Confessions of a thirty-something...

This week has been a bit of a blur. Not, as you would be forgiven for thinking, because the kids are at home and I've been getting ready for a market. Both of those things are true, but that is not the reason for my recent lack of focus. No, the real reason is rather more embarrassing. As I told you; Friday was Chris' birthday, on Saturday we had a party.

We celebrated...I celebrated...hard.

Sunday morning was horrific. And Monday only marginally better. I lost 5 pounds in weight (not such a bad thing!) and suffice to say I won't be touching alcohol for some time. I think the children thought I had caught a tropical disease! There is, in my possession, photographic evidence to prove that I should know better. However, for obvious reasons, I chose to post this one...

That's me on the left with my younger sister Hannah. Oh, I wish I could go back and remind myself to drink water! Anyhow, confession over, all in all the night was a great success. We had a lot of fun and caught up with some old friends. You only live once right!?

Thursday I was at the Berkhamsted Castle Village Market. I've never been there before and although it was a rather small event, the turn out wasn't too bad and I was happy that I'd made the effort to go. I sold all of my cushions (except one) and quite a few other bits and pieces. And I have some lovely vintage-style lavender bags that I will be adding to Folksy this weekend.

Next week is going to be a toughie. My girl is going away. Jess will be going off to Uni in September and her plan, since we moved back to the UK has been to go back and spend a fun-filled month with all her friends back in Canada. That day has almost come and on Tuesday I will put her on a plane by herself (for the first time) and wave goodbye to my pal. She has spent this past year at college and holding down 2 jobs to save the money for this trip and to say we're proud of her would be an understatement!

I will miss her - she knows that. But I want her to have the most fun a girl with a big smile and a good heart can have - love you Jess.

My apologies for the rambling post; I had some things I needed to get off my chest!

Love to you all,

B x

The end is nigh...

The end of school that is. As usual the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. Tonight I am out with the mums from year 2. Tomorrow I have a luncheon with the mums of year 4 and then straight after school some crazy, I mean lovely, mum has decided to host a picnic tea party for all of Eva's class plus mums and siblings in her garden - yikes! On top of that I am half way through painting Eva's bedroom and I have been making some new pretties which I will be post about very soon and putting in my folksy shop.

Busy, busy, busy!

Today I came across this picture I took while on a road trip with the kids and in-laws from Toronto to Vermont a couple of years ago. It was at the end of the day; on our first stop at a lovely B & B - what a view. It makes me feel so calm and relaxed whenever I see it. I may need to get it enlarged and have it on my wall opposite my bed as a stress reliever!

I thought I would share it with you. I hope you are all having a fun, stress-free week.

Hugs to you all,

B x
p.s I have had a lucky couple of days and won a few giveaways (never usually happens to me!) I'll tell you all about them next time...Ciao!

Leaving...

I'm starting to get excited about having a new house to play with; I really want to show you guys our new home, but until we have exchanged contracts I think it would be tempting fate. All I will say is; it's the oldest house I will have ever lived in...

Having said that I have to admit that last night I had my first 'wobble', thinking about leaving Canada behind. This is where my two youngest have lived most of their lives. Max was 4 and Eva was 2 when we arrived on July 1st 2005. Eva had her best tantrums here!



As she demonstrates here...

She really wasn't happy about the one on one with Dora!

And they both started the year with ice-skating lesson...that was the only year they took ice-skating lessons! Our first snow storm, getting the kids into their snow gear, digging our way out of the drive, all things that drive me nuts about Canada, but things I will never experience again and that have been our life for the last 4 years.

The baking hot summers, barbies, walks around the pond; we have loved our summers in Unionville.

And our Jessica has grown into a young woman in her four years here. Her love of the arts has been cemented during her time here...



...we will always have fantastic memories of our Mother/Daughter trip to New York for her 16th



I have found several new loves; sewing, taking photos and blogging - all covered here:-

And my lovely, clever husband came, started a new job, conquered it and has moved on to the next.

Part of me wishes we'd spent less time flying home to England in the summers and enjoyed our limited time in our Canadian home.

Can you leave memories behind? I kind of feel like leaving this land will leave a part of us here too. Silly... isn't it? B x

edit: My apologies for some of the photo's sizing etc (they looked ok in the preview)