Summery Loveliness ...

Just a titchy post for now as I've got to pick Boo up from Ballet in a short while ...

But, the recent summery weather has inspired me to think of, well, Summery things.

I'm showing you a little glimpse of what I have been up to but I won't show you all of it yet in case I cock it up before I complete it.

I'm quite likely to at the moment as I've been doing really daft things like rubbishy spellings.
I think it's because I'm in so much of a rush to get on and finish things that I have taken my eye of the ball. Very Silly.
And, when you use fusible webbing, it's not that easy to rectify when you spell like a 5 year old !

Still, this piece is OK on that front, it's the next step that I've got to worry about.


I've just committed to another local country craft fair so I've really got to get myself organised. I'm going to take mainly smallish items to this latest fair with just a few larger pieces. It should be a nice fair as it's in a lovely setting.

This week has also seen young Archibald and I practising our training from Saturday's first Gundog session. It was a lot of fun and I like the trainer as he reminds me of my dad. We are all Spaniels but Archie is the only Springer, the rest are Cockers.

We have a lot to learn and I was rather worried we'd be out of our depth, even though it's only Grade 1. But, having finished the first session I am pleased to say that the little man did rather well and impressed first time on his retrieving. He didn't run off into the distance after a scent, unlike one of the bitches, so I was very chuffed with him ... and relieved as the field we are working in is next to the M4.

That said, we've just been out in the garden to do a little bit and he just wanted to run around the garden with the dummy in his mouth. So, away it went until tomorrow ...
His heelwork has improved hugely since Saturday so some of it is sinking in with him. Trouble is, Springers are such busy little dogs, it's difficult for them not to do anything less than 100 miles an hour but we'll get there.

OK, got to dash now. Bye for now peeps !

Growd Ups Being Daft ....

Ooh, I've lost me knickers on the way down ...


It seems an age since the kids were at school but the hols are nearly at the end, back on Tuesday.
We squeezed in a last visit to Wellington Country Park to finish of our time at home and we had such a lovely day. It was a pretty impromptu day out as far as Boo & I were concerned but it turned out to be one of those memorable days.

I think most people who know me might say that I'll never grow up completely. I'm prone to doing daft things and I'm often blunt and often open my mouth before putting my brain into gear. Maybe that's why I look pretty good for a 60 year old ? (I can hear the gasps of surprise .... I'm not really, but I'm not a 30 something anymore either !)


Attempting the rolling log of death ... and without the aid of a safety net ...


Can I go to the toilet pleeeeeeasssssssse ?


On the wobble board. Just look at that cellulite melting away. I was actually riding out the last furlong at Newbury :)


The kiddiwinkles having fun on the static tractor. They'd play all day on this. You can't really see it clearly but both Boo & her little girlfriend have facial injuries. Boo's friend fell off the sofa and managed to put her teeth through her bottom lip and friction burn her nose.


Toward the end of the afternoon, just chillin on the picnic rug. Sun shining, wind had dropped (I knew I shouldn't have had a whole tin of beans for brekkie. This Slimming World diet is a quite generous). Nearly ready to go home, we have all run out of puff.


The little man is off, he's had enough. Time for a nap. So, it's goodnight from him ...

And it's goodnight from me ...

Bring me sunshine. A lovely, lovely day had by all xxx

I believe in Guardian Angels

Today was a funny old day. Some positive things have happened but a really scary thing happened too. And that is where my belief in Guardian Angels come in.

What started off as a lovely jaunt through the woods at 'The Lookout' in the sunshine ended with a battered, cut and bruised Boo. She has been riding her bike for a while now but within the safety of our garden so if she fell off it wasn't the end of the world. But today, she experienced the more dangerous side of riding your bike.

Bless her she was so excited about taking her bike to the woods with friends and all was going well until she found herself whizzing down a slope. It was so deceiving, we didn't realise it was so steep until it was too late. I was screaming 'Break Tilly, break sweetheart'.
The bike started wobbling, Tilly's legs were swaying about because they'd come off the peddles and I could tell she was desperately trying to not fall off.

But it happened ... all in slow motion. It was horrible, really horrible, really, really horrible. I thought that was it, she'll have no skin left on her face or arms. Myself and my two lovely friends sprinted down to the bottom of the slope (not that easy with a pair of Fit Flops on) and I wanted to scoop her up straight away but my friend said not to, we had to make sure she hadn't broken anything.
She was screaming and I was terrified to look at her for fear of what injuries she'd have. As it was, although she had a really nasty cut on her chin, a badly bruised and grazed elbow, a big graze across her tummy, a bloodied thumb and little finger and a pedal indent in her leg - she was OK.
How on earth could that be ? I hate to think of the speed she reached. I really expected her to have a broken arm and terrible grazing and cuts on her face as she fell face first. Perhaps even a tooth missing.

But no. I really do believe someone was protecting her. Looking after her. Damage limitation. Those angel wings are big buggers, big enough to wrap around a child.

I carried her back to the main area to find the first aid staff and she was soooooooo brave. We got her cleaned up and everything seemed a lot better after a Mr. Man ice-cream. She's tucked up in bed, fast asleep, and I'm sure she'll be very sore and stiff tomorrow so we'll have a very quiet day.

Bless my Boo and bless her Guardian Angel xxxxx


Just to brighten up this post, here's a couple more key fobs. Funky, dunky cars.

Night, night all ....

Sunshine And Neddies ...

Boo & I

Off we toddled to Newbury Racecourse today for their Spring Trials Day. The weather was relatively kind, a tad windy and chilly at times but when the sun came out it was really lovely.
The meeting was well attended and had more of an atmosphere than it has done in recent years.

I've been going racing at Newbury for over 30 years and have seen many changes, some good some bad i.e. the monstrosity that is the new'ish Grandstand building. It's OK from the front but looks like a prison from the back. All grey and horrid mesh stuff, Ugh !

Maybe nostalgia plays a part but I hate it when old institutions become overly commercial and faceless. Maybe I'm turning into a Grumpy Old Woman. But to me it doesn't take much to make a place look & feel welcoming and homely. A few plants and flowers, a bit o music, some children's entertainment etc.
Newbury has won the ROA - Racehorse Owners Association Racecourse of the Year award quite a few times but it's not only the owners the matter !


Here they come....
Look at that lush green turf. When I die I've asked Mr Boo to have me cremated, funnel me into a freezer bag, stuff me in his trouser pocket (I shall like that bit), pierce a little hole in the bottom of the bag and then walk the final furlong shaking me out of the bottom of his trouser leg.
That way I won't miss any racing, even when I'm dead. Genius eh ?


Boo with 'Auntie' Anne.


The bouncy castle was a big draw for Boo and it did have it's uses in that it warmed her up. The course photographer was taking loads of photo's of her so maybe she'll appear in some promotional blurb.


I haven't a clue what the clowns name was but boy did he tell some bad jokes. Funny, but bad ! He was ace at making balloon hats and balloon dogs though. He was wearing stilts whilst riding a funny sort of scooter bike. He was reeeeaaaaaaaaallly tall and rather scared Boo but then she is a huge wuss when it comes to clowns.

I lovely afternoon out. Beautiful horses, a nice cuppa, Boo had fun AND we saw Queenie. I'm not sure why she was there but there were lots of big scary baldy security men standing around with those curly ear pieces in - I thought I was on the set of 'The Bodyguard' for a moment.
The Queen looked lovely, she was wearing a really smart grey outfit, really quite groovy actually.

I feel like I've been in the wind, my face feels all tight like when you've been in the sun. I haven't checked the old face freckles yet but I can feel them popping out I'm sure !

A lesson learnt ...

Hmm .... that's what happened last night to me. Picture the scene. There I was, sat quite happily doing a bit of sewing, puppy dog at my feet asleep, humming away to the radio (that was me not the dog!) Wrong ! Oh soooooo wrong. Asleep ? NOT ...


How d'you like these new key fobs ? Quite pretty I thought. I'm preparing stuff for Winchester Handm@de on July 5th (another plug) and thought I was doing OK and on track.
Until ....

I heard what can only be described as a sort of sucking and slurping noise. I looked down to see No Archie. I called out to Mr Boo
"Is Archie in there with you ?"
"Yes"
(Does he double up as a stealth pilot ? I didn't even hear him get up let alone drag the key fobs out of the bag they were in)

"What's he eating, I can hear him noshing on something"

I wasn't too concerned at this point as he likes to have a chew on his snuggles and thought it was that to which the noshing sound could be attributed to.

"Oh Archie. What are you doing ? You'd better come take a look"
Me ...
"You little shit"

Now, I don't normally swear at my puppy dog, I love him to bits, he's my little man. But, I draw the line at this ...



Yep, that's correct. Two of my new key fobs chewed to bits. Did he look guilty ? Not in the slightest. He's normally really good, doesn't really chew things he shouldn't do but he does like the bin in my workroom and often drags out scrap bits of fabric and thread. His sister on the other hand has chewed a child's new sandal, an adults trainer, her duvet bedding and a phone charger to date.

And looky at this, does young Archibald look in the slightest bit guilty ?


Absolutely not. Yum ! Yum !
I'll certainly be keeping my work well out of reach from now on.

'Door Key Fob'

Handm@de Winchester will soon be here, July 5th to be exact, and I've been busy making stock for it. Before I know it the show will be tomorrow and I'll be completely unprepared so before the panic sets in I want to know that all is well at 23Beechhill.

While sat at my kitchen table I was having a think (I know it doesn't happen very often) and I happened to hone in on my poor old back door key fob. Gosh, how sad is it ? Too sad to show you on here. I think it's a cat or maybe it's some other animal. Whatever it is it's in a sorry old state. I thought to myself "I really must sort that out and make a replacement".

Small things seem to go down well at the shows so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and make some key fobs for the show as well as a replacement to brighten up our back door.

'Tree Key Fob'

I've used a mixture of free motion stitchery, and hand embroidery. The twine on the tree key fobs gives a more rustic feel.
Being inexpensive, quirky and not to mention practical, I'm hoping they'll be popular.
We have keys for the back door, garage door and the shed door and I think they make a nice alternative to those metal sort.

I don't know about you but I keep all my bits and bobs all over the place. They might all be in the same room but I've got tins, boxes, bags ... all stuffed full of ribbons, buttons, bits of bondaweb, felt and threads. This little beauty was given to me by a friend. It belonged to an elderly lady who now lives in a care home and didn't have room for it.
Isn't it lovely. Look at those pull'y out'y drawers. How much can I stuff in there ?

Loads and loads and loads and loads ... is the answer



It came complete with a selection of old threads and pins, some of which I'll be able to use.
I'm not sure how old it is but it does have 'Foreign' printed on the bottom :) Wherever it came from and however old it is, it's a lovely box and I'll be putting it to good use.

Is it just me or ...

Personalised Door/ Wall Hanging

Is everyone's Hayfever really bad at the moment. Tree pollen is my trigger at this time of year and it's been bloody awful ! I feel like a wheezy old wheezy thing. Mornings and evenings are the worst time when the pollen is rising and then falling.
I did do the dusting today which aggravated to old schnozzle but that serves me right for not dusting too often ...
Anyhoo, I've been in a right old making mood lately so I'm trying to make the most of it. Having to avoid all the floaty stuff outside does have it's benefits.

The textile wall/ door hanging above is for Mr Boo's friend who has just had her first child, baby Fred. I wanted to give baby Fred something a bit more special than the obligatory romper suit (don't you just love that term ?).
Daddy Fred loves his football and they have a dog too so I wanted to incorporate both the family 'loves' into the design.

This time of year is great for the garden as the milder days and rain encourage all the new growth. My garden tends to come alive around now and I love to wander aound to see what is springing up.
I really love my Bottom Border (I like these words too ...) it was just a load of dried up scrabby mud when we moved in 5 years ago and it's taken a while to nurture it. I've still got gaps to fill in but it looks OK. We have Periwinkles, Wild Primroses, Hebe's, Campanula, Helleborus, my beautiful David Austin Geoff Hamilton roses, Ceanothus, Nandina, Hydrangea, Pieris, Sarcococca to name a few.
I'd rather see plants stuffed in here and there and not in any regimented order. Higgledy Piggledy is the game in my book.
A friend of ours lives in the house over the fence and I always introduce her as our friend who lives at the bottom of our garden. The shadows created on her roof by the ancient Oak Trees always intrigue me and they make a really attractive feature. An arborist reckons the tree is about 300 years old and is the 'Mother' tree of all the other Oaks around us. She's been a busy girl over the centuries.


Boo's Grandparents bought her this 'Horsey' swing for her birthday. What a clever concept ... made completely from one old tyre. She could do with a bit of a groom mind, look at the ropey old mane. Get it ? Ropey .... Ha! Ha!

Boo & Archie sat in the boot of my car

To finish off our Easter weekend we took Boo (I dragged myself through the fog of pollen) to The Vyne National Trust to enjoy the Cadbury Easter Egg hunt that they lay on each year. Blimey, I'm on a roll tonight. 'Lay', get it ? I'm on fire ...
Where was I ? Oh yes... Mr Boo & Boo went did the hunt whilst I took Archie for a walk and swim in the grounds as he's not allowed in the garden. He had a lovely time but he is rather stinky now. Eau De Wet Spaniel isn't the best fragrance.

Great Pals

We've had an Eggcellent Easter , Boo has been soooo Eggcited, mainly because of the amount of chocolate in the house. I expect the chocolate fairies will be coming out at night to help her get rid of it all.

Where's the flippin dog lead ?

These little fella's were just what the doctor ordered. They have been the reason why I've been enjoying spending time in my workroom again.
Archie, our Springer Spaniel has been the inspiration behind these 'Dog Lead' hangers as we leave his lead in all sorts of places and it drives me nuts whenever I go to find it. So, I thought 'Ah ha ... what if I had a specific place to hang it ? '
I've had some lovely feedback so far (unless people are just being very kind) but time will tell whether or not they'll be something people will buy. They are not only practical but add a bit of visual interest to a kitchen or hall wall or door knob I think ?
They have a D ring to clip a clippy lead to or if like me, you use a slip lead, you can loop it through.


I quite like this one, he looks quite American ..


For a boy dog maybe ?


Some yummy Amy Butler fabric ...


Our poor old cherry tree is still hanging on in there and has made quite a nice backdrop to the photo's. It's blossomed again this year but I'm not sure how many more years we'll get out of it. Still, the blossom is very pretty (even though my eyes and nose aren't too appreciative) so we'll continue to enjoy it as long as it wants to chuck out it's flowers.

Ooh look, more Amy Butler ...


And a bit more ...

I'm now thinking about my next WIP, a gift for a friends new born. His name is Fred so I've been doodling ideas.
Boo has been going to a theatre group during the mornings of the Easter Hols and is loving it. Parents are allowed to watch tomorrow as they have been practicing a performance of 'The Very Grumpy King'. Boo is one of the narrators so has a few lines to remember. Apparantly the kids are doing a little dance routine to Abba's 'Dancing Queen' so I have a feeling it'll be very, very entertaining.
I hope you are all enjoying the hols so far and that the weather has been kind. It's been lovely here this week but in typical British fashion, Good Friday is forecast to be wet, wet, wet. Great timing for Lambourn Open Day - Oh well, we got snowed on last year so rain is a slight improvement I guess.

Happy Birthday My Bootiful Boo ...

I'm a bad, bad mummy. My Boo was 5 last Thursday and I haven't blogged it until now. Still, it's been non-stop fun and frivolity since then so I don't feel too guilty. I just didn't have time to get on the old pooter and blog it.
My parents came up from Cornwall so things have been a tad hectic these past few days. All led to 'The Birthday Party' that we had yesterday for Boo. And, it was absolutely fantastic !!!!


Not a hint of a Disney Princess, no Pirates, Fairies or Soft Play (Agh .... my worst nightmare). Nope, we went for the healthy option and boy did the kids have fun. I scoured 'tinternet' for ideas and options but wanted something a little bit different this year which proved quite difficult. So, we finally decided upon a sports party at a local tennis club where Boo plays fun tennis at the weekend.
The kids played dodgeball, tennis, hockey and a game called messy bedroom. Messy bedroom was hilarious to watch. It consisted of two teams either side of the tennis net, a huge dustbin of tennis balls tipped over which the kids then had to throw over the nets into their opponents 'bedroom'. Such a simple concept ... but they loved it and didn't for one second think they could never win. Kept em occupied for ages.

Nanny & Gaggy (my parents). Mum's just had a hip replacement, hence the crutch. It's been pretty horrendous for both of them actually but things are improving thankfully.

Boo playing dodgeball, Ah, them rosy cheeks are coming ...


A break for lunch ... Do you think their smiles could be wider ?
I bought these lovely Primrose paper bags for their packed lunches from this fab online store, Jellyandblancmange.
A unique and pretty cheap alternative I thought and the kids loved them. They were heard to 'Ooh' and 'Aah' as they came into the party room because they didn't quite know what to expect inside them.
You can also buy little tags on strings to attach which you write each childs name on.

This is what I thought to be a cup of black tea ... Not so. Oh no.
It's actually a cup of Bitter Beer. One of the dads had brought his own refreshment. I didn't believe him until he said "Smell it".

Boo has a friend called Moo (that's not her real name, it's a bit of a nickname) and here they are playing football with some ever so slightly too big tabbards on. I love this picture, it shows they were having such a good time.


More munchies joining in. Lots of happy faces & tired feet ...


Happy Birthday My Bootiful Boo. What a brilliant time we've had, we've spent it with lots of lovely friends and family. A day to remember. Mwah ...... xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx