Fruits of our labour

We will really miss the fruit trees and veg patch when we move and heres the reason why!

We didn't get any cherries last year as the birds beat us to it so this year I suggested we threw a fruit net over the tree to see what happened and as you can see it worked, we didn't get many as it is a small tree but at least we didn't lose them to the birds as I LOVE CHERRIES!

Also you can see we are now starting to pick raspberries with loads more to come, loganberries, gooseberries, our dwarf beans are starting to produce and our first runner bean! The bean plants look like they need to grow a lot more but hopefully they will continue to produce well into the summer and fingers crossed once we move too as we will be taking them with us (suggestions on how to do it are welcome!).

x

Force India F1 Summer BBQ 2010

Today was the Force India Summer BBQ and what a day it has been. The company decided to have a family BBQ at the factory next to the Silverstone circuit whilst watching the qualifying on big screens in a huge marquee with the rather loud hum of the cars in the background and helicopters flying overhead. We turned up not knowing what to expect but it was great, there was a bouncy castle for the kids, sports day races, drink, hog roast, BBQ, 2 race cars to look at and photo, raffle, and face painting....

and at the end look who turned up and signed the kids trophies (they won at the sports day races)

VJ Mallya (the owner of Force India) who thought Noah was a bit of a cutie

Tonio Luizzi

and Adrian Sutil (who gave Grace a huge hug)

Oh and in case you are wondering Adrian is scrummy! Sorry Rob but its true!!!!

x

In all the madness...

Alot of you will know that I am having to move house. I have loved living in my little paradise where the kids can run free in the paddock, we can enjoy the sunshine in a beautiful garden and enjoy the fruits (and veg) of our labour from the fruit trees and veg patch. Unfortunately our landlord has now sold the house and we are currently looking for a new house to call home (hopefully for only a year whilst I get my PGCE and then its onwards and upwards!).

Even with all this happening we decided to continue to grow some fruit and veg for this summer (hopefully we will be able to harvest some of it and take the rest with us) so we have planted strawberry plants (of which we have not had any strawberries!) we had other soft fruit already planted and are eagerly awaiting the raspberries, gooseberries and currents that are ripening beautifully.

We also planted some dwarf beans

some runner beans

Some tomatoes (which I have been sending plants out in the post to several other twitter and blog favs of mine so would love to know how theirs are doing)

We have also got some other bits and pieces but this was a complete surprise and was saved from being strimmed and how pleased I am now that it was noticed and yes it will be dug up and taken with us!

x

Folksy Friday

As I have been working on something with butterflies on I decided my folksy friday will be all about Butterflies.

This beautiful scarf is by Broomhead Designs

How cute is this bookmark by Jinja Jewellery

Something new but extremely gorgeous from Pants and Paper

And how bright & colourful is this brooch from Applique Originals

Maybe soon I'll be able to show you what I've been working on

x

Cupcake Swap

A few weeks ago I decided to take part in the Great Cupcake Swap on Twitter, I got given a swap partner and was told to buy 4 items for £5, unfortunately I didn't take any photos of what I sent so hopefully my swap partner did and I will post when she has done some photos. Anyway, I got given some cupcake cases in a pretty pink, some silver triangle toppers, some multicoloured stars and a star cutter which you can see below.

I wasn't sure what I was going to make so just decided to go for it, good job I decided to make 2 batches of cupcakes as my first batch ended up in the bin, the one thing I wont miss when we move is the old gas cooker that doesn't keep temperature, burns the stuff at the back and doesn't cook the stuff at the front! Luckily the second batch was ok, not great but ok.

So once cooled out came the icing and the glitter. I decided to make a classic white Christmas selection and a fun girly party selection, then the kids decided to decorate the remaining large icing stars with the left over coloured stars which looked really funky if you wanted to do as an alternative Christmas idea.

Let me know what you think of the cupcakes, just wish you could taste them too!

xxx