Angel Jem's City Cottage

I draw for fun and craft for pleasure and my poor relatives bear the brunt of my creations.  This is the card I have drawn for a 16 year old niece's birthday.  It costs me nothing but time and talent.  Is this just penny pinching or a justified act of creation made with love? And is it my mindset or hers that matters?  Is a handmade gift lovingly given rendered meaningless if the recipient sees it as second best?   And as I plan a created Christmas (yes crafters have to start Christmas in August:sorry x) should I proceed secure in the knowledge that the value of my gifts lies in my value of them rather than the value bestowed by the recipient?  Perhaps I should stick up my Mary Engelbreit poster that reads "Say it loud; I'm an artist and I'm proud! "

My children Making them smile Being a family The car we are so going to win. To believe it is to achieve it. I drive a cool car... it's official! (a Clio) My family (again) I love them so much!!! My handsome husband, without whom none of this would be possible  and with whom all of it is such good fun!

Do as the Germans do. Meat and cheese for breakfast,  presented so nicely.  Yum!

To look, Priddy's Hard, Portsmouth  to breathe, Bournemouth Beach  to read, At Buckler's Hard (on Delilah Tab)  to think, Holidays are always a chance to stop and think, sometimes to plan  to pray. The crypt at Winchester. Such light and shade!

Literary Heroes. The Vyne has a display on about a ring with writing on that might have inspired Tolkien. I just loved the hat and ears that meant we could dress up for a little while as some of our favourite heroes from literature. Gandalf meets the hobbits. Love the ears!  Historic heroes. Winchester holds a special place in history as Alfred the Great's capital city. They honoured him in 1901 with a massive statue in the middle of town.  Having watched Michael Wood (another historical hero of mine!) and his fantastic series shown recently, I knew we had to go and see Winchester just to walk in the footsteps of Alf. Yeay, Alfred!! Legendary Heroes. The round table is alive and well and hanging on a wall in Winchester's Great Hall . Entry to the hall is free, which I love since it means that people can enjoy the romance of Arthur and his fair damosel whose father legendarily gave him the table without it costing a fortune!  And also e...

Sometimes noise can make or break a holiday. Staying in a busy city where the noise never stops is hell to some people, heaven to others. It's a subjective viewpoint. Family holidays rely on noise to entertain or excite children. At Buckler's Hard there was a button to press which played 'Hearts of Oak' over and over and over again.... Children can't resist a button. And rope to make a bowline with. The bowline held his weight. He was happy.  Nature can be noisy too. Nothing more so than a gang of ducks (gaggle? No that's geese. Not herd? Group? Pancake? Or orangery?) The ducks at The Vyne run free outside the house.  But for real noise it has to be man made. And this was the loudest noise I heard all holiday. They didn't ask me to drive, though. Shame. Don't ask me what car it is. It was loud L-O-U-D LOUD  I did drive the go karts at Beaulieu, though. Only once, before deciding that I needed to have photos to capture the day. And they ...

About 2 years ago I bought a range of colours to make a granny stripe blanket and figured it would keep me occupied over the winter. Living Room Throw WIP Well, it came and went and my stripe blanket got no further than 10 rows at most that year, left in the basket at the side of the room. Desolate and unloved. I love the red, maroon, blue and green combination. Last year (Winter) I got them out and looked at them and decided that a stripe was not what I wanted to make, so I undid the pitiful 10 rows and began again. With granny squares instead. And I have done well, my son, done very well. The wrong side. You can see where I have sewn in the ends and where it still needs to be done. With the inevitable months off for the summer when it is just too hot to sit and crochet a blanket together, I have pressed on. I have done 111 squares so far, an 11 by 11 blanket is planned, and I know that I will finish it later this week. At last. The right side. I love the joins. ...

Because a family that laughs together has more fun. In front of Victory at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard  Because sometimes the simplest things give most pleasure. Crazy Golf in Bournemouth Because sometimes you find a place that has the same sense of humour as you do The Birds' Party in the Summerhouse at The Vyne Because waiting for things can be nerve-wracking, and laughter is an inevitable release. Go Karts at Beaulieu Because Grandparents can be so lovely when they stay on holiday just to share your birthday and then give you a present like this!!! So you, boy! The camouflage piggy bank off Ma and Da Because your favourite programmes make you laugh. And sometimes you know you shouldn't. Top Gear's Police cars; the green one has 'It's the Filth' backwards on the bonnet Because the best laid plans aft go astray, and it can be so funny when they do. The Indestructible Toyota Hilux; destroyed Because sometimes words aren...