« May 2009 | Main | July 2009 »
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;
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...
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!
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::
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!
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!
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.
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.
...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!!"
