When I Grow Up - Page 29

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Ideas for handmade Fathers’ Day gifts

It’s the time of year when we celebrate everything wonderful about our Dads and show them our appreciation with a cup of tea, a card and maybe a present. Or if you’re a mother, it’s time to make sure your kids are getting their act together! Avoid rushing to the supermarket on Sunday to buy whatever they have left, and order something today that’s a little bit different. Of course, as usual I’m encouraging you to support small handmade businesses….

Weekly Wardrobe

With a rare forecast of three days in a row without rain, I decided to set myself up with my sewing machine outside, where I can look up and see Glastonbury Festival being put together in the fields nearby. In a couple of weeks time, the cup carriers and bottle bags I’m making will be for sale there at Water Aid stalls. Anyway, my outfits this week were mainly based around comfort! The link-up with NotDressedAsLamb involved tote bags this week. Well, the only time I actually went out and needed a bag, was to choir, as I needed something that day to carry my folder of music….

Things you should be doing to get ready for Glastonbury Festival

Here in Pilton, the village is getting ready for Glastonbury Festival, and if you were lucky enough to get tickets; you should be too! Here’s a list of some of the things to be getting on with….

The Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel

I’ve come to the conclusion that I have too much stuff (“At last!” my Mum will be saying!) so when Chris asked what I wanted for Christmas and birthday, I suggested a day out somewhere instead of a present. He went a step further and suggested a break in a nice hotel. “Sounds lovely,” I said. “I’d like to go back to Oxford.” This particular hotel was ideal because I like old buildings, and the main entrance and lounge bit is medieval. I also needed somewhere to park (you’d be surprised how many in the city centre don’t have parking), and a swimming pool. This one is about three miles from Oxford, but it’s also on the river with the Thames Path running along-side (albeit the other side, so you need to back track a bit to the bridge) so you can walk in if you wish….

Weekly Wardrobe – pastels

Hello folks! Hope you’re having a lovely weekend. I’m starting a new regular thingumajig on here, which, as you can see, I’m calling ‘Weekly Wardrobe.’ In view of style and fashion being a frequent theme to my posts, I thought Why not share what I’m wearing? I was unsure at first, feeling it’s a little, well, self-important of me to think people will be interested, but let’s face it, in this day in age when tonnes of people are sharing their outfits on the internet, I think I’d like to join in! My fashion taste is a little random; sometimes hippy, ’50s, steampunk or lagenlook, but I like to think a little bit quirky. I’m a hoarder and rarely buy items brand new, so I’m afraid I’m not much good for ideas for you to exactly copy, but maybe offer style inspiration. I’m also going to be linking up with the fabulous Catherine Summers at NotDressedAsLamb and following her weekly themes for #iwillwearwhatIlike in rallying against the list some questionable journalist thinks people over thirty should stop wearing….

The story of an entrepreneur – Vikki Herbert from baby sling company, Wrapamore

In the 1970s my Mum bought a baby carrier from Mothercare that was so good, she kept it in the loft until I had my own children. Everywhere I went with my babies strapped to my front, people asked me where I got it from because there was nothing like it on the market at the time. It was large enough to offer head support and keep their legs warm, when the only alternative in shops were tiny strappy things that did neither those things. The down-side was I did feel like a blue and white striped kangaroo with this big pouch in front of me. Occasionally at Glastonbury Festival I’d spot an Earth Mother with their baby in a sling and was envious of the style, but had no clue how to go about making or buying one. Thankfully for parents nowadays, you have websites like Wrapamore, who offer the perfect solution to carrying your babies with you. I asked Vikki more about her company….

Monthly Memoir – May

Family photo These monthly memoirs slightly scare me because they really bring home how fast the months are flying by. May began with another trip to Kent to see family; some of whom I haven’t seen in far too long. This time the occasion was my sister’s 40th birthday party – even though it was really in January. She decided to be like the queen and have a ‘summer birthday’ as well. Actually, when we were little, my sister and I used to have a joint summer birthday when my uncle, aunt and cousins and grandparents would come over and we’d have a big roast dinner if the weather wasn’t good, or eat a picnic in the garden. We’d even get small presents, usually something to play outside with. Until I was about eleven years old I thought this was perfectly normal and everyone got a summer birthday as well as a real birthday! Jane made some tasty quiches and my Mum made delicious deserts. The weather was beautiful – positively hot even – and overall it was an absolutely lovely day…..

Willow blossom and fedge update

(A fedge by the way is a cross between a fence and a hedge, in case you were wondering.) You may remember (though you probably don’t) that several years ago I had the dilemma about what to plant in the lower garden in order to provide some privacy quickly. If you want a quick catch-up, the post is HERE; and then please read on for an update…

Making a pineapple and walnut cake – a picture guide for beginners

These pictures were taken when I made my favourite cake to celebrate twelve years of this blog. The recipe is nothing particularly special or exciting, and now that the Great British Bake-off is such a hit, this is probably incredibly tame, but I thought I’d share it anyway. (At least I’m assuming that’s likely the case – I’ve never actually watched the show apart from one Children-in-need episode.) There’s a possibility you’ve never put pineapple or walnut together in a cake before, and now is your chance to be inspired! …

Vintage shopping at the Cheese & Grain in Frome, Somerset

Yes, I know I have already written about this fair last year, but it’s such a good one, that I think it deserves another! There were several new stalls this time, and as is the nature of vintage items, the stock on the Frome Vintage Bazaar regular stalls is always changing anyway so you’re guaranteed a plethora of different stuff to rummage in. In fact I was even more impressed this time around with the the quality of items on offer here and really would recommend this vintage fair if you’re in the area. I also took some lovely photos of some of the stalls, which I’m dying to share with you….

The story of the photographs – a walk along the Thames path to Oxford

Duck family I was recently lucky enough to have a little break at the Oxford Thames Hotel at Sandford-on-Thames. You’ve probably guessed by now which river I might be walking next to! With no path on the hotel side of the river, I had to back-track a little to cross the bridge at the lock at the Kings Arms where I saw the cutest tiniest little fluffy duckling with a Mummy and two Daddies looking after it! This really started off my walk in a good mood, and I stayed that way all the way to Oxford, even though it felt a lot longer than the three miles it was supposed to be….

Re-arranging the living room – phase one

I am beginning this post on the 25th March, though I am sure that by the time you are reading this, it will be several weeks later. Today, after talking about it very briefly last night, we suddenly decided to completely change the layout of the living room. It’s a pretty big rectangular room, so you wouldn’t think it would be too difficult to sort out; but with three doorways, a staircase and a fireplace, it proves a little tricky….