another year

oh were to start {would probably just be easier to do an update on what we haven't been doing} the summer holidays started early for us, with the start of our family birthday month, i celebrated my birthday with breakfast in England & ended it with dinner in Italy, such a lovely trip to a beautiful place, i felt truly grateful, i was also given some beautiful gifts i shall use & treasure for years to come

we've then celebrated birthday number two, which mostly involved football {presents, party & cake!} but all went generally smoothly - phew,

i'm on some crazy mission to redecorate/revamp the house on a budget, finding the time is  my biggest problem,  i've been busy with the yarn too - the camping granny is finished in time for the next camping holiday & the monster of a cardigan for my man is finally done! hooray, such a weight off my shoulders, but they both truly deserve a post all of their own! back soon,

buon compleanno a me

getting ready for a little trip {bet can you guess where?} i shall be leaving my knitting needles at home this time & taking books instead {as i got given lots this morning} hoping i'll find some time to sneak off for a little quiet time, i have however knitted some really sweet little hats this week, one for my new little nephew & one for my not so little O, a very quick & easy hat pattern, worked up in the most beautiful noro kochoran, which i was lucky enough to pick up from ebay at a great sale price, 

finished just in time for the weather to warm up, my ravelry notes can be found here & here

midpoint

here we are just over half way through, the summer term long forgotten but the autumn one creeping up far to fast, i do always look forward to autumn, it always feels so much more of a season than summer here in the uk, even more so when you live in a small village, the signs are there already, kind neighbours with offers of apples & plums from their fruit trees, some ripe blackberries picked from the hedgerows whilst out walking barney, chunky yarn on my needles, it would be nice if summer went out on a high note & it stayed dry for our last camping trip - please!

my baby turned three! so she's not such a baby any more, i got rather emotional kissing her goodnight on the eve of her birthday, as i said 'this is the last time i will kiss you goodnight as a two year old' silly soppy mummy!

we've enjoyed days out with friends, exploring the woods, picnics at the park, pub gardens, the odd bbq

all good fun!

a catch up

not sure i can even remember what week we're into of the school holidays {thinking two or three maybe} i do know that August has crept up on me far too quickly! my boy turned 6 & enjoyed a football party, 

i plan to make waffles for breakfast more over the rest of the holidays, i love these so much, we have a waffle iron you heat on the stove & the recipe is a bit of a faff but with such tasty results it really is worth it

there has been tree climbing for the kids

& lots of chewing from the puppy

there has also been time for naps!

we pretty much have more of the same planned for the rest of the holidays, although i'd be happier if i could slow time down a little

i plan on being back later today to do the give-way post - so pop back then x

afternoon tea

i had the best day out in London as part of my extended birthday celebrations, we went to the lobby lounge at the Corinthia, what a stunning hotel, we took at look at one of the suites & the spa whilst we were there {i can dream!} the tea was just lovely but the violet éclairs were just the best

birthday season is open!!!!

we've kicked off birthday season in our house with mine, the sun shone for a few hours {before the rain returned & we all got wet doing school pick up!}

i've had a lovely day & been spoilt with lovely gifts from family & friends, presents to make me smell nice, presents to wear, read, listen too, encourage me to get out in the garden more & to help me keep organised {that's you Julie x} i feel very thankful,

& of course no birthday would be complete without something yummy to eat

i'm also really looking forward to a trip here with my mum & sister at the weekend, for an afternoon tea {i even brought a new dress to wear}

on another note the schools summer fair came {along with the rain} & went {unfortunately the rain stayed} despite the bad weather the school raised a load of money, my stall wasn't a wash out either, but i forgot to take my camera so no photos i'm afraid!

lots

we've certainly been keeping ourselves busy this summer holiday, doing lots & lots & lots, 

little O turned two this week 

& what a happy & lovely little birthday girl she was

i have been helping big G to write out (what felt like a million) thank you notes

printed out from here

& along with planning & buying for some winter knitting projects (mostly planned to become Christmas presents) i have set myself a little challenge & got myself this pattern book (from here) now i just need a few extra hours in the day to attempt to make myself something from it

must dash, the oven is beeping to let me know the banana loaf is cooked & i have to start packing for yet another camping trip  - after wondering how i'd ever cope with the long summer holiday i'm starting think i might need an extra couple of weeks!

let the celebrating begin!

the birthday bunting is up & we start the family birthday season with mine, i had felt very little excitement about my birthday this year, which i had put done to turning 33, however when i woke this morning & was treated to a lie by my hubs, i just couldn't get back to sleep, so either i'm just so used to getting up before 7am, or i was a teeny tiny bit excited about today, 

& what a lovely day i've had, i've been treated to a very special  present, which i'm really looking forward to getting to know my way round, having only ever used an old SLR, this DSLR is a real treat, 

& after a spot of shopping & lunch in Chichester, we came home & had a birthday tea in the garden

mmmmmm, cream cakes & then a little knitting in the garden, 

my perfect day!