Have a superb weekend

My Dears, what are your plans for this weekend? Frankly, Balazs and I don't have any big plans. We are looking forward to a very low key two days, full of telly-watching, pasta-making and sleeping in. Sweets, wherever your plans take you, make sure to have a blast. Love you lots and here are a few awesome links from around the web. Enjoy:)

Snazzy glasses.

After looking at those photos, I want to visit Vermont :)

World's largest hot air balloon fiesta starts tomorrow. Yahoo!

Paillettes.

Carrots, almond, mint and honey - juice perfection.

Soups. Yum!

Genuinely in love with this home.

Breathtaking nature.

Most iconic dresses of the twentieth century.

I'd love to wear this outfit today.

My guest post over on Elizabeth's awesome blog: Oh how I love bookshelves!

Brilliant!

I have a soft spot for huge windows.

Such a clever pie pan. (giggle).

Have you entered our beautiful 2 prints GIVEAWAY already? Don't miss it!

Also two of my latest Honest Cooking posts:
* one-pan caramel and white chocolate chunk skillet cookie
* homemade apple crisp

Lovelies, blowing you a big kiss! See you Monday morning:) xo

(Photos of the adorable cutie named Olive by Rose & Crown)

{All Quiet}

We had a lovely day yesterday. Chelsea and Joseph spent much of the day with their friends - either here, next door, or at the park. Tiegan went with my brother's girlfriend over to visit my parents for a few hours, and dh and I took Callum to the playground. The weather was glorious, the nicest we have had a for a long while. It was lovely being able to make the most of it.

The lady from next door came around in the evening to ask if Joseph would like to stay the night at theirs. Of course he would (silly question). She then asked if Chelsea would like to stay too, and then go with them to a majorettes competition that her daughter was taking part in in the morning. It meant Chelsea needed to be up by 6am *yawn*, but she wanted to go anyway. Whilst the older two were at their sleepover next door, I made flapjacks and chocolate concrete cake with the younger two. Yum. they toddled off to bed together, watching DVD's and Tiegan reading stories to Callum. I really love hearing Tiegan read, she is so fluent, so expressive, so darn good! I still can't believe how little input I have had for her to get to this stage. It really has been a real eye-opener for me of how child-led learning works at it's best.

So here I am this morning, with just 2 children around. Very odd. The house seems very quiet. Mind you, they have just started playing on the wii, so that peace and quiet will soon be shattered...

Last night I got one of my knitting urges. I haven't done any knitting for a long time. I've wanted to have a go at knitting a pair of armwarmers for a long time, but haven't got around to doing so. I need to buy some new wool, but thought for my first attempt I could use what I've got. I searched for an easy pattern, knitted flat and not in the round (haven't got any circular needles yet) and found a lovely one - but it had a simple cable pattern in it. I haven't attempted any cable stitching before, but it sounded easy enough. Fortunately it was, and I managed to complete the first one yesterday. I'll add a photo later when I've complete the other one. Of course the girls are already eyeing them up, so I can see myself knitting a fair few of them in the coming weeks :o) Next time we go out somewhere I'm going to treat myself to some fab new wool colours.

{Haldon Woods, Brixham and Dartmoor}

Well we have certainly kept up with our promise of getting out and about this week whilst dh is off work. Yesterday we had a really lovely morning out at Haldon Forest Park. Rain had been forecast, and the clouds were looking threatening so I (stupidly) didn't bother to take the camera. However, we had a lovely walk, in fab weather conditions. It was warm, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. Bliss. Kira loved it, and was very well behaved with all the other doggies around, and the children adored walking and playing on the equipment en route. Sadly, once we were home I started to feel really ill. Raging headache, bright light sensitivity, sickness, and general yuck. I spent the rest of the day trying (and failing) to sleep it off.

Today (re-armed with my camera) we headed to Brixham, just a short drive from our home. We took Kira with us as we are trying to get her used to being around more people and crowds. (I won't mention that the postman refused to visit us today because she "scared him off" with her barking. *blush*)

We all had a lovely stroll around the harbour, looking at all the different boats, admiring the views, and watching the crabbers trying not to get their fingers pinched by their little catches.

After a wander around the streets, we headed back to the carpark to get our picnic food to eat on the beach. The Brixham Lifeboat was directly in front of our car, as the crew were taking part in an interview for our local Spotlight news programme.

The photo opportunity was too good to miss, so I happily snapped away :o)








Once our picnic basket was empty, we all climbed back into the car and headed off to the Moors. I adore Dartmoor. It is the one place I am going to severely miss when (if?) we move from here. I love the wilderness, the tranquility, the history, the folk tales. I love the ponies, the sheep, the cows, and the Tors. I love the feel of it, the changing landscapes, the lush woodland and the barren ferns.

Anyway, we stopped for a child and dog run about. Kira needed to release the energy that she had been unable to use up whilst *yawn* lead walking around Brixham. She hates walking on the lead and I'm desperately trying to train her to walk nicely without pulling my arms out of their sockets. It's an absolutely impossible task I'm in no doubt, but I WILL NOT give up!! Off-lead she is a real darling, you can't fault her, her recall is superb. On lead? Forget it.

The children just wanted to run, for no other reason than there was lots of space to do so :o)

How could you not fall in love with views such as these:




Even on an overcast day there is just *something* special about the place.

Enjoying the Weather

There hasn't been a lot going on here as the weather has just been soooo glorious, I couldn't bear to be inside. Our lessons have been taking place outdoors, with reading and comprehension, nature study, art, and a bit of gardening ;o)

Here are a few pictures of our day yesterday, most of which was spent just making the most of the warm sunshine as I knew it wasn't going to last!

We had the little paddling pool out for Callum, but Tiegan and the dog enjoyed it too :o)

There was lots of trampoline bouncing...




More pool playing...




and some resting in the shade...

I've just noticed that Kira has managed to sneak on all of those pictures, little monkey! Just goes to show how much a part of the family she is :o)

The weather is going to be changing for the worse tomorrow sadly, so it will be back to the normal grindstone.

My parents are over in Spain as I write this, on their holiday/house hunting search. My brother has put his house on the market and is selling his posh car and even his private number plate which suprised me. It appears to be all systems go for their new life in Egypt, it will seem very strange without family around us here. Still, we are all very excited and hugely looking forward to our new start "up North". Nothing to report as yet, still very much playing the waiting game to see what happens with my parents.