Yes I am late with this post and truth is I have been too busy reading other people's blogs which are so much more interesting. A certain rugby player's blog in the Times has been very entertaining and I have been farming on Facebook - it is highly addictive.


Also summer holidays are in full swing, which you can tell from the increase in rain so there have been trips to the lake, walks in the woods, swimming and cinema outings for the older one.


I took Rachel and Caitlin out to the lake this week which was fun, although Caitlin didn't understand why I wouldn't let her dive in while I was on my own in charge of her and the two year old and the lake is cold and full of fish !


Rachel was happy pretending to fish with a long piece of grass. We then went for a walk in the woods to find some nature and the like, okay it was to tire them out as they have been like hyper-active weasels all week but I used the nature excuse.


We did see a few squirrels but they were so darn quick there was no way I could get them on film.

Due to highly excitable, weasel behaviour one of my favourite vases hit the floor this week - it was turquoise ( now who is surprised to hear that !?) I at least have a photo to remember it by or alternatively to locate a replacement with LOL


My little brother had his birthday on the 1st of July and I was completely banned from taking pictures of anything - does he not know me at all ? We did have a nice get together - it involved a large bowl of Jelly because he loves it and a rather odd cake from the shop - as you can't really put a candle on a bowl of jelly.


During the week my husband came home with a gazebo, nobody seems to know what possessed him but we had an interesting time putting it up with the help of the wee one.

She was quite happy picking out the poles by number - funnily enough she knows the number two best of all and found them no problem.


Then of course the girls insisted on inspected every step of production and now it stands at the bottom of the garden and it of course has rained ever since it was constructed !

On Saturday not only was it the last match in the Lion's tour but one of our old friends was coming up for a visit.
It was also of course the 4th of July and as we usually have a half-time lunch during match days we decided that hot dogs would be a vague nod to the day that was in it.


Also it was about all I could make in my fraught state while watching the match.
And what a match it was, the rugby was amazing and after the heartbreak of the week before the fact they came back and played with such heart was just brilliant. Look away now if you don't know the score !!



CJ was also thrilled because he is finally to be a best man which was one of the purposes of the friend's visit, he is so excited bless him. I have to get hold of a book on it for him apparently.

Oh and the only nature that I did get a picture of was found by daughter in the garden - it is a heart and dart moth we know this because we checked in "the book ".


The book in question, is one my parents had when I was a kid from the reader's digest and contains the British Isles flora and fauna. I loved it so much as a kid that I claimed it when I left home as my own and it is still well used today.


Becca not to be outdone came in with a red flower for me to photograph but pretty as it was I couldn't resist getting one of her as well.


I have - in the absence of any layouts recently (printer has completely given up the ghost !!) have updated my little slider at the side with summer layouts and projects just so there is something to look at of interest.