Pizza Wednesday.............................x

Any excuse, and I will get my bread maker out. This is all new to me, I realise I'm about 5 years later than most people, but better late than never...

My lovely neighbour gave it to me a few weeks ago, and I am chuffed with it. Quite often we have a pizza tea , which the bumblebee's like as they choose their own toppings...but the bread maker is soooo much better at kneading and rising than my fists and radiator. I found myself with a few minutes spare after helping with little bumblebee's weekly swimming class, so I trotted off to the village shop, and found some delicious Somerset cheeses which squealed and jumped out of the counter into my bag.

 

I love dough. There's something about it.....................

( No that is not my hand, Talulla wanted to grate the cheese, she thinks I don't notice her secret snitching of the cheese........I do bumblebee, I do ....) 

Using a simple dough recipe, and what ever we have in the pantry, our pizza's always taste different...infact I don't even weigh it out, I have inherited my Mum's chuck it in, oooh a bit more flour, a bit more water, bit of sugar.....that's about right. BUT if you want to get a perfect dough try Jamie's recipe.

It's a dog's life eh?..........................................

How are you coping with your post wedding blues?!....x

I think I have post wedding blues............................we, I had such an emotional day, such a build up, but the dress, oh the dress, the cheeky Harry, the trees in the Abbey I thought were so beautiful and whimsical, a real fairytale. Ho hummmm it makes me want to get married all over again......

There have been things to take my mind off the lack of wedding talk.......things being....a spot of boating up the river, ice-creams on the beach, and paint. Annie Sloan to be exact. have I lost you? Lets start again....

I urge you, if you are ever down this west country way, to take a boat out, up the river at West Bay, just outside Bridport - Dorset. The bumblebee's had the best time, the grinning and giggling didn't stop. Of course sunshine is probably best, with a picnic....dogs can be taken ( well behaved dogs.....we left ours at home! ) and off you go in search for ratty and toad....

Also as the boat hire is in the harbour, you can stop off for fish and chips, or a splash on the beach. There is also a new play park for the kiddies which is great...all new parks are always a hit.

Paint, paint, paint. I have been painting. I cannot tell you how happy I am to have found an Annie Sloan stockist nearby. It has changed my life........seriously! The idea of not having to sand down and prep, is insane, and I honestly didn't think it would work. The lovely lady in ShyViolet was so enthusiastic about the paint, that I literally raced home and began the first project........

I don't mind dark furniture, but in small doses. Mr.Q warned me it could end up looking like an Elton John piano if I wasn't careful......how blinkin rude I said!!!

We just need to find a suitable Piano stool now..............................

I love it soooo much!!!

And then there was the sideboard.......

This was given to us by my parents a few years ago, when my Dad still had his Antiques shop....It did take a lot of guts to paint this, as it is such a lovely piece of furniture...eeeek I don't know what my Dad will say when he next see's it!!! 

I love how bright and airy the room looks now, with the painted beams too. This is just how I imagined the room looking when we first looked around the cottage. For a cottage, we are very lucky as we do have lots of natural light from our big windows anyway, but I just love painted furniture so much.....x

It's Royal Wedding day....................x

"You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you." 

— Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.

Romantic days and wedding fever.......................x

There's a frenzy going on................................have you noticed? Let talk royals in a mo, first I want to show you some pictures. Mr.Q and I strolled around Forde Abbey this week, and what a lovely time we had exploring the gardens, spying the trout in the lakes, being terribly boring and "ooohing" and "ahhhing" at tapestries, paintings, and ceilings......yup.......and we took ages taking it all in. We really enjoyed its so much, you should visit the place too, they do a lovely cream tea for two under £5! 

Honestly after all this walking this week, I ought to look Amazonian...... ( in my dreams, where I am married to Mr.Darcey, a perfect size 10, and have a holiday home in Normandy )

Ahhhhhhh what a lovely week I've had with Q! The bumblebee's have had a fun packed week too, getting ready for the Royal wedding, dressed in princess dresses for their feast at school today, coming home with various handmade weddingy bits and bobs, claiming they are sooooooooooo excited for tomorrow....Good luck to Will's and Kate xxxxxxxx 

Come on! Get that bunting out! x

B.T.W both Bumblebee's are now vegetarians, the roasted lamb tipped them over the edge last weekend, and so they no longer eat "dead animals, we are vegetarians".....although I am not so sure little bumblebee has grasped the situation ( is she just following in big bumblebee's footsteps? ).........she said " why does everyone keep talking about us being dinosaurs?" !!!!! Meat eaters....vegetarians......it's all confusing for a 4 year old! But I am whole heartedly behind Talulla in her decision, we could see she was in such a moral dilemma, she adores animals. Pigs and lambs are her best, but any will do, she just is so contented and happy with them, she's my little budding vet, or perhaps she will be one of those ladies you see on the telly talent shows.....dancing with a dog...or perhaps a sheep or pig!

xx

We're going on a ramble..............................

My legs are ever so sore. You see Mr.Q MADE me walk 5.5 miles today, and I have not been quite tickity-boo of late. I should know better really, and take things a bit more easy, and gently. Low blood pressure can be a bit of a pain...........any way......we did go on a lovely walk today through some pretty Somerset villages, with the doggies, in the sun, saying "hellooooo" to anyone and everyone who dared give eye contact.

And on Bank holiday Monday we found ourselves at Chard reservoir....now Chard is not the most attractive of towns in Somerset, but this little woodlandy walk round the reservoir is fab. Dappled shade, wildlife aplenty, and many, many tree's to climb. Plus we greedy Q's took a yummy scrummy pasta salad and donut picnic with us ( we didn't eat salad and donuts together...we aren't that strange, though I think given half the chance Little bumblebee would )..

We do seem to have been on many a walk these holidays..... 

I am ever so lucky as I have my man all to myself for three days this week....I suppose the logical thing to do, would to be getting on with the windows and the vegetable patch ( which is still not finished!! eeeeek ) But I have never been logical, and so feel we should spent precious time together...I think we might head for a National Trust something tomorrow, and perhaps behave like grown ups do. Oooh can you imagine wandering around at our own pace, no rush for ice-creams or parks???? can you, can you? 

Really, I just want to hold Mr.Q's hand tightly and just be.

Happy Easter...........................

Wishing you all a Happy Easter with family and friends, chocolate, big lunches, and laughter.........

We are popping off soon for an Easter egg hunt....wish us luck!....

T.T.F.N xxxxx

Blooms and blankets...........x

 Bluebells and Lilacs are flowering in our garden...so pretty and magical. I feel like one minute I look out and there is nothing growing....the next.......

The blooms are out and greenery is a growin! We got the blue bunting out this morning too......Jessie cat favours a bit of bunting, and will only lounge in the flower boarders, squashing precious plants in a lazy lounging kind of way, or on the garden table under the bunting...think she thinks she's royal or something....

She will be demanding cream every day, and a floppy sun hat before long.................

Mr.Q has fixed my camera...horray yippee woo hoooooooo.....so I could take some pictures of the Bumblebee's finished blankets and pillows for their Lilydolls, think I prefer the red gingham binding, but eeeeek - you know what it's like when you are in the middle of a project and realise you don't have enough to finish....a quick pit stop to the local fabric shop only unearthed plain coloured, less thick binding....and with biggest bumblebee always preferring bright colours, I opted for the purple.....

Lets hope they enjoy them! I'm thinking I would rather fancy a blanket adult size like these....would you too????? xxx