I have many reasons to be happy and here are some:
1.I am feeling better today. I have had a tricky week one way and another and I was feeling very low after receiving a bit of a shock. However I am now viewing it as a cathartic experience and am back to my usual bouncy self.
2. My Mum and Dad are visiting, which I always really enjoy. We are all very close, and I especially like the evenings where we have a game (Uno if we are very drunk, Bridge if we aren't!) and discussions about all sorts - from politics to the X Factor!
3. I have some really lovely friends (including some very new ones found through blogging).
4. My business is turning into a reality - and I have heaps of things to be excited about with it.
5. My children are (on the whole!) a delight, and are especially happy at the moment as their grandparents are visiting.
6. The sun is shining.
I could go on, but I won't bore you any longer. Sometimes it is good to appreciate what we have, and I am really feeling the positives in life at the moment and thought I would share it with you. I hope it inspires you to think of some things that you are feeling happy about.
Mum and I went to a Fashion and Gift fair at the racecourse yesterday, which was good fun. I didn't buy anything as it wasn't very inspiring, but it was nice to spend some time with my Mum and we had a good gossip on the way round. She can be very embarrassing - she has a tendency to look at something and say "You could make that" in quite a loud voice. Usually when we are looking at hand knitted stuff - and I can't knit. I don't know why - I can crochet, and it is in the family - my Grandma knitted her first jumper at the age of 5, and my Aunt can do very complicated Fair Isle stuff. Mum has tried on several occasions to teach me, but I think it is the patience thing. I like sewing as it is really quick and I can finish a project in one sitting. With knitting I will have to keep coming back to it, and I am not good at that. I started a crocheted blanket last Winter and I have done about 10 rows. I has been abandoned in my wool basket since then, and I really should persevere. Oh well, I'll add it to my list.
Here's a picture of Mia's Norwegian Apple Cake. Make it - you won't be disappointed. I have now got a bog-standard Victoria Sponge in the oven as my Dad said "Mmmm, cake" in a very Homer Simpson kind of way, so I thought I'd whip one up while the whole lot are out walking the dogs (they have a Springer called Millie, who is second only to Bodie in our affections). I have got some wild bilberry jam to fill it with though, so it will be a better class of Victoria Sponge ;-)
I have been busy sewing for the website and fairs again - here are some of the peg bags I made after finally plucking up courage to cut into my precious vintage fabrics. They are just waiting for bows around the hanger to finish them off. I have also made carrier bag holders in similar fabrics...they'll be on the website very soon.
Well, as ever I will leave you with a gratuitous house shot or two. This is my hallway and was the most recent project in the house (this time last year!). I spent months thinking about what to do with it, and then happened across the Mono Rose Cath Kidston wallpaper in last year's catalogue. It was exactly what I was after, although it is still a scary decision to make as it is an expensive project to get wrong. It wasn't helped by the size of the sample that CK sent - about half a sheet of A4 paper. Still, I am so pleased with it and it has brought the rest of the house together as all the colours of the other rooms go really well with it.
Hope you are all having a fab weekend wherever you are. Thank you all for your lovely comments again - they really have helped me to get back to my jolly old self.
Cathy X