The Sunshine's back!

Oh thank goodness, the sun is shining again and everyone has a smile on their face :) Beautiful blue skies have drawn us into the garden to catch up with jobs that were getting a bit neglected. The grass has been cut and the last few seedlings planted out in tubs so they can soak up the goodness from the sun.

We've mainly grown (and bought) flowers this year, a couple of pea shoots are in the veggie bed, we have tomatoes and a few spring onions, and of course our potatoes, but that's it this year. The tubs look pretty and will hopefully look glorious in the summer (I always think of the summer as the school summer holidays, I think it has something to do with having had a child at school for the last 20 years). Lots of sunshine, Imogen playing in her paddling pool, sitting in the garden with the dogs, a cool drink and a good book :)

Andy is outside cleaning the patio so I've come indoors to keep the dogs inside. While I'm in here, let me show you what my sweetie pie has been doing. Imogen had some lego for her birthday and has thoroughly enjoyed putting it together. Here's the house, it has so much to it - I love it!

patio on the balcony

lovely big garden with lots going on

bathroom

And the whole house

Hope you're able to enjoy the sun wherever you are

Take care
xxx

Long Lost Family

Life has been a bit of a whirlwind, but is settling back to normal again. It's been a nice quiet weekend with sun and showers... mostly sun, so lots of time has been spent in the garden. While we were away, young Bruce decided to make a break for it so Andy and Adam spent much of yesterday replacing parts of the garden fence. Andy's on a roll now and plans to get some more wood tomorrow... there's going to be a lot of painting to do!

Imogen spent time playing with her friends, helping in the garden, bouncing on her trampoline, and putting her lego together, she loves her new lego!

Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend.

Take care
xxx

Birthday Girl

My baby is in double figures, how did that happen, Imogen is 10, wow! She had a wonderful birthday after a week of not sleeping very well because of the excitement of the impending celebrations. During the day she was at school and we were busy blowing up balloons, putting up streamers and birthday banners, she was so excited to come home from school with Daddy and see the banner and balloons on the front door... blowing about quite fiercely in the wind!

2 of Imogen's friends came for her birthday tea and for a sleepover. They had a girly night painting their finger and toe nails

Watched a couple of films, shrieked and giggled, and ate lots and lots...

I've just started making Adam (son) a blanket. He asked for one to go over his sofa that he can use to snuggle with in the winter (his house is rather draughty) and suggested browns and creams. I started a rectangle Granny for him last night, the colours look nice and cosy together.

Ooh, that photo looks a little odd at that angle. I laid in on my pouf rather than the floor so Bruce couldn't jump on it (he still feels the need to chew things that he shouldn't), you can see how it's coming on though :)

Take care
xxx

Small stuff

Can't believe it's Wednesday already, how time flies! I've been spending some time in my craft room/cupboard... lol. It's so small, but I have all my papercrafting supplies in there and a dock for my ipod (and I can now put music on it... big step for me as I tend to be a bit technically challenged), it's quite easy to lose track of time and while away the hours. I've been doing lots of die cutting mainly to sell, just small bits and pieces like these cute teddies wrapped in their blankets.

I haven't done any scrapbooking for ages, so I plan to make a mini album to mark our couple days away during the Easter holidays. I have a new printer that my son bought me for my birthday specifically for my photos... just need to get to grips with it... seriously, I'm technically challenged!!!

I've also being doing a mini Granny Stripe blanket to go in a small dolls pram. The pram is red, so I've hooked a nice bright red blankie.

I just need to sew in the ends (tucked away in the second photo), and I think it'll look pretty with some small white crocheted flowers sewn on.

I have some new projects in mind. I'm looking forward to trying some amigurumi. These books arrived this morning

I love the small dogs, and made sure there are Chihuahuas and miniature Dachshunds in there for me to have a go at. It's so nicely presented as well, dogs sitting in baskets, on pillows and with teeny dog biscuits... I couldn't resist :) I'm just a bit nervous about following the patterns, it's very well illustrated, but I haven't followed patterns in symbols before - yikes! The other book is full of lots of little cute things too, and I think I may dip into that one first as the patterns are written, just to help build my confidence.

Ooh... this slipped in my shopping basket too. I've been looking at it for the last few months and finally gave in...

Just the tea cozy alone looks delicious, it has some gorgeous things inside from bags to blankets to a shawl, going to be a busy summer methinks!

Take care
xxx

Easter Holidays

We've just come home after a mini break away. We went to the west coast - Blackpool, Morecambe and into the beautiful Lake District - Kendal, Bowness and Windermere, Grasmere and Keswick. We packed up the car with much excitement, Imogen was laden down in the back with cds to listen to, her unicorn cushion, Hello Kitty blankie and cuddling her Jessica Rabbit that she made in Build a Bear last year.

We set off to Blackpool and ate a picnic at the sea front.

Blackpool Tower just coming into view

posing on the prom

We went to a few places and even met some famous people

With The Beatles

Lewis Hamilton

Peter Andre

It was very breezy, but the weather wasn't too bad. We had fish and chips on the seafront at Morecambe just by Eric Morecambe's statue.

Snuggled up in the hotel room, there was a bit of giggling before we went to sleep, and Imogen loved it

We were all overwhelmed by the amazing scenery as we went into Cumbria, and photos just don't do justice to how beautiful it is

We say fields of sheep with their baby lambs, and snow tipped hills , it was wonderful!

We also went to Beatrix Potter world, a magical place with peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Squirrel Nutkin and lots more. Here are just a few photos

There was quite a bit of driving, but we packed so much in, even a quick visit to see Wordsworth's home

What a wonderful break, all refreshed and ready for the Spring now...

Take Care
xxx

Girlie Times

It's the school Easter holidays, so time for some girlie pampering. I do like to paint my nails from time to time, and the odd sweep of nail art, but haven't tried this before

I thought they looked really pretty in the shop, delicate flowers and a pale pretty pink background.

I found them a bit fiddly to put on, and though I've had some good, positive comments, I'm not sure I'll use them again, we'll see.

Imogen had her hair curled, she loved it, lots of gorgeous ringlets. She has a poorly graze at the top of her nose - she banged it with her own knees on the trampoline, thank goodness she didn't give herself a couple of black eyes!

Take Care
xxx

New Growth

I thought Spring was well and truly here, the sunshine was wonderful, spirit lifting. I spent some time planting seeds ready for the garden, cucumbers, peas, squash, lettuce, tomatoes... Some are snuggled up asleep in the greenhouse and a tray went on the kitchen window sill.

The weather has changed drastically... the heating's back on and it's very wet and windy (gale force winds last night), but a couple of my little seeds have valiantly pushed their way through. Here we have our first cucumber

and here's a little pea shoot

I'm very proud of them, but hopefully there'll be much more. Potatoes are in the tubs outside, but everything else is protected. I don't think we'll get any snow, but lots of places have. I don't want snow... it's April... I want sunshine!!

I had an appointment in Beverley the other day, we were early... so time to pop in a craft shop and some new stamps

I'm looking forward to watercoloring this one

I managed to resist buying a lovely bag with one of these designs

This is a small one, but so cute!

I have to include this photo of my niece. She was visiting on Saturday and tucking into her Uncle Andy's yorkshire puddings... he does make gorgeous yorkshires...

Take Care
xxx