Happy Birthday to me :) Oh no 40!

Oh yes that day has finally arrived - the day life is supposed to begin! Wonder what I've been doing for the past 40 years then?

40 years ago - a little Vicki eventually was dragged kicking & screaming into the world. Delivered by Major something or other at the British Military Hospital in Berlin (Dad was in the RAF).  The first child for 2 people who really didn't look old enough to be parents & fully admit to holding me in one arm & the baby book in the other!!

As its such an important birthday, celebrations have been strung out all weekend and some more are happening later today (more on that next time).

Saturday was party day and my family arrived to help me celebrate in style - proper party food & pass the parcel (complete with original vintage FisherPrice record player - well we always used this at parties when I was small).  My parents bought me a proper cake - though we opted not to put 40 candles on there!!

I was thoroughly spoilt - lots of lovely pressies (which I was allowed to open :) ) - craft things, CK breakfast set, some things for my dolls house, lots of things with russian dolls on and some money :)  My little niece who is 6 made me these flowers & decorated the jar vase too;

Sunday we went out for a roast dinner and afterwards we headed off for an ice-cream pudding in Southwold;

Off out to lunch again today - just me & MrVV this time. More pressies to open and the menfolk apparently have made me another cake!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Sunny Friday :)

Good afternoon

How has your week been?  Its been a lovely sunny week here in Suffolk - proper springlike.

Washing has been hung outside and come in a few hours later, dry and with that wonderful linedried smell :)

The sunny weather has made everyone happy - MrVV hasn't felt cold in his office all week and the boys have been happy as they've not needed coats for school.

We've a busy weekend planned here in the VV household - a birthday party for me tomorrow, lunch out & a trip to Southwold on Sunday and then my actual birthday on Monday (and another lunch out).

Today I've been baking towards the party tomorrow - one of my little nieces asked last weekend if there would be pretty cakes at the party? So of course I've obliged;

Lemon cupcakes with lemon icing topped with a mini-egg (well its almost Easter).

When I was out with Country Girl for afternoon tea in the week, these vintage inspired postcards jumped out at me & at just 25p each it would have been madness not to get a whole set. They remind me of sunny, summer days spent at the beach;

Here's hoping you all have a good weekend and we all get some more sunshine.

See you next week

PS - Don't forget to enter my giveaway ;)

xxx Vicki xxx

***Giveaway Time - 100th post :) ****

Well who'd have thought it - my blog is now 100 posts old :)

Can't believe I've arrived at this significant number nor that so many wonderful people read it & comment on it. Thankyou to each and every one of you.

I love blogging - both taking the pictures, writing the posts and of course reading all your blogs & the insights into your lives & families :)

As is tradition in blogging, I'm having a giveaway :)

This dolly who the boys have nicknamed Amy is looking for a new home :)

Along with her in the parcel will be;

A selection of things that are very Vicki - there may be more depends whatelse I find in the next week or so.

The rules? - there aren't many. Just leave a comment on this post by Monday 5th April and your name will be put into the hat/bag/bowl/bucket.  One tiny rule -you must have a blog to enter - just makes it easier for me.  If you want to you can pinch the pic of Amy & put it into your sidebar - spread the word far & wide :)

Good luck

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Spring has sprung :)

and brought lots of colour with it :)

Crocuses have flowered and look gorgeous

The sky has been mainly this colour :)

My spring coat has been brought out and a Bobo Bun crocheted flower added :)

The conservatory has been spring cleaned & the table given a new oilcloth top.

Pretty buttons bought - like I need an excuse ;)

Even my blanket has grown!! Now 36 squares big :)

Last but not least - this is my 99th post - here's a clue for next time - someone will be looking

for a new loving home ;)

Must be the season for giveaways - make sure you check out my sidebar as I'm trying to list ones I've signed up for - I'd hate you all to miss out on some lovely things :)

BTW - Happy Birthday to my friend Country Girl - was good to meet up for tea this afternoon :)

xxx Vicki xxx

A Weekend of muchness :)

Thankyou ladies for all the comments about my last post - reading back I do sound grumpy don't I - oops!

Amazing what a trip to the hairdressers can do for a persons wellbeing - a cut & a colour later and I felt much more like a normal Vicki (whatever normal is ;) ).

Yesterday I went to see my Mum and take her card & pressies - as there are so many of us we tend to break our Mothers Days visits up as otherwise it gets rather overwelming!!  Mum loved her card & pressies :) and no sooner had she opened those when another sister arrived along with my little niece & nephew.

They had a great time exploring the cupboard where the toys are kept - I hadn't realised what a collection of vintage toys were still at my parents - Fisher Price & original fuzzy felts - was great to see them played with by a young ones more used to Nintendo and modern plastic stuff.

Whilst I was out MrVV & little son built my dolls house :) ;

Just needs the paintwork touching up, then decorating & furnishing - think this is very much a long term project.

Today as we all know was Mothering Sunday - and true to their word I've had a day off :)  Meaning the menfolk have cooked, washed up and looked after me.  Big son was given the job of pudding (Apple Crumble) for tonights dinner - how he managed to break my peeler I'll never know - have nicknamed him Hulk for the moment ;).  MrVV took the boys out yesterday so they could buy cards & pressies;

Lastly with all my spare time today, I've just about finished my colour swap things (MadMum I shall email you this week) and have also made something as part of a giveaway (more on that another day).

See you later in the week - I must get myself organised with my photo taking - have things I want to show you :)

xxxx Vicki xxxx

An odd week

Has been a very strange week - started with such high hopes & plans but just seemed my get up and go, got up and went.  The weather hasn't helped - been cold & grey for most of the week with the odd glimmer of something  sunnier but often only for a few fleeting moments :(

Apparently its all down to my age - big birthday soon.  Caught part of Grumpy Old Women on Monday night and the signs of ageing include - talking about the weather (tick), knitting (tick) and wearing glasses (tick).

Hoping this weekend things pick up and my GUAG returns.

In one brief spurt of crafting, I made a card for my Mum for Sunday (Mothering Sunday here in the UK);

Have also made her a brooch;

and if they survive there's also a box of her favourite chocolates. 

Even the charity shops this week haven't turned up much excited - infact my only purchase this week was this pretty little posy - I've seen these so often on other blogs. This one was hidden away in a dusty corner and was only 50p;

Lastly on Wednesday I headed as normal to S&B group.  As a break from knitting I've been having a few lessons in dressmaking.  Last week we made patterns for a skirt - mine needed a lot of altering - not sure how my measuring partner came up with those numbers - they were a long way out and I could have fitted a friend in there! Anyhow this week we made the necessary adjustments and once it was sewn together my calico mockup fitted perfectly. Just need to fine some summery skirt fabric soon and remember how to put zips in.

A couple of my sisters come to the group - one of them brought me a bag of goodies. A gorgeous woollen dress (a CS bargain complete with tags) which replaces one I've worn to death and a selection of Ladybird books;

Off to the hairdressers today - need a full de-yetifying and also my grey highlights need covering up.

Here's hoping the weekend brings better things - menfolk have promised to cook on Sunday and also to build my dolls house so I can get on with the serious business of decorating it.  Hopefully whilst thats all happening I can find my mojo, get my colour-swap parcel finished and start something I want to make for a giveaway thats being planned ;)

Until next time

xxxx Vicki xxxx

More flowers & an escape from Suffolk!!

How was your weekend?

If you looked out of the window here in Suffolk at the weekend you'd have been convinced it was a summers day - blue skies & sunshine.  However stepping outside you soon realised that it is still rather wintery.  The best option was to find somewhere where you could see the outside but not actually be in it unless you were wrapped up well.

Saturday morning I wrapped up warm and headed into town - primarily to buy things I'd forgotten to get when I went to the supermarket on Thursday!! As I was by myself I nipped into the CS's to see if anything caught my eye.  One item did - this pretty flower paperweight - ideal for stopping my pattern pieces disappearing off my sewing table;

I did spend some time in the garden with MrVV - mainly pruning stuff back - not my favourite part.  When eventually it was too cold I came back indoors and headed for my sewing room.  I've been meaning to make myself a pincushion for ages as its so much easier to get pins from one of those than from a tin when you are in the middle of something.  It needed a base and I found one of my recent CS finds was the perfect answer;

Sunday  dawned bright and sunny - it would have been an ideal day to spend mucking out our conservatory - which doubles as a nursery for seedlings and does not get used at all in the winter as its unheated.  However we had a long standing lunch with friends over the border in Essex planned so off we headed.  We had a lovely lunch and good catch up with friends - plans made for a camping trip in the summer too.  After a while when you've 4 boys indoors the need comes to exercise them ;) so our friends suggested a local woods which would give the boys room to burn off some of the energy.

It was a lovely walk - the only downside that VV family weren't equipped with decent walking shoes and there was quite a bit of mud!  There were signs of spring in abundance - the biggest being the sight of tiny bluebell plants which we are assured will look amazing in a few weeks when they are in flower - my friend has promised to send me a photo.

A large fallen tree was of course a magnet for the boys - 3 of which managed to stay still(ish) for a photo;

Lastly in my Show&Tell Sunday post you might just have caught a glimpse of a jug of flowers on the dresser? Well the hyacinth has finished but the daffs today are in full bloom and I thought they'd add a hint of spring to my blog;

See you later in the week.

xxxx Vicki xxxx