Favourite photo's

We have found some photographs on a memory card that we hadn't uploaded yet - here are some of the good ones!

Anya opening presents Christmas 2008

A mummy cuddle after a great performance in the Christmas play 2008.

Being so excited to see us! (in the back to the right of the angel)

In Disneyland Paris December 2008

And me (being terrified of water!) standing next to the very disappointing Desoto Falls in the US.

Incline Railway

We went on the Incline Railway in Chattanooga while we were in the US - it got much steeper than this!

It was quite comfortable.

And a long way up!

But the view from the top was well worth it!

New Glasses

These are the glasses I have at the moment - nice, but they are too big physically for my head and keep slipping down my nose!

So while we were in America I bought some new ones. There were lots of them at the Unclaimed Baggage Centre as strangely enough, not too many people label their actual glasses. First up these Nautica ones which are an unusual shape for me but I think they look ok.

Next up are these Ray Ban ones which I wasn't sure if they were too dark for me but Matt assures me that they aren't.

And these red frames were only $3 (and will cost about £12 to be re-glazed) so I couldn't resist them as something a bit different!

And as my sunglasses at the moment are way too small and let sunlight in all around the edge, I decided to get some huge ones. I think these ones are big enough!!

It worked out about the same price to buy these frames in the US and bring them back here to get them re-glazed than it would be for me to buy a decent pair of glasses here! Do let me know which ones you like :)

Skipton Castle

On Thursday we went to Skipton to have a picnic in Bumble and to visit the castle.

I'd just said wibbly bottoms to the girls here to make them laugh as they were being grumpy!

We looked at some fireplaces

We spent time looking and exploring.

We went walking

And running

And dancing!

And bowing of course!

And after all that we needed a lollipop to give us energy!

Ruby Tuesdays

While we were in America we visited Ruby Tuesdays (warning - music if you click on the link) a couple of times as the food there was delicious!

The fruit tea was delicious and had free refills!

These are avocado Quesedillas - yum

These Southwestern spring rolls were also delicious.

As was, according to Matt, the steak and lobster.

And so was the Chicken Bella although the cheesy mash it came with was a bit too much after a while.

Apologies for the slightly dodgy photographs - they were taken with Matt's mobile with little natural light!

Treasury

I am in a treasury - whoo hooo!!

I love the title DO NOT EAT! Good advice as I really don't think that paisley Cheeky Chicken would want to be eaten!

Number 6

When we were little my dad made a shed play den for me and my sister that we absolutely loved called Number 6 - he even put a number up on the door for us! In anticipation of the girls coming to stay while we were in the US, he cleared out one of his sheds and turned it into a Number 6 for them :)

Extra points from me for salvaging all of the furniture :) Good recycling/reusing Dad!

Mum made the curtains with fabric given to her by a friend

And Anya added a touch of decoration with this picture of a rainbow dragon with its rainbow egg sitting in its nest.

Mum and Dad also found the prams that me and Sarah used to play with when we were little - mine was the blue one. The dolls were also there too :)

I loved my Tiny Tears doll and now so does Anya!

Giveaway winner!

Sorry for the delay - I have been out in the garden in the rain doing some weeding!


The number was 28 which is the lovely Twiggypeasticks!! Congratulations Twiggy :) I will contact you soon to see which colour chicken you would like.

Update on the number of churches!

As I know some of you are dying to know :) We saw a grand total of 298 churches (we were hoping to reach the magic 300 but didn't) which when averaged out over the mileage we did makes a church every 2 miles or so! And to say that we did the last 80 miles or so on the motorway then that is an astonishing amount of churches!

Back tomorrow with details on who won the giveaway - you still have time to enter as I will draw the giveaway at midday (GMT) on Wednesday 29th July :)

Creative at the airport

Having 6 hours at the airport while you wait for your flight isn't often seen as being creative but when a chance remark is overheard and it sparks something in your head then it can be, especially if you have your ideas book with you!

This is my ideas book - a posh Paperchase notebook bought from a jumble sale for 30p and decorated by me :) Can you spot the chickens?? Also note my white vintage cherry dress in the bottom right - the perfect dress for traveling in.

This is an idea for a card

As you may be able to tell I am not much of a draw-er (drawer? sketcher?) I can't draw to save my life - that arrow thing on the bottom photograph - the Eiffel Tower! What do you mean you couldn't tell!! I'm much more of a bad and (very) quick sketcher with lots of scruffy notes detailing what I want to appear in the work.

Often there are no pictures - just words.

Our flight back to the UK leaves in the next couple of hours so I am going to entertain myself with writing down some more ideas and maybe trying to perfect that picture of the Eiffel Tower :)