…but not on track yet…I get into a bit of a dooda when I haven’t blogged for a while and I know there is a backlog of photos in my camera and words in my head and I don’t know where to start so please forgive me if it all goes a bit jumbly as it’s very true to life!

Life has been extremely hectic but  Tim has gone back to work for a fortnight and I will be working to a different rhythm.  The only way to cope with this sort of routine is to divide life into two and look for the positive aspects of something potentially depressing, like being alone for two weeks while your other half is stuck in the middle of the North Sea. As in an empty space in the bed but no snoring!  Cooking for one, but fewer calories cos the one who wants roast potatoes and a pud has someone else to cook them! 

We all had a lovely few days away.  Higgins came home looking very trim after spending all his holidays dashing round after his whippet friends.  He obviously made himself completely at home because he stole underpants out of their laundry basket too!  We had a grandson fix to keep us going until they come to stay in August.  It was a little bittersweet as, after living in Normandy all their married life, our son and daughter-in-law are relocating to the south coast of England next month.  Rouen hasn’t seen the last of us though, as my fellow mother-in-law (together we are ‘The Belle-mere Mafia) has invited us back to stay and as you will later see, there is still shopping to be done!

I still haven’t told you about the Pick n’Mix Market, which seems a long time ago now.  Fortunately Teena and Lisa took lots of lovely photos as I was so excited I completely forgot!  So pop over to Kitschen Pink and Bobo Bun to get the full picture, both of their lovely stalls, and everyone else’s!   I was very drawn to Sasha’s stall with assorted stuffed toys made of such pretty fabrics. Do I need a flowery kitten?  Well no, but I couldn’t quite resist.   

 There were beautiful  dog collars and leads in Liberty fabrics, but Higgins is too much of a boy and I regretfully passed by (Also, I want Tim to be prepared to walk him, and I don’t think a flowery lead would pass, Tim’s too much of a boy too)  After refreshing ourselves with coffee and delicious Stilton and walnut scones at Daisy Boo’s Kitchen  (I also forgot to photograph the cupcakes, sorry) in the corner I crept back to see Emma, of Silver Pebble, because she also had something quite irresistible,  this gorgeous silver, pearl and mother-of-pearl button necklace.  Actually, most of it was irresistable but I couldn’t spend ALL of the housekeeping…

(Despite my best efforts I couldn’t get a photograph that did justice to the necklace’s prettiness so please visit Silver Pebble to see  Emma’s lovely jewelry at it’s best)

Back to our holiday and my first exciting shopping may seem inexplicable to some. We went to IKEA!  Well I do live in a very rural part of the country where the nearest Ikea is two and a half hours away in two different directions so it’s always a treat.  We actually went to look at useful but dull stuff, like kitchen cupboards but then I found some lovely colourful bits and pieces which made me very happy…

See how easily pleased I am?  I mean, washing up brushes!  But the little pots hang off a bar and will be a cheery and useful thing to have in the studio holding scissors and pencils and brushes and all the other bits and bobs I need to have close to hand.

I did find another shop, a little treasure on the coast which I will save for next time as I fear I have lingered too long over the keyboard. 

Meanwhile Higgins has been doing a little  work  on the side, helping out with another blog draw.  If you pop over to That Elusive Line you should see him in action with the hat. 

 (The hat survived, just)