Enjoying sunshine on a bank holiday!!

Good morning

Shocking - firstly two posts in two days and then sunshine on a Bank Holiday in England!!

The boys and I hadn't planned to go far - domestic stuff needed doing and there was exam revision to do as well. However the gorgeous sunshine made us decide to have a barbecue. Once it was unearthed from the garage and all parts found - I went into town to buy supplies.

We spent the early part of the afternoon in the garden together - reading, surfing the net and revising;

I must confess I've never been in charge of a barbecue before but I decided it couldn't be hard after all most men can do it ;). Once it was lit - we waited to see if it would get hot enough to cook our food;

The sun moved round and so did we - I tried to snap the boys together but they sussed I was taking their photo;

I brought the boys both a tankard back from my weekend away - cider is the perfect partner with a barbecue;

It was lovely - food cooked to perfection - no swearing or muttering - no one even moaned about the insects trying to join us! I sat and watched the sun move round and shine behind the cherry tree;

Utterly blissful - here's hoping for some more perfect weather very soon.

Its lovely here again today so once my chores are done, I am catching the bus and going to see little sister and my gorgeous baby nephew :)

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

May Day

Good evening

Just a short post to wish you all a Happy May Day - the sun has been shining, the sky blue and its been quite warm too.

I've been checking our cherry tree every day when I open the curtains in Little Son's room - the blossom has been late - last year it was the middle of April when it started.

Well today May 1st this is what greeted me;

Blue skies and blossom - just gorgeous.

I missed an important milestone yesterday - it was my 500th post! Normally I'd do a giveaway at this point but things are still rather up in the air here - instead I promise one when I reach my 4th bloggy birthday in September.

Right I shall wish you all a Happy Bank Holiday weekend now - I am off to a Morris Festival in Kent (goggle Rochester Sweeps Festival) - if you are there look out for me - I'll be dancing in my purple and black glory along with the rest of the side. We're camping for a couple of nights and I'm rather looking forward to that - I've been hunting down my little tent and gear today.

The boys are having a weekend here with P - a rather fun lads day is planned for Saturday - just hoping they remember to take photos.

See you after the weekend.

xxx Vicki xxx

Springing to life :)

Good afternoon

Oh yes day 5 of spring here in Suffolk - no socks, washing drying on the line, windows open and sunlight streaming through the windows - blissful. Am ignoring the fact that tomorrow might be different instead I am enjoying now.

First thing this morning the garden was damp from overnight rain but I could see more signs of spring so went for a wander;

Oh yes no socks - just wonderful another few degrees warmer and I might have hunted down my sandals. Least I've been able to wear some long forgotten favourite skirts this week.

 Ladybirds are coming out of hibernation - I keep finding them on the washing when I bring it indoors - they always get put back outside, usually on one of the huge hebes in the front garden.

 Our cherry tree is always late to blossom - today the buds look so close to bursting - I am sure it won't be long :)

 The pear tree is slightly ahead - I noticed the first blossom flowers this morning.

Remember those colourful threads in a few posts ago? Well that project has now been finished - its needed for tonight and I finally finished just an hour ago! Once its been handed over I can show you it in its colourful gorgeousness - IG friends will already have had a sneak preview!!

Now you know I like to swim against the tide - well when it was cooler the other week we were having salad for dinner - tonight its warm so we're having a homemade curry - oh the smell - just wonderful!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall - 2012 the best bits

Good morning

Slowly returning to normal here - MrVV has gone back to work today and I'm off back to the CS this afternoon for a shift. However those boys of mine are still dead to the world for another half an hour then I shall be evil Mum and go and wake them!

Time for another coffee and a blogging session.

One last look at 2012 - pictures that you've probably seen before but represent the past 12 months rather well for me and my family;

 

Winter

January saw me finally being able to cycle again after that minor incident on the dance floor!

Birthday season started for my menfolk.

Heavy snow in February meant family fun

The first flowers appeared in the garden promising warmer days very soon.

Spring

March brought my favourite flowers and a birthday trip to Cambridge.

April saw the influx of chocolate eggs and fluffy chicks.

May brought the arrival of Bertie and a trip to a gorgeous river side pub to celebrate May Day.

Summer

June the Jubilee celebrations and an evening with Mumford and Sons

July - Big Son's Prom and the Olympic Flame coming through nearby towns and villages.

August - a trip to Yorkshire in Bertie and the most amazing sunsets and then a wonderfully wet but fun day at a folk festival with Bellowhead as the finale.

Autumn

September - Sir Bradley Wiggins and his friends cycled through our little town one sunny Sunday morning.

October - time to hunt fairy houses.

November - those men of mine were marching and remembering.

The last picture is also November - one final look back over my shoulder.

No December pics as they are all rather too recent.

Time now to look forward to 2013 - I forgot one major important event happening this year when I posted the other day!

In March sometime before my birthday, I'm going to be an Auntie again. My baby sister is expecting her first child - I am guessing I'll know when the big event starts to happen even before I'm told - when my other 2 sisters had their babies I came out with sympathy pains even though I'd no idea they were in hospital!

I must get cracking on with my crochet - there's a blanket partially made for this baby and another that's needed for a special birthday later in the Spring!!

Oh good news - a quick blog surf yesterday found news of a new Photo Scavenger Hunt for 2013 - I've really missed the ones Kathy used to host. This new one is hosted by Greenthumb @ Made with Love - should keep my eyes open at all times this year!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to you all.

Hope you've got some sunshine and whatever you are doing this weekend - enjoy.

 The corner of the dresser has taken on a Easter theme.

The long weekend has started with hot cross buns - whilst not the prettiest - they were very tasty;

 

There is cake;

There was a bowl of leftover mini-eggs;

However all that is left now are photos - they were too tempting to some;

Possibly the last daffs of the season - such a shame, they are so cheerful;

xxx Vicki xxx

Brass & Steam

Good afternoon

Happy April :)

Right so a 1/4 of 2012 has gone already - I really must stop blinking!!

Saturday saw the first brass engagement of the year for MrVV and Little Son. The re-opening after a winter rest of the museum in our little town. This is always the first event of the season for the band and one they look forward too. Uniforms are found from the back of cupboards, shoes polished and lips get limbered up for playing.

They play in one of the old factories - with the high ceilings the sound travels well and sounds great. A few years ago they recording a CD in here - a very cold February weekend that was.

Our little town's history is mainly based around Garretts and the factories. Many of the houses were built for the workers and managers at the factory. The museum tells the story of the Garretts factory but also other local events - the WWII airfield, the building of the Power Station at Sizewell and it also has a wonderful collection of old photos and postcards which I could happily spend hours looking at.

I braved the staircase so I could get above the band to take photos - MrVV had asked for some for the band website and blog page. Getting up there was easy - getting down again less so - I'm still not great at stairs and lots of holding on tight was needed (the staircase is very steep).

 The upper gallery - much of the building remains as it did when the factory was running. 

 The outside - I've said before that my Grandad (who once worked here) made the letters on the building.

As well as the band, of course there were steam engines. It gives the museum a chance to show their engines off - I am sure if you've ever been to a steam event in Suffolk/Norfolk you will have seen an engine from the Long Shop or one made by Garretts.

After the band had finished playing, they did what many workers who left the factory did 100 years ago - they headed to the pub across the road!!

This weekend saw the first sighting of something that's quite rare around here - the lesser spotted grass cutting husband - amazingly (1) we were able to get petrol for the lawnmower and (2) it started first time without the need for a hit or two with a hammer!!

Lastly for today, I'll leave you with my list of things to look forward to in April - perhaps having seen the forecast the sunny days might not happen this week but come back again soon (though today is lovely);

Day 1 of the school hols - so far so good. Both boys up by 10.30! One has even managed to make arrangements to see friends today - wonders will never cease!!

xxx Vicki xxx

Officially Spring

Good Afternoon

Hurrah its officially spring - the weather has taken notice and its gorgeous out there today. Washing is drying easily and I've a vain hope that the bottom of the laundry bin may actually be found - a very rare sight.

The flowers from the weekend are still looking pretty - sorry here comes another daff pic - they are my favourites;

I keep checking the cherry tree each day - I am waiting for the first blossom buds to burst open;

I seem to have spent lots of time this week wrapping parcels and delivering them to the Post Office - firstly my Vintage Easter parcel left yesterday and today I finally posted my PIF parcels to my 3 ladies - hopefully they'll all be at their new homes soon.

Here's just a little tease for the PIF ladies;

3 colours of parcel - one colour for each lady ;)

The postie has even brought me a few parcels this week - I turn another year older on Thursday and there are a couple of pressies here already from long distance friends - lots of poking and prodding going on!!

Right - I've a sewing project to start - just need to make a pattern for it first!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Singing in the rain

Good evening

According to the local evening news, we've had more rain here in Suffolk in the past 24 hours than the whole of 2012 so far! I think lots of that fell today when the boys were walking home from school - they dripped into the house and were not happy. Fortunately hot chocolate and cookies were on hand to help cheer them up.

The past two days have been indoor ones - I've got caught up with domestic stuff, made good progress on makes for my PIF (yes ladies, I've not forgotten you), made a couple of pressies for S&B group friends birthdays and watched the rugby yesterday afternoon.

I am glad to say when I went into town on Saturday the shops had replenished their stocks of daffodils - this morning they had opened fully and looked lovely - a splash of colour on a dull day;

Whilst I think about it - don't forget the Monthly Makes Challenge organised by Annie - theres a Flickr group for each month - the March one is here. 

 I am MissMarch so at the end of the month I'll do a post highlighting just some of the makes that have been submitted :)

Why not join in - it can be one item or many, perhaps a long WIP thats been hiding in a cupboard.

Right off now for a wander around blogland and then some more WIP to finish!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

A pinch and a punch on the 1st of the month

And a poke in the eye for being so sly!!

Happy St Davids Day to my Welsh readers.

I went looking in town this morning for a bunch or two of daffs to add some spring brightness to the kitchen - sadly it seems everyone had the same idea and there were none left. 

Instead I had to settle for some almost opened ones in the garden for today's picture;

The sun eventually made it through the mist this morning, so the windows are now open, washing on the line and its time to domestic goddess a bathroom or two!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Hints of Spring

Good evening

What a glorious day we've had here in Suffolk - sunshine, blue skies and warmth! Windows have been thrown open and its been lovely hearing all the birds singing and the dull roar of an early lawnmower!

Its was no good - I couldn't resist - time to take some photos;

 Primroses ( a treat for me), crocuses, ladybirds enjoying the warmth and daffs that will soon burst into colour.

Washing drying in the sunshine, buds waiting to burst into blossom on the cherry tree, another ladybird sunning itself on the buddleia and catkins on one of the silver birch trees.

Just lovely - warm enough not to need a proper coat - I'm sure it won't last too many days, however its nice to get a reminder of whats just around the corner.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Celebrations

Good evening

No not the chocolate sort but April celebrations. So many things happening in one month;

Easter - which means we need an Easter tree;

A mix of branches from the garden - cherry, silver birch, hawthorn and a stray shoot from my pear tree.

St Georges Day - all 3 menfolk took part in parades today - had to be this weekend as the churches are busy with something else next weekend!! Big son finally got enrolled as an Explorer on Friday night (seemed to involve hanging upside down from a climbing frame!!) St George is the Patron Saint of Scouts - so all scout/cubs/beavers/explorers are asked to re-do their promise each year.

THAT Wedding - the shelves looked so bare - they've had cards hanging on them since December so it seemed the best place to hang my red,white & blue bunting;

I think I'll look out for some other suitable bits to display this week - I know I've some UJ paperchains somewhere in the house!!

Friendship - one of my best friends from my teenage years is coming to visit tomorrow. We lost touch for 20 years but thanks to the magic of facebook we've got in contact again and she's coming with her children for coffee tomorrow morning - so I thought we'd need cakes!!



Spring time - the cherry has now fully bloomed - earlier than last year.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Who needs to be abroad??

When we have weather like today??

Its gorgeous here in Suffolk - blue cloudless skies and oh so warm.

My arms have been exposed to the sunshine for the first time this year and my sandals have been hunted out from the back of the wardrobe and dusted down;

The cherry tree in the front garden has burst into blossom flower too - we never get the cherries though - the wildlife get there first;

Best of all - little son comes home later - not sure he'll recognise his room - you can see the carpet and the dust bunnies have all gone too. It all smells clean and fresh - I guess he won't even notice!!

The week has ended well - letters from both boys schools, after the hols - big son has been picked for a sport development day @ school with the England badminton coaches and little son is off to represent his school in a chemistry competition @ the UEA in Norwich. One proud Mummy here.

Have a lovely weekend - hope the sun shines and the car boot sales are bursting with bargains.

The Easter hols start in just 2 hours time :)

xxx Vicki xxx

Springy Wednesday

Good morning

Coffee breaktime - so time for a quick blog !

Just to let you know the 2 ladybird books have been offered new homes and they are in my posting pile for later - along with a birthday swap parcel for someone who has a birthday this weekend ;)

What a lovely morning its turning out to be - the sun is winning which is good news for my ever growing washing heap.

Whilst taking load two out, I noticed that my little pear tree has burst into flower;

Hoping that this year it might produce more than 2 pears!!

I was adding photos to my various folders earlier and found a couple on the camera that I meant to add to a blog post last week - really my memory is getting pretty bad.

I made this button picture for my Mum for Mothering Sunday - have seen similar ones online for silly money;

She was thrilled with it - all her favourite colours in there.

I took another batch of teacup pincushions to the shop at the beginning of last week - I know some of them sold over the weekend ;

Right back to housework I go.

Have a good day - hope you've all got some sunshine.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx