Kool Kitty Musings

Since it's raining...

...again.

And it's cold....

...still.

I think I am definitely due a lazy Saturday.

Hard to believe this time last week I was down on the (adventure) farm with two very adventurous little girls:

There was even sunshine. Amazing isn't it? Sunshine in May...

So with this yucky cold and dark weather I'm thinking I need some therapeutic crafting time. I will be searching up some challenge blogs this afternoon I think as it's been a while since I made anything other than my cards for the 52 Cards challenge and DCM dares. :)

And to help me get into the spirit my lovely little prize from A Passion for Papertrey arrived yesterday:

So what better excuse to use it on some new projects. :)

I also managed to finally finish The Witness this morning before getting up for the day:

It was good, but now time for a return to some historical romance due back at the library next. ;)

Also lazy Saturdays are perfect for getting stuck into new music. I am especially loving The Lumineers album I downloaded after repeated listening in preview mode. I hadn't heard of them until hearing the song Ho Hey used on Hart of Dixie then I discovered the rest of the album, and yep. I'm sold. :) Think this is my summer album this year, and Ho Hey is still my favourite song so far:

Enjoy!

Dismal weather means...

The return of cold and dark evenings.

Which has in turn meant that I had made my way through my backlog of recorded TV content, got back on Just Dance 3 on the Wii for some fun and laughs, and spent less time crafting.

I have plenty of projects I could be getting on with, but little motivation right now.

Also I am back on Slimming World - day 4 - yay! And it's been a bit of a time suck this week to get meals planned and prepped for work/after work to prevent any falling off the wagon. This weekend will be a bit of a challenge as I am out for a meal on Sunday and it's a local place that does the best Sunday Roasts apparently. Wondering if I can put aside some Syns to cover a giant Yorkshire pud... We shall see. But at least I have lost some of the cake-induced flab that accumulated over our 2.5 day scrapping weekend!

Anyway, I have a lovely meringue with fresh berries and a squirt of Anchor light to look forward to. Who knew 12.5 g of Anchor light would only be 1 syn?

After pud I am hoping to finally get into the new Nora Roberts book....

Which I picked up from the library last week.

They also rang to say the other new Nora Roberts book is in...

So I have a real stack to get through on my TBR pile at the mo. :)

Well, best get to it before another evening zooms by!

In need of an early night...

Since it's off to the NEC we go tomorrow for a day of (hopefully) fruitful shopping.

And I need to be up at something like 5 a.m. and the clocks go forward tonight so... yes. I shall be a pretty sight in the morning.

But today I have managed to catch up on a few projects and before the sun came out I watched the first season of Burn Notice almost back to back. I seem to be in a box-set mood at the moment. The next disc of Game of Thrones has arrived but I cannot face it tonight as I need something to send me off to sleep. ;o)

But anyway, here's a pic if the latest Easter card in the production line.

Paper: Crate Paper
Stamps: My Cute Stamps, PTI
Ribbon: The Ribbon Girl
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: Stickles, sewing machine, 3D foam

The stamped background on the label was made using this little stamp set:

I also finished off the latest Katie Fforde book the other day.

Well, I liked it - but didn't love it. It was all a bit predictable but a decent read nonetheless.

So that's another book down on my spring chick lit pile.

Right, best get myself sorted for tomorrow and get that very early night! ;)

This and that

Just a couple of pics to share this evening.

I made a simple card at the weekend that was still in line with pastel colours of the card I posted yesterday:

Paper: Echo Park, American Crafts, MME
Stamps: MFT, PTI
Dies: MFT, Sizzix
Button: Basic Grey
Other: Twine

I know... that typewriter set does get used a lot, but just goes to show it was such a good investment! hehe

This weekend I got back into some baking for Mother's Day, and made a batch of key lime butterfly cakes:

I added a few handfuls of heart-shaped sprinkles into the batter before baking. Next time I will definitely make half the quantity of buttercream, sorry Mary Berry, but there was a heck of a lot of buttercream for 12 cakes!

Also, I definitely need an oven thermometer if anyone has any good recommendations. They reviews are inconclusive on amazon and I definitely want one that isn't going to stop working after a few uses.

This evening I polished off my current read:

Fantastic!

I need some more horsey chicklit recommendations along the lines of French Relations, Well Groomed and Kiss and Tell by Fiona Walker. So please feel free to supply me with a list of books to try! ;)

Picked up some new books

Looks like I am back in Chick Lit territory for the foreseeable future. I've run out of regency romance reads. ;o)

Here's what's residing on my to be read pile:

But where do I start? ;o)

Something cheery for a sunny Sunday

I managed to get some creative time in yesterday afternoon and used some of my new stash.

It's been ages since I've had time to join in with a sketch challenge, so I chose this week's Mojo Monday sketch (# 228) as inspiration and made this:

Paper: October Afternoon, MME
Dies: PTI
Stamps: PTI
Felt: PTI
Punch: Martha Stewart
Other: Sewing machine

So it looks like I'm not quite over grey/yellow/peach colour combinations just yet! I shall be needing some new grey paper as my existing stash is starting to dwindle.

Also I have had a late start this morning as I ended up reading Walking Back to Happiness from cover to cover... ok, page 30 to the end!

Five stars! And I need to restock my tissues. But what a fantastic read. I only have The Ballroom Class left to read and will then be eagerly awaiting whatever new book Lucy Dillon has to write, have loved all of her books so far.

Anyway, I had best get back to what I need to get done! ;o)

A cracking read

Finished it this evening, and wow... just proves that the other Lucy Dillon book I've read (Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts) wasn't a one off.

Fantastic characters, a few familiar faces, and some canine characters you wish you could adopt. Not your usual chick lit, there are everyday triumphs and tragedies, big and small, that make you reach for the tissues. My kind of book. I will cry at most things in books, but it makes the blubbing all the more worthwhile when it's such a great read.

I have Lucy Dillon's first book, The Ballroom Class, on my to be read pile, and just need to get hold of Walking Back to Happiness to complete the set, but I want to savour these two as she has only written four books so far. I'm not complaining, in fact I hope there will be many more!

Short, but sweet

Well the weekend is almost over, I've not managed anything exciting since Friday night's crop, but the house is a lot tidier, boring tasks have been completed and well... I managed to finish this book at last:

It was a pleasant enough read, although I wish we didn't have to wait so long for the next in the series as I am rather intrigued to see how things develop. :o)

I also started this today:

On page 200 now and really liking it. :)

Now, I did manage to make something...

Paper: MME
Sticker: MME
Stamps: MFT
Die: MFT
Felt: PTI
Other: 3D foam

Love that lime twist polka dot paper from MME, yum yum aqua colours. :D

Right, I had best get back to my book. ;o)

Decisions, decisions...

I'm in a bit of a nothing mood tonight.

There's plenty of stuff I could be doing, but I just don't have the energy...

So, there has to be some zero-energy-requiring past time I can do...

I finally managed to pick up the new Nora Roberts at the library last night:

But the Great British Sports Relief Bake-Off starts on BBC 2 tonight.... hm.... Can I manage both before nodding off?

I have a stack of books from the library that I had all over Christmas with the very good intention of getting caught up on my book pile, but I hardly made a dent...

I've also got some more Lucy Dillon books out, I loved Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts:

And have the latest one:

Well, I suppose I'd best choose something and not get wrapped up in Donkey Kong on the Wii again! LOL

Hard to believe

that this time last year it was non-stop snow... today it has been full of blustery gales and dark, dark clouds.

Hence the reason I kind of got caught up in this all day instead of getting anything productive done:

A fantastic read, and a new author to add to my chick-lit arsenal, witty and warm and I admit to shedding a few tears... I am really glad I got her other books out of the library along with this one, now I just need to NOT crack open the next book since I need to make more things along these lines:

Paper: Crate Paper
Die cut and sticker: Crate Paper
Stamp: PTI
Die: PTI
Other: 3D foam

I used the current sketch #245 over on the Card Positioning Systems blog to get me started. Think I shall be needing more sketches to get me going with my Christmas cards at this rate... and yes, I think clean and simple Christmas cards might be the way to go at this late stage in the game!

It's arrived at last!

Just picked up the latest In Death book from the library - it's had excellent reviews and I cannot wait to get stuck in... it's currently sitting on my bedside table so I am not tempted to read it instead of getting the tasks I need to do ticked off my list!

Mind you it is very difficult, such a cold day and it's oh so tempting to just dive under the nice fluffy autumn bedding I have switched to. Love my John Rocha pleated set, a bugger to iron but so comfy.

I'm also eagerly awaiting the arrival of some new stamps from the current Waltzing Mouse release to go with my die purchases:

I went for that must-have Nordic Winter set plus a couple of other items, but while I was buying bauble dies a few other must-haves made it into the shopping cart. I hope that Basic Grey flower die will cut well, I had to have it for the leaf alone!

Right, off to get my tea on then crack on with the to-do list!

OK, so I bit the bullet

 

And finally decided to start French Relations this afternoon - am half way through and really enjoying it. So I amend yesterday's comments - French Relations is a must, followed by Well Groomed and then Kiss and Tell!

If only there were more hours in the day as I would love to finish it before having to take a break for a day at work before I can get in a few more chapters in the evening. LOL

Eight hours later....

  

And I've finished it. :o(

Alternated between that feeling I love with a truly great read - can't wait to read on but don't want it to end!

Anyway, I give it 5 stars.

I would recommend that you definitely read Well Groomed first at least to have a better background for Tash and Hugo - I've read a few reviews that say Kiss and Tell is fine read as a stand-alone but I think if you don't read Well Groomed you really won't have a true appreciation of the back story and characterisations and it is a really good book that leads up to this! You will really miss out if you don't...

I still have French Relations (book 1) on my to be read pile after countless years because I accidentally read Well Groomed first and have never managed to go back and try reading it because I just loved Well Groomed too much... ;o) 

So yes Andrea, this one definitely gives Jilly Cooper a run for her money - hope you enjoy it, but read Well Groomed first!

I may be gone some time...

 

I picked up this from the library yesterday and started it late last night. It's the sequel to my all time favourite Fiona Walker book - Well Groomed. So nice to be revisiting the lives of Tash and Hugo (looking like there will be plenty of ups and downs) - it's 896 pages long so I may have my nose buried in it some time! Best get the bean bag out. ;o)

Back to work tomorrow...

Just as I was getting used to being a lady of leisure during my staycation. :o(

However I do have some nice things to look forward to this coming week (but they are towards the weekend - typically!).

 

To round off my staycation I managed to get through a few reads and a departure from the Hist-Ro was a great "chicklit" book - cried my way through much of the latest Ciara Geraghty book - between the funny bits... I loved her first book, Saving Grace, and the second was good too, but this one had me crying very early on and I just had to read it all as soon as I could, didn't want to put it down. {sigh}

I've also got another chicklit to start tonight if I can stay awake long enough:

 

But first I need a good soak in the tub, went up to Bamburgh today in a rather scenic fashion and although it was initially sunny the clouds soon descended so I doubt any of my pics will have come out too well... Not like this: 

Source: flickr.com via Raquel on Pinterest

But it was just lovely to see those sandy beaches at last! And the chip-stop on the way home was very welcome. ;o)

On the creative front I have something lovely and new to play with this week:

 

My new haul of Waltzing Mouse stamps. I think we will be seeing a few cards soon featuring cameos in particular!

 

I couldn't resist the oval frames either as those cameos were also calling to me in addition to the frames!

Right off to pick my bubble bath!

A quick catch-up

Here's the card I made for week 28's prompt in the 52 Cards Challenge. It called for yellow, cream, and brads...

 

Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Chipboard: Cosmo Cricket
Stamps: Waltzing Mouse, PTI
Dies: Spellbinders
Seam binding: The Ribbon Girl
Brad: Doodlebug
Other: 3D foam, sanding file, distress ink, Corner Chomper

 

In other news, weather continues to be less than wonderful. I've read a few more books and am debating between waiting to re-read...

 

The Devil in Winter from the library or just getting the Kindle version!

I really want to re-read it before I read...

 

A Scandal in Spring which is the next book in the Wallflower series. After reading...

 

It Happened One Autumn yesterday I realise how much I have missed Lisa Kleypas' writing... The new Friday Harbour series cannot come some enough! But in the meantime I have at least a couple of her books to enjoy. ;o)

Staycation off to a sedate start

So my staycation has been marred so far by the weather - showers and intermittent sun all the way this week according to the forecast, so not much chance of any outings.

But I am armed with a pile of books and have just polished off the first one:

 

Mr Knightley's Diary is a very nice retelling of Emma from the point of view of the wonderful Mr Knightley's, or Knightley as Mrs Elton so rudely calls him. ;o)

Makes me want to rewatch my Emma DVD yet again for a bit more Mr Knightley time! Apparently there are more retellings of Austen classics in this form by the same author, but I have to confess that Emma is the novel I am most interested in.

Sunday I was out all day shopping with my mum - looking for some nice new summer clothes in the sales. I came away with nothing but some new Paperchase additions:

 

Some new key caps (my cupcake key caps are looking the worse for wear) and some brand new kraft post-its. They had another book of post-its in the same range called study helpers I think, but I had to decide between the two and kraft won out!

Also got another bookend to go with my previous one as the baking book shelf needs shoring up from both ends now!

Thankfully no new A5 binders added to the line so I was safe from more mini-journals to start!

This afternoon looks like it'll be an outing to the garden centre for some bedding plants to fill in the gaps left by the pansies.

Then, I need to get my box of cards made so far this year sorted, envelopes matched and put in little baggies so they can go into the card basket ready to be used. I have been rather neglectful of the stack, but the organisation task is best performed in front of the telly! Or I might stick my Deathly Hallows Pt 1 DVD on...

It's all thrilling isn't it? There may even be time to catch up with the 52 Cards Challenge!

Sunday round-up

So here I was planning to have got a few things made this weekend... things did not go quite according to plan!

I spent most of the weekend chained to my PC sorting updates to it after installing some new software. {sigh}

I did manage to finish off one book and read another in one sitting:

 

A very entertaining read and I wonder how the rest of this new series will pan out with the Smythe-Smith quartet.

On the creative front I did manage to make my card for this week's 52 Cards Challenge, which was to use hearts, wood and corrugated card.

Well I have one heart accent punched from corrugated card and my wood element is wood background paper:

 

Papers: Crate Paper
Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Dies: Papertrey Ink
Sticker: Echo Park
Punches: Martha Stewart, Marvy
Lace: The Ribbon Girl
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: Chipboard, 3D foam, Glossy Accents, Distress Stickles, Floss, Distress Inks

 

I also wasted half an hour of my life trying to get my Martha Stewart butterfly punch to work again after it jammed trying to cut cardstock. Well it was so bad that I ended up taking a hammer to it and it has fixed the problem enough that I can still punch paper with it, rather than nothing at all. Didn't think trying to get a replacement from EK Success would get me anywhere as I've heard plenty of horror stories about the CS for dodgy Martha Stewart punches. Oh well, I've not lost anything as I would have had to buy a new one if the hammer approach hadn't sorted it. ;o)

I also forgot to post the rather dodgy photos of a card I made the other night - decent light had gone by the time I'd finished it.

Paper and die-cuts: October Afternoon
Dimensional stickers: American Crafts
Alpha stickers: October Afternoon
Other: 3D foam

And now I need to rustle up some tea and check out what's on telly. :)

Two for two...

Much of my weekend so far has consisted of my two favourite ways to pass rainy days...

Reading:

 

 

And watching movies... in fact I have made up for my lack of cinema outings by going to the cinema twice in as many days, yesterday to see:

 

And today...

 

Pirates was good, but I loved the Hangover part 2 - and in particular the return of Mr Chow:

 

I really feel the need to watch the first one again now. LOL

Just unloading the camera...

Since it's photography class tomorrow night, I thought I'd best transfer my photos over onto the PC.

Last week's class was the first one where I actually had a go with manual mode... there were a lot of duff shots (a lot!), but I am starting to get the idea of adjusting speed to suit my aperture.

Here are a few of the pics I took on our evening shoot:

 

I rather liked this guy, it looks like he's standing there with his thumbs in his belt loops... well if he were wearing jeans!

 

Love the contrast of the colours here, I think I am one who prefers things on the darker side so I can lighten them up accordingly - much easier than working backwards from something that is overexposed. Or maybe that's just me.

 

Managed to snap a bit of dramatic sky, wish I'd been able to get more in the shot though.

 

Did try a bit of depth of field shot, but think I should have changed the AF area to a specific segment at the bottom so the rest was then blurred. Plus the sky came out white rather than with a hint of blue so wondering how that can be corrected in the camera...

I also have had my camera on manual since and have been snapping away at home. Especially in the garden before the gales!

 

 

My poor roses don't look quite so delicate and pretty now, and it's a good job I moved the bbq into the conservatory yesterday as I'm not sure where exactly it would otherwise be today...

And in other news for chick lit readers... I have a recommendation:

 

Started at the weekend and definitely an un-put-down-able one, since I stayed up until almost 2 a.m. today to finish it but had to admit defeat for the last 4 or so chapters and finished them before work.

But I put 4.5 stars on it - since if I stay up to read something on a "school night", there's a reason!

Next up on my list is Jill Mansell's latest one and it has had great reviews, so I am very hopeful (but fingers crossed not another 2 a.m. to bed event tonight!).

 

52 Cards challenge: Week 20

Managed to finally find time yesterday to make my card for the prompt I posted earlier in the week. The elements to include were:

Polka dots/spots

Kraft

Pastel

And here's what I made...

 

Papers: Fancy Pants
Resin flower: Webster's Pages
Silk ribbon: The Ribbon Reel
Dies: Spellbinders
Stamp: Papertrey Ink
Punch: Martha Stewart
Bling: Kaisercraft
Other: Sanding file, Ultra-tacky tape, 3D foam pads

 

I'm quite pleased with how the lace border has come up after sanding the pattern off... stands out much more now. :o)

I've also started a new chicklit book this morning - being wide awake in the early hours has some benefits but it's one that is difficult to put down. So I had to stop reading before I got further engrossed!

 

Must resist returning until I've got the things I MUST do out of the way!

My poor little blog...

 
I'm sure it has felt rather neglected this past week as I have totally failed to update it with anything interesting... in fact this post is likely to be rather boring as well...

But here goes - the best way to sum up how the past week has been spent would be as follows.

I got the shock of my life when an e-mail arrived from Next to say that my collage frame was ready to pick up... remember this brown collage frame?

 

The one that was going to take 3 weeks to get here. Well thankfully it was more like 2 and a bit weeks - and the frame is now waiting in it's wrapping for photos to be decided on, ordered and inserted!

Last weekend after a fruitless search for the "bbq of my dreams" in local stores including B&Q, I spent far too much time on google over the weekend trying to narrow down my options and reading every review under the sun, until my the weekend culminated in a dash to Argos on Sunday afternoon at 3.30 p.m. in order to pick up my new grill.

 

It's a 47 cm Weber Bar-B-Kettle and is a decent size without being totally impractical to store in my garden or shed. I went for the Argos deal because for £8 more I got Weber accessories with it including the vinyl cover, charcoal and utensils which would save me in the long run. My little grill has been built and is now waiting to be used - fingers crossed the weather holds this Sunday for the inaugural bbq-fest!

What else... oh yes... in amongst all the bbq review-reading-until-my-eyes-went-blurry I read a couple of books on my TBR pile... always nice.

Then Monday I got The Call from the library to say that the new Nora Roberts - Chasing Fire had finally come in!

So I rushed over straight after work to pick it up... and well there went my Monday and Tuesday evenings... but it was well worth it - a very good Nora book and rather memorable. :o)

Last night was photography class - I shall have to get practising with my exposure settings...

Oh and I did of course make time to watch the double-nighter return of...

 

The Apprentice and You're Fired...

And here we are at tonight, just added the finishing touches to my DCM card for tomorrow and now I am off to decide which new book to start on... ;o)

Currently residing in Chick-Lit-Ville

 

Yep, after a brief Hist-Ro interlude at the weekend I am back on the summery chick lit reading pile.

Typical of a "return to work" day - woke up at 6 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep, so read a bit more of my book and before I know it alarm's going off and it's time to get up.

I think I will be in my PJs very soon tonight ready to delve back into my book - hopefully won't nod off at some embarrassingly early hour though.

But also need to remember to pack my camera bag - first photography class tomorrow night! Can't wait. :oD

So I took a few photos...

Apparently I took too many photos yesterday...

Well, according to my brother and his stern look (which incidentally meant he needed to stick his forehead in the camera to get his point across)...

 

In fact my mother proved how dangerous taking photos can be when she fell backwards down the garden steps... thankfully no major injuries - but blimey it was a shock and a half.

Miraculously she only has a few bruises today including her pride, but has been laughing it off since the arnica gel started working and there will forever be a joke in there somewhere... 

But there were photos...

And they all started with breakfast.

 

The eggs, including my latest additions from last year's stay in Poland.

 

While I was retrieving items from the sideboard, I unearthed this fish plate which used to be my grandma's, acquired by someone in sunny Spain and brought back to the wilds of Yorkshire... thought it was time for a bit of nostalgia and somewhere to put the egg shells when we cracked our eggs!

My brother's contribution to the table - we had a designated driver at the table and in fact after just two shots my brother and I admitted defeat.... I fear we're getting too old to keep up. ;o)

 

There was plenty of food on hand to assist in soaking up the vodka though.

After breakfast there was time to mellow out and enjoy the morning...

 

Including soaking up some rays in the garden. I think I may have had a teeny nap whilst reading my book... but can't be sure. Whatever happened, the morning passed rather quickly!

 

But it was just so sunny and warm...

 

Even the honey bees were out en masse making the most of the weather.

 

By mid-afternoon it was time for some chocolate - seriously, we lasted until the afternoon before there was any chocolate eaten.

My malted chocolate cupcakes that were a real pain in the proverbial to make due to exploding batter and then ultra-gloopy frosting in the hot weather of Saturday afternoon/evening at least tasted nice.

 

I must say though, this was my favourite sweet treat of the day. The raspberry brownie cheesecake I made. Again the cream went a bit runny in the heat when I served up, but it tasted delish. Next time though, I will halve the recipe as it's a huge pan and then when you have the cheesecake layer and cream. Well.... there was just loads of it!

 

We had a persistent visitor throughout the day. Kizia's nemesis... The Gimzo.

 

Poor Kizia, she was not nearly as impressed to see him around...

And that's about it. Needless to say, no one had much of an appetite today!

I've not even opened my chocolate Easter egg yet.

I think I might be off chocolate for a bit longer. hehe

Roll on the next Bank Holiday is all I can say - rather happy there are only 3 days until my next day off. ;o) I haven't had a lie in at all during my week off, yet today was the day where I really felt like I could have slept the morning away, if it wasn't for the fact I was wide awake at 6.30 a.m. and totally knackered by 8.30...

I suppose some of that was down to staying up until 2 a.m. in order to finish this:

 

What can I say... I am one of these people that when they get into something they just have to finish it! If there are any more of her books I deffo need to read, give me a shout, I added a few new chicklit titles to my reserves list at the library - there's plenty of room for more!

Anyway, no doubt tomorrow, when I need to be up for work, I shall need the alarm to wake me. But in the meantime, I'm off to chill-ax for what remains of my hols.

Just popping in...

...between some Easter baking activities (Hummingbird Bakery Raspberry Chocolate Brownie now out the oven) to share a card I made for the current 52-card challenge hosted by Paper&Ribbons on her blog and UKS.

The three elements for this week were Tangerine, Garden and Yellow.

 

Papers: MME
Stamps: PTI
Dies: PTI
Seam binding: The Ribbon Girl
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Flower: Wild Orchid Crafts
Other: Corner Chomper

 

Very summery, even if I say so myself!

Also I finally got round to reading this today - been on my bookshelf since 2006! Can you believe? It was time for a bit of light-hearted chicklit...

 

And it fit the bill, will have to get the rest of the series from the library - hoping to get some time out on the bean bag soon with a new read.

Now, I'd best get round two baking done for tomorrow. ;o)

Sunday is living up to its name

Seriously, seriously good weather today. So good in fact that the bean bag made it's return to the garden and I started and finished off my current book:

 

I'm glad to say it kept me turning the pages until I finished it, so it's a nice return to Cecelia Ahern - still some wacky elements... ;o) But a good read overall.

Also I think it's safe to assume the recipient of a card I made ages ago will have received it by now:

 

Papers: MME
Stamps: Waltzing Mouse
Seam binding: The Ribbon Girl
Die: Nestabilities
Punch: Martha Stewart
Bling: Prima
Other: 3D foam

 

Right, off to bring the washing in and put some cream on my slightly sun-burnt calves! Yikes.

Saturday sweets...

Ahhh, lazy Saturdays are always the best.

I attempted to do some scrapping this afternoon, but have had trimmer trauma with my MM trimmer... fingers crossed I managed to fix and reassemble it ok as it's now cutting a lot cleaner, but I was really worried for a moment there! Eeek... it's still my most reliable trimmer of all the trimmers I own. Which is a few.

While the weather was nice I snapped a few photos in the garden.

 

The lovely rhododendron.

Blue pansies - my favourite kind.

 

My gorgeous frilly pink tulips are out and enjoying the sun.

 

The border is looking very lush - such a difference compared to how it was a year ago when still covered in gravel with a few planters of conifers for decoration...

 

I just love these seriously tiny daffodils.

 

And my yellow dwarf rhododendron - will be great to see how this spreads out.

Also I got down to some baking this afternoon as well.

 

I made a batch of coconut and pineapple cupcakes for tomorrow's dessert.

 

And while the oven was on, I thought I'd make a half batch of oatmeal and raisin cookies... I only had one, promise!

So, now that those are out of the way I think it's a quiet evening in and I may just start the next book on my to be read pile.

 

Giving Cecelia Ahern another go - I loved her first two books, but didn't really like "If You Could See Me Now" and gave up after that.

Fingers crossed I'll like this one! A break from the hist-ro marathon. ;o)

Disappearing blog posts

Last night I wrote a nice not-exactly short blog post, and just at the last stage when spellchecking with iespellcheck it crashed my browser... Ever since I upgraded my browser iespellcheck has been crashing it, so now I have to remember to save a draft before I hit spellcheck, and well as you can see remembering to do that isn't really happening!

So last night I enjoyed some luminous orange classic Kraft Mac & Cheese for tea - thanks to Becky.

Yes, it is definitely a comfort food treat and I can't remember the last time I had some. I have another pack in the depths of my cupboard for emergency purposes!

After my glowing tea I got down to make my card for this week's DCM dare...

Well, while I was doing that I put on this...

...and promptly got engrossed watching it. So much so my foot almost had a rather painful encounter with my Making Memories trimmer when I managed to knock it off my desk.

But it was an extremely good movie, all the better because I didn't have to stick too closely to reading the subtitles for a change!

Yes it is gory, etc. but I really recommend it as it's well worth seeing.

Today my lovely new baking book arrived in the post:

And I have been contemplating my options for Easter... I think when it comes to The Return to Chocolate I shall have to give these a whirl, but with some teeny chocie eggs I picked up in Tesco on top!

But before that happens I need to stay off the chocolate for one more week... it can be done!

Calling all baking addicts...

I had a fruitless search in Newcastle yesterday for a brownie pan that doubles up as traybake carry case thingy with lid.

Something like this:

 

But doesn't have to have the dividers... I really wanted the Lakeland traybake tin/carrier that Gillie had at Gibside for her most delicious traybake offering... but they have discontinued it.

Sooo... in order to make the Hummingbird raspberry cheesecake brownies and all other brownie/blondie/traybake concoctions in that and my new book...

 

I am looking for recommendations from the experts or at least the dab-hand bakers out there.

I have just seen this on the Lakeland website, but it's rather pricey!

 

All other bog standard brownie pans I have seen have been too shallow/small for the dimensions specified in the recipes - not that I want to stick to the rules exactly, it'd just rather be nearer the mark.

In other news.... I am happy to report that Marble Slab Creamery is still in Newcastle and was doing a roaring trade yesterday - I had my all time favourite Marble Slab flavours: Birthday Cake, Cotton Candy and of course Bubblegum!

Next time we're up we shall also be checking out the new Pierogi takeaway we spotted on Pilgrim street - Pierogi Place (I know of a certain person who I am sure will be visiting within the week!). If anyone is looking for a more varied Polish dining experience, Gospoda is the place to go - extremely reasonable and delicious Polish food. The weather being what it was yesterday - i.e. glorious - we stuck to ice cream!

One sweet weekend...

Had a great time cropping Friday night (even managed to bag myself a corner chomper...) and a wonderful time out Saturday afternoon and evening with Zoe and her girls and then when Zoe and I went out for a curry in the evening - will definitely have to do that again soon!

Yesterday my mum and I were originally planning to hit Newcastle for some prime shopping action, but she wasn't feeling up to it and I am quite glad we didn't go as we'd have both been flagging.

Instead we decided on a relaxed Mother's Day so I promised to make desert for a family take away evening...

My little baking project started out looking like this...

 

And ended up looking like this....

Yep, Hummingbird Bakery Strawberry Cheesecake cupcakes.

My mum was so impressed, she got the cake stand out!

 

And I am happy to report they were a real hit.... most delicious, and have been requested again for Easter weekend... we'll see... I might have something chocolaty up my sleeve for Easter weekend since I'll have had no chocolate since that dollop of Nutella on my Shrove Tuesday pancake!

Also this weekend, my collage frame went up... loving it!

 

My little patch of garden is looking very lush and is soaking up every drop of sun available:

 

And after buying tulips for my mum, I am rather wishing I'd bought some for myself...

 

Very nice indeed...

 

I also had some nice post today...

 

Something tells me I'll be using those on my next card project!

Oh and finally... I finished this:

 

As predicted by Zoe, I did cry... quite a bit, but it was a very good read. :o)

Guilty pleasures

Yesterday I finally got my mitts on the latest In Death book...

 

And can happily report that it didn't disappoint... so nice to be back on track in this series as the last couple I haven't found as memorable.

But I spent most of the day reading it cover to cover and was really sad to turn the last page... no new book in this series until November now. :o(

But as to my other guilty pleasure....

 

My mum popped round this afternoon so we could try out another Hummingbird recipe.

This time it was something to use up some of my lemon stockpile, so we tried the lemon loaf cake. Will try and take pics tomorrow as it's currently soaking up the syrup glaze...

But it's scheduled to be dessert for Sunday dinner tomorrow. Let's hope it's good!

And speaking of tomorrow, I really need to get a Photobox order sorted out. 18+ photos to track down on my computer and prep plus need to, at long last, decide what's going in my red Next collage frame.

 

I know, I'm so rubbish - it's still waiting to be filled and go on a wall - one of my resolutions for this year along with getting the glass top cut for my Hemnes chest:
 

It's almost April and neither are done!

The Book Club dare...

This week's dare over on the DCM blog is very exciting... I can't wait to see what people do with it, because the inspiration comes from books... and you know what a bookworm I am!

Well I must confess I didn't know where I was going to go with this dare, as I really wanted to do something regency-esque as an homage to all those flipping regency era hist-ro books I have been devouring of late...

But no... my mojo went into another direction.

Back, back, back... to my childhood and one of my favourite books (although I can't find a picture of the edition I had, it was a rather vivid pink cover - very 1970s!)...

Oh hang on, the wonders of google have found it:

 

I wonder if it's still somewhere at my mum and dad's as the "other nonsense" in there was rather entertaining as well but I can't quite remember what it was...

But anyway, back on track, here is my creation inspired by the above tale for someone who is growing up way too fast:

 

Paper and stickers: Echo Park
Rub-ons: Prima - Nancy Kubo
Journaling card: Prima - Nancy Kubo
Die: Sizzix
Other: White gel pen

 

Those Mommy and Me rub-ons are so cute... so much so I just had to decorate the inside too...

 

I hope the birthday girl will like it when she gets it....

Happy creating!

The joys of spring...

Long evenings and sunshine - can't get much better than that can it?

When I got in from work this evening it was lovely and light - so much so that I finished off my current book while my dinner was in the oven.

I'm now in a quandary as to what to start next. I popped into the library to pick up a book that had come in for me, but managed to leave with 6 more!

Ooops...

Not just hist-ro (yep, still quite addicted to that thank-you-very-much) but also a couple of new chick lit reads to try and get me back in the chick lit zone.

 

One is the latest Jane Green - which has had good reviews on amazon, as I was put off by the reviews I'd heard of some of her recent books... so will be glad to give her a go again, although it has the word "heartbreaking" on the cover, and as Zoe will attest that is usually not my reading enjoyment zone - hence the complete avoidance of The Picoult!

But hopefully the heartbreak in this book will not be on a similar scale. hehe

So I shall have to go consult my rather tall book pile to decide on my new read. But come 9 p.m. I shall be avidly tuning into my soon to be over Tuesday night must-see-TV fix.

 

Silk.

Yep, I don't know what it is about this show, but I rather like it and the characters all have their faults but it just makes them all the more interesting... Just one ep to go after tonight's so I hope it gets recommissioned by the Beeb.

I love it when a plan comes together...

It's been so long since I had a Photobox order drop through the letterbox, but I have just taken receipt of some of the photos I had printed over the weekend for 2 mini album projects.

Now, I had grand plans to use what remains of my 6x6 Togetherness pad:

 

But I need to cover at least 36 sides of a 6x4.75" mini album and what remains of my pad isn't going to go far enough... soooo with the 12x12 papers thin on the ground now here in the UK it looks like I am going to have to raid some of my other paper stash to try and plug the gaps... question is what will work with Togetherness as the colours are a bit more washed out in this line than say OA's Thrift Store, etc.

Anyway, I have got my paper artbins out and will stick the telly on while I sit and go through my options.

Fingers crossed 2 mini albums for Gibside will be enough to get me through the weekend - otherwise I may have to see about sorting pics for a third album... Yikes!

On a non-scrapping note I picked up this from the library yesterday - finally!

 

So at least I can finish off the series.

Off out tomorrow night for dinner and a movie, we're hoping to see Chalet Girl some film that is not Chalet Girl as have since read the release has been pushed back to March 16th!!! Gah... what to see instead? I was hoping to see True Grit (but with another friend) and not sure at all about No Strings Attached.

On my read pile...

I've just finished my latest read and updated my Shelfari list with it only to find that I've now read 14 books so far this year... crikey... I think I need to cut back on the reading a little now that I have less than 5 books out from the library! LOL They upped the maximum to 20 loans at any one time... blimey.

Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Alas my last read was less than wonderful and I was just itching to get it finished so that I could finish it, but I hope the other books by Liz Carlyle are more in line with those titles of hers that I have enjoyed.

Heaven only knows when my addiction to historical romance shall come to an end. I am not sure these can be classed as bodice rippers (ooooh the shame) but I got a bit burned out on chicklit - nothing really new or fun there at the moment.

I am looking for some new authors to try - either historical romance or chicklit so suggestions gratefully received!

The only book I am really hoping to get from the library at the moment (and I am slowly moving up the reservation list) is the last in the Bride Quartet series by Nora Roberts. It hasn't been my favourite series, a bit blah and predictable... but it's the last book, and I just want to read it already! LOL

But I really must get my nose out of my books and attend to the blog and making stuff to share... Now that the days are getting longer and I am actually leaving the house and even work in daylight it might get a bit easier to resist the temptation of getting lost in a good book.

We'll see!

Let the creative times begin...

  

Well, now that I've finished Indulgence in Death I can cast my mind to non-reading matters.

Alas wasn't a truly memorable tale in this series, and it has all become a bit formulaic when past characters are introduced with the same run-down and I do start to count the paragraphs in until the same old descriptions of Eve and Rourke are trotted out.

But does this mean I am going to stop reading the books?

Heck no.

In fact it probably means I will go back for a re-read of the earlier ones...

I do still believe there are fresh and exciting tales to be told in this universe, and the next book, Treachery in Death, sounds like it has a good plot basis to it.

Here's hoping I can get it reserved at the library soon and be nearer the start of the queue to read it. ;o)

Hope it was worth the dash...

 

Just after finishing my tea, the library rang to say that the latest JD Robb had finally come in for me - phew I started at 21st on the list sometime last year...

So off I pootled back in the car, the rain thrashing down and the wind howling, grabbed my book (made a slight detour back to the car for a Whispa!) and now back home. Just need to put the fire on, fluff the sofa cushions and get comfy!

At least it has made the decision of choosing my next read all the easier - got to get through it asap so it can go back for number 22 on the list! :o)

Looks like it's going to be a ribbony month!

 

And it all begins with Seam binding being in da house!

I have some other yummy stash to play with this month as well. ;o)

I have no idea where the weekend went.

Had a great crop Friday night, and did intend to get my Christmas journal finished.... well it's still got a few entries to go!

Saturday I had a few things to do, but managed to start another book when I got in from the crop in the wee small hours, as I was too awake to sleep.

Sunday Ma and I went to IKEA... well it has never before happened in my life, but we got there around 10:40 and were queueing for the tills to open, and out by 11:05!

Then went to the Metrocentre and quick trip into Costco and we were back on the road home after 5!

Finished another book Monday before meeting up for dinner and a movie:

 

Very good!

And last night I started the last book in the Hathaway series by Lisa Kleypas, finished it at 1 this morning. :o)

 

So tonight, I will have to hit the hay a lot earlier but which book to start next?

Monday night is reading night...

Well, it will be as soon as I have had my bubble bath and donned my PJs!

Ah yes, the perfect way to wind down from a hectic Monday.

I am nearing the end of the Bastion Club series by Stephanie Laurens and this is my current read....

 

And no, there doesn't seem to be an end to my current historical romance affliction... Still plenty more books to try, however I am going to be having a break from Stephanie Laurens as soon as I finish off the Bastion Club as they are all becoming much of a muchness...

Will definitely need to try some new authors - so send any recs my way!

Friday catch-up

 

I managed to meet up with a very special friend today for a catch-up, ruminations on life, a few giggles, and of course my first seasonal Starbucks from the Christmas menu. I went for a Peppermint Mocha (the most coffee I will ever manage in one cup) even a latte is too strong for me but this certainly hit the spot - and of course it was accompanied by some fruit toast....

I also spotted this year's Starbucks Christmas CD, but will have to look at it more closely another time to determine whether it's one for the list or not.

We had a good flick through my new addition to the cook book library:

 

I may just try one of these recipes for the next crop... who knows, but it won't be one that calls for 8 egg yolks! LOL

We also ventured into TK Maxx - it would have been rude not to, and given the sheer amount of AC 12x12 album kits including a lovely Dear Lizzy one... I am amazed we walked out minus a kit... Will have to see if they get any other Dear Lizzy ones in in the range I really liked.

On the scrapping front... something has come out of its box ready to be added to...

 

And speaking of Christmas... take a look at the Christmas cactus I am currently plant-sitting...

 
Right, I suppose I'd best see about ordering Pink Martini's Christmas album... wonder if it's up for download on iTunes yet? I noticed there was a new Pink Martini track on the Starbucks album so... am rather hoping it will be on their new Joy to the World album.

Before Strictly...

Thought I would just post some recent makes - for the UKS monthly card challenge, which this month is focusing on label love! :o)

First up a nice festive number (trying to get some of that Jovial stash used!).

 

Papers: Basic Grey
Label and border sticker: Basic Grey
Stamp: Waltzing Mouse
Other: Twine, Stickles, 3D foam, Distress Ink

 

Then I needed a break from Christmas stuff (oddly was not in the mood today... shock horror!)

 

Papers: Cosmo Cricket
Chipboard: Cosmo Cricket
Die: Nestabilities
Stamps: Papertrey Ink, Waltzing Mouse
Other: 3D foam, Stickles

 

And finally, a little boy birthday card as I never really make any of these!

 

Paper: MME
Stamps: My Cute Stamps, Papertrey Ink
Dies: Nestabilities, Papertrey Ink
Brads: Basic Grey
Felt: Papertrey Ink
Other: 3D foam, Distress ink, Copics

 

There we have it...

I also started and finished this today:  

Not bad, definitely better than the more recent Black Cobra series - ugh... those I find rather annoying, as you really have to suspend belief more than any other fictional tale of this period. Plus the baddies are true caricatures... {sigh}

Anyway, I'd best go get my tea in the oven!

Finished...

 

And it wasn't that bad after all, in fact I had to stay up late to finish it. Phew!

Not sure what's next on the list of things to read. It has been a very busy week at work and I've mostly been unwinding on an evening. So busy in fact that I nodded off under the slanket at some ridiculously early hour.... {blush}

Anyway, I'm hoping the weekend will be a good time to restore the batteries!

Baking Book Bargain

 

I picked up this fab book in Sainsbury's today for just £4.99 (cheaper than amazon at the mo).

Baking Magic certainly looks to live up to the title and it is packed full with recipes, not loads of life story blah blah blah writing that hides the main recipe event. And is really friendly for the novice baker who hasn't any gadgets or mechanical robotic assistance in the kitchen - namely me! I don't yet have any essentials but I've read the intro and found it so informative and down to earth on what you really need to get the right results (i.e. not a lot as it happens).

While out at dinner tonight with a friend we flicked through it and ooohed and ahhhed over so many of the recipes and photos, including homemade chocolate bourbons and even chocolate digestives!

There are cakes, cupcakes, muffins, cookies, biscuits and even some yummy looking savoury treats.

Once I am equipped with a few essentials I will be trying something out - for the fun decorative bits and pieces I think I am going to need some recs for online sugarcraft suppliers (gel food colouring, edible glitter, cute muffin/cupcake cases, cute colours of sprinkles), a place I can get unwaxed lemons???

I am back on SW (well with a slight exception for part of tonight's meal) but I think it would be nice to make something fun now and again and share the joy so I don't scoff it all on my own! hehe

Chipping away at the Christmas cards...

This year, I'm planning to chip away slowly at getting my Christmas cards made, so each week now before Christmas I'm going to need to make at least one card so I don't end up doing them all last minute come December.

Because in December I want to concentrate on my Christmas journal - which I'm tentatively planning to make in advance.

Very tentative planning!

Next weekend I really need to get down to planning it as I want to start it at my crop at the end of the month. Hm. Time will tell what happens with that. ;o)

So, this week's Christmas card is this one made in response to the current sketch over at the CPS blog (#184):

 

Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Pearls: Prima
Other: Organza ribbon, Stickles

Note, if you can't draw a nice tidy box with a pen and ruler, stick-on pearls are your friend to hide those corners! Also, SU white cardstock is my best friend for stamping onto - I think I need some cream card too, but wow - the results with my little rather old Papertrey ink cubes is faaaar better to how it stamps on regular cardstock. Spring Moss ink in action on the tree and stamped evenly, never thought I'd see the day. ;o)

It's difficult to tell when the card is stood up, but the insert greeting is positioned so its frame goes around the front greeting when shut.

And here's the inside, grey ink border and some Stickles, and distress ink (old paper) on white cardstock.

I'm rather in the Christmas crafting mood after making that card - but we'll see how long that lasts right?

During my crafty time I watched Changeling.

 

Very good movie, but cripes I need some light relief after it. Amazed it was a true story.

Hopefully the next movie from lovefilm will be one of the comedies on my list. I need a break from drama.

Also I finished the Untamed Bride this afternoon:

It's the first in this series and better than the second one, much better... but still, it's rather OT and so far fetched in places, not to mention revisiting past characters from Bar Cynster and Bastion Club series is overly done because those characters seem to have become caricatures of their former selves... :o(

I think I'm going to need a break from Stephanie Laurens now just so that I don't disappoint myself with the rest of the Cynster and Bastion Club books I still have to read...

Anyway, back to Sunday night entertainment.

Still wiggy...

Typepad still seems to be having a little mood on... the post I wrote yesterday didn't publish until today but at least I can add pics to my posts again!

So back to the weekend... Saturday I had a lovely afternoon out on the coast with Zoe and the girls including a trip to a beach I've never been to:

It might look rather hot and pleasant in the pic, but the water definitely wasn't warm! LOL

After a quick stop for chips by the sea on the way home Zoe and I headed out to see this:

The kid in it was very cute, Jason Bateman I rather like, but Jennifer Aniston - still playing the same character in every movie I see her in. There must be a non-Rachel-Green role out there for her right?

Also I quickly overdosed on pick and mix during the trailers, never mind the movie! Not good.

Yesterday I attacked this:

My very well-stocked To Be Read pile from the library, I feel quite lucky that the lending limit is 20 books in my area, it certainly comes in handy when reading series!

And here's what's at the top of my pile and first due back at the library:

Hopefully it'll be tons better than the Elusive Bride (the second book in this particular series and really disappointing) - the first one seemed to be on loan from the library constantly since mid-June so I've only just got it! Fingers crossed it was worth the wait, but I think I will need a break from Stephanie Laurens land so that her writing, characters and plots don't get too muddled and stale.

But who shall I try next eh? 

July...

Where has it gone??

I can't say I've done much momentous this month judging by my photos... for the last week plus it has been work-work-work (including the weekend)... a few trips to the gym and some reading to relax before nodding off. Boring eh?

However I have managed to eat a lot of these:

Because I...

strawberries!

There's been minimal outdoor beanbag time because well... it's been like this or threatening to be like this whenever I've had time to read:

Instead the beanbag lives in the conservatory - my favoured reading spot.

There has been a new addition to the garden decor - not that there are any visitors to it...

Picked this up at TK Maxx yesterday for £7 I think it was. Very sweet and loads to choose from.

But this is the one that appealed the most.

So when I've not been working I have got through these books...

Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh - First in the series and rather enjoyable, so I shall be happy to read the rest in this series. :o)

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas - First in the Wallflower Series, shame the library hasn't got the next one yet as the titles in the series are currently being reprinted. Grrrr... but I look forward to continuing this one!

A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh - A nice little stand-alone novella, an easy evening read. :o)

Can you tell my addition to historical romance shows no sign of abating any time soon. However... I did have a little foray back into Nora Land with her newest title:

 
The Search by Nora Roberts - I found the last two stand-alone books by Nora a bit unexciting compared to her previous ones, but this one was totally back on form. Really enjoyable and great characters... makes me wish I could have a dog of my own, have been fancying life with a well-behaved Boston terrier for quite some time... but it ain't gonna happen!

And the current read... I am trying to give Stephanie Laurens a go again, but not sure I'm ever going to LOVE her books...

The Lady Chosen is the first in the Bastian Club series... I'm keeping an open mind, honest!

Tomorrow night it's a trip to the cinema which will be a nice break, time to see whether it's Team Jacob or Edward this time round... ;o)

Escapism is the only way to go!

Well there are too many things conspiring against me at the moment to be doing anything productive.

Camera battery dead (still needs charging) so no real photos to share of interest... But here are some shots from the garden.

Now that it is overcast my pink lilies have started coming out - tsk and I can't sit out on the beanbag and enjoy their scent what with the blah weather we're having here:

I just hope the wind doesn't knock them over again!

Then other things are doing quite well in the garden, The Begonia Basket being one of them:

And I am patiently waiting for the fuchsias to open... no doubt they will while the weather is miserably dark and wet and will promptly drop off!

The only thing thriving indoors is the good old Geranium in the conservatory which gets visited by bees when the doors are wide open:

Otherwise I have been trying to keep up with my pile of books from the library (they have increased the limit to 15 books out at a time... yikes).

I've recently read:

Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick - rather liked her historical version of the Arcane Society Series, not that taken with the modern day series enough to get into it, but I may check out more of her writing as Amanda Quick. :o)
 

 

Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas - it was ok, but I blooming well hate these "romance" covers...

Next I returned to some Mary Balogh:

First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh - the first book in the Huxtable series, enjoyed it so will be getting the rest of the series out.

Then a new author to try:

An Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa James - never read her stuff before and this was an OK read, won't be checking out the rest of the series in a real hurry, but would really like to read the book about Jemma and Elijah Beaumont in this series. Hope the library gets it in for me. :o)

And now for my current read, although when I finish it is anyone's guess! I shall be working extra time this week and probably the weekend. :o(

And on that note, I think it only fair I go and get a few chapters read before bed! ;o)

Lost in Austen... sorta.

I have been enjoying the Austen dramatisations that they've been showing as light relief to the football on ITV3 - well... enjoying more some than others... 

I just don't really "get" the film version of Pride and Prejudice with Kiera Knightly, much prefer the BBC one... maybe it is like Dr Who - everyone has their favourite from their formative years!

And I much preferred the recent version of Emma the BBC did, thought Johnny Lee Miller was a wonderful Mr Knightley...

But ITV's adaptation of Persuasion had a great Captain Wentworth in the form of Rupert Penry-Jones:

 
  
Anyway, this has all been a nice accompaniment to my current guilty pleasure.

Regency-set historical fiction... erm, including some good old romance!

Definitely a guilty pleasure yet soooo many books to try and to choose from. My library list has been well-stocked and I have been in there almost every other day picking up something new and returning a little stack of finished books.

This weekend I've read:

Slightly Scandalous by Mary Balogh - have never read any of her books, but enjoyed this one although I hate starting in the middle of a series rather than at the beginning. But I shall definitely be adding her to my author list and following the series.

And then last night I read (very quickly and skimming in the end...)

The Elusive Bride by Stephanie Laurens, second book in the Black Cobra Quartet and it was very "meh" for me. Just a bit OTT and far-fetched in plot (well even far-fetched for this genre) and I just didn't warm to the characters at all. I hope the other books in the series are better as I have the first one on my reserve list at the library. Plus she seems to be a very popular author for this genre, but I much prefer what I have read of Lisa Kleypas and Mary Balogh so far. I've read another of Stephanie Laurens' books from the Cynster series and just hope the other books in that series are better too...

And now I am reading:

Amanda Quick's novel set in Victorian times and includes some paranormal talents... I find Jayne Anne Krentz a bit hit and miss in the books I've read. They are nice enough reads but never terribly exciting... So will see if her historical fiction style is any different. :o)

The days have been flying by...

With this gorgeous weather, when I've not been working I have been out in the garden on my nice big bean bag reading:

Finished it this evening just before doing the ironing - kingsize bedding, blimey thought I'd never reach the end of the duvet cover!

Not sure how much time will be spent lounging in the garden on the beanbag now that 1 1/2 bags of stable manure went in my flower bed courtesy of my dad... it was a bit ripe when the sun was at it's peak today... TMI I know! But hey, at least the roses love it...

Anyway, off to enjoy my favourite fruit of the summer...

M&S cherries! Last year ma and I bought a huge bag half price for £6 and ate them as soon as we got home... the price was still astronomical considering they were "half price", but a treat is a treat - so I shall be enjoying the ones I picked up the other day and hoping that M&S has some more half price offers on their cherries this year...

Coming to a garden near me... soon...

Yesterday I was very much awol lost in my current new read:

This is apparently Ciara Geraghty's first book and wow, I am so glad I picked it up, and her second one too! Many tears and tissues but she is a great new author to the Chick Lit fold and I will be looking forward to diving into her second book, but not today. As I only finished Saving Grace this morning and haven't the emotional strength to start another. LOL

While not reading my book yesterday - we hit the Nurseries and Garden Centres yesterday in search of new items to go into my slightly uncovered flower bed in the garden now that the orange blossom has gone in:

 

Here are the spoils:

I am still hoping the most local Garden Centre will get the Lady of Shallot... we shall see what space will be left in the bed for more Austin roses...

The first of the proper rose climbers, it's already got a rose openeing...

Looks like it will be very pretty.

And now climbers part two...

Some more extravagance for the brick wall behind the bed with this one I think...

Those flowers must be quite heavy but they are pretty spectacular when they come out!

The colour of this one is quite amazing, and I think this is the one that will be stay in a planter against the willow screening rather than going into the ground on the other side:

Elsewhere things are thriving after the rather wet weather we have had all week (bar yesterday).

I love this lavender, which I call my moth lavendar...

Something else is thriving on the blueberry bush and chomping away at it! Hm... not too happy about that but think it will be treated for whatever insect is doing that.

The trailing begonia is doing very well outside now and needs a proper hanging basket bracket to hang from!

And of all my baskets and pots, my little begonia basket is the one doing the best after all the rain!