Gratitude: 10 things to be thankful for.

You know I like to think about the things I am thankful for. I often do my 10 things to be thankful for post. I often think (and people have commented) that this is a healthy way to me- it's mindfulness, it makes you healthy but actually, the lovely man who gave the sermon was talking about this and how you are actually protecting yourself by showing gratitude. Actively. Not just some vague thought. By filling your conversation with gratitude and beginning with thankfulness, you are setting the tone for that conversation, you are stopping the temptation of negative words, hurtful words, flippant or harmful. I thank God for many things in my life. It makes me think how it would be good to keep a notebook of thankful things- how full of joy that book would be by the end of a year.

So... what am I thankful for..

1. I am thankful for CBC reaching the airport safely, not missing the plane. I will be more thankful when I know he arrived safely in Costa Rica.

2.  I am thankful for being able to help CBC yesterday with his preparations and having had a lovely week together in France.

3. For the food I have eaten today.

4. For having the opportunity to talk to lots of lovely people at church today. I had such a nice conversation with a lovely 90-year old called Bill.  What an inspiring and charming man!  I am glad I was brave enough to go and sit next to him and start a conversation. Contrary to what you might think, I am actually quite shy at talking to new people.

5. For being able to contribute to the service this morning playing my flute and the church being so full. I am grateful for everyone's appreciation of my playing too.

6.  For my beautiful garden.  There are some ripe tomatoes!!! And pretty flowers and the lavender is blooming.

7.  For my Mum. So happy to be able to speak to her daily. She probably gets sick of me but I love her and I am grateful for that and the time we are going to spend with each other next week.

8.  For love. For every love story, for every time someone acts and does something because they love someone, for stories and hope.

9.  For the sunshine and rest. How lovely to have leisure time.

10.  For kind and patient people when I am a grumpy moo.

What are you thankful for?

5 brooches and friends #35 Birds and junk food

Hello there!

I hope all is well with you. I've been in France for a week, so forgive the lack of comments and sporadic (for me) posting! I'm back now and will be sharing some of my adventures soon!
Also, my beloved husband is jetting off to Central America before Dawn tomorrow so I've been busy going shopping for him for last minute needs. I'm going to miss him. It's the longest we will have been apart since we met!

The brooch posts may be a bit few and far between as I am on holiday but rest assured, they will be back!
All the items in today's post are celebrating their premiere appearance on 5 Brooches!

The first three brooches came as  trio. I was wearing a boring navy top so I decided to jazz it up a touch with these Topshop fabric brooches I got in the sale a while back (cost me £1.50 the set!)  I like the junk food trio! I also got a Savoury set too, so stay tuned for their appearance soon...

(I also got sun cream on the top too- oops!)

This little Flamingo came from Cancer Research for a pound and I feel guilty as he's been sitting in my purse amongst the coins for a few months... Sorry little fellow. You can fly now!

Last but not least, the 'friends' element of this post is a necklace. This was a wonderful surprise present from Lisa .  This little parcel appeared which perplexed me as I KNEW I hadn't got anything coming, not family writing and it wasn't from any of my penpals as I know their handwriting. I opened it up to a pretty card and this Punkypins winking owl necklace. Lisa had seen a lady selling Punkypins necklaces and had picked up on my Punkypins appreciation from these posts and sent me one! How SO kind and sweet to think of me!!!

Have you worn any brooches. I've not got any posts to share this week as I have been away but let me know if you've been wearing any.

xx

10 outfits from Summers past: 2011

Although I've been blogging for 11.25 years,  I have only been doing outfit posts since 2011.  I thought, as I needed one or two posts while I was busy, that it would be fun to have a retrospective look at one or two summer outfits I have posted in the past and see if I still have the garments or if my style (aha, that word-my outfit choices, maybe) has changed?

2011- original post

I originally only started sharing outfit posts to share my hat collection (of which there are/were many).  The series was called 'Let them eat hats' You know, a play on the infamous Marie Antoinette quote...

In this post, I shared a STILL favourite, Peter Pan collar dress with a pink straw hat and pink shoes. All were charityshopped. I still have, and love the dress, though I lent the hat to my Deputy Head at school for a wedding in 2013 and she hasn't returned it to me yet. I'd still wear this combination though the shoes went long ago.

Original post: 

Ha, this was a silly post in which I pranced around in the garden pretending I was Eliza Dolittle. It was the hat, obviously! It had an Eliza vibe! I only acquired the hat by accident. When our previous, much-beloved vicar at my old church left, we all decided to wear hats for the party, as he always said it was nice when ladies and men used to wear hats in church. A lovely lady called June was wearing this one and I waxed lyrical about it and she gave it to me as she had picked it up in a charity shop just for the day!  The pink top was from Peacocks kids. I think I still have the vest only! I'd still wear this!

Original post

A nautical look for me here. I still love the nautical themed look! I don't have the hat, only the top. The skirt was with me until last Summer but as it was size 6 and my bottom half clearly still isn't, I said goodbye as it was a bit tight! I WISH I had the shoes. They were by Rocket dog and had a lobster, anchor, wheel and heart on them but they were a size 41 (Grrr Schuh, 41 is NOT a size 8, 42 is!) and hurt my feet!!

Original post

This was worn for a concert that CBC and I gave with our old Baroque Trio with my friend A. I loved this outfit. I have all the items except the polka dot cardie and I am planning to wear this except outfit with alternative cardie for a recital I am giving in August with A!

Original post

This was the time I discovered my Mum's old Laura Ashley dresses! I decided to give it a whirl with my massive petticoat. Still have all this except the shoes. I LOVE this dress but I am not so sure it suits me!

Original post

Cheesy smile dot com!!! That was my giveaway win from Mary Poppins blog! I still have all these items (except shoes) and would wear again willingly. Closet London dress and Mum's vintage felt hat!

Original post

More cheese here!  Another Peter Pan collar! I like this dress although I'm not so comfortable in it as is fitted and not cotton. But I do like it. Not SURE if I JUST recently got rid of it or still have it!

Original post

Oh, I LOVED this outfit!!! The dress was from the shop where I bought all my Closet dresses and I really liked it. Except for that weird bulgy bit around the waist. That was the dress, not my spare tyre! No longer have these items but I would wear it again!

Original post

Let's not forget the time I decided to add bunting to my hat! I made CBC a card with detachable bunting for his car as it was the Kate and Wills wedding I think!   Still own all these items and since it is nautical, of course I'd still wear it!

Original post

This post was inspired by Sophie in the sticks as she was the queen of brilliant pattern clashing then! I LOVED these items and still do, esp the silk skirt. Swishorama!!!

Original post

Or when I started my cycling training for the London to Brighton cycle ride. This is what I wore to cycle in Northumberland before I had a cycling top and padded leggings. I still always wear a skirt over the top as I HATE seeing the cycle pad!!! Still own all these items! Still would wear.

Original post

And if you can count, you will see I've reached 10, but I couldn't resist throwing in the post where I dressed up for a mock Royal wedding in whatever I could find in my suitcase at camp! Here's my veil from the production of the Sound of Music where I played Maria, together with massive bell sleeves and Topshop Broderie anglaise skirt! I still own these although I gave one of the skirts (yes, I loved it enough to have two!) to Hazel!

So, in 5 years, my style is still much the same. I'm not surprised. I've known what style I liked since I was much younger! Any favourites here? If you fancy doing a similar retrospective, let me know, I'd LOVE to see them!

xx

End of Academic year 2016

Hi All,

I always like to put things I like to look back on, here on the blog.

Here's the lovely collection of gifts I received from kids at school at the end of the year, mostly from Year 6 children that were leaving. I teach around 500 kids weekly so it is always nice to be acknowledged.

It's always lovely to receive a gift although it is definitely not expected and something, receiving many boxes of chocolates is possibly not the best thing for my health (she says stuffing face with Ferrer Rocher!)  There were a few children who gave me gifts who I was very surprised to receive something from!

One boy gave me these beautiful flowers. I gave them to my friend as I had 2 bunches already and I wanted her to appreciate them!

For me, though, the thing I always love best is if someone has written a heartfelt message or something, not just the platitudes of the simple "Thank you."

 This girl made this card for me and got her friends to sign it. That meant a lot to me. I will miss her always smiling face, hand up to answer questions, willingness to belt out a harmony part and lead a whole group in choir,pick up a part in no time at all, and working out tunes for herself and the time I came into the music room to see what her group were up to and suddenly realising when she leads her group, she is like a mini-version of me, leading a group showing the children when to play, Her calling out "Gong!" to a child nodding her head when he had to play whilst playing a fast tune and alternating between another instrument.  And the fact she is a really nice kid.

The messages in these three cards mean a lot to me.

 The last one had such a lovely message from the Mum as well as the child, which made me cry when I read it.

I felt, more so this year, than any other year I have been teaching, how much I will miss these kids in year 6.  I started teaching music at my school 8 years ago when they joined Nursery, so I have never taught music at the school without them being there. They have been classes I really liked since then.  Since Year 3, they have remained my favourite classes- SO many children who were dedicated to practising, doing extra curricular music and going that extra mile.

And generally nice kids who showed they liked and appreciated me.

On our last lesson last Friday, particularly with one class, they shared their favourite musical moments from their time at the school and we had a big final musical celebration! They clapped me at the end of the lesson, which I will always remember them for- they are the class that clap everything!

The year has been good in many respects.

We survived OFSTED, I got a few lines about the quality of music in the report, there have been many fab times.  I remain very fond of my fellow staff, pupils and my situation.

I count myself lucky in my job and I hope, long may my enjoyment of it continue.

But this cohort of kids will remain in my heart.

xx

Florid florals

On the hottest day of the year so far, bar Tuesday, it was the end of a school year.  I wore a simple outfit designed to give me some coverage from the sun but largely loose to keep me cool!

I always feel special in this skirt. Don't ask me why, but I always love it. It's perhaps that it's a bit more grown up than my usual aesthetic in terms of shape but with a bright-coloured print in order to be my usual essence!

Plus the hat! I love this hat!

I spent the day trying to sort out my Music room at school. Put things away, try to move the contents of my old room into my current room and find a way to store it.   It's certainly looking better though not the best it could be! I can't really get back there till Mid-August now though! 

On the Thursday, the day after, I went over to my friend A's for a rehearsal for our recital in late August. As always, it is always gratifying to practice together and play.  We had a nice relax and a walk to the local charity shop (I resisted the White Stuff dress with cute rainbow Typewriter print on) and as I was going to get the bus back to the train station, I realised I had no cash, so had to walk down to the Coop to get some, missed the bus so CBC collected me instead. Consequently,I ended up eating 3 ice-lolllies. 2 Magnum-style Cadbury's Caramels ones and a rocket lolly! Oops,greedy!

Hope all is well with you!

5 brooches #34

Hello! Welcome to this week's edition of 5 brooches.

No new friends today, all old or already seen favourites on different tops!

Punkypins favourite, Mr Geometric Triceratops makes his lovely reflective return on a stripy dress!

CBC absolutely HATES this brooch. I brushed past him in  a small gap and it spiked his back! This is one of those vintage tin brooches painted with enamel. They're quite heavy but I wanted a natural-looking brooch with this maxi dress!

R2D2 hasn't been seen for a while but he was great for a really simple plain outfit worn for school! I photographed him off rather than on! I made him for when I went to see the latest Star Wars in December.

Penultimate, old favourite, Mr Foxy, a happy Charity-shop purchase was perfect with an orange top and a skirt with tigers on!

Lastly, the return of the yellow tin canary from Re, Corbridge.

Have you worn any brooches this week?

Denise wore a whole selection of pretty brooches- my favourite is the Welsh spoon!

Ann wore the perfect accessory, red sailboat brooch on her lovely green stripy dress!

Garden latest- July

Hello there,

I hope all is well with you.

It's been exactly a month since my last garden post so I thought it was due an update before I disappear on holiday and it all burns to a frazzle.  :-( 

Let's start with flowers...

These beautiful pink flowers suddenly appeared behind the Love and Peace tea roses which was a big surprise as I hadn't even noticed them being there!

Trust me to photograph the bee with the brown bits behind.

These pretty, proud red flowers started appearing close to the house.

These daisy-like flowers, which my Mother did name for me but I forget theirs, appeared at the end of the garden.

Although the full glory of the Roses has now passed, there are a few beauties still around.

These spiky yellow flowers are a recent addition!

These beautiful Love and Peace roses appeared by the patio doors for a few glorious days but are now gone.

My landlord tells me the fruit of the apple trees aren't good but I'm going to give them a go when ripe!

terrible picture but these pretty Lily-type flowers are recent.

A little Fuscia plant danced into the garden.

We were surprised by such a small and tameable Buddlea suddenly blooming!

So that's the flowers, what about the veg?

Though we grew a fair few tomato plants from seed, most got eaten. This one stayed longest in the shed and seems to be happy in this spot. It's sprouted a foot in two weeks.

The one at the back is growing back after decimation and the front one is biding its time!

Mum came over and I lured her into the garden.

I had some cucumber plants I'd grown from seed to put into the ground but nowhere to put them so she dug me this little bed for them.  She emptied the lovely leaf and compost mulch out from the left compost bin and spread it onto all my veg.

Sadly, the courgette plants on the left got eaten that night after we planted them.

The cucumbers are currently in tact a week on and are flowering. I hope I haven't spoken too soon...

The leeks are happy and doing well and the French dwarf beans are plodding on.

Annoyingly,the other courgettes keep trying to flower but despite slug pellets galore, they keep being gnawed! I'm cross!

This has since been weeded and mulched so looks much better.

You can see the tomato plants are healthy and are fruiting!

Sadly, I had a week where I forgot to water my runner beans as I kept coming home late and they shrivelled up.  I've since been nurturing them so they are slowly coming back to life but there are no flowers as yet, which there were before...

We've only had about 10 strawberries but it has put forth runners so Mum showed me how to deal with them.

Also on the patio are some radishes. The fig tree is happy,the raspberries are happy as are the lavender and olive tree.

So...not much tangible, but still growing. I hope August neglect isn't too much for them!

How has your garden been this month?

Glitter box!

If there is one thing I am a bit of a sucker for, it is one of those Lucky Dip boxes where you get some mystery items, usually significantly cheaper than the items would usually be. I tend to buy one when I am feeling a bit gloomy. Bad... But I saw someone share the Glitter Lucky Dip box they bought from Gloriously Glittery on Etsy and I went to take a look, loved the individual items and well, when I saw there was one Lucky Dip box for £5 (and free postage) with 8 items included- well, I was willing to give it a punt!

Soo... what did I receive?

 There were 3 gorgeous brooches in there.
A glittery Flamingo, a golden teapot and a deer.

 Next were two pairs of really pretty geometric glitter earrings- gold pentagons and gold-tipped flue triangles which convey a mountain vibe. Plus some sort of Eye-liner thingies...

There were two cute little woven bracelets, one with a Fleur-de-Lys charm hanging and then a darling pineapple necklace.

Every item came in either a pretty organza bag or a charming patterned paper bag. The whole parcel came in a good strong cardboard box.

There was a beautiful little card addressed to me saying thank you for my order.

I really like the items and it was a huge bargain for £5 in total!
I've got my eye on the beautiful rainbow and cloud brooch.

Go and have a look- her prices are really reasonable!

How do you feel about Lucky dip boxes? Are you a sucker for them like me!?

xx