Packing Our Holiday Bags

Good morning! The sun is shining, it is the first day of the summer holidays and I am doing my very best to ignore my hangover and concentrate on everything I need to do today. We set off for a holiday in the Cotswolds today and I wanted to show you our holiday bags. Yes, more bags, I'm sorry. 

When I was a child, my mum would make my sisters and I a holiday bag and give it to us at the start of our annual family holiday. Each bag contained something like a new story book, a pad of paper and a new packet of crayons, some snacks. As we got older there would be puzzles, word searches, games to keep us occupied throughout the journey (my favourite - design your own treasure island with a map and key...I used to spend all holiday working on this). I looked forward to the holiday bags as much as the holiday itself.

It's a little tradition I wanted to carry on for my children. A couple of years ago I made them a bag each and every year when we go away I fill it with bits and bobs and treats I know they will enjoy and things that I hope will keep them happy on the journey and throughout the holiday. My two have never been great travellers (even with their own little DVD players!) - I must have the only two children in the world who don't like sleeping in car seats.

Sticker books - £3

Felt tip pens - £2.50

Doodle pad - 50p

Toy - £4

Sweets - £1

Juice - 50p

Total amount spent for a hopefully peaceful car journey and happy holiday: £11.50.

What about you? Any pre-holiday traditions in your household? And any tips for a keeping children entertained on a long journeys? Bella loves I-Spy but it's frustrating as she doesn't really grasp the fundamentals.


Bella: "I spy something beginning with P." 
Me: "Paper? Pen?" 
Bella: "No. Panda." 


There are no pandas inside or outside the car.

The weather forecast looks very promising with warm and sunny weather, and nothing could make me happier after the months of rain we've had here this summer. I am told there is broadband, but I may not be around much here for the next week or so, although I'll try to check in if I can. Have a great week everyone, and a warm welcome to new followers. xx

An Apple for the Teacher

It is the last day of term here today. At 3.15 this afternoon, Bella breaks up for the six week summer holiday. It has been a crazy couples of weeks, filled with appointments, meetings, errands, messages, things I Must Not Forget To Do. I have a list as long as my arm on the fridge and I am slowly ticking things off. Bella's already busy social life went into overdrive this week with end of term parties and celebrations and her first school trip, not to mention the usual round of after school activities and play dates.

We all really need a holiday. 

But probably not as much as Bella's teachers who, I imagine, are pretty exhausted by now. I've spent the past week making two bags, simple shopping bags with a little applique picture (designed by me but the apple is inspired by one in Chloe Owen's All Sew Up). The bags contain a card made by Bella, a pot of jam, and a bag of homemade fudge. I hope no-one's diabetic. 

One is for Bella's teacher (Mrs C) and the other for the teaching assistant (Mrs B). They are fantastic at their jobs and passionate about the well being of the children they teach, and they have made Bella's first year at school a very special and rewarding time. Mrs B, in particular, worked in Bella's nursery and has known her since she was three. Bella is now preparing to move up from reception to Year 1, where there are more tables and chairs and less sandpits.

In other news, Angus has been having "settling in sessions" at the school nursery, in preparation for when he starts attending every morning in September. On Monday, when I left him, and he cried so loud and for so long that they went to get Bella from her class. (I am not happy about leaving a crying three year old, honestly, but Angus cries when he is left with anyone except John and I, and he really needs to go to nursery and get used to small amounts of independence.) Apparently, Angus stopped crying the minute he saw Bella. They held hands and she played with him. When I went to collect him they were playing with the train set. I don't think he let go of her hand the whole time. 

Friendship Bracelets (Mollie Makes Magazine)

According to my latest issue of Mollie Makes, friendship bracelets are back in fashion. At the ripe old age of 34, this might be my first "Oh, I remember when those were first in fashion!" moment. These woven bracelets take me straight back to being eleven years old. My sisters and I used to buy these on French market stalls on holiday. Then I learnt to make them, prompting memories of comparing newly made friendship bracelets and tanned forearms. They remind me of Summer, of beach holidays, friends and carefree days, and I can see how they fit into the Summer festival fashion theme.

And yes, despite all meteorological evidence to the contrary, IT IS SUMMER. Do you see how hard I have been working at this lately?? I've deliberately been focusing on all things summery in July's posts. It's making me feel better.

I haven't shown you a finished "make" since the Somewhere Over the Rainbow tea towel  over a month ago. One month! There has been baking and decorating and playing and many, many trips to IKEA, but no "I made this!" moments for you. Or for me. I am working on a couple of crochet projects that are hugely rewarding but sloooow in the making, so it will be a while before I can show you them. I needed a quick and easy "make", a little pick me up. These bracelets are very easy, all you need is some embroidery threads, and there are many tutorials on YouTube. I like them because the variations are endless - candy stripe or cross or chevron pattern, any colour combination you can think of, keep it simple or embellish with beads and charms and feathers. Bella demanded one straight away and it prompted a relaxed crafternoon of playing with bracelets and beads. I love crafting with my girl.

I had endless amounts of fun choosing colours and patterns. I made one with a nice nautical feel, one that reminds me of the colours and flavours of Neapolitan ice cream, and the third is inspired by this one that I saw on Etsy. I like the muted colours and irregular colour stripes. It reminds me of Autumn and tweed for some reason.

To take full advantage of my Mollie Makes subscription, I set myself the challenge of making one thing from each issue. Issue number 11 (my first) - fabric mice, issue number 12 - a patchwork apron. Issues 13, 14 and 15...still waiting. Issue number 16, consider yourself made.

I will wear my friendship bracelets with my Hunter wellies, while I trudge to the shops in the rain to buy milk. In my head I will be at a really cool festival, sipping cold beer in a (non-muddy) field of daisies while listening to folk music in the sunshine.

Weekend Business

This weekend there has been some...

sewing...

playing inside...

playing outside*...

reading**...

smelling...

making...

rough and tumbling...

washing...

and some snacking...

Did you have a good weekend? What did you get up to? We were at home a lot as John was working, but we kept busy. The sun has gone and the grey skies and cool temperatures are back. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. Wishing you all a lovely week. Thank you for the comments, they make my day, and hello new followers! x

**********************************

* I promised I'd show your the inside of the playhouse, which houses all our outdoor toys. Note the smashed window, the mould and the tacky plastic toys.

** Is anyone else reading this?? Gosh, it's certainly an interesting read. A book group choice you understand, otherwise I wouldn't be reading it...

Do You See What I See?

Sunshine!!!

I am so sun starved that I have resorted to taking photographs of the sun's rays, wherever they may fall, inside or outside.


It's not hot. Not bikini weather (ha ha, those days are long gone...thanks to two huge babies). It's 14 degrees C (or 57 degrees F in old money) so Spring weather not Summer weather. But boy is it nice to wake up to sunshine! Do you have sun today where you are? What are you doing? Put on a jumper and pack a picnic, go for a walk, fire up the barbecue or just sit in the garden with a coffee like I am this morning. Quick, before the rain comes back!


Happy Sunday. x

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Via SouleMama.

A Little Window Box

Thanks for all the brilliant biscuit feedback, I so enjoyed reading your comments! How could I forget about custard creams, chocolate bourbons, nice biscuits, malted milks, hobnobs and jaffa cakes...I must do more eating research.

We have been doing some very child friendly gardening lately, to perk up the little window box on Bella and Angus's wooden play house. I did my absolute best to give them free reign with it all and Not Interfere. 

A trip was made. Plants were chosen at the local greengrocers. Bella chose a fuschia, a petunia, a geranium and a dianthus. All slected for their colour with no idea from anyone as to what would grow well in the little window box.

They were taken out of their pots and examined.

Planted and watered.

Then admired and photographed with moments to spare before there was a huge clap of thunder and it poured with rain.

I think Bella really enjoyed doing this. She'd been talking about it all week. When I asked her what she enjoyed most about it she said "watering them". I'm happy to know that, even at the grand old age of five, there is still of lot of fun to be had with a watering can in the garden. She's still little.