Two happy children and a very frazzled mummy....

Hi peeps....how are you all? Me, well I'm shall we say 'a little exhausted', a little more freckly and slightly frayed around the edges.

When I last posted I was just off to the cottage with the girls. I planned to stay just a few days at first to test the water and see how we went....two and a half weeks later I left!!!

I feel a little proud of myself that I managed that long on my own with no TV for the first half of our stay (until I succumbed in week 2 and sent for the sky man to come poste haste), no telephone (had mobile, but signal very poor), no adult company and no Internet! I have since discovered the 'dongle' which will no doubt become a firm friend of mine for our next extended stay next week.

Most would probably think I was a little crazy to even entertain the idea of keeping a 3 & 4 year old occupied for so long, somewhere other than 'home' with no help and to take them to the beach most days putting my revolving head to great use and failing to make the shrimps understand that I was physically unable to split myself in two to ensure they (that most of the time would insist on heading for opposite ends of the beach), remained safe at all times. In fact I only managed one drama during our time away when most of the beach, including the life guard went running to the sea to 'rescue' my 4 year old that had been told (probably about 50 times) not to go into the water as the water was too rough that day, but ignored me none the less........my heart was ever so slightly in my mouth as I yelled "LEAVE the bucket...LEAVE THE BUCKET"......as I watched her lunge back into the waves to rescue her new pink bucket!!! I tried not to cry along with her as the nearest woman threw her back on to the beach!!! I think it taught her a lesson though to maybe listen to mummy when she tells her not to go into rough waters until she's a stronger swimmer at least! I told her I could buy another bucket but not another of her.

The next few trips I took to the beach on my own with the girls I made sure were to beaches with life guards and gaily plonked us all smack bang in front of their hut for a much needed second pair of eyes.....

How could I not visit the beach though? with so many gorgeous beaches and hideaway coves on our doorstep, the draw was far to great, fresh air, sand castles and paddling in the inlets. Me hyper-ventilating as they played around the rocks (have I ever mentioned just how accident prone little shrimp is)?..............

..........then screaming that they were cold after playing in the sea and trying to dry and dress 2 children at the same time.... or changing them into the 5th swimming costume of the afternoon as they would whip off any costume that came into contact with the tiniest bit of water only to have to take it all home to wash and dry for the next day...was a small price to pay for the smiles on their faces and the memories we were creating.........

We even found time for a little beach combing too for driftwood to add to the ever growing collection!

I was cunning enough to do a little research before I arrived for our little girlie holiday. I found out that the local Arts & Crafts shop, that was only a few minutes from our home, ran a craft morning for the local children. It was marvellous and the girls couldn't wait to get there each morning. They made masks, decorated bags, threaded beautiful wooden beads onto cords to make bracelets and necklaces, decorated cards with ribbons, buttons and sequins to send home to daddy....they made egg cups from clay then returned a few days later to paint and varnish them.....oh, the list was endless. Of course I nearly bankrupted myself paying for them to take home their creations in the mean time, but it was worth every penny...wonderful place.

So you see, we got into a little routine, us girlies, arts & crafts in the morning, beach in the afternoon and a walk along the quay and a trip to the park before heading for bed. Sometimes for a treat I'd paint their toes nails so they felt really grown up!

Tucked up in bed, peace and quite descended on our little cottage...pure bliss....a comfy sofa and a chilled glass of white....at last I was able to relax and for a teeny tiny part of the day have a little 'me' time curled up with a good book......

Purchase of the day........

Couldn't resist these little seaside homes for the cottage. Pretty aren't they?

Off to the cottage, just me and the shrimps for the first time ever...wish me luck.........

Reducing food miles.....

The first and third Saturday of the month always puts a smile on my face.... It means the 2 minute walk down to the farmers market to purchase lots of lovely goodies.

Of course I have to take my wicker basket with me. The experience just wouldn't be the same without it.....couldn't possibly go......I just have to have it with me. Mr SB laughs at me, can't understand what is wrong with a few re-cycled shopping bags...MEN...Puhh.

Once I reach the quay, there they are, the 30 producers or so displaying their quality local produce...free range eggs, fruit & vegetables, fruit juices, pates, shellfish, knitted garments and wool, preserves, cured meats, pies, cakes, trees, shrubs and bedding plants.................goodness...where to start...

These farmers markets have continued to grow in popularity, showing that people want quality, local produce and they know where it comes from. This in turn obviously helps keep food miles down and helps boost the local economy. Something I am obviously trying to do single handedly with the help of Mr SB's wallet but am still falling somewhat short (despite my best efforts).......

Basket at the ready, child free and I was off....oh my goodness.....How on earth am I going to only manage with ONE basket? Note to self...On future market days, take small child along for extra basket carrying, preferably older child as she is slightly stronger and will be able to buy more.......

Oh gosh...Lemon and Ginger cheesecake, Now I cant say no to that can I?...Can I? Isn't it a sacrilege to pass a stand selling homemade cheesecake and not buy at least one?

Oysters............I'll leave those there...Mr SB will surely get the wrong idea if I take those home, he's got the Bathroom to paint for goodness sake, that'll keep him busy.. I like to get his priorities straight for him.

Look at this colourful stall.......may just have to take up knitting now.......

Failing that I could always drape it around my neck in some kind of fashion statement..

However am I going to decide here? I can't just buy the one that would be rude.....(basket started to get ridiculously heavy at this point)!

Bread...Oh....stocks getting rather low....must come earlier next time, I just got far to distracted by the shops on the way down!!

Something for the garden perhaps?

What a lovely chap he was, couldn't not buy off him.....I mean, caramel shortbread....you just don't leave it sat there for someone else to buy....

I suppose if I buy a few fresh veggies I won't feel as guilty about the high calorie goodies sat in the basket?

Almost bought a tree but decided on a vintage tennis racket instead.............As you do....

Blimey, how on earth I managed to get back up the hill, I'll never know. I had to stop every few steps and change hands....those wicker baskets can't half dig into your hand when loaded to capacity...

Loving....

My new chunky Russian doll bracelets.

They make me smile each time I look down at the abundance of colour on my wrists.

Anyone fancy some window shopping?....

As I descend the creaky old stairs every Sat/Sun morning in the cottage, I am greeted by 2 very excitable dogs doing the same old morning routine... frantically wagging their little tails, prancing around, whimpering with excitement and standing by the front door refusing to move. I suppose I should be grateful really, even if it is only the dogs that I have this effect on!

The reason, of course, is that they know that we'll be going for our morning constitutional. I must admit I too rather enjoy it, browsing in the shop windows before the crowds descend....down to the quay to watch the boats bobbing around......

..... and on a Sunday, finishing off with a wander around the car boot sale, offering not only vintage treasures but organic fruit & veg and homemade preserves....Mr SB thought he was safe letting me loose in the town before 9am!!

Fancy a little window shopping?.....................


Bibi, one of my favourite clothes shops, full of exquisite clothes, shoes and accessories.

Beautiful kitchenware, full of stylish bits and bobs all waiting to find themselves sitting in your kitchen.

Not forgetting the little shrimps, there's always this wonderful toy shop for them to spend their pocket money in!

The fishmongers waiting for the boats to bring in the morning catch of fresh fish.

Pure torture a chocolatier, so close to our home.

Fabulous interior design shops for me to whittle away the hours in..........

..

Gift shops that are begging for you to open your purse and spend........

This oar is now hanging in our kitchen and I've got my beady eye on the shelf on the left to hang in the garden............

Look at the beautiful old family run cinema. This, I'm sure will come in very handy on rainy days and winter afternoons..

Back up the hill, homeward bound. Now do you think my wonderful husband would notice me popping out a little later on for a few new purchases? That oar was a bugger to sneak in I must say.............................

Love for a 3 year old is.........

A pair of Spotty Flip flops......
Now shrimp, take the blessed things off!!!!

Sunday, Sunday......

North, South, East or West? Sunday morning's always pose the same question.....Which beach shall we visit today? Sunday has now become 'Beach Day'. Everyone knows where they stand, with me getting the beach bag together, packing into it 2 changes of swimming costumes, beach dresses, beach ball, towells, sun lotion etc, etc. Mr SB is in charge of the picnic lunch and the little shrimps, well they're in charge of buckets and spades.

This Sunday was no different but I did have somewhere in mind courtesy of my monthly Red magazine landing on the doormat Friday morning. If you have seen this months issue, flicking through you may have noticed this page;


Stunning isn't it? We have passed the signs to Prawle Point many times but as yet hadn't yet visited. After seeing this though, we just had to take a peek as it is only 5 miles (as the crow flies) from our home.

Now, just a word of warning for those of you that think it may be worth a visit at some stage. Before setting off you need to ask yourself ;

a) Do I mind driving down the narrowest lanes ever to reach it? So narrow in fact that you'll have to put your wing mirrors in to make it down the lanes.
b) Do I mind a few little scratches on my paint work from brambles etc, in order to get there?
c) Am I good at reversing, sometimes up to 400 yards to the next passing place when meeting an on coming vehicle? and even then having to often drive down ditches and only have millimetres to spare in order to pass the vehicle.

Now for Mr SB, thankfully he can answer no to all of the above, but for me, I would be hyper-ventilating if I had to put point C into effect if driving on my own with the girls. Therefore Prawle Point/Lannacombe Bay etc will be saved purely for Daddy visits at weekends during the summer holidays.

We made it though and eventually reached the little National Trust car park.......

.........climbed over the style and was greeted by a beautiful sight. Stunning coastal paths and a glistening sea.

Now at this stage we came up against an 'obstacle'...well for little shrimp it was as stressful as her journey down the birth canal 3 years ago.....Now what could this be you may be thinking? what could make a 3 year old little girl so distressed that she was screaming so loud they could hear hear in Cornwall? I shall tell you..... SHEEP POO........ Oh my goodness, stressed isn't the word. She was so obsessed with not getting any on her favourite spotty flip flops that she couldn't even walk for screaming.

Because of this terrible experience we, her cruel, cruel parents had put her through, we had to turn back before we found the cove, but even the little we saw of Prawle Point was worth the drive.

Then onto Lannacombe, stunning little cove, not frequented by many due to even narrower lanes, very limited parking and no facilities, but simply beautiful. Now the way the morning was going, I could have told you that when we'd made it there, there would be no parking left...I was right....Oh well, beautiful anyway...maybe another day when we can arrive a little earlier.

The girls by this stage were getting really annoyed with us that we'd been in the car so long and they still hadn't run on the beach. We decided to head home and back to Thurlestone. Because it was a windy day, it was busy with kite surfers, lovely to watch. Also divers were about exploring the ocean bed and the recent rain storms had washed up a little seaweed for the girls to play with.

Did I say; 'little'?

Of course when I unpacked our picnic the heavens opened, so we headed home a little sooner than expected but at least we felt the sand between our toes and the sea lapping at our feet, so not a bad Sunday all in all...................

Coming together.....

Hope you've all enjoyed your weekend wherever you are and whatever you've been up to. Ours has been busy, in fact, the last few months have been busy, busy, busy. Starting to furnish a home from scratch takes me back a number of years to when I was 22 and bought my first home. I was so excited visiting shops and drooling over interior magazines. I gained such pleasure as each individual room began to come together as I saved my pennies each month.

Well, nothing has really changed. Now in my 30's, I still get that same thrill.....watching as each room gradually transforms through hard work, determination and hours and hours of shopping......such a hardship for a shopaholic!!!

This weekend we had a few jobs to add to the ever growing list. Well, when I say 'we', it's obviously the 'Royal we' that I'm talking about....Mr SB is the man with the tools and the patience whilst I can usually be found flicking idly through the latest copy of Ideal Homes/25 Beautiful Homes/Country Homes and Interiors...to name but a few! I like to think I have talent for offering my support with comments such as; "You've missed a bit/That's wonky/you've already been 4 hours, you must have almost finished by now/bl**dy hell we're missing a gorgeous sunny day at the beach".................... Always makes him feel so much better I'm sure!!!

Anyway this weekend's tasks were as follows............ Drive to Dartmouth to buy patio set, put together and enjoy both breakfast and dinner out in the sunshine listening to the seagulls with a glass of wine (that was at dinner by the way, not breakfast)!

Saturday saw Mr SB, shall we say, cursing a great deal under his breath putting together the bunk beds the shrimps have wanted 'forever'. I assisted by sitting out in the sunshine on above mentioned patio set reading my book and popping in every now and again when daddy's little helpers shouted out that daddy needed mummy to help him hold a bit/lift a bit etc, etc.....It was all worth it however to see their room start to come together. Not many more purchases..a chest of drawers, some more baskets under their bed and we're all done. A little Greengate and some nautical stripes has given them a seaside room with a girlie twist............

We all woke with a start at 2am this morning when little shrimp fell out of bed!!! Luckily she'd been allocated the bottom bunk by bossy older sister...thank heavens!

The new Lexington cushions took pride of place in our 'simple' bedroom on top of my latest purchase from The White Company; beautiful pure white Egyptian Cotton bedlinen. I also ordered some lovely big square pillows, but these hadn't arrived in time to take down. To me the price of the bedlinen was worth every penny....the quality is superb and it felt divine......I'd love to say that I slept beautifully between my lovely new sheets but I spent the entire night awake coughing and spluttering like an old car on a frosty morning...a combination of asthma and the tail end of a nasty virus.

The next purchase to be made for this room is a full length driftwood mirror and ladder to match, to hang towels/clothes over. It's on the list however under 'non essential purchases' coming some distance below 'clothes' airer and 'ironing board', so may have to wait a while for that one.

Last but not least came a new shower curtain rail in the bathroom, but that's v.boring to look at so I didn't bother to photograph it.....may also have something to do with blummin' horrible bathroom it's hanging in, which I couldn't possibly show you!....... new bathroom comes on the list of jobs to do in 2010. Did I mention how many lists we have in our household? I think I could give Nancy a run for her money! Obviously only in the 'list' department mind you, certainly not in the sewing/knitting/cooking/bike riding department............How you lovely blogging ladies can leave a woman feeling totally inadequate!!

Anyway, I shall leave you now to catch up on Celebrity Masterchef. More of the weekend in a few days.

A little retail therapy............

Some things just don't mix well..............well for Mr SB anyway!

A beautiful summers day.

A trip into Bath.

SALES!!!!

Me!

My first visit was to my favourite shop in Bath; Redwood Bay. Here I picked up some huge wine glasses for both red and white wine by Riviera Maison. The white wine glasses are HUGE, beautifully tall and just longing to be filled with a chilled white wine.....

A trip upstairs and I discovered some of my favourite bedding reduced; Lexington. I purchased two of these to go on our bed.

Onto Laura Ashley, I was pleased to discover that the appliqued cushions that I had coveted for the living room had been reduced by 30%, so I wasted no time in purchasing them....such a bargain for the amount of detail on them.

Now for the hard bit.....transporting them to the cottage on Friday without Mr SB noticing!!

Somehow I don't think the usual; "Oh...I've had those ages"...will work...Ummmm....Do you think I can get away with him agreeing that my goodies are "Essential Items Only", which I have been told to stick to? I mean, for goodness sake, I know I was meant to be buying an ironing board and airier, but who in this world wants to be washing and ironing when they can be on the beach? Wine drinking is obviously classed as; 'Essential' and these were far prettier than the cheapo ones he got from Salisbury's......And cushions, well everyone needs that added comfort when sat on the settee......obviously the small fact of the settee having to be returned for the correct one that we had ordered is a minor detail! At least we'll have some pretty cushions to perch on though!