Time

  

"Take time to work - it is the price of success

Take time to think - it is the source of power

Take time to play - it is the secret of perpetual youth

Take time to read - it is the foundation of wisdom

Take time to love and be loved - it is the privilege of the gods

Take time to share - life is too short to be selfish

Take time to laugh - it's the music of the soul
 

Take time to travel - and see the world in a different light"

~ Unknown
 

 

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Our New Arrivals

As you may have seen on Instagram, we collected a beautiful Border Collie just before Christmas to join our little family. We have Spartan already, the same breed that we bought as a puppy, and we had hoped a companion would've been lovely for him. Unfortunately however Spartan wasn't fond of the playful ball of fluff and he became very withdrawn, refusing food after just a few days, and therefore we had to say farewell to the new poochie much to everyone's disappointment. It was certainly for the best as although we were sad to see him go Spartan was here first and it was unkind to leave him so miserable. His happiness had to be priority as responsible dog owners and although it was difficult the Mini Mes did understand.

As the weeks went by I thought more and more about getting a different pet to fill that empty space in our hearts and after our trip to the Welsh Mountain Zoo at Easter it was obvious how much the Mini Mes adore rabbits. The decision was made.

 I ordered a hutch and set it up secretly one evening (please remind me how bad I am at flat-pack if I purchase furniture in the future) and a few days later I collected not one but two new bunnies from the local pet shop within the garden centre.

The excitement was a little overwhelming for Minxy who shed a tear and hugged me so tightly I felt I  may pop and Jamster was thrilled too, his huge grin was proof of that. They have been taking great care of them and they are always the first thing they mention when waking up and going to the last before they go to bed.

So let me introduce, Stampy, Bobby and their accommodation which is currently situated on our patio.

When Pets Become Family

I was never really keen on dogs, or pets in general, until we got Spartan. I was always worried the house would smell, that there would be piles of fur like tumbleweed and little puddles of drool awaiting my fresh bare feet, but that's far from the case. Most of the time. 

The Mr was raised with dogs. Not literally like Jacob in Twilight but with plenty of the four legged friends running around in his home, so to him it was natural to have his own when he moved in with me. I had my worries but love really does make you do crazy things and we ended up purchasing our ball of fluff on New Years Day 2012. It was hard work to begin and there were puddles of a different kind to mop up but our new companion made the Mr, the Mini Mes and even me happy so it was definitely worth it. 

It also stopped me being broody for a while which was a bonus!

My View Right Now

The Mini Mes have coped unbelievably well with the recent upheaval for our home renovation. Children seem to adapt to changes, new situations and new people with ease don't they? They just go with the flow. They can sense that it's better to accept what's happening and they just get on with it. They don't feel the need to moan or worry (as us adults often do) as they know everything will be sorted and back to normal in no time.  

They are carefree and that's the best way to be!

Sausage, pancetta and spinach pasta

They have been eating dinner from trays each day, getting up a lot earlier and getting ready for the day before the workmen arrive. They have been incredibly organised and positive despite the dust

Breakfast

If you have been following me on Instagram or reading my Project 365 posts you will already know that I ALWAYS take photos of what I'm about to eat. I'm a bit of a tease and I like to make people feel hungry and then drool at the site of my cookies and cakes! 

Yep, I'm one of those annoying people in posh restaurants that will sneak a pic before taking a mouthful. 

Last week was Farmhouse Breakfast Week which promotes the importance of a morning meal.

I got involved and shared a few images of what I've been eating to try to encourage others to have something too to start their day...

Sausages with tomato sauce on fresh brown bread.

Crunchy cereal with a splash of chilled milk

Hungry?

What have you had for breakfast?

The theme this week is Food.

White Chocolate Cheesecake Slices

When I think of summer desserts, cheesecakes are always the first to spring to mind, and this is a delicious one that I've made a few times that my family adore. It goes perfectly with some fresh summer berries too!

Ingredients

Base

9oz butter, softened

15oz caster sugar

2 eggs

14oz plain flour

2oz cocoa powder 

Pinch of salt

Topping

90g white chocolate

300g cream cheese

2oz icing sugar

1 egg

Method

• Cream together the butter and caster sugar in a bowl then gradually add in the 2 eggs followed by the flour, cocoa and salt, combining it well.
• Preheat the oven to 175 degrees.
• Spread the mixture out evenly into a lined baking tray (9" x 12" approx) and place it into the fridge for 40 minutes to set.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes then allow to cool (do not remove from the tray).
• To make the topping, melt the chocolate in a bowl above boiling water and then allow to cool slightly.
• Mix the cream cheese with the icing sugar and egg then pour in the melted chocolate, combining well.
• Spread the topping over the base and bake for 25 minutes/until set.
• Remove from the oven, allow to cool completely then chill in the fridge for 2 hours.
• Slice the cheesecake into 12 equal rectangles and store in the fridge.
• Scoff!

To create a spotted look, save a small amount of the base mixture in the fridge and then crumble it on top of the topping before it is baked.

Two

These are my two.

 

Jamster and Minxy.

The terrible twosome, the delinquent duo, my bambinos, my world.
 

The Mini Mes
 

I love them endlessly and I can't believe how quickly they have grown into such big personalities from such tiny babies. They have even changed so much since this was taken in 2010.

I was blessed to have two kind, affectionate and clever little people.

I just wish time would slow down a little!

Two peas in a pod.

I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is Two



A New Part of Me

This is a new part of me.

A part of me I'd never seen before and the black spec on it is new too.

It's my right eye.

The white is my optic nerve and the black spec is a mole. Yep, a mole on the back of my eyeball!

I'd never heard of anyone having similar before but apparently it's not that rare.

 

I'd had a lot of headaches and my first port of call was the opticians for a check up to see if my vision or a need for glasses had caused my constant migraines. After examination she went back to my right eye for another inspection and asked if I knew about the mole at the back of my eye, which I didn't.

I was called back for photos which I had Monday and I'm now being referred to the hospital just to make sure that it's OK.

 

Fingers crossed!

I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is New



The weekend

Whatever the struggle, continue the climb. It may be only one step to the summit.

 

- Diane Westlake

It's the moments like this that make you appreciate the little things.
Climbing, running, fun outdoors as a family, in the sunshine.

We had a lovely bank holiday weekend, spent mostly outside; shopping, playing, eating.
Every weekend should be 3 days!

 

I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is The Weekend



Youth

 

 

The lack of responsibility, commitment or pressure is what youth is all about.

Having fun, laughing, playing and enjoying yourself ...without a care in the world.

“Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good”

Lucia Capocchione

 

I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is Youth



Happy

Jamster + marshmallows = happy

 

There is something about sweet treats that always puts a smile on the Mini Mes' faces. Their little eyes light up at the sight of cake and lollipops or anything packed with sugar and E numbers.

 

We had a lovely meal out to celebrate Minxy turning 9 on Sunday and the jelly, brownies and ice cream made her grin ear to ear too.

 

 

What makes your little one happy?

I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is happy

 



Together

Brother and sister,

together as friends,

ready to face

whatever life sends.

Joy and laughter

or tears and strife,

holding hands tightly

as we dance through life.



I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is Together

Poem by Suzie Huitt



The Gallery - Red

I can't share any images of beautiful sunsets across foreign waters, happy pictures with Santa dressed head to toe in red or interesting close ups of ladybirds as my laptop is broken with all of my images stored within it! However, I can share this snap of my gorgeous little Mini Mes ready for Red Nose Day last week, in the t-shirts I made them. Jamster was keen to go to school in just his boxer shorts as something funny crazy for money but I thought that would be a little cold!

 

Did you do anything to raise funds for Comic Relief?

 

 

 

I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is Red

Country Kids

One benefit of playing outside while it's cold or wet is that you often have the entire place to yourself and that was just the case yesterday.

After school we visited the Country Park and had an hour playing on the exercise equipment, climbing frames and chasing each other around before dinner, me being the troll or Gruffalo as usual! It was rather chilly but as we wrapped up well it and it wasn't long until we all felt warm anyway.

Calorie count

Climbing

Have you had some outdoor family fun this week?

 

I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is the letter C
(Country Park, cold, chasing, climbing, cardio, calorie count)

Red Nose Day

This Red Nose Day (15th March) marks the 25th anniversary of the event and with over £600m raised for people in the UK and Africa it is something worth celebrating.
We have already ordered t-shirts and noses from the online store to help raise funds and we have bought cake toppers for some baking fun too!

2011 Red Nose Day

A group of 3 bloggers have headed out to Ghana this week to see how the funds raised have been spent over the years to better the lives of over 50 million people! You can find out more about this via #TeamHonk and #GoodWork on Twitter or on their website Team Honk.

Will you be doing anything that is funny to raise money? 

You can order a fundraising kit for free today!

There are some great dinosaur themed games for little ones on the Red Nose Day website too.

I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is Noses

Family bonds - The Gallery

Our family (excuse Minxy pulling a crazy face!)

Family is the strong tie,

That holds you to the ground.

When it seems that you have lost,

All that you had found.

They are the rock that holds you down,

When you start to float away,

And they can turn your life around,

When you go astray.

They are the friends that you are born with,

They are with you 'till the end,

And when life treats you rough,

Your broken heart they will mend.

Although sometimes you may fuss and fight,

And may not always agree,

In the dark, they are the light,

That shows the path so you can see.

The theme this week is Bond.

Source of poem 

Adventure - The Gallery

Having just finished reading The unlikely Pilgrim of Harold Fry, the first of my 50 books to read this year, the topic of adventure was quite appropriate for this weeks Gallery theme. Harold finds himself walking over 600 miles wearing a suit and yachting shoes (not quite so appropriate!) to visit a friend that he hasn't seen for 20 years who is terminally ill. His adventure takes him across fields, through hedgerows and along busy roads to reach his goal.

Although we enjoy the great outdoors too, the biggest adventure I have experienced with the Mini Mes so far is our first holiday abroad as a family to Cyprus.

The new foods, the heat and humidity, the different language and even the flight itself was a big adventure for us as a family, but particularly for the Mini Mes who had never been away from English soil before.

I love how Minxy is trying to be cool in her swimwear and their expressions at seeing such huge drinks with flags in!

I can't wait to fly away to somewhere hot again soon... the sooner the better.


What has been your biggest adventure?

The theme this week is Adventure.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - The Gallery

The 1st December every year the tree and decorations go up. It's like a tradition and happens regardless of what day of the week it is. Before December begins I don't really acknowledge that Christmas is so close bar picking up the odd gift here and there when I see it, I always think that the longer the build up the more impatient the Mini Mes will become and the less special the event feels!

However, now it is December I'm starting to get quite excited! I always take great pride in wrapping and I adore these beautiful gift wrap sets I picked up - funky festive brights...

I actually enjoy wrapping items and trying to present them beautifully regardless of getting tape and bows stuck pretty much everywhere. It's the giving part I really like and seeing people smile when they open something special that I have selected for them. I try to alter the colour scheme each year and these years is teal and fuschia to match the tree with some cute owls too.

The theme this week is 'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.'

Christmas colours

The dark green trees, bright red stockings hung on fireplaces and the many different colours of twinkling lights in windows definitely show the arrival of December and the preparation for Christmas.

Despite the miserable weather and the dark days of winter, the festive season brings so much sparkle and light.

We have three trees in our home, one decorated by everyone in the lounge and the Mini Mes have their own in their rooms too. It's lovely in the evening when the bright colours illuminate the darkness.

The theme this week is the colour.

Eyes - The Gallery

Eyes are the window to your soul, apparently. But how much can be read by looking into someones eyes? 

The Mr, when we first met, always said how I never gave anything away and how he could never 'read' me. I quite liked the idea that I appeared mysterious in those early days and kept him guessing.

But now if I am upset without even crying or saying a word he just knows. Is it instinct, is it because he knows me to spot the signs or because he can see it in my eyes. 

I think it's probably a combination of the three.

I can definitely tell if the Mini Mes are up to no good by looking at theirs!

Their eyes are very similar in shape too and colour.

(Minxy is the middle set and Jamster's are the bottom set.)

The theme this week is the Eyes.