Pretty in Pink

So here she is, my pretty prom princess and her gorgeous friends. The girls are her bestest and oldest friends Fran (in brown) and Sam (in cerise).

Their chaperones are (from left to right) Mike, Harry and Jack.

Jack is Jazz's new boyfriend.

Fran, Jazz and Sam.

Sam and Jazz.

Fran and Jazz.

Pretty pink dress.

The Limo.

Jazz and Alfie.

Jazz and Lizzy.

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Hey Boobie

I can't stop, I'm in the middle of weaning but I just thought I would pop by and say hi and give you a quick, update of what is going on around here. I'm having a wonderful weekend. The prom was wonderful (blog post and photos to come I promise) and today we all went to OceanFest on this beautiful bright and sunny day (we seem to be having plenty of those lately). It was great fun and I will blog more about that soon too. The only blot on the landscape is the weaning Lizzy off of the breast. That is painful for both of us. She is coping so well and is still the bright cheerful baby that she has always been (thanks to the help I am receiving from my amazing mother) but you know that she is wondering what the hell has happened. I, on the other hand, am coping less well as I feel as though my breasts have been removed and replaced with two very large melons, very large, very sore melons! God they are HUGE! I normally have quite little buzwabs but right now they are of 'Jordan' proportions. Seriously, I took a photo of them to show you but I will not post it for fear of having your eye out. Still I know it is all for the brest, sorry, best and soon I will be able to fit into my pretty, LITTLE bras once again.

Night night, see you in the morning X Pin It

Catch up

I can't believe so much time has passed since I last blogged. As you can imagine it is still hectic here. The Leg is still broken, Jasmine is in the middle of her exams, the house is being repainted, I'm selling fabrics and taxiing here there and everywhere! Jasmine has one exam to go (tomorrow) and then she has her Prom on Friday. This has meant months of preparation. her dress was ordered from USA, a beautiful pink-silk-georgette-full-length-off-the-shoulder number, her jewellery handmade, matching bag purchased, sparkly shoes, her hair and makeup session booked, diamante added to dress and shawl as she decided her dress was too plain after all, Limo booked to arrive here to pick up her and 5 friends and a drinks party organised for friends and family of the 5 kids to see them off. I will be posting photos so don't worry you will see my little pink princess in all her glory! We didn't have Proms in my day, I wish we did, I think it's a lovely way to finish of your school days.

Friday is a big day, apart from the Prom, The Leg is having his plaster removed and I am going to give up feeding Lizzy!!!

Alfie had his school report which was absolutely brilliant, loads of A's and B's. His first 2 weren't so good. The first one that he received from his private kindergarten was so awful and negative that I cried. The teacher he has now really seems to get him and has nothing but praise. The only thing she said that he does wrong is to talk too much but that whilst he was capable of working and talking others were not and that he could distract them. He had to write what he liked best about school and what he thought he was good at and not so good at. Here's what he wrote:

I rily like playtime. I hav it evryday it is so fun.
Most of all I like lunchtime it rily fils my tumy up.
Numresy hmmmmmm wel I like that but not the best.
Litrisy I don't like becous it is too hard for me.
I want to get betre at all my work

I went to Taunton with mum and the kids on Saturday to buy a pair of jeans that I had spotted that weren't available here. I haven't been shopping in Taunton since last summer, it's not a place I go to as a rule, I tend to prefer Exeter. I was brought up in Taunton but I didn't really like the place and I have to say that my opnion hasn't changed. I have no love for it and found it hard to believe that I ever lived there, it felt strange and disconnected from me. We met up with Paul's mum and headed for Starbucks (where else!) before having a little retail therapy. Jasmine enjoyed going in a few shops that we don't have here. She is enjoying looking different from everyone else these days and doesn't want to have the same clothes as all her friends. I got my jeans, boy fit, slouchy jeans, very flattering. I also found a new friend. Meet Flower Girl. She is a unazukin doll who helps you make decisions. You ask her a question and she nods her head once for yes, twice for definitely yes, shakes her head for no, twice for definitely no. She is going to come in very useful when making life changing decisions such as 'Do I really need another pair of jeans?' and 'Should I cut my hair?'.



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Ritual Feasting in Appledore

The Appledore Arts Festival was fabulous. There was loads to do, see and taste on this gloriously sunny day. This year the festival's theme was 'Ritual feasts'. Alfie spent a lot of time making things and there are a few photos of him on this post, head down, making stuff! He was in his element and there simply wasn't enough time to do everything. The day started at the cafe Jasmine works in with a cappuccino.

Then Alfie did a painting of a rainbow with some wonderful sloshy paint (spot the gorgeous lady in the cerise top and cowboy hat?).

Then he designed a T-Shirt. He drew a great picture of Spiderman free-hand while all the other kids used stencils of shapes. He was very sure of what he wanted to do.

Theeeeeen he painted a tile to be fired in a Raku kiln.

The Leg hobbled along too, although he spent little time with us and eventually went to see our friends David and Sophie, ending up in the pub with David watching football (it was all too arty for him!) Here's a picture of The Leg, Alfie and I. The boys are enjoying a bowl of fresh prawns.

Lizzy swung on a swing. Here she is saying 'wheeeee'!

And she climbed aboard a ship with the big boys and girls!

We went to see an installation in The Old Glove Factory. This was a fabulous exhibition by Sandy Brown who made huge beautiful ceramic sculptures.

(That gorgeous lady in Pink again she gets everywhere!)


The view from The Glove Factory window is stunning!

Alfie spoke to a clown.

We all got blessed by The Green Man (rather roughly I fancy, he shoved a bouquet of flowers in our faces and rubbed it hard!)

And a rather surreal moment when The Green Man spoke to the clown addressing him 'Hello Yellow Fellow'.

We ended the day with Jasmine joining us for Cream Teas in a beautiful Garden that was open to the public for the day. Perfect!

There was so much more to see and do. Different musicians all along the quay, lots of yurts with wonderful workshops going on for children and adults. One thing I wanted to do, but we ran out of time, was a huge teapot and cupcake was being decorated with mosaics made from old broken plates. It looked lovely. I think I would like to make one for my garden one day!

Next year I think I will try and go for more than just one day, it was fabulous!

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Now I wouldn't have posted this normally, as I am sure you have all done youtube to death, but this one is a gem, sent to me by my sister Roxy. Pure beauty in a man!

Enjoy x
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Sunny Daze

The sun is shining. The sky is a cloudless blue. It has been this way since Sunday and when the weather is like this you are unlikely to hear from me. I find it hard to come indoors of an evening and sit at the computer when I can sit outside in the warm evening sunshine eating supper and then watching our little sparrows come and take pieces of bread from under our noses. I do come in eventually and then check out blogs in the commercial breaks of Big Brother (I know, someone's got to watch it) before climbing the stairs for an early night. The Leg still has me running round ragged and I have never been more tired in my life. We have 2 weeks to go before the cast comes off and then he owes me BIG TIME. I'm going to lay on the sofa while he waits on me hand and foot, hehehe, yeah dream on Donna!

One thing I did yesterday was get Lizzy her first pair of big grown up shoes from Clarks. they take a photo to commemorate this occasion. My baby is growing up! She adores her shoes and spent the whole afternoon holding her feet saying 'Shoooo' to anyone who looked at her. She her mummy's girl, that's for sure, I love new shoes.



We are off to the Appledore Arts Festival today. Jazz works in a coffee shop/art gallery in the town and as I dropped her off yesterday I saw the goings on at the festival. I have lived here for 6 years and have never been so today we are all going. I'll report back. Pin It

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Fabric Swap

Now I have my own craft blog I have been reading some gorgeous crafty blogs with interest. One thing that has appealed to me is the swapping element of these blogs. I think it is a wonderful idea to buddy up with someone and swap things of mutual interest. Now I have a HUGE fabric collection but, as every fabricaholic will tell you, you can never have enough fabric. When you get to a project and you are looking for pink floral fabric it has to be the RIGHT pink. Never mind that you have 250 different pink florals if it isn't the RIGHT pink you just don't have enough fabric! Sooooooooooo daaaahhhhhhhlings I propose a fabric swap. I know a lot of people read this blog without commenting (I hate the term lurkers, it's not nice) so those of you who read but prefer to stay in the background it might be a good time to let yourself be known, stand and be counted. I have a vast range of fabrics from all eras and I would love to swapsy with you. I did this before with an ebay trader that I bought from. We each sent each other a huge bundle of vntage fabrics. It was so exciting, I had no idea what I was going to receive, we agreed only on the weight of the parcel for a fair exchange. I loved my parcel and she was thrilled with hers and the best part of it was, no money changed hands, perfect! So if you are interested, let me know, leave a comment or email me on dee@vintagefabrics.eclipse.co.uk Pin It

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday to my beautiful boy, 6 Today!
Have a great one darling.
Love from Mummy xxxx

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Rainy Sunday

It's pouring with rain (actually now it has stopped and is sunny) so there will be no bootsales today (boo hoo). I could do with staying at home though. I have things to get on with and not traipse around fields looking for gorgeous little things to buy (oh boo hoo). Once bootsale season has started I hate it if I miss them. It's like taking a drag on a cigarette after you have given up. Once you are back into it you crave them. I won't be going next week as it is Alfie's party (boo bloody hooooooo!)

I popped into a charity shop on Friday. I do this rarely these days as I haven't got so much time so it was lucky that I did go in. I found a vintage Patch doll. Do you remember her? Sindy's little sister. She is wearing her original clothes with the Patch label in too! The best part was that she was only 50p!!!! The old lady who served me said to Lizzy ,who was in her pram, 'Is this for you?'. 'Oh no' I said, 'she's mine'. I used to love my Patch doll. I am still on the lookout for Daisy the Mary Quant doll.

The Leg is getting better slowly. It now has a hard cast on. Alfie is thrilled as he is getting to spend lots of time with his dad who is normally very busy and always says 'I'll play with you later'. Now he is a sitting target and is in prime position to play numerous Play Station games! I am still required to administer 1,000 cups of tea a day along with biscuits, cake, sandwiches and alcoholic beverages. He went to work yesterday afternoon, (he points his crutches while his staff do the running around), as he had a party to run for underprivileged inner city children, so I took my (overprivileged country) children to Pizza Hut for tea. I haven't been for years. It was fun in a stressful sort of way. Our starters didn't appear and the ice cream (I use that term lightly) machine didn't work for a while but the pizzas were actually delicious and it was just nice to have a night off from cooking. We got home in time to watch the Eurovision song contest. What a hoot! Finland, completely mad but marvelous and very well deserved winners. Terry Wogan witty and wonderful as usual and with 25 points we did better than we have done in years! Pin It

I'm still here!

Well only just! I am shattered sweeties, absobloodylutely shattered. I guess I will have time to blog properly again once The Leg has healed. In the meantime I am running round like a blue-arsed-fly-on-speed without a minute to myself. I fall asleep in front of the TV early in the evening and then just about manage to crawl into bed before seeing if anything is required by The Leg who has taken up permanent residence on the sofa in the bar (yeah handy that, not far to hobble to the beer fridge!). I have had a sore throat and weird headaches for the past few days too. I was beginning to think I was having a stroke or brain haemmorhage until I spoke to mum who has the same symptoms. I guess we have the blog bug that Trac and Lettuce have had. So do forgive me if I am not blogging or commenting regularly but life is hectic just now.

Jasmine leaves school tomorrow. It's her last official day. After that she just goes in to do her GCSE's over the next few weeks. This means that I have successfully brought up a child to adulthood ready to release into the big grown up world. Awwwwww my baby girl. I am so proud of her.

It's Alfie's 6th birthday next week. I have organised a big-bouncy-castle-in-the-garden-party for him. I tried to get him to go to an organised party location this year saying that Daddy has a sore leg and he won't be able to organise races and I will be too busy cooking the party food but he wouldn't have it. He said 'but you can do the races Mum and Bibis (GOW) can do all the food". He is a child who never sees problems only solutions, how could we refuse? He had such fun last year and our garden is more than big enough to cope with many children. Mum and I had booked that weekend to be the big 'giving up feeding' weekend and so we have had to postpone that for another few weeks as we wouldn't be able to cope with both. Lizzy has another few weeks respite!

Great bootsales lately. My biggest success was a couple of vintage flight bags that had never been used. I decided to keep one and sell one on ebay. It finished today and made a very healthy profit indeed. I have to say it is so much nicer not having to look for fabric to sell. I buy now mainly for me and the family and anything else is a bonus. It's still a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon even if I don't buy anything.



Exeter was great, the sun shone as per usual (it always shines in Exeter). I had my roots done and had lots more blonde put through my hair to lighten it up for summer. I think I am growing it again. Great RT. Bought some pretty things from Hennes and Topshop and went to Starbucks twice!! I thoroughly approve of the branch. Nice music, great decor, squashy seats and lovely cappuccino. We had lunch sat in cathedral yard, a yummy sandwich from Michael Caines' cafe.

Right I must go. Nice talking to you all again. I miss you xxx Pin It

Fit

I was very excited to see a notice up at the gate of the park announcing that Pilates would be starting in my Village Hall. I used to go to Pilates every week for years after having Alfie and it was a great way of toning and strengthening muscles. I felt very fit and healthy and my posture was good. I believe it held me in good stead during my last pregnancy as I had no problems with my back at all. So I signed myself and Jasmine up for a 3 week course that started tonight. It was great. I am so happy to be doing some exercise again as I have done nothing since having Lizzy. I had to get in touch with my core and become aware of my pelvic floor, an area that has been neglected of late! We plan to walk there and back next week.

I am off to Exeter tomorrow to get my hair done. My roots need doing badly and the new grey growth is scaring me. Why do the grey ones grow so much faster and stick up in the air. Why oh why are they CURLY?!! I can't wait to visit the new Starbucks that we saw being refitted on our last visit, oh I know, I'm just a sad old country bumpkin but it's the small pleasures in life. Mostly I am looking forward to being away from here and the demands of an overgrown child who needs sooooo much attention. Have you ever tried giving a grown man with a broken leg a bath in a double ended slipper bath? It's not easy believe me. He enjoyed it rather more than I did!! I'm shattered. He has me making cups of tea all day long, elaborate lunches, things need to be fetched and carried and administered on a regular basis. I wasn't cut out to be a nurse.

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Bountiful Baskets

Here are two baskets of fresh produce from our garden. Some asparagus, 5 years in the making and transplanted from our old house, and beautiful fresh eggs that the chickens pop out effortlessly every day. They taste like no other and have the richest orange yolks. Tonight's supper? Aparagus and gruyere quiche, deeeelish! Pin It

Broken

On top of single handedly looking after 3 children, cleaning a 7 bedroom house and running my own business Paul has gone and broken his leg!!!!! DONT ASK I'm NOT in the mood! Pin It

I mean business!

I have just come back from a business induction course with the North Devon Enterprise Agency. I am about to start a proper grown-up business with my fabric selling. It's all very scary and exciting and I can't wait to get it all started properly. I will be selling my vintage fabrics on my own dedicated website rather than just ebay. I am thinking of using the name Country House Antique Textiles using a country house (probably mine) as a logo. What do you think? I am open to ideas, suggestions etc. I need a website designer, a good artist and any other help from anyone in business themselves. After 16 years at home with my children I am about to embark on something resembling paid work!! I will still be at home with the children as matter of fact, Lizzy is still only tiny, but I will be able to grow the business as my babies grow. Wish me luck. Pin It

Boot sale treasures

A T G Green Domino sugar bowl for 50p (a present from Mum)

A Treasure chest (with 1975 newspaper inside)

A lovely old set of drawers with bakelite handles and little compartments inside

A vintage retro stacking cake tin (to go with my collection)

Some nice bits for my first bootsale of the year. No fabric but then I am drowning in the stuff so I must admit I don't really look for it at the moment. I also got a pretty monsoon floral and polka dot dress for Lizzy for 30p and Alf bought some dinosaurs, space creatures and a Buzz Lightyear spaceship which has the loudest sound effects I have ever heard!!

I have had a great Bank Holiday Week end with lots of sunshine, friends and shopping. Perfect! I will blog more when I get time.

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