A lady asked me where I came from the other day, I said did she want the pocket book version?  She didn't understand me, so I just carried on by saying, born in Los Angeles, moved to England when I was small with my mom, grew up, schooled, worked etc there; then moved to Spain where I lived for ten years, before moving here to Wales... final destination as yet unknown of course!  Although my little house in Spain waits patiently for my foot steps there, and my crazy singing and dancing when no one is looking!

I started a Blog with another site back in 2004, then came to Blogger in 2006, ten years a Blogger! WOW!

I am here because of these two beautiful people, my mom and dad... both born in NY NY, dad first generation American Italian....

And my gorgeous boys, wish I could pop back into those days above...

And very proud of them now as men....

What do I do? Too many jobs to list in the past... Now I am a Support Worker, new for me, since June 2013, loving every minute, challenging, difficult at times, lots of enjoyable learning on lots of varied courses, I am starting some volunteer work soon too...

And I have a passion for books/art, I have published well over 50 books now in eBook formats, primarily for one author, and now for three others, also published 20 books in paperback versions for same authors; I love editing and getting a book formatted in whatever form it needs!  I have designed covers, using only basic art/photo shops on my lap top.  Also written myself now, and one in [slow] production! My book site is PublishedByMe... I have my virtual art gallery too, Art I love for Art Sake... And... yes, another And! The T-shirt shop! PublishedByMe shop!

I have started doing lots of craft work now too, thanks to one of the people I look after and one of my colleagues, paintings, crafted pieces of work, in different mediums...

And finally our baby...

Pippa!

Thank you for being with me on my journey friends, family and strangers who I will never know, we only part to meet again ... I hope you enjoy my ramblings, my concerns, my sometimes crazy silly musings... my journey on my ever so colorful tapestry of life....

I am the girl who flies with her own wings...

TTFN

Marian

 Some very random photos from my phone! Just switching off and thought I would check on here... and checking something else I found that the photos on my phone are easily accessible from my lap top!  The more I understand about technology the more the amazed I become... Just amazed!!

The photo above was taken in Waterstones in Swansea, the most beautiful flight of stairs travel up though the building from floor to floor and up towards heaven I am guessing! Next time will take a shot from above! If you see what I mean!

Below is the blackberry bush in garden, still in bloom and maybe fruit will follow, but I don't think it will make it?  What plant continues to bloom in late December?  The Periwinkle is still blue with flowers too, some different type of eco system goes on in this garden forsure!  But luckily its a mild one!

Rhossili below, again, beautiful Rhossili... Even on a dull day, maybe a short video next time? Yes, that's what I shall do! It does make me think of Wuthering Heights.... always blowing a gale there, even when its hot, okay, warm then!

“Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I can not live without my life! I can not live without my soul!” 
― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

TTFN
Marian

Margam Country Park

When Pip and I went out the other day, Margam Park was the walk of choice, for one I believed dogs to be kept on leads and plenty of refuse places, if necessary... Turned out wrong on both counts!  No matter, beautiful walk and that's the point...

Some beautiful carvings too, the giant mushroom below,  was about seven foot high!!

Shame the day wasn't a bit brighter... First time I had taken Pip out in my car, had the back seats down and covered up with old duvet, I attached her to a bracket so she couldn't get up front with me!

Below the cottage in the woods... Could build a great story around this place!

Amazingly beautiful trees fill the park, there are notices all around telling people what unusual varrerities to look out for, nature trails, and puzzles...

Above is a sweep of the Orangery... Conservatory, to me, or greenhouse!! And in the very olden days, and maybe not so well attached to a house, it would have been.. the lean to!!

TTFN
Marian

Seriously? No Blog since last year?? Ooops sorry, have been working, and working oh and working some more and inbetween on breaks... oldest son came to visit with his girlfriend, just over new years and we had a great time, stayed in new years evening, but out and about over the two days... down to the sea and along the coast, the norm... Rhossili of course, and Porthcawl.... went back to Porthcawl storm chasing another evening with Franco, and it was stormy, no rain, but plenty of sea spray coming in, highest tides for decades and there we were hundreds of lemmings out and about risking life and limb along the road! Only two walls and some metal rails to keep us from the foamy roaring seas!

Should be writing this with more difficulty on my phone where the photos are... bare with will upload now... and now we will wait for them to come through??

Now I have used my phone to Blog maybe I should do that more often because now, nearly eleven pm and after a day spent on my ancestry site my mind is empty, my hands are tired and my eyes are slowly closing for too much work on here, had the day off unexpectedly, and now find tomorrow also the same!  Wish I had known could have had a short trip up country to visit the family.... I have to bring down some of my moms things, so much to go through which I would very much like to do so, and sooner rather than later too!

Spent some of last couple of days free times sorting though clothes too, if I haven't worn them for a while they are outta here, I have kept things for sentimental reasons too, how absurd, I get worse...  So they are going along with some ornaments that have been malingering about in boxes, things I have had for over 30 years, and are the sort of things people would say, well well, haven't seen something like that for decades!! So they too will be leaving the building shortly!

No moss gathering here folks, or dust, so watch out I say!

Photos here and I must say not my best at all!

A beach scene from Porthcawl above...and below, not great pic again but does show the very unusual rock formation hereabouts!

An old sign on the wall here as you enter the beach area, they have built a large area where there was only sand into cement, to act as a toughened protection against the seas on the sea wall itself, so bathing down there wouldn't be too bright anyway!

Although as you can see below on the night of the storm chasing... it was a lot worse, this photo doesn't even look like a photo to me! I could hardly keep hold of my phone let alone take a picture with it! Both tried to take videos but couldn't get a grip on anything to keep still long enough!!! Still though I am sure will try again during the next never before known highest tides next time they pay a vist!

TTFN
Marian