Count down to our trip without the boys!

This week has been busy getting things done before me and hubby went to a wedding, without the boys. There were two sports days, the stocks to move out of the back yard, finally, plus the hamper I made for the school raffle to deliver. I was very pleased with the contents and the look of it; lemon curd, onion chutney, parmesan and cheddar thins, sultana and banana bread and homemade lemonade.

I finished the Holy Communion journal and was really quite pleased with it. May post a picture of it later as I don't have one just now.

We left for our trip to Scotland without the boys feeling nervous but looking forward to our weekend away. Part of it was to celebrate out wedding anniversary - here we are seven years ago!

The wedding was on Saturday and I think you get the feel of the occasion by these pictures. Just imagine the smell of a hog roast and a few bottles of excellent red wine along with them!

It was a lovely occasion and the rain held off just long enough.

That is about it for the week. I'm having a fairly baking-free week this week, apart for the boys. No planning for fairs or trips away so a breather for a short while.x

Nearly had to launch the Ark - 

but the sun shone on Uppermills crafty individuals!

Well, how much rain did we have this week?!

Different stuff to do this week. Of course at the beginning of the week I started the baking for the Summer Craft Event in Uppermill. I baked everyday including Friday. On the Wednesday it was the job of the final batch of curd.

Thursday evening hubby and I went to the school induction for Alfie starting big boy school in September. Much the same as with Harry but nice to see the parents and check nothing has changed too much.

Baking started late on Friday as I had the Pre-school committee meeting to go to but got a couple of cakes made before heading back to get Alfie at lunch time - won't be doing that much longer!

Saturday I had all the cakes to wrap and label, like wise the curd needed to warm up a bit out of the fridge before I could label the jars. Eventually the car was packed and was all ready for me to go Sunday morning.

The event on Sunday was just fantastic. I had fantastic comments, some orders and potential interest on lots of things. Can't wait until the next one. Here are photos of my British tea party themed table.

 Having a rest today and then see what the rest of the week has in store!x

Preparation is the key!

Quite a busy week this week. Boys were back to school on Monday 11th but I just don't know where the week went.

I've made the first two batches of lemon curd for my craft event at the end of the month.I made the decision to only take part in the Saddleworth Creative Network (SCN) fair as this means the most to me.

Will start organising myself for baking soon, I promise.

Just to remind you here is what the SCN event is all about!

Listening to Chris Beardshaw on Chris Evans one morning this week, they were talking about growing herbs practically anywhere. Well, here are the chives with ivy I have had growing by my front door for the last 8 months or so. 

Staying in the front garden, FINALLY I have Penstimons in flower, yeah! I have three lots and these are the best right now. So chuffed!

That is about it because just so busy for Sunday. Hope to have a few pictures to share with you after the weekend.

Dodging the showers this week!

The week has been quite busy, with it being the full week  of the boys half term holiday. We had a play date on Tuesday with a couple of Harry's pals including "girlfriend" Cher with Jude. Nice, unexpected chat for us and luckily the weather held that day for the boys to play outside some of the time.

Talking of outside, very pleased with the Alpines outside the back door; definitely getting more of these for next year - very reliable.

 

I have managed to do a couple of little jobs at the front of the house, too. I've cut down the chives as they were just flowering being no good to man nor beast and zip tied back my lilac in case the wind and rain got the better of it! Then I have planted just a few of the Queen Fabiola that you can see; they were supposed to be in by the end of May so wish me luck with them flowering; they could look lovely!  Bit miffed the brown bin I ordered has not been delivered yet so must chase that up this week.

   

Me and the boys had a lovely afternoon on Wednesday watching the latest Muppet film in Delph at Millgate Arts Centre, complete with goody bags for the boys!

   

On Friday the boys and I made and decorated a cake and they had an Inside Seaside day. They had picnic lunch on a self made beach of blankets and we drew pictures of Blackpool and sang seaside songs. 

How gorgeous did my boys decorate this cake?

Alfie IS wearing shorts!

 

 On Saturday I had a customer collect her journal which I covered as a planner for her wedding vow renewals. She was very happy with it and I was quite chuffed as I had not done an A4 size one before.

Also on Saturday we visited The Saddleworth Show in Uppermill, Bit pricy at £10 to get in and very wet but I think they did have a better day on Sunday.

For us Sunday meant taking the bull by the horns and driving to St Annes. 

We hoped the weather would stay nice and it did. This meant we could have ice creams on the beach plus a go on the bouncy castle for the boys.

Well, with the boys back at school I am having a not doing much day today and then I have to crack on for the two events I am doing on June 23 and 24; lots of baking and things to do! 

Bigging Up Saddleworth Creative Network !!

It is getting ever closer! We are all so very excited about the Summer Craft Festival. 

Make sure you some and visit us all at Uppermill Civic Hall for this fantastic craft event and family day out.


See you all there!!

Julbilee Joy!

Jubilee - tastic

What a week for weather! From Saturday before last the boys were in the paddling pool every day until Tuesday.Now we are back to rain.

On the Tuesday I finished the girly, cutesy journal for my friend's creative writing course and it was very well received when I delivered it on Wednesday! 

(Click here to see a picture of it. Having trouble with my computer skills at this point!)

On the back of this I have taken an order for a larger journal for a couple who are renewing their wedding vows; this is a real project!

The boys broke up from school on Wednesday and have just shy of another week to go! Suffice to say I have a few things planned to keep them busy.

Friday was baking day for the school Duck Race and also for our Jubilee tea we had planned for Saturday; in the afternoon we went to see some of the bands in Delph that were taking part in the band contest. 

Here are the goodies we had for our Jubilee tea.

We had just a lovely time with friends and family, even though the weather put paid to eating outside.

Coffee and a catch up? Get the kettle on.

Well, Monday morning full of sunshine and here I am with news of the week gone by. 

After the euphoria of hearing about Alfie's school place I finally got into some crafting as I have had three orders placed for my covered journals - woo hoo. Finished a recipe/cookery themed one yesterday (there is a snap of it on my Facebook page) and delivered it to school this morning. Waiting for feedback...? 
Have a lovely girly, pink cutesy one to do.

 
 Have already collected lots of items for that as you can see from this picture. Can't wait to start this project as it's for a lovely gal, one of the mums at school.

Trying to do this in some sort of order like the week, but what the heck let's see what comes next.

Tuesday was the Pre-School library trip so I went to hold hands with the little ones, including Alfie. They had stories about animals and a drink and a biscuit before we headed back and I got to bring Alfie home a little early.

Wednesday morning I was baking a cake for a friends birthday to deliver at lunch time then 
on Thursday morning I dropped the boys at school all scrubbed up for their school photo. Then I came home and baked for the Pre-School half term cake bake we were having on Friday morning. Chocolate with raspberry jam cupcakes then vanilla and chocolate drop ones plus banana, pear and sultana tray bake with a lovely maple syrup glaze.

    

 

I finally got round to buying some bedding plants on Friday afternoon, bush Lobelia in assorted colours, planting out all of them by the end of the Saturday. Needed to inject some fairly instant colour until the penstimons come into flower which hopefully will be soon; I am really relying on those to brighten the place up. 

However my lilac, which I think we have had for four years since my older sister gave it to me as a moving in gift I think, is finally in flower - witness below!

  












So the sunshine really came out this week so on Saturday afternoon, whilst Harry and Alfie were out with the Gramps,Jon and I took a ride out in the Spitfire - Jon's little baby but this was the first time I had been out for a proper ride in it. Head scarf a la Ms Hepburn next time for sure but was great fun. We had a rummage in the charity shops; do wish we would call them thrift shops like they do in the States, charity makes you sound cheap so I think I'm going to call them Thrift shops from now on! Anyhow, found this fab, original box amongst some nuts and bolts and cost me a quid - bargain!

Well, quite a busy week wasn't it? The boys break up for half term on Wednesday so need to sort out a few things for keeping them occupied, just in case the weather is not too good at times but keeping fingers crossed.


I am looking forward to catching up in the week maybe, with the boys being off then definitely next week. Enjoy the sun, for the time being!x