A manic day, a givaway and some perfect cards

Today has been manic.. i just haven't stopped.. even my hour off whilst the girls are at Brownies didn't happen. We were invited to join in a 'fairtrade' talk with guest speakers which was really interesting, and better still was the chance to buy some produce... so Divine chocolate and double choc chip cookies for us..mmm! so all good in the end. It is Fairtrade fortnight at the moment, for further information check out fairtrade.org.uk.

Whilst at the studio today Al and I sorted out a little bundle for the mystery photo draw. So if you would still like a chance to enter and win a few little Springtime crafty goodies...

(sneaky preview of a few of the bits)

then please leave a comment with your guess.(see last post or click on mystery photo link). I will give you a few extra days and will draw at the weekend when i am less busy.

I will leave you with a link to my friend Caireen from the patchwork dress.

I brought some of her eco card packs recently and wanted to share with you how fabulous they are. Each card and envelope is made from carefully chosen pages from beautiful magazines. She has such a flair with theming each pack (comes in a set of 4) and they were such a delight to write and perfect to send as thank you letters.

My friends all loved them.
(thanks Caireen)

Caireen has a beautiful blog and for anyone interested in a great original eco product you can buy her cards here.

Have a good Thursday!

p.s. did you know that the Fairtrade logo depicts a person waving? I didn't. Have a look.. it's such a strong recognisable image but i suspect if asked to draw it from memory most of us couldn't.

g
x

just a bit of fun...

Thank you so much for all your kind Birthday wishes.
I have been so spoilt... and have loved very minute of my celebrations.

I know many of you were excited (and some confessed to being a little envious) about the trip to see Hairspray. Well all i can say was that it was bloody brilliant.. if you get a chance do go see it. It is so energetic, the music fabulous, the dance routines amazing... i couldn't keep still...brilliant brilliant.... we saw the matinee and to think the cast would be repeating it all again that evening. now that's what i call stamina.

I have come back down to earth now and have been sorting out the house, washing, homework etc ready for the return to school/work next week. For those on half term... hope you have had a good week.

I will leave you with a mystery object...(not too hard) taken whilst testing out the new macro lens.

It is a close up of part of something given to me for my birthday from my friend Amanda
(hi Amanda!).

Leave a comment with your guess and i will put all those with correct answers into a hat and do a draw on Wednesday next week . If your name is picked out i will send you a little something (not sure what yet)?

Enjoy your weekend.
g
x

a year older...

It has happened... i am now in my 40's. It's quite a landmark really and has been an odd experience for someone who has always said that age doesn't matter it is how you feel. I still think this and know it is only a number but somehow, it felt like a different passage.

Firstly when written down it is quite a large number... not 50 or 60 granted but makes one feel that somehow you should at least now be a 'grown up'. (something i do not feel or think i will ever feel). I have received lots of lovely birthday cards, many with the number 40 prominent on the front. To associate it with myself at the moment, feels a little alien to say the least, though i am sure i will quickly get used to it, like one does to a new haircut.

Secondly others seem to have an expectation of 40, asking you how you feel, how are you going to celebrate entering another decade and so on... I do like to mark festivals and significant moments in our families lives and enjoy gathering friends and family together. One large party seemed too much pressure on the actual day... so i shied away from this but as a result decided that as i am 40 all year i will celebrate all year. (any excuse).





My first celebration was a family treat to see Mary Poppins in the West End. I wanted to do something that my girls would love and remember. This was the first big London show that they have seen and they loved it... we all did. Fantastic!

A 'grown up' , 'decadent' trip away to Winchester came next. A mixture of shopping, treats, fine food and luxury lodgings. Thoroughly recommended to ease one into their 40's. Then an unbirthday party tea at mums with a visit from my sister and all this happened before my actual birthday!


My birthday morning started abruptly with no 'lie in' but girls bouncing on the bed at 6.30 wanting me to open their specially wrapped and chosen presents. They were very excited and had gone to a lot of trouble making cards and presents .... a scoubi bangle from my eldest and a rainbow picture from my little one. Once they had been rushed off to school, a little later than usual, we relaxed into a very chilled out day. My man had the day off so we went out for a pub lunch and played with my new present ... a sexy macro lens for our digital SLR camera. We have both wanted this for a while and couldn't justify the cost, so my 'big' birthday was a good excuse to finally buy it. I do have to keep reminding him that it was my present though!




He knew i wanted a homemade cake so... as time was rushed the girls chose a chocolate cake for me but he felt he should still make one. He never ceases to surprise me and he secretly decided he wanted to make a lemon drizzle cake. True to form this was 'googled' and the recipe he found was this one. It was gorgeous and the best thing was that he had made it especially for me. So another birthday tea followed .... this one with candles, wishes and cake, and we finally finished the day with a quiet drink out.

So i really have been very spoilt. On Friday night i also spent a fantastic evening out with my local girlfriends.. i felt so happy and so lucky to have such great people around me to call my friends. My good friend Sarah surprised me with more cake.. a beautiful homemade fresh raspberry filled Victoria sponge which even had candles on... everyone sang 'Happy Birthday'.... i blushed... we all had a piece.. so yummy. My oldest friends who live away couldn't be with us so i am planning a Summer party in the garden. Not that i am greedy or anything.. i just love bringing everyone together.

On Saturday morning i reflected on this birthday week and i know i have had the best birthday ever. In stark contrast to my 35th when i had an intensely low period in my life, things now could not be more different. I know i have been 'milking' the whole 40 experience... well, what the hell, i am only 40 once and i really do feel that while we are all rattling through our lives we must never forget to enjoy them. So here's to enjoyment, wherever you are, whatever your age... go and celebrate your life.. unlike cats we only have one! g x

pictures are of a wire and recycled beads heart made for me by my talented sister J.

My celebrations continue next week when i am off with both of my sisters to see this.

I have been tagged....

Willow at Contemplating Change has tagged me for this archive meme... thanks Willow..... These are the rules as follows;

Archive Meme Instructions: Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you’ve written. … but there is a catch:

Link 1 must be about family.
Link 2 must be about friends.
Link 3 must be about yourself, who you are… what you’re all about.
Link 4 must be about something you love.
Link 5 can be anything you choose.

I think this is a great way to circulate some of the great older posts everyone had written, return to a few great places in our memories and also learn a little something about ourselves and each other that we may not know. Post your five links and then tag five other people. At least TWO of the people you tag must be *newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better….and don’t forget to read the archive posts and leave comments!

1. Rain rain... I have chosen this post as i love the everydayness of it... A half term rainy day full of glitter, glue and chatter with my wee girls. Little moments that memories are made of.

2. Mixed Feelings Although this is a bitter sweet post, i wanted to include it as it speaks of friendship and support during painful events. It represents being there for others and being grateful for others being there for us too. Friends are something to celebrate, but to never take for granted. So i thank all my friends, virtual and 3 dimensional (you know who you are) , for all your love and support and for just 'being there'.. i feel very fortunate to have you. x

3. The Flour loft and a bit about us... This was put up when i started posting on the Flour Loft blog and introduces the studio that Alice and i have shared for the past 4 years. We are now clearing the studio and are due to hand the keys back in March. This is tinged with a pang of nostalgia and sadness as this has been an incredible journey and a lot of fun. Change is inevitible and the time seems right to move on to a new stage in our lives and to explore new possibilities. It is an exciting time.

4. Harvest Reflection When i looked back over my past posts for one to include in
'something i love', i realise that i have started lots of posts with the phrase, 'i love to...'
I have picked this one as the garden, growing veg, cooking our harvest and just generally sharing the whole experience with my family captures many loves and represents my desire to simplify my life.

5. Five have fun in the meadow... I have included this post as it sums up the friendship between Al and me and our kids... we love days like these.. sharing, playing, laughing and just generally 'hanging out' all together.


So now i need to tag 5 others. If you would like to join in please do but it's entirely optional.. so no pressure.

Florence at Flossie Teacakes

Caireen at The Patchwork Dress

Jo at French Knots

alice c at The Magpie files

Michele at Cowboys and custard

Happy weekend!
Next time i write i will be 40!
ginny
x

Pancake day !

Mix a pancake,

Stir a pancake,
Pop it in the pan.
Fry the pancake,
Toss the pancake,
Catch it if you can.

Christina Rossetti

Hope you have enjoyed all your pancakes... i had great fun with the girls and between the 3 of us we ate 12... they were very small though and even though the first few fell apart we still gobbled those up too.

My favourite filling is sugar with sliced banana and chocolate.

What's yours?

I am off for a swim tonight to work off the indulgence...
I am not sure if i should give up chocolate for lent though as i was kind of hoping for a homemade daddy and girls chocolate cake for my birthday next week. err.... will have to think about that one!?

g
x

Nature's golden yellows

Just to show that i am not averse to yellow
i have put together a mosaic of some of the yellows in my photo collection.

Waiting for the return of sunshine days!
g
x