ARS

Vote Alan Roderick Statham - You know he makes sense. Green Wing, sodding brilliant!


Oh, and I have a teensy crush on Mac. Pin It

The Tooth Fairy

Dear Tooth Fairy

Please can you come and take Alfie's first tooth tonight and leave him a little silver instead? Please try not to drink too much wine and forget!

Thank you so much
Alfie's mum xxxxxx

P.S Does anyone know the going rate for teeth these days?
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Breakfast

My favourite breakfast is home made muesli, chopped fruit (apple, banana or, if I am feeling decadent, strawberries) and ice cold soya milk and a cup of tea. How do you start your day? Pin It

The Land of No Children

Aaaaaaaah bliss. Can you hear that? No? That's because there's nothing to hear. All is peaceful and quiet in this house once more. The kids have gone back to school and the chubby bubby is having her morning nap. I'm on my second cup of tea, checking emails and posting a quick blog. Utter, utter bliss! Don't get me wrong I adore my children it's just that I have them all the time with no break. Paul works every hour under the sun and his busiest times are weekends and school holidays so that leaves me like a single parent but without the benefit of them going off to their Dad's once in a while to visit! Because I have a partner no one understands how it is for me. They think I have help, hah! Oh I'm not complaining (much) but I do appreciate the term times. God bless all teachers xxxx Pin It

The Land of Birthdays

The birthdays are now over and I want to say a big thank you for all the lovely birthday wishes I received from my fellow bloggers. I had some beautiful gifts including some delicious fragrant lavender birds from Lily and Agathe and a dancing Elvis car airfreshner from........... well do I really have to tell you?!!! All I can say is that if Lettuce and RW come poking around North Devon wondering where I live they would be able to detect my car in an instant. I must be the only person in North Devon with an Elvis airfreshner! I had a great day, presents in the morning with my family before dropping Jasmine off at work and then over to my mum's for another pile of presents from her and my sister. My sister is the best jewellery and make-up buyer ever. She bought me a beautiful silver bangle to replace the one that I lost recently (even though she didn't know I had lost it!). In the evening we had friends and family round for a huge takeaway curry and drinks in the bar. Another fine (but rather shabby) evening was had by all.

The next day was Jasmine's 16th birthday. A reminder that 16 years ago, during another birthday party, my little girl decided to make an early entrance into the world! It's very like Jasmine as she is always early for everything and is a great forward planner, unlike her mother who leaves everything to the last minute! Jazz's birthday was a very laid back affair as she had already had the mad celebrations the week before. It was also Easter Day so we had an easter egg hunt in the garden and house. We had 19 written clues for Alfie to find (Jazz is too grown up now, boo hoo). This involved him running around the garden in his wellies with a wicker basket following clues and finding little chocolate bunnies and eggs before finding the big booty (hidden in my car). This was the first year that he has had written clues, every other year we, sorry Easter Bunny, has done pictorial clues. He enjoyed this soooooo much. He is still at that magical age where he believes in fairies and as we are reading The Magic Faraway Tree at the moment he is all fired up with fairies and elves being in his garden. We have 2 enormous cedar trees and the base of this is the entrance to the fairy house. He leaves them letters and presents and sometimes they leave him presents too. The joy this gives him makes my heart want to burst. I remember the fairies leaving my sister and I little gifts. After his easter egg hunt he stuffed 2 tiny chocolate eggs into the hole as a present for them. Alfie brought the Easter baskets back to his sisters and they opened them with squeals of delight (well from the little ones, the big one is way to cool for that you understand?!). We then went for coffee and cake at Jasmine's cafe and strolled along the quayside in the brilliant sunshine. More cake in the evening and all I can say is that we are drowning in a sea of chocolate in the house Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllppppppp!

Here's the Fairy Tree

The entrance

Our Easter display in the porch. Willow branches with pretty little polka dot and gingham eggs. Note the addition at the base of some of Alfie's farm animals and, oddly, 'surfer dude'!

By the way, I decided against the bicycle. Where we live just isn't great for cycling. I kept having images of the lorry that slammed into us just yards from my house. The damage that it did to my Land Rover was considerable. I don't think I could put my baby at risk from being knocked off of the bike. When I last had a bike I lived in town (and was a single girl, no kids). These country lanes are treacherous, a friend of mine has had a collision recently which ended up with him being in plaster for 3 weeks. I think I will leave that one for now, nice idea though. We do have the Tarka Trail which is a wonderful use of disused railway lines and is safe, flat and very beautiful. You can ride to the beach. If I want to use that then I will hire a bike from them.

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Happy Birthday Jazzy my little darling. Enjoy your day xxx

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Cadburys Creme Egg Experiment

Well in the interests of science I conducted the Cadbury's Creme Egg v Cadbury's Creme Egg Bar experiment. The data is now back and I can report that it was an overwhelming success for the Creme Egg. For the experiment I had to eat 3 of the bars, to make sure I gave it a fair chance you understand. They just aren't a patch on the egg. For one thing you cannot sit there licking the egg out in a semi-pornographic way which is half the enjoyment of having an egg. The fondant doesn't taste the same and I am quite sure that you do not get the same amount of fondant in the bar. The calories in a bar are higher than in the egg. So, all in all I think I will stick to the egg, you can't really improve on the humble CCE except to make it bigger which brings me to this manwho is a true inspiration. This is one I will definitely be trying out this easter. Have a good one y'all xxx Pin It

A host of golden daffodils

Another gorgeous day here. I have no time to blog just now but here are a couple of photos that I took whilst waiting for the gate to open. The daffodils are in full glory now, very late but beautiful and most welcome!


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Les Bicyclettes de Devon

With all this talk of bicycles and my birthday just around the corner I got to thinking that a bicycle might be a good present for me. In a few weeks Jasmine will have left school and I will no longer have to drive miles to pick her up from her school bus. That means all I have to do is get Alfie from the village school which is just down our lane. I also pop to the Post Office almost daily so that could easily be done by bike too. I used to have a beautiful traditional old bike that I used on a daily basis. My boyfriend at that time lovingly restored it for me and painted it bright red. It had a basket on the front and I adored it. One day it got stolen and I have never seen another quite like it. My stepfather bought me a brand new Raleigh but it just wasn't the same. Now I like the look of this bike and if I can find something like it that can have a baby seat on the back then I think I might just start cycling once more. I mean the area round here is so pretty and you can often miss all those wonderful hedgerows as you speed by in the car.

This was the view from our garden yesterday, a beautiful clear sunny day, you can see all the way to Lundy Island

I took the children to see my father yesterday at his new house. He has moved further away from us so it tok almost an hour to get there. He has moved into a gorgeous little cottage with such pretty surroundings and a stream in the garden. I loved the outlook, and his house, but couldn't live so far away from civilisation again. The kids had a great time, the weather was perfect. I love Devon!





And here's one of my Dad with Lizzy.


My friend Lisa came today with her daughter Holly (who Alfie adores). We talked fabric and men (like you do) and then went for coffee and cakes at the place Jazz works (the pink buiding). Jazz is the BEST cappuccino maker in the world, official!

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Oh joy, today's reason to live. I have just found out that Cadbury's creme Eggs are now going to be in bar form. Anyone who knows me knows I have a fondness (or is that fondantness?) for the Creme Egg, indeed all of my children were cooked to perfection by me consuming large amounts during each pregnancy. That is why they are all so sweet! Pin It

Right I'm off then, I'm in the wrong place!

You Belong in Milan

Stylish and sophisticated, you want to enjoy a truly European life - away from tourists! Milan fits you perfectly. Great shopping, high quality food, lots of culture... with very little hype.

What European City Do You Belong In?

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Why do I do it?..........

.........What can it be? There's naughtiness in everyone but twice as much in me!

This is a song from the Peter Rabbit record my sister and I had when we were young. We always sing it after a night on the tiles. Which brings me to this morning. I sit here, dear reader, fuzzy headed, slighty nauseous and very sorry for myself after a night in our bar celebrating my daughters 16th birthday with a bunch of her teenage friends. I did try to stay away and let them get on with it but they all piled in to the living room to watch Green Wing with me and then Jasmine plied me with Harvey Wallbangers and I was done for. I have to say I do enjoy their company. They are funny, sweet, very intense and refreshing to be around, but I really shouldn't get drunk with them, I end up telling them all my secrets!

I have consumed 2 cups of tea, one can of diet coke (yeurch) and fried egg on toast in order to make myself feel normal again. I wish I could go back to bed really. Still I have got the easy end of things today. Pity poor Paul who had to go to bed early as he is taking them all in a mini bus to Alton Towers for the day.They left at 4.30am and when I last spoke to them they were on a hard shoulder with a puncture and had been for hours, poor babies. I'm not sure who I feel most sorry for, Paul stuck in a mini bus with 14 teenagers or the teenagers stuck in a mini bus with Paul having to listen to Sounds of the bloody Sixties on Radio 2!!!! Pin It

Garden of Eden

My little boy has gone on a school trip today to The Eden Project. It's a very exciting trip for him but I miss him already. It's a long way, they left at 8.30 am and don't get back until 5.30pm. I have packed him a ton of food in case he gets hungry and kissed him to death before he left. He's going to have a great time I know but I will be happy when he's back home safe with me. I love that little man of mine. Pin It

Vintage Vacations

One of my customers bought some 1950's fabric from me and then sent me a link to her company vintage vacations where you can stay in a stunning airstream vintage caravan on the Isle of Wight. The caravan is furnished in vintage style and looks fabulous. I think I might book it for the Isle of Wight scooter rally with me old man!!! Pin It

Whilst waiting for Lilyandagathe to open I wandered off to the charity shop where I picked up this little cutie for the grand sum of 59p. I have wanted a Kewpie doll for ages. Lizzy loves it and keeps kissing her. Pin It

Today's the day. I suggest you go and take a look at Tat's new online shop.

Good luck Tatty, I'm sure it will be a huge success.

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My Little Sister. Miss you sweetie xxxxx

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Meme me me me it's all about ME!!!!

With thanks to the lovely Wendy

1. How did you get the idea for your profile name? Fabric, it's my hobby and big love.

2. What song are you playing now, or wish you were playing? I'm listening to Corinne Bailey Rae, lovely!


3. Has the death of a celebrity ever made you cry? Yes, Princess Diana, John Peel, Jim Morrison (even tho it was about 15 years after his death, I was reading about him).

4. What colour underwear are you wearing? Black with pink polka dots, (honestly Wendy!).


5. Do you want a baby? NO, I'll quit while I'm ahead thanks

6. What does your dad do for a living? He hasn't worked for at least 15 years.

7. What does your mum do for a living? She's a scheme co-ordinator for sheltered housing (looks after the welfare and wellbeing of those in sheltered housing). Brilliant at it she is too!

8. What is/are your pet's name(s)? Bella, Fifi and Boy

9. What colour are your bed sheets? Crisp white.

10. What are the last 3 digits of your phone number? 679

11.What was the last concert you went to? Beth Orton

12. Who was with you? Paul

13. What was the last film you watched? Ray

14. Who do you dislike most at this moment? No one really.

15. What food do you crave right now? Chocolate

16. Did you dream last night? Think so, can't remember.

17. What was the last TV show you watched? The Apprentice, last night.

18. What is your fav piece of jewellery? A silver bracelet that I recently lost made by a friend :-(

19. What is to the left of you? Lizzy's playpen

20. What was the last thing you ate? Pork chops, jacket potato, spring cabbage and broccoli

21. Who is your best friend of the opposite sex? Apart from Paul I guess Guy is my best male buddy

22. Who last MSN'd you? Elle

23. Where is your significant other right now? Watching football (which is why I am here!)

24. Do you have a crush? Not really

25. What is his/her name?

26. When was the last time you had your hair cut? January. Getting it cut again next Wednesday.

27. Are you on any meds? No

28. Do you have a mental disease? No except when I am cooking tea and everyone drives me mental with their demands

29. What shirt are you wearing? Pink, blue and white striped cheesecloth affair

30. Are you sexy? Oh hell yes!

31. What's your favourite store? Hennes, Jigsaw, Monsoon

32. Are you thirsty? Yes my wine glass needs topping up, I'll be back in a mo .................

33. Can you imagine yourself ever getting married? Nope, have managed to get to 41 without doing it

34. Who's someone you haven't seen in a while and miss? My little sister.

35. Where do you work? At home Pin It

Spring chickens

This morning it looked very much like spring had arrived so I whipped out my camera to take photo of the poor late daffodils who have been wondering when it was safe to come out. The chickens, thinking that I had food for them, came running and followed me around. They are completely free range and have the whole 2 acres to explore but still try and get in the house whenever someone inadvertantly leaves the front (or back) door open. When I gave birth to Alfie (a home water birth) the door was left open by one of the midwives and they all traipsed in clucking and cooing wondering what was going on!!!! So here they are, we have 10 of them and they give the most fabulously delicious eggs ever but they poo for Britain. If it wasn't for the copious amounts of poop they produce I would happily have them in the house. Chicken nappies, now there's a thought, hmmmmm..........





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Face Lift

Well as you can see I have had cosmetic surgery, a face lift, and don't I look better for it? I wish I could say it was all my own work but sadly I am a technoklutz, I haven't a clue how all this came together. No It is the work of the wonderful, and aptly named, something so clever or Ali as she is known to me. There is no end to this girls talents I tell ya! I have always admired the beautiful blog styles of Hippo, Leon, Antipo and Wendy and always wanted to jazz mine up a little but just didn't have the knowledge. The lovely Ali came to my rescue and with a little chat on MSN and a few emails she came up with a blog to be proud of. Thank you Ali, you are a star.
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