life moves pretty fast...

...you don't stop and look around for a while, you could miss it.

Well apparently my blogging mojo is on some kind of extended holiday...hope it's not a gap year!  To remind myself, and you, that I am a blogger (of sorts), here's a few pics of recent shenanigans round my way...

Amazing bundle of fabric joy for my birthday, from the gorgeous Modflowers...

cushions made for our local Arts Trail (and my quilt - for display only!)...

 

Gorgeous birthday presents from my boys!!! Brooch from here, purse from here...

and a couple of new tins to add to the kitchen collection.

The boys enjoying Upfest, our local graffiti festival...

a happy picture by eldest boy that makes my heart swell with joy...

 

and him playing on our new family toy.

Wild garlic picked on a woodland walk...

and our walking companion!

Recent boot sale booty, a Figgjo Flint casserole dish...

and a small but powerful bit of childhood nostalgia!

 

In among all this I have been buying fabric, selling fabric, and trying (and failing miserably) to not let my house get taken over by piles of fabric!  I desperately need a studio or sewing room, but our house is tiny and we're not moving any time soon so for now I just have to muddle through.

I hope you're well and happy, and enjoying the sunny weather we've been having...long may it last!  Thanks so much for reading, sorry it's been so long since my last post, hopefully it won't be as long till my next one!

Rachel xx

the white stuff...

Hello lovelies!  Well it's proper winter isn't it?  We've had loads of snow, and school was shut on Friday so much fun was had in the park, of course followed by vats of hot chocolate with marshmallows. Floyd enjoyed his first experience of playing in the snow, despite it sticking to his furry legs and forming very silly looking snow boots...

 

 Once the roads had cleared we went adventuring in the woods...it looked like Narnia!

So beautiful...although now that it's turned to icy sludge I'm a bit bored of it.  Bring on spring!


Rachel x


 

that was the week that was...

So here we are, at the end of half term (we're lucky, it's an in-set day today - yay!)- it's been a very full week-and-a-bit, in the best possible way - lots of fun with friends and family and not too much squabbling and tearing out of maternal hair!

One thing that has slipped this week has been taking photos! I have been a bit rubbish in that department, must try harder - but here are a few that I remembered to take...

last night's sparkler fun...

a terrible photo, but this is my gorgeous sister meeting Floyd for the first time...

 

cuteness personified! (apologies to anyone not doggy-inclined!)...

the best pumpkin at the halloween party (not carved by me I must add!) ...

fun in the sun at the adventure playground...

a bit more autumn colour, got to enjoy it while it lasts!...

 shadow play!

Just a small selection of the fun that was had.  We also visited friends, went to the theatre, did some sewing, made mess, tidied up, made mess again...I can't wait for the next school holiday!  Though I do need a bit of time to get ready for Christmas, I'm not one of these amazingly organised people who starts buying presents in the January sales...are you?  

Oh and thanks for the comments about the rainbow flames - they were really beautiful, and were created by sprinkling some crystals called Mystical Fire onto the fire - one sprinkle lasted ages, and they're available here...we didn't get around to ordering any for bonfire night, but I'm definitely going to stock up for future fiery fun!

I hope you had a great week last week, and have another great one this week! 

Rachel x

autumn splendour...

Yes I know we're all posting autumn pictures at the moment, but hey, you can never have too many pictures of trees, right?  After a very grey week last week the sun has come out here, and the light is beautiful.  We went for a lovely woodland walk on Saturday, and I'm very glad I took my camera...

 

 

 

 

We all felt better for spending time out in nature, and a certain furry someone really enjoyed himself...

It's very hard to take photos of him outside, he never stays still for long enough - most of them end up as a silvery blur!  I hope you're having a good week.

Rachel x

this moment...

 

 

 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Via Soulemama.

Have a lovely weekend.

Rachel x

Floyd again!...

Thank you all for your lovely comments!! And especially for the dog-sitting offers - you're all welcome to come and hang out with us any time - even if it means flying from Holland, Chantal!  Sorry I haven't had time to reply individually, as you can imagine my day has been totally full of boy and puppy related mayhem.  I have a feeling I'm not going to achieve much over the next few months!

Our first night went really well, we had taken a fleece blanket with us when we went to visit a few weeks ago, and we brought it back, smelling of his brother and sisters, to put in his bed - he got in and snuggled up to sleep all by himself!  F slept downstairs where Floyd could see him, he only woke once and started to howl but as soon as he saw that F was there he went back to sleep.  We'll do that for a couple more days until he's settled in and knows he's loved and safe. 

 

The boys are just delighted with him, and for me and F it feels like the start of a new chapter in our life together - our family is complete.

By the way, thank you all so much for your concerned comments about my Dad's illness.  He got out of hospital yesterday, feeling older and weaker - he's pretty young and active, so it's been a shock to him - and he'll need to take it easy for a few weeks, but he's doing well.  It was lovely to feel supported by you all while I was worrying about him, you're great!

Happy Sunday to you, hope you're having a fun and relaxing day.

Rachel xx

family of 5....

Yes, our boy has arrived!! And oh my goodness, so far we couldn't have asked for a smoother and easier settling in.  It was a long drive to collect him, so I stayed at home with the boys and F took his brother, our dog-sitter in waiting, to cuddle Floyd on the way home.  

When they got back I gave him a cuddle and he sat on my lap while the boys came to say hello...and then he had a quick sniff about, climbed into M's lap, and fell asleep!! A totally amazing, gorgeous little pup.

 

 

He has spent all day playing, and napping, and eating, and napping, and a bit of pooing, and napping...we've still got his first night to get through, there may be some whining, maybe even howling...we will see.  It will take us a while to adjust to our new family member, but it's safe to say we are all totally smitten. 

I hope that whatever you are getting up to, you are having a lovely Saturday.

Rachel xx

a new member of the family....

No, I'm not pregnant...2 kids is enough for me. But as an alternative to a 3rd child, we have decided to get a puppy!  We thought long and hard about breeds, and did a lot of research about how to choose a puppy, and then we went and met this little fellow....

This was taken when we met him at 2 weeks old, we saw him with his Mum, Dad and 7 siblings, and something about him just melted our hearts.  Last Sunday we went back to visit him, and take him a toy which we can bring with him when he comes home.  He is now 6 weeks old....

Yikes, is it possible to be any cuter?!  We have named him Floyd.  As you can probably see, F is totally smitten.  Well, we all are!  People keep telling me it's basically as much work as having a baby, which is quite daunting, but after seeing a house with 8 puppies, 2 adult dogs and 2 cats, I think 1 puppy will seem like a doddle!  We'll see if I'm right in 2 weeks, when we bring him home...

Hope you're having a great week!

Rachel x