Getting your Groovi on!

Hey! Grace here.

Happy Friday! I hope this ‘ere blog finds you all happy. Or happy enough!

I’ve heard that some restrictions have been put back in place in the UK, I’m sure the same will happen here eventually. It’s okay. It is what it is, and it’s certainly not the end of the world. Remember when 6 people wasn’t allowed? We must be grateful for what we can get these days.

We, as a Clarity collective, have gotten pretty good at following the rules and staying safe, haven’t we? And most importantly… staying SANE! From the SHAC SHAC to Groovi SHAC, we’ve created a bunch of new things to keep us busy and content.

This week was no different. I looooove this week’s selection of download challenge cards. Have a look at these beauties!

Gaynor Murray
Katharine Peace
Elizabeth Sykes
Lyn Buckell
Linda Stringer
Penny Mann
Carol Baker
Sue Carpenter
Lynne Bishop

Aren’t they lovely?! Well done! I thought it was funny that they’re basically ALL Christmas themed now, bar one stunning card! I can tell that you’re ready for Crimbo! TELL ME ABOUT IT.

I can’t explain to you how desperate I am to come home for Christmas. I know I won’t be able to do much, go out or venture into London (not safely anyway) or even see friends. I’m okay with that. All I want for Christmas is to be able to sit around that dining room table and share Christmas dinner with my Family. I’ll wear a mask the whole time if I have to (it’s not that hard!). I don’t want presents, I don’t want outings, I don’t want parties, I don’t even want the food (I’m definitely lying on that one).

Phwoaaaaar! Nice one Mum.

Just to be able to sit around that table and listen to each other tell stories and laugh together. It’s one of the best times of the year, and I’ll gladly give up the rest of the year for Christmas!

2015, I think?
2019

So, if you ask me, I’m happy you’re already getting all Christmassy. It puts good vibes out into the universe.

CHRISTMAS WILL HAPPEN.
CHRISTMAS WILL HAPPEN.
CHRISTMAS WILL HAPPEN.
Say it with me!

You know who else reeeeally wants it to happen…

Last Christmas in London. She’s always prepared!

Anyway, counting down the weeks! And watching the world, hoping we can get our *stuff* together enough to be in an okay place by Christmas. Here’s to hoping! And here is yet another Challenge to keep us busy in the meantime! 😉

Groovi SHAC download #22…

Click me!

Lotsa love, Grace xo

PS. Let’s all make sure we take a moment today to remember all the lives lost on 9/11, all of those years ago. #NYCStrong

Clarity – The Home of Art, Craft and Well-being.

15 thoughts on “Getting your Groovi on!

  • 11th September 2020 at 12:18 pm
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    Hi Grace, never forget that day 19 years ago. I was at work & customers came in with the news of what had happened & we put the radio on to get the full story as it was so hard to believe. My colleagues cousin was one of the firemen caught up in it all – sad times.
    On a more cheery note – I love Christmas for the same reason as you – getting together with family. Hope you can make it over this year as I think just seeing everyone in the flesh is a real pick me up but who knows what is going to happen over the coming weeks. People are still saying its all hype but the whole world can’t be trying to pull the wool over our eyes – can they ?
    Looking forward to the Hip Hip Hooray challenge – there are a couple of projects I didn’t finish so I can go back & do them. Only realised yesterday when I was sorting my postcards out & putting the rest in a folder so that they are all together. I now have 2 folders of lockdown projects – 1 with the SHAC Shack & GROOVI SHAC & another with the online projects/classes from Maria & Hazel plus my postcards in a frame. Its great to see how the content has become more involved & new tricks learnt over the weeks.

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  • 11th September 2020 at 1:25 pm
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    Hi Grace,
    Beautiful cards as usual, don’t envy you having to make a choice from the stash.
    We love Christmas but as now there are just the two of us it is a nice time to do the things we love with no interruptions, comments or criticisms. We start our Christmas from 1st December when the trees go up and the cards get posted then things gradual gradually ramp up until collecting the Christmas butchery. We have a special meal on 24th, we share the prep for Christmas dinner and have our main meal about 4pm. Then in the evening it is picky bits and Christmas pud. Being older we cannot eat as much as we used to so the courses are spread out and we find this more enjoyable than getting stuffed all in one go.
    The rest of the twelve days of Christmas are spent just relaxing until the trees are taken down on 6th January.
    I do hope that this pandemic eases soon for all those with families who want to be together but I have my doubts. While out collecting my new specs we were appalled to see what was happening. There were used masks on the floor of the car park, very few people in the town were wearing masks and quite a few of those who were were either wearing them inside out or under their nose or chin or all three, and those at the bus stop, which unfortunately was right outside the opticians, were mingling unmasked and closely clustered. One old man took a filthy mask out of his pocket, put it on his chin inside out,went in a shop came out and shoved the mask back in his pocker. Where was the hygiene in this action. Until recently we have been in a VERY low risk area but cases are ramping up and I can’t say I am surprised. We will continue to self isolate for as long as is necessary as contracting this virus would certainly kill my husband who has other health problems.
    On a brighter note I have completed all my Christmas cards, they are ready for posting, and I have a goodly stash for the charity shop. I will shortly be starting my new year and early spring cards with the lovely seasons frames. With the days getting shorter and the nights drawing in I need something cheery to do. Clarity is happiness for me.
    Stay safe 🍒

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  • 11th September 2020 at 1:43 pm
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    Thank-you for showing my card. There are some stunning ones must be so difficult to choose a selection. I am certainly getting my cards made for Christmas. It is usually a big family time for us, with four kids all with families of their own you can imagine the get together. I know it is not going to be possible this year and it does sadden me but I just want them all safe and if that is the price we pay so be it. Zoom meetings I think. We will get through this , life might be a bit different but the main thing is to Stay safe. X X

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  • 11th September 2020 at 3:22 pm
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    I do hope you get home for Christmas. Thankyou for including my card. Love to see what everyone does each week and how they all differ.

    Take care everyone x

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  • 11th September 2020 at 4:45 pm
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    I do hope you get home for Christmas -that the virus, which seems to be increasing in strength again, doesn’t put an end to family gatherings. My last family Christmas was in 1971 and there won’t be any more as some members have died and all except me, live in Australia!! I’ll have a very quiet day, spending some time with my friend next door, including a meal in the evening, and the rest of the day on my own with the dog. I enjoy it, the silence and sense of peace. I wonder how this year will pan out as far as going shopping and high street decorations etc will go? Our village always has beautiful lights and all the small shops make an effort -so nice and this year the sense of community will be stronger than ever.

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    • 11th September 2020 at 5:11 pm
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      Beautiful cards, makes me need to do some Christmas ones ! Just had an email from our lunch club organizer (for local OAPs) which I volunteer for about possibly putting together a hamper for all our attendees as can’t seem them having lunch for a long time yet ….. and including a handmade Christmas card – think she was hinting to me ! Does she realize how long a Groovi one takes I ask myself LOL !! Anyway I’m going to see if I can come up with a quick, easy to mass produce one, failing that I know someone else who has a little stock ! We will see.

      I remember where I was this time 19 years ago – I was sat on a sun bed at a villa in Benalmadena when our friend Bernard (now passed on) came out to me and said come and look at this, when I went in and saw the tv, I said why have you called me in to see a film ….. not realizing it was the repeat of the real thing being shown on the news. A very, very sad day for everyone. RIP.

      I think I spotted bread sauce on that plate, if so, that and the veggies would suite me fine, I often say I could do without the turkey as long as there was bread sauce on my plate.

      Have a good weekend. X x

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  • 11th September 2020 at 5:28 pm
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    Hello Grace
    Got everything crossed for Christmas. This Sunday (13th) is my youngest grandchild’s birthday. Isabella will be seven. Luckily we can all be together to celebrate.
    Congratulations to all the people showcased on your blog, once again ENGG members are there, two friends this week. Three of us are having a mini retreat this week at my house so I haven’t finished Groovi Shac #21!
    Love
    Roz.xxx

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  • 11th September 2020 at 5:29 pm
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    What fantastic cards this week, haven’t been able to craft this week as have had my husband and daughter off! Decorating as we speak. Just love how everyone is already getting in the Christmas spirit. Hopefully I will be able to catch up next week when they are all back at work. Have really missed being able to chill out in the SHAC SHAC properly for the past 2 weeks and have had some pretty anxious times.
    When I saw the post about 9/11 I couldn’t believe it was truly 19 years ago, seems like only yesterday and how truly terrible it was both for those who lost their lives on the day but also for those who developed health problems as a result of fearlessly helping others! Kind of puts everything into perspective doesn’t it!
    Let’s keep everything crossed for Christmas and really hope you manage to get home to celebrate with the family, you truly deserve to all be together after the traumatic year we have all had.
    Stay safe xx

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  • 11th September 2020 at 8:31 pm
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    I am hoping for a family Christmas dinner this year too. Easter dinner this year was held over Zoom, but it just wasn’t the same. It usually isn’t on Christmas day itself, just one day that everyone can get together somewhere near Christmas. Less stress on those who have to travel a distance. Lots of food and talk and hugging everyone (remember hugging?).

    Nineteen years ago today I was a stay at home mom with two young children. I heard about it when I was out and then went home and watched hours of Mister Rogers with my two year old. I will be forever grateful to PBS (a non profit TV station in the states that has educational shows as well as a lot of BBC content) for knowing that children did not need to see what was happening in New York.

    My oldest was at school, but fortunately they did not tell the kids anything. I’ll never forget the conversation we had, me just telling him the bare facts and being very calm, when inside I just wanted to cry. My sister was working in Manhattan. It took hours to find out that she was OK. It was horrible, but there were also so many stories of bravery and kindness.

    Thanks for sharing all those wonderful cards, but every time I see a new collection I change my mind about what I want to send this year. Can there be too much inspiration? Loved seeing the Christmas pictures as well. You have a wonderful family. I hope you get to see them this year.

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  • 11th September 2020 at 10:29 pm
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    I remember 9/11 so well. I was driving home from work and I just heard something about a plane crashing into a tower block. As soon as I got home I put the TV on and watched in horror. The next day I was diagnosed with breast cancer, but I am still here. The following year we went to New York for the first time and visited ground zero, I was so moved to see the railings with the notes and messages still there. We went to Ellis Island and there was a little room at one side with photos of how it was seen from there. It must have been horrifying to watch what was happening just across the water. The last time we went about 4 years ago we visited the memorial and found the name of a Cornish man, Rick Rescorla who was a security man who lost his life rescuing others. What we saw that day will never be forgotten. Xx

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  • 11th September 2020 at 11:20 pm
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    Thank you for including my card.
    Take care and stay safe xxx

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  • 11th September 2020 at 11:30 pm
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    Beautiful cards again Grace. I do hope everything will work out for you to come home at Christmas to spend it with your family. Hoping for myself too as we usually go to my Daughter’s or Son’s alternate years. We will miss seeing the Grandchildren too. Let us keep our fingers crossed that we can all see our families this Christmas.xxx

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  • 11th September 2020 at 11:35 pm
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    Hi Grace
    Thank you for picking my card to put on to this blog with all those other amazing cards, it is lovely to see all the cards that you choose each week.

    My fingers are crossed for you, hoping that you can get home for Christmas. You have an amazing, loving family, which is very clear to see/hear when your mum talks about her children, her husband, her mum, dad & brother and all of their partners. She is so proud of her family and so she should be, you all seem very lovely.

    Take care & stay safe.
    Love & Hugs
    Xxxxxxx

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  • 11th September 2020 at 11:48 pm
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    Christmas will happen. It may be different – and perhaps that is better. We clapped the key workers on Thursdays and had a real sense of community and peace, so I’m sure we can manage something similar to celebrate even if we see no one. Sadly, Cherry could be describing my only experience of a town in the last few months. People got the wrong message and the selfish exploited it. Politicians are still slapping each other on the back and laughing close together indoors so it is not feral youth to blame. Whether you think the virus threatens you or not, it is good manners to wear a mask properly to reassure others. You could infect and kill the health worker who would otherwise save your life.

    Great cards, by the way. Hope you make it home soon, even if you have to isolate for your whole stay – one way to stop your mum going to the office!

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  • 12th September 2020 at 6:30 am
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    We had dinner with my daughter last night and remembered the anniversary of 9/11. My daughter had just come back from a trip to New York and had told us about the lovely lady operating the lift in the twin towers and the barman at the top, who were both so friendly. To this day, she wonders if they were working that day and if they survived. She worked for a law firm in London at the time and they lost every one of the colleagues in the New York office. I shall never forget the horror of that day and the aftermath for everyone affected, both then and for years later.
    Like you, all I wish for at Christmas is to be with family. I am praying that it will be possible this year. Lovely cards you have chosen this week Grace and well done to all those who made them so beautifully.
    Have a good weekend. Hugs. Annette.

    Reply

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