July Happy Things

Beautiful frilly pink Roses

A pinhole paper camera - can't wait to see the photographs 

Lashings and lashings of homemade Lemonade 

Genius Street Art 

Fragrant sweet Tomatoes

My Sisters Graduation

Lincoln

Our first Matryoshka Russian dolls - yes I know it's early for Christmas things!

Our second set - my choice 

Then our third - the Boys choice

Macaroons

New Fabric

Sweet Williams

Weekending

We've had a rather delightful weekend. It started on Friday night with the Olympic Opening Ceremony. We were invited to a friends house and asked to dress as a Country - above is just a snapshot of the outfits. There was a Barbecue, some drinkies and we watched the ceremony in the outdoor cinema in their garden. There was lots and lots of puddings - almost everyone brought one! We took two homemade Pavlovas - a Summer Berry and Raspberry and Passion Fruit. I enjoyed every moment of the ceremony - it really was quite spectacular. 

On Saturday, we headed to North Norfolk to the Langham Street Fayre. It really is one of my favourite Norfolk events. I love the all the stalls, the food, the entertainment and the atmosphere.

Our first port of call was Yvonne Law's stall who hand casts pewter jewellery and ornaments that are inspired by the flora and fauna of North Norfolk. I love love love her work. We bought two pieces at the last  Fayre in Langham and I was itching to add to our collection.

Outside the Church was the stall of Sea 2 Sea who creates handmade decorative driftwood items. Eventually after a long debate, we settled on a Whale and I love him already!

This stall made me smile - I've never seen so much Licorice!

This guy made us smile too...

We then settle opposite The Bluebell pub and enjoyed the Sea Shanties of The Wild Rovers. I could have listened to them all day. Here's a little clip...

On the way home we stopped at the Norwich Makers Market and purchased some Macaroons - they were absolutely delicious, especially the Lime one! Such pretty colours.

Today, Sunday saw a stay at home day. A new Crochet project was started - a Baby Blanket for a friend whose little one is due in just five weeks - I must get on with this blanket and crochet quick!

There was also a little baking - Chocolate and Hazelnut Cupcakes from The Hummingbird Bakery book. Dang, these Cupcakes are amazing, completely yummy!

My Sister then came home and had bought us some more Macaroons! Two lots of Macaroons in a weekend - absolutely heavenly!

A very special day

We recently had a rather special day in our household - my Sister graduated and it was a lovely day. The weather was kind and we got lots and lots of lovely photos of her and her friends. She is now officially has a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and my little baby Sister can now teach little ones. We had a super day and after all the shenanigans up at UEA, including arriving there at 7.30am (Seriously UEA?!), we had afternoon naps and then out for dinner with her closest friends from the course and their families. We went to Rare which was amazing and rounded off the day perfectly. I'm so proud of this little lady and all that she has achieved in the last year, especially her resilience as our Father passed away last year, just a few months into her course. He was a Teacher and this really spurred her on to make him proud and boy I reckon she has.

The joys of summer

Bestill my heart for the weather is warm and we can venture out for a swim after work until the sun sets.

The Lodge

As I mentioned in my last blog post, we've been away again. This time a little closer to home, just over the border to Lincolnshire and also with our four best friends. We had booked the holiday to celebrate our friends 30th birthday - it was a surprise and she had no idea so it was all quite exciting! She had pretty much thought we had forgotten her Birthday. However, it became a double celebration as her Boyfriend proposed on her Birthday! I'm so pleased for them both. So we had a lot to celebrate!

Our destination was near Louth, Kenwick Park where there are the most beautiful Scandinavian style Lodges in beautiful woodland. It was so very peaceful and lovely to hear so many birds chirping away. When we got there we decorated the Lodge with lots of Balloons (I don't think my friends were that impressed with me asking them to blow up 150 of them!), photos of the birthday girl and banners. We also cut out lots and lots of paper hearts to decorate the walls of the love birds room to make it a little special for them. We then waited for them to arrive - boy did she get a surprise when we all jumped out at her! It was such a lovely first evening in the Lodge, lots of Mexican food, presents and laughing.

The aim of this break was relaxation and resting. They have a lovely pool with a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi in which we spent many many hours. We pretty much went twice a day. It was never over busy whilst we were there so often we had the whole place to ourselves which felt rather decadent.

We also indulged in a few treatments between us from facials to manicures. Now, I've never been into this sort of thing, it's just something I've never contemplated doing - so I kept it simple with a Scandinavian Back, Neck and Shoulder massage. It did make me giggle - maybe I'm a little too ticklish, but afterwards I felt like a new woman! Methinks massages will be something I do quite a bit in my future!

Aside from lots of pool time and treatments we also spent quite a bit of time at the Lodge playing Badminton,  Boules, Cards or a Board game - it was really nice just to stop and do some simple things. We also spent a lot of time on the Veranda just chatting, giggling and drinking lots and lots of tea.

There was also quite a bit of eating! We went for two meals at the hotel on the site. We had a three course Sunday lunch which was delicious and then went for their steak night too. It was all completely delicious. Each meal we had at the Lodge were equally as lovely - we mostly had picnic teas where Cheeses, Meats, Breads and Salads were put on the table and we all dug in. I think we had about 10 different cheese which for a Cheddar only kinda girl, pushed me, but I did try most of them except for the Blue Cheeses - that was just a step too far! I have found that I do like Camembert on Sour Dough with Cranberry - 'tis yummy!

We did venture outside of Kenwick, but I'll keep these trips for another post. It really was the most relaxing break I've ever had. It was so nice to be away with our closest friends and take the time to celebrate two most momentous occasions.

Away Again

We've been fortunate to go away again, this time with our friends. It's been amazing and completely relaxing.

Photographs and Fabric

I always try and make the people I love at least one handmade gift for their Birthday and Christmas. It's just one of my things. So today is my Best Friends 30th Birthday. I've known her nearly a decade and she just makes my life better. So her gifts this year had to be special. I bought her some bits from Folksy including a lovely Sea Glass Necklace from a lovely seller called Sea Glass Sparkles. But I neeeeeeded to make her something.

Give me some Fabric, Dylon Image Maker and an Embroidery Hoop and I'm away! 

I chose a photograph that I had taken at Caister here in Norfolk a few years ago of her and her Mr Man. I did think about stretching it onto a canvas, but in the end I went with the Hoop. It took an age to rub away the paper but I'm really pleased with the finished item - I like the distressed look to the image. Hmmm, I might just have to make some for my home!

The Waffle House

The other night we went to the Waffle House on St Giles with my Sister and her Partner. We went to celebrate her completing and passing her PGCE with no less than an outstanding Ofsted grade. I'm so proud of her. I'm glad that she choose the Waffle House as the food there is amazing.

First up was the Savoury Waffles - I had Ham, Mushrooms and Cheese Sauce on a Wholemeal Waffle, my Husband had one of their specials of Sausage, Bacon and Salad in a Balsamic dressing and the other two had the Bolognese.

Realistically though, our main reason for going are the deserts. Two Banoffee Waffles and two Chocolate Mouse Waffles. These are the things of dreams...