It's been waaaay too long!!

so long in fact, you've probably forgotton me! So what's kept me away? Believe me I have meant to write a post so many times, but there don't seem to be enough hours in the day!! Especially now I have this little chap in my life!!

This is Wilson, isn't he a cutie!

We've had him for four weeks and he's 12 weeks old.He's a Bichon Frise and I love him to bits, in fact we all do, which is a bit of a surprise as the Hubster did not want a dog! In fact it took me a year to persuade him that we REALLY needed one!But guess who loves him to bits now we've got him? In fact Wilson gets a hug before I do!

Here he is with my baby my 21 year old baby, that's another thing that happened while I was away, I still can't believe my firstborn is 21!Doesn't seem that long ago that she looked like this

This is a piccie of my daughter and me at my sister's wedding in the early 1990's!Where did the time go!

It was a bit of a testing time making sure my son revised enough for his GCSE's. And then there was his Prom!
Looking very smart and oh so grown up in his Tux!
Arriving at the Prom with friends in a Vintage Triumph Stag.

We've also had lots of other family birthdays and gatherings in the last few months and the inlaws have just been over for a visit fron Spain too!

Anyway I must tell you about 2 gorgeous swaps that I took part in as this is loooong overdue! Although I've thanked both my swap partners by email I havent blogged about it and I feel really bad about it, so big apologies to bekimarie and Clare, you must be so fed up of waiting for me!!

Let me tell you about the swap with Bekimarie first.We took part in the swap organized by the lovely Emma The Good enough to eat swap, such a good idea for a swap!

I loved all of my swap gifts! aren't they gorgeous!

Such a cute little apple hook which will be going on the wall in my craft room.

The handmade goodies are adorable too, I do love hand made things.

Such a sweet strawberry pincushion

Look at the cupcake too! I love it!

Can't wait to try the cake recipe, it looks delicious!

Thank you again Beki Marie for your very thoughtful swap!

The second swap was the Strawberry swap organized by the lovely Pixiedust and my partner was Clare

I oohhed and aahhed for ages with this one!

Beautiful things!I shall hang the felt strawberry in my craft room.Such a cute pill box!

And a pretty necklace!I love the handmade address book, made so carefully too!

Thank you again to Clare, I really do love all my strawberry themed gifts!

Now I must go and do a little dog training with Wilson, he knows sit and fetch, having a little trouble with play biting though so any doggy tips will be gratefully received!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Love Rachel x

It was a strange weekend...

Mr Lurgy payed us a visit.That is he payed my son and myself a visit!Hubby was working away.Mr Lurgy arrived on Thursday evening, before that he had visited dottieangel.blogspot.com/ but he obviously felt like a change and crossed the pond!

Now I'm not often ill and neither is my son but I can't face any food other than toast at the mo! Yep we've both totally lost our appetites!It's not a bad thing in my case, as I could do with losing a few pounds. In fact a stone would be nice!! But my son is the opposite. As my grandad used to say, "I've seen more fat on a sparrows kneecap" He'll need feeding up a bit now.
Anyway hope we get back to normal soon. I haven't got time to be ill

Although I was feeling peaky it didn't stop me going to my first boot of the year.
I found these

A pretty IKEA quilt and pillowcases which I have been making into these

bunting flags
Do you like my little Cherub? He was from the boot last year, just 20p!

I found some other lovely things too which I'll show you tomorrow!

Hope Mr Lurgy doesn't come knocking at your door!

See you soon

Rachel x

Pocketful of Dreams...

and ideas! Yes I'm marching into the New Year with lots of plans and new ideas!I shall just share a few with you today, I'm so excited I may pop!!

First a little recap on last year

Last year was a strange one, we had health worries(Hubby) he had lots of tests as suddenly he lost a little section of eyesight in one eye. The hospital were concerned he may be about to have a Stroke or heart attack, it was all a VERY worrying few months.Lots of tests were done, his heart brain and blood and luckily he's a perfectly healthy specimen! The eye thing is 'just one of those things' apparently.Later in the year there were worries about Hubbys company closing! After the health worries I refused to get bogged down by this and just carried on and rearranged our budgeting in case!Health is definitely the most important thing, something we take for granted until it goes wrong!

I decided to take pleasure in making little savings, not see it as a problem We switched where we shopped and I took the time to make more 'homemade meals'.I also decided to buy most of our meat from the butchers instead of the supermarket as you get more for your money!

Anyway I'm rambling a bit now!

I've decided to make changes in my life this year.For me, January will be all about organisation.Every year since I've started my little business, I start to panic at this point as I haven't completed my tax return! So I shall be sorting out my paperwork and organising my craft space to become more efficient!I shall also be reorganising my kitchen, bedroom, dining room, in fact I will be organising the whole house!

Later in the week I shall be back to chat about the lovely Dottie Angel 'Challenge of the Utmost Kind' which I joined back in November!

I waste such a lot of time hunting for things I have misplaced!For instance, just found business receipts in the French style tin in my bedroom, I had totally forgotten about these!I also found Christmas gifts that I'd hidden in these boxes on top of my wardrobe!In the top photo I've found my favourite necklace under my wardrobe! How did that get there?Also came across a bottle of Elizabeth Arden Splendour!

I have accumulated too much 'stuff ', so I will be addressing this.

This is my chest of drawers after decluttering!

Usually I would be dreading all this sorting and organising, but this year I am feeling different about it all in my head!

I know I'll feel much happier when I've done it!

I've just finished an early lunch so I'm off to do a bit more now!

Have a wonderful week!

Rachel x

PS. Reading back over this post it all sounds very scatty and all over the place, I'm feeling a bit like that at the mo.Hence the focus on organisation.I hope I make more sense later in the week!

A girl can dream anyway!

Rachel xx

Peak district, twice in 2 weeks!

Hello to you all on this drizzly day!


Remember on the the last post my son was in the Peak District, well by Sunday evening so were we and not in a good way!.
We received a phone call on Sunday afternoon to say that my son wasn't well, in fact he was on the verge of hypothermia!It was the end of his second day and his group had walked over 10 miles with heavy rucksacks, in torrential rain.My son hadn't got his rain mac on in time during one of the downpours and was soaked through! Luckily he was spotted by one of the teachers at the checkpoint.Apparently he was shaking, had his head down, his body was numb.The teacher took him to one side and questioned him and realised he was ill.The problem with the first stages of hypothermia is that you don't know you've got it!

My son was so gutted not to able to carry on ,as he is quite fit, (all that kick boxing) but he's going to do it again later in the year!
The teachers were brilliant, looking after him and taking him to the tearoom in Longnor to warm him up with hot chocolate!
By the time we had driven there from Witney (2.5 hours away) he was feeling a lot better.we had traveled 140 miles to collect him, oh the joys of parenthood!
We went in the local pub for a quick half a shandy and then we drove all the the way home with my son snuggled up with his blanket and pillow in the back! He was fully recovered by the next day!


Fast forward to this weekend and Hubby and I were in the Peak district, camping by ourselves! We loved it,yes even Hubby! I know he loved it because he cooked bacon rolls for breakfast on both days.He also bought a wind up lamp from Millet's for our next trip.

Peace and quiet, we were the only ones here, apart from these guys!




We both loved the walks too! We did a 3 mile circular walk around Bakewell on the first day, such a pretty place! Then we went for a pub meal here

It rained all evening from about 8pm until the next morning, but who cares when you have bacon rolls to look forward to!




As it was raining we popped to Buxton, very nice too with some beautiful architecture.




On the way back to camp I remembered I had seen a sign for Monsal Head but I didn't know much about it.We turned off and WoW so glad we did, such a beautiful place even in light drizzle.We walked across the viaduct which was 80 ft high, amazing!.We also walked along Monsal Dale, such a beautiful place, I can't believe we haven't been there before.


We only stayed in Bakewell for 2 nights but it was such a lovely break.Of course we had to buy a Bakewell pudding to take home from this little shop!

Hope you all have a great week

Rachel x

Busy times!

Things have been so busy this week. My 14 year old son has been on a school trip to Ypres,he returned on Wednesday evening.I was up and out very early the next day to run my stall and then Friday I had to help him pack for his Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition in Derbyshire!We had to pack 3 days worth of food too.It's quite difficult as you have to pack 3 packed lunches as well as 2 evening meals! Obviously you can't pack anything that needs refrigerating after the first day!It's complicated stuff you know! He has taken pre packed chocolate croissants for lunch on the 3rd day with crisps and a bag of dried apricots. He will be so tired when he gets home as it's a 30 mile walk, phew! I shall come him something special for tea.We've been to Go Outdoors today to buy a tiny camping stove for a little break in the Peak District! We have borrowed a tent from my parents! I'm so excited as I love camping, but Hubby's not quite as keen!(I shall tell you why another time)

Bought 2 large sheets and 2 pillowcases in this pretty floral design from a local C/S, I think I shall use it in bunting.I have been selling bunting on my stall for over 18 months, it didn't go well at first, but lately I've sold lots each week, not that I'm complaining. I have a lovely young couple who buy some each week as they are having a Vintage style afternoon tea for their wedding reception!I think the bunting craze is a little late hitting Witney and we haven't even started on Union Jack cushions yet

Bought this pretty plant from the 99p shop! I've popped it on the patio.

I'm loving the smell of my Lavender too!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, we are off to the pub with some friends this evening.

Rachel x

Stitches all round!

Today was a funny old day, I got lots of sewing done in the morning as I've got two fayres at the weekend. The first one's on Saturday at Burford in the Cotswolds.The second one is at my local Pre-school ( the one where I used to work). Then, I am also at Burford on Monday, busy busy busy! So as I said I got lots of stitchin done in the morning,Lots of little penny purses etc.Then I had to take my 12 year old to hospital at lunchtime to have his stitches out. He had a nasty accident on his bike 2 weeks ago and gashed his shin open to the bone! He had to have an operation by a plastic surgeon (lovely Stitching,very neat LOL!) Anyway here we are 2 weeks later and it's healing nicely.He'll have an impressive scar though, my poor baby!When we got back the sun was shining HOORAY! I sat out in the garden stuffin cats (toy ones of course!) These are destined for operation Christmas Child I'll tell you about that in another post)Oh, I also fitted in a trip to Poundstretchers and found these lovely mugs 4 for £3 and some wooden canisters reduced from £3 to £1.50.They had stickers on the front for tea and coffee so I peeled those off and I'm going to decorate them and use them for storage in my craft room!