Clover Yard

Beautiful May

Ahh, May.  Isn't it the best month ever.  Time to get back into the garden and check if any brave little birdies have taken up residence in our bohemian birdhouse...

And to watch the progress of these strange red stalks pushing through the earth and unfurling their copper coloured leaves...

which in a couple of months should burst into these beautiful peony roses...

And after all the drudgery of Winter, how amazing it is to sit in the warmth of the sun under our old apple tree and watch the washing blowing on the line (am I the only one who gets satisfaction from this?)... 

Way above our heads the buds are opening and the first pink tinges of blossom appear...   

This beautiful quote sums it up for me...

All of you with little children...take them somehow into the country among green grass and yellow wheat - among trees - by hills and streams, if you wish their highest education, that of the heart and soul, to be completed. 
Richard Jefferies

I couldn't agree more.

Ahoy! finish something won't you

When I first considered starting a blog I had thought it would help me to be more creative and constructive with my time.  I know that I am happiest and most content when I am either playing around with graphics on the computer or pottering with plants and flowers.  Problem is, I very rarely finish anything!  I get caught up in the process, and while I love it, I'm sure I'm missing out on some of the satisfaction that goes with looking at an end product and saying, I made that.  Know what I mean?

Last July, for example, I made a feeble attempt to design a party invitation for my son's 3rd birthday, which evolved into a birthday card and then another (cos I felt I had to create a girl one too) and then several badge designs later I just stopped short of designing a matching t-shirt!  And on my desktop it has stayed ever since.  I ended up running out of time to get them printed and bought something half-heartedly from a shop.  Shame really, as I'd spent so much time on it all and it was personal in that I'd had the image of my little boy dressed as a pirate as I drew it. 

So this is me kicking my derriere to get it out there, if only on this post.  Who knows, perhaps the shame of me seeing it up here will get the whole process going and I'll actually get them printed.  Maybe little boy wouldn't mind them for his 4th birthday party? 

 

 

Ode to my boys

When I came home from work on Saturday I was greeted by my husband and my little boy sitting on our garden wall in the sunshine, kicking their heels without a care in the world.  They were waiting for me.  Such a small gesture but it made my day. 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately of how fast my little boy is growing up, how there are less and less of his funny little mis-pronunciations, those strange little words that make perfect sense to me but I have to translate for others.  Recently, he has been dropping the mummy in favour of teenage grunts of mum which has just about pushed me over the edge - I'm not ready to be a mum yet!

So I want to dedicate this post to my lovely boys who really are my sunshine.

Thank you for...

...the many impromptu cups of tea

...renting The Devil Wears Prada when I know you'd rather be watching The Bourne Identity or Scooby Doo

...pausing the film after 3 mintues to give me a run down of the plot so far

...biting your tongue when yet another flowery teacup enters the building

...knowing the right (and wrong) moment to produce a Cadbury's Twirl

...making me appreciate just how funny it is to see sheep on a roundabout

...allowing me to completely "girlify" the four corners of the spare room

and as well as being a wife and mummy, for letting me be me.  xxx

My latest craze!

Now, I know these aren't a new concept amongst you uber-creatives, but humour me please as I have another shuffle through my very first moo cards.  Aren't they fab!  For all you moo-virgins out there, the mini cards are about half the width and roughly the same length of a business card and you can get 100 different images printed for a mere £9.99 (I uploaded photos straight from my Flickr pages).  Plus, you can have any info you want printed on the back.  I think I could become addicted.  I feel like my three year old with his Ben 10 top trump cards; I am a little possesive of them and have to take them out of their box every 5 minutes to see if they are all still in order.  I did, however, manage to part with about half of them and send them off to the lovely bride and groom from the wedding on Iona a fortnight ago.  I punched a little hole and threaded through some ribbon to use one of the cards as a gift tag which I must say, was very effective.  Stickers and postcards here I come.  I'm going to moo the world!  (Give it time, it will pass).

Vintage Inspired Jewellery

For some time now I have been looking for a piece of jewellery, a necklace preferably, which would have a connection with my blog.  A google search has produced countless links to clover pendants or charms and while they are all very nice I just felt them a bit run of the mill.  Until, however, I found Eclectic Eccentricity and this...

Isn't it lovely?  Secrets of a Butterfly was one of the first blogs I ever read - so Kat, if you're reading this, I am glad that I will also be reminded of you when I wear my clover necklace with it's little green butterfly! 

The pieces are reworked from old vintage jewellery which I am completely supportive of in our throwaway society.  Have a look at the site, (you can also find them on Etsy), I don't think you "vintage ladies" will be disappointed.  This is one of the bestsellers...

I don't think my first salary payment is going to last very long!

This is where I got the recommendation - http://www.letstalkjewellery.co.uk.  A useful site in itself for keeping up with the latest trends.   

Paradise Found

I am almost lost for words so forgive me that this is mostly piccies.  This is a post about a very special place, a place I believe could be heaven on earth.  Thank you to our lovely friends Katie and Michael for sharing their wedding day with us yesterday.

Come with me to Iona...

So much sea and sky...

Spectacular beaches with the purest white sand...

The locals were kinda cute...

My dream island bolthole...

The austere Iona Abbey...

..lit up by the beautiful bride and her yellow Jimmy Choo's...

Colourful bunting strung up on the village hall....

Friends in kilts and their best frocks heading for the reception...

My perfectly balanced husband - a drink in both hands...

Hat of the day!....

Shame the beach was a bit crowded this morning...

Sigh. It doesn't get much better than this.

A Spell in the Garden

{Apologies that you've been unable to leave comments lately.  I have been writing another blog for a youth group which is comment-free and I'd got myself all in a muddle.  Hope to hear from you all soon!}

Pots of pretty flowers nodding their heads in the warm spring sunshine...

Little carpets of blue flowers, settling roots into the cool earth...

Sleepy insects, stretching their wings and inspecting fresh green foliage...

Garden chairs and table, eagerly awaiting a fresh lick of paint and the first customers of the summer...

My lovely garden.  Opening for the new season very soon.

A New Job

Hello again, I've been neglecting you so have decided to post again tonight. 

I actually sat out in the sun today and it was warm enough for a few freckles to pop up...bliss.  Although my joy at the warm weather has been slightly marred by this groggy head of mine and scratchy throat which I hope I manage to shake off soon.

I have started a new job.  Yes, I'm back to that old familiar juggling-a-zillion balls-forgetting-my-keys-and-where-I-parked-the-car-mummy, again.  I have taken on a part-time museum assistant job.  It's local, in a tiny museum but has so much scope that I'm really quite looking forward to it all.  I'm told I will have the freedom to organise themed exhibits and be involved in accessioning which will be handling and numbering items.  Dull to some folks but with my love of vintage I think I'm going to quite enjoy it.  Apparently last year the ladies there decided things were getting a little too stuffy and staged a exhibition of "Bling"  each raiding their attics for vintage costume jewelery. They also had numerous donations from members of the public who brought in treasures such as evening bags from the 1920's.  I have convinced them to set up Bling 2 in the near future!

Speaking of bling, isn't this ring sweet! It's from www.alexmonroe.co.uk.  His designs are pricey but to die for.  Perhaps now that I'm a working girl I will be able to afford a little trinket ;o)

Tomorrow I am off on a tourist information training course (another part of my job) and I'm really looking forward to it as it involves visiting the beautiful Glamis Castle, childhood home of the Queen Mum.  What adventures she and her brother David must have had growing up there.

 

Must go and charge up the camera battery.  Bye for now xx

A Dream Come True

Gosh, feels like ages since my last post.  I've had a lovely week since Easter.  Hubby was on holiday and it was just so nice to have his company.  Even though we just hung around the house most of the week it was nice to potter together.  Pottering is what I do best, next to sleeping (when asked which of the Mr Men mummy is, my son points to Mr Lazy - hmmph!).  There is a distinct difference between being "laid back" and lazy, I say. 

Anyway, I must tell you about something amazing that came my way last week.  Derek had asked me for some ideas for my birthday this year and I obliged with a short list.  23 items later...now please don't get any ideas, I'm not materialistic, not very, I just thought I'd be helpful.  It turned into quite a whimsical wish list - really, some of the items will SO never happen.  Top of the list though was a piano.  I have ALWAYS wanted a piano.  Growing up, we didn't have room for one, and weren't a very musical family anyway.  But my best friend, Katharin, had a house full of instruments - drum kit, piano, didgery doos, harmonicas, you name it.  She taught me to play Love Story on the piano when I was around 12 and to this day, I can still play it with both hands, although I haven't a clue how to read music.  ANYWAY, after dropping our little boy off at nursery one day last week we had a walk round town.  Passing a house clearance shop, I decided to pop in for a nosey.  Normally I'd have to drag Derek into one of these places but he quite obligingly agreed.  Lo and behold, what did I spot but a lovely old piano.  Imagine my delight!  I had a little tinkle of it and asked the owner a few questions and half an hour later the deal was done and 2 hours later it was in our house! 

My beautiful, beautiful piano, you are a bit bashed and there isn't much room for you but oh how I adore you...

It really felt like fate had played a hand and I'm so chuffed I could burst.  Already I am driving the neighbours potty with Abba's Super Trouper (both hands).  Little boy is also taking requests - he can do "the scary song" on the low keys and "the happy song" on the high keys.  It's a hoot!

It is my ambition to be able to play Debussy's Clair de Lune by my 40th birthday (I've a wee while yet!).  I'd better go practice...

Thank you my wonderful dear husband, you have made a girl's wish come true.

Climb aboard the Eggy Bus!

Well, it's all over.  There was laughter and tears, chocolate and beers (sorry) and lots of Rennies consumed (we really know how to party).  And a wonderful discovery that my little boy's drawing skills had progressed from random zig zags and sribbles to real facial features - eyes and noses, smily mouths and thatches of green hair.  He had a wonderful time with a couple of his friends decorating eggs (and himself) proudly presenting to me Mr Rock Star complete with glitter and stars.  How cute!!  Now, you may be curious about the shady looking character at the back of the eggy bus.  My husband's effort.  You must understand that he is a trained artist, quite competitive and cannot help himself.  There was a bit of a stunned silence as he revealed his masterpiece.  Goodness knows what or who his inspiration was but if ever there were a bad egg sat at the back of the bus then that was it.

It felt very strange to celebrate Easter with flurries of snow every half hour.  I think the only way it didn't feel really like Winter was that the birds were twittering away through the showers.  I can't remember them doing that in the depths of November and December.  Also, the snow just disappeared when it hit the ground so sadly no snowmen.  Not one this year, yet.  Despite wrapping up well, J (my boy) wasn't too keen to venture far to roll his egg so we settled for the steepest part of the garden....

Wheeee...crunch.  Goodbye Mr Rock Star, hello egg mayonnaise sandwiches!

Hope you had a good one. xx