my photos

ooh lovely, a day off ...

After a wobbly start I'm having a nice day today, just pottering and drinking cups of tea.

I've vacuumed, made a Cottage Pie, and done a shop in Asda too.

I had a few tears first thing whilst looking through a few old blog posts (as you do) and clicking on this Beatles track I posted for my Mum a month or so back.

Nobody ever says how long you are supposed to grieve do they?

I guess I'm still feeling a bit run down from not being tip top too, and now I have a sty in my eye!
o
Unbelievable - when will it ever end?

Anyway, do you love Mr Pickled Onion Head by Toni Raymond Pottery as much as I do (he's been having a bit of a cry too, by the looks).

I found him in a charity shop a while or so back.



At last we have a bright day!

Twas beginning to think we'd never see the back of those damn right miserable grey days we've been having.

Lovely sunbeams have been streaming through the verticals.



The sun is also shining down on this pretty and pure white polyanthus, with it's beautiful heart-shape petals.

I've had a little stroll around the garden.

Whilst out there I took a few pics, and did the obligatory cat poo inspection.

Not even my cats!

Didn't stay out there long - don't be deceived, it's freezing in that north-easterly.



More lovely shadows being cast on the kitchen table.

A bit random - but did you know you can get three light bulbs in Robert Dyas for 50p?

Since when have they been such a bargain!



Hey, this helped to wipe away the tears.

After looking in at my comments this morning, I discovered I've been awarded a Stylish Blogger Award from The Secret Life of an Unknown Housewife.

Sarah describes my blog as quirky, quaint and clever - quirky and quaint I may be, but clever?

Thank you so much for seeing me in a light I never see myself in.

You've so cheered me up!

o

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a blog award ...

The photo above is completely irrelevent to this post. Besides it's a colourful one!

All my blog posts come with a photo. I will put off posting my thoughts until I have one.

Quirky I know!

Anyhow, Kathy from Postcards from the PP has given me an award. A Blog with Substance!



Thanks Kathy.

What I have to do is sum up my blogging philosophy, motivation and experience in five words.

They are:

Heartening - Loyal - Moving - Thoughtful - Inadequate

Maybe you have five words you can share?

o

my photo

new blogging beginnings and a thank you ...

As British Summertime begins, new blogging beginnings begins. From this day forward I vow to find a little more time to blog post on a more regular basis. Over the past six months or so, what with one thing and another (a new job, holiday, computer crashing, a dose of flu, holiday, a rotten cold), I haven't had the necessary thinking time to commit to a blog. I have missed taking the photos, writing, receiving word from bloggy friends, and of course visiting and commenting on your blogs too.

I'd like to thank (you know who you are) for not giving up on me and for continuing to look in at my blog, and to thank you for continuing to leave the interesting and kind comments that you do.



I'd like to welcome the following bloggy friends (click on the links to visit). All have left a comment or two on my blog since the start of the new year, thank you -

A Bun Can Dance
A Tale in Action
Cathy's Capers
Corners of my Mind
Crafty Conundrum
Glitter B
Inside the White Picket Fence
Leafblogotanicals
Lissylou and the Two Little Boys
Paisley Jade
Silverpebble
Skipping in the Meadow
The Blueberry Patch
Thirtyfive Flowers

I invite everyone who visits my blog, to cut and paste the 'bloggy friends' logo above, onto your blog.

it's all awards at the moment ...

I haven't won this award, but would like to award it personally to a handful of blog friends:

Carol at Charli and Me
Pat at Mille Fiori Favoriti
Katherine at Sew Me Something Good
Bev at Up The Tree and Yummy in my Tummy

and last but not least Twiggy at The World of Twiggypeasticks!

an aaah moment and another award, twice over ...

This isn't my photo, but it's a cute one!



This is mine! An award from Michele at Cowboys & Custard, and Funkymonkey. I really appreciate you choosing to award it to me, and thanks to everyone else for tuning in to my pic 'n mix of lifes adventures, or lack of them as the case may be at the mo.

Winning this award again twice, gives me the opportunity to pass on to another fourteen worthy recipients on my blogroll! This makes me feel a lot better, as I really do love all the blogs I visit, and the good thing is, no two are the same! I honestly dislike having to choose names, but rules is rules.

Right quick smart, cut the drivel, and get to those all important Oscar nominations:

Tracie at All About Whatever
Ally at Born to Read and Knit
Jayne at Country Cottage Chic
Marie at Dreaming of Wild Roses
Jennie at Falling Down the Rabbit Hole
Heather, Katherine and Samantha at Four Friends and a Blog
Indigo Blue
Niesz Vintage Home ... and Fabric
Lisa at Periwinkle
Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses
Kristina at Shabbily Ever After
Suzie at Suzie Sews
Becky at Sweet Cottage Dreams
Margaret and Noreen at The Homely Year

and one for good luck Funkymonkey!

I know some of you have already won this award, but if you feel you could pass it on again, here are the rules, again!

1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Link the person from whom you received your award.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put the links of those blogs on to your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them!

my photos

airbourne and two awards ...

You may have noticed from a couple of my previous posts that I have been preoccupied with the weather just lately. Is this a British thing? Anyway, the weather hasn't been too bad over the past few days. These blue skies were taken on Friday am, whilst I was outside in the garden.



You might like these photos Flighty? The aerobatics team The Blades were doing a stint over the surrounding areas of Shoreham airfield and were no doubt down here for Airbourne at Eastbourne, which winds up today. The next main event in the airshow calendar is Shoreham Airshow 2008 which is held at the historic Shoreham Airport, this year on the weekend of the 30-31 August. Fingers, and everything else crossed for good weather, last year the weather was really good.



I received this award today, I love your blog from Sal's Snippets, thanks again. Sal often leaves comments on both my home and garden blog, all of which are very much appreciated. Sal's blog is a great read of crafting, collecting, local history, gardening, all subjects I just happen to be interested in.

The rules for this award are:

1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Link the person from whom you received your award.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put the links of those blogs on to your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them!

My nominations are:

Carol at Katherines Dream
Kathy at Lizzie Jane
Lesley at Moogsmum
Diana at Pebbledash
Celia at Purple Podded Peas
Rachael at Rachael Rabbit
Sairer at Vintage, Pretty & Shabby



I received another award today, this time from the lovely Twiggy at The World of Twiggypeasticks. This isn't the first time I have received an award from Twiggy! Twiggy's blog is a really friendly mix of family, days out, gardening and crafting.

The rules for this award are:

1. Only 5 people allowed.
2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog.
3. One has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
4. You must link back to whoever gave you the award.

My nominations for dedicated followers of my blog are -
Daffy at Approaching 40
Michele at Cowboys & Custard
Gina at Gingerbread
Simone at Linden Grove

My nomination for someone new to my blog, and who lives in another part of the world is -
Christy at Sweet Tidings -whose location is the Phillipines.

In time honored Oscar fashion - I love you all!

I really enjoy reading all the blogs I visit but once in a while one surfaces which never fails to make me laugh. Moogsmum this award is for you, you are so funny!

long overdue ...

Sending this award has been one of those 'round tuit' jobs of which I have many! When I first discovered this award, the first person I thought of was Kim at Ragged Roses as her blog really is so special. Kim is feeling under the weather at the moment, and what weather it is, we have had plenty of rain overnight, and another huge band of rain is heading both our ways, as we both live relatively close along the South Coast. I hope the award goes some way to making you feel a little better Kim.

Louise x

another one ...

Nicola from Four Friends and a Blog has sent me this award. Nicola, Heather, Katherine and Samantha all live in Canada and share a blog to keep in touch, but also look out for a couple of 'spin-offs' too! The 'Blogging with a Purpose' award is a new one on me, so I am very pleased to have received it.

If you blog with a purpose (which you all do), feel free to paste this award on to your blog, from me to you.

more awards, and awards to be awarded ...

I've won this award twice over the past few weeks. Thank you so much. The first time from the lovely Twiggy at The World of Twiggypeasticks who awarded it to ten blogs, and the second time from one of my more recent blog friends, Pat at Mille Fiori Favoriti who awarded it to five blogs. For those who know me quite well, I do love to get these awards, as it makes me feel very happy in the knowledge that my ramblings do go towards making someone's day?

I am awarding the 'You Make My Day' award to the following five blogs, because everytime I read a new post from them, it brings a smile to my face.

Cowboys & Custard - because Michele and I share the same humour, and I always love to see what her lovely tomcat Pickles is up to!

Gingerbread - because Gina's blog is just so colourful and interesting, and very blog friendly!

Higglety Pigglety - because I love Joanna's artwork and I love her bunny Captain Rupert!

Lucy Bloom - because Lucy's blog posts are just so pretty, and I want everything from her shelves!

Nikkipolani - because her photography is outstanding, both of food and flowers, every one breathtaking; and her two cats Minou and Emmaline are the prettiest I have ever seen!

These are just five out of the many blogs of which I really enjoy popping in to on most days, each and every one unique in its own way.

now awards from friends ...

Thanks so much Gina for passing this award on to me, receiving it has most definitely made my day. I really enjoy visiting Gina's blog Gingerbread, it is always such a happy mix of family, papercrafts and recipes, and it comes all the way from Tasmania too!

Michele from Cowboys & Custard fame, I have an award for you, not that your mantlepiece needs another one?

After reading your latest post, I think you need to belong to the same club as I do!

new year's honours ...

No OBEs, MBEs, CBEs or knighthoods, just this humble 'Friends Make The World Go Round' award, is being awarded to all friends who have paid a visit to my two blogs over the past couple of months. Please feel free to copy and paste it in to your own blog with pride.

Up until about six months ago I didn't truthfully know what a blog was, yes I had heard the word, but hadn't spared any time to investigate this unknown phenomenon. Then my sister-in-law put me on to her friend's blog, which I would occasionally pay a visit to, it was just idle curiosity really. I love gardening, and it wasn't until quite a few months later that I realised that to keep a blog was a really good means of recording what was happening in the garden, I had until then kept occasional typed up notes on my PC, but this was a great way of including photos as well.

So that was how it all started, I left my comments open and secretely hoped someone would find me, honestly not thinking anyone ever would, and when they did and I received my first comment, I couldn't believe that anyone had given little old me even a second of their time, I was so excited, and from then on just wanted to put more and more posts on.

... and the rest as they say, is history.

you make me laugh award two, three and four ...

A few weeks ago Michele from Cowboys & Custard was awarded with this, sorry Michele you can't have another one, that mantelpiece of yours just isn't big enough! I thought as it is coming up to Christmas that maybe we were due for another couple plus one, so here goes:

Award No 2 goes to Daffy at Approaching 40 - Daffy is a regular, witty and amusing visitor to my garden blog (link on the side to take you over to the other side, I thought I would take the opportunity to throw in a quick plug)!

Award No 3 goes to Jane at Mull Musings - Jane is also a regular, witty and amusing visitor to my home blog.

Award No 4 goes to Captain Rupert c/o Joanna at Higglety Pigglety, he visits me at both my blogs. I really need not say more, just take a look for yourself, he really does love a good piece of carrot cake!

On their own blogs, their anecdotes of everyday life really do bring a smile to my face in my everyday life, and after a mind curdling stint at work, one really does need this sort of tonic, although preferably with a vodka in, no gin here please!

you make me laugh award ...

I would like to give this award to Michele at Cowboys & Custard, she has a wicked sense of humour just like mine. I can assure you her posts will never fail to put a smile on your face!

the power of schmooze award ...

Marie of Wild Rose has very kindly nominated me for this award, I do feel very honoured as I only took up a blog a few months ago. I must admit I was really surprised when I received my first comment (which was from Judith of Everything in the Garden’s Rosy) as you tend to think that no-one will ever discover you, and of course once someone does, it starts the ball rolling and now I have the start of a great circle of friends on both ‘the home is where the heart is’ and ‘this is my patch’. I really enjoy reading other postings, so far from Canada, the USA and of course the UK and thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read and comment on mine, please keep looking in as I have so much to add over the coming weeks, but please bear with me as I must keep up with other commitments which are also important to me.

This award is for people 'who effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way'.

My nominations for The Power of Schmooze Award are purely from comments left on ‘the home is where the heart is’, and they are:

Joanna from Higglety Pigglety
Lynn from Gigibird
Stella from Bitter Sweet Sympathy
Noreen and Margaret from The Homely Year
Nicola, Heather, Samantha and Katherine from Four Friends and a Blog

and a special thank you award goes of course to Marie of Wild Rose, this is starting to sound like the Oscars!

Of course I appreciate reading all comments and thank everyone for their interesting thoughts and I look forward to reading more and don’t forget you could be in line for an award in the very near future?

Please see the links in my sidebar to visit friends in blogosphere!