Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

Saturday morning wasn't looking very promising, but it was nice and warm, so we took a chance and set off for Broadstairs. Took some blankets, bucket & spade, sun cream, snacks and plenty to drink. On the way the weather improved and it turned out to be a lovely warm and sunny day. We parked up along the coastal top and Ben got this beautiful photo. This was the view from the car. Pretty breath taking.
We where all hungry and set off for the town.

After a little look around the town we found this chippy.
So here's Ben waiting for the food to be cooked, hmmm! I had scampi and chips my favourite and how nice it came with salad and tar-tar sauce, you don't get that everywhere. Ben ad his fav sausage and chips. He's not a fish eater, in fact he hates it. Yuk! fishy he laughs when I eat it.
The girls enjoyed a bit of everything we had and shared a couple of chips with a seagull. That was sitting watching us eat. lol cheeky thing!

Tummies full and happy we set off for the beach. Where the girls, Ben, me and Butter Bunny played for hours. Here's Molly taking Bunny for a walk on the sand.
I love getting my feet wet and we took it in turns taking the girls down to the sea. And collecting shells, pebbles and water in Molly's bucket.
I never got a photo of the sand castle Ben and Molly made, lol the girls knocked it all down before I had time too.

They had great fun building it and Molly enjoyed filling the little moat around it with water but got very cross every time it disappeared into the sand. lol "oh no it's all gone" she would say. By now she was just in her nappy. Poor little thing she fell head first into the sea, but didn't seem to mind to much. So off came the top and jeans and on went extra sun cream. She was happy that's all that mattered.

After we'd dried, de-sanded and dressed the girls, we went off for one last walk up to the town, for ice cream and cold drinks. Along the sea front there was a lovely craft/vintage fair. I was delighted and looked at all the lovely stalls. Ben bought me a cute cream aged lantern and I picked up a postcard for my Mum and Dad. Braodstiars holds a very special place in our hearts. My Nana used to holiday here every year and it brings back memories of her.

What a lovely day. Home we came happy, sandy and all tuckered out.

More photos from our fun out next time. I hope everyone else had a great weekend too.

Catherine x

I've been tagged!

Well I've been tagged by my friend Jennifer at Buttercup & Roses. So I'll have ago and think of 8 random things about myself. Cor it's harder than you think! But here goes.

1. I'm totally obsessed with cupcakes, baking them, eating them, buying things with them on, drawing and painting them. It's like they call to me from where every they are. I can sniff them out from a mile away.

2. When I put the girls toys away, they just have to all be in the right place or I go mad. If one things missing, like the box of wooden eggs has 4 in it. If I can only find 3, I'll stay up all night until I find the fourth one. Yes I'm must be ever so slightly obsessive compulsive.

3. If I'm nervous or being cheeky I bit my bottom lip or put the corner of my thumb in my mouth. A real give away of my nerves, but a cute way of getting something I want. ;)

4. On trips to the beach, I turn into a child again and run around, collect pebbles and dip in the rock pools. Ben says my eyes just light up as soon as I see the sea. I don't ever want to grow out of it.

5. It takes me forever to read a book. I'm so slow and sometimes read the same line 2 or 3 times. Maybe it's time for glasses? I have one book that I started about 4 years ago and am only still half way through it. I will finish it one day.

6. At the moment I'm dreaming of being proposed to. The whole down on one knee and a big rock to wear. I think I'm just an old fashion girl, we have the girls, home and business. Now I'd just like to be the little Mrs. I've got a few pictures in a folder of the sort of dress I'd like and the wedding cake. And is it just me or are there weddings everywhere at the moment? Well I'll just dream for now.

7. I hate armadillos, they make me cringe. Everything about them, just even saying the word makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It all started when I saw one in Florida at a water park. All I was wearing was my bikini and it ran out of the bushes, right in front of me. They make a funny scuttling, clicking noise as they move. Yuk!

8. Bags, bags, bags! I have loads of them, it must be a woman thing, because Ben just says what do you need another one for? Well I do! and have to have them. lol You can never have enough bags. Especially pretty ones.

Well there you go some random things about me, it was eye opening for me. Am I really that mad?

These beautiful handmade cloth boxes came for me the other day. They are just so cute, I'm going to use them on my stall to display my business cards in.
Thank you Rosablue x I'll be sending your pegs in return for them. Well worth a visit http://www.rosablue.co.uk/

As promised a photo of the fabric I bought in Laura Ashleys and another little gift from my gorgeous Granny. A pretty embroidered table mat and coasters. So vintage, thank you Granny x
And lastly I'm hoping to find one of these butter dishes over the weekend, would like to go off to some flea markets and look around to see if I can find one like this and some other goodies too. And end up at the beach, so the girls can play and we can have a fish and chip supper. Yum!

Have a lovely weekend.

Catherine x

"Hello Grandma"

Yesterday was simply the best. I set off with the girls on the bus too Grandmas. And we enjoyed the afternoon together. She's 86 and fit as a fiddle, got all her marbles and drives too. A fantastic lady and a very special part of our life's. As you can see the girls just love her to bits.

And had great fun helping Granny cut the rhubarb and clear the weeds from the garden. The sun shone for the best part of the afternoon, so we spend most of it outside.
Daisy was just happy to walk up and down the lawn, screaming with delight every time she wobbled a bit and got her balance again. She's definitely found her feet now. lol Granny was so pleased to see her walking, I'd kept it a surprise. And just popped Daisy down on the floor and off she went, much to the delight of Granny, who clapped her hands with happiness. Bless!

Here's Molly helping collect the yummy rhubarb, I'm going to make a crumble at the weekend and serve it with custard. Hmmm! just right after a nice roast. I'm making myself hungry now.
Look what else I came home with, it's an old fashion bed pan that used to belong to my Granny's Mother and Father in-law. They had it during the war and gave it my Granny as a funny wedding gift.

Now it has pride and place in my little garden next to the wellies. Granny has put pretty purple crocus's in it, they will look lovely when they pop up. Thank you Granny for passing this lovely old potty onto me. I will take good care of it and just love it. X

We left Granny's happy and arms full of goodies, chocolate treats for the girls, cheesy biscuits for Ben and rhubarb and bed pan for me :) Aren't Grandparents just the best? they always have a house full of treats, tea or coffee on tap and fresh fruit and veg to share. I want to be just like that but hopefully have chickens, ducks and cats running around for my grandchildren to play with. And big old house and garden to run in. ( You can see I plan ahead. lol)
This last photo is just a couple of lovely pink polka dot lanterns, I picked them up from Laura Ashley in their sale yesterday. Had a quick trip into town before our visit to Granny. Daisy needed new jeans, as she's worn all her others out with all that bum shuffling. But now she's walking around, I treated her to some cute new ones. Molly got some new knickers, ready for her potty training in the summer. And they both got a Mog book to share. Ben and I both love to read Mog books at bedtime.

I did get some more fabric to, well you know how it is, I just had too ;). Will show you soon.

Those little bird houses are some of what I paint and sell and just thought they looked cut hanging on the line.

Have a good evening, I'm off to watch phonejacker, it's naughty I know but some of it makes me cry with laughter.

Catherine x

Pigeons, old bread and a good book.

Set off this morning with the girls ready for another visit to the playtime morning at Early Learning Centre. Today was sticking and drawing and we brought home 2 new master pieces for the drawing line. I got some chunky crayons too, as Daisy likes to eat the small ones we have at home already. She doesn't seem to like the taste of the chunky ones lol funny little thing. What strange things she's eaten: Sand, rabbit food, Daisies, paper and crayons. It's just a stage she's going through (I'm hoping!)



Once we'd done the playtime I took them off to the library and the park next to it.

Some old bread and a few pigeons made for a fun time. And Molly and Daisy fed and chased the poor things until they flu off

We left happy that we'd given them some well needed exercise. Fat birds.

Off we went for home before those big black clouds got us all wet.

After a nice bit of lunch and a coffee for me. I thought it was time for Buttercup bunnies foot to be mended. She's holding up for you to see. She's so loved and has to walk everywhere that Molly walks, so this means her feet are black with dirt and worn. What a sorry sight, poor bunny :(

As I was in the mood for sewing. I though Buttercup deserved a pretty new summer outfit.

Doesn't she look posh? Summer dress and matching hat. Molly loves it and wants her to have a little bag too. So I'll make one soon.
I'm not that good really at sewing but I am very pleased with this and it made Molly happy so that's always a good thing.
I had to pop these 2 photos of my messy draws, just to make another fellow blogger feel better about hers. I hope it's worked, Julia at Vintage Heaven. This first one is my recipe/ children's art draw. Funny mix I know (don't ask lol)
And this ones got just about anything and everything in it. Drives Ben mad, cos we don't use half the stuff in there but I cant throw any of it away. (Just in case one day we do need it). Makes me laugh to see him rooting though it looking for things. I'm so mean!.
Anyway there you go my messy draws for you all to see! lol Come join our club.
Lastly I picked this up today from the library and I cant put it down. Think I might even buy it. Well worth a read, a bit of a tear jerker though and I've only read the first chapter.
I'd better say good night and give myself a pat on the back because this was my first blog posted from the laptop. Yes I've now joined all the other ladies that sit up in bed blogging away. I'm now a techie kitten lol that's what my Ben says.

More from me tomorrow.

Catherine x

And she's off!

A year and 3 months ago my beautiful baby Daisy was born, she was so small and helpless. All she wanted was milk, clean bum and cuddles. Awww!

And look at her now, she's got the hang of this walking lark, it's taken longer than her bigger sister Molly, but she's got there. Yeay! Well done baby, we are very proud of you. x
Today the sky was so blue and just a light breeze. So out went the washing and off came the cover for the sandpit. And I put out my favourite chair, got a book and coffee. Sat happy while the girls played. I can always do some painting later when Daisy's having her nap. It was nice to enjoy some time with them and not think about anything else.
I found some old wellies in a box and popped them in the garden, I'll get some plants to grow in them this weekend. That will look cute. But for now I put the old flowers from the walk we had last week, they still look pretty.
I must look out for an old watering can too. That would look sweet with fresh mint growing out of it. Hmmm? And I'd really like a very little summer house, where I could work on warm summer nights. (Now I'm dreaming) Our gardens far to small, oh well maybe one I'll get one.

We had a yummy lamb roast for dinner tonight and here's Dougal trying his luck with the left over bits. lol Cheeky puss. (Yes he did get some but from his bowl not our pink dotty plates). And he had to share it with Thomas and Megan.
Right I really must do some real work now, my days are running out. The open day is less than 2 weeks away. I will be ready! I keep telling myself that. lol

Night everyone ;)

Catherine x

Let the sunshine!

It was so lovely to wake up to sunshine on Saturday morning. I was up with the girls nice and early and gave my hubby Ben a lay in, He's been working very hard and staying up all hours, plugging away on our new look website. So I think he deserved it. Plus he did all the driving on Saturday and that's very tiring in the heat.
I put together a picnic of ham salad and egg sandwiches, crisps, cherry tomato's, strawberries, grapes, banana cupcakes, yogurt's, chunks of cheese and cold drink. Popped it all in a basket with pink dotty plates to eat it off and a pretty flowered sheet to sit on. Some toys for the girls to play with and big brolly and suncream to keep the sun off.
Off we set, first stop my favourite little shop Cupcakes in Hawkhurst, I just had to go there for one last look, as sadly it will be closing very soon. :(. The lovely owner Tracy is moving off to pastures new and green in Scotland. Wishing you, your partner and all the animals the very best of luck with your big move. x
Look what I picked up from the shop, this beautiful vintage pink jug. (Just gorgeous). Checkout her website for more lovely items http://www.cupcakesdirect.com/


As the day went on we stopped off at Cranbrook and popped into a couple of nice shops there. What a pretty little village. They have this lovely old windmill, which is open to the public on Saturdays from 2.30pm. And there are lots of different shops and cafes to visit. I popped some business cards into a couple that took my fancy. This one was my favourite, Maisie K. It was full of gorgeous gifts and goodies for little girls and big girls too. Molly just loved it in there, pink and fluffy items from the floor to the ceiling. Every girls heaven. I hope to hear from them, think I'll pop them a sample pack of pegs in the post. (Well you have to promote yourself! don't you?)
After we'd left here we where all very hungry, so Ben drove us out to the Headcorn Aerodrome. And we set out the picnic, tucked into the food and watched the planes land and take off. Molly and Daisy really enjoyed that. And got very excited when the took off, they screamed with delight. Bless them.
Once we'd eaten, Molly played with one of their bunnies, this ones called Berry. And she really belongs to Daisy but Molly wanted her today and was more than happy to feed her carrot and cake. She chatted away to her making sure she was happy. That was so sweet watching her play and Daisy didn't mind she was off having fun with her daddy, playing chase the ball.
Here are the girls with Ben, he's giving driving lessons. Daisy says " look I can drive, it's easy" scream if you want to go faster! lol

Tell if this is your wake up call on a Sunday morning at 7.30am "Look mummy I've found Mog and Bunny" This was my wake up call today, Mog and Bunny book and cuddly wet eared Buttercup Bunny in the face. lol (Nice!) So up I got and came downstairs to see the sun shining and the birds singing. No not really! I got the lay in today, yeay! my gorgeous hubby Ben came downstairs with the girls and made them breakfast and kept them happy until I joined them later. Arr the bed to myself, what bliss!

Thanks Ben your the best x

When I did come downstairs the sun was shining and birds where singing, it was a lovely morning. The girls got to play their sandpit, so now the whole patio looks like a beach, (why do they have to throw it everywhere?) and why does Daisy like the taste of it so much? lol
It was so nice to be able to sit outside and drink my coffee and eat my toast in the sun, just what Sundays should be like.

As the Tour De France was on and most of the roads closed today we went out for a walk up to Rochester and back again, sorry to say the only bikers we saw where from a distance, I'm not really into sports so it didn't bother me that much and by the time we got the Rochester they'd all gone. Don't know what all the fuss was about lol

This is Megan helping with the grass cutting, she's looking for mice, "I know I left one under here somewhere!" silly puss.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and enjoyed the sunshine.

Catherine x

Just doing what I can!

Why do some days just feel like you go round and round picking up toys? So you don't fall over on them and break something. This was our living room this morning the girls had a great game of throw everything on the floor. (Bless them!) Does anybody Else's living room end up like this? They 're like a little whirl wind that's whips everything up and dumps it on the floor. lol Good fun for them though, hard work for me. :(


Arr! that's better, all tidy again. Room to run around and move about. Molly's showing you, by running from one end of the room to the other. That's kept her busy for a while. And made Dougal dizzy from watching her go back and forth. Silly old puss!
I just had to photo this, Molly striped off the bunnies, so they are now all nude. lol She was given them all a clean. And sat them all together on the sofa. Poor Buttercup, Benjamin and Lola. I'm sure your mummy will dress you all soon. Don't want you catching a cold.
Isn't it funny the things that little ones get up to? I was just the same, my mum told me that if I got a new doll. The first thing I did to it was take all it's clothes off and give it a wash. lol I don't remember doing that. I do remember bandaging the all up. thankfully Molly's not at that stage yet. But give her time.

Well as promised from one of my other blogs, below is a couple of funny pictures of our silly cats dressed up.

This is Thomas in a wool bobble hat and cardigan.

And here's Dougal ready for dinner in his bib. Our cats must the silliest things in the world. And we love them for it. Anyone else have funny pics? I'd love to see.
Once again it's getting late and I have loads of stock to paint and price up, my times running out. I've only got 2 weeks left before the open day. Ahhh! No more lists, I've taken my friend Tracy's advise from the leaping hare and just do one thing at a time. Thanks honey, it's working for me. I do have one list left and I think every girl needs one of these. My wish list x (well I have to dream ;) don't I?)

bye for now.

Catherine x