december 1...advent pockets to fill with love...

<b><br /></b><br /><b>morning lovely bloggy friends...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />we had a mid week teacher's strike here yesterday & therefore a house full of extra's...<br /><br />so not all my boxes were ticked- which i'm needing to do each & every day now that we are<b> *in*</b><br /><br />the month of our huge <a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/11/going-homex.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">{move back}</span></a> to the beautiful beaches of sydney...<br /><br /><br />so...after a morning of balance (you know those mornings- & it wasn't the kids!)...<br /><br />the ever patient, every gorgeous husband took all the kids to school...<br /><br />& i'm sitting here, with a strong cup of tea...thinking bout filling advent pockets...<br /><br /><i>not life altering i realise ;) but about all i can manage this morning...one of <b>those </b>mornings people...!</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3VrjwRYripjEAopaJrm0vZ6KCoLWyC5EBSo7JgH3BvhvbiJNO40u79W-EtNnr65pb3crhLAsNokFpacmYUIJHIBasShH9xyPscuOXOOT1dQmqyrQ5_ctlPgkXAR7lwARTFqMvqQT18IH/s1600/advent1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3VrjwRYripjEAopaJrm0vZ6KCoLWyC5EBSo7JgH3BvhvbiJNO40u79W-EtNnr65pb3crhLAsNokFpacmYUIJHIBasShH9xyPscuOXOOT1dQmqyrQ5_ctlPgkXAR7lwARTFqMvqQT18IH/s640/advent1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><b>for our three kiddos, age irrelevant, the *advent calendar* is a special lead up to the big day...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />they've all gone off to school this morning anticipating the opening of the first advent goodies<br /><br />this afternoon...<br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>some years we've had little fabric squares on string lines across the windows...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />some years we've done the <strike>desperate</strike> easy <i>quick-it's-the-flippin-first-of-december-store-bought </i><br /><br />chocolate calendar boxes, with the flip open windows...<br /><br />you know the ones...awful, loud, disney inspired {!!??}...yet do the job...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXgZelBOaVKp9LOLPMxDLle10NIC5KRl6dsYwGDcmBZ-4hzltmTwq8Ubd57K8k_oNDNO2v11cyv5KJLPg4OcDYxUdZlUYbdNhFQlR5d99VtEUFuA5ULrI6Z04YJEVPoo1Da8T3Z_kJGLT/s1600/advent2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXgZelBOaVKp9LOLPMxDLle10NIC5KRl6dsYwGDcmBZ-4hzltmTwq8Ubd57K8k_oNDNO2v11cyv5KJLPg4OcDYxUdZlUYbdNhFQlR5d99VtEUFuA5ULrI6Z04YJEVPoo1Da8T3Z_kJGLT/s640/advent2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>this year</b> we needed something simple...that could survive a mid-advent flight <a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/11/going-homex.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">{home to Australia}</span></a>,<br /><br />whose daily pockets could be filled with more than chocolate coins...& that was made with love<br /><br />by me, for them, in the house we have loved in the english countryside, for so long...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKNjN6CgjmfQ6hJxuLgxIf-3GQjOCoasp29qY-q6XKm2762dISTZMg8oZFEpYbr_Eyb03u8k4MvwMXXSdWroX-eEwy3Xz-OT0jthfWBsg9Pf9LBVkchaZACpr1GLyS3MJs90u4ItX5SKG/s1600/advent3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKNjN6CgjmfQ6hJxuLgxIf-3GQjOCoasp29qY-q6XKm2762dISTZMg8oZFEpYbr_Eyb03u8k4MvwMXXSdWroX-eEwy3Xz-OT0jthfWBsg9Pf9LBVkchaZACpr1GLyS3MJs90u4ItX5SKG/s640/advent3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>so...the squares were cut...the french numbers stamped...the pieces sewn together...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />& this morning i am going for a quiet, simple wander to fill those pockets...<br /><br />english sweets...some little english souvenirs...little reminders of our time here together...<br /><br />by Christmas day we will be sitting in the sand, drinking smoothies & wondering what the cold<br /><br />felt like...<br /><br />so taking this advent calendar home on December 20 & opening one day in Dubai & the<br /><br />remaining days in the sunshine just makes <b>this year's calendar all the more special</b>...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIfWLtk2zczl-bq1G-lse3cdRq1vhoSwFNBNbSyu0HZsYFh2N5FOMHtOt10yg-L6pLFA6Zpb7C9mFDA4FJS88hFGdGDhOwo29YTDqH3f1V97mv12vZ-xbqKHUitZTQ0-PsVGG_bcxsXho/s1600/advent6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIfWLtk2zczl-bq1G-lse3cdRq1vhoSwFNBNbSyu0HZsYFh2N5FOMHtOt10yg-L6pLFA6Zpb7C9mFDA4FJS88hFGdGDhOwo29YTDqH3f1V97mv12vZ-xbqKHUitZTQ0-PsVGG_bcxsXho/s640/advent6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>at this time of year- life can be a tricky balance...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>remember the simple things are often the loveliest </b><b>memories...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYuE1fx-uwW5SmWhu3grFB1D6F3r6j6CdIZQbbgddZmLatD1aUf9qlq_MZc9LZ_6L91R420DJZt3BMYGz2HuqpYFCKxt7t_RPwOek31Yfj99XJ5AOdzvHY6mX315z129Oj7WAkUbFjczm/s1600/advent4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYuE1fx-uwW5SmWhu3grFB1D6F3r6j6CdIZQbbgddZmLatD1aUf9qlq_MZc9LZ_6L91R420DJZt3BMYGz2HuqpYFCKxt7t_RPwOek31Yfj99XJ5AOdzvHY6mX315z129Oj7WAkUbFjczm/s640/advent4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>~~~~~~~</b></div><b><br /></b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">a shared thought: yesterday an incredibly brave mother from our little school lost her long fight with cancer...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">her two beautiful children were blessed to have had her guide them for as long as she could...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">today please just take a moment to look at your children...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">& to love them that little bit more...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Karen will always be an inspiration in my mind & though there are many tears- her smile is what i will recall each & every time we passed with school bags, scooters & *good morning's*...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">thank you for the small *moment* of time in which i knew you Karen- your children will continue to be loved & watched over at school by their many gentle friends...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">xoxox</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>

december 1...advent pockets to fill with love...

morning lovely bloggy friends... we had a mid week teacher's strike here yesterday & therefore a house full of extra's... so not...

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vintage chairs, village markets & a B.B {british bestie}...

<b>our village market- the B.B {british besite} & i are taking you with us this morning...</b><br /><br /><b>we want your opinion on this seriously cool rocking vintage chair...</b><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJaE2-Vg07S4RAZIIy2vgm3km6zh8GYQc_yZbdJZK6T24I3VFwvmeoNLXUiLvCpze89cRhdOhEA4pBG9SpBboOo0ouRMkkntD_SBAIopwB_6B-Z7QNfiLWXD3HiqSgxHC_v2iIiXaEpzc/s1600/janechair1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJaE2-Vg07S4RAZIIy2vgm3km6zh8GYQc_yZbdJZK6T24I3VFwvmeoNLXUiLvCpze89cRhdOhEA4pBG9SpBboOo0ouRMkkntD_SBAIopwB_6B-Z7QNfiLWXD3HiqSgxHC_v2iIiXaEpzc/s640/janechair1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />patch-worked by hand- <i>re-stuffed all squishy & perfectly snuggly...</i><br /><br />perfect for B.B's bay window...perfect for C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S....<br /><i> </i><br /><i><b>you hearing this Mr.B.B ?</b></i><br /><br /><i>i can assure you your christmas will be <b>full of festive cheer ;) </b>if you bobbed down & picked up this </i><br /><i><b> </b></i><br /><i>piece of patch-worked heaven for her...<b>you listening !?</b></i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOkaOeKaXQ9ew4taiBYJU82q8vlhbS1qARDK6fTjzxrF3qYoA4XlBDAgSsylDTB6saUpiwSAqEiyoIj9toT3jTReoUgqS8nvhBwRtrUzmjxwpDw4VyQ60Rl2zbXZMVI56p-hTgmkAQnX5/s1600/janechair2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOkaOeKaXQ9ew4taiBYJU82q8vlhbS1qARDK6fTjzxrF3qYoA4XlBDAgSsylDTB6saUpiwSAqEiyoIj9toT3jTReoUgqS8nvhBwRtrUzmjxwpDw4VyQ60Rl2zbXZMVI56p-hTgmkAQnX5/s640/janechair2.jpg" width="516" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>this is the same little stall that had the blue side board last week... <a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/11/virtual-coffee-at-my-local-food-market.html" style="color: #a64d79;">{here}</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">& i know from your emails & comments, that  a few of you would've whipped that in the back of your </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">people mover.. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">it's also the same little secret spot that the B.B & i got our french potato baskets from...<a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/08/vintage-potato-basket-love-my-thrift.html" style="color: #a64d79;">{here}</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">man do we need to get her this chair...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirnlUtQ1yDqKiFB7Nc8rq6PV3YGtcloboMlCylRWhMmI02BsGHuuQq-BTKRCX6XL_Wmu-OqxNkpEJVH9Dh-0XvHZEUu4q1uda49B3kFkjcLalDrcSPm0TuaCgDOSPaawG4KR1VU8u_LBH/s1600/janechair4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirnlUtQ1yDqKiFB7Nc8rq6PV3YGtcloboMlCylRWhMmI02BsGHuuQq-BTKRCX6XL_Wmu-OqxNkpEJVH9Dh-0XvHZEUu4q1uda49B3kFkjcLalDrcSPm0TuaCgDOSPaawG4KR1VU8u_LBH/s640/janechair4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>anyway- the seeds have been sewn with Mr.BB & all 20 of our fingers are crossed...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>maybe a quick "how are you lovely Mr.BB- did we mention it's V & A fabrics" text may nail it?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgDRWi2pO_On7ZYgvq-GsQa0hA_PKlsk0r53dKYl9va7jdJ1uXSix11KGYnikSSKsoqGJBwD-iNPdWBjfV8eL7d2tnPvR_121uaS8A7mb393JSy_YpnQ_2dBpRnN2bwxg1df5fPoi3uq0/s1600/janechair5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgDRWi2pO_On7ZYgvq-GsQa0hA_PKlsk0r53dKYl9va7jdJ1uXSix11KGYnikSSKsoqGJBwD-iNPdWBjfV8eL7d2tnPvR_121uaS8A7mb393JSy_YpnQ_2dBpRnN2bwxg1df5fPoi3uq0/s640/janechair5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-tWQB2PqmA6PHVQbdBkIDQ834jYFXQDA4UIwlL-X1vvNiKLl6MfFh60FpcMZQpUrSu5q1Qt8-OVKf0KZ5TAg5bBbTffTKB11aKEbcfLG5acHDHR3IN3g9bPJ0p0KUJQ73SNeT7zjTyfI/s1600/janechair7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>between this gorgeous chair & my big old country house there was also a *house sale* on this </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>morning...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">i really just needed a wander <b>with her</b> & a look at <strike>old stuff</strike> vintage bits this morning...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">some<b> time out</b> from the list ticking & the endless <strike>at times a little overwheliming </strike>planning... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we did good....<b>real good</b>...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a great old typewriter & some wonderful old cotton reels for me...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5FC1YN3D9-6z7wk1Rvv8sueIefUsXzvhKK7ScMdvFrdHk3VipNGLcmTmZHH1zstKXnKG7mF_CCSHUEf5Kc6fMjPTgGwv6_BwwpweYAJcVH1HW8rcFDNCxvZic13G9tN5EDC7U00Q2263/s1600/janechair6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5FC1YN3D9-6z7wk1Rvv8sueIefUsXzvhKK7ScMdvFrdHk3VipNGLcmTmZHH1zstKXnKG7mF_CCSHUEf5Kc6fMjPTgGwv6_BwwpweYAJcVH1HW8rcFDNCxvZic13G9tN5EDC7U00Q2263/s640/janechair6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">& a perfect vintage milk bottle that we worked out was over 50 years old and that was produced for </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the dairy farm not far from the B.B's folks house- for her...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">i love that...the history & connections...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>so...another gorgeous crisp wander through my little part of ol'Blighty...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with thoughts of both days on the beach in Australia & days snuggling up with mulled wine & the  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BB on this chair<b> </b><i>dancing around in my head...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>yooohoooo...Mr.BB this is for you...</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-tWQB2PqmA6PHVQbdBkIDQ834jYFXQDA4UIwlL-X1vvNiKLl6MfFh60FpcMZQpUrSu5q1Qt8-OVKf0KZ5TAg5bBbTffTKB11aKEbcfLG5acHDHR3IN3g9bPJ0p0KUJQ73SNeT7zjTyfI/s1600/janechair7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-tWQB2PqmA6PHVQbdBkIDQ834jYFXQDA4UIwlL-X1vvNiKLl6MfFh60FpcMZQpUrSu5q1Qt8-OVKf0KZ5TAg5bBbTffTKB11aKEbcfLG5acHDHR3IN3g9bPJ0p0KUJQ73SNeT7zjTyfI/s640/janechair7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the BB & i are bringing you back here over the weekend</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>for the lighting of our village christmas tree<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a mulled wine or two</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">you in?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">xxx</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> </b> </div>

vintage chairs, village markets & a B.B {british bestie}...

our village market- the B.B {british besite} & i are taking you with us this morning... we want your opinion on this seriously cool rock...

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virtual coffee- i love you bloggy gals...

<b>if i could just reach out & hug all of you i would...</b><br /><br /><b>thank you for being so *there* for me when i shared our news <a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/11/going-homex.html"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">{yesterday}</span> </a></b><br /><br /><b>i've bought you a coffee...an amaretto coffee no less for being just so wonderful & </b><br /><br /><b>supportive...</b><br /><br /><b> </b><br />a christmas coffee for you full of blog love & a good shot of italian amaretti...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZeYApa1I0lCXCJBbliZ092fboISM84C2TpBkLwCgvShrxfut7ALyo41HAqcmAi9jFgd3tVM6F3MhBqeOd0OYTLsd-GODm-CB-32KFIr5VCfOGy4U_g-jzDHG3xn4UlgAxyrxOTZc7_91/s1600/xmascoffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZeYApa1I0lCXCJBbliZ092fboISM84C2TpBkLwCgvShrxfut7ALyo41HAqcmAi9jFgd3tVM6F3MhBqeOd0OYTLsd-GODm-CB-32KFIr5VCfOGy4U_g-jzDHG3xn4UlgAxyrxOTZc7_91/s640/xmascoffee.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>sharing that huge, life changing {again} move back to the gorgeous beaches of sydney, australia</b><br /><br /><b>has just got me back on track here...</b><br /><br />i love you guys- & i love to share my life here in the english countyside with you daily...<br /><br />for the last little while i feel like i've not been <i>acknowledging </i>this massive decision with you gals that<br /><br />are so much a part of my day to day here...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYlVWbnjZ8MkyNu8NRk8KiHLQrV7-tCBcDtULdgJ0ot4CfnHuyR277-Z3FGt-c1BNv8rlaXzFUGXnNRiTBxybsQwznaAoEc-8KnUHws39nMcPNrGK7zrTiu3NF3Sz35_QtpF1N313KSoX/s1600/xmascoffee1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYlVWbnjZ8MkyNu8NRk8KiHLQrV7-tCBcDtULdgJ0ot4CfnHuyR277-Z3FGt-c1BNv8rlaXzFUGXnNRiTBxybsQwznaAoEc-8KnUHws39nMcPNrGK7zrTiu3NF3Sz35_QtpF1N313KSoX/s640/xmascoffee1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><b> </b> <br /><br /><b>i just feel like we are now all on the same page of my crazy <i>book</i> & that we can all do this </b><br /><br /><b>together...blogging all the way!</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />so...if you're happy to be along for the ride, grab that coffee for our weekly virtual catch up & i'll<br /><b><br /></b><br />share a few things...<br /><br />i know so many of you have loved daily visit to my little piece of the english countryside for a looong<br /><br />time now & i know there are some of you i've just met...<br /><br />i want to take <b>all of you</b> on the journey from this life here in the <b>countryside of england</b> ...<br /><br />back to our life on the <b>beaches of australia</b> together...<br /><br />we're working like crazy people here, as you may well imagine...<br /><br />we fly home to <b>Oz</b> december 20- yep 5 days before the big man himself arrives...<br /><br />mad i know- swig that coffee gals- there's more...<br /><br />so...i'm planning packing, crating, last minute collecting ;) , kiddo-ing, school sorting on two sides of<br /><br />the globe, christmas gifting....& massive emotion dealing each & every day at the moment...<br /><br />this little spot of mine is going to carry me through it all...<br /><br />you'll all help carry me through it all...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUGX_eaPHkM3tNbAhjPcV3epojsrPJZFTY31ys2bGYRfw0zgxuVZBQL0BAdSiRz2h4x2uw6zo2JrSfRNgOlCuIgB2jnHH25EpzkgOADzsIHLV8wRt-5BvYOEo5JqONEEOgd2oflwKqxm9/s1600/xmascoffee6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUGX_eaPHkM3tNbAhjPcV3epojsrPJZFTY31ys2bGYRfw0zgxuVZBQL0BAdSiRz2h4x2uw6zo2JrSfRNgOlCuIgB2jnHH25EpzkgOADzsIHLV8wRt-5BvYOEo5JqONEEOgd2oflwKqxm9/s640/xmascoffee6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinH3FZ_qVpuFnKeO6fH1INzq13nsGWyuzO5QP_tn_-JtK-h5DbKhvQpMoilEKm7aPwkaTryN1NVnOBbrhnc-pV94kLYeOTS10fndGZVhzaDUautPqJe57ZdjNb68WkxXRFk2_aR-G6J_GQ/s1600/xmascoffee4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><b>i have endless idea's for christmas still swimming round in my head, though in reality this year, </b><br /><br /><b>all the moments i love are going to really be left up to someone else {thanks mum!}...</b><br /><b> </b><br /><b> </b><br />so i figure...this little ol'blog here is going to allow me to still indulge in all the things i love whilst<br /><br /><b></b><br />still <b>ticking off that <strike>flippin massive</strike> pretty long moving list</b>...<br /><br />i've left my christmas deco's from the last few years, collected here in england, in their boxes &<br /><br />i'm just going to have the simplest of things around us...<br /><br />the kiddos are still gonna want some <b>festive</b> in their days-& to be honest i need it as much as they<br /><br />do...<br /><br />so you & i can still share all out christmas crafting & present thoughts...<br /><br />&<b> </b>i can attempt to<i> not</i> go overboard...<br /><br />the last thing we need is yet another crate of goodies to lug home!<br /><br /><b>{see my sweet, patient man- your words really do sink in...}</b><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQo0A8sv9wsEt4upJk3JgQjoMDEVZnOpHTv5s65OK5D03cjpNXjZU0KZiTmM_I6GHuv5wzKEZOv-auFpKx7mTnNZ3DNyTWosJ_AkuKDroJ0rAyLA99GOx16ARVjKmDNNqbOoA1O5BEQqv/s1600/xmascoffee7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQo0A8sv9wsEt4upJk3JgQjoMDEVZnOpHTv5s65OK5D03cjpNXjZU0KZiTmM_I6GHuv5wzKEZOv-auFpKx7mTnNZ3DNyTWosJ_AkuKDroJ0rAyLA99GOx16ARVjKmDNNqbOoA1O5BEQqv/s640/xmascoffee7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b> </b><br /><br /><br /><b>so...if we were really sharing italian cookies & an amaretto coffee dear bloggy friends...</b><br /><br />i would let you have a leetle go of my stamping set...<br /><br /><b> </b><br />courier type face is one of my fave style of lettering...<br /><br />i use these stamps <strike>constantly</strike> pretty regularly...these are the start of my christmas tags...<br /><br />i bought the fab little library-card-pocket-bags from my very inspiring, table decorating wiz of a blog<br /><br />friend leanne- who's shop & blog is <a href="http://www.sweetstyle.com.au/" style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">{here}</a><br /><br />i have had these month- in anticipation of christmas tagging...<br /><br />i'll show you the finished tags this week with some christmas wrapping to get us all off my list ticking!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8phAbcwTUWSBx7pDG6vIDDq6DefIJMaDJAS5kUg0gbMH48SKpAqDM4QjmpcMVCUnWgAZ0ZpSrJf6IpX6tWdp6AKXHdKwyQnusRlYlh8fkJ0TNbaIvpnhroxmEPgCNUjExss3nqY3gVy5a/s1600/xmascoffee6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8phAbcwTUWSBx7pDG6vIDDq6DefIJMaDJAS5kUg0gbMH48SKpAqDM4QjmpcMVCUnWgAZ0ZpSrJf6IpX6tWdp6AKXHdKwyQnusRlYlh8fkJ0TNbaIvpnhroxmEPgCNUjExss3nqY3gVy5a/s640/xmascoffee6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>& 'cause the amoretti has gone to my head- man those italians do it strong- i would also let </b><br /><br /><b>you have a bit of a stamp with my french numeral stamps...</b><br /><br /><b> </b><br />these are on hessian for my advent calender...the one i'm desperate to make amongst the list ticking<br /><br />& endless-do-we-need-this-on-the-beaches-of-sydney decision making...<br /><br />that's gonna have to wait till the end of the week...as i'm learning the serious art of prioritising ladies...<br /><br />{yep heard that *at last* sweet man o'mine!}<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcxD_TJvcDkBub7bPrE1KbOVpNFcdx19c-_65CSaadG7uAfh79lhKwadTJ8FRa9C0UiuENNW5SJthQSy19kyHsQHsy5IT6ZW_fokOFev9id-zvwDVh7qxQFLHCivp5RwiZDk210eqBBCe/s1600/xmascoffee2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcxD_TJvcDkBub7bPrE1KbOVpNFcdx19c-_65CSaadG7uAfh79lhKwadTJ8FRa9C0UiuENNW5SJthQSy19kyHsQHsy5IT6ZW_fokOFev9id-zvwDVh7qxQFLHCivp5RwiZDk210eqBBCe/s640/xmascoffee2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>so...if we were really meeting for our weekly virtual coffee i would hug you tight again - just in </b><br /><br /><b>case you missed the first one...</b><br /><b> </b><br /><br />i'd take you for a walk up our village high street together...just 'cause we can & soon we can't...<br /><b></b><br /><br /><b>&</b><br /><br />i'd ask you to take this big journey home with me...'cause the thought of doing it together sounds so<br /><b> </b><br /><br />much more lovely than doing it without you...<br /><br />happy tuesday from the english countryside gals...<br /><br />x o x o x<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eoiEzK3xceJHC2ZREqYftTH5wsJV0tgv8L8i869LdGHqQNtijj1gyPdn853ALU0nCErcdGqne1ApvkUL5LTv_9BiGmch9UYnTxzpGYLrCelJTl9nKJJhfYa9A-EqtiSoykjM_8m_tDYt/s1600/xmascoffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eoiEzK3xceJHC2ZREqYftTH5wsJV0tgv8L8i869LdGHqQNtijj1gyPdn853ALU0nCErcdGqne1ApvkUL5LTv_9BiGmch9UYnTxzpGYLrCelJTl9nKJJhfYa9A-EqtiSoykjM_8m_tDYt/s640/xmascoffee.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">for more swilling coffee's & goss</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">head over to see my lovely friend amy <a href="http://amyluckynumber13.blogspot.com/2011/11/virtual-coffee_14.html">{here}</a></span></span><br /><br /></div>

virtual coffee- i love you bloggy gals...

if i could just reach out & hug all of you i would... thank you for being so *there* for me when i shared our news {yesterday} i've...

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going home...from the countryside to the beach...

<b><br /></b><br /><b>after almost four incredible years in the English countryside</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>we're going home my friends...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />the emotions are running wild...<br /><br />our hearts are soaring & then stopping...<br /><br />our family together...the experiences so precious...<br /><br />the love for two countries so heartfelt...<br /><br /><b>the time is right...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>it just feels...<i>right</i>...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />i know i'll get on that plane shedding bucket loads of tears...<br /><br />i know that i'll have every emotion under the sun between <i>now</i> &<i> then</i>...<br /><br />BUT...<br /><br />i also know we wouldn't change a moment of <i>these emotions... </i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i>they're all evidence that what we have done, has been so perfectly right for our family...</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><b>it just feels right...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />there's so much to share here...<br /><br />i hope you'll be with me here...<i>for my daily fix</i>...<br /><br />& <i>for our friendship </i>all the way home...from this gorgeous english countryside to the beautiful beaches<br /><br />of australia...<br /><br />we've a long haul ahead of us...<br /><br />moving five people 15,000 miles across the world, with almost four years of life under one's roof<br /><br />is not a simple task...<br /><br />but we're serious list tickers...we're feeling good...<br /><br /><b>our focus...as always...is that the kiddos are happy...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>that our family is together...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>that we are doing </b><b>this together...tied up with a lot of love...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>wish us luck...& so happy you are with me on this journey <i>home</i>...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>xxx</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>PS- & to my BB {british bestie} -blessed friendship every day no matter where we are...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaAq3QzQLRTh3K6bLXfb9WtYPRUVzzECMVAO3eAqJfg8X0Azw6sYiOV68oYKfcmZsczYpnV6x813L54GOmI2hwFW-yU6JeWcRdibj3TtTmtYsN0OcEpVTMJeNHHcaNkX5qavEtJXKE49o/s1600/home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaAq3QzQLRTh3K6bLXfb9WtYPRUVzzECMVAO3eAqJfg8X0Azw6sYiOV68oYKfcmZsczYpnV6x813L54GOmI2hwFW-yU6JeWcRdibj3TtTmtYsN0OcEpVTMJeNHHcaNkX5qavEtJXKE49o/s640/home.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">all these images are from our beach life at home</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">sigh</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">xox</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><i><br /></i>

going home...from the countryside to the beach...

after almost four incredible years in the English countryside we're going home my friends... the emotions are running wild... our hearts...

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coastal farming-the look of an ocean-loving-country-living gal...

<b><br /></b><br /><b>coastal farming- where our love of the ocean lives alongside our love of the countryside....</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />brought up on the coast- salty sandy feet...freckles on the nose...& now thrown into the gorgeous<br /><br />countryside with wellies at the door...it makes for a lovely way to live...<br /><br />it makes for a house of treasured collected pieces that make up these two sides of our life...<br /><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDbas4Wd-Yzc8-KRAVca798-butl1r8acMNYVSqpCUY0lNOLyAIyORrkafWE6V4JNJhw91T30anrvWL2cc1M0T_ymEjZnE71fkwoHAGvcUNw_jtthTxQeU44boSsyy4baqKMhmtZ4tANv/s1600/coastalfarming1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDbas4Wd-Yzc8-KRAVca798-butl1r8acMNYVSqpCUY0lNOLyAIyORrkafWE6V4JNJhw91T30anrvWL2cc1M0T_ymEjZnE71fkwoHAGvcUNw_jtthTxQeU44boSsyy4baqKMhmtZ4tANv/s640/coastalfarming1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>i now have *two passions* for how i want us to live- and *coastal farming* seems to encompass </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>them </b><b>both...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />if i could find us a little farm on the coast somewhere- that's where i'd see out my days...<br /><br />we could have horses for *the girls*...a football pitch for *the boy*...<br /><br />& an ocean for *us all*...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2eFBBb1ZyHrbNsfv7YHdGIFLtFDA-kouSFpnC1FME91LmHJ6a2Z0lqIvvrWFwC-qEHwfEayDYKYQKT2DNzdkSl44f9sWUPci2p7RT1r-b-XOpunhjrQ7DkXY_FxPPi-8N13lLqZtIGVA/s1600/coastalfarming3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2eFBBb1ZyHrbNsfv7YHdGIFLtFDA-kouSFpnC1FME91LmHJ6a2Z0lqIvvrWFwC-qEHwfEayDYKYQKT2DNzdkSl44f9sWUPci2p7RT1r-b-XOpunhjrQ7DkXY_FxPPi-8N13lLqZtIGVA/s640/coastalfarming3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>so...till that little piece of heaven falls into my lap...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>i am surrounding us with *a way of living* that </b><b>embraces that...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />seashells & french farm chairs...<br /><br />drifted wood & farm milk crates...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79acUfcS4kbt232MOQw6oeLN3Yd7zOWpfPyDWFjAhaBt8Gy4nav3pOoYAq6w9WJgrYKB_DYSu33IAS8HBi5o52S_j7NXxS5MDqCBwE2E1NdP_OxFz7hyDuNuGEEZHydnqWWtA0vRCmtQC/s1600/coastalfarming4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79acUfcS4kbt232MOQw6oeLN3Yd7zOWpfPyDWFjAhaBt8Gy4nav3pOoYAq6w9WJgrYKB_DYSu33IAS8HBi5o52S_j7NXxS5MDqCBwE2E1NdP_OxFz7hyDuNuGEEZHydnqWWtA0vRCmtQC/s640/coastalfarming4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />it gives me a sense of *what we've done* moving abroad...<br /><br />a balance of what is now *the two sides of my heart*...<br /><br />what now *makes up our children*...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlA3xA05kjDDkDVE8KA_jrNVNiY4aTMzNswpZJ502agookb-NWbDEYK9QwIFnHXjVYWMWZVweJh6inU0Qa5MTEj_YpFelph4ww1LrWQu7RxSkbQDgFyYUeYo6GgnZ0e-6ZNd6DPajKbMXk/s1600/coastalfarming5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlA3xA05kjDDkDVE8KA_jrNVNiY4aTMzNswpZJ502agookb-NWbDEYK9QwIFnHXjVYWMWZVweJh6inU0Qa5MTEj_YpFelph4ww1LrWQu7RxSkbQDgFyYUeYo6GgnZ0e-6ZNd6DPajKbMXk/s640/coastalfarming5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>my surroundings are paramount to my daily attitude...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />i'd like to say i don't mind how we *live*...<br /><br />that it's not important how *things look*...<br /><br />that i'm just happy we're all here together...but that would be <i>quite a lie- i admit it</i>...<br /><br />the rest of my life is good...really good, when i'm visually surrounded by things that i love...<br /><br />the things that make me smile...that remind me of wonderful memories...<br /><br />if it all looks good...i feel good...<br /><br /><i>shallow? not in my book...content....absolutely</i><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRJdOfOrbJRoyaWPlZuvg_gXRcroAUbrnGpuZ7T5L4XqHCEMEpWKZa1tkFJAql3m45sv2xw7Z2IIB7JzIXnNHK3zMicX9XSwwKQSZoz1Vm8YAEZngRJYL4E9tegSADv65-RuTJRLiD7Dg/s1600/coastalfarming6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRJdOfOrbJRoyaWPlZuvg_gXRcroAUbrnGpuZ7T5L4XqHCEMEpWKZa1tkFJAql3m45sv2xw7Z2IIB7JzIXnNHK3zMicX9XSwwKQSZoz1Vm8YAEZngRJYL4E9tegSADv65-RuTJRLiD7Dg/s640/coastalfarming6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />i can be momentarily flippant- when i flick through a magazine & see a wonderfully modern, simply<br /><br />laid out room-<b> for just that second- i think aaahhh perfect- that's what we need</b>...<br /><br />we've all had those moments...<br /><br />i can fall in love with a whallop of totally different <b>looks</b> as i flick through one magazine, but i know<br /><br />what rocks my boat...what makes our house <b>our </b>home...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUWb8Pav2YSFQFtvANvPvQwEyS64auyWN_gx2__2WrW_IXtdtO4BwIijXPATMGZrTiQRrur4U9EnPGbaCx5MEcHN1g2NEYNduGe44thdhjEqgfdwi06wZq0XcxA1BqWumOkgL9qEFSo0b/s1600/coastalfarming7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUWb8Pav2YSFQFtvANvPvQwEyS64auyWN_gx2__2WrW_IXtdtO4BwIijXPATMGZrTiQRrur4U9EnPGbaCx5MEcHN1g2NEYNduGe44thdhjEqgfdwi06wZq0XcxA1BqWumOkgL9qEFSo0b/s640/coastalfarming7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />so...as i can't give up my milk crates...or my array of white farm chairs...or my treasured shells...<br /><br />or my drift wood collection...or my french farm crates...or my striped cushions...or my collection of<br /><br />beach frocks...i have decided that *coastal farming* is the way we shall live with, or without, that little<br /><br />place of heaven on the ocean front...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEjWI377HmTlKNU4mwvHOcLjPqAKI7O-W7kLSMNj3rh8TYv0pf1e_Gqe_fpXc62gJJRqlSfjrZzOctl7BL7LPYS72S8pn98cVACFqHR6FAYCt8u7pXLstqenKM_OmzoEmIbPJ4flGfR3A/s1600/coastalfarming8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEjWI377HmTlKNU4mwvHOcLjPqAKI7O-W7kLSMNj3rh8TYv0pf1e_Gqe_fpXc62gJJRqlSfjrZzOctl7BL7LPYS72S8pn98cVACFqHR6FAYCt8u7pXLstqenKM_OmzoEmIbPJ4flGfR3A/s640/coastalfarming8.jpg" width="566" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>a bikini & hunter wellies- now there's a fashion statement to represent our house!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>happy weekend lovely bloggy friends</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>i have something really really really big to share on monday</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>&</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>i just may need you a little more than usual</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>xxx</b></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDbas4Wd-Yzc8-KRAVca798-butl1r8acMNYVSqpCUY0lNOLyAIyORrkafWE6V4JNJhw91T30anrvWL2cc1M0T_ymEjZnE71fkwoHAGvcUNw_jtthTxQeU44boSsyy4baqKMhmtZ4tANv/s1600/coastalfarming1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDbas4Wd-Yzc8-KRAVca798-butl1r8acMNYVSqpCUY0lNOLyAIyORrkafWE6V4JNJhw91T30anrvWL2cc1M0T_ymEjZnE71fkwoHAGvcUNw_jtthTxQeU44boSsyy4baqKMhmtZ4tANv/s640/coastalfarming1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>x o x o x</b></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfZqpD4u2BP_UQ_5r6iw2Zc1UNao9ZBQUKoi9DVRfPp79FMqW0guED6x5YPbPuadc2C1FKDyz3NWTjaS8k2cffzyHD-jKI9YnMbBUuBnB7gfnxxNNr1bTjilLR5sQjlAmelho9laZ4wM3/s1600/coastalfarming9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfZqpD4u2BP_UQ_5r6iw2Zc1UNao9ZBQUKoi9DVRfPp79FMqW0guED6x5YPbPuadc2C1FKDyz3NWTjaS8k2cffzyHD-jKI9YnMbBUuBnB7gfnxxNNr1bTjilLR5sQjlAmelho9laZ4wM3/s640/coastalfarming9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>

coastal farming-the look of an ocean-loving-country-living gal...

coastal farming- where our love of the ocean lives alongside our love of the countryside.... brought up on the coast- salty sandy feet...fre...

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virtual coffee at my local food market...

<b>mooorning- ready for a virtual coffee...autumn style....vintage china...crisp air...chippy chairs...?</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>welcome to our little part of the english countryside...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>let's have a little wander with our coffee's today...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaf9ZnzHJuaFFcu2B-KNbF_VA5lVwVxtuzd9_P2OCM2RkgFjifIUW7AtWWKxdWZSfuKHtAd2YKBiQkXUrUoXIqTKjhPC7W7-da-WGILGVRTEW9H57VS6U61w2rrhGfvZVpK2LPm7CJLOr/s1600/marketvc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaf9ZnzHJuaFFcu2B-KNbF_VA5lVwVxtuzd9_P2OCM2RkgFjifIUW7AtWWKxdWZSfuKHtAd2YKBiQkXUrUoXIqTKjhPC7W7-da-WGILGVRTEW9H57VS6U61w2rrhGfvZVpK2LPm7CJLOr/s640/marketvc1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br />a market wander - you know that little local produce market i keep mentioning - well i think you should<br /><br />grab your hat & scarf & come take a lookie for yourselves...<br /><br />it's officially winter- we've had our first proper frost across the school playground, on car windows<br /><br />& the garden this week...i think it's pretty & signifies the seasons are changing yet again...<br /><br />so...with winter here, i don't want you to miss our local monthly market before it get's to cold...<br /><br />you gals from <b>*down under*</b> won't want to see it in a week when you're back at the beach every day!<br /><br /><b>come on...this is one of my fave bits...the cheese stall...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoI1f1_INJYEVlpacHPNaOKoFFo34gDpej1VngIF0QNAmg7E5V14fbMVrMPkr-kgMuipkzqdMEYUJ4tSvBtrLLgvb53BrO3P9FbohzuyMwGRNBM9mNX2RokYlo66lP-4EwsMI-ijrelfb/s1600/marketvc3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoI1f1_INJYEVlpacHPNaOKoFFo34gDpej1VngIF0QNAmg7E5V14fbMVrMPkr-kgMuipkzqdMEYUJ4tSvBtrLLgvb53BrO3P9FbohzuyMwGRNBM9mNX2RokYlo66lP-4EwsMI-ijrelfb/s640/marketvc3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br />the produce here is gorgeous...you can pretty much taste test the entire haul here- the guys who run it<br /><br />are lovely...they know their stuff...& i can never come away empty handed...<br /><br />they still wrap butter the old way- <b>in paper</b>...<b>local farm butter in paper</b>...<br /><br />heaven for an aussie beach girl who'd only ever bought her butter in plastic containers till moving<br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>*up here*</b>...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8u7y0vb0VC-GJjA1XO2krMB14gwqYx7DhwMfQgyGhx3TLGEWvuX5WifC9OfgzBek-d3yKIoeztNwwec_56ae-VsVkbVMoHtYeDqLvxRSkcG39coNSlKYPIe5GJyUpJaT0z0Q1WTWrAMh_/s1600/marketvc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8u7y0vb0VC-GJjA1XO2krMB14gwqYx7DhwMfQgyGhx3TLGEWvuX5WifC9OfgzBek-d3yKIoeztNwwec_56ae-VsVkbVMoHtYeDqLvxRSkcG39coNSlKYPIe5GJyUpJaT0z0Q1WTWrAMh_/s640/marketvc2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>if we were really having a coffee & a market wander this morning...i'd probably ask you </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>where </b><b>you are heading back to...as the goodies at this stall are going to tip your luggage quota </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>over just a </b><b>leeetle...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />this is the stall where i <strike>lunged upon</strike> found<b> <a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/10/coastal-farming-inspireda-beach-gal.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">{this}</span></a> hessian farm sack... </b>& <a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/08/vintage-potato-basket-love-my-thrift.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">{these}</span></a> <b>vintage </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>potato baskets</b>...<br /><b><br /></b><br />it is an ever changing inspiring little stall that i could pretty much buy from every month...<br /><br />perfect for <a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/10/coastal-farming-inspireda-beach-gal.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">{coastal farming}</span></a> inspiration...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MVCLwdcL668vrdcRhg3eCh8HjLS5-rlbxUqmjAVUIu5M7PiEVG2trOUkJHeIQOL2964opPlhC4qc1Y_TzO_nKfjxKdGuMjgwXLAL9wenD92YwWaN0vox_1hyiMeatAQp3b56a8_vzxzw/s1600/marketvc4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MVCLwdcL668vrdcRhg3eCh8HjLS5-rlbxUqmjAVUIu5M7PiEVG2trOUkJHeIQOL2964opPlhC4qc1Y_TzO_nKfjxKdGuMjgwXLAL9wenD92YwWaN0vox_1hyiMeatAQp3b56a8_vzxzw/s640/marketvc4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>now...if we were really rugged up, arms linked, wandering round our village square i would buy </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>you an old oar...some quail eggs...some local meat...& lend you my hunter wellies...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />i would want you to know for a day- what it's like for a beach reared gal from Australia, to wander up<br /><br />the road in her village, to a local produce market & to shop for her family...<br /><br /><b>it's not too bad is it....!?</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />so i'm going to leave you to keep wandering...i'm going home to put on a casserole...& to find you<br /><br />another case for all your excess luggage...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaf9ZnzHJuaFFcu2B-KNbF_VA5lVwVxtuzd9_P2OCM2RkgFjifIUW7AtWWKxdWZSfuKHtAd2YKBiQkXUrUoXIqTKjhPC7W7-da-WGILGVRTEW9H57VS6U61w2rrhGfvZVpK2LPm7CJLOr/s1600/marketvc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaf9ZnzHJuaFFcu2B-KNbF_VA5lVwVxtuzd9_P2OCM2RkgFjifIUW7AtWWKxdWZSfuKHtAd2YKBiQkXUrUoXIqTKjhPC7W7-da-WGILGVRTEW9H57VS6U61w2rrhGfvZVpK2LPm7CJLOr/s640/marketvc1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">...thanks for dropping by....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">&</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">sharing a coffee round my little part of the globe</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">~~~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">happy tuesday</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">xxx</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">~~~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">there's some more coffee's & gossip to be shared </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://amyluckynumber13.blogspot.com/2011/11/virtual-coffee.html">{here with the lovely miss.amy}</a></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">& some reflecting on the good life </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.abeachcottage.com/2011/11/beach-cottage-vintage-door-good-life-weds-does-spring.html">{here with the inspiring beach loving miss.sarah}</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b>

virtual coffee at my local food market...

mooorning- ready for a virtual coffee...autumn style....vintage china...crisp air...chippy chairs...? welcome to our little part of the engl...

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a husband, a camera, a boy & fresh seafood...

<b>this is what happens when you give your husband the camera and your son loves seafood...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>you end up totally surprised with the results!</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />sent out to capture the evening with my camera-<b> </b>i figured <b>he</b> just needed time alone with my camera to<br /><br />really <b>bond</b> with it...<br /><br />thus in time, taking some photos that may have <b>me- the mama of the household</b> feature in them...<br /><br />just sometimes...you know for the kids...so they know i was there...<br /><br /><b>look at the results gals...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>sunset taken by husband on big learning curve left on own...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>he did G.O.O.D...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXJTeowqrcaFEcN1ZIyBTJqkwWgPXgkQ3SLP0TqYgcxthR5apP5D6s62eMWU5vIyGYuwQCcu-Dgks_SCOQP-EN0eBXo04wFZdZWkQuWxssq_-kQbBTF1yrJ556sSX2PuMMM9a0CURCWA-/s1600/cockles3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXJTeowqrcaFEcN1ZIyBTJqkwWgPXgkQ3SLP0TqYgcxthR5apP5D6s62eMWU5vIyGYuwQCcu-Dgks_SCOQP-EN0eBXo04wFZdZWkQuWxssq_-kQbBTF1yrJ556sSX2PuMMM9a0CURCWA-/s640/cockles3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>i think he was <strike>totally</strike> a little chuffed with the results too...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">i even think he may go back for more...on his own for now....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one day he may even get me in one of his photos ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">so...the hubsters first photographic effort on <strike>his</strike> my blog...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">i'm happy to share the space for these...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>now...back to the *son loving seafood* part...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we have a beautiful estuary that runs the length of our Village Green...it runs from a larger river & </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">brings with it endless perfect delicious cockles...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we have a son who adores seafood...especially shell fish...& perfect delicious cockles...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">so here he is...filling his pockets, a block from our big old country house...sand & cockles- bless him...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUMabfk2mKKsXZik_IYz0sRKQ0s-C-0cHYsbv2ogLPhZkf2W-ZTw_049HxfAtSq_ICapvKfbzBYWWwmtNrZ7uZQvMk0VfLibZig7VdsZDZ35qUtOGrKhb7bm_8dT4TBBxDJ0e8xa3vb2t/s1600/cockles2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUMabfk2mKKsXZik_IYz0sRKQ0s-C-0cHYsbv2ogLPhZkf2W-ZTw_049HxfAtSq_ICapvKfbzBYWWwmtNrZ7uZQvMk0VfLibZig7VdsZDZ35qUtOGrKhb7bm_8dT4TBBxDJ0e8xa3vb2t/s640/cockles2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>if you are a seafood lover like we are...you can imagine collecting your own only adds to the </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>experience...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for a child that will not eat sausages & spuds- an english fave- he amazes us with seafood...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX41t7wEu5F3qAeMT4R8o_qadrbJClConiho_kokAGpiq6Yq1R1f4kUfvJnpDGHDnHJXdsVuVGjRcWgtjH8bjeJoeL1V5yda07ViYBAz2viQQmlKO2Gr5Lm4hcyH9VO0gaMzmpIndO4aRU/s1600/cockles4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX41t7wEu5F3qAeMT4R8o_qadrbJClConiho_kokAGpiq6Yq1R1f4kUfvJnpDGHDnHJXdsVuVGjRcWgtjH8bjeJoeL1V5yda07ViYBAz2viQQmlKO2Gr5Lm4hcyH9VO0gaMzmpIndO4aRU/s640/cockles4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>collecting cockles is wonderful for kids...collecting *food* straight from nature's garden...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">he scooted home laden down & we googled a few recipes together...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">throwing them in a colander...washing of the sea water...<b>counting our haul</b>...all memories...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQvm-gyEnGUeIhb4xycJrtZ781fGeHFMbD4WO3BVEwpdxBty1-mhbGhpdCILI3NYH2fIXpQtQVXip1w5-46PNzKqXWGQk0WJN8-MEeGpLCEFtKyzfgUL5a6EKoNFMMMULmv3qLtyD8jX4/s1600/cockles5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQvm-gyEnGUeIhb4xycJrtZ781fGeHFMbD4WO3BVEwpdxBty1-mhbGhpdCILI3NYH2fIXpQtQVXip1w5-46PNzKqXWGQk0WJN8-MEeGpLCEFtKyzfgUL5a6EKoNFMMMULmv3qLtyD8jX4/s640/cockles5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>for a simple delicious simple-let-the-flavours-speak-for-themselves-go-to-recipe see <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2125595_cook-cockles.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">{here}</span></a>...</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAr-7POv6wow35J2nO8Ue3yrMJPMIJB2NEXyZ_uMSwUYPmqOw2BhP66GE4elgWV39p9DX_eSp-1IhC-pen9Vsv7k-w36gmLn9FiaTBlKYN8fgk8d_ZX3kwSGX3VhvEalnbl_MsaWh-Qm5/s1600/cockles6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAr-7POv6wow35J2nO8Ue3yrMJPMIJB2NEXyZ_uMSwUYPmqOw2BhP66GE4elgWV39p9DX_eSp-1IhC-pen9Vsv7k-w36gmLn9FiaTBlKYN8fgk8d_ZX3kwSGX3VhvEalnbl_MsaWh-Qm5/s640/cockles6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhtUT3tmikD2wqPaL_RqknJIDrnFmLuHWV0z6fwHvvC84gD2j3u4NTuvQB-mXVLtFQemSewWW0qn1_ifPr9svS-RjFKWfur2H-uGJK-jhOurVFYAD_QfJYFMkIQYCsqmuWYn9U-lfqvS8/s1600/cockles7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhtUT3tmikD2wqPaL_RqknJIDrnFmLuHWV0z6fwHvvC84gD2j3u4NTuvQB-mXVLtFQemSewWW0qn1_ifPr9svS-RjFKWfur2H-uGJK-jhOurVFYAD_QfJYFMkIQYCsqmuWYn9U-lfqvS8/s640/cockles7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>eat them like Sol....maldon sea salt...fresh bread...straight off a board on the kitchen bench...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">10 year old heaven...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a lovely end to a sunday afternoon...a sunset & fresh seafood...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8i_Oc3I7GfCtkbpB_WrP_665UEKVux8bJkuG0JixhzvETMHqut_8LQ3Lii2EH0baMfHf8t1qJXMSiBTft08_Rpe5XSEUfENW7Uk1ElIcnJbYaU_YUuJIXj82-P_emMUUXbk9rQJFwy0f/s1600/cockles8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8i_Oc3I7GfCtkbpB_WrP_665UEKVux8bJkuG0JixhzvETMHqut_8LQ3Lii2EH0baMfHf8t1qJXMSiBTft08_Rpe5XSEUfENW7Uk1ElIcnJbYaU_YUuJIXj82-P_emMUUXbk9rQJFwy0f/s640/cockles8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><b>so...the hubster caught a perfect sunset...on his own...in focus...great foreground...depth...colour</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>& we got a gorgeous salty local snack outa the experience...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />yep...he's going back...<br /><br />one day you may even see me just there...wandering along the shore...in my Hunter's...bucket in hand...<br /><br />& he may even get all of me in the picture :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNgFoaarZuzO8eQxd6EeQZooWnALWz5uHow0H9pTcySzkGU-LXyp-koqHodM4L7HOq_przw8hn4UZxmKlkjvVQO8f6vghLObAtNk0Wkn0SWeSnit5fj8tHqhQCNYsEYhIgGrSCMYf-pyb/s1600/cockles1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNgFoaarZuzO8eQxd6EeQZooWnALWz5uHow0H9pTcySzkGU-LXyp-koqHodM4L7HOq_przw8hn4UZxmKlkjvVQO8f6vghLObAtNk0Wkn0SWeSnit5fj8tHqhQCNYsEYhIgGrSCMYf-pyb/s640/cockles1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">happy monday gals</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">i have seafood recipes to google</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">&</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">photo challenges to come up with </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">enjoy!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">xxx</span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">~~~</span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">today i am linking up with a wonderful writer <a href="http://www.privetandholly.com/2011/11/monday-moments-spinning-it-out.html">{here}</a></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">celebrating monday's together</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b>

a husband, a camera, a boy & fresh seafood...

this is what happens when you give your husband the camera and your son loves seafood... you end up totally surprised with the results! sent...

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village life for a beach mama in hunter wellies...

<b>it's a long slog here this morning...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>very rarely do i get thrown in the scheme of life...but sometimes things are just outa our reach...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>we're thinking long & hard about our inevitable move home to the beautiful beaches of sydney...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>but something at that end, kiddo schooling stuff, has thrown me this morning...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>so...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>today all i can share are images of my gorgeous little english village & days out in Autumn...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>enjoy the eye candy...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>i'm going to slurp down another pot of tea & put my thinking cap back on </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>with the ever-patient loving hubster....</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mg2FRzaXdygoGHVGiOeImETGuBfSmmbkcUatFy8BUMsMb_tvQ2DyxoreMELbDc4Q6Il-0ZEBSMMGjA72P-yhEGciEChC-4WVTsWwPcbFhvp5B5Rlq7fiwNUGNpXRzMDRNz2JMx2K9lxY/s1600/autumn.abc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mg2FRzaXdygoGHVGiOeImETGuBfSmmbkcUatFy8BUMsMb_tvQ2DyxoreMELbDc4Q6Il-0ZEBSMMGjA72P-yhEGciEChC-4WVTsWwPcbFhvp5B5Rlq7fiwNUGNpXRzMDRNz2JMx2K9lxY/s640/autumn.abc.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">PS</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">this is what my ballet shoes have become as the week rolls on</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">hunter wellies</span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">&</span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">angora gloves</span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">the country mama school run get-up</span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">keeping it real gals!!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">autumn is here!</span></b><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FEMURVXGWntD_4CnMQA4ybaj_NOtmt2afXCsmQ7UvGvOpnoowr5tG8ZewaZjdG7n7bVnZ7NCdigbZ9Wm8prn6yJG8DbzWZ-NGyIboqAeHlO3W1j43KjqewG0wO9HMeaZa41dfz9onGuK/s1600/hunters+%2526+gloves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FEMURVXGWntD_4CnMQA4ybaj_NOtmt2afXCsmQ7UvGvOpnoowr5tG8ZewaZjdG7n7bVnZ7NCdigbZ9Wm8prn6yJG8DbzWZ-NGyIboqAeHlO3W1j43KjqewG0wO9HMeaZa41dfz9onGuK/s640/hunters+%2526+gloves.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">thanks for the patience in not responding to all your lovely comments etc this week</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">my heart feels like it's dealing with too much at the moment</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">xxx </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

village life for a beach mama in hunter wellies...

it's a long slog here this morning... very rarely do i get thrown in the scheme of life...but sometimes things are just outa our reach.....

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the beauty of seasons for a beach girl in the english countryside...

<b>hello lovelies...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>the seasons are changing & i am finding myself full of energy & ready to embrace the fresh air of Autumn...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />living on the beaches of australia -seasons were <i>almost </i>non-existent...<br /><br />not that i'm complaining about a constant temperature of very hot, hot, warm, not so warm & then chilly for  10 weeks!<br /><br />but...since moving to England almost 3 1/2 years ago, one aspect that i have delighted in is the change from one season to the next...<br /><br />the change in colours of our village...<br /><br />the change of produce available...not mass-produced supermarket produce- but farmers market, local produce...<br /><br />the change in one's step on a blustery walk to school...<br /><br />long warm boots, scarves & layering...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHhvlHapVjGHr8e2WWYp_1op7siCL9yHvR1N8kF0zs6wvnpFTym3BmD1puSNmPZMI_ncdWMAnHYCPYHWri0gyAlI2rId1pw_lJSetyUropDXnfIu0p89rl5BKkLdhQqM9ozD4BJMw_y8t/s1600/autumnA2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHhvlHapVjGHr8e2WWYp_1op7siCL9yHvR1N8kF0zs6wvnpFTym3BmD1puSNmPZMI_ncdWMAnHYCPYHWri0gyAlI2rId1pw_lJSetyUropDXnfIu0p89rl5BKkLdhQqM9ozD4BJMw_y8t/s640/autumnA2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>i'm having a lovely day sewing as the weather whirls past my sewing room windows...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />snug inside, drinking gallons of tea & creating cushions for a delightfully gorgeous new shop opening this week in the next village...<br /><br />called <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">lovely ducks</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">& owned by a very cool dressing mother at school- you know the old battered converse/skinny jeans kinda school mama...i'm thinking it's going to be a wonderful place to shop...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">local goods made by local women... </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the opening is tomorrow night so i'll be snapping some pickies for you all...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">till then...embrace your seasons whether you are up here & rushing into Autumn...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or down there & slipping into spring...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">love me in long boots & my new leopard print scarf...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">melissa </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">xox</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">~~~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">PS</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">&</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">a huge big hug & warm autumn welcome to all my new </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Miss Sew & So friends</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">thanks for coming along on the ride!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">xx</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">~~~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">it's a good life wednesday <a href="http://www.abeachcottage.com/2011/10/how-to-make-beach-cottage-seashell-wreath-nautical-coastal-diy-craft-good-life-wednesday.html">here</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>

the beauty of seasons for a beach girl in the english countryside...

hello lovelies... the seasons are changing & i am finding myself full of energy & ready to embrace the fresh air of Autumn... living...

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loving life...

<b>travel...</b><br /><b>a gift from us to our children...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />& i'm not talkin' about endless trip to paris here people...<br />i'm talking about travelling <i>outside</i> of that part of the world that makes up your everyday...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcs3uVxNGGpONJPHien6qrEVXLstY2JtGYb_wJEDE6oo41SRs9cVgtDRfTpLA859B-OrVfkF8iIlBWNL5wvn6lqptvRWB6dhZ34A2fOpheaFRMzYtZlt_lURoQllagrrFEhOfmi6v8mbwU/s1600/cow6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcs3uVxNGGpONJPHien6qrEVXLstY2JtGYb_wJEDE6oo41SRs9cVgtDRfTpLA859B-OrVfkF8iIlBWNL5wvn6lqptvRWB6dhZ34A2fOpheaFRMzYtZlt_lURoQllagrrFEhOfmi6v8mbwU/s640/cow6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>that street...<br /><br />that village...<br /><br />that suburb...<br /><br />that city...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbP6s6-ibVFaSgwqFa8O85DyN4ie-9xJ1e2fK5f1xUdiMeW91U6b2z4jybTvhHftiiGK19QKBrgRsepzjE5k4igan2brRw3GSqRUGRPPxlDv8Q3DcuKMvpWGUckqkqfCWZMDGDovE8EbU4/s1600/cow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbP6s6-ibVFaSgwqFa8O85DyN4ie-9xJ1e2fK5f1xUdiMeW91U6b2z4jybTvhHftiiGK19QKBrgRsepzjE5k4igan2brRw3GSqRUGRPPxlDv8Q3DcuKMvpWGUckqkqfCWZMDGDovE8EbU4/s640/cow1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />that county...<br /><br />that town...<br /><br />&<br /><br />yes, that country...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLisPew_mat7wpRFv7XIyeQGKK-6IUUxkg-MLbkhihthMbrVQUMqBWgz53Glm7Skmn5DcfFH2ewymRqxqOiO0JKIYae-mDaOqkdqsgnlDTOmEPcI4lpE0eFhcuWTetEzYwHrrA6up6xaRX/s1600/cow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLisPew_mat7wpRFv7XIyeQGKK-6IUUxkg-MLbkhihthMbrVQUMqBWgz53Glm7Skmn5DcfFH2ewymRqxqOiO0JKIYae-mDaOqkdqsgnlDTOmEPcI4lpE0eFhcuWTetEzYwHrrA6up6xaRX/s640/cow2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><b>embrace all that life offers...</b><br /><b>the big & the small...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />i often reflect on our life here in the english countryside...<br /><br />the day-to-day of it...<br /><br />yes, so different to our life on the australian beaches...<br /><br />but still...<br /><br />we've been here long enough to just have <i>the day-to-day</i> now...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bn0SmrOszj8681G2F-_pDKN3gk_I9vAx5BsmSLQ2gOn0qvFgAHPSg-kpL8s64eaDn8fbiM1UDwVV3jX1iJBxEP01QLQJQz5sreSgRUO5nBqNPyi8WUK7QIvvbUhX-2RJn2CFCkS4-shD/s1600/cow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bn0SmrOszj8681G2F-_pDKN3gk_I9vAx5BsmSLQ2gOn0qvFgAHPSg-kpL8s64eaDn8fbiM1UDwVV3jX1iJBxEP01QLQJQz5sreSgRUO5nBqNPyi8WUK7QIvvbUhX-2RJn2CFCkS4-shD/s640/cow3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />the everyday of english life...<br /><br />no big city...<br /><br />no local beach...<br /><br />no traffic...<br /><br />no family...<br /><br />but oh some many other incredible blessings...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiT62m4g3WsNd1vmS_qXqsQgOF8hYRB0WNlBU8veq3BXDsA_87DpeVMzaJgcrHLTtTg9c9CldIPy5-K5DYQVyADANvwlVBrSgMYOQJ5b2pmriHJgL2YgwHOfN7ZaveVwXGZFJQXxxJ4Ey/s1600/cow9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiT62m4g3WsNd1vmS_qXqsQgOF8hYRB0WNlBU8veq3BXDsA_87DpeVMzaJgcrHLTtTg9c9CldIPy5-K5DYQVyADANvwlVBrSgMYOQJ5b2pmriHJgL2YgwHOfN7ZaveVwXGZFJQXxxJ4Ey/s640/cow9.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />lotsa other things that make up the everyday...<br /><br />forever friendships...<br /><br />school...<br /><br />work...<br /><s><br /></s><br />bills...<br /><br />life...you know the drill...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD07SoF9uSaansBrDXho8S7R8uElkAvEcduJfl7Or2tWIWV8aWcqRPVnin0b2jR77PJtNKE245gT7-pzZObv9X8RoABxLCJeelC7F1xafGu9Y3OBKrvHcBV6xQWxt0kVG6MuSe-zi-CFAk/s1600/cow10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD07SoF9uSaansBrDXho8S7R8uElkAvEcduJfl7Or2tWIWV8aWcqRPVnin0b2jR77PJtNKE245gT7-pzZObv9X8RoABxLCJeelC7F1xafGu9Y3OBKrvHcBV6xQWxt0kVG6MuSe-zi-CFAk/s640/cow10.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>so...my thoughts fall to travel of all kinds...</b><br /><b>big & small...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />another village brings a fresh outlook...<br /><br />another city new excitement...<br /><br />an undiscovered local street becomes a breath of fresh air...<br /><br /><b>you don't need to get on a plane...to travel...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBX79eO5mqySCvJeiDlAM2Fz8a6NDTtSh9MC9Z6d8AitdPJXxpcMgQuKzSmKXcGhegkAOWBgHTvxgG_3v-eTYyjSQaqJ1ipuYjdGrN0y1-RvRoF61lvZAm2MfsNI0E_Xw_Dmoth2hnjxA/s1600/cow11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBX79eO5mqySCvJeiDlAM2Fz8a6NDTtSh9MC9Z6d8AitdPJXxpcMgQuKzSmKXcGhegkAOWBgHTvxgG_3v-eTYyjSQaqJ1ipuYjdGrN0y1-RvRoF61lvZAm2MfsNI0E_Xw_Dmoth2hnjxA/s640/cow11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br />every new experience is a new place...<br /><br />it makes us more receptive to people...change...& life...<br /><br />i admit there is nothing like a week away from everyday living to make us smile, feel refreshed & maybe a little nicer to everyone...<br /><br />but still...the small discoveries can bring a small moment of that same feeling to our everyday...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>i thank my kids for this reminder...<br /><br />this week they all returned to their english schools...<br /><br />sandy-toed, beach-reared aussie kids discovering a new year in an english country school...<br /><br />their excitement was no less than the first day we walked them through unknown doors, three & a half years ago...<br /><br />their faces older...their world fuller...their parents prouder...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tZPO2utWg6VU7iJJ9n6IVnEYp5WNa4hsx2y2jL_omBzhqM5v66xHla7hIXeQYYuNU0KUYM1xFjoy7DCE22GGO31k2I1I-pSGlEUeNp1Fk6n6KTwVxdFAf0v229i8mfApF9U_VNKFJ6Yd/s1600/northumberland8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tZPO2utWg6VU7iJJ9n6IVnEYp5WNa4hsx2y2jL_omBzhqM5v66xHla7hIXeQYYuNU0KUYM1xFjoy7DCE22GGO31k2I1I-pSGlEUeNp1Fk6n6KTwVxdFAf0v229i8mfApF9U_VNKFJ6Yd/s640/northumberland8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>so...this week, whilst i seem to have endless questions about the *greater picture* of our life swirling round my head...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />i'm going to walk a little <i>springier</i>...<br /><br />i'm going to stop & <i>take it all</i> in a little more...<br /><br />the big & the small...<br /><br />& embrace all the travel...<br /><br />the other places...& those on my doorstep in my own little english town...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApaLUjeruiTc8xy3vtuNczpXmGpLoqFUIGrldZ7nJeJw4bEQq2hncNA2yg-h2C3lcOeDcFWX4U37hBHzX21NdTB15pv68AAwO_7xNBkemeqWvXlDl5fEPd7y2K4x93mCtqziMp3IChL_y/s1600/mokids2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApaLUjeruiTc8xy3vtuNczpXmGpLoqFUIGrldZ7nJeJw4bEQq2hncNA2yg-h2C3lcOeDcFWX4U37hBHzX21NdTB15pv68AAwO_7xNBkemeqWvXlDl5fEPd7y2K4x93mCtqziMp3IChL_y/s640/mokids2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">a little reminder of the beauty of travel</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">of the good things in life</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">big & small</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">~~~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">travel of all kinds</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">melissa</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">xox</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></div>

loving life...

travel... a gift from us to our children... & i'm not talkin' about endless trip to paris here people... i'm talking about t...

Read more »