Happy Easter ......

.....to all my lovely blogging friends near and far

Very busy week - but the books have been put away for the time being and now looking forward to a four day break to relax and spend time with the family and hopefully some sunshine!

I've been getting a little Easter display ready for this weekend and was so chuffed with my Charity shop buys yesterday - the two for £4 and brand new.

which came in very handy for these mini eggs

 
Our son and his family are over for lunch today and can't wait to see the children's faces when they spy all the goodies I have for them - spoilt I know but what are grandmother's for!!

This Simnel cake I made from the Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry show on TV the other evening - Bake off something or another. I do like Paul Hollywood - have you seen his Bread making programme? Yummy - the bread that is, but.....

And I made the crystallised primroses for the top!

More than Easter bunnies

and chocolate eggs galore,

is the cross of Calvary,

the sacrifice of our Lord

For Jesus is the reason

We all can celebrate

And come to Him to freely receive

His love and saving grace

By M S Lowndes

Lunch at our daughter's on Sunday and another Easter egg hunt to organise for the boys. If the weather's good then maybe a trip out on Monday for some lunch and a walk.

 Hope you're all having a wonderful, relaxing Easter.

Bye for now x

Is this Spring?

Oh joy of joys I actually hung my washing on the line today - and it dried perfectly. Is this the sign of Spring we're all waiting for?  Also the string of solar fairy lights that are hanging on our fence all year round - suddenly lit up last night when it got dark - proof in itself that the sun really had been shining and re-energised them!

All of a sudden flowers are springing up everywhere

This was in Hyde Park on Sunday - we were visiting the V&A museum - aren't they gorgeous?

I must just show you this lovely book that I treated myself to a couple 

of weeks ago - I love it. 

I'd seen it in the Homemaker magazine back in January which featured this Camellia blanket - and I just had to have it

I so enjoyed making the pram blanket last year for my new granddaughter that I thought I'd have another go. So - off I went this afternoon to buy this gorgeous yarn

I have a feeling I'm in 'Essay avoidance' mode again - but my evenings are for relaxing so tonight I'll make a start. Don't hold your breath though - it could be months before you actually see the finished article but I'll certainly have fun making it.

What do you do for relaxation in the evenings? 

Welcome to my new followers Bella, Kathy, Patricia, Amanda, The Tasmanian Minimalist and She wouldn't believe it.

Food shopping - love it or hate it?

....I hate it with a vengeance. It's one of those jobs that has to be done with a means to an end. After all if it didn't get done then we'd all starve - well probably not but you get my drift.

Apart from driving to the store, going round endless busy aisles choosing what I want, queueing at the busy checkout, pushing the loaded trolley to the car,  filling the boot then emptying it again when I get home I just find this burdensome chore one that I could well do without. Then you have to unpack and put away!

Anyway today was no exception until I reached the magazine racks. Well I couldn't resist this new Cake Decorating magazine. Not that I want to buy it regularly as I think it's a bit of a con to get you to buy it as it goes up next time to £2.99 but it was giving away some useful items - a pretty cardboard cake stand, two butterfly cutters, some edible glitter plus of course the magazine itself, all for 99p which I thought was a bargain. (My husband always says I'm an advertiser's dream - and he's probably right but hey ho)

And then I came across this Crafts Beautiful magazine which I've not seen before and to be honest not something I would normally buy- preferring Mollie Makes and Homemaker magazine etc.

Anyway they were giving away some useful items - two reels of coloured twisted twine, toppers for card making (which I don't do but will come in handy)

and also a book of beautiful printed papers, which I definitely will use.

Isn't it silly how a couple of magazines - totalling today at £5.99 can lift the spirits? I came home a lot happier than I went out - and now it's time to put the kettle on methinks. What cheers your day up?

Welcome to my new followers Mary and Clicky Needles - lovely to have you on board and look forward to seeing you again.