Timing

Joel is two on Friday, I can't believe it, not only because the time has flown by but also I remember thinking whenever people said "you'll blink and they're grown up" I never actually believed them.
Anyway, rather poignantly, I was clearing out some old notebooks and found these, details of my early labour, when we were still at home. Craig wrote the times down. I remember the maternity unit asked us to wait until 9am to go in. It makes me laugh that the notes stopped at 8.29am, at which point we high tailed it to hospital, like "right that's it, lets go!" *screech of car wheels.

Peapodding

We podded peas at the weekend, we loved doing it. Joel didn't like eating the peas but did like telling me! "Tthhhhhhhppppppp! Not like"

A day out with MD

A week ago I went to visit my oldest friend MD, not the oldest by birthday but someone who I have known since we were at Art School together when we were 19. My goodness that's a long time ago now! We had a really nice day. He lives in Liverpool, a great city to visit anyway but having a good friend there is an added bonus. It was a surprisingly hot day (well they all are in England) so we headed into the city for an early lunch at Leaf, a cosily decked out cafe bar, which had a tea menu so enticing it swung our thoughts of straight from the fridge drinks to a cup of hot amazingness!

We would have eaten sooner but we were distracted by so many great things to see. This Yarnbombed tree was so bright and cheery, we saw lots of people having their pictures taken with it.

The Bluecoat had a strange medical exhibition on, we didn't enjoy that much but did stop and admire this miniature model of the place next to their collection box.  I love these things, especially when they need dusting like this one!

A project called Tickle The Ivories was on, which meant Pianos were located on five streets in the city, free for anyone to hop on and play. We saw two and they were both being played, one good one not so good, but that;s not the point. It's a sound you'd never hear on the street (unlike more portable instruments) but also it's something which not many people have space for in their homes. Mr B might have hopped on one if he'd have been with us.

As well as Pianos on the pavements there was also Ping Pong tables set up all over the place as part of  Ping.

It was lovely to see all sorts of people having a game. Some were on their lunch, some in between shopping and some after school. It was fab, however I'm rubbish at it so didn't have a go. Their website is lovely, well worth a look.


MD gave me my first taste of a LEGO shop. It was good, very good.

MD had been collecting Olympic figures, which come in a foil pack, sort of like a lucky dip idea, which I loved. However, the staff are so well acquainted with their product that they can feel each packet and identify what or rather who is inside.

No need for buying doubles or triples was the supposed bonus of this skill but I thought no need for a surprise either though. Whatever happened to swaps? I did get them to find me a Sherlock Holmes for Mr B though so I guess it has it's benefits.

May 19th- Ticket to ride, eat and party!

After our frolics around Kendal town we boarded a 1955 AEC Regent 3 Double Decker, courtesy of Cumbria Classic Coaches. I'd not seen the bus, Peter, in real life at the time of booking but he did look rather gorgeous with his red leather upholstery, polished mahogany and wooden boarded floors. Once he was all decked out with flowers and our colourful guests onlookers couldn't help but smile and wave as we did a victory lap of the town.

Personalised bus tickets with our names and wedding date on along with a picture of our bus

We managed to all squeeze onto the last seat!

Once we arrived at our local village hall we were hit by the full impact of our decorations, the day before had been so manic there was no time to just stop and breathe and appreciate what we had created with the help of  so many kind friends.

A riot of colour strung from each beam

Decorations that make you want to climb on a table and cuddle them! Super poofy poms by The North Pom

Ooh look you can see the pretty line of my dress straps here, and of course the fabulous hall!

Thrifty finds like charity shop tablecloths, mixed with family linens, home made table numbers and floral arrangements in jam jars and our neighbours silverware made exciting and interesting table tops. Oh and each table had a different bottle of Barrs pop on it!

The food was labelled up with rosette style labels to give a village fete feel to the buffet. Along with paper pinwheels we had made at one of our maids meetings

Mr B kept these specially brewed and designed beers a secret until a couple of days before, what a fab idea and they tasted delish!

MD said some lovely words- "I think about why we are here today and I can't help but wonder... I think about love and what it means to find love. I marvel that amongst the five billion people on Earth, on this rock that hurtles through the infinite space of the universe. Of all the possibilities, the stupefying odds of what is and what could be. That two people as special as these have found each other. That they have a child as perfect as Joel and a love as strong as they do. For that I am grateful to be a witness here today, I think we all are." Beautiful x

We begged and borrowed table lamps to fill each window sill with to create an eclectic and atmospheric  lighting display for the evening.

An old friend offered her artistic skills making photo props for  our photo booth, she'd admitted to reading one too many Mr Men books in the run up to the wedding.

We re-used hen party decorations 

Wrote our seating plan on the foyer windows in glass pens

Bought a few cute drinks accessories from Etsy and Mr B designed beer mats with us as kids on them, an idea we used from our friends wedding last year

This old suitcase belonged to Karens Auntie, the paper bunting was from the hen do and the wooden printers letters are Mr B's. So the whole lovely card drop cost us not a penny to set up.

We walked home under the stars in the wee small hours, me with this picnic rug wrapped round me and Mr B carried our suitcase of swag. Chatting about how lovely our day had been and stopping for a kiss, or three.

Full Circle

Almost three years ago I started this blog with a post about how fantastic our local woods were, the star find which had sparked my inspiration was a teeny tiny tea set. Last week I had the pleasure of sharing the excitement of this fairy find with Joel. We drank rain water tea from thimble sized cups and even invited a passing snail to join us.

Then yesterday we went for an after nap stroll along the river, a different route to usual, we stayed where the trees are more sparse to catch some sun. It's about a forty minutes treck through woodland, fields and country lanes. Joel managed to walk all of it, steaming ahead of Mr B and I most of the way! Of course we had to stop off for a paddle and this time I was actually organised enough to take off his shoes and socks (seeing as all his shoes were soggy on top of the Rayburn!) The boy has so much energy! There are no toys as good as the great outdoors.

Stopping a moment to contemplate a rock before he threw it.

Even on the final leg of the walk (a steep hill beside our house) Joel insisted on running with wobbly knees all the way home. Mr B had to run on ahead with him in case he fell (which of course he didn't) I was cringing!

Our first growing efforts; Tom, Art and Toe on the kitchen window sill (a very sunny spot) yet to yield.

Strawberries, which failed miserably (apart from the top plant) in a strawberry pot. What's that all about eh?

My favourite brew at the moment, bought for me by a good friend.

Chucking stuff seems to be one of Joels 'quieter' persuits. I introduced him to plums the other day, he managed to overarm bowl it the full length of the kitchen. Then I was missing my moisturiser lid, for days I wondered where it was. Then I spotted it half way down the back garden (which Joel isn't allowed in due to the pond) wedged in the paving, he must have launched it out of his bedroom window. Englands cricket team watch this space!