Hello again...

I am somewhat ashamed of not having posted since January. This is partly because I haven't done any crafting at all, and partly because life has been on fast forward. Things are going to change though, I've joined a crafty group at work and we've started to meet once a week, so watch this space....

An Award!

Right, I've finished wallowing in self pity, thank you for your kind messages, they made me smile and I managed to gain some perspective!

I have been a very lucky person, Michelle from Frecklepuss (isn't that the best blog name?!) has awarded me with this:

I am so flattered, thank you so much Michelle!

The rules are that I have to write seven things about me, and then I get to award the award to some deserving (and stylish!) blogs. It's taken me a while to think of everything, so apologies to Frecklepuss for having to wait so long for my post...

I've decided to do this in two posts, so here's part 1:

Seven random things about me:

I have a dangerous weakness for Cadbury's Creme Eggs

I've lived in America and China

My happiest moments are spent dancing madly round the house, with my two Little People, to very loud music (I'm not admitting to what music, that would be a step too far!)

I'm bilingual in English and French

I loathe crysanthemums

I met my husband when we were both rowing (on a river)

I am spotting grey hairs on a daily basis now, but can't decide whether to colour them or not!

Now who do I pass the award on to? Watch this space...

Homemade Christmas presents

It's been a while since I've blogged about my 20 Minuters pledge, partly because I haven't had my camera handy and partly because I have to admit I haven't strictly done 20 minutes of craft every single day. But today, I am glad to report, I've more than made up for my lack of crafting.

I have another cold, can you believe it? I felt so ropey this morning that I didn't go to work. Usually I battle on but today I just couldn't. Sitting watching daytime TV was very depressing, so in the end I went to get my sewing machine, gathered a blanket around me, and got started on a project I've been dying to do all year.

I have coveted this little house for so long, but I lack confidence when it comes to using the sewing machine so imagine my surprise when I managed this:

It isn't finished, but I am so chuffed with it I couldn't wait to post it! I'll do a final 'tada' (and show off the cute floor boards) when I've put in the fireplace and doors and windows. This one is for a very good friend's 2 year old, but I want to do another for Little Miss. If you like it, the tutorial is very easy to follow, and there's a Flickr group who offer huge amounts of inspiration (I really love the bird box!)

I also joined a Secret Santa last week, so I crocheted this scarf for some 'lucky' person:

 I'm not sure about it but it's too late now!

Food for Thought

I have been busy being busy recently, so my blog has been sadly neglected. I wasn't sure what to write about, until this cake taught me some valuable lessons.

We have a glut of these at the moment:


So I surfed the net and found a recipe for raspberry cake. As I was making it I started to have misgivings. You know when you're making something and you have a nagging feeling that you should change it, but then just follow the instructions to the letter? Well that's just what I did. As I took the cake out of the oven, it looked beautiful and I started to doubt those feelings, but I can now safely say 'I was RIGHT!'. The Little People and Big Man each had a slice. They eagerly sank their teeth into the soft sponge, but soon pronounced it disgusting, it's not often a cake grows mould in our house...

So what did I learn from this little episode? Well, if something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts; just because something looks good doesn't mean it is and of course, don't follow random recipes from the internet and expect to get fabulous results every time. Not bad for one small cake, maybe I'll make it again...!

Growing my own Pimms...

It has been a while since I updated my blog. I was doing so well in April, then life happened and my blogging went out of the window. But I have some great excuses:
I had to make my hat for our friend's 40th birthday medieval banquet (my brother and his girlfriend looked after Little Man and Little Miss ALL night!). We stayed up past 1:00 am for the first time in years!
I have the photos to make a hat tutorial, but I'm not sure there's much demand for pointy princess hats!
My blanket has been making ever slower progress (largely due to there being too much work and not enough people at work!), here it is just in case you don't believe me:

Then as my Darling Man started his usual spring seed planting frenzy, I thought I might join him. As he planted tomatoes and carrots, I thought growing the ingredients for Pimms might be more interesting. I started with Borage seeds (the flowers go in the drink), and they're doing well:

My Mint is looking less promising:

I wonder if my Parsley, which is doing far better, could act as a substitute? ;)

Maybe not!
I was going to try cucumber but, after the experience of courgette overload one year, I thought better of it! I'll post a picture of the Pimms later in the summer - promise.
It's been lovely catching up with everyone else again. I'd better plunge back into the rat race again now, there's ironing, shoe polishing and packed lunches to do before I go back to work tomorrow - no rest for the wicked!

The Bumble bee Pub

I've never kept a diary, so this is the closest I've ever come to recording the little events of my life. I've found that I really enjoy looking back and reading about things I had forgotten about. So this is a short post about a small event that made me smile, I hope it does the same for you!

Last weekend we were out in the garden enjoying the sunshine, mowing the lawn and planting seeds. The Little People were eager to 'help' as always. I asked Little Miss where the trowel was and she pointed to the flowers in the picture and said "it's where the bees go for a drink!" I loved that - we have a bumblebee pub in our garden!

We also have a drunk frog! I don't go in for ornaments in my garden, but being half French, I had to have this little chap:

A slow and simple Sunday...

I ordered this book from Amazon last week. I loved the idea and it had some good reviews, so I thought, why not?

Well, I have been inspired. The whole book is about enjoying the simple things in life without spending loads of money. As a result, I got very busy doing simple things today.

We went to church this morning. The Little People were chuffed to bits when they found out that it was 'doughnut day' (the Parish Centre provides doughnuts after Mass every so often, and today was the day!).

Then we had to rush back because a lovely man was coming to give us a quote for redecorating the hall (Big man wants to do it, but I can't face the very extended period of mess and grumpy husband!).

I went into the garden and got busy planting seeds - cosmos, foxgloves, parsley, borage and I'll be doing the mint tomorrow evening. I think I may have overdone it - I'm not sure where I'm going to put all these plants, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it!

By this point Little People were getting antsy, so after lunch we wandered down to the park. The sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky, it was absolutely glorious. We stopped at the ice cream van (I'm not sure if ice cream is sold out of a van anywhere else, is it just an English thing?), went down to the river to watch the boats. It was The Head of the River race today (I didn't know, so it was a great surprise), there were eights, fours and single and double sculls all pootling up and down. The Little People spent some time in the playground, and I read the Weekend book, pushing swings as required. Finally I got bored, so we walked up the river to the weir, watched a couple of boats go up and down in the lock and wandered back home for tea.

I left the Little People in front of the TV (I know, bad mother, bad mother!) and mowed the lawns. Needless to say, I'm absolutely exhausted and I'm not sure I'm following the spirit of Elspeth Thompson's book, but I had a lovely time. If you have chance to look at the book, see what you think.

Very sadly Elspeth died last month. Having read her Weekend book and paid a few visits to her blog, I feel the world is a duller place without her. My thoughts are with her family.

On a different note, Big man is still in Houston on business and I'm starting to wonder if he'll make it back next Saturday if the volcano keeps going as it is... The novelty of being a single parent has warn off and I just want him home now!

I went to Bath for a bath

I've just spent the day at Thermae Bath Spa. One of my best friends got vouchers for her 40th (almost a year ago!) and asked me to go along with her!

It was blissful! We floated in the roof top pool in the natural thermal spring water, where the sky was blue, the water was warm and the breeze, as we got out, was somewhat bracing! After that rather indulgent start, we made our way down to the bottom of the building for our session in the Kraxen Stove (where we were steamed to medium rare). We had a lovely lunch and then floated in more hot pools (indoors this time!) until it was time for my friend to go and have a whole afternoon of treatments (it's a hard life!). I made my way to the steam rooms which was definitely the best bit of the whole thing, it's a bit like a space age take on the Roman bathing experience.

I came out totally relaxed and wandered round Bath window shopping. Obviously, homage was paid to the Cath Kidston shop, numerous shoe shops were visited, I took a tour of Laura Ashley and found a very lovely shop called Vinegar Hill on Milsom Street, they have a very basic website here. However, I am proud to say I bought nothing!

Although, the reason for the lack of purchases may have been because I soon discovered that I'd left my mobile phone in the pocket of my spa bath robe. I rushed back and ask them to search through hundreds of wet robes to find it, and they did! Happy days!

Bath is one of my most favourite places in the whole world, so on the way back to the car I took some snaps - They're not good enough to be called photos! I didn't go past any of the famous places, so this is the 'ordinary' Bath, if a World Heritage Site can be 'ordinary'! Anyway, enjoy:



I loved the daffodils here, you can just make them out!


I didn't realise the motorbikes featured so prominently when I took this one!

I really needed this little outing. My Big Man went to Houston, on business, for two weeks last Sunday. I love the 'exclusive' time with the Little People, but I do find juggling everything alone a bit exhausting! Only eleven days to go!

Birdy took off...

You may or may not remember this little guy:

Well it was my Mother in Law's birthday, as usual (not that I'm bitter or anything) I was on present buying duty, and the said recipient was not forthcoming with present ideas. Although my MIL says she hates surprises, I have a sneaking suspiscion that she loves them really, because she always refuses to offer even a hint of what she might like for Christmas or birthdays.
Anyway back to the story. She came over this weekend and it was time to hand over her birthday gifts. I wrapped some soap (very artistically, even if I do say so myself!), some notelets, some chocolates and we had sent flowers on the day. Suddenly, I felt the offerings were a bit sparse so I rushed into our room grabbed Birdy from his perch on our headboard, wrapped him and sent him off to his new home. I miss his lavender scent and his sparkle. I can't believe I gave him away so easily! I'll have to get my crochet hook out again...

Busy, busy, busy

Little Man is on holiday so we've been getting busy, I thought I'd post a photo diary of our Tuesday (yes, it has taken me until now to post it!):
First, we went into town (the weather wasn't great)

Then we bought some needles from the haberdashers (I love these shops, they're so old fashioned and higgledy piggledy AND they have EVERYTHING!)

Then Little Man had to have his hair cut. He's been getting his haircut in this little barbers' for 6 years. Little Man started off screaming every time we went, but the lady who cut his hair charmed him (and the lollipop she gave him for being good, every time, helped too). But now the lady's moving away so the shop is closing, and no one cuts his hair better...I'm heartbroken

Finally, I found a bargain, and put the money my parents gave me for my birthday to good use. I haven't been able to sit on it yet though...Maybe one day!

Mug love

No, I'm not a mug in love. As you may have gathered from the picture, I'm in love with a mug. Sad but true.

I found the said mug as I wandered through the local farmers' market a couple of weeks ago. I came across a stall owned by Ken Mills. The pottery was very reasonable, and I loved the shape of the small mugs. But it was only when I had my first cup of tea that I realised it is perfectly shaped for my hand, the colour is perfect and they provide just the right amount of tea for me. Good thing I bought four!

As I said: Mug love! Have you got mug love too?

Me and R White's Lemonade...

When I was growing up there was an advert on TV about a secret lemonade drinker, if you're interested you can watch it here:

R White's Lemonade advert .

Be warned! You really won't get the tune out of your head once you've heard it...

Anyway, I was reminded of R Whites in a meeting today. Someone wanted to know how many people Twittered, how many were on Facebook and how many had a blog. I was the only one who blogs. Everyone wanted to know the name of my blog, and that was where things got a bit complicated. You see, no one knows I blog, I am (like the secret lemonade drinker) a secret blog writer, and I like it that way! I love meeting new people and reading comments from people I've never met, it really makes my day, but I also love the anonymity of blogging. Is anyone else like me, or am I just unique (weird!)?

We went to London to see...

My two little things have grown up listening to Big Ben dong, at 6 o'clock on Radio 4, every night since they were babies. So during half term last week, when I suggested going to London for the day, Little Man was desperate to see the source of the dongs. Big Man was in Houston on business, so we took photographs of our trip for him. I thought I'd post them here too.
We went on the train, and took the tube (spot the toothless wonder!)

...to...

We saw Big Ben...

...and Horse Guards in Whitehall...

...and finally got to the British Museum.
It was a long day and we didn't get to see the Queen, but I'd do it again (I'm a glutton for punishment!)

Happy New Year!

New Year all seems so long ago now. We had a great time we went to two, yes two, parties (and who says your social life takes a step back after children?!).

The first one was held by some friends who are emigrating to Perth, they should have gone yesterday (if the snow didn't stop them). The Little People had a great time and made loads of new friends, they were all haring about shoving as many sweets into their mouths as they could. The husband is Italian so he made us a beautiful sausage and lentil stew to ensure we got luck (the sausages) and money (the lentils) in the new year.

Then we set off for the next party, at other friends, where we all had a huge meal and everyone (even the smallest) stayed up 'til midnight. Just before midnight, we all marched out of the back door of the house (boy was it cold outside), sang Auld Lang Sine, watched all the fireworks that were going off around us, and then the darkest haired child was given a lump of coal and led us back through the front door of the house, to welcome in the new year.

It was lovely!

A life list

Nabbed from here and here.
Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band
4. visited hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to disneyland/world
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the mona lisa in France
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden a gondola in venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen niagara falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen michelangelo's david in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. visited africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. had your portrait painted
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the sistene chapel in person
50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkelling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theatre
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of China
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies.
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a cheque
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guard in London
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book (this one's a bit of a cheat - I work for a publisher!)
81. visited the vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the white house
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone’s life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the alamo in person.
96. swum in the great salt lake.
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee

I'm a bad mother - tell me something I didn't know!

Why do people always want to make mothers feel bad about the choices they make? I haven't met a mother yet who doesn't live with self-inflicted guilt every day - did we smile just the right way when they came into our rooms at 6:30am? Do they really understand just how much we love them? Are they eating the right things? Have they done enough exercise today? Have we done everything we can to make sure they succeed in class, in the playground, in life? No matter what we do we'll never get rid of that nagging doubt that we should be doing something more.

So when a 'study' came out last week saying that the children of working mothers are more likely to be obese, watch more TV, eat more sweets (candy) and do less exercise than the children of stay at home mothers, I was annoyed! Then someone else announced that daughters of working mothers perform better in school, are more confident and have more successful careers than daughters of mothers who stay at home, I was even more incensed!

I should clarify, at this point, that I'm a working mum four days a week and a stay at home mum three days a week, so according to the two studies I'm either the best or worst mother around! I get really annoyed with sweeping statistics that are used by people who have their own personal agendas. They want to make other people feel bad for not making what they see as the 'right' choices. Most mothers are doing the best they can, if that's not good enough for other people I don't care, as long as the children are happy and loved.

By the way, neither of my children are obese, they are both (too) confident, watch a maximum of 5 hours of TV a week, walk, run, swim and eat sweets (!) but most importantly they are deeply loved, and they know it! Instead of a yummy mummy, I think I've turned into a smuggy mummy - can't decide which is worse!

Now I can go to bed without that nagging guilty feeling tonight, by tomorrow morning I'll have thought of something else I won't have done...