Cloud Fishing

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T23:28:00.001Z

Bear

2010-11-03T20:32:00.001Z

Couldn't fight it any longer.

Meet Bear.

The other reason why I seem to be busier than normal

Hector's Halloween

2010-11-03T20:23:00.001Z

Sorry! I know I'm not here much at the moment. Life seems to be intruding and I can't seem to find the time. Hopefully things will calm down a little for us and I will be able to reclaim the old blogging mojo. And yes thank you Natalie for giving me a much deserved prod.

Well what with christenings ( yes a little late, but still lovely), birthday parties, a new job for H and a new little arrival ( more of that later) I have been seriously running everywhere. And when I have moments of feeling like superwoman and completely in control someone/thing will wee on me (four times this week). It really isn't needed. Oh the glamour!

But...

I have something else to tell you.

Have I ever mentioned that we live in a mid terrace property? No, I hear you thinking. Well we do and the house to our left has been deserted for two years. Admittedly this has been fantastic for Hydrangea stealing and a bit of (ok, ok a lot) of apple scrumping. Not so good for the RATS, which are DEAD. Do you hear me RATS you are DEAD, and don't come scuttling about over my head tonight. Well anyway my Sister and brother-in-law saw it six weeks ago, sold there house two days later and moved in on Monday. Jammy eh, may I remind you it took us two and a half years to get here. Sometimes, I think it must just be fate.

I'm not sure they understand that It may be a little different from Brighton, and My fifteen year old niece was not overjoyed when I told her about the shopping opportunities that ASDA provides. I did point out that Morrisons has just had a face lift so she should be ok really.

I suggested that we should just knock the kitchens together and live communally. Everyone else did not think this was a good idea.

Now what is a good idea, no let's face it. It's probably the best idea EVER is that now we have babysitters.

I may start hyperventilating at the thought of going out.

Sewing

2010-10-16T17:55:00.001+01:00

There's good news.

I'm very very happy about it.

The poison seems to be working as there is a bad smell next door.

Maybe now after two obsessive weeks I can sleep.

The peanut butter was a real winner.

And

Here are some pictures that are going to this fantastic new gallery.

Busy

2010-10-05T16:08:00.002+01:00

September has disappeared in a flurry of visitors, school startings and work. And here I was thinking that things were going to calm down, well they seemed to have stepped up a gear. Talking about visitors my Mother very 'kindly' informed me (it would have to be her who found them) that we have a few unwanted guests in the back room. 'We've got a ghost!' I hopefully thought, but no it's Autumn and the wildlife like to come in for a bit of comfort and to really freak me out. I hate them.

They are under the floorboards to be precise and they seem to be coming in from the deserted house next door (excellent location for stealing (pruning) hydrangeas and scrumping apples). H denied their existence, arching an eyebrow at my inability to cope with anything that has a tail, until I woke him up at 4 in the morning and made him listen to the Rat riverdance. ''It's the rain,'' he said. To which I replied, ''Yes, silly me because rain can arc over your head in a Gene Kelly manoeuvre and then miraculously stop when you cough loudly or snore. Very clever rain we have here isn't it?''

Anyway I haven't slept properly for ages, apart from the night I took night nurse in an effort to drug myself into denial, so I'm a bit bleary about the edges. And obviously fixating on them. I hate them so much. Hate them, hate them, hate them. See.

Interestingly when I mentioned this problem at work everyone came alight with their own particular method of murder. One lady got very excited about hot chocolate powder and poly filler, I shall spare you the results. And a few mentioned cages, but then you have to get 'rid' of them. Yes getting 'rid' of them. That's the bit where you have to see them. Not for me that one, I definitely don't want to see them. EVER.

I'm liking the idea of a cat or a Jack Russell.

Blues and Greens

2010-09-16T06:49:00.001+01:00

I'm up early. The combination of a wandering child and unfinished work. It feels good to be the only one awake, if only briefly. Quiet is rare here, but so lovely when I get a small moment.

Here are some blues and greens from the weekend. We sat and had fish and chips on the ridge. The last ones of this year. It was quite chilly and we had to huddle into the pebbles to keep out of the wind.

Autumn Finds

2010-09-14T19:39:00.003+01:00

H found these old Print Type boxes at the dump, and so he fished them out and brought them home. I've painted one an off white and Hector and I spent Saturday afternoon filling it with shells and sea glass. At the moment it's resting on our bookcase, but I'm sure we will find a home for it soon.

Autumn is most definitely here isn't it? I saw it in the change of light as I took Hector to school and I can feel it now with the darkening evening outside. Summer is wonderful, but this is the season I love above all others. It's the time for brisk walks, conkers, fires and slippers (must get some new ones) hot pots and early nights, rainbowed hydrangeas, good books and jam on bread with real butter. The salty kind.

Olive and Maud

2010-09-06T20:26:00.001+01:00

Olive and Maud came to stay, managing to escape a few times and sleep in some interesting places, namely the children's beds. Notably there wasn't much bed hopping that night, so maybe a dog is the way forward.

Amy you were missed, but we have a crafty plan involving a Sunday roast and a beach walk. Hopefully it will come to fruition. Fingers crossed. x

The colours were muted all weekend, greys, soft violets, charcoal blues, the feel of a storm on the wind. It has rained all day, hard and fast. The type to get a new school uniform wet and muddy. I tried not to think too hard about the last five years as I watched him walk away. So smart and grown up in his uniform. His friend had perfect red plaits, shiny shoes and a smile. I didn't want to leave him, but there was a hook for his coat and a place for his drink. Homework too, when he came home. A laminated list: Biff, Chip, Floppy, Mum, Dad and Kipper. A new book bag and lots of questions.

Card Making

2010-09-04T16:19:00.001+01:00

We have friends staying with us this weekend, and it is Hanna's birthday! Here is the card, I quickly made for her.

I'm off to cook meringues and use all the blackberries and apples we have been collecting. I'm beginning to look like crumble! I must admit to looking forward to next week and the promised routine, so that I can get back to the local pool.

This Summer has flown by and it has been lovely to take a small break from it all. I meant to blog more, but with two small children, friends and family the time has escaped me. And now I find myself here, the Saturday before my little boy starts school. It's a big thing, but he's ready... and so am I.

Clouds

2010-09-04T10:16:00.001+01:00

A week spent enjoying the weather.

My favourite time of year.

Light

2010-08-30T21:43:00.001+01:00

Anything,

but grey.

Luke's Cloud

2010-08-30T21:04:00.002+01:00

Thanks Luke.

The Dark Side of the Lens

2010-08-30T20:38:00.004+01:00

Sometimes, just sometimes H elbows me on the sofa and shows me something worth watching.

I am awestruck.

Grey

2010-08-25T14:22:00.003+01:00

This morning I woke up, looked out the window and promptly thought it's time for a hot chocolate and some boots, but not quite a scarf. That would be overkill and I don't really want to exhaust my Autumn clothing repertoire before we are even in September. The hot chocolate was just bliss and the boots are being very warm and snugly I may not take them off until May. I did of course turn them upside down and give them a good shake before putting them on. I once found a dead mouse in a boot, but only after it was too late, if you get my squidgy drift.

The above photo's are of Brighton and the bottom one is the swishy skirt to the obscenely small 1950's dress.

The best bit about Brighton as far as I am concerned is the walking. Our family live about two and a half miles from the centre and we always walk into town. When you live in the country walking is actually quite hard. You can't just fit it in under the title of 'I'm walking to work' or 'I'm just popping out for some milk' or maybe even 'I'm just popping out to post a letter, but really I'm off down to have a sneaky hot chocolate and read some magazines on my OWN.' Oh no all of those things require the car and your bottom getting big.

On the plus side you can do the let's enjoy the wonderful nature walks and come back for a nice roast. You just can't do this everyday. I do miss all that quick nipping about and the people watching, because without it I am reduced to saying to the Miss Selfridge's assistant ( I have a 14 year old niece) comments like 'Who knew the eighties were back?' Yes who indeed, obviously not me in my cagoule (vital wear for Devon), I should have dragged out the skin tight black shiny shorts and the fluorescent puff ball skirt instead. If only I had known. Brighton has clearly missed out.

Beyond Retro

2010-08-25T13:47:00.001+01:00

We have been on a small jaunt to Brighton to stay with family. And even with the rain and the tortuous holiday traffic it was lovely. My niece took us to her favourite shop Beyond Retro where we went a little mad trying on all the clothes. I fell in love with a wispy cream and yellow 50's dress with a broken zip, but even with the broken zip my 2010 waist was just a smidgen/mouse's breath too tight. Ok I'm exaggerating here, but I'm sure you will allow me the fantasy. Oh it was so swishy, I could have quite cheerfully swished my way all over Brighton, through the Pavilion and onto the pier to whizz down the helter skelter.

Summer

2010-08-19T22:37:00.002+01:00

Its going too quickly isn't it?

Actually it has been feeling properly Autumnal here and I find myself thinking of fires and long stripey scarves, of apples and blackberries and big crumbles with lots of cream.

The Circus Dog

2010-08-03T20:33:00.004+01:00

I think I'm pretty sure that I don't need him.

Sky

2010-07-14T22:21:00.002+01:00

The sky has changed so many times today. From clear ice blue to storm promise grey. It is almost, but not quite a welcome relief to spend some time in doors, and not feel too guilty about a missed opportunity in the sun.

Here are a few things that I have been enjoying:

Quentin's Drawings.

This rain coat for when it rains (obviously), but maybe I could just wear it round the house.

Finding out about Henrietta Lacks. I can't seem to get this amazing story out of my head.

This heart warming story.

Cloud Invitations.

The first chapter of this.

Colin

2010-07-11T21:19:00.001+01:00

Just because.

La Romance

2010-07-11T16:06:00.001+01:00

So me and my heaving bossom this week have been dancing over the hills in full evening gown wearing magic. Letting the sweet white butterflies alight on my fingers as I burst into song to greet the glorious dawn. Of course my dashing Prince has never been too far away, always at hand on his trusty charger ready to take me back to the palace and the small perfect always clean, well mannered children. Where I have overindulged in watching 'Pride and Prejudice,' and strawberry cornettos*.

Yes I know could my life be any more dramatically Mills and Boon? Well no readers I don't think it could. So in reply to the lovely anonymous commentator on the last post, there are other blogs out there, maybe you should seek out something that is a little more to your taste.

It has been a long week of thinking and that comment read on my way to work left me a little confused? Not confused enough to stop me from trying to prevent the next female generation of our locale wanting to be glamour models, but still enough to wonder why? and then finally, yes. This blog is many things to me, but one of the main reasons I started was to try and set down some moments in my life before they completely disappeared and also to be part of something that was incredibly positive. I have learnt so much here and have been amazed and heartened by the involvement of others and their willingness to share. So it is with a quizzical look on my face that I greet the concept of someone commenting and hiding like this.

And now of course I've started calling H, Fabio and myself Princess Miranda.

* err I did spend a Saturday night watching the Keira version, but it has to be said I missed Colin, and the gratuitous lake and breaches shot.

Sshh!

2010-06-28T22:26:00.001+01:00

I haven't wanted to write much recently.

Too busy enjoying the sun.

And its warmth, soft breezes, lazy evenings with good friends and the smell of applewood on our barbecue.

The swims at dusk, the hazy light at the end of the day, the squeals of untamed children.

The soft wanderings of our bare feet over dewed grass.

The look we give each other over a shared sunset.

Evening Meadow

2010-06-19T22:27:00.002+01:00

Tonight's walk across the fields and into the fading light. How special this light is that comes at the end of the day. It's always so magical isn't it? I almost feel like I am trespassing here at this time and that the wildlife are just waiting for us to disappear back into the house.

Tummyache

2010-06-19T22:06:00.002+01:00

My tummy hurts.

And it is not because I have eaten what feels like my own body weight in marshmallow, although to be honest it probably hasn't helped. Nor is it to do with the two huge barbecues we have cooked up on our small, wee £10 wonder. Nor is it to do with the secret chocolate consumption that occurs when the children aren't watching. It is to do with my Thursday pilates class where I was forced to use muscles that I haven't used since the last time I went to pilates. A point that was raised by Stuart whose pilates fit eyebrow managed to almost touch the ceiling at my presence.

Anyway since then my tummy has felt a bit tight, like it's remembering muscles that it used to have. But, it must be said it's a good feeling and when I have to get up in the middle of the night to cries of ''It's DARRRRRRRRRRRK'' I don't mind that I can't just sit up, instead having to roll over on to my side and push up.

Oh dear is this me getting old. I fear it is. H managed to convince me that I was a whole year older than I actually am the other day and I only managed to figure it out when I remembered my little brother's age. See another sign of getting older. My brain is obviously following my tummy.

Narwhals and Wheelbarrows

2010-06-16T21:22:00.004+01:00

I've always thought that there is something magical about Narwhals. Their long tooths that make them the Unicorns of the sea. I can well imagine the amazement that people must have felt when they first saw them.

I like the combination of the text and the picture here it makes me feel like there is a little story just hanging there on the wall.

And to top the day off the Red Barrows came to practise their routine for the upcoming village fete. Choreographed by Joan, a formidable ballet teacher. We sat and watched the hilarious antics, as these grown men were being bossed about the green and forced into some sort of routine. By the end they had started to get quite good. I tried to convince H that they really needed one more person, but he didn't look overly impressed. I shall try and work on him a bit more.

Actually at some points it started to look quite complicated.

Flower Liberating

2010-06-15T21:49:00.003+01:00

Now obviously every night after our 'Supper' we sit round the table and have good sing song. We are just like the Von Trapp family. Thankfully everyone is happy with me just taking the photos as alas my singing voice is more of a screech.

Now aren't the flowers lovely? Just beautiful and all the better for a small bit of liberation. From next door's deserted garden.

And this and this are just making my heart leap.

And now I'm going, because really I've been blogging all night, looking at all the great stuff whilst watching Dr Who on the iplayer. My brain is going to explode. I've done cute babies, Venetian vampires, beautiful kitchens, scary stone angels, Lots of home made goodness and is it wrong to start fancying another Dr? especially after I had sworn faithfulness to David. It doesn't say much about my strength of character to flit about like that, does it? Oh dear I am a sci fi slut.

Actually thinking about it, I like Amy. It's the hair.

Bovey Tracey Craft Fair

2010-06-15T20:24:00.009+01:00

This weekend I was lucky enough to visit the Bovey Tracey craft fair with my friend Donna. It is always full of inspiration and to be honest it can be a bit overwhelming what with all the craft genius going on. Last year it inspired me to get sewing, so it was funny to go back actually having learnt something in the meantime. Here are some of the wonderful stands we saw, and yes I really wanted quite a bit. In fact if you scroll down you will see Vicky's wonderful tattooed Sailor and the magical fairytale pictures of Penny Leaver Green.

Emily Nixon

Penny Leaver Green

Helaina Sharpley

Rachel Coleman

Lauren Van Helmond

Penny Leaver Green

Vicky Lindo

Dolly

Ok, ok I may have treated myself to a ring by Emily Nixon, but what I really wanted was one of these. Isn't she perfect?! And so good, just a very plumply delicious baby.

Across

2010-06-11T22:48:00.001+01:00

Until we came here I never knew that Africa was so close. Just a look across the ocean and there it is, another continent.

Beach

2010-06-11T22:22:00.002+01:00

I find it quite surreal to be in one country one day and then the next to back home and at work. These photo's were taken one evening just after we had eaten. We explored the beach, discovering shells and were chased by a small terrier in a neckerchief. It all seems a long way away now.

Tarifa

2010-06-05T09:21:00.005+01:00

We have been coming back here for many years. In H's case 20. And it never ceases to be beautiful. Miles and miles of unspoilt Spanish coastline, looking over to Africa.

Hiding

2010-05-31T22:15:00.001+01:00

After last week's adventures I'm a little nervous of this game, but so long as I only count to ten I think I'm ok. The grass grows over night here and it always feels like we only cut it yesterday. I like how the long grass makes those swishy sounds as you walk through it.

Scrapes

2010-05-31T22:04:00.002+01:00

We seem to have had a fair few scrapes over the past few weeks. In fact every time we leave the house we seem to have a tumble and cries of ''BLUDDD'' can be heard. I still have silver marks on my knees from childhood scrapes, where the dirt didn't quite get cleaned out. And now of course I know why the dirt gets left, the whimpers of small children when they come near water with a graze, are heart breaking.

June

2010-05-31T21:51:00.001+01:00

Flower Sewing

2010-05-28T19:06:00.001+01:00

I bought one beautiful piece of yellow bright spotty fabric from Donna and determined to use it I sat down on Wednesday and made these. I think I like the jug one best.

Sewing and Sleeping

2010-05-28T19:01:00.001+01:00

I was able to do the above little sewing because this little one decide to curl up under the table and fall fast asleep.

Buttercup Picking

2010-05-28T18:54:00.001+01:00

Rosa and I spent one very calm and happy morning picking buttercups and holding them under our chins to see their glow. I say calm, because the day before was anything but. It started off fine and I managed to arrive at pre-school when there was actually a que of other Mothers, which to be honest is a first. I got lots of small boring rubbishy jobs done and managed to do lunch, whilst the kitchen looked like a bombsite. It looked like a bombsite because we had Paul and Arnie in trying to sort out the interesting huge hole in our wall. Now Paul and Arnie being at work needed to have all the doors open. Obviously for easy access, but as it turns out also for sneaky exits.

The afternoon arrived and the children were happily playing in the lounge, when I said that I was just popping upstairs to sort some clothes (but not the socks) and that when I came down we would go for a walk. So I came back down ten minutes later and found Rosa out in the back garden on her own. There was no Hector. And there was no Hector in the lounge either, or in the toilet, or up the tower, or in next door's abandoned pond, or even in his bedroom. He was no where. And no amount of gentle calls to start with, or at the end the hysterical screams of a Mother gone mad, resulted in the reappearance of a small boy who is four. I couldn't even remember what he was wearing.

Thankfully Paul and Arnie, sensing that I was about to completely lose it, stopped to help and Paul went down to the beach and Arnie went off in his van and I just stood shouting, wondering when do you call the police? And it was then that I heard a muffled shout of ''Found him.'' And there he was being brought back in Arnie's van, quite happy. I gave him such a tight cuddle. In his wisdom he had decided that I had already gone without him and that he better catch up with me. And so that is how he was found on the coast path about half a mile from the house by two very kind men who thought it a little strange to see a little boy enjoying a stroll on his own.

I have had strong words about boundaries.

House Painting

2010-05-26T17:19:00.002+01:00

This little house can tell a story. It used to be in our old house and for the whole of last year when we were in the Bungalow and didn't know where we were going to be, it resided with my nieces, where they kindly looked after it. It made me sad to think of it, and how much Hector and Rosa would have loved it all last Summer. And so It made me happy to finally get it up again, in its proper home.

This weekend was glorious the sun shone and this small Island enjoyed the good spirits that come naturally to people in the Mediterranean. Just perfect I thought for a bit of painting. The paint tins had been languishing in the shed and after being inspired by Tracy's beautiful house I thought 'today is the day, I'm going to paint that shed'. It was only when I had emptied the white tin that H said 'What's that above your head?' and I looked up and found a curled paper delicate wasp nest.

We had to get rid of it, as it was too dangerous for the children, but I still felt a bit sorry for the wasps.

First Fish & Chips

2010-05-25T20:54:00.001+01:00

We had our first fish and chips of the year outside on Friday. We watched teenagers with an inflatable shark and children paddle in the caught water, screaming with delight. Our two were asleep before we got home.

Ribbon Payment

2010-05-24T17:39:00.003+01:00

It was my lovely friend Donna's open house this weekend. The same lady who very kindly babysat for us a week ago, and then rang us to say that she had lost Rosa! Thankfully she had not tottered down the lane after us, but had crawled under her bed and fallen asleep behind a giant fluffy dog.

Anyway back to the fabulous fabric world of Donna, where I helped out on Friday and received payment for my incredibly hard work cutting cake and making tea, with ribbons. Now if you had told my teenage self that I would be going round later on in life taking payment in spotty ice cream hued ribbon instead of cash I would have thought you mad. But there you go, as it turns out I'm sucker for prettiness.

It was a lovely few days and I got to meet the lovely and talented Katie and Woo who have inspired me to actually do something with all that ribbon. I may have also eaten my own weight in cake whilst on duty, and I'm not entirely sure that I'm made out to be a tea lady, what with all the talking.

The last photo is of the Swallows' nest that has taken up residence in Donna's kitchen porch. I think it is probably lined in vintage fabric.

Tuesday Things

2010-05-21T08:36:00.001+01:00

These are the small things I looked at on Tuesday. The little bits around our home. I'm sure it all needs tidying up, but sometimes it's nice just to appreciate them.

Whale Weathervane

2010-05-20T22:00:00.004+01:00

How wonderful is this Whale's tale?

Found at the Beach Studios

Sofa Repair

2010-05-20T16:52:00.002+01:00

We have a really old leather sofa. It was thrown in with the purchase of two battered chairs for an extra £10 and is extremely heavy. We waxed it with some leather cream when we first got it because some of the leather was so old it was all dry and flakey, but time is beginning to tell and their are some serious rips appearing, which no descriptions of 'shabby chic' or 'faded elegance' can disguise. So I sewed up the rips in some mad Frankensteininan design and then bondawebbed some fabric on. I was going to sew the fabric on, but this might have to wait for a curvy needle and some sort of thumb protection. I was very proud of the results until I asked H, who I don't think was overly impressed. It of course not being surf board related, however I did point out to him that at least the rips weren't going to get any bigger.

So there we have some good old fashioned home making and to escape the term of Marthette I will point out to you, but especially Francesca that if you screw your eyes up and look at the top of the top picture you can also see my ironing.

Cloud hint

2010-05-15T16:35:00.002+01:00

I hinted a little bit on the sofa last night.

Admittedly not very subtly

But was not expecting the "Can't believe we are only 1 week past my birthday and you've begun to talk about yours," statement.

In my mind I was just trying to be helpful.

So here I am again being that helpful person, oh how helpful I am.

Go here to find the beautiful necklace that would make me very happy .

Go on H you know you want to and anyway I know you read this, because sometimes stuff disappears.

L x

Coral & Tusk

2010-05-12T18:57:00.002+01:00

I found these beautiful embroidered cushions over at Famille Summerbelle. I think that might be a shark inside of the Whale's tummy. You can find them at Coral & Tusk.

Sheep Cloud

2010-05-12T18:47:00.002+01:00

When I can't sleep I count sheep jumping through clouds.

Maybe there is a secret species somewhere.

This is our before bedtime/the children are climbing the walls and they need calming down walk.

Haunted House

2010-05-09T22:11:00.001+01:00

I haven't seen this house for a few months. Everytime I do it looks that little bit more run down. I think people do live here. the view is spectacular, but it must have been frightening in the Winter Storms. I worry that's it's just a matter of time before they knock it down and build 500 flats.

Sunday walk

2010-05-09T21:47:00.001+01:00

H has been messing with my camera and these are the shots from our afternoon wander. Both children promptly fell asleep and were no help at all as we pushed them up the cliff hills, but it did allow us some much needed quiet time to enjoy the swallows and the clearing of the clouds. I can't believe we haven't walked this way since last year.

I feel like the weekend has whizzed by with trips to see Grandparents and the big city (Exeter!), helping at the pre-school jumble and generally tidying up all the dirt and dust that has landed in our house from H removing a very large wall in the kitchen last week. I like busy weekends though, they always make me feel like I've done something.

It was particularly busy at the setting out of the pre-school jumble on Saturday morning. Oh what an exciting life I lead I can hear you thinking. For MONTHS now I have been preserving my crap for this hallowed event, because last time they didn't have much stuff. So obviously I thought I should really help them out and at times it has been incredibly frustrating having to live with the identified jumble, instead of just dumping it at the local charity shop. So there I was helping set the stalls out, watching my Summer Zara mistakes disappear into the hands of others when another Mum stood next to me and started going through the bag at her feet. She started to mutter under her breath at the crap some people throw out and then turned to me and said, ''Just look at the rubbish that some people donate,'' in that, have these people no shame voice with much rolling of her eyes. I looked at the bag and thought yes indeed what sort of dreadful person would give such tat to the jumble?!!

''Errr,'' I said and then ''just awful.'' BUT I was not meant to be an actor and I have known this ever since I was relegated to the roll of Mustard Seed in a fluorescent pink catsuit at the age of 15. I was completely heartbroken at not being Titania. Something in my voice or my hunted look must have given me away, because she turned to me and said ''Oh God, It's yours isn't it?'' Whereupon I looked her in her eyes and flatly said ''YES.''She then promptly crumpled and apologised for calling my crap, crap.

And thus I became the Mother at pre-school who forever more will be known as the one who donates CRAP! I will point out here that some of my crap was very good crap, it didn't even make the sale it was that good. However, I will also admit to denying ownership of a ceramic teddy bear in full S&M gear complete with fluffy handcuffs. a previous jumble purchase by a Grandparent who was not paying enough attention. Bears should not wear thongs EVER!

500

2010-05-07T21:43:00.001+01:00

500 posts

Of thinking

Remembering

Sharing

Capturing

Loving

Being

Stalking

2010-05-06T16:41:00.002+01:00

I've been stalking this bird cage for months now. Every so often I pop over just to check that it is still there waiting for me to have just the right amount of money for it. It has been hung all around my house in my head and I think its favourite place is in my office where it hangs just in front of the blossom tree. You can see I have been obsessing a little and really if I thought I could have got two pastel birdies past H then they would have been here a long time ago!

So you can imagine my absolute and complete horror when I found out that Kirsty is giving them away!!!!!!????? Yes I know how completely bonkers is that, when they already blatantly belong to me!
ALL MINE (much channelling of Gollum here).

For a chance to win just pop on over and leave a comment on how much you like it. Oh dear that was really hard. I shall endeavor to be a little more ladylike (yes Francesca and Natalie sometimes I can manage it) and attempt to be gracious about whoever wins it. If you want to see an example of my less than perfect behaviour then check out Kirsty's comments where I thoroughly enjoyed myself being rude and spoilt.

Strawberry Morning

2010-05-06T08:05:00.001+01:00

I managed to have a quiet 15 minutes yesterday with Rosa where we ate Strawberries, looked at the blossom and drank hot chocolate. How nice it was to lie back and enjoy the sun and listen to all the bees bustling about the Wisteria. The rest of the day disappeared into a mad rush of getting little bits done. Those phone calls to the bank and work are very satisfying, but I' m not quite sure why it takes me months to get round to doing it.

I am constantly marvelling about what is coming into bloom here. I had no idea that this tree would look like this or that everywhere would look so pretty. It makes me realise that those long dreary wet months are behind us (fingers crossed).

Girls

2010-05-03T21:00:00.001+01:00

I loved having a house full of children this weekend and I think the garden loved them just as much.

Happy Birthday H

2010-05-03T20:37:00.001+01:00

It was H's birthday on Sunday and to celebrate we had a house full of friends for the weekend. We laughed and talked and ate (a bit too much, I'm blaming Siobhan's magnificent carrot cake), we drank champagne up the Tower and then hid below the ramparts, because it was a bit windy, we took walks and explored with the children and we caught up and marvelled at our children and wondered deeply at how and where the time had disappeared.

Our friends made H's birthday a very special day, they made a huge effort in travelling to be with us and I know he loved seeing everyone as much as me.

Finally Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband who is supportive of me in everything I do. I'd be more than a little lost without you.

Colours

2010-05-03T18:11:00.001+01:00

Here are some of the colours from this weekend, oh and a small cheeky dog. The children had a complete Whale of a time playing together and more importantly they were excellent at wearing each other out. I think it must be one of the best things in the World watching small childrenn run and run and run, wearing each other completely out.

Mist

2010-04-30T20:53:00.001+01:00

It has been a misty week here. Everything seems to have been coated with a fine film of dew, making it difficult to see things clearly. My head has been pretty misty too, what with the looooooong journey home and the news about my Dad. I have found it really hard to get out of bed in the morning and have felt a bit weepy all week. So it was with relief yesterday that I rang my Mother to find out how their hospital appointment at the TIA clinic had gone. The doctor seems to think that there may be a chance that it wasn't an attack at all and instead just a really severe reaction to the norovirus bug. They have scheduled him in for an MRI scan to find out exactly, but I have my fingers firmly crossed. Thank you so much to everyone who commented with such warm words of support, they really helped me this week.

Whilst on holiday I thought that I might have missed the blossom, so it is with sheer delight that I find it just beginning. Everywhere seems to be a bloom and especially as we moved here in November we have only seen the cold (oh so cold I wear fleeces and walking socks to bed) Winter months. It is wonderful to see this place come alive and to be able to enjoy it. I must also admit to having turned off our heating for the English 'Summer' months and after the heady heat of Florida it has been a bit of a body shock to come back to the fresh cold. I'd got really into wearing shorts, so to go back to tights just seems plainly wrong. Especially when wearing them results in the dreaded trebble bottom phenomena, whereupon the tights edge down, cutting your bottom into big wedges and you have to do a sidestep crab shuffle out of the library so the sixth form don't notice.

Anyway I haven't obviously told you about my major achievement this week. THE CULLING OF THE CRAP! Yes things had got so bad that I had entered some strange sort of denial where I just wasn't seeing the stuff around me and I couldn't even put our holiday stuff away. Because, exactly where do you put a blow up crocodile? To be honest it was such a huge job I didn't even know where to begin, but begin I did this week. Our garage is now full of the crap, waiting to go to the pre-school jumble. It is an impressive sight. I even managed to throw out bubble wrap from the move (we have moved so many times that I think something in me likes to hoard this stuff), and the neon blue blow up matress that has failed to inflate the last two times we have spent an hour puffing air into it. Why for goodness sake I couldn't shove this out before God only knows. I feel a lot lighter and slightly euphoric. Maybe one day I will be organised (imagine me looking at the stars dreamily here).

This weekend is H's birthday and to celebrate we have some friends coming , we may actually put the heating back on for this, Woohoo! I'm looking forward to catching up, eating lots and long walks on the beach. Hope you have a lovely bank holiday weekend too.

My Dad

2010-04-26T21:55:00.002+01:00

And so we are finally back after a wonderful holiday. I am so glad that we all went and that we made such good memories together. Sometimes if you don't seize the moment you may never get the chance again.

My Dad was very ill towards the end of the holiday with what we thought was a stomach bug. He still wasn't feeling any better when we got home and in fact his vision had become impaired. After a phonecall to NHS Direct my Mother rushed him to hospital where they discovered that he had suffered a mini stroke. Often these are the precurser to a full blown one. We all feel very sad and worried, but also relieved that this got diagnosed. Hopefully we have become aware in time to do something about it.

I'm sorry to write this on here, but I feel it would be wrong not to acknowledge that this has happened.

Here are the symptoms of a TIA or Mini Stroke.

At the airport

2010-04-23T23:30:00.000+01:00

flight delayed, but so enjoying this.

Swimming

2010-04-23T12:52:00.001+01:00

And so we come to the end of our holiday.

Again.

The extra week has meant that we have all had some much needed rest, all though unfortunately for my Father that has meant recovering from a nasty stomach bug. Please let me not get it and especially not when we are mid flight! Talking of which I should be finishing ramming all the things into our bags, but I am going green just thinking about it. However, I am happy to report that the skateboard has miraculously fitted in. It truly is a miracle.

The extra week has also meant that Hector has learnt to swim without his arm bands and it has been very funny watching him jump in without a care in the World, not so funny when you get splashed though. The huge mega water pistols also may have been a mistake as H and I have spent quite a lot of time gleefully soaking each other.

Looking forward to being home.

One Word

2010-04-22T02:19:00.001+01:00

Home

See you Saturday.

Skateboarding

2010-04-22T02:10:00.001+01:00

It is H's birthday next week and so I treated him to a new skateboard. See I told you those bags are getting pretty full. It has been lots of fun to play with it on these smooth hot streets, and there have only been a few grazed knees and scraped elbows. We have all really enjoyed the heat and dipping into the cold pool here, taking full advantage of this extra week. I feel like we have finally banished those Winter colds, although I don't think I should have said that, surely its tempting fate.

Cocoa Beach

2010-04-21T02:35:00.001+01:00

I'm thinking that when we are kicked out from this holiday house we can make camp in the life guard hut.

Shorts

2010-04-21T02:27:00.001+01:00

Rosa and I have had a few arguments this holiday...mostly about shorts. And the fact that she won't wear them, not at all. So these photo's are special to me because here she is in shorts. The only time I have managed it.

I lied and said all the dresses were very dirty.

Ice Cream

2010-04-21T02:11:00.001+01:00

And they have a whole aisle of condiments just for the ice cream.

It's time I came home, it really is.

Day Four

2010-04-20T02:16:00.002+01:00

So still here in... America. When are we going to get home? We keep hearing lots of conflicting things about rubber boats to mad dashes to Madrid (we have considered that and also a cruise), but we are no nearer having any idea when this will be cleared up. It all seems so sureal to me, I can't quite get over the fact that we should be home now.

In the mean time we have been making the most of it and have visited Cocoa Beach, Sea World and we may have done a little shopping. Sea World were very generous and gave everyone who was stuck a free ticket. But, it made me so sad to see the animals there. Surely we are past using animals like this.

Now to the shopping.

They really need to get me back to the shopless North Devon coast. Soon.

Today after much subtle manouvering Like "I think we should go to the mall, it looks like rain,'' I managed to convince everyone to go. And I finally got to go to an Anthropologie store. Woohoo! Have I mentioned that there are NO shops in North Devon, well apart from Asda and the Atlantic village and they seriously do not count. And ladies here in blog land there are always maddeningly frustrating pictures of amazing shops and today I was in one.

And I found this

And I thought I can't possibly get it home, what with it being breakable, oh and the small issue of the fact that we can't get home ourselves let alone a Beluga Whale shaped butter dish.

But now I want it badly.

The ash cloud needs to disappear before our bags explode.

P.s.

I may have also been wrong about parallel parking. Today I saw an advert for a car that did it for you. The wheel turned all on its own and the car parked itself. I was very impressed.

Space Shuttle

2010-04-18T22:26:00.003+01:00

Right at the start of this holiday, when we were still dazed from the time change, we saw the space shuttle take off. This was something that I had always hoped and dreamed of seeing, but something I never thought I would. I jumped from my bed as H shouted up the stairs that if we went out to the garden and looked eastwards we might just see it. And there it was searing the sky with its journey to the stars. I have never been so awestruck as I was in those forty seconds as I watched it ascend and light the sky with its trail. Everywhere was silent and just for that brief moment I marvelled at what we could do. Afterwards as dawn happened the sky was blown into a sea of shapes from the shuttle's passing.

I couldn't even move to get my camera I was so entranced, so I am grateful to other people who captured it.

We are still here on this extended holiday and really after the initial worry and panic we are now beginning to think how very lucky we are to have this extra time. I know that other people have not been so fortunate and my heart and thoughts go out to them on their journey home. I hope the winds chnage soon.

Mouse Marathon

2010-04-17T02:35:00.002+01:00

For the last two weeks we have done the marathon that is Walt Disneyland. I feel completely worn out, but happy to have seen the glee and joy in my children's eyes when they whirled in the rides and met their favourite characters. And also to remember what it was like for me when I was little. How time flies. I wonder if I will bring my Grandchildren?

My parents very kindly and incredibly generously treated us to the trip and it has been wonderful to make some special memories here. And those memories keep on coming as we were meant to fly home today, but because of the Volcano ash we are stuck here with the heat and swimming pool and Princess toot. It's a hard life, but you know some one's got to..... But seriously I don't think I can cope with the culture shock any longer. The HUGE choice in ice creams, the fact that you don't have to parallel park, how every meal is covered in cheese. I'm dreaming of salad and of our blossom. Is it out yet? I don't want to miss it.

I must also admit to buying Rosa some Minnie ears. They just looked too cute and errr I may just admit to having worn them a little too. Well, when in Rome and all that.

I'm not sure when we will be flying back. It is complete chaos at the moment. We are just feeling very lucky that we have avoided the stress of the airport and that we have somewhere to stay.

Whoops

2010-03-31T21:38:00.001+01:00

I blogged yesterday.

It was a very long post and to make matters worse it had already been deleted once when I tried to upload it.

And then it disappeared!

And I'm not sure where it went.

It was about sudacreme, bottles of beautification and RATS.

See you can tell it was a good one.

And there were lovely comments too.

Sob, sob, sob

So it will just have to remain our little secret, just between you and me.

But,

In answer to your questions the sudacreme is still in the carpet and I keep finding small plastic creatures covered in the stuff, The bottles of beautification were really better used up, I had never used the fresh and zingy foot spray in 7 years and the little problem has taken the poison four days in a row. What it's doing with it I don't know. Obviously building a green mountain of death. I wish it would hurry up and die.

I am truly a saint.

Thank you for all your very funny comments I laughed out loud at all of them. Sympathy and solidarity go a long way around here.

And now I'm going to have to say goodbye for a little bit. We are going away on our adventures. I hope you all have a fantastic Easter and I'm looking forward to catching up on all the blog loveliness when I get back.

Laura x

Oliver Jeffers

2010-03-24T14:52:00.003Z

An Irish accent

That Mustache

And is that an orange cardigan I spy.

What is there not to love.

From the very entertaining Heartthrobs and Villains

H don't worry, you know It's all about the beard.

Happy Wednesday

2010-03-24T14:37:00.002Z

I am happy today. It has been a good week even with the rain. I finally feel that I am forming a routine, and after a year and a half of free fall disorganisation it is welcome. Where we lived before, I was hugely blessed with a group of friends who all had children and my week would revolve around them. When we moved the whole process of friend making had to begin again. And to be honest I didn't want to do it. Instead a new job and the relentless house search took over. Consequently I began to feel a little out of the loop with what was going on . So this week I braved the playgroup, and Rosa had a great time. Plus I got recognised! I know it must be because I am seriously fabulous and not as the three year olds said, because I was Hector's Mum.

I have also, you will be proud:
Gone for a swim (on my own!)
Cooked two Fish pies (froze one, yes you may clap)
Returned library books on time
Hoovered
Made annoying phone calls to bureaucratic institutions (Standing ovation please)
The next one's a shocker
Tidied the children's toys, yes even the minuscule crap (Sainthood looming)

Oh dear I have gone and written a list haven't I?! After I said I wouldn't. But this is after all a different kind of a list, a more special one as it contains things that have actually been DONE. It has made me happy. You can imagine me skipping off into the sunset here, gleefully ignoring the sock pile and toilets.

It must be spring.

Summer Dreaming

2010-03-22T18:41:00.002Z

I have been busy thinking of Summer today and in particular my Summer wardrobe. After such an incredibly long winter the mornings are beginning to get light, it's a little warmer and I am finding it actually possible to get out of our bed. Something which has proven nearly impossible to do for the last five months.

Yes, yes I may be getting a little carried away,but I was flicking through the radio channels in the car today and I heard Chris Evans say that we have been forecast a really hot Summer! WOOHOO! Unfortunately I told H who proceeded to tell me that this was NOT going to happen and that he couldn't remember it being hot at all last Summer, EVER! Well I can, I'm sure there was at least one day when I wore a dress. So in homage to that one day I will be lusting after the Silk Sunset Dress by Hush .

Obviously in that dream the children, dare I say it, will be absent. Hopefully enjoying some wonderful holiday club. Because otherwise I can just imagine a day in the life of this silk dress, ending very quickly. An end that would arise through the silk being smeared with chocolate, sunscreen and ice cream and an escapee breast popping out after having to chase a wild child down the street. Looking serenely beautiful with small children alas is not something that mere mortals can pull off.

First Icecream

2010-03-21T20:41:00.001Z

The first and last icecream of the year are always special ones. They mark the change of seasons just as surely as the clocks changing.
And there is nothing quite like the taste of a 99.

We have had a lovely weekend, with a house full, with much eating, talking and exploring of beaches. I think it may be the most people we have had to stay and yes it was hard work, but we got there in the end. It is always so nice to catch up with people and I am so pleased that we all made the effort. Plus we got to look through some old photo's, where we all looked a lot younger and fresher. I'm sure that we will look back at the photo's I took today and think the same.

Big Bed

2010-03-19T21:09:00.001Z

Rosa came out of her cot this week and into her big bed. She was a bit dubious to start, but was very happy when she realised that there was room for Mummy as well. And then of course she has realised this at 4.30 a.m ALL week. How I managed to get through the baby years I have no idea. Fortunately she is not a fidget bottom like Hector who I seem to remember liked to stroke me or stick fingers in my ear.

This week has gone far to fast, in fact it disappeared beneath me and swallowed all my good intentions and then trumped them out at me when I wasn't looking. I prefer the word trump to fart as obviously it rhymes with flump. So I've nearly become the frump again, but I have fought it off with a stern look.

This weekend we have a house full with friends from university and interestingly they all have different dietary requirements. This has tested me. And when I told my fellow teachers they just laughed at me. this was following one of them spying me making a list yesterday. Yes, yes what on earth was I thinking. I gave up the writing of lists the minute I gave birth. But, you know I thought I'm working now, in the 'Grown up' world. Surely it is possible to get something ticked off. Oh the irony, ha, ha I chuckle at my perfectionist self.

That list it is an accusation.

I can feel it glowering in my bag

Getting all hot and sweaty

just like me now, thinking about it.

lalalalallalalalalalalallalalalalalalalalalalalalalalallalalalalalalalalallalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalallalalallalalalalalalallalallallalalalalalalalalalallalalala

Two finger typing is quite fun really

Oh dear I have lost my mind

Boats and Caravans

2010-03-17T11:18:00.001Z

In the car park there was an airstream, a boat called Babs and a dog called Hector. And some red and pink wellies.

Sunday Roast

2010-03-17T11:01:00.001Z

A roast lunch in Welcombe and a relaxing time colouring in and sticking and reading last week's newspapers and hungrily looking at the desert board and sharing an apple pie with clotted cream. A perfect Mothering Sunday.

Snowdrop Morning

2010-03-17T10:56:00.001Z

I was woken with these on Sunday morning, by a very excited Hector, who had been treasuring his card for me all weekend. I know this because he had taken me many times to its hiding place under the stairs. He was so delighted with himself as he bounced up and down in our bed.

Spring Fire

2010-03-11T21:41:00.000Z

There's nothing quite like the smell of fire on a spring wind. H built this one and I saw the smoke from the window and raced downstairs with the children to go and investigate. They say it's going to be double figures this weekend. Here's hoping, I love the heat.

Regatta Week

2010-03-11T21:31:00.001Z

And look what arrived after a very busy day meeting my Mum in Bristol and driving home in the dead of night only to get distracted by roadworks and miss my turning. Whoops! You know the feeling, the one when you look at that windy road and think 'err I don't know this, have I missed my turning, surely not..... Oh B....r!'
What a relief to walk in the door with tired, crumpled Rosa and worn out me, to find this beautifully packaged creation from Kirsty. It is even better in the flesh, and look at the label. Can you see him? She made me a lovely drift wood Whale. She knows me well I think.

White

2010-03-09T11:04:00.001Z

I love the soft pink of a horse's nose.

Beach House

2010-03-09T10:50:00.001Z

On our walk yesterday we found this. Just nestled on the edge of the sand dunes. We made camp and watched the geese and the waves.

Lambs

2010-03-09T10:34:00.001Z

We ventured out on Sunday to look for lambs. They seem to have grown very big already and they were busy running round the field chasing and bleating at their Mothers. And the Sunset, just the most beautiful pink, but boy was it cold.

Treasure Buttons

2010-03-06T20:41:00.002Z

And look at what I've been doing with my new wizard free sewing skills. I'm getting carried away with it all. I love writing with the sewing machine, how the letters loop in on themselves, holding your breath when the speed gets a bit carried away and sighing with relief when you realise you have managed to spell everything properly. I'd like to do a book for Hector and Rosa about the adventures of Whale and the treasure buttons. Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear your ideas.

Let There Be Light

2010-03-06T20:32:00.001Z

And so it came to pass that on Thursday our new front door arrived and we are amazed by the difference. Instead of the hallway being dark and gloomy it is now bathed in light. It has changed how we feel about this room. In fact I keep walking through this room to check it out. It's a good looking door even I do say so myself.
Also please ignore the many smudges all over our glass ware. Further evidence I'm afraid of my sloven attitude to housekeeping.

Sun Murphy

2010-03-06T20:21:00.001Z

Coming home on Thursday after work to find this in the garden. And yes Dan really is wearing shorts and flip flops. I was Particularly impressed by the childcare being administered by Murphy. He'd got the children emptying the water butt and making small rivers. They were squealing with delight and were too busy to notice when I arrived. The sun has just been the best thing these last few days, even the teenagers at school have been less grumpy and some of them even smiled.

Crisp

2010-03-03T16:17:00.002Z

It is still a little crisp here, but the sun over the last two days has been a very welcome visitor. Especially as we seem to have missed out on the terrible storms that were forecast. The last few days have been taken up with visits to the beach and enjoying the light. Today, though has been spent on the computer busy beavering away as I was supposed to be being observed tomorrow. Only, I just found out that due to two people falling over, the meeting/observation has been cancelled. I would be gleeful if I hadn't spent the day colour coding and organising when I would much rather be with the children or sewing. Oh the irony of being prepared, it is a rare thing round here, so I shall do some wallowing in it. For example I will leave the colour coded folder on the side so I can just look at it. You can tell I must lead a terribly exciting life to be excited by this. However, I did have a dream about Daniel Craig and Vampires last night so things are looking up.

I must also mention that last week I broke a needle in my sewing machine! See the excitement you find here. I can see that you are on the edge of your seats just dying to find out what I did about this. 'Well' I thought 'This is clearly a sign, and now you really must do something about your pretend sewing machine skills Laura' in a stern mind voice. So I hopped over to the computer to find a course on sewing and Lo there it was 'Get to know your Sewing machine in one day'. I managed to get the last place and on Saturday I found myself being the youngest in a room of Ladies. Now I'm going to break off here and say that these Ladies were FRAUDS. They knew stuff! And they had only come because it was their second machine, that was incredibly complicated that they needed help with. Not their first simple baby like me.

Now for those of you who know how to sew I think perhaps it's best you leave me here, you may find the following writing a bit upsetting.

First things first. The lovely teacher with stern Jackdaw eyes told us we were to open our machine. Gulp. 'You can open your machine? It needs cleaning?! You have got to be joking!' I sat thinking. And then I opened it.

The resounding gasp echoed round the room and bounced of the fabric as everyone made their way over to take a look at the...

FLUFF.

There was lots of it.

Someone even tutted.

The shame.

Red cheeked I soldiered on and by the end of the day I had managed to make a scissor case, with button hole. Yes thank you for the applause at my huge achievement there. You're probably wondering where this scissor case is. Well I was a bit slow and I just have to sew it up by hand, but all the important bits I did on the newly cleaned and much happier machine.

I also managed to hijack the lesson and get them to show me how to free sew. Something I have been trying to do for ages and now I can.

Colour coded folder and scissor case, I bet you are impressed.

Clouds and a Whale

2010-03-01T20:49:00.003Z

This has taken my breath away today and what a day it has been the sun has shone and I caught a glimpse of the promised yellow in the garden. Bliss.

And this even has clouds and a Whale in it!

I found it at Lobster and Swan where Jeska always without fail manages to prettify my day.

Wind and Whales

2010-02-26T17:31:00.001Z

We made some fabric Whales awhile ago and we finally got round to sticking them on the blackboard. It's quite nice to watch them swimming along and cheers me up especially after seeing this.

This morning the wind woke me up howling through the garden and rattling the windows. A sound that fills my husband with pure glee and me with the knowledge that he will be shortly disappearing. He is a man obsessed and normally I don't mind, but last night he even jumped out of bed and started talking about boards in his sleep. Really, I ask you is it too much to get an uninterrupted night's sleep around here?

Yellow

2010-02-24T13:51:00.011Z

February has dragged its feet this year and I have felt the grey.

Today and yesterday has been spent looking for yellow.Taking a moment to breath and enjoy and not feel anxious about all the things I have to do. You know the ones,the things that everyone has to do. The things that secret away in long forgotten piles and gather coats of dust. That wake you up in the middle of the night with their urgency and stomach churning need. Well some of them have been dealt with and the others will just have to wait. I am enjoying the yellow and the promise of spring, of light nights and white dresses.

Cloud Fishing

2010-02-22T20:37:00.006Z

Cloud Cushion from the wonderful Mrs Eliot Books.

Cumulonimbus Tights from here.

Paule Marrot from Natural Curiosities.

Clouds

2010-02-22T20:15:00.001Z

So many clouds.

From here.

Zani

2010-02-21T20:37:00.001Z

Any shop that has a ride on Camel is just about fine with me.

Snow Locked

2010-02-21T20:32:00.002Z

I love living by the sea, but I really look forward to going home to my parents who live just outside Ludlow. H is understandably not so impressed as it is a landlocked location. In fact I remember the talk at our wedding, which took place in the field above the house, that it would really be a perfect place if they just flooded the valley. Thankfully none of our guests had the power of God and Ludlow is still there.

So half term came round and we headed off up the M5, but I hadn't checked the weather forecast. Whoops! Near Tewkesbury with no heating working in the car it became clear that perhaps this journey was going to be a little different and obviously cold. Snow was falling in big marshmallow clumps, landing with audible thumps and we were getting increasingly worried. After much slipping and sliding and sneaking behind four wheeled drive vehicles we did make it. But, only after a few harsh words between the pilot and co-pilot culminating in H saying ''I'm going to be trapped aren't I?'' and me answering ''Yep,'' with a smile.

Snow is water after all.

Snow Blues

2010-02-21T20:14:00.001Z

I like the last spindly one.

Patchwork Space Animals

2010-02-21T20:07:00.001Z

Can you see the lovely fabric above. Well I am planning a patchwork quilt. Now, now don't get too excited I think this project may take me a long time, so don't think it will be making an appearance in a finished state any time soon. I am lucky enough to have a friend who is going to teach me AND also it helps, but obviously is terribly dangerous that this friend deals in vintage fabric and that her house is like an Aladdin's cave filled to the brim with pattern. I love going round as there is always something new to look at. The little fabric bundle full of fat quarters is from Donna and the faded florals are from the lovely Louise.

I will point out that the above fabric adventure was as consolation for Tuesday's misadventure where I took it into my head to get up really, really early, six o'clock to be precise, to do my Tracy Anderson DVD. Yes all that Winter hibernation and munching to my little heart's content had got to end, I thought. So there I was doing ALL the exercises and not fast forwarding any of it (cough cough) and I began to feel a little ill. This is terrible I thought I really am unfit, but no it was the 24 hour horror bug that was going round (yuk). I was then miserable and ill for the whole day. Of course I am blaming Tracy as anyone who looks like Gerri Haliwell in her 'It's Raining Men' period is blatantly not to be trusted. All I can say is that Shakira and Gwyneth are better women than me.

The space animals were created by the children whilst Donna and I were busy talking about fabric. And now I keep finding them everywhere. Space pig was in the car this afternoon.

Door Aquisition

2010-02-15T11:13:00.001Z

H spotted this door a few days ago. So yesterday we decided to liberate it and bring it home. I love its colour and think that it would look good hung up on a wall. However, H has plans to build a shed from driftwood, where he can hide away. I'm not sure who's going to win this one.

Yellow

2010-02-15T11:05:00.001Z

The light yesterday afternoon and Rosa rolling about in the sheep field. The sheep were much too scared of Rosa to come close to her. Even with much baaring and begging. And the Devon Longhorns are just about to calf, looking forward to seeing the little ones.

Little Hearts

2010-02-14T23:23:00.000Z

I'm a bit partial to heart shapes and once you look you start finding them everywhere. the last one is from the lid of our cooker.

Beautiful blue skies today and spring is definitely in the air. Looking forward to a fresh week and after all the lovely frump comments have had a good old think about blogging and have come to the conclusion that its a lovely place to be for the most part. And a little blog blindness is not too much to pay for all the kind words and heartfelt thoughts. L x

Flumps

2010-02-14T20:40:00.002Z

Because they rhyme with Frump.

And obviously it's much nicer to be a Flump.

Although this is such a perfect episode. It's called The Cloud and Perkin is feeling umpty in it and it is a too much day. Love it.

Thank you so much for cheering me up, lovely to know I'm not alone.

Laura x

Frump

2010-02-12T21:08:00.001Z

I am in a frump.

Yes, yes I know I'm not supposed to moan here, but sometimes it's just got to come out or there will be an explosion of massive proportions. And anyway

I am tired and a little bit woeful. Oh woe, woe, woe

There have been two dog poo incidents this week. ( I think they wait behind lampposts waiting to do a jump and poo manoeuvre when Iam not looking).

The eldest has had uncontrollable OCD all week resulting in mass wynging and tantrumming of Oscar winning proportions. Apparently towels always have to be in the right place, Mummy should not eat the last milky bar and he needs to always win or else.

I am tired, because obviously I have children and so I'm owed on the sleep front, any amount let's face it isn't enough. But to add insult to injury my Christmas toothbrush has become possessed. It starts buzzing in the small hours crashing about and waking us up. I then have to get out of bed to hide it somewhere. This is no mean feat as in the small hours outside the covers our room is freezing and no amount of double socking and fleece wearing is going to make it any better. I am also a bit worried about monsters and ghosts, which obviously frequent our home when we are asleep hiding socks.

Let us not talk about the sock pile or the forms for that matter.

I have a spot (two actually).

Yes, Yes, yawn I can feel any sympathy waning right now, but hang on let me explain. Last year I had ACNE. Yes I had to wait until my thirties to get it and then, because I had no understanding that it was acne had to wait eight months for me to finally have enough of feeling spotty and go and see the doctor.

And

I'm feeling a bit confused and frustrated by blogging. I'm wondering in the face of such talented and creative people why am I here? I think I may have lost my way a little. There is so much inspiration out there, that sometimes it's just too much. My mind gets clouded and I don't even know where to begin with my own creativity. And, dare I say the next bit? In for a penny. I know that blogs are here to show the positive, optimistic side of life, It's why I was first drawn to them, but there is another side to this. It's the side that feels a little bit inadequate and deflated. So just in case I've made anyone feel that way with my tales of socks, poo and wynging (mine), I'll leave you with this most guarded of secrets.

I taped over the ONLY copy of our wedding with an episode of The OC.

There I'm done, please feel free to stop visiting, now I've shown you the dark side.

Morning Light

2010-02-11T10:28:00.001Z

I wish the light would stay all day. Just like this. Makes me feel like anything is possible. Even the socks. But, maybe not the form filling. That probably requires chocolate.

Morning

2010-02-11T10:21:00.001Z

And blue sky.

I have missed it.

Feels good to wake up to the sun.

Cloud Mug

2010-02-09T07:15:00.002Z

Clouds in a mug

From here

Heart Bed

2010-02-08T17:41:00.001Z

Finally got round to hanging the heart garland today on our bed. Actually, that should read finally got round to making the said bed.