BubbaChic

The past week...

has seen a flurry of activity following the arrival of Jay with us in England (be still my heart, oh how I missed you!) Apart from the sweet days of catching up with family and nights of catching up with friends, the pace has once again slowed enabling us all to catch our breath.

The kiddies are blossoming in the company of their cousins and Grandparents - not to mention the utter devotion that they have discovered for the coolest sets of Aunties and Uncles....EVER!

The formalities of a trip back to our old house (which has been rented for the past 4 years) inevitably brought up some emotion and we have ploughed many hours already into fixing the trail of distruction that our last tenant left.

But slowly, our house is returning to the home we once new and I am discovering a new sense of love for it and the memories that are still a big part of our first home.

Through the overgrowth of the garden, there is still signs of the beautiful garden we left behind::

 

and little glimpses of the wonderland that the kiddies would have such fun exploring, should we return to our little home::

 

and these are the things I find myself pondering about, whilst covered in flecks of 'soft coffee cream' with tired arms from painting.

In the four years....

....since we have been in the States, there have been some major changes - not just in us and our little family but also back in England.

One of these changes that my Mum was particularly excited about was a complete bathroom renovation. We heard about the progress and were told in detail about the choices that we being made for tiles/flooring/lighting etc.

I must admit, a black bathrom with sparkles did sound bold and intruiging - it also sounded very Mum. There has been a long running joke in our family that if it sparkles, Mum would have it - be it a pair of sandals or wallpaper. We have now, entered into a new phase of sparkledom - a whole bathroom and you know what - its seriously cool!

So when yesterday I bought a new dress and wanted to snap a photo, the sparkly bathroom seemed like the perfect place.

...and the dress, well its cute, vintage inspired and the perfect new frock for welcoming Mr B home to England on Friday.

A day at the farm...

We visited Londown Activity Farm today, a wonderful dairy farm in Hampshire, where the kids get some hands on experiences.

Mads lost her heart to the chicks;

Joshy was also equally enamoured with his chick;

and the bunnies;

but loved the (very bumpy) tractor ride;

2 Years on

Its amazing to see how much the kiddies have changed in just 2 years since our last visit to England.

Shell and rock collecting were high on the agenda

And a selection of shells were chosen for Maddy's bestest friend Gwen back in Tulsa (who she is missing and talking to her cousins about)

Paddling was also a necessity,

It does feel good to be by the sea again...

British Summertime

The past few days have been filled with England's finest weather - abundant sunshine as the weatherman would say - allowing us to get out and about on the South Coast.

One morning we headed out to Gunwharf via the Gosport Ferry (which both kiddies enjoyed) and spent some time up the Spinnaker Tower checking out the amazing views. Whilst I took my camera along on this visit -all but two of the photos didn't come out. But it just so happens that the two photos that did come out, were for Mr B:

An aerial view of the place we had our very first date: Spice Island (what an appropriate destination to start our relationship!!) It just served to remind me even more how much I am missing my hubby and I think a date out to Spice Island, 8 years on, would be a very good idea!

A lazy day in the country

After the late night for me last night and the subsequent ickle hangover, I was more than happy with the pace of life here today. Lazy morning followed by late lunch at a country pub.

The kiddies picked gooseberries from the garden, which Uncle Matt and Auntie Jen then transformed into a wonderful Gooseberry fool pudding

....and an early bedtime seems in order for tonight::

Night out on the town

The first night out with my Sister-in-law Kirsten in YEARS!!

Drinkies in town, lots of conversation, a little dancing and lots of fun!

A glorious welcome...

Yeah Baby!

There are 1.5 suitcases full of fabric coming back with me to England, none of it for me - all of it for my sewing and quilting loving sisters and Mum....(this is a wee selection!)

The trouble is, its going to free up plenty of space in my suitcase for the return journey....dangerous!

My favourite kind of quilt

So, whilst we are heading back to England and trying to adjust into our time zone, I thought I would add some projects over the next few days that, in the haste of packing, I have not yet shown.

My sweet cousin is expecting her first babe - and as I wanted to take her and her hubby a gift back for the babe on our visit back to England - they don't know the sex of the baby, so a gender neural quilt was in order. (although I will definetly make a gender specific one when the sweet babe is born)

I just gt 3/8th of a yard of the white tree fabric and brown leaves fabric from Joanns - and then used fabrics from my stash to make it up.

I used the brown leave fabric for the binding and a beautiful yellow linen for the backing. I just did simple qstraight line quilting to let the fabrics pop and made a little diapeez and wipeez-type case to go with the quilt.

Today

Squeezing in some last minute quilting before getting on a plane to England tomorrow:

A stacked coin quilt (still nakey without binding) heading back with me to England as a Birthday gift for a special lady.

Backed in a pretty summery vintage sheet...

I am looking forward to getting the binding on this one and putting in the wash to see all of its crinkly goodness.

The dirty deed is done...

...and he was a brave little man

"Mads, you have to be gentle with Jasper, he has had a little surgery"

"Mummy, do Jasper's "bits" still hurt him?"

"Probably honey, thats why we need to be gentle, although he does seem to be coping with it better than another male who shall remain nameless!!"

7 Years Today

On our honeymoon in Barbados

a card from Maddy this morning

I love you Babe x

Cross Stitch with a twist

I started working on this cross stitch last summer, with a friend's birthday in mind. The inspiration was from Subversive Cross Stitch - I love her concept of the new twist on classic cross stitch - she has some hilarious kits available and some riske ones!

I thought of the lines from a Justin Timberlake song were very appropriate for my friend and knew that her similar sense of humor, she would get great amusement out of it.

So, today - it is finally finished - just a year too late but finally done!

Its making a comeback..

Homemade Bakewell Tart (a la Jamie Oliver)

I recently had an evening with some girlfriends and we were each required to bring one food dish. I wanted to make something traditionally English and started scouring the internet for recipes for a Bakewell tart.

It was only upon finding this recipe, which is a very slight adaptation of Jamie Oliver's recipe - that I even thought to look at the story behind the tart.

Growing up, My Nan used to buy individual bakewell tarts now and again and I can always remember them being yummy - but this, homemade variety, well its just kinda out of this world. Stick a dollop of ice cream with it and brew yourself a cuppa, this is worth savouring!