Wednesday 20 April 2011

Road trip

My lovely friend and I have been on a couple of road trips lately and it's been fun, just me and her, no boys around, we chat endlessly, laugh heartily and make each other smile. She drives, I don't so it's a real treat going out to the countryside for me. We found this great garden centre with prices so low we couldn't believe it. We got loads of plants and strawberries for our gardens,






 It was huge inside, these pics show just a tiny part of it, what a lovely place to see all variety's of plants. We each spent around £20 and my friend had to put her back seats down, the boot was full we got that much. The car looked and smelled lovely, all flowery.




I saw these and had to take a photo, they remind of old time America, not that Ive ever been!!




 We went to a craft barn and I managed to sneak a piccy of this little fellow, how cute is he, they had some lovely things but not in my budget. It was nice to look around though and get some inspiration.

A few Saturdays ago whilst the boys and men watched football, I went to the kitchen and started baking ( after staying up till 3am watching " the next great baker" ) I love that show, I started off by making some lemon cup cakes and some welsh cakes, they are yummy. I then thought what the heck and carried on making popcorn, little wraps and lots of store cupboard things like crisps, party rings etc. I got out all my teapots and cups and saucers and set the table, we each had our own teapot as we each drink different things. There was loads more on the table by the time I had finished, these are early photo's.




The game was over and I called them in, they had no clue to what I had been doing and was very surprised and really pleased especially Chris who recently said how he misses parties. We find it difficult eating at parties etc because we are dairy free, don't have any chemicals, pesticides, preservatives, additives etc. So it get a bit blah always taking a packed lunch to parties!. We had a great time and the boys kept asking why are we celebrating!! I said lets just celebrate having each other, guess what?, they answered with a loud groan :)

Sunday 10 April 2011

busy as a bee

So long between posts again - naughty blogger!!, I have just been so busy creating, baking, gardening, having days out with a lovely friend, having fun and sleeping!, I seem so exhausted of late, think it has something to do with the glorious weather which makes me get up early and want to fill my day, so by tea time I'm ready for my pj's and cosying on the sofa. I have been sewing presents for friends including this cushion
 I loved it so much I didn't want to give it away, I want to make more like this but in different materials so I'm not a copy cat!! I have also made and sold 5 Russian doll cushions which was fantastic, it gave me some extra money to spend on the garden. I made this very lovely even if I do say so myself, rabbit, he has  lavender and pearl barley base to sooth little ones to sleep. It was a commission for my friends nephew. I am in the middle of making a pink one for my dresser!, if you know anyone who would like a flopsy rabbit for a loved one they are £9.50 excluding postage, get in touch.
We have 3 new additions to the family, no I haven't had triplets;), some more chickie's, a lovely lavender and 2 blue araucana chickens. They are so different to our last lot, these seem to grow so quickly and eat so much. We do think 1 could be a rooster though so we are hoping we are wrong as we can not have a rooster in our garden, the neighbours hate us enough already!!

We have been so busy sorting out the garden, my handsome fellow has made some raised beds (how much compost does it take to fill them-phew!!) I have been sowing seeds and spending all spare time in the garden faffing and hoping for sun, which has blessed us this week with it's presence.
 Doesn't look much now but it will soon fill up hopefully. Under the duvet which is keeping the compost warm for planting we found a big fat frog, she stayed there for 3 days and then laid her tadpoles, I moved them into the pond and fretted if I had done the right thing in interfering, but I saw her yesterday swimming about and the tadpoles looked fine too.
 growing strawberries, lots of the all around the garden and rhubarb under some salvaged windows...
mint and nasturtium's around the pond, I have willow growing all along the fence too so hopefully by summer I won't be able to see the neighbours!! I have chillies and tomatoes in the greenhouse, peas, lettuce, spring onion, lots of different herbs, potatoes, sweetcorn, runner beans, french beans and carrots growing inside on my windowsills and table. I just love the feel of soil on my hands and watching new seeds sprouting through the soil, it's like a little miracle. I have 3 craft fairs coming up over the month so I need to get sewing, but I'm so easily distracted when the sun is out, I want everyday to be an adventure :)