New Year, New Blog...

Well hellooooo there! Happy New Year to you, I hope you're well. For those of you who have been here before; I know, it's been quite some time...

...enough time for me to reflect and clear my head a little. Enough time for me to admit that I wasn't really enjoying blogging and enough time to come to grips with what it is I want to do.

I came to realise that although I still want my little corner in this bloggy world, I want my little corner to be different from this one...So, I politely ask that you come and see my new corner over HERE and let me know what you think. I'm sure there'll be some changes, tweaks and bumps along the road - but I'd love you to come along for the ride...see you after the jump!

Hugs,  B x

Reflecting...

Hello my friends,

It's been such a long time hasn't it? I have been busy with the usual summer activities; taking the kids out, enjoying (and attending) the Olympics and finally, visiting my sister and her lovely family in LA. We had a fabulous time and also took a little road trip to San Diego (where my daughter took this candid photo of me and Chris) via Laguna Beach which was complete bliss.

This break has given me much time to reflect on what I want and where I am going. I always get like this at this at the end of the summer. I'm almost more driven and optimistic at this time than I am at the start of a new year. I think it's the fullness I feel from having spent plenty of time with the children and the realisation that they will be going back to school, getting on with their development, and I need to concentrate on mine.

And so I have taken stock. Looked at where I have come from and where I want to be going. My successes and my disappointments. And although I have loved blogging; especially when I started (what seems like a lifetime ago) when we lived in Canada, I have come to the conclusion that I am no longer getting what I need from blogging and therefore am not giving much back. I feel the constant guilt of an untended relationship and that is not good for me - or my writing!

That's not to say I have nothing to write about, I mean, stuff has been happening. A new barn was built and furnished, the house is improving, I joined a band and there have been achievements made in the family that I'm incredibly proud of. It's just that, well, I've lost the desire to tell the stories.

And so I have decided to call it a day. Forever? For a month? A year? I have no idea. But I want to thank all of you for reading my little blog, for joining me on that part of my journey. The blog that I feel never really got it's act together. It could have been, should have been, so much better. But still, I'm proud of it and grateful that you took time out of your day to read my ramblings. For the time being I will leave the blog up- I hate goodbyes, in the hope that my desire to write returns. I will still be following you all and popping in to see how you're doing and say "Hi". So for now I'll just say...

See you around,

Hugs,

B x

Everything's peachy...

Hello my Lovelies,

I have been glued to my t.v since Friday watching the Olympics and marvelling at what a magnificent job we have done so far! Meals have been chosen for their simplicity and quick preparation time - less time away from the action on the box ;o)

So I have been using my Leon; Naturally fast food and my Leon; Baking and Puddings. Today we opted for the Baked Peaches, which I coupled with a scoop of ice-cream - delicious!

So...everything here is just peachy - how are things with you?

Hugs, B x

At the bottom of my garden...

Phew, what a busy couple of weeks! 

We have finally finished the landscaping around the barn...

 ...and the garden has had a bit of a makeover too.

 You may have noticed a new tab at the top of the page - images and info to follow...

 Well, I have got together with a friend and have been producing hand painted signs for weddings and anniversaries for sale on her website...

It seems to be the perfect time of year for it...

I've had quite a few orders to fulfil...

But it seems I'm not the only 'Busy B' around here!

Back soon with more info - what have you all been up to?

Hugs, B  xxx

A beautiful find...

Today, while reading the paper on-line, I came across something that took my breath away...

'Gammelyn's Daughter'

Kirsty Mitchell is a talented photographer, who lost her Mother to a brain tumour in 2008. Her Mother, Maureen, was an English teacher who would read wonderful stories full of fantasy to Kirsty as a child. Unable to deal with the real world and the loss of her Mother, Kirsty retreated and created a fantasy world of her own that is now a collection called WONDERLAND.

'Euphaeidae'

'A Floral Birth'

'Lady of the Lake'

'The Lavender Princess'

'Spirited Away'

 I think these are some of the most stunning photographs I have ever seen. I have been back and looked at them over and over again and never tire of them. She has lots of other amazing work over on her website;
Kirsty Mitchell Photography.

I wait with baited breath for a chance to see them in the flesh at her next London exhibition.

I hope you enjoyed them too.

Hugs, B x

Sweet stuff

I have a very sweet tooth. But, I have to admit to totally missing the Macaroon boat. I have never (until today) had the pleasure of one of these colourful, sweet delights. So, when I saw one last box sitting all alone on the shelf in my supermarket (and reduced!) I decided to treat myself. I got them home and they almost looked too good to eat, so I thought I'd take a few pics to share before I made them disappear...

And I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised! They really do taste as good as they look.

Hope your week is full of sweetness.
Hugs, B x

Easter in Cape Verde...

Shhhh. Can you hear that? Beautiful isn't it? That, my friends, is the sound of silence. The sound of kids back to school. Which didn't happen until yesterday and kind of had me hanging on for dear life by my fingernails. But I made it. And so did they. And now, we are back to normal - and I am enjoying the silence.

So, I thought I'd take the time to fill you in on our trip to Cape Verde. As you can imagine I have TONS of photos, but I am going to try and restrain myself and not bore you to tears! I think I will follow the theme I started with and just keep quiet and let the pics do the talking...

Fun in the sun...

Out and about...

I found Cape Verde to be a beautiful place, poor, but richer for it's wonderful, happy, friendly people. It was lovely to have some time away, we came back totally rested and the kids made some lovely friends. The only mishap was on our last day, when a little boy dropped a plate on my foot. I ended up with a couple of stitches, but I found that a couple of Caiparinhas (Brazilian cocktails) sorted me out and dealt with the pain! It was a small price to pay for a wonderful holiday.

Back here in the UK it seems like the rain will never stop, but after my lovely break, donning my raincoat and my wellies to do the school-run doesn't feel so bad...

Hugs, B x