Saturday, 28 September 2013

52 Weeks of Happy...50/52


The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything.

Joining in with my friend Jen at little birdiehere are a few of my happy-making moments from the last week:

1. In an effort to save some money I patched my favourite jeans. John says there are too many hexagons and it looks like I've got an episode of Blockbusters going on on my knees. I beg to differ.

2. Car boot sale bounty. We spent last Sunday morning at a huge car boot sale at Wetherby Race Course. The sun shone, I bought some treasures (total spent - £5!), the kids spent pocket money on small toys, and John browsed as many boxes of vinyl and books as we'd let him. Brilliant fun.
 
3. Yes, I know it looks like random scribbles but this is a family portrait drawn by Angus while he was at school. He was so puffed up with pride when he pulled it out of his book bag and it was duly admired by all then very solemnly mounted on the front of the fridge with dinosaur magnets.

4. Yesterday I was a lady who lunched. It was a gorgeous, sunny autumn day and I put on nice clothes, caught the bus into Leeds and six of us met at a very nice Thai restaurant to honour the happy fact that my friend Rachel will start her midwifery degree next week. There were around 1500 applicants for only 20 places on the course, and she got a place. Isn't that amazing? She's going to be a terrific midwife.

And now, I must go, because I'm off to Yarndale



48 comments:

  1. What truly lovely happies! And I'm afraid I shall beg to differ with John too - those hexies are just fab :-)
    Have fun at Yarndale, I am a whole lot envious. So badly wanted to make the trip north but alas it just isn't to be this weekend... sigh... Maybe next year, but please do take lots of pics and tell us all about it.
    Enjoy xx

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  2. Great post! Those jeans are right up my street, I would wear them with my DM's Jo x

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  3. I love your jeans. I would wear them. Loving the carboot finds and drawing. One to frame me thinks! Congrats to your friend, I would love to be a midwife. Something to think about when my boys are a little older xo

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  4. John's just showing his age - the jeans are great. x

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  5. Dear Gillian
    I love the jeans! (Don't forget to emphasise the fact that you are saving money because you can continue wearing them and not have to buy another pair just yet!) Hope you have a great time at Yarndale. I am hoping to make it up there next year...maybe...
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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  6. OMG! Those jeans are AMAZING! I might have to copy you and start a trend...and your husband is probably just jealous because you have such an awesome pair of jeans - perhaps he'd like you to hexie up his trousers? ;-) And I love the family portrait - we have a similar one on our fridge - and ours is complete with belly buttons, too! Chrissie xxx

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  7. I had that bed linen way back in 19 something or other. The jeans look fab. Enjoy Yarndale. Oh, and can I have a 'P' please, Bob? (Sorry, couldn't stop myself.)

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  8. What do mean know eh? Those jeans look awesome!
    I never would have thought of a patch like that! I just put lace under the hole, I'm going to try your way next time!
    Also love the fabric!
    Can't wait to see the yarndale photos!
    Tammy

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  9. Oh I do wish I lived closer to Yorkshire so I could go to Yarndale this year, maybe next year :o) I can see all of Angus's characters in his portrait, just perfect.
    I think your jeans look terrific Gillian, I love to patch things up too, especially a favourite pair of jeans. Congratulations to your friend, it's brilliant that she got one of those special places xox Penny

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  10. Love your upcycled jeans ... and I love the family portrait ... on for the memory box ... enjoy Yarndale ... absorbing all that lovely inspiration and crafty goodness ... Bee xx

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  11. Ooh what a fab idea, hexie jeans!
    Love the family portrait, I have several of those too....very special :)
    Hope you have a lovely weekend,
    Caroline xxx

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  12. I'm loving your jeans I want them :)

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  13. What a lovely post. The jeans are great - I have a couple of pairs in need of rescue as well. My other half would say something similar without a doubt. The family portrait is wonderful. I just love that moment when they pull something out that they have been working hard on, it tugs at the heartstrings. A huge congratulations to Rachel, what an amazing achievement. I hope she enjoys the course.

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  14. You've achieved a mighty fine look with your jeans.
    Men browse vinyl and CDs at car boots - indeed. Did he buy anything? Most don't (in my experience).
    Claire :)

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    1. Ha, no not a thing! Just lots of very "thorough" browsing... x

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  15. love the jeans - you can never have too many hexagons.

    I went to Yarndale too - hope you enjoyed it!

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  16. Such a precious picture, so special. Love the hexie jeans and so jealous of your booty bits. Truly a happy day xx

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  17. The hexagons look OK and make sure you enjoy Yarndale. I'm hoping a long time friend will make it there and let me know all about it. Take care.

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  18. I like your jeans very much. Obviously he has no taste. :) Hope you're having a wonderful weekend. :)

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  19. I love your blog! My parents had that pink floral duvet cover for about 20 years...caught my breath seeing it again x

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  20. Love your jeans. have a great time at Yarndale.
    Jacqui x

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  21. Love your jeans! Never would have thought of it myself.

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  22. Love your family portrait. My daughter is sixteen and my son 15 and I frame she one they made n display it in our house. They love it and so do we.
    You are so lucky goi g to Yarndale, I wish I coud go. Hope you take lots of pictures. :)

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  23. those jeans look brilliant. i love hexies, but i'm no quilter. i'm willing holes in the knees of my jeans now!

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  24. You have very long legs!! I love the fabric haul from the booter. Do you have any plans for it?
    Hope you enjoyed Yarndale.

    Leanne xx

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    1. I am 5' 11" - it's a nightmare finding jeans that are long enough, hence my unwillingness to part with a favourite pair! I am thinking maybe cushions with the fabric - or may just use it as it was intended as a duvet cover on Bella's bed - if she'll let me. x

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  25. love the patches! very Barbara Good

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  26. I reckon that hubby is just jealous because no one put hexagons on his jeans! Love that Angus loved his picture so much and that it was displayed.

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  27. Can't believe it ! Gillian you actually walked past me and my husband and I passed comment to him about your jeans, saying what a good idea you'd had. This was on the canal where the little road goes across the swing bridge. It was probably sometime between 3 or 4 o'clock.We sat on the bench watching the boating people open and close it to go through. We too had been to Yarndale and had lovely time in Skipton. Hope you did too. Best wishes, Carol Partridge.

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    1. Carol that's so funny! What a coincidence. We really enjoyed walking along the canal - Skipton is such a pretty town. Glad to hear you enjoyed your day too.

      Gillian x

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  28. Can't believe it ! Gillian you actually walked past me and my husband and I passed comment to him about your jeans, saying what a good idea you'd had. This was on the canal where the little road goes across the swing bridge. It was probably sometime between 3 or 4 o'clock.We sat on the bench watching the boating people open and close it to go through. We too had been to Yarndale and had lovely time in Skipton. Hope you did too. Best wishes, Carol Partridge.

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  29. Your hexies are perfect, I have a skirt that needs a bit of pizzazz and I think hexies are the way to go!

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  30. I enjoyed your report of your happy things, Gillian, and I too am eager to hear your report about Yarndale :)
    Gracie xx

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  31. Wow, Gillian I'm Loving the hexagons on your jeans, very clever and colourful! I love the family portrait by Angus, everyone drawn in a different colour, wonderful. X

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  32. Great jeans, beautiful drawing! Looks like you had a wonderful weekend!

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  33. Love the patchwork on the jeans! Too cute

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  34. Sounds like a lovely week. How like a husband to bring our crafty ambitions down to earth with a bump! Congratulations to your friend though :)

    S x

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  35. Well, I think your jeans look fab! Wear them with pride! Hope you had a great time at Yarndale.
    Marianne x

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  36. Love your hexie jeans and you have an artist in the family too!

    Hope you enjoyed Yarndale and looking forward to hearing all about it ...

    (Congrats to your friend too!)

    Love Claire xx

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  37. I love your jeans. Many congratulations to your friend, she must have impressed to get on the course. Hope you had a great time at Yarndale, I so wish I could have gone.

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  38. I'm just catching up on reading my favourite blogs - yours being one of them :) I now realise I was standing next to you at Yarndale - I recognise your jeans. I was thinking I would never be clever enough to do that! We were both looking at Drops Yarn. Did you buy any? I think I've decided on some Drops Alpaca to use to make a blanket for my bed, and some sock yarn. Hope you had fun too.

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    1. Oh I wish I'd known, It would've been so nice to say hello to you! Wasn't the Drops Yarn stall busy?? I almost bought some Alpaca for a cowl but decided at the last minute to put it back as they didn't have that many colours left. I hope you enjoyed it - a long way for you to come! x

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    2. Yarndale was so busy - it was quieter on Sunday. We had a lovely time - it was like a mini holiday. :) Maybe next time we'll get to say hello.

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  39. Loving the jeans (what does a man know about patching!?) ... a great fix :)

    I looked for you at Yarndale but missed you in the crowds :(

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  40. Loving the jeans, fab idea!! Have a great time at Yarndale, Sarah xo

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  41. I just found your blog via bunny mummy & I had to say that I disagree with your husband - that patching up is most excellent! I've got jeans with holes and this is just what I need to do, although admittedly with less hexagons but because I won't have the patients rather than there being too many :-) Great idea x

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  42. love the jeans,they are amazing!!!!!!!
    thanks for the inspiration!!
    regina

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  43. Loving your jeans, clever you! And I really love Angus's portraits, especially the fact he drew the faces with all the facial features except the circle for the head - gorgeous! x

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