14th March photo - craft fair NEC

Just got back from the NEC hobbycraft show and have had a great day out - thanks Ali, Teresa, Cherida & Shelia for your lovely company.

Today's photo is not actually scrapping related as I had expected, but 2 pals were at the NEC today - promoting their wood carving skills and were more than happy to pose and be my photo of the day - Meriel had a fit of giggles when I told her she would be on the internet!

I am glad that Jan & Meriel were happy to be POTD as I did not really get many other photo opportunities as a lot of the stall holders would not let us take photos unless we bought something from their stand. Hobby Horse crafts was the exception and Rachel was happy for me to take photos of the lovely mini book she was working on.

I did not get all the things I wanted - no cutting mats for my Big Shot! There were very few cup cake embellishments - ended up with some rub ons, some ribbon and one sheet of cardstock with cupcakes on - lets hope some of those match the layout. But I did end up with 2 scrapbook magazines (that's my bedtime reading) and 80 sheets of cardstock for £8.99 (11p a sheet) so I picked up enough white ones to finish my 365 project.

I was very disappointed when I got home to find that the postie had tried to deliver my Scrapagogo monthly kit yellow box but had taken it back to the sorting office as I was out! It must be a new postie as the regular one knows how precious it is and always leaves it in a safe place.

scrapbook layout - not 1 but 2! - 13th March photo

I have spent the day at home scrapping and it felt good!

This is the layout I had preped for the crop but did not have time to do - so I finished it off today. It shows Liam and I at the Ellesmere Canal Festival in September last year. We had a lovely afternoon there and he was in a remarkably good mood - even posing with me for these photos!! I like the quote title for this layout "the best thing to spend on your child is time" - which is so true. I am going to add thread through the buttons, but wanted to photograph it now in the light - sorry its such an appalling photo though!

This second layout was also preped for the crop - its not one of my better ones but its only going in my album so its OK. Again no patterned paper - that's a first for me - usually I can't do layouts without any, but the grey base paper does have a subtle pattern which is hard to see in the photo.

The photos of me geocaching were taken on a wintery New Years Day - only 2 months ago and here were are now celebrating the arrival of Spring - I am going to enjoy seeing the changing seasons with my 365 project ( which is now up to date - journalling and all - this feels good as well!)

I have another layout nearly finished, but need some cupcake embellishments - which I am hoping to pick up at the NEC hobbycrafts show tomorrow.

Evidence of spring - 12th march photo

I have been out walking and geocaching today and I was able to take some of the photos that I wanted, to show that Spring has arrived. Again I have taken too many and am spoilt for choice - so will mull it over before printing one of them out tonight.

Some geese at Colemere who thought it was funny to hiss and chase me!

Not the best looking daffs - will try and find some better ones.

But much nice crocus's

Mummy sheep with her two new babies - a sure sign of Spring.

Had a little chat with this guy over the fence - he was feeling 'Springy' as he was enjoying a good old run around the field until he spied me.

The extractor fan is up and running - 11th march photo

I know its rather mundane - but for me it is quite exciting as I have never had an extractor fan before - so this shot of it in action tonight has to be POTD.

I like the lights on it - makes it a more pleasant area to cook in - even if it does show up all the marks on the cooker.

We just need to find some tiles to go around the walls and then the kitchen should be finished!!

I have been taking some close up shots for my PWL photography course - I spent the whole afternoon the other day getting up close to loads of things in the house - I don't have the right lens for my camera though - if I got up as close as I wanted it would not focus - so I really need a macro lens but they are so expensive.

This is the inside cover of a hard back book.
Some smelly bath beads.

A glass tile

Holographic figures in a glass swimming trophy.

10th March photo - Loccitane parcel

I love Loccitane products and this lovely parcel arrived for me today - full of my favourite goodies and just look at the pretty packaging.
Soaps - 2 shea butter milk soaps, 2 white tree & 2 green tree soaps - 2 for me and 2 for gifts. These just smell divine and all made from natural ingredients so kind to my skin. I also had some almond shower oil - this does not smell of marzipan - but has a lovely appley smell and I add a cap full to my bath when I really want to be indulgent.

9th March photo - a first edition!

I have been enjoying the book about Margaret Mead so much, that I wanted to find out more about her. A quick search of Amazon produced this book - Intertwined Lives: Margaret Mead, Ruth Benedict and Their Circle - so I ordered it and it arrived today and it is a brand new first edition hard back book!

It was published in 2003, costing $35 then. I got it for £3.34 plus £2.75 p& p = £6.09 in total.

I love first edition books so I am really excited to have this book. I can't wait to finish the first Mead book so I can make a start on this one.

Baking day - 8th March photo

I was a very good housewife today and stayed in and baked. I wanted to use my new tray bake pan which I bought from Lakeland this week.

Today's photo is a slice of apricot and almond cake and yes it does taste as nice as it looks!

I tried a new recipe in the tray bake: apple & cinnamon crumble. I had to double the recipe because the tray bake pan is huge, so I think we will be eating this all week.

The new pan came with a posh cover for it -which is very useful.