Posy

That Friday Feeling

Ooh, it's been a long week. A week when I've had to work full time..oh the horror! And Tom had to go to court about his mugging. He was brilliant, I was so proud of how he handled the situation and the person was found guilty. It was a stressful experience for us all but it's finished now and it's Friday. The sun is trying to shine and the weather forecast for the weekend looks good, my pots, well my buckets are beginning to burst forth with flowers and my 'new' collection is looking blooming too.  These pictures have been found at my recent car boots as I'm trying to create a wall of flowers in the sitting room. I did want only embroidered pictures but think I might extend it to paintings too.  So, now I'm trying to decided if I should paint the frames of the 2 tiny oil paintings..hmm. Anyway, I will show you when it's all up, which hopefully should be this weekend.  I say 'should be' because the house is outrageously messy and it will take some time to get things in order...better get going - have a super weekend.

Just a quickie

There is no photo accompanying this post on the grounds of decency.  Yup, I had a couple of incidents today at school that caused a bit of a kerfuffle.  At sometime during the morning I had to leave class and use the toilet.  I then realised that I needed to make a quick phone call and was standing in the staff room, phone in hand when I heard my name being shouted rather urgently, "Jane!"  I looked up and saw a colleague frantically gesturing to my behind..yeah you guessed it..I had my skirt tucked into my knickers and tights! I quickly adjusted myself and thought what a lucky escape the children in my class had- not to mention giving anyone on the way back to the class room an eyeful!

It was later in the afternoon when I visited the toilet again.  As I washed my hands I ran through in my head how I could word the whole funny incident for the blog and made sure I had adjusted my skirt. As I quickly left to go back to class the most enormous screech of laughter filled the staffroom and a voice boomed out, "AHHHH, STOP! JANE STOP! JANE!" People came running to see what had happened and fell about laughing. I looked on confused and then saw a looong trail of toilet paper snaking behind me!  I had somehow tucked the end of the roll into my knickers/tights!  What silly girl.

I think the combination of a skirt with a lining and a very strong, twangy elastic waistband on my tights was the problem. Once was OK but twice...what a day!  I'm now off to take them off - well, it's far too warm for tights isn't it?!

All sorts, with much rambling on my part

This is an 'all sorts' post, you know, a post full of bits and pieces - which was a bit like our bank holiday weekend, some good, some bad. Let's get the bad bit over with first...I'm seriously have 'sewer's block' if there could be such a thing!  I'm feeling a touch overwhelmed by life and can't seem to get myself motivated to either; stick at something I've started making or, more importantly, start something new.  It doesn't help that I can never find a space at the dining room table as there always seems to be someone there before me. Household chores are mounting, the children have exams looming and everywhere I look there seems to be piles of stuff.  Stuff, stuff and more stuff. Actually it's more like stuff and dirt and laundry. My car booting didn't result in much too..I'm sure you get the picture. The weather didn't help as most of the weekend was grey. Warmish but grey. Warmish enough to have our first cup of tea at our outside table. Have you noticed my teapot? That was a gift from my father and my husband. I found it in Ludlow and yearned for it but it was too expensive for me to justify buying it even though it goes with my rose tiered cake stands; but it's gorgeous pink rosiness kept creeping into my mind and the family got fed up with me standing in Zani Lady (my favourite Ludlow shop) looking at it..so those 2 wonderful men bought it for me and, which is even more hilarious, agreed to have their photo taken holding it for the blog! The photo looks totally ridiculous with one holding the spout and the other the handle..so it remains 'unposted'. Do I hear a phew?!

Next, I found this box on Amanda's stall in Totnes on Friday.

It is made from vintage cards which have had holes punched into them and then been crocheted together. I love it but prefer some of the pictures on the inside so am considering unpicking it and re-making it with the nicer pictures on the outside. Does anyone know if these type of boxes had a name and does anyone have any ideas how to do the crochet bit?  I'm a bit scared to unpick it but it does bother me that you can't see the best pictures; my favourite is the small side picture of the anemones and yellow rose sprig. Anyway, I'll be interested in your opinion.

And lastly,

I've been meaning to show you my new bedside lamp. I originally bought it last summer in Zani Lady for the girls' room. It needed rewiring and it's taken me all this time to do it. What I love about this lamp is that it is a product of other people's kindness. Firstly, the lady in Zani Lady. Before I bought it I was dithering about whether it could be rewired so she let me take it out of the shop, (without paying,no less) to get an opinion from the electrician up the road. She didn't know me and I thought that was very trusting of her, even though I left her one of my children!  Secondly, when I decided recently that I could wait no longer and I must have it fixed; I was told that there would be a 14 day wait.  A fellow customer overheard and being an electrician, did the necessary rewiring then and there, in the shop - and charged me nothing! And finally, after making a total hash of trying to stick the beaded trim on the shade with double-sided sticky tape - sweet Lisa spent a good 45 minutes during our crochet afternoon sticking it on properly! So, every time I look at it I'm reminded of the kindness of strangers and the very considerable talent and patience of my dear friend..

..and that, my friends is the end of my ramblings...and this was only going to be a short post..!!

The Last Couple of Days

Yesterday

Going to school..'the lanes way.'

Can you see the Cow Parsley starting to froth - just waiting for me to stop the car and pick it! And the Red Campion (which I still call Pink Campion) has just arrived too I noticed; it looks lovely with the bluebells dotted around it. Yes, Spring is here along with it's very changeable weather, sun, torrential rain, strong winds, all in the space of an hour.

Today

Charity Shop finds.

..the blanket, in case you're wondering!  It's not very big, and the squares are actually much smaller than they appear in the photo, but perfect for snuggling on the sofa. Might even try again to put it on Tom's bed though I don't hold out much hope!

And some 70's pillowcases. Very flea market. I'm starting a collection of those bright, floral 70's (?) pillowcases as Lucy actually showed a smidgen of interest in them. So these might grace her bed.

..and lastly a peep at my almost planted up garden.  After many months of neglect and lack of enthusiasm on my part I had a lovely weekend last week getting reacquainted. Let's hope the sun stays around for the next.

Smeaton's Tower

The other night Anth and I took Tom and a friend to a concert in Plymouth. As we had a few hours to fill before we picked them up we thought we would go for dinner somewhere. We used to live in Plymouth and couldn't believe that 15 years had passed since we did. It was lovely to get reacquainted with familiar places - we didn't have long as the sun was going down so we headed to the Hoe as I wanted to photograph the lighthouse er.. tower. I love this lighthouse/tower. It is called Smeaton's Tower and you can read all about it's history here and here if you are interested.

Looking towards Sutton Harbour.

I just loved the light of the setting sun bouncing off the red and white paintwork and the cute little windows. I hardly took any photos of anything else! Shame.. but so understandable!

Mary

"Did you have a good weekend, Jane?"

"Morning Jane, do anything nice over the weekend?"

These were just some of the questions put to me this morning when I arrived at school. And my answer?

"Absolutely wonderful, thank you! I did many, many hours of gardening, (got through 320 litres of compost and I'm still yet to plant up my second lot of sweet peas in my 'new' enamel tin bath,) wasn't the weather lovely?  I went to 3 car boot sales as well which was pure bliss!"

(...and I spent my Saturday night scraping paint off of Mary and Baby Jesus...you know.. like you do on an average Saturday night...!)  I didn't actually say that but it was true and was one of the best parts of the weekend. I'm very excited about my new find at Saturday morning's car boot sale.  (Incidentally, for those of you who are wondering and have asked, a car boot sale is when a large group of people meet in a field, car park, race course etc and sell their unwanted items, usually from the back (boot) of their car.)  I nearly didn't buy it as I thought the family might really think that I had lost my marbles this time, but I did buy it and I'm so glad I did. So glad, and for £2 as well.

Brace yourselves...

...meet Mary and Baby Jesus

They are a bit damaged and have had paint flicked all over them, but I just love, love their faces, especially Mary's who looks so incredibly sad.

 

These are the before pictures. Who would let paint splatter all over such a beautiful chalkware statue? I'm afraid the 'after' pictures don't look that much better. I'm not sure if I should try and touch up the blue splotches or just leave it.

Recently I have become quite a fan of what I call 'flea market style.'  A eclectic mix of styles that seem to be quite fashionable at the moment (just take a peep at 'Flea Market Style' and 'Cheap Chic' by Emily Chalmers.)  I don't have a problem recognising pieces that fit that look but I do have a huge problem with cowardliness! Yes, I'm struggling big time in letting go of my safe colour co-ordinated schemes. I'm just not brave enough.  So when I saw the statue I thought how 'flea market' and then, how will I get this past the rest of the family! But I have and as soon as I placed her on the mantlepiece it just looked right. So good in fact. Good enough to take anyone who visited on Saturday to see her, including Tom's 19 year old friend Richard, who kindly indulged me and didn't visibly flinch.

So my transition to flea market style has begun...if I'm brave enough!

On my mantlepiece # 7

I was about to tell you that all the flowers on my mantlepiece were fake but then realised that the fabulous 'drum-stick' primulas (in the middle) are real.

But these are definitely not real and I love them -

my new knitted flowers.  Ooh, I feel a new project coming on..

Reasons to be cheerful - Little Embellishments

Duh...! I know I'm probably the last person (as usual!) to do this, but this weekend I did a spot of embellishing with lace - and this time it was not on my tea towels but my cheap supermarket T shirts. This simple act (why haven't I thought to do this sooner?  And it only cost a few pence.) has brought me great satisfaction, especially as I used the stretch stitch facility on my machine for the first time) and I proudly wore the first of 2 customized T shirts yesterday.

And did anyone notice? Er, no! But that hasn't stopped me now checking all my T shirts for lace or ribbon potential.  Now, a little ruffle here and there does wonders for one's cheerfulness

Clandestine Meetings

It was my habit of chatting to strangers that brought about a unique event for me during our stay in Ludlow.  I chat. A lot. To everyone and anyone but especially to old ladies. I like old ladies.  I was in an antique/junk shop in Leominster; a shop that went on for floors and floors and rooms and rooms and found a sweet vintage pillowcase for sale. When paying, sensing my pleasure at finding it, the lady who served me asked me if I 'liked that sort of thing and if I used them?'  Do I like that sort of thing??? I then gave her the full answer complete with descriptions of my linen cupboard and how long it took me to change our bedlinen (including the deliberations of whether it should be stripy, plain or floral topped with an eiderdown or crochet blanket. Embroidered pillowcases, or a lace trimmed bedspread or vintage blankets etc) and how I adore embroidered tablecloths and vintage hankies and that I think I was born in the wrong era. When her eyes finished glazing over she mentioned to me that she had 3 boxes of linens...would I be interested in them? Uh no! Of course I would! So that's how I found myself meeting an elderly lady in a Ludlow car park the next day for an 'exchange of goods!'

I had to smile at the craziness of it all and relished the look on Anth's face when I told him what I had arranged, though he says nothing surprises him anymore.  I spent hours before the meeting driving everyone crazy with my fretting at what would happen if I didn't like what she brought (and she'd gone to all that trouble) should I go through every item, how much she would she charge me, should I barter or would that be terribly rude.

So the next day I drove to the car park and looked out for a blue Nissan Micra.  I'm not sure if Ludlow has a drug problem but it could have the beginnings of a 'vintage linen' problem because if you look carefully on the car park CCTV I'm sure you will see 2 strange ladies exchanging money and 3 boxes being carried from one car to another.

This could be the start of a new habit!

My Kit

Can you guess what 'kit' this is for? The wellington boots are for the long wet grass and my new, funky, groovy, incredibly wonderful shopping trolley is for my treasures.  Yes, it's my new 'Car Boot Survival Kit' and I'm hoping to put it to good use tomorrow morning (please God let there be no snow storms this week!)  I'm thrilled with my shopping trolley.  I found it at Gazebo in Totnes on Friday - it was expensive but hopefully I will be using it a lot and not just for car boot sales.  The children think it's totally hideous and are refusing to go out with me if I have it; they think they now have proof that I'm officially 'an old lady.'  Well, I could go the whole hog and carry my crochet around in it and really embarrass them!

Tomorrow we are going to Ludlow for a few days so I'll be having a little blog break.  I have been particularly busy recently and apologise for not answering my emails - I will as soon as we return. And yes, my trolley will be going with me!

Crochet Afternoon

The scene was set for my friend Lisa to come over, at long last, for our 'crochet session'.  This is something we've tried to organise for sometime and I was really looking forward to it.  The children laughed, well scoffed would be more accurate, at me as I decided to set up a little tea table which looking at it now, looks barely worth it!  Why didn't I go the whole hog and arrange it with a cake stand and a vase of flowers - it looks quite ridiculous and (horror of horrors)...dull..a word that strikes fear into my heart!  It really does make me smile when I think back to Lucy's reaction when I asked her if she would, at some point in the afternoon, take a photo of the scenario for the blog....as she looked up at me from her studies, her face incredulous.."What do you want me to do? Are you joking? Take a photo of you two with the tea things in front of you? No, you are crazy!"

So I took the photos myself but it wasn't long before our quiet, girlie afternoon was interrupted - just as I had made the tea. Did I tell you weeks ago that our fridge had broken? Well, Anth had arranged for our friendly 'odd-job' man to come and remove the old fridge freezer before the new one (which has just arrived today) could be installed. So, there was banging, sighing, requests for screwdrivers, light switches having to be removed, the very loud whizzing of an electric saw, (tiny kitchen = tiny space = cutting off a cm of work top = every little helps!) sawdust flying everywhere and cats running around covered in cobwebs as they found a way behind the kitchen cupboards due to the removal of the fridge/freezer. Lisa and I sat with all this commotion going on but dissolved into giggles when every now and then a now separated fridge or freezer would pass by!

And just look at the filthy state of it - I was horrified (though it was between cupboards for 15 years, I hasten to add!)

Now that wasn't the afternoon I had been expecting but did we manage to do much crochet? Well let's say that a repeat of the afternoon is necessary minus household appliances passing before our eyes!

A Weekend of Firsts

Last weekend was a weekend of 'firsts' for 2008 - first car boot,  first time I sat behind my sewing machine and made something, first time in the garden and first time I have ever driven in a snow storm!

Right, let's start at the beginning and that was Saturday morning's car boot. Oh, it was so wonderful.  I've missed it so much...too much.

I also found a chimney pot which is awaiting a plant on our patio. I didn't find alot but I love what I did find. And it looks like I'll have all the answers to the questions of the universe to as I found God's answer book!

On Sunday, I was up very early to do my most favourite of car boot sales.  The neighbours that usually take me couldn't go so I decided I would go myself. Bad move.  I ended up taking a wrong turn and it suddenly started to snow heavily. Yes snow! I found myself trying to drive with huge flakes hurtling at the windscreen it got a bit icy and the car even skidded at one point. I have never driven in snow and I didn't like it. So, after driving for over an hour I headed back home, very disappointed, where there was bright sun. Crazy British weather.

I spent the afternoon at my sewing machine.  I have been suffering with a bad case of sewing-block but I ended up making..

..a new pair of kitchen curtains (not working curtains)

..a 'bed pouch' for my ever growing pile of books and magazines by my bed..

..and 2 tablecloths made from some Cath and Green Gate fabric and I also sewed 2 pairs of single sheets (lilac ones)together to make them fit our king size bed. It felt good to be at my machine again.

And today (Monday) I spent some time in the garden tidying up before my annual trip to Hill House Nursery hopefully sometime this week.

And tomorrow?  I finally have my crochet-date with lovely Lisa, so it will be a 'chatting over a pot of tea, maybe in front of the fire, crochet' afternoon...and I can't wait.

Tea Anyone?

Look what I found in a lovely shop in Shaftesbury called 'The Little Red Hen.'  It's a badge made by Poppy Treffry .  Now I'm probably the last to discover her but I just fell in love with this little badge - you know the scenario - wander around the small shop, spot the badge, pick it up, exclaim "Ah, how sweet!" really loudly, turn it over, see the price, quickly put it down, carry on browsing, find myself infront of the basket of badges again, pick it up, turn it over and read the back,

appreciate the little message, stare at the badge, want the badge, can't justify the cost of the badge, put it down, move on, find myself picking up the badge again...etc. My mother bought it for me in the end. I think her words were, "I'll buy it for you if we can leave right now!"

I'm so glad she did. Do take a look at Poppy's website if you haven't clicked the above link (you will find another on my sidebar).

I would like to thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. Tom has read all your comments (he never reads my blog usually) and is most touched by your concern. I was grateful for the balance it hopefully will bring him - for every nasty person there will be at least 20 lovely people!  Mmm I'm not sure of the true ratio but I truly believe that most people are kind and decent and the best of them read this blog!

The Good and Bad

The Bad ~ Oh dear friends, I have just experienced one of my 'Top 10 of Worst Days.' On Monday afternoon Tom was mugged on his way home from town. He had gone to buy Alice a birthday present and was followed and cornered. The culprit demanded his beloved ipod, mobile phone, wallet (complete with our front door key and address.) Thankfully he wasn't hurt but he thought the thief had a knife and was told that he would be shot or stabbed if he told the police.  He duly handed everything over and came back home very shaken, shocked and angry.

For the next 36 hours we have had numerous phone calls and visits to the police station. Incredibly, the culprit was identified, caught, and is still being held in custody. Tom's belongings haven't been found (I'm sure we will never see them again) and he is devastated to lose his ipod which he had worked hard for and saved to buy.  As his mother my emotions are all over the place. I feel incredible anger, not only with the culprit but with his parents for whatever is lacking in their child's life that made him think that this was acceptable behaviour. I'm also angry with society that makes it unsafe in a sleepy seaside town to walk home at 4.30 pm in the bright sunlight. But mostly I am grateful. Grateful that my beautiful boy is safe and that the police found the perpetrator. I'm trying to stay positive and think about what he will learn from this horrid experience but I feel I could cry as I re-live the scenerio everytime I close my eyes.  My peace of mind has been temporarily damaged and I feel my family is vunerable.

Now to the good ~

Alice's 13th birthday was slightly overshadowed with the previous afternoon's events but she was very understanding. We all went out for dinner but were a subdued group sitting around the table.

She's 13 now, and how my baby has grown and she is turning into such a lovely young woman with a kind heart, and a ready smile from a sweet mouth that is rarely quiet (so like her Mother - the noise, not the sweetness!)

She's also very keen at singing, which the neighbours could probably confirm, and unbeknown to them they will probably be hearing her more clearly as she got High School Musical Sing Star for her birthday, complete with 2 microphones. Mmm..well a star has to start somewhere doesn't she?

March Photos ~ Day 17

I can't believe that this is the last day of March and these will be my last March photos. As far as I'm concerned I've saved the best photograph till last.  Can you guess what it might be...?!

Yes, it's Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, my childhood home, and my most favourite view in the whole, wide world. My lovely mother and I had a morning there last Saturday.  She told me that my pre-school was in the building on the left, something I never knew, and again I wondered if my love of cottages and the English countryside is because of my childhood surroundings which have seeped into my subconscious.

I stood at the top of the cobbled hill, oohing and arhing as if it was the first time I had ever gazed at the wonderful view.  The market town of Shaftesbury is small and fairly ordinary but walk behind the Town Hall and this is the view you see; it just takes my breath away every time my eyes alight on it. I recently watched a programme on TV about Britain's favourite view and was dismayed to realise that this wasn't included. "Don't you think this is the best view you've ever seen?" I asked my mother breathlessly as she caught up with me. "Well, it's nice but I'm not sure if I would say it's the best I've ever seen," she replied.  I just shook my head and sighed even louder.

We then went to Sophie Perks Ward and I sighed some more at all the lovely Green Gate lovelies.

 

I'm doing plenty of sighing today too as I'm fighting a horrid virus which has left me feeling achy and weak; I had to come home early from school.  We have a birthday tomorrow - Alice will be 13 (much to her excitement) which means all my children are teenagers...teenagers..now that is something worth sighing about!

March Photos ~ Day 16

My weekend reading. I'm so excited and pleased for Amanda. It's raining, blowing a gale and I'm going to settle down and enjoy...

Happy Saturday!

March Photos ~ Day 15

This was the scene last Wednesday lunch time in a corner of our staff room. My lovely friend Lisa (who I used to go to Honiton Lace making classes about 26 years ago when we were 18; lost contact with for too many years and then met up again when she started working at my school) and I reserve 2 seats together...well reserve might be the polite word for proclaiming in a loud voice to the entire room that we were going to be 'Happy Hookers this lunch time and need 2 seats together - everyone is welcome to join us!'

And what fun we had, me crocheting my hearts and she crocheting a bag. We spread our books, wool and enthusiasm all over the room. Oh I had forgotten the absolute joy of crafting with others; the camaraderie, the support, the common goals.  I realised that for years I have crafted alone or being the only one to craft in a room, and I have really missed the encouragement, the gentle chatter, the all important discussions on whether one should use blue or green wool, and the slow wander around the room to do the weekly 'catch-up' with fellow crafters to see their progress with whatever they maybe making.

Yes, I really miss that. And with this in mind, Lisa and I will be moving from the school staff room to the warmth of my real fire and the soft cushions of my sitting-room, hopefully on a regular basis. My wish is that others may like to join us one day.  Oh, the possibilities!

Thank you for all your encouraging comments about teenagers yesterday. It's great to know I'm not alone. x

March Photos ~ Day 14 ~ Easter Weekend

Salisbury, Wiltshire.

The point of my March photos were just that, pictures and very few words.  Mmm.. I can't say that has really happened, it takes a lot to quieten me - those who know me know, that if there is a silence then I fill it; but if I want to sum up my experience last weekend it's in these words. Chains of Gold.

I have been having a difficult time with Tom over the last few weeks. We've been trying to teach our nearly 18 year old, first born, independence but when I see things done that are not how we've taught him; have to walk over several feet of discarded clothes and papers on his bedroom floor; watch him miss the school bus because he is not organized enough; have to search daily for lost items; etc it has been causing me a lot of pain and anguish. He is meant to be leaving home for university in a few months and..well..I'm sure you know what I mean.

On Friday, I took my place, in the quire of Salisbury Cathedral, for the Liturgy of Good Friday.  The Cathedral was quiet, dimly lit and as I knelt there my mind slowly began to quieten for the first time in days and I lifted up my eldest child in prayer. And it was then that I felt my burden slowly being lifted and an overwhelming feeling of not being alone and being able to share my worries with God.  Of course I've always known that but it was allowing the silence, the stillness, to permeate into my very being that made God feel so close.

Of course, those wonderful surroundings help and heavenly sound of the voices praising God.  The whole experience reminded me of a very old book I found 15 years ago in a charity shop (where else!) by a man called JR Miller D.D. It is called The Touch of Christ and is a series of essays. One has never left my mind and it's called Chains of Gold, which is about a line from a Tennyson poem about prayer'..the whole round world is every way, bound by gold chains about the feet of God.' His meaning is that by our intercessions for our loved ones we are ever winding new chains about them which are also wound about God himself.

'Men make rope out of many fine threads.  One thread alone will not bear much stress; but a thousand threads twisted together make a mighty cable which will hold the ship against the storm. So home prayers may seem weak threads as they are breathed out from trembling lips; but thousands of them make a mighty cable that binds the child to the throne of God. Every prayer makes the cable stronger and binds with chains of gold fast to the feet of God.'

So I left Salisbury with a new sense of the importance of stillness of mind and unceasing prayer; and am grateful for that moment of enforced quiet which led to such clarity.

March Photos ~ Day 13

Wow! 116 comments, I never knew so many people actually read my blog! I am so touched that I went out yesterday and bought 2 more packets (different pattern to the others) so I have 5 packets of flowery cloths to giveaway.  I'm so sorry that I can't stretch to 111 more and to all of you who asked, I found them in Sainsburys. Instead of putting names in a hat I decided to ask each of the children (and Anth to pick 2) to pick a number from 1 to 116.

And the winners are...Tatania, Linda Joan, Emma, Jane & Nanette.  I will be in email contact with you soon to get your postal addresses.  I'm writing this at 11.16pm - it's been a very busy 2 days since getting back from Salisbury (photos to follow soon - wonderful time had by all) and my lateness in posting tonight is all down to the fact that I spent over an hour stringing up fairy lights in our kitchen! Can anyone tell me why, when I have so much to do (gigantic pile of ironing, huge casserole, searching on-line for a fridge-freezer, yes we are still fridge-less) laundry, responding to your comments/emails) I decide I have to string up fairy lights right now for over an hour!? Well if truth be known, it was probably nearer 2 hours.  And after all that weaving in and out of the plate racks I'm not sure if they look good.  I might let you decide on that one.  So here I am at this late hour posting on the blog!  Do you like the photo? It's my booty from just one charity shop in Salisbury. They all have a violets theme. I love the word violets don't you?  Sweet Violets, Wood Violets and Devon Violets....I nearly called the blog Devon Violets and now can't remember why I didn't.  Anyway, my bed is calling..thank you for all your kind wishes and all those 116 comments...116...I just can't believe it!

March Photos ~ Day 12

As I recently have been the recipient of some lovely gifts I thought that you all deserved a little something as well.  So I'm doing 3 Easter Giveaways with..now don't laugh...some cleaning cloths!  Yes, cleaning cloths, but not ordinary, bog standard, boring cloths; no I wouldn't do that to you or me.  No. As it's the season for a little spring cleaning what could be better than to clean your home with pretty, flowery cloths.

So, if you would like to go into the Flowery Cloth Giveaway, please leave a comment, and on Monday I will put all your names into a hat and will draw out 3 lucky winners.

We are off to Salisbury in an hour to spend our Easter celebration with my mother and Robin.  We will be going to all of the services at the cathedral culminating on Easter Sunday with a 5am service to greet the sunrise and a champagne breakfast with the Bishop.  I'm hoping I get just as moved by the whole experience as last time I attended a service - though the children are hoping that I don't but it's angelic sound of the choir that sends me!  I'm told that each service is quite beautiful so here's hoping.  We are even squeezing in a trip to Shaftesbury which I'm really looking forward to. So, we'll be back on Monday with some wonderful photographs, I hope. 

I wish you all a peaceful and joyful Easter.