Happy Birthday Miss. Poppins!....

Remember remember the 5th of November....

Happy Birthday to my precious sweet pea, 9 today!
My teeny tiny 5lb 11 ozs baby girl born on the 5th of the 11th.

(Photograph curtesy of Urban Angels )

Takes after her Mummy with the silly faces....

Mummy, Daddy, Master Poppins and all the family love you so very much, you make us proud ( mostly) each and every day. I hope mummy can control herself and not take a peeky at some of your presents or take a nibble on one of your adorable Daisy cupcakes....

Hmmm, maybe a little bite....

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Here Comes The Bride....

It is coming up to my 11th wedding anniversary, an easy date for me to remember as is the day after Miss. Poppins' birthday and also the day of my lovely sister in laws birthday. I always remember the lovely lady in question getting her special birthday mention in the wedding speeches and we all sang happy birthday. Our wedding was on such a lovely autumnal day back in November, 1999. I am a sentimental gal and always like to reminisce on our wedding and the memories that I have of our special day. My wedding dress hangs in one of my mum's bedrooms, looking pretty and as we are having a little holiday here, think it is time for a little try on, don't you.

It is actually quite a simple dress, I knew I wanted lots and lots of tulle...

 I really wanted the Cinderella thing with a big hoop and skirt though being quite petite I wanted the top half to be quite simple.

I thought the trellis design was very sweet. It had to be adjusted and with some of the left over trellis material I asked for three little rosebuds to be sewn on the back....this is me actually wearing it nearly 11 years to the day, yay it still fits ;0)

I also loved the v shaped waist, and I felt like a princess in it.

Being a girl who likes to show a little flesh, ( even on my wedding day ) I adored the back of the dress and the fact that although not an overtly revealing dress in anyway, my back was exposed, I love, love, love the back of my wedding dress.

Also kept at my mums are the beautiful, delicate iced flowers we had for our three tiered wedding cake. My mum keeps them in her special cabinet in the front room, and even after nearly 11 years are as stunning as they were on our wedding day. Yes, a little imperfection here and there, but so pretty to look at. 

I am so glad we had a colour theme of golds, ivories and a little green here and there in the greenery for our wedding. Wonderful classic, undating colours, and I can look at my wedding photographs and truly, for me, they look as though they could have been taken yesterday. I would say a small fortune was spent on the photography, but creating special, wonderful memories was very important to me, and what wonderful memories we have. The photography in my opinion is beautiful and was worth every penny, and I shall be forever grateful. Such lovely natural photography....

Our very lovely and special car....

Takes the song 'You lift me up' to a new level....

It wasn't only my new husband giving me sloppy kisses....

A very much loved member of the family, and still with us :0)

So, nearly 11 years later, am I as happy as I was on that beautiful day?

Well, I am older, a little more tired, in need of a boob job ( though shall never have one ). We went on to have three very special babies. Our first, Miss. Poppins, who was born at term, perfectly well and healthy. Then came our beautiful baby Joshua, who being so premature God decided was so special he took him into his care. The following year we had our miracle baby, Master P. Our very special 29 weeker, born so very small at 3lbs 1 oz, though thrived and is a prefectly healthy happy 4 year old.

Yes we have had stress, sometimes I think more than our fair share. Yes I have had times when I have thought  maybe my marriage isn't perfect, ( whose is )  But I am a romantic, I can't help it, a dreamer, a passionate person who loves to love and feel loved. So looking deep into my soul, yes I am as happy, maybe more. We have both changed, of course, and having a family brings new challenges and stresses, but I love my husband all the more having gone through these stresses, I have got to know him more over our nearly 11 years of marriage, he is, as I often call him, my rock.

So, plod on we do, and we shall spend our anniversary thinking of all the good times, the happy memories we have made together, and maybe, just maybe we may have a night out, just the two of us.

Do you have the perfect marriage, please tell me they don't exist :0)

Right, off to see what I should be buying my dear husband, 11 years, hmmmm probably coal or something useful like that ;0)

X

Because Sometimes Memories Are All We Have....

This post is in memory of  my beautiful Joshua, born and taken into God's care 12th June 2005. He is a very, special, important and real memory. I am never going to forget him, ever. The memories I am making with my children and family, are very real, and beautiful of course and we have fun making new ones together every day.

Joshua's, feet and hand prints, special blankets, name tags, teeny tiny nappy, and special memories are all I have of him, and they are those memories that help me heal. It is my birthday today, and I have realised, you can have your flashy presents, your shiny cards, and helium birthday balloons. The greatest gift for me is the warm hug and kiss off your loved ones, your children, your family, the people that know and love you best. I was greeted with two very special cuddles from my children, and dearest darling husband, so the presents lay unwrapped. I want to spend my time with them, enjoying them. I would love Joshua's warm hug too, but the memories I have of him make me smile and so proud that he is a part of mine and my families life.

For Tara's  Memory Gallery

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Little Man....

I know the little man in my life can drive me mad sometimes, but Master. Poppins you really are the most precious, sweet, adorable, funny, talented, gentle, handsome, polite, friendly, and loving little thing I know.

It is hard to remember that your Daddy's wedding ring could have been your little bracelet when you born 11 weeks early. I so wish I had been awake to see you born but know they had to get you out quick. Daddy had been sent home and was called back the minute he stepped through the front door, he got there as you were being wheeled out of theatre.

You were like a little bird, a little bird that needed nurturing.

Looking into Daddy's eyes.





Every time I held you I didn't want to put you back.





I wanted to hold you forever.





Special time with your big sister.






Your delicate little face.






Having a joke with your daddy.





I know it was getting you down being in the SCBU and you wanted to be home, but you were being well looked after by all the kind nurses. It made us all giggle when we saw your little gesture in this photograph.





Even the premature size baby grows looked humongous on you.





Your fist day out in some fresh air.





And look at you now Master Poppins, I am so proud of how far you have come, now 2, a big boy and a very happy, most of the time ;) little boy.






I love with you with all my heart, you mean the world to me and I ....well I wanted to tell you that, so you don't forget how much I love you.

And if your big sister is reading this, well, you know I love you too, you are my little princess, a mini me ;) Well almost, as my tantrums can give yours a run for their money.



X

Go On look In The Skip, I Dare You. And Thank You Clare....

Do you like skips, well I do. Yes I know they are not much to look at though these days you can get pretty pink ones which I think are rather nice. Yes I love skips though much prefer what may be lurking inside. And hey if our very own Kirstie Allsopp can do it then I don't see why little olde me can't too.


So when I saw a friendly looking lady heaving this into her skip outside her home I couldn't resist asking if I could give it a new home. She was delighted that I could give it a new home and I also asked for a pretty wicker stool too.





Here it is now hopefully looking pretty in Miss. Poppins Attic Bedroom. I have painted it and lined the back with the Paris Rose wallpaper.





Some of her pretties. The pretty little initial was lovingly handmade for Miss. Poppins by Little Gem's World for a swap we did.











And here is the stool, which I gave a little paint job and made a pretty cushion for.





So next time you see a skip, you never know what may be lurking inside and don't forget your yellow gripper gloves a la advice from Kirstie Allsopp ;) I would love to know what you think of her new programme.


Happy Hunting :)


I have been so very touched and moved by a wonderful handmade gift that has come my way from the delightful Clare Clare wanted to make me a special personalised heart and I asked kindly if she could make a little heart that I knew would make me smile every time I looked at it. It has been lovingly handmade in memory of a very, very special little person and has indeed made me smile, it is truly beautiful.


Look how beautifully it was wrapped and the most exquisite handmade and embroidered name tag.





Wrapped in one of my favourite prints.





I was thoroughly overwhelmed by its beauty.





Gorgeous ric rac edging.





A very special feather.





And its little home, in the children's room where it belongs :)





Clare it is a wonderful and special gift. I know you know how much it shall mean to me and my family. Thank you so dearly.



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A Beautiful Swap Story....

The knitted tea cosy is a little £2.50 treat to myself, the lovely ladies at the hospital knitted it, and believe me I needed a treat whilst I was there :) and I think is such a dear little thing.


Thank you all for all your wonderful and pretty suggestions for my round windows, I love them all, and may plum for the fantastic pin board idea for Little Man's room and pretty curtains for Big sister.

Thank you so much for my lovely awards that I have received, apologies it has taken me so long to acknowledge them. I am very grateful.


Thank you April @ Cake Makes The World A Better Place


Thank You Victoria @ Vintage Tea





Thank you Marianne @ Le Temps Jadis





Thank you Victoria @ Vintage Tea





Thank you MelMel @ At Home With MelMel


Thank you Claire @ Serendipity Loves New York

Thank you Gem @ Echo Lodge





Thank you MelMel @ At Home With MelMel





I too have been tagged by the lovely Victoria Plum's Homegrown Blog and shall have a think of some random things about me.


You all have such brilliant blogs and would find it so hard to only choose a few of you and many of you have them already too. So please if you would like one of these pretty awards please do consider yourself awarded.


Here is a beautiful swap that I have received on the SC cafe from the lovely Mary also known as Mitmot, lovely Mary has no blog but she should have, she is the most brilliant and creative crafter. The theme was CK Esque, so I knew that whatever was received, I would be very grateful for, and would dearly love. And boy am I in love with my beautiful and thoughtful swap.


I thought of you and wondered if you would like to take a look :)


Gorgeous lovingly wrapped parcels.





One of Mary's delightful beautifully handmade pincushions.





A beautiful handmade flower card.





The prettiest lavender heart.





I love shopping and shall even better with Mitmot's new floraly bag on my arms.





Pretty CK covered notebook, Ohooo look it matches my wallpaper perfectly.





Gorgeous and very pretty make up case, Mmmmm is there something in there.





Gorgeous and so me bangle, delightful and pretty bath salts, a gorgeous hand embroidered glass paperweight and some lovely CK body cream.





Now here is where I become all soppy. I am always grabbing one of Big Sister's bobbles and look somewhat rather daft in hers, think glitter.


So imagine how happy I was when I unwrapped the most gorgeous hand embroidered hair accessory, now I shall look like a proper lady with it in my hair, not like a seven year old :)


So special as the buttons in it were Mary's Grandmothers.





And then the most beautiful one with a matching brooch.





What a delightful, special, beautifully handmade Heart covered note book, all the fantastic work that has gone into it, and pretty CK ribbon for the pages. It Is made even more special, as I now know from Mary, that some of the materials used in the Heart were from her childhood dresses, and hold some very special memories for her and hopefully I can do her proud, in that in years to come it shall indeed hold some very special memories for me too.





She has been kind enough to allow me to share her memories with you.


Here is her story in her own words that I have copied onto here

" For those of you who may be interested in the story behind some of the fabric I used in Mary Poppins patchwork heart i have included the story here

The story of the patchwork heart…..

I have strong memories of my Godfather ‘Uncle Les’ he was a farmer like my Father and lived on the next farm to us when I was growing up.

He and my Father would help each other at busy times on the farm, and when my father was struggling financially Les helped him out. Les was a man of few words but was a real country gentleman who treasured his friends.

For as long as I can remember he would always visit us on Easter day with the BIGGEST black magic Easter egg for me, and on Christmas morning, and with a gift for my Mum and one for me. It was so special although the presents were always the same, hand embroidered hankies for my Mum and a party dress for me, often handmade by his wife ‘Aunty Vera’. In later years I realised even more how special the dresses were as they were not able to have children of there own.

Les died 20 years ago when I was 22 and Vera passed away 4 years ago aged 96. She continued to live in the farm house they had built together in 1952 and my family rented the farm land and still do now.

I helped to clear the house after Vera had died and found her fabric stash including the scraps from making my dresses and her nephew kindly allowed me to keep them along with some other items.

The house had to be sold and the money was to be split between 9 beneficiaries, and I was surprised to learn I was one of them. What is even more special to me is that I am sat typing this in the kitchen of there farmhouse as with the support of my husband and a huge mortgage we bought it from the estate and then spent months refurbishing and modernising it. We have such a lovely home here overlooking the farmland that my brother continues to work, and I am sure that both my godfather and my father who passed away 7 years ago would have been proud that it is still ‘in the family’

So back to the patchwork heart, the central hand embroidered flower is from one of the hankies, and the arrows point to the dress fabric







Thanks to Mary Poppins for encouraging me to write this and for getting clever with the arrows "


I am not embarrassed to say I got quite emotional when I unwrapped my gorgeous swap and then knowing the moving story behind them has touched me greatly.


Thank you So much Mary, What a beautiful story, I am truly honored and I hope that you know that your precious memories are now a part of me, and I shall treasure your lovely Heart Notebook for ever :)





I hope you enjoyed seeing my lovely swap and reading Mary's story.


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