Missing you...but having fun!

I know, its been an awfully long time. I hope you have had a lovely couple of months. I have been enjoying the summer; painting furniture, sorting the barn out and celebrating my sisters' 30th birthday with a night in London and a trip with 'The Girls' to Marbella, Spain. Just wanted you to know that all is well and that now the kids are back at school, I will be back to some kind of 'normal"! See you soon.
Hugs,
B x

Christmas Wishes...

Hello my sweet friends. Firstly, a quick update on the 'floor issue'. I was incredibly grateful for all of your advice and am still toying with the idea of painting it white. That being said, it was very clear that I wasn't going to be able to fix the issue that was staring me in the face - the missing floorboards. So, hubby still away, I tried to call around and get help in. Unfortunately I had to declare my little whoopsie as I couldn't get it sorted before Chris was due home. However, I now have a guy coming to sand, fix and polish it at the beginning on January, so fingers crossed it will all be fixed sooner or later!

Now, that would probably be my first wish for Christmas but beyond that I haven't really given much thought to what I want on my Christmas list so here goes...

Seriously need one of these babies. I'm no camera expert, but something quick and easy to use that doesn't die on me would be much appreciated!

Ooooh, preeeeeeety! I've no idea where I would put her in my cramped cottage- maybe we could lose a sofa to make room?! Want one too? Take a look here.

It's been pretty nippy round these parts too and I was thinking that one of these would come in very handy for the party season...

...from Top Shop - and just been REDUCED!

And finally, I'm not a great 'bling' lover, but I would love to find this little treasure from Tiffany under the tree...



But top of my Christmas list is a Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year for my family and for you and yours.

Lots of Love from us all at Pear Tree Cottage...

B x

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

Thank you!

I just wanted to take the time to thank the readers, commenters and followers of this blog (old and new) for their constant support.

I have learned a lot about myself in the months I have spent blogging and although I have not reached my goal- of knowing what I want to do with my life now that the children are all at school and feeling 100% fulfilled. I can say, without doubt, that I am a lot nearer than I was when I began blogging.

You ladies have been such an inspiration and I admire so many of you for just knowing who you are and what you deserve and I am learning that that makes for a happier wife, mother, daughter and friend.

I realise that this may seem like one long ramble...and I have had 2 glasses of wine... but I feel that after many years of giving myself to my family, blogging (and specifically you guys) have given me permission to dream, to create and to plan for more. And I am excited for what may lie ahead.

As I said, I'm still not sure where I'm going with this...originally I thought that sewing, specifically children's clothing, was in my future. But now I am enjoying casting my net wider. I am looking into making jewellery, housewares, furniture...there is so much that interests me, this is my time to create and find out what I'm about. Maybe it's more that one thing? Maybe it's a market stall? A little shop? An Etsy store? Who knows? But I feel that with friends like you I can do anything I set my mind to; you are such great inspiration.

Thank you!

You gotta have friends

Hi guys, I hope you've had a good week and are now kicking back and doing something you enjoy this weekend. Well, we are on the THREE WEEK countdown to our relocation to the UK.




Am I packed? No.




Do we have a removal company yet? No.




Have I had my garage sale yet? No.




Have I checked out the kennels for the dog? No.





Ok, so I still have stuff to do...I'm working on it!




I'm now starting to think about what it's going to be like not living here any more. I drive down streets and think; "I may never drive down this street again" (I've always been a little dramatic) When we left England we knew it was always going to be home, so there was never the question that we might not return. But Canada is a long way away and I am aware that when life is happening we don't always get the opportunities to go back. The thing I'm most sad about leaving is our friends. My friends, the kids friends, it's going to be tough. Eva and Max were 2 and a half and 4 when we came here, so the friends they have here have been their friends for most of their lives. Jess didn't want to come to Canada; I still have memories of a gang of 13 year old girls crying hysterically and chasing our car up the road - not wanting her to leave! Now she is older, she is excited about the new opportunities that await her, but sad about the people she will leave behind. And Chris and I have made some great friends who we will always be grateful to for making us feel so welcome.

But I also have a new group of friends who I am packing up and taking with me; I'll take them with me on the flight, put them in the car at the other end and then introduce them to my new home. You lovely ladies!

I have met some fabulous girlies since I started this journey in February and I look forward to developing those friendships over the months and years even if I am moving continent! On this note; I was happily surprised to find that I had received 2 blog awards this week. My first! So, "Thank you" to Design it Chic and Robbie S Redmond @ A Spiritual Connection who gave me this award this is how it works;

The "Love Ya" Award states:These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

The ladies listed here have made me feel so welcome to the blogging world, I wanted to say "Thanks" and ask that you stop by and leave them a comment - you'll be glad you did!

Kasey @ Lola B's

Koralee @ Blue Bird Notes

Nydia @ Polymer Clay Snails

Mandi @ Miss(es) Canadian Pie

Jessica @ 3 including me

Sweetly Lovely Afternoon

Kriste @ The Geek and the Belle

Mom's Fortress of Solitude

Lastly; I must apologise for the long post. I have tried to make up for it by sharing the flowers that are blooming in my front garden with you! -

Happy Sunday x