Coco Sunday

flown the nest...

2011-09-20T13:30:00.000+01:00

Just in case anyone is still out there... I have flown the nest and you can now find me in a different guise right here

things...

2010-11-17T19:17:00.006Z

Hello again, if there's anybody out there still!
I didn't mean to take a break but this is some of the stuff I've been up to lately...

* firstly I went on a mystery weekend to a place I've never been before. I ended up in Chester which was rather lovely and had the most fantastic time, mainly because of the lovely group of people I went with. I don't think I've laughed that much in a long time!!
* then I managed to get the most awful cold and sore throat and spent a week in bed. I went back to work yesterday only to feel so terrible that my boss was going to send me home again! Been to the GP today and now have the rest of his week off. I'm actually sitting in bed typing this on my iphone lol!
* still even good stuff still happens and I managed to win a hardback farrow & ball design book in a giveaway across at Lobster and Swan yay! Go and check out her blog it really is lovely...
* so hopefully I'll be feeling back to normal soon and in the meantime I can dream about escaping into the great outdoors again!

** oh and I have some lovely news that I'll share in my next post!!

dreaming...

2010-11-05T12:56:00.005Z

Firstly, I want to say thank you for all your lovely comments about my first tentative steps into the world of photography... Sometimes you just need a little reassurance that you're not completely crazy in wanting to follow your dreams...

This week I feel as if a lot of things have started falling into place. Maybe there's something in the air but I feel as if things are starting to shift and changes are afoot...

Other things this week in no particular order...
* Last night I went to a gig to see Marina and the Diamonds. She was fantastic... check out this link
* I can't believe that there are only 7 weeks and a day until Christmas... really how did that happen?
* This weekend I'm off on a mystery coach trip! Crazy, yes, cheesy yes but something I always wanted to do! I have no idea where I'll end up but it should be funny and there's 14 of us going... I'll let you know where I end up!!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend whatever you get up to...

colour...

2010-11-01T12:17:00.004Z

I meant to post this over a week ago but a combination of having a few days off work and my home broadband playing up, meant that here I am just doing this now... (sorry Catherine!)

This was the third time I've collaborated with Catherine on our photo project. She chose the theme Colour and sent the most fantastic parcel...

Catherine's photos were of little paintings she has done which feature all of her favourite colours and she sent me a couple of the paintings - thank you Catherine!She also sent me the sweetest bunting and a wonderful chocolate which totally reminded me of childhood and made me smile!

the road less travelled...

2010-10-21T14:10:00.006+01:00

The mornings are getting so dark around here, that most of the journey to work is done in darkness now. I have to confess though to a certain fondness for seeeing the world wake up and the sun rise, even if it is through the windows of the car.

I'm beginning to get my mojo back again and am still enjoying the mondo beyondo course I've started. It's making me realise about the things I want and I realise how much I really want to be a photographer and that I just need to stop procrastinating and take steps to do something about it!

There, I've said it in black and white to make it more real. Only it's pretty scary wondering if I'm good enough or whether I can do it, but sometimes the road less travelled, even if a little bumpy in places is still the place I want to go and it's got to the point where not trying to make the journey has become impossible...

playing...

2010-10-06T19:46:00.006+01:00

I'm loving that fact that it's Autumn and my fairy lights have come out to play. I'm currently obsessed with lovely twinkly light.

I'm trying to spend more time doing the things I enjoy, instead of running around like a headless chicken... even if that does mean playing with fairy lights whilst enjoying a cup of tea. Nobody said I couldn't multi-task!!

I started my dream lab course on Monday and I'm excited to see where it leads...

65 miles an hour**...

2010-10-04T11:25:00.002+01:00

Somehow; somewhere along the line, I seem to have lost a bit of mojo. I feel like I've been rushing around, holding my breath and forgetting to breathe out again... So this weekend I gave myself a little space to just chill out, listen to some music and quite frankly not do much at all.

** taken with my iphone early one morning at 65 miles per hour, when I was on the way to work

Maybe it's because we're coming into Autumn now, that I feel like I need to stop and take stock of where I'm at. In this frame of mind I've signed up to Mondo Beyondo's fall dreamlab which is just what I'm ready for. I'm hoping it might help to get me back on track again...

opening my eyes...

2010-09-29T13:28:00.005+01:00

Sometimes the ordinary day to day stuff is just there in the background and you don't really appreciate it when it's there all the time...

One day recently; on a grey and drizzly day I looked out of my window at work. It was so rainy but there was a little bit of sun peeking through and I switched the settings on the camera to manual to capture the blur...

If you look hard enough, I mean really hard enough, the loveliness is there where-ever you are...

this weekend...

2010-09-27T13:22:00.005+01:00

Was all about taking it easy and catching up...

As I've been so busy recently, a lot of things have had to slide - so finding myself with a little spare time I decided to bake bread... rosemary and seed bread. It's one of those things that can't be rushed and has the benefit that you can do other things, (in my case doing a little magazine reading) whilst waiting...

I'm really going to try and make the effort now that Autumn is upon us to get into baking bread again, mainly because it's so difficult to find decent shop bought bread in the Uk and really who doesn't love the smell of bread baking on a slow Sunday afternoon... Hope you've had a good weekend whatever you've been doing...

cozy...

2010-09-21T13:33:00.007+01:00

One of the really good things about Autumn, is the fact I can indulge my love of coziness to my hearts content...

Although I'll miss the light of summer, I have a serious love for twinkling fairy lights and cozy duvets. Sometimes it's this inbetween time that's most unsettled; when it's not really full on Autumn but rather something else just giving a glimpse of what's to come...

I'm actually looking forward to this time of year when I can be warm and toasty inside while the weather is foul outside, as there's something so comforting about that! It also gives me an excuse to do all the things I like to do and catch up with myself finally!! Oh and the Toast catalogue makes winter seem like something to indulge in, rather than to despair about. **Though I'm not sure how good it will be for the bank balance lol!

fragments...

2010-09-20T12:53:00.003+01:00

This weekend has been all about just slowing down and enjoying my couple of days off..

Some good things...
* lovely mail on Friday kicked the weekend off; a book from Amazon, a Cath Kidson catalogue and a postcard from a friend
* chilling with a glass of something and some nibbles,(the nibbles are most important!) listening to this...
* i downloaded this app which works a treat to chill out to...
* a photoshoot in the park with a lovely couple and some sunshine
* chocolate croissants for a lazy Sunday breakfast - bliss!

Oh how I love weekends! I'm already counting the days to the next one...

three ways...

2010-09-13T14:02:00.002+01:00

Soon it will be time to clear the garden of all the remnants of summer flowers but still they keep on growing and adding a little colour to my world...
* and no, these weren't taken with the new lens lol, I've still to upload!!

letting go...

2010-09-09T13:20:00.003+01:00

Recently I've had this stubborn idea that Summer was still waiting with all the glorious weather that she brings... This week I've realised this is not the case as a return to heavier coats and boots was needed and the mornings are slowly getting darker...

So I'm trying to embrace this change with a little list of the things i'm loving at the moment and I'm trying to think what I'll gain, instead of what I'll lose...

**Oh and for those who asked about photos from my new lens I've been busy playing so haven't had time to upload any photos yet! Soon I promise!

yesterday's parcel...

2010-09-03T14:02:00.003+01:00

Remember when I said there was a parcel waiting for me yesterday?... Well I got home sooo excited, so much so, that I never even bothered to take a photo of the parcel waiting to be opened because I just couldn't wait!!

So...please forgive my very hastily taken iphone photos but here is my reveal... A new lens, *swoon* ...my first ever L lens. Canon EF 70-200mmL USM
Now I know this probably doesn't mean much to those of you who aren't geeky about photography and camera accessories and it doesn't look especially pretty in the way of other parcels but... oh my heart skipped a beat when I opened the box...

*Advance warning*...Expect a whole load of photos once I finally get to give this lovely a workout this weekend!

things...

2010-09-01T13:35:00.001+01:00

It's bit of a blah day today - possibly something to do with being at work when the sun is shining and I want to go outside! (I'm actually doing this in my lunch break lol!).

So here are some things that are cheering me up at the moment...
* I came across this first link earlier in the week and thought how fantastic this could be if only it had become reality...
* Truthfully, I've never been a technology geek but how much do I love my new iphone? A world of possibilities has opened up to me when I'm out and about - yay!

It also has the added benefit that I may actually be able to start catching up with you all... :)
* Which leads me onto the next thing... how brilliant are Apps? Though I'm having to reign myself in a little. My favourites are all the photography ones obviously!!

* The fact that although we're just into September we still have some lovely light in the evenings and can pretend to hold onto Summer for as long as possible...

* That I've had a text today telling me that a parcel has arrived at home yay! I'll reveal what it is tomorrow...

part two...

2010-08-25T19:18:00.004+01:00

Remember on this post when I explained how I was doing a photo collaboration with Catherine? Well this was part two!

This time it was my turn to choose the theme and I chose the word Harmony. Catherine sent me such a beautiful package and for her; when she thought about the word Harmony, all she kept coming back to was Summer.

Everything about Summer just feels right for her and she sent these photos of the most fantastic strawberries to express that feeling.Even in wintertime the strawberries are a reminder of summer and harmony...

Catherine also sent me the most lovely tea, which is a flower bud. I've been saving it until I could appreciate it fully, in a lovely relaxed manner and I have a 3 day weekend coming up yay! so am going to try it then!

Thanks Catherine! Head over to her blog to see what I sent....

once again...

2010-08-23T14:13:00.003+01:00

Here I am after another unintended break. I didn't actually mean to be away from blogging but somehow daily life just got in the way!

One of the things I've been doing recently is decorating. We had dark stained floorboards in our kitchen and sitting room which were perfectly fine until I got it into my head that it would be a great idea to paint them a light grey colour. Obviously this meant sanding all the old stain off before I could even start but still it seemed like a good idea...

The main problem wasn't really the painting but the fact that the paint took 8 hours to dry and oh, did I mention that in my house every room leads onto each other... no hallways which meant a logistical nightmare... but never mind, now that it's done it's all a distant memory which is probably a good thing!

the floor was still a little wet at this point!

after one coat of paint...

Now of course I just need to find some time to sew some new cushion covers using the Kath Kidson fabric I've had for forever!!

garden magic...

2010-07-26T18:37:00.004+01:00

I love the garden at this time of year, there's something so magical about the way everything just grows and grows! I'm a big fan of growing plants from seed because how amazing is that. I still can't get over the fact that from a tiny seed you can end up with a huge plant.

On the subject of plants; my sweetcorn in my greenhouse has gone crazy! So much so that we've had to remove some panes of glass from the roof! It is baby sweetcorn so stupidly I wasn't really thinking that it would grow to be the nearly 7 foot that it is at the moment... oh well, won't be doing that again lol!!

Still it's good that we're even getting enough sun in the first place to grow stuff, so I'm not going to complain too much...

lull...

2010-07-25T17:03:00.003+01:00

Hello again! I know there's been a bit of a lull around here lately but quite a lot of things have been happening around here... Somehow it got to be nearly the end of July and I'm not quite sure how I got here; seriously it doesn't even seem that long since Christmas!

Anyway, things should be back on track again and my adventures into blogging should be a little more regular again!
Hope you've all had a lovely weekend whatever you've been up to...

story...

2010-06-27T18:46:00.005+01:00

A little while ago when I did this list, one of the things on it was to do a photography collaboration. Well the lovely Catherine from Little Glowing Lights contacted me and said she was interested. To make things a little different, we decided that we would take it in turns to pick a word or theme and would each take a couple of photos which we would then send by snail mail to the other person with a little something.

Well at the end of this week, my first parcel arrived in the post - yay! Story was the word for this month and Catherine sent me some beautiful photos of liberty hankies which had been hand made by her mum and a 'story' about how her great grandma used to always give her hankies for Christmas or birthdays. Although she still has some of these they are too precious to be used which is why her mum made her new ones...

I had such a good time doing this and now it's my turn to pick the theme for the coming month...Head across to Catherine's blog to see what I sent...

less is more...

2010-06-22T13:06:00.001+01:00

Sometimes you just need to mix things up a little... I realised recently that all of my photos have been in colour and so I decided to play with black and white for a change when I was out for a walk. I just love the way you can really see all the details differently when there is a lack of colour. Sometimes less is more...

I think this pared down vibe must be catching because I am loving simplicity in all things at the moment. I've been listening to this album over and over; just perfect with a little dreamy sunshine...

fresh and fruity...

2010-06-18T12:26:00.003+01:00

The brilliant thing about Summer is the abundance of tasty fresh food available.

Although I can't take credit for the items in the above photos,(bought I'm afraid!) I do have a small garden and try and grow some veggies each year. The problem with the UK climate, (especially here in the North) is that we have a pretty short growing season but it's so nice to be able to take something straight from the ground and cook it for dinner. This year I'm growing, potatoes, spinach, kolhrabi, runner beans, french beans, courgette, and in the greenhouse; tomatoes, aubergine, mini sweetcorn, pak choi, rocket and lettuce. Oh and I have an gooseberry, apple and plum trees. Expect some photos and recipes in the coming weeks!...

a little sunshine in my world...

2010-06-15T12:59:00.001+01:00

I'm feeling in a summery vibe at the moment; not you understand because the sun is out in abundance in the UK at the moment but we've had slivers of it and I'm loving it...

I heard this song by Stornaway recently and it just sums up how I feel at the moment. It makes me feel as if I want to lie in the long grass with a picnic and enjoy the happy feeling that sunshine brings...

This sunshine also makes me want to revamp everything in my house in a Cath Kidson type of way. I'm already thinking of buying some material so I can make some new cushion covers - which will work out just perfectly for when I'm lying in that long grass!

I hope you're enjoying the weather where ever you are!

slow down and rewind...

2010-06-08T13:07:00.004+01:00

Ok, so it took a little longer than I thought to get back to posting - partly because we've had the benefits of sunshine in the UK which makes a nice change!

This was me watering the plants not rain!
There's nothing like time in the garden to just make me take a step back and relax. I must say I'm a sucker for a little sunshine and lots of lovely greenyness to make me feel chilled...
Oh and I'm finally catching up with myself, (well as much as is usual for me anyway lol) so this should be me getting back on track...!

catching up...

2010-05-27T13:52:00.003+01:00

It feels as if I've had 1001 things to do lately and none of them very interesting; just you know - stuff that needs doing and sorting but I think I'm finally catching up with myself!

Somehow in amongst being busy, I hadn't realised how long the nights are getting and took this after I'd been out for a meal with some girlfriends and realised I still had my 365 photo to do for that day! Oh and the title is from an old Cure song that I just happened to have in my head and it just seemed to fit somehow...

oops...

2010-05-17T14:38:00.003+01:00

Things are still very busy - and there's a lot of stuff going on around here that is taking my time up at the moment...but hopefully it won't be for long and I should be back on track!

I will be around to visit you all as soon as I can...

keeping it simple...

2010-05-09T20:36:00.003+01:00

After my last post I wanted to say thank you for your suggestions relating to lack of time. I like the idea of doing a few posts at a time and then scheduling them to arrive at a later date. I also liked the fact that most of you don't quite know how you fit it in blogging along with everything else, so I'm glad I'm in good company!

This week was all about keeping it simple and not worrying about what I hadn't done but rather enjoying what I had!
So far this week * I managed to get to the gym *went to the beach *voted in the General Election *did some reading *took some photos* along with all the other ordinary day to day stuff, so not bad for someone with lack of time...!

making time...

2010-05-03T18:55:00.003+01:00

Ooops! It seems like I've had one of those weeks where my blogging and visiting has been pretty limited. Saying that, I have been pretty busy as I've finally managed to get back to going to the gym after falling over and hurting my lower back. I'm also doing my 365 project each day, working full time, trying to eat healthily, keep a balance between the things I have to do and the things I want to do, as well as all the things that crop up on a daily basis.
Really, I think if I had a 3 day weekend each week everything would be fine lol, so it was especially nice that we had one this weekend and I could fit in some relaxation and a little reading amongst other things...!

I'm just wondering what tips you guys have, for managing to do everything you need to do and fit in blogging as well?

making...

2010-04-27T20:14:00.001+01:00

I really don't know where the time has gone this past week, I've been meaning to post this for the last few days and just never managed the time...

As part of my 38 things post, one of the items on my list was to try out a new recipe each month, so for April with the thoughts of Easter not long past I thought I would indulge and try out the delicious sounding Chocolate and Hazelnut Torte. The recipe came from an old issue of Easy Living magazine and the best thing about it is there's no cooking involved! As you can see, my photos involve fruit in a bid to make it look less indulgent lol!

Chocolate and Hazelnut Torte
100g (3.5 oz) plain biscuits
150g (5oz) dark chocolate broken into pieces
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp castor sugar
100g (3.5 oz) unsalted butter
100g (3.5 oz) shelled hazelnuts toasted and coarsely chopped
cocoa powder for dusting

* Grease a 18cm (7inch) springform (i just used a normal tin) cake tin with butter and line base with baking paper
* Lightly crush biscuits into uneven pieces (use a bag and a rolling pin!)
* Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, you may need to stir
* Put egg, egg yolk, vanilla and sugar in a mixing bowl and using an electric mixer beat for 4-5minutes or until mix is pale and thick
* Melt butter then add it to the egg mixture in a steady stream while beating at high speed
* Beat in the melted chocolate
* Using a large metal spoon, gently fold in the chopped nuts and crushed biscuits until combined
* Pour mix into cake tin, spreading it evenly and gently
* Let chocolate cool
* Cover with clingfilm and chill for at least 3 hours or overnight until firm
* Dust with cocoa powder and eat - yum!

ordinary magic...

2010-04-19T20:31:00.003+01:00

This weekend I've had a fascination with ordinary magic. Just the kind you get from seeing the ordinary things around you in a different light. I swear I could take photos all day long and nothing could make me happier...

I've also been playing this cd endlessly and it's got inside my head. Go check out the link and see what I mean. I also love the video that she has on her site with the sea and the birds - just perfect...

little bits of green...

2010-04-15T19:50:00.003+01:00

I just noticed when I was uploading some photos that I seem to have a thing about green and white at the moment. There's something quite spring like about this colour combination and it's especially nice when it's paired with a little sunshine.

Oh and the apples were today's 365 photo on flickr, (see the side bar) after dinner tonight I'm going to do baked apples with brown sugar, butter, raisins and walnuts - delicious...

smitten by hearts...

2010-04-11T19:39:00.007+01:00

This week I've been smitten by hearts which started when my new shed arrived and I found a little heart inside. Today I've been playing with paper hearts, though I'm not sure what my neighbour thought as I was pegging them on the clothes line!

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend - whatever you've been up to!

busy, busy...

2010-04-09T20:58:00.003+01:00

This past week, I feel like I've been so busy that I might meet myself coming in the opposite direction - that's what happens when you take some holiday from work...

* Got my hair cut **
* Attended a 90th birthday party
* Cooked and ate scallops for the first time
* Painted a room
* Painted a floor
* Weeded 2 beds in my garden
* Ordered some seeds
* Painted a garden fence
* Finally took my library books back
* Which meant a fine £6.07 -ouch!

Really -It's less hard work being at at work lol!
** It's difficult to tell in this photo how long my hair was but it fell a few inches past my shoulders and now it's a jaw length bob.

eggy delights...

2010-04-05T18:19:00.003+01:00

It's amazing how much fun can be had with some eggs, a glass and a pink carrier bag! Hope you all had a lovely Easter!

how do you like yours?...

2010-04-01T22:59:00.008+01:00

Just a quick post; as I'm off to my in-laws for the weekend and there is no internet, (boo!) I just wanted to wish you all a lovely Easter and thank you for your kind comments on my previous post. When I get back I'm going to look at some of the things on my list and begin to make a start.

Oh and the answer to the question - is that I like mine to be chocolate!!

38 things to do before i turn 39...

2010-03-29T12:06:00.001+01:00

Today is my birthday and in the tradition of many before me, I thought a list was in order...

38 things to do before I turn 39...
* do the 365 project again (starting today!)
* dance until dawn
* have a spend free month
* organise a swap
* learn to drive, (I know, I've got to this age without learning!)
* keep an inspiration journal
* get to grips with photoshop
* buy vintage
* say yes to all opportunities
* write a snail mail letter a month
* make an item of clothing
* shoot some film
* make a quilt
* travel somewhere new
* shoot a wedding
* do a photographic collaboration (anyone fancy doing this-let me know!)
* try a new recipe a month
* make a cutting garden
* do something unexpected
* take a midnight walk
* watch the sunrise at the beach
* have an indulgent weekend at home
* sort out some playlists for my ipod
* give something away
* get another tattoo
* experiment with night time photography
* do a mini detox
* have a picnic on a beach
* enter a photography competition
* visit a museum
* go to a gig
* learn to meditate
* finally get around to reading Anna Karenina
* take part in something global
* do a month of daily blogging
* learn something new
* send a postcard to postsecret
* plant a tree

lights out...

2010-03-28T21:40:00.004+01:00

So 8.30pm arrived last night and Earth hour was upon us. I used the time to play with my camera in the dark with only candles for light...

Check out this youtube link to watch famous landmarks all over the world switching off their lights...

earth hour...

2010-03-26T12:32:00.006Z

This Saturday, I'll be switching off at 8.30pm to support Earth Hour. Last year it was fantastic looking at some of the photos and videos of major institutions all around the world switching off their lights...

Click on the link and see what it's all about...

Spring Zing...

2010-03-24T19:50:00.005Z

I'm getting carried away with the fact that Spring is upon us. Just have a little more light is so lovely, even if the sun is not exactly shining but still...

Now is the time when I'm starting to think of sorting through my photos and organising them - when really, all I want to do is stick them on the wall with Japanese masking tape!

spring pretty...

2010-03-22T13:35:00.001Z

Ok, I confess - the promise of Spring was all it took to indulge in this pretty vintage style dress from Topshop.Of course the fact that we hardly ever get any sun in the UK is no hurdle, I'm thinking if all else fails I can always rock it with a pair of leggings and a little cardigan!

mid week snippets...

2010-03-18T09:20:00.006Z

:: New buds on trees in glimmering light
:: Home made soup from this amazing blog
:: Afternoon light on a journey home

I love this time of year when everything starts to wake up again...

dreaming of flying...

2010-03-15T18:43:00.007Z

I'm currently obsessing about birds - especially if they're in full flight just freewheeling - or in trees silhouetted against a cloudy sky.

I think this is mainly because I'm still having a little trouble with my back and can't exercise yet. I'm longing to go for a run or jump about and birds in flight just seem to be the ultimate in freedom - something to do with all that swooping about...

fruit love...

2010-03-10T11:12:00.000Z

I'm trying to make an effort to eat more fruit at the moment. For all I have a fairly healthy diet and the fruit bowl is always full, I never really think to eat it, even though I do actually like fruit.

In truth, I think I prefer to photograph it than eat it but I'm trying!

bits of the weekend...

2010-03-08T18:43:00.005Z

It's been a quiet one this weekend as I'm still taking it easy but there have been some lovely things...

:: Enjoying a glimmer of sunshine which makes me think that Spring will be here soon.
:: I came across this site 500 pencils which looks amazing. Check out the storage 'swoon'.
:: Looking at this site and deciding what seeds to grow.
:: Deciding what to cook first from A Homemade Life and yes I have read it from cover to cover!

the kindness of strangers...

2010-03-02T14:58:00.008Z

Although last week was, 'one of those weeks' when quite a bit went wrong, (did I mention that I also managed to get a dvd stuck in my imac for 4 days?) there was some good stuff also.
A couple of weeks ago on this post i said how much I wanted this gorgeous book. A day or two after the post, I got an email from a lovely swedish blogger called Maria, who said she could make me happy, as she had this book but as she had so many books she would be glad to send it to me. Wow! Such generosity from someone who doesn't even really know me.

I emailed back to say 'thank you' but as I expected the postage would be expensive, (it's a hardback book) I asked Maria if she fancied doing a swap and I would send her some crafty goodies. She thought this would be lovely but put in her email that she hadn't expected anything in return.

So this is how this lovely book ended up in my mail this week and it couldn't have come at a better time as i've spent most of the week in bed with a sore back. Oh and what a book it is, such wonderful writing and the recipes look so delicious.

So thank you Maria for your kindness and your lovely postcard that came with the book.Oh and if you're reading this, your goodies are on their way...

bed rest and books...

2010-02-25T20:06:00.004Z

Just a quick post tonight. After the clumsy day that was Monday, I ended up with a sore lower back and have been off work for a couple of days as I had pain when moving. I saw the physio today who said it was probably as a result of falling over, (see previous post!)and that the joints in my lower back were pretty seized and the muscle in my lower back was in spasm. So I haven't been up to much in the last few days, mainly resting in bed! On the plus side if you look at my sidebar, I've been catching up with my reading, (especially this brilliant book) so it's not all bad and I should be ok for work on Monday, fingers crossed...

so i should have stayed in bed...

2010-02-22T19:11:00.001Z

So I had a lovely weekend. I chilled out and listened to this new cd that has just come out, pottered about, read through an old cookbook for inspiration and had a nice meal on Sunday.

Today is a different matter, I knew when the alarm went off this morning I should have rolled over and gone back to sleep. Firstly we had snowy and icy weather which meant it took me two hours to get to work, an extra half an hour. Then because I was in a rush, I ran down the escalator for my metro, only to slip on the last flat bit and fall over. I scraped my hand and knee and there's a bit of swelling, though possibly my pride was the worst thing hit! Then this afternoon I managed to cut open my knuckle on a tin can that I was kindly washing out for someone else at work - grrr.
So I went home tonight, decidedly more battered and bruised than I started out this morning...

Tonight I'm going to take it easy and do nothing - well nothing that might involve any clumsy behaviour on my part; I have an ice pack, a magazine and the new Toast catalogue...Tomorrow is another day, right?

the gift of jewels...

2010-02-19T18:05:00.003Z

A short while ago, the lovely Se'lah of Necessary Room organised the 'gift of jewels' swap, where those who participated sent a little token of love in the form of a letter, postcard, poem etc out into the world to their swap partner. I was so excited when I got back from manchester to find mine waiting for me...

The only problem, is that I'm not sure who it came from, so that I can thank them, especially as it had all of my favourite things on it. So if you happen to read this ' thank you!'.

Also thank you Se'lah for organising this swap!

love and doughnuts...

2010-02-18T19:00:00.005Z

I'm back after a wonderful couple of days in Manchester to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

The hotel was fantastic and we chilled out; enjoyed cocktails and some lovely meals out. However the highpoint had to be the afternoon of our anniversary when we celebrated with a bottle of champagne and Krispy Kreme doughnuts, (which are impossible to find in the North of England) because it's the simple things that count when you're in love - right?

Oh and if you read my previous post, I did get to go to this exhibition!

love is in the air...

2010-02-14T18:02:00.007Z

Happy Valentines Day!

It's my wedding anniversary on Tuesday, so we're off to Manchester tomorrow for a couple of days for a city break and I'm really looking forward to it.

I really want to see this exhibition Walls Are Talking while I'm there which is an exhibition of artists wallpapers, including people like Andy Wahol and Damien Hirst. I'm still trying to work out how to sell this to my o/h. He likes art and galleries but an exhibition of wallpaper - mmmm (lol!)

I'll be back on Wednesday with lots of photos, so until then - have a lovely beginning of the week!

keep calm...

2010-02-13T20:02:00.005Z

I've been looking for some new art and came across this brilliant print from this shop on Etsy and just had to indulge. As I love to take photos and I love typography this was just perfect. I've ordered it in dolphin grey colour and can't wait until it arrives, even looking at this makes me smile.

Keep calm and snap on, yep that's me!

Wednesday...

2010-02-10T20:51:00.002Z

Today has been one of those blah days that are rainy and grey and seem to drag,(well the part where I was at work anyway). Maybe it's because the days are still short and grey that my thoughts are turning towards home and spending time inside all cozy and warm.

I really want this gorgeous book as I've heard so many good reviews of it, partly for the beautiful writing but also for the yummy recipes.

I also found this amazing shop through Stephanie at Concerning pancakes. How gorgeous is this kettle? I was pleased to see this which I have already, (though not from Canoe) and always thought was an object of beauty. Also how lovely is this tissue box, I confess I'm swooning, shame this shop is based in Portland although maybe that's a good thing! :)

weekend wonders...

2010-02-08T20:44:00.002Z

This weekend was lovely as I finally got to see the Nutcracker performed by Scottish Ballet. The production was wonderful and the ballet was set in the 1920's so there were beautiful costumes as well as quirky sets.

This cute little trailer shows one of the ballet dancers becoming Dame Mouserink

I now have my heart set on seeing this production of Swan Lake as it's on in March at the same theatre I saw the Nutcracker and I've read so many positive reviews.

It's unique in it's production and is best known for replacing the traditional female corps de ballet with a menacing male ensemble. I know it has been on Broadway - anyone out there seen it?

grey and rainy...

2010-02-05T22:03:00.000Z

Today is grey, rainy and uninspiring but at least we're at the weekend again! Sometimes it feels as if I have so little time during the week that it passes in a blur but it's always nice to get to this point. The point where you have two whole days stretching in front of you...

Tomorrow I'm off to see this production of The Nutcracker which I'm really looking forward to, especially as it seems to be a contemporary take on the tale.

After that, no plans really, just a little crafting and catching up - I can't wait!
What are you up to this weekend?

new guilty pleasure...

2010-02-03T10:07:00.001Z

Anyone who reads this blog will know what a huge book lover I am.

One of the things I've always wanted to do, is to keep a list of the books that I read in a year but somehow time, organisation etc etc has meant that I never got around to it. This year one of my resolutions was to try and do this, so imagine my excitment when I came across something on Char's blog that made me whoop with delight. As you can probably see there is now a link on my sidebar, (with pretty pictures!) of the books I've read in 2010. The link takes you to a site called goodreads.

Basically, on the site if you create a free account, you can list all the books you've read, the ones you want to and the ones you're reading at the moment. You can also link up to see what others are reading, join online book clubs on the site, and join discussions. Oh and you can get lovely wigets to add to your blog to show off your bookshelves.

Trust me this site is very addictive, before you know it, you've spent far too long and any guilt is only because I should be doing something else instead of getting sucked into the world of books. But hey, there are worst things - right? Come and join me on the dark side...!

fragments of the weekend...

2010-02-01T21:27:00.001Z

* a snowy walk in the woods * finding a frozen lake which I really really wanted to walk on but didn't * teatime with cake and magazines * realising my roses had faded but still liking how they looked * a brunch with the Sunday papers * a little creative planning...

This is pretty much how it went... how was your weekend?

simple things - January...

2010-01-27T15:56:00.007Z

As you will know, today Christina is hosting yet another Simple Things Day. This time for each blogger who joins in she is donating a dollar,(up to £250) to a charity helping the survivors of Haiti.

My simple things are all about appreciating what January has to offer...

* The delights of unexpected snow
* Having an excuse to stay snuggled under the duvet
* New beginnings and the stirring of creativity again - ( oh I have so many ideas!)
* Enjoying simple tasks like making bread and soup
* Celebrating the lengthening of days
* Taking the time to pause and reflect...
Head across here to see other bloggers and their 'simple things'.

simple things for Haiti...

2010-01-26T18:41:00.001Z

Just a reminder, that Christina is doing another Simple Things day this Wednesday 27th and if that wasn't a good enough reason to join in and play, she has very generously agreed, (along with her family) to donate a dollar for every blog that joins in, (to the tune of $250).

Christina has the most beautifully written and photographed blog and that lady has a seriously big heart.

So come and join us...

lunch today...

2010-01-25T20:43:00.000Z

Remember how I said I had made spicy parsnip soup yesterday? Well a delicious portion, made a warming lunch today to chase away the dreary weather.

Warming Spicy Parsnip Soup (to chase all dreariness away!)
5 medium sized parsnips
2 carrots
1 large onion
2 and a half pints of good vegetable stock
teeny pinch of chilli flakes
Garam Masala to taste ( i think I used about 4 teaspoons ish)
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to season
Double cream if feeling decadent!

* heat a glug of olive oil
* add onions and let sweat in the oil but don't brown
* chop parsnip and carrot into chunks
* once onion is soft add the parsnip and carrot to the pan
* let vegetables get to know each other for about 5 minutes with the lid on
* add good quality vegetable stock
* add a teeny pinch of chilli flakes - just to add a little something, not to overpower
* after about ten minutes add the garam masala - it's best to do this towards the end of cooking
* wait for the vegetables to soften
* when vegetables are cooked enough, buzz in a processor to make a silky consistency
* add more stock if you want a thinner consistency
* add seasoning and cream if you dare!

Soup making is so easy, cheap and satifying, especially in this cold damp weather. Feel free to tweak the recipe as the inpiration strikes you. Yum!

in the blink of an eye...

2010-01-24T12:43:00.006Z

No sooner did it get past Sunday, I blinked and here we are again...I really need to get to grips with this blogging lark and post more frequently!

* This weekend I've started reading a new book and finished this one.
* Made some delicious spicy parsnip soup, (Recipe to follow...)
* Played with my new 50mm - I managed to break the last one :(
* Bought a new pair of boots and a pair of black skinny jeans
* Visited a camera shop and held the lovely Canon 7D and 5D as I was curious to their weight *swoon*
* Took Sparky on a snowy dog walk

How about you?

the weekend in a nutshell...

2010-01-18T09:27:00.008Z

Some things...
:: A log fire
:: Watching this
:: A flurry of snow
:: Trying to sort a problem with my Magic Mouse that wasn't a problem!
:: A lovely lie in and a lazy read of the Sunday papers
:: Sorting my shed after the roof collapsed with the weight of snow
:: Reading this and this...
:: Listening to Florence and the Machine and Bat for Lashes and The XX

a sliver of wintery sunshine in my kitchen

finding a balance...

2010-01-13T20:28:00.003Z

I've been thinking about New Year Resolutions and goals and after much thought - it really is pretty simple. What I'm aiming for this year is 'balance'.

In a nutshell, balance between the things I have to do, - work, commute, eat, etc etc and the things I want to do - make, play, wish, grow - with maybe a happy overlap between the two.

Not much to ask really - I'll work on the fine tuning as I go along...

back to the real world...

2010-01-11T20:45:00.003Z

So - the snow finally thawed enough to be able to get out of the village. That meant back to work and into the real world and you know what, a teeny bit of myself was wishing for that lovely snow again. Wishing for that slightly unreal existence that meant trudging knee deep in snow like some Artic explorer just to get to the shop or take the dog out. Or baking bread on an afternoon, or lounging around reading magazines as if it were a Sunday afternoon.

Or drinking tea complete with chocolate biscuits and just sitting and reading and not keeping track of the days or hours. It was like being on holiday but different because there was this lovely feeling of not actually having to do anything because the roads were so bad and you couldn't get out and about.

I'm sure I would have gone stir crazy if the weather had continued but it felt a little bit like hibernation which was no bad thing at the beginning of a New Year. Time to step back after the craziness of Christmas and think about the year ahead. As to the New Year Resolutions, I'm still pondering...

slow thaw...

2010-01-10T17:30:00.003Z

I feel like I'm still getting to grips with the fact that we're in 2010; after the Christmas holidays and the prolonged snowy weather we've been having, it all seems slightly unreal, y'know, (especially as I only managed to get into work 1 day last week lol!) almost as if reality hasn't set in yet.

However things are changing, today saw warmer weather that has been starting the drip, drip of a slow thaw. The roads seem a lot better today so, (fingers crossed) we should be able to get out of the village tomorrow and back to the 'real world'.

In fact I might even have to start thinking about my New Year Resolutions soon...

snow uh oh...

2010-01-09T16:36:00.004Z

So, the good news is that my test for Mono came back negative, so I must have just had some horrible viral thing. Tuesday was my first day back to work in about 3 weeks, so no sooner was I back and thinking about getting back into the routine when the snow came... Unfortunately since then I haven't been able to get into work because the of the weather, roads have been horrendous, the only bus service cancelled, schools closed and I have 18 inches of snow in my garden!

Still, it does look beautiful, even if it is freezing, (my neighbour said her thermometer was showing -15 degrees yesterday morning - yikes!)

Still, we have supplies and are warm, so that's a good thing and also pretty much everywhere in the UK is having the same kind of weather. The funny thing is, this kind of weather seems to bring out the best in people - everyone pulling together to help out neighbours and friends, so it seems much more bearable. I hope the weather is being kind wherever you are...

beginning again...

2010-01-03T17:32:00.003Z

Happy New Year! I can't believe how long it is since I last blogged. After my last post, I thought I was on the mend and went back to work but unfortunately got sick again with a horrendous cough and swollen glands and ended up off again. Now normally I am pretty healthy, so this thing took it out of me.There is a very slight chance I may have glandular fever, (mono) even though I was sure I was far too old lol! and have to go for a second blood test tomorrow. The good news is that I am feeling so much better that I don't think this is the case and more probable that I just managed to pick up about three viral things one after the other...

So after having a super quiet Christmas and New Year I'm now ready to start again... my new imac arrived, (though it took me two weeks to open it as I felt so lousy, we are now firm friends!) and so all is good and I'm back online.

I hope Christmas brought you everything you wanted and that the beginning of this new year sees you healthy and happy. I'm still pondering on my New Year Resolutions and will post about them soon, anyone else made any resolutions?

coming out in sympathy...

2009-12-02T15:30:00.001Z

It seems ages since I last blogged. The sore throat took a lot longer to sort than expected. After a week,(I know a week!) in bed feeling rough, I went back to work last Thursday. Big mistake...after doing my best impression of the living dead that day, I crawled into bed at 5.30pm feeling worse than I had previously! A visit to the GP the next day confirmed that I now had Laryngitis and I've been off work this week feeling tired, no voice a cought etc etc.

The good news - is although my throat is not 100% sorted I feel sooooo much better - yay! and I'm back to work tomorrow.

The bad news, is that sadly my laptop has come out in sympathy with me and is on it's last legs. I've googled the problem and it pretty much looks as though any day soon my screen will die. It's flickering like crazy and has a horrible red glow on one side. I just know that some day soon I'll switch on my laptop and there will be nada - just a black screen.

Because of this laptop problem, I'm in the process of ordering an iMac. I know that this will be so much better for my photos, bigger screen, memory etc etc but I am a little scared. I've always used a PC. Any tips from those who have made the change?

Oh and if I disappear again, it probably just means my laptop has died and my Mac hasn't arrived - so bear with me!

sore throats and lovely delights...

2009-11-20T17:35:00.003Z

At the moment I'm stuck in bed with a scratchy sore throat and runny nose and a little fed up but to cheer myself up, I thought I would share with you the lovely mail i've had this past week.

I meant to do this earlier in the week but felt so rough I didn't get around to it. I came home from work one evening to find a box from a swap I joined on Sofia's blog. (Go check out her delightful blog!) The idea was to send some Autumn comfort out and Sofia would assign swap partners. So the person you sent to wouldn't be the person you received from.

I put my parcel on the table upside down, (didn't realise as there was a label both sides lol!) then when I eventually turned it over to open - what a squeal of delight when I saw the sticker on the box which read Lobster and Swan.

Now if any of you don't know, Jeska has this beautiful blog which I've often looked at. So you can see why I was delighted, even before I opened the box and I wasn't disappointed.

Such lovely treasures

One of Jeska's beautiful garlands, (not sure my photo does it justice)

These are just some of the lovely things she sent, along with a book which is coming in very useful now I'm stuck in bed! Thanks Jeska!

Go check out Jeska's blog and Etsy shop, I promise you'll be swooning...

simple things...again

2009-11-16T21:54:00.001Z

Once again, Christina is hosting a return of the simple things. (check out her blog and see what delights are there!) A celebration of all the simple things we love... This time my 'simple things' is a celebration of Autumn.

* the golden leaves that fall and reveal a landscape
* the crunch of leaves underfoot
* raindrops that glisten on winter berries
* seedheads and weeds that shimmer in the sunlight
* the way the evening light just fades into darkness
* the promise of magic in a forest

Most of all, Autumn is a celebration of the fading light and dreams that are just beginning...

the heart of the great alone...

2009-11-13T14:13:00.001Z

I meant to blog about this earlier, as I went to Edinburgh at the weekend for the day. Looking for something to do while I was there - (other than shopping and eating), I came across this exhibition.

The exhibition is about Scott, Shackleton and Antarctic Photography. The above images are by Herbert Ponting. I thought this exhibition might be interesting as I have a love of photography but it was awe inspiring, in fact maybe one of the best exibitions I have ever been to. The photography itself was amazing and considering the photos were taken 100 years ago they had a real contemporary feel to them. I urge you to follow the above link where you can visit the e gallery and see for yourselves...

pretty orange delights...

2009-11-08T17:08:00.005Z

A little while ago I did a swap with Sally which was fantastic. So much so that we decided to do another. This time Sally came up with the brilliant idea of having a theme which was '5 things Orange' as we are now in Autumn and we both felt this is a time of year when things are a little dull and we needed some cheer.

So, I was seriously excited when I got home from work a couple of days ago to find a nice Postman called Neil had left a little note for me, saying he had left a parcel in my shed...

Meet Nadine the goat!!

Sally chose such perfect gifts, apart from Nadine, She also sent me one of Amy Blackwell's fox prints - lucky me! and a quirky zine from Anthony Zinonos, a cd and a fantastic vintage penguin copy of Evelyn Waugh - A Handful of Dust which I can't wait to start reading...Thanks Sally!

losing my connection...

2009-11-03T19:45:00.002Z

Ooops! I appear to have been awol for about ten days without meaning to be. Firstly I went to see relatives for a few days, only to get back and find I had somehow lost my broadband connection - grrrrrr!

It was actually quite strange being offline as there were so many things I thought about doing and then thought - nope can't do that without being online. A little frustrating perhaps but almost like a mini detox in a way, as I actually managed to get some things done in the real world!

So there was nothing else for it but to head outdoors at the weekend and so off we went to the coast, even though the weather was pretty grey and miserable. When we got there we found these kite surfers just playing in the windy weather and enjoying the waves...

So much nicer than being stuck in front of a computer...

think pink...

2009-10-22T21:27:00.003+01:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and across at Soul Aperture Christina has been encouraging us to post pink on Thursdays in October,

so come and join us and think pink...

wednesday...

2009-10-21T20:14:00.002+01:00

One minute it was the weekend and the next thing I know it's Wednesday and here I am! I feel as if I've been rushing around like a mad thing these past couple of weeks but things are starting to slow down a little which is good...

The clocks are due to change next weekend which means we'll have more darkness but in a way I'm looking forward to cozy evenings and weekends in; curled up in front of a log fire with a good book, some tea and maybe a slice of some home baked goodies - bliss!

cobwebs...

2009-10-12T20:10:00.001+01:00

Maybe it's because Halloween is later this month, that I have a thing for cobwebs at the moment, especially when there is lovely light. It just fascinates me, all that intricate spinning of silk to make something so beautiful and delicate looking...

Though I read that the tensile strength of spider silk is greater than the same weight of steel with much greater elasticity. Who knew?

tomatoes...

2009-10-07T20:22:00.002+01:00

So the summer is finally ended; I think we are officially in Autumn now but still things in my garden are trying their hardest to continue growing. We still have a mini glut of tomatoes.

Now that the weather is turning colder one of the nicest things to do is make tomato soup - {yum and super easy}. To be honest when I do this I don't usually use a recipe for quantities etc as so much of it just depends on how thick, thin etc you want the soup, or how much garlic you like to add etc. Just do whatever suits but here goes a rough recipe that can be adjusted as needed...

To serve 2 (double up quantities as needed)

8 medium size tomatoes
1 or 2 Garlic cloves
Onion
A glug of olive oil
Half pint of good vegetable stock
I ring the changes with the flavourings sometimes using italian herbs, marjoram, oregano etc from my garden or rosemary which goes nicely with the tomato.

Chop tomatoes into halves, quarters etc depending on size
Put in an oven proof dish
Add desired herbs and a clove or two of garlic
Glug olive oil over them
Roast in oven at for about 20, 30 mins - this helps to bring out flavour.

Meanwhile fry an onion in a little olive oil
When tomatoes are ready, add them into the pan with the onion
Add enough stock for desired thickness of soup
Heat for about 10 mins

Use a food processor to blend
add back to pan, reheat and voila!

posting pink...

2009-10-01T20:27:00.004+01:00

October is National Breast Awareness month and across at Soul Aperture the lovely Christina is asking us to post a photo with pink in it on Thursdays in October.

So here is my contribution. Won't you join us? As Christina says 'no rules, post one Thursday or all five'...

book love...

2009-09-30T21:27:00.002+01:00

I am very rarely without a book on the go, in fact I usually have about three or four that I'm reading at any one time...

One of the most brilliant public services, (as far as I'm concerned) are libraries - free books, (unless of course you happen to be like my good self and end up taking the books back late and incurring a fine - though I justify this by thinking at least the money maybe goes towards more books lol!) really it's such a brilliant idea!
This weeks books...

here, here and here...

little pieces of the weekend...

2009-09-27T15:59:00.005+01:00

This weekend had more of an Autumn feel to it...

Even breakfast looked like Autumn with the berries and nuts

Dusk from my window - it's getting darker every day now...

A lovely walk where I came across a patch full of weeds that looked so beautiful in the evening sunlight

I think me and Autumn are going to get along just fine...

giving and receiving...

2009-09-24T19:30:00.005+01:00

Today was a lovely mail day - the postman, (his name is Ivan) brought me a lovely parcel from Sally, who is one of my flickr contacts. We decided to do a swap which was really fun as I've never done a swap before.

the ones I sent...

the ones I received...

look at the gorgeous packaging and the vintage childrens playing card is so sweet!

I was super excited to get some of Sally's chillies - yay!

This really cheered me up today, there's nothing like lovely snail mail - thank you Sally!

wild and magical...

2009-09-19T18:57:00.006+01:00

It's that time of year again when the garden is going wild and everything is taking on a life of it's own.

I have to confess to having a certain fondness for seedheads and greenery, so for the moment, I'm leaving it to it's own devices...

sunflower magic...

2009-09-15T15:07:00.003+01:00

More pretty light in my garden this weekend. My sunflower appears to have lots of tiny sunflower buds on it which is strange - I've never seen that before...

Am off to London tomorrow, very very early, (eek!) and back late in the evening but sadly it's for work, so no shopping related opportunities boo hiss!

wednesday...

2009-09-09T19:53:00.002+01:00

My two vintage dressmaking patterns have arrived from here and here. (Yes I did finally decide to buy the other pattern I was deliberating over).

such pretty packaging

I'm feeling pretty nervous now though. I've never actually made an item of clothing, especially not one I might actually want to wear...

59:57

2009-09-07T20:52:00.002+01:00

It's been a busy weekend, what with one thing and another and included - a swimming lesson, a birthday,(my neice is 15yrs old - yikes!)and yesterday I ran a 10k race - woo hoo in 59:57! I was pretty happy as it was only on July 12th that I ran my first 5k race and I totally couldn't imagine doing the distance twice and yet yesterday as I pounded the pavements, I even kind of enjoyed it...

The funny thing is, I never even enjoyed running before, it's just crept up on me but I like that I can still manage to surprise myself sometimes!

biscuits...

2009-09-04T12:56:00.001+01:00

What to do when you fancy a biscuit but the tin is empty? Mmmmm, how about knocking up a batch of choc chip cookies? It's so long since I've made biscuits that I'd forgotten how crazily easy they are to make.

I used this recipe and the best bit, is that they only take 8 minutes to bake - yum!

In fact making them is quicker than going to the shop and wrapped in baking parchment they travel well, (and look cute!). Just the thing when the weather is rainy and cold outside and you want something sweet!

such pretty light...

2009-09-02T18:56:00.002+01:00

It's still around for the moment, so I'm going to enjoy every drop of it while it lasts...

windowsill light

sweet peas

evening sunlight in my sitting room

dusk

this week...

2009-08-29T17:28:00.007+01:00

Has been all about chilling, after my previous hectic week and lack of sleep! I think now that summer is coming to an end I'm starting to think more about making and looking for inspiration while the sun is still around.

Thinking of pretty things leads me to good news. The lovely Rachel from Heart of Light has opened an Etsy shop, yep you heard right and about time too! She has so many beautiful handmade headbands for sale and oh so pretty...

Heart Of Light on Etsy

Heart of Light on Etsy

If you're quick enough, this lovely may still be available because who doesn't need a ruffley headband! Oh and she can also make all the headbands into belt sizes as well...

Recently I've been thinking that I'd like to try and make my own clothing, so this week I've bought a vintage clothing pattern from 13th Faerie on Etsy. There are so many lovely vintage patterns on Etsy that they're worth looking at just for the illustrations.

I figured I'd better try and start off simple, as my knowledge of dress making is pretty non existant and it was the words 'Simple to Sew' that sold me! I'm thinking I might make this shorter than the pattern suggests and maybe lower the neck line a little. Ho hum, perhaps I should actually wait and see how complicated this looks before I start making my own adjustments lol!

I also really want the pattern below, from here

but it's about three sizes bigger than I need. Apparently it's easy to resize patterns - mmmmm but I'm not convinced, especially for a novice like myself. Any thoughts anyone?

where do all the days go...

2009-08-20T20:28:00.001+01:00

I'm still trying to catch up with myself this week, as I've been pretty busy...

Another bar-b-q with some friends, on a sunny Wednesday...

Dancing 'till dawn, (5.15am to be precise!) into the early hours of Friday...

A trip to the climbing wall on Saturday, (I took the photos, there was no way I was fit to climb lol!)

Shopping for presents for a 60th birthday. Then the party last night for my Aunt with family and friends...

Trust me, this weekend is going to be all about taking it easy...

in a nutshell...

2009-08-12T21:41:00.001+01:00

Some things from the weekend...

a run

some crafting

a little sunshine

and some lazing

a bbq

and a homemade plum frangipane tart

recipe to follow

I would have posted this yesterday but we had a power cut yesterday evening for about 3 hours just as I was thinking of going online - grrrr! :)

polaroid love...

2009-08-07T21:14:00.003+01:00

Following on from my last post,I forgot to say that when I was in Belgium we went to a flea market, which was fantastic.

I managed to pick up a sonar 5000 polaroid camera for 7 Euros which I was very happy about. It's pretty well loved, (for that read scratched lol!) and I don't actually know if the camera works and finding sx 70 film is proving a little tricky, as they stopped making it in 2006. I have found one place where I can get a film for £18.50 for 8 exposures - eek! I have to say I was actually considering this as a treat but the postage is £14 - yikes and it's only coming from Europe - so £32.50 for 8 exposures and I don't even know if my camera works - mmmm - I'm still pondering...

Still, there is hope in the form of the Impossible Project. A group of former workers are on a quest to produce film that can be used in vintage polaroids. They have exactly a year which ends at the end of 2009 and have signed a lease on the old polaroid factory for 10 years. The problem is that some of the components used in the film are no longer available so they are seeking experts with information The site gives a contdown and at this point in time there are 13,240,759 seconds to go...

So until then, this is the next best thing for now. I found this site called Poladroid which you can download and use to transform your photos into a polaroid style. It's cute and fun for playing around and best of all it's free!

Enjoy your weekend!

life on film...

2009-08-04T11:47:00.001+01:00

Having been inspired by the fact that the lovely Catherine and also Martina have recently bought cameras to shoot film, before I went to Belgium I was checking out Etsy and ebay to see if I could pick up something to play with. We do have an Olympus camera but it's in need of repair and hasn't been used for years.

Then I remembered that M has a camera that belonged to his father, an Agfa Silette L.

- Yay, I'd totally forgotten about this and I think it's in working order, so now I'm back I've bought some film and need to start playing!!

Not sure how I'm going to reign myself in as I'm used to taking 100's of photos not just 36! Let the love begin...

hello again...

2009-07-31T11:00:00.006+01:00

So here I am, back from the land of chocolates. We had a great time, though it passed too quickly. In truth I didn't indulge too much, though it would have been so easy as there are so many yummy looking things to eat!

I did actually eat this cake!

After being in Belgium I feel inspired to start baking delicious looking cakes...

The weather was gorgeous, the hotel fantastic and we managed to do some touristy things like eating Belgium waffles and visiting the Grand Place. So all in all a lovely trip!

So here I am back home again and before I forget, I said I would pick a comment from this post to do a little giveaway of the Zine from Sprouthead and some other bits and pieces. So without further ado the name I picked, (using a very scientific method of giving you all a number!) was number 8 which is the lovely Catherine. {Catherine if you email me your address I'll make sure a little package wings its way to you...}

fifty posts and some freebies...

2009-07-25T11:00:00.002+01:00

Yay! today is my 50th post - so I decided to cheer you up with some freebies of sorts. Thanks to Ali from Domesticali I got this cute little box through the post from Graze full of yummy goodies to, well... graze on, free of charge, (yep you heard me correct...free of charge Woo Hoo!. The bad part is that you have to be in UK to qualify, {sorry all})

I want to share the foodie love and so if you use this code 8G1N2T6 and go to graze.com then you too can get a free box of nibbles through the post and there's not even any postage! My box came with chilli almonds, black pepper cashews, a dried fruit mix called apple strudel, (which was to die for - who knew dried fruit was this delicious) and 'rock the casbah' - a nut, seed a fruit mix -yum! There are about 130 choices of nibbles and you can either choose your own or pick a nutrition pack, (mine was a post workout pack). Also if any of you do take up this offer then the kind peeps at Graze give me a discount off my next box! (double yum!)

My other freebie is really thanks to the postal service. I ordered this lovely little zine from Sprouthead from Etsy and thanks to a postal hitch, she was worried I wouldn't receive it, so sent another out.

{Such lovely drawings and the poem is sweet}

She very generously said that if both turned up I could keep them. Amazingly they did both turn up and so I emailed and said that as they were so lovely I thought someone else should benefit from her work and that I would do a giveaway on my blog. So...leave a comment, no matter how random on this post and I'll pick a name on Friday (31st) and send you the zine, (I'll also put in some other random goodies). Enjoy your weekend - I am probably sampling Belgiums finest chocolates at the moment! ;)

celebrations and packing...

2009-07-23T11:58:00.009+01:00

Today is M's Birthday and so we are spending the day partly doing lovely things and partly rushing around like mad people, as we are off to Belgium tomorrow to have a few days enjoying a city break, (also combined with helping a relative move from Belgium to London - we are helping to bring some boxes back).

As we are super busy today we will be continuing the birthday fun over the next few days - after all as the land of chocolate beckons, it would be rude not to partake don't you think?!

I'll be away until about Friday next week but have {fingers crossed} scheduled a post for Saturday which will have a give away of sorts! I'll see you when I get back as I don't think I'll have time to go online, as I'll be too busy sampling the chocolates! ;)

pata, homemade sunshine and a run...

2009-07-21T18:42:00.005+01:00

Well, for a first attempt at homemade pasta over the weekend, (see here)it wasn't the worst in the world but I think it may need a little refining! The pasta was just a bit too thick but still, it tasted ok with my homemade pesto! (Now I understand why people have pasta machines lol, instead of just rolling it out!)

On the plus side, although it's been raining and grey today,(almost like a winters day) I cheered myself up with some homemade sunshine in the form of granola and juicy English strawberries - yum!

Now I'm about to go for a run in the mist and drizzle, as over the weekend I entered a 10k run which is on the 6th September - yikes! Enjoy your evening!

I've been tagged!

2009-07-19T18:50:00.002+01:00

Thanks to the lovely Hanna from Craftykin who tagged me, so here goes...

What is your current obsession?
mmm I think that would be wanting to try and shoot some film instead of digital just to have a play around really...

What are you wearing today?
Um a pair of black linen trousers a blue top and my converse.

What's for dinner?
Ha! Well, it's supposed to be fresh pasta,with pesto,(both homemade)but this will be my first time making fresh pasta so let's just wait and see. On the plus side I've just made the pesto, so worse case scenorio we're having it with dried pasta!

What would you eat for your last meal?
Wow, this is difficult, I think if it really was my last meal then I'd want to be somewhere lovely like the beach, eating hot salty fish and chips.

What's the last thing you bought?
A banjo case for M's birthday

What are you listening to right now?
Right now? As in this second? Nothing actually but I'm totally loving the sound of Keren Ann at the moment

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
If I've only got an hour then probably to see the Grand canyon - it looks so amazing when I've seen it in films - I can't get over how amazing and huge it looks!

What do you love most about where you currently live?
I live in a rural area, so just the fact that I'm surrounded by hills and greenery and it's so lovely to get out and about in nature - very relaxing.

What is your favorite colour?
Mmmm I think I would have to say blue, though this changes all the time I do have a soft spot for blues.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
Probably the little black dress that I got married in, it was a pretty laid back affair!

Describe your personal style?
Pretty relaxed, usually with converse or flip flops! Oh and I love vintage clothing as well.

What were you doing ten years ago?
Living at the seaside and training to be a homeopath. I did work as a self employed homeopath for a while but couldn't get enough business as I live out in the sticks. I still use it though for friends and family.

If you had £100 now, what would you spend it on?
As I've just recently got into running, I think the Garmin Forerunner looks pretty neat. It measures your pace, distance and heart rate and you upload it to your computer to see pretty graphs on what's going on when you're running!

What are you going to do after this?
Maybe potter around the garden if the rain holds off.

What are your favourite films?
I love films that are a little quirky or inspiring, I loved Juno, Son of Rambow, Marie Antoinette for the look, oh and I've recently watched Man on Wire which was totally 100% amazing.

What inspires you?
Wow, so many things - nature, patterns, creativity in all forms, the little things that other people don't always notice.

Your favourite books?
So many I'm not sure how to choose. I loved Audrey Niffeneggers - The Time Traveler's Wife, I love Miranda July's collection of short stories - No One Belongs Here More Than You for their quirky charm. I have a soft spot for Benedicta Leigh - Unlock, And Remind Me Of The Sea - for the lovely title and the fact that it was the book I was reading when I met M. So many others, I could go on all day...

Do you collect anything?
Um no!

What makes you follow a blog?
Lovely photography and a sense of somethng inspiring or creative.

What was the most enjoyable thing you did today?
Well it's only just after lunch so there's plenty of the day left! Maybe chilling out this morning reading the Sunday papers.

What is your favourite smell?
I love the smell of fresh oranges, sweet peas, new books, cut grass, oh and I love the smell of fresh laundry...

What is on the top of your to do list?
So many things! Sort out my photographs is pretty much at the top, as I need to get some printed.

Tell me a random fact about yourself.
I don't own a TV and haven't had one for the last 8 years, ever since we moved to a rural area. Firstly because we were decorating and the reception around here is rubbish and then we realised we'd gone nearly 4 months without a tv and hadn't missed it. We always said we'd go out and buy one as soon as we missed it and here we are 8 years later!

The rules:
1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag eight other people.

So anyone who would like to play...consider yourself tagged!

weeds and wonders...

2009-07-10T23:44:00.007+01:00

Since my last blog offering things have been pretty busy... The weather has been crazy, one minute lovely and hot, the next thundery showers and so everything in the garden has been growing like crazy including the weeds! Actually I have a bit of a soft spot for weeding as I find it quite therapeutic, (a bit like vacuuming which is my favourite household chore lol!) and some weeds just look really lovely!

I also did my 5k run on Sunday for Cancer Research and amazingly it didn't rain, though it would have been quite welcome at one point! The funny thing is I've discovered that I really enjoy running, (not that I'm super fast)- just being outdoors and running is a great way to just be in the moment, without a thousand things filling your head.

I also watched this incredible documentary called man on wire. Really - you need to go check out the trailer, it was amazing, breath taking, poignant and awe inspiring and is about a young frenchman who in 1974 planned to do a high wire walk between the Twin Towers. Wow...

simple things that make the heart sing...

2009-07-08T20:57:00.004+01:00

Yay! Once again the lovely christina of Soul Aperture is hosting a simple things day today, go and take a peek! Here are mine...

* Walking in the garden after the rain when everything is still
* Ordinary love - you know the day to day stuff rather than grand gestures
* Sitting somewhere comfy with my embroidery and just going with the flow...
* Baking - especially making cupcakes at the moment! (coconut ones - yum!)
* The fairy lights around my bed which shine like stars in the night
* Dreams of flying when you can float and swoop to your hearts content!
* The view at dusk from my sitting room window with my clematis silhouette
* Bubbles! Hands up who doesn't smile when they see them!
* The moment you go through the sand dunes and finally see the sea - yipeee!

what are yours?...

a little bit of madness and baking...

2009-07-06T18:57:00.004+01:00

For the past week here in the UK we've been lucky enough to have some really nice weather, the flipside of this has meant I haven't spent much time in front of the computer and so haven't been blogging - ooops! It couldn't last though and now we have humid and showery weather - so I'm back again!

One thing which has been driving me mad this week, is trying to get to grips with colour profiles - (* insert loud scream here*) as I've been doing some tester photo prints, (from a lab) to put in my Etsy shop and they're not turning out the same as what I can see on my screen, so I'm having to keep tweaking. I know the answer is to have my monitor profiled but the idea of spending money on software to do this when I keep reading conflicting reports about how good this is, is driving me nuts! Truthfully my brain is fried with all this knowledge - who knew that I would become so geeky as to want to try and understand this stuff!

Never mind, I'm sure it will all become clear, (at some point!) and I guess I'll just have to keep tweaking! After filling my brain with monitor profiles etc etc... I managed to soothe my frazzled brain with some baking - cupcakes to be precise. It's just as well I'm doing more running these days, as I have a thing for cupcakes at the moment!

Oh and bread also. Delicious bread that smells so comforting...

For those who asked about a recipe - here it is in a nutshell - it really is so easy.
Firstly, let me say I have no problem with doing things the easy way if it tastes good, which is why I use dried yeast as it's so quick, (as only one kneading and proving is required). Makes one large loaf.

500g / 1lb 2oz strong bread flour (I use half white, half wholemeal)
25g/1 oz butter (I never weigh this, I just guess and scoop some with a teaspoon)
1 and 1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1 and a half teaspoons fast action yeast or 7 g sachet (check on the yeast you are using, you may have to adjust the flour amount a little)
300ml/ 10 fl oz warm water

I use a food processor with a dough hook and put the flour, sugar, salt and butter in and whiz for a few seconds, (if you are doing this by hand you rub in butter to the flour then add salt and sugar) then add the yeast (and whiz) then add *** the water until it comes together into a dough, ( about 4 mins in the machine) and voila!

***Usually at this point I add extras such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds - whatever I have really, in whatever quantity - usually a handful of each but this means you need to increase the water so you can mix it into a dough.

I then take it out and knead it by hand for a couple of minutes and then pop it into a greased tin, shake a little flour over the top, cover it with a tea towel and leave it to double in size.

Once this is ready I pop it into a pre heated oven, (removing the tea towel!) at 230c (450 F, gas mark 8) for roughly 30-35 mins. The loaf should sound hollow when tapped underneath. Remove from tin, (resisting urge to gobble up) and leave to cool.

As I said, so super easy - it usually takes me about 15 mins from the start point, (ie weighing out) to the point when it is in the tin ready to be doubled in size. Sometimes I ring the changes with herbs, sundried tomatoes, seeds etc - just remember that if you add anything to the basic recipe you may need more water.
Result yum! - fresh baked bread and it smells so delicious when it's baking. Eat and enjoy :)

sending you a cupcake!

2009-06-26T16:44:00.002+01:00

Happy friday! As you can see cupcakes were finally made! I used this recipe from Dan Lepard which worked out pretty easy. (I think I may have a cupcake obsession - so it's just as well I'm doing more exercise these days! ;)

I am sending a virtual cupcake to you all, but especially to those who asked about the bread recipe I use - as it sounded so delicious. Well, a confession - I think I may have accidently 'bigged up' the sound of my bread by not explaining it was just a straightforward pumpkin SEED and sunflower SEED bread. I think not putting the word seed in, meant people thought there was actual pumpkin in there, (sadly not the case!). If anyone does want my, (not very interesting but easy ;) ) recipe, let me know and I'll post it! Enjoy the weekend!