It's such a joy to work with silver. Here's my little bauble charm which I'll finish tomorrow... It started life as a 0.8mm sheet of silver... Tad da!
Flipping heck...! I knew today was a day to stay in bed! So many unusual things have happened. Things that never happen and make today an extraordinary day. Hard hats on... Nerves on alert... it's Friday 30th January.
I think we all experience days when things don't go quite to plan. One incident, and we just ignore it. Two incidents and we begin to notice. Any more than two and it becomes a hard hat day
I started the day feeling lazy having woken up rather late. I'd kept the eiderdown on my bed which is like sleeping under a brick. I think it stops me from waking up, which has to be a good thing. I decided to cook the rhubarb that I bought this week. I trimmed, chopped and poached my plump, cherry red sticks of new season rhubarb until they were just soft. I added a little honey and a pile of plump cranberries, returned it to the heat to warm through then spooned into thick yoghurt. That was a nice surprise!
Work has been extremely demanding all week. I've even begun to count the emails I've sent, which isn't a good sign. I had my xmas tree recycling incident, which was a new experience. Then I filled my car with diesel and the cut off didn't work. I only realised when I noticed a puddle on the ground under my tyre and a pool of diesel running down the side of my car. I know it's cheaper than it was but hey, it's still not what I'd use to wash my car!
This evening I've booked into my hotel and I know the walls of most hotels are paper thin. That's why I choose ones with large chunky keys and thick walls! I've already been treated to the tv on one side and a phone alarm going off continuously on the other. It's a lovely place to stay so I hope it doesn't spoil my stay.
I've just finished dinner and a large table of lads from the private school down the road, celebrating a birthday, asked for the fire to be lit. The room gradually filled with smoke, to the point that they had to open the windows and I've come to sit in the coffee room. It's all good humoured here and not a problem but it does bring my total of incidents to +4.
Here's a quote from my horoscope for today...
" Problems provide purpose. We all know what we are supposed to be doing if we have a difficulty to resolve or an obstacle to get round. As long as we feel reasonably capable of rising to that challenge, we can take some pleasure in playing the role of a troubleshooter. "
Keep the challenges coming - there are still 4 hours to go!
Today, the bin men, who are clearly the refuse police, decided not to take my bits of xmas tree that I'd put out by my bin. They took everything else but deemed it not worthy to ride in their wagon - muppets!
It was the right day - tick! It was even green bin week - tick! But doh, I put the cut branches in black bin bags - bad girl! They could clearly see the pine needle clad branches trying to fight their way out of the bags. And the nobbly trunk wrapped up in plastic. What's a girl to do, I asked myself?
I decided it was time I found the local tip! I'm quite proud of myself because I've managed to avoid the experience the whole time I've lived here, a fact of which I'm constantly amazed. But today was going to be the day I gave in and used my lovely car as a skip!
I needed to find a recycling place that would take two big bags of branches and the 6 foot long trunk! I did my google homework and merrily drove to the local recycling centre only to find the postcode must have been wrong... How annoying! So I drove back into Nailsworth to have lunch and rethink my strategy. The nice girl in Hobbs explained that I hadn't driven far enough along the road so back I went until I found the tip and have safely deposited my tree down the Shute. The only signs of it now are the few pine needles left in the boot of my car which will no doubt hand about until next Xmas! Aw well, it was lovely while it lasted!
2014 was such a great year for so many reasons. There were goals, challenges, easy rides and hostile takeovers and all were managed with my usual aplomb! If I didn't enjoy them, I didn't let on. If I loved them, then everyone knew about it! Loving my life is my goal and although it's not always easy, I try my best. That's all I ask of myself..
Here are just a few of the many amazing highlights of 2014…
January brought new light to my home. I bought a Lee Broom bulb and I know it's not to everyone's taste but it fits mine perfectly. I love the crystal, the shape, the design.. and after just one year, I still love it as much as the very first time I saw it.
Too many to mention, I love attending live performances and this year I managed to cram in Swan Lake, Gary Barlow, Elvis tribute, Cirque De Soleil, Paul Hollywood, Malvern Quilt show, Strictly with the Stars, Athletics, Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Hucklow scrapping, and discovered Stourhead gardens.
I spent glorious days away with Mom on the edge of Dartmoor at Middle Hole farm, Cheltenham races, Ginger weekends filled with fun and fab food! Everyone needs a friend like Ginger to bring out the crazy in them ;)
I did try new stuff and went flying in a propellor glider with Gordon, saw Roberta Flack at Chelts Jazz festival, enrolled on a silversmith course and learnt how to play with silver to make beautiful rings.. oh, me, oh my..
I went with Mom to Wimbledon, arranged a family trip to Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, secret Sunday, dinner at Liz's, Wet. Wet, Wet at the races, NEC Quilt show, Cowslip studios...
I got some pampering at Malvern Spa, was waited on hand and foot by the wonderful Rachael and Greg on my visit to Hungary, had a most wonderful evening with Ginger at Giffords Circus, more pampering at Hoar Cross Hall, tapped my feet to Riverdance with Mom and had a brilliant time at Jeremy's birthday bash!
October is always one of my favourite months and this year was no exception. I saw Judy Dench, Alan Titchmarsh, wine lunches and had some wonderful adventures at the Lit Festival with the highlight being the poetry reading with Lewis and McCrory - awesome!
The big hitters for 2014 were Lady Gaga (who I've secretly wanted to see for ages! she didn't disappoint), saw the adorable Michael Buble, enjoyed more Hucklow, more Malvern and hid myself away at the amazingly, rejuvenating Dormy House Spa. I laughed at Fascinating Aida with Diane and Lisa, I had an intriguing evening with Gordon in Stow and enjoyed another wonderful Ginger weekend in County Durham.
December saw another fab holiday, this time at Otterton, with food from Darts Farm and walks along the beach at Budleigh Salterton. I went to the Good Food show, had a close encounter with the girl with the kitten and delighted in becoming an instant grandma x2! If nothing else happened in 2014 and I lay like a dormant lion for the remainder of the year, the little fact of my status being elevated to 'grandma' has to be the best thing that's happened to me in a long, long time!
Of course, there has to be a few disappointments, sad happenings and things that don't go to plan which in 2014 included a minor happening - the worst work xmas party EVER! And some much larger, more difficult occasions where I said goodbye to Uncle Vernon and in September, our little Wilf, who managed to touch so many people's lives at the tender age of just 3 years. He influenced us in ways we never imagined. He smiled through every minute of his short life and I have nothing but awe for his family. We all celebrated his amazing life and I am confident, his smile will be kept alive for many years to come.
And finally in December, with 25 wonderful advent gifts from Ginger to keep me smiling, I changed all my Xmas plans to look after my amazing Mother. It was tiring, it was tough, it was tinsel-less but I wouldn't change a thing. I have driven too many miles, drunk too much prosecco, spent far too much money on my chiropractor but it's all been worth it (so worth it!) and on the plus side, I am a few pounds lighter and looking forward to some hazy, lazy time in February when I can relax again.. that will be nice x
I love surprises, particularly when they are as nice as this one! I spotted a small write up about the Cowslip Workshops on one of those Devon tourist leaflets. Reading between the lines, which is a skill I'm working on, gave me the impression they were worth a visit and Wow, I wasn't disappointed.
The cafe was buzzing and it reminded me of a French bistro/cafe at Monet's garden. Oodles of chic style, delicious fresh food, seating outdoors and in, all hidden away down a long track leading to a sweet little farm. The quilt shop is 'something else'...!! Packed with Moda and other wonderful fabric brands, this is the serious end of quilting heaven.
Given that Mom had asked if there was anything I'd like her to make for me, I dived straight in and bought fabric to make a half size quilt for my bed. Rock on Mother!!
They do courses thought the year so I've signed up to their mailing list and will be back!
It must be my age. That realisation that life is precious so wasting a single moment on the process of winding down from work seems pointless. I finished work for a week's hols on Friday and already, I'm in Devonshire bliss. Bring on the balance!
There are few things nicer in my world than lovely people and special places. I'm with one of the most lovely people I know, my Mom, and in a very special hideaway on the edge of Dartmoor. I don't have a garden to sit in at home so being outdoors, and being able to write is a novelty, the pleasure of which isn't lost on me.
So what's the story? Yesterday's late afternoon secret spot will do for now. Sitting or a more accurate description would be lying, on a vintage deckchair reading Sunday's magazine. Feeling glad I succumbed to my whim and bought the half bottle of gin on our way home from the Cowslip Workshops so I could enjoy a G&T&orange in the later afternoon sun.
The bees and insects are buzzing, the birds are doing what birds do and I'm happy ;-)
with more to follow...
It's not home cooked in my home but it's as delicious and tastes just like it might have been but it's not just any ordinary meal. It is fact a delicious salad lovingly prepared by none other then one of the Baker Bros. I feel privileged to live in such a beautiful area so to discover that one of the best lunch time haunts in the Corswolds is on my doorstep, is a real treat. Today I had a fabulous salad which was dressed beautifully, certainly better than yours truly, with wonderfully soft curd cheese - yum!
Wild and very wet, today we were mad enough to walk in the pouring rain to visit the swollen river Severn at Bewdley.
I'm really fortunate to have the most amazingly, fab friends. Last weekend for example, five of us sat down for lunch. There was my adorable college friend Fi, who has me to blame for her crafting fetish. Her husband, Rob, Top Totty, who is a wizz at money-saving tips! His cousin, Karen, who I'm getting to know gradually, little by little and who brought me lovely tulips and a bottle of apricot brandy. That scores her brownie points in my book! And her partner daredevil Tom who oozes charisma and always fits in and seems to smile a lot. They're all sporty, which is enlightening for me. They all eat well, which makes me feel my efforts are worthwhile. They all get on with each other well, which means I don't have to try. Which in turn means I can have a lovely time too. Win, win, win!
Fi has the photos of my lovely friends!
There's a tiny piece of sanity in my world and this is it! A cup of coffee, a tasty light snack and something to read. It's not much to ask really but knowing it's not possible unless I'm at home makes it all the more special. Do you know that feeling you get when your head and heart are simultaneously happy? If you do, you'll know what sanity feels like.
My crazy work/life has taken over 14 hours + of my day, which makes treating myself immensely important. When I leave for work on a Monday, it honestly feels like I'm holding my breath. Nothing is quite the same again until I'm working from home again, which could be 3 days later. I'm up before 6am, in work just after 7am and I'm on the hamster wheel then until at least 4pm, when I'll get into my car, drive home and usually enjoy cooking a meal before I start work again. Honestly, it's no life for a girl like me! But hey, it's the life I've chosen for now so I just need to find how to shift it, twist it, just 5% is all I need to make a difference.Happy days ;)) x
Woo hoo, I love a challenge! Ginger Claire and myself had such a fab weekend last week playing with paper and glue that we've decided to take part in the Papertrey Ink Make it Monday Challenge every single week! It may be pouring down with rain here in the UK, but it's definitely a sunshine day for crafting. Here's my pretty honeycomb hello ;) using a PI die to reveal PI text style paperstock beneath. I've stamped using my PI natural beauties stamp set (on loan from MGC) using hibiscus pink ink and added a sweet PI hello from Trendy tree tops stamp set. All in all, a triumph of engineering, stamping and a fitting start to our PI Make it Monday challenges!
PI stamping is my most favourite stamping in the whole wide world. It's just so easy, everything works a treat and results are guaranteed, which for me is a real bonus!
I enjoy the creative process of making a card and whether it takes me an hour, a day or a whole weekend, that doesn't matter to me. I definitely subscribe to the quality over quantity scenario. I love th precision of this gorgeous diamond patterned card. Every tiny details is covered in Nichole's blog, even the colour and positioning chart so I know what to stamp where and in what colour. How fantastic is that?! It's not quite finished yet, but it's so pleasing to look at that it's made it onto my blog already! Roll on some 'me-time-craftime'...! ;) x
T
A friend bearing gifts is like an enormous hug. A friend bearing a huge carrier bag of gifts (all for me!) takes me back to my childhood. I'll admit it, I haven't opened so many presents all in one go for a long, long time and I loved it!
There are some things that my friends know about me and one is that I love stationery! I have never lost that addiction to newly sharpened pencils and a clean page in a brand new notebook. The crack you hear when you open a notebook that's never seen the light of day before. Paper clips and all the paraphernalia that you used to cram into your beloved pencil case when you were at school. MGC knows me very well indeed! Enough Green & Black chocolates to sweeten my Springtime, oodles of smashing stationery, a pretty case of pampering goodies, and a book & CD on my all time icon - Marilyn Monroe. And more.... ;)
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