Thanks for the memories x

I wanted to share with you the beautiful flowers we got for my Granddad's funeral and just one last thank you to everyone that emailed, called and left me comments over this sad time.
It all went very well and the sun shone all day long. Myself and Jade got a special mention in the reading and how we where his adopted Grand-daughter and Great Grand-daugther. I have to thank his family for doing this for us, it will stay in our hearts forever and means so very much.
After the service it was lovely to catch up with his real Grandsons and share our memories of him together. And swap emails for future meetings, the last time I saw Lee the youngest Grandson I was only about 7 or 8 myself lol it was great to see him again and photos of his beautiful 7 month old boy. And funny how he is still just as cheeky now as way back then. Good to see you and hope to catch up again soon.
So now it's all over I'll leave you with my Granddad's favourite saying and just hold on to all the happy memories of him. Love you Grandad hope to see you one day again. "See you on the ice"

Grannies doing very well and all of us are popping around and taking her out and about, but also giving her time to rest.

Here she is with her best friend in the whole world Rosie. We went round for a visit and as you can see is did Gran the world of good.

Here's to best friends and keeping having for years. The stories they could tell you would make you're hair curl lol A right pair in their younger days hehe!
I'll get some of the old photos to show you another time. But you just have to look at their cheeky smiles to see what I mean lol
Love you Little Gran and Rosie x x


What do us ladies do when we're feeling down? retail therapy that's what. So here is a little treat I spotted while out on Tuesday in Maidstone. A cute red polka dot bag and at the very expensive price of £2.50 lol I just had to have it. I found a cute Blythe doll badge to pin on it too (photo coming soon). I don't normally like dolls like this but this one look a little like me sitting on a leaf lol

This little lady has taken a shine to it, so I have to make sure it doesn't disappear into her room lol
I'm feeling very good at the moment and moving on well. Orders are still coming in the keep me busy and I've had Jade here for nearly 3 weeks now. We've had trips out, one was to London for the day just me and her. A shop until we drop day but we didn't buy a thing. How crazy is that! And I never got Harvey Nic's as the time just ran away with us. Oh well there is always next time.
We're off at the end of the month sometime to the fabulous Feather down farm and I just can't wait, it will be our first real family holiday, just myself, Ben and the 2 little cupcakes. Plenty of fresh air, fields, marshmallows, chickens and walks. Heaven! and well deserved. Especially for Ben, he's been working so hard this last few months and looking after me this last couple of weeks. The break will do him the world of good, no computers or phone calls argh! what will he do lol
I must remember to pack lots of this brown sugar for my coffee and porridge. This cute little cupcake spoon makes me smile every time I open to jar. lol strange woman I am lol

I thought with a lighter note and ask you all to leave me your answers to this question. What do you own that makes you smile every time you see it?

My favourite will get a little gift in the post, so come on ladies share all those lovely treasures and make me smile. :)

Many, many hugs.

Catherine x

It's good to have friends

I am just so over whelmed by all your kindness, starting this blog is one of the best things I've done. I have made and found some amazing friends on here. And want to give each and everyone of you a big cyber hug for all the lovely supportive words and strength you're giving me at this sad time.

The funeral is next Friday and then a little get together afterwards back at Granny's to remember the wonderful man Grandad was. And will always be in our hearts.
Thank you everyone, you're helping by just being there. And you all put a smile back on my face when I read what you've left. X X X

Enjoy a lovely weekend, rain or shine.

Many hugs

Catherine x

Other posts put on hold

Today I got some very sad news, this wonderful man who has been in my life since the age of 4 pasted away in his sleep. After over 12 years of living with outsimers, he closed his eyes for the very last time and will sleep forever now at peace and without any pain or confusion.
The photos below are how I will remember him not the shell of the man he became with the illness. But the fun loving Grandad we all loved to sit and listen to. He had so many stories to tell.

In memory of Grandad Doug 30th Jan 1909 - 4th August 2008 x

Here with a very young Jade, she just idolized him and would jump on him or chase him around the garden with the hose when she was supposed to be watering the plants with him lol
Even right up until the end he always knew who Jade was and she would go to the nursing home with my Granny and help feed him his dinner and sing him songs.
Miss you Grandad, love you forever Jade x

This photo is my favourite even though he's suffering from the illness by now, you wouldn't know anything was wrong with him. He had his whistle round his neck for any emergencies and would blow it just for fun sometimes lol driving my poor Gran crazy as she'd drop what ever she was doing and come racing back in to find him laughing. hehe! "you cheeky old man" she'd say. He'd reply with a "what?" and give me a wink ;) and smile lol

I feel lucky to have had him in my life and am so pleased to have been able to show him Molly and Daisy as well. I'm not sure if he knew they where there but I got a big kiss and he said my name before we left. He always said I was once seen and never forgotten lol

I also thank him for all the wonderful years he spent with my devoted Gran, helping her through the loss of my real Grandad when I was just nearly 4. And being the Grandad to me that I'd just lost, not that he ever tried to replace him. It just felt right to call him Grandad. As I felt he loved me back like a Grand-daughter.

I'll miss you Grandad Doug but will find comfort in knowing your now at peace and not in any pain. And my thoughts now turn to my Gran who's devoted herself to you for years. Caring for you at home and then everyday back and forth to the nursing home. It will be hard to fill the huge hole you've left in her life but with the love and support of us all she'll get through.

Sleep peacefully Grandad, see you again one day. Love you x

Catherine x

Having family to stay.

Say hello to the fabulous Sam, Paul and baby Ava. they came to stay with us over this weekend just gone. Arriving on Friday tea time, we all court up with each others news and Ben and I couldn't believe how big Ava had got and that she was crawling everywhere and trying to walk as well. She kept looking at the girls running around and you could all most she her thinking to herself, "I'm going to have a go at that" lol And she did once and ended up on her bum. Bless her, I'm sure the next time we see her she'll be walking around the place.



On the Saturday we decided to all go off to the Rare Breeds Farm over near Ashford. Last time we went the girls loved it, so we thought it would be a great place to take the family. Just right for all ages. And as you can see from all the photos we took, it went down really well with everyone. (warn you now there are loads in this post).

First stop was the petting farm, where they had every kind of animal out for snuggles and strokes. Chickens, ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, pigs and a couple of sheep.

We came across these beautiful passion flowers in the butterfly tunnel.
And wow this butterfly is just amazing. They kept flying all around us and in and out of our feet. If you don't like flying things it's not the best place for you lol the girls loved it, but Ben and I couldn't believe our eyes when on turning a corner we both saw Daisy stomping her foot down on to a poor defenceless butterfly and making a grrrr noise at it lol Ben just froze in horror and I shouted out NO! Daisy stop that's very, very naughty. She of course ran off, awww 2 year old's don't you just love them hehe! I did of course give her a little chat about rules of butterfly tunnels and the main one being not to stomp on any. I think she gets it now.

The rest of the family joined us and we told them what had happened. Ben had picked it up and moved it to a safer place, it was still moving around so I think it had a lucky escape. In the next tunnel everyone had their eyes on her and we got through without any more casualty's. Oh god apart from the tropical one that flu in to the wild British tunnel when I was holding the flap open for Sam and baby Ava to come through with the buggy. Flaming things, don't they know they have to stay in the right parts. Ben did get lots of beautiful photos of the ones that didn't get lost or squashed. hehe!

Awww the chickens in their Omlet, my favourite. I had them all following a piece of food lol just call me Mummy Cupcake Doolittle. Look into my eyes, not around them look into them lol
After stopping for some lunch and playtime for the girls on some slides. We popped over to meet Blueberry the Alpaca and her baby Simon (what a funny name, sorry no photos of him). We were all to busy with having fun watching Paul stroke (tease) Blueberry lol every time he patted her on the bum she turned her head like she was going to spit at him lol And of course we were all waiting for it to happen. She didn't I think she liked it really.

Isn't she pretty! bless her, I think she looks like Janet Street- porter lol
Here is Uncle Ben getting in practice again pushing a buggy, think again Mr Short, you'll have to propose first and put a ring on my finger before I give you anymore bubbas. lol

Off on the marsh venture trail, we got lost and took the long way round hehe! (men and maps!). On the way in a field full of sheep where these giant Mr and Mrs wooden seats. Jump on Jade and give us a smile :)

Auntie Cupcake and cousin Jade, holding the baby while the big and little kids have some playtime lol (god please don't look at my belly, any tips on how to lose it pop on a postcard lol). To many cupcakes one thinks hehe!

In the next lot of photos, I'm not to sure who enjoyed themselves more the toddlers, teenager or the adults. You decide lol And yes I did get to have myself, even in a wrap over skirt, well no one was around. Ben did a video of that one. I'll pop it on another post (maybe).

Molly, Daisy and Jade found a great wooden castle with slide and played on that while the grow-ups continued to have races on the aerial runaway.

This was Jade after climbing up into the castle and flopping through the door lol (she'll kill me for putting this on here) but it's so funny. One to show her boyfriend hehe!
After a long very hot day, we all got ice-creams, said our goodbyes to the animals and set off for home.

Back home the girls rested on the sofa and we all had a yummy salad tea. Then it was time for goodbyes and see you soon's. And a long drive back to Cheltenham for Sam, Paul and Ava, after a lovely time together, I'm always sad to see them go, as I'm sad to leave them when we visit Cheltenham.

But it won't be long before we see each other, only a month this time. So we're all looking forward to that.

Isn't it lovely when families get on. Ben's have welcomed me with the biggest open arms and I hope I've done the same to them.

Thanks for a lovely weekend.

Sorry this post is full to bursting with photos, but I had so much to show you. This was just a few of them.

I turned into the Auntie that's been to Bognor lol and brought her slides round to show you all zzz LOL

Hope you enjoyed them and maybe will visit the Rare Breeds Farm for yourselves.

Many hugs.

Catherine x

I seen to have lost a few days...

Sorry it's a while, I just don't know where that week went. If any of you find some extra days floating about pop them in an envelope and post them back to me lol

Thank you for all the good luck comments, it was indeed a lovely and day. Full of lots of sales, organic carrot cake, smiles, laughter and bright sunshine.

Claire had her stall right next to me so we chatted and laughed all afternoon. And worked together with the customers lol sending them to one an others stalls. I'm sure we got more sales that way. And it's nice to help each other.

Ben and the girls enjoyed themselves, going off on the tractor ride, eating cakes and sausages in buns and lots of running around the farm lol Jade helped pack any sales I had and even sold a few bits all on her own. Thanks sweetie, it was fun.

I just wanted to show you the new egg cups I've been working on, I'm hoping they look like dotty duck or chicken eggs. What do you think?

Hope you're all enjoying this beautiful weather we're having, is it safe to say that Summer's here!

I'll have lots of posts over the next few days, as we've been out to a beautiful garden and have loads of photos to show. And also had fabulous family staying with us this weekend. And we went off out to the Rare Breeds Farm so I have lots to share with you all. Yesterday saw us all resting and a little playing on Camber sands beach. Oh and getting stuck in a car park full of pebbles lol

I'll tell all soon.

Many thanks again for all your lovely support, your all lovely ladies x x x

Hugs.

Catherine x

Open Day On The Farm.

Hang out the bunting and bake the cakes, it's open day at Luddesdown organic farm Cobham Kent. Come along if your in the area, we open at 2pm. Click the link and see all the fun on the farm. Which includes tractor rides, face painting, craft stalls, cream teas, fresh fruit and veg and much more.
I'll be there with the fabulous Claire
We're hoping that our tables will be next to one another, so we can look after each others stalls if needed. And it's great to chat to Claire, she's loads of fun.
I'll have Jade my oldest there to help out, she's a fab little sales woman and not afraid to chat to the customers. She'll be wearing your gorgeous apron Vanessa so we'll be promoting other crafty people from Blog land as well as a couple of my favourite homely shops like the fabulous Rosablue.
Fingers crossed for some sunshine but not to fear if it does rain as our stalls are under cover in lovely old rustic barns.
Come along if you can we'd love to see you. X

Well my search is over and I have found a lovely little playgroup in a church hall for our little cupcakes to go too in Sept. And it's only just down the road and round the corner. Daisy can also go which I didn't expect but we're only sending her once a week as she's so little. Molly will go a couple of times, so they get used to not being together all the time. I'm not sure who it's going to be hardest for, me or the girls. It will be fun getting Daisy out of there when Molly has to stay.
We have had two visits and both times the girls have just gone in and played. And we have already brought home some fab pieces of art work lol Ben said "and so it begins" lol boxes full of handmade treasures.
I had that very good feeling when walking into the playgroup and has very pleased when all my questions were answered and I could see the Ofsted reports as well. After having worked in an after school club I know lots of the requirements needed for looking after children safely and professionally. But was pleased to hear that they will give a cuddle or two when needed. This is very important to me and Ben to know they are not just going be told "there, there it's all ok" and nothing else because as we all know there is nothing better than a cuddle when feeling sad or hurt.

I'm going to need lots from Ben when leaving them both there for the first time lol :)
Both our girls are very excitied about going so this puts myself and Ben at some ease too.

I have to say thank you again for all the supportive comments and emails over this subject. They did help me lots.
Great big cyber hugs.

Have a lovely weekend back soon with photos of the open day a little gift from a special friend.
Hugs.

Catherine x

I'm sure you've all seen this one.

What a lovely film, very moving. I'm so glad I taped it off the telly. Good old freeview lol
My girls, well Molly enjoyed it to. Although I'm not to sure she knew what it was all about. It made a fabulous afternoon sitting together, just me and my girls, a cup of coffee and a tissue or 3.
I now want to read it, so to find the book.
I just love the floral dresses, wallpaper and the yummy looking pies in the old cafe.
Definitely one to see if you haven't already.

Hugs.

Catherine x