A Pause in Advent.

I along with many other bloggers have joined in with Floss's 'A pause in advent' We will be posting on each Sunday of Advent or the following Monday, as is the case here. This is a chance for everyone to share their thoughts, traditions etc during Advent. Advent for me begins with books, lots of books!

I like to get out all my Christmas cookery books and write lists of what I'd like to cook during the holidays.

I then like to plan what I'm going to make as in decorations and gifts.

And of course the things to make at home with Lily or at the toddler group sessions.

I suppose I only manage to make/cook half of what is on my lists but I enjoy the planning.

If you have time have a look at the other 'A pause in Advent' posts. The button at the top of my side bar will take you to Floss's blog where there is a list of bloggers taking part and while you're there read Floss's beautiful post about putting things in prospective.

Today is also my daughter Tara's birthday and for me most of the Christmas planning begins

once her birthday is over. Happy Birthday Tara!

Thrifting, Holiday, Birthday & GCSE's

I can't believe it's been over 2 weeks since I last blogged, time seems to be running away from me at the moment & I'm trying to catch up with all the blogs that I read, I suppose it will be easier now that Autumn is upon us! It was my eldest daughter's birthday on Saturday, Happy Birthday Jemma. She has recently moved out of her apartment and into a house with a garden so she had friends over for a barbecue, luckily the weather stayed dry as it has been awful for the past couple of weeks.

Mr CB had a weeks holiday and we were going to go away in our caravan but the keys have been mislaid, if they are not found we will have to change all the locks as you can't get replacement keys for the type of lock. Lily was very disappointed but we had some days out instead. We started to go to Dartmoor wildlife park, headed up the A30 towards Exeter then realised the wildlife park was over the other side nearer to Plymouth. By this time it was also raining so we ended up going into Okehampton, we looked around the town Charity Shop's and then the sun came out. So we headed over to the park and had a picnic, it's a beautiful park with a stream running alongside it and we found a really cute house in the grounds. It looks just like something out of a fairytale.

We went to Trethorne leisure farm one day, well for 2 hours! Saw some animals and Lily played in the sandpit and that was enough of that.

And we went up to Bude, it was quite sunny. We had a mooch around the town, bought some fish & chips to take to the beach for lunch, put our (my) shopping in the car and the heavens opened. So lunch was eaten in the car and this is what the beach looked like after.

If nothing else I did attack the charity shops a bit!

Some Enid Blyton.

Rowan & Patons wool at 50p a ball.

Some posies.

And plates.

And of course you need a bit of kitsch.

Of course last week held the day that we have been waiting for all summer, GCSE results day. I'm glad to say Jodie passed all her exams with 1 A*, 3 A's, 4 B's and 2 C's, well done Jodie! She has now enrolled in the sixth form to do A levels in Drama, B Tec music & performance, English language, Philosophy & Ethics as well as her gold arts award.

Happy 16th Birthday Jodie.

Photo shoot for a friends GCSE photography coursework.

School leaver's prom May 2009

16 years ago.

She may be 16 today but she still wanted me to crochet a Jigglypuff from Pokemon & she has taken it out with her to celebrate with friends!

Happy birthday Jodie.

Happy Birthday Lily

Lily's third birthday in pictures as I've not been well for the past few days and am too exhausted to type :)