Last one (for a while)

It's our last 50% FRIDAY for a while so we've made it a good one.

50% off EVERYTHING

Simply use the code FAB50 at the checkout 

to get EVERYTHING half price

Offer ends at midnight tonight (Friday)

HAPPY SHOPPING

My favourite place

The garden really is my favourite place to spend time at the moment.

The 'new bit' is feeling more part of the old garden as we try to link the two bits together. There's still a lot to do in the next half term but I bought fence paint today so if it's dry this long Bank Holiday weekend, it should be another job ticked off the list. 

The veg patch is beginning to show promise. 

 

We've planted a rhubarb, mint, peas, chard and onions so far - courgettes and runner beans are going in this weekend. I do like to go down every evening and first thing in the morning on slug and snail patrol.

The Allium's this year are flowering much earlier than last year. We planted a lot more bulbs and in one patch alone we have 15 heads in bud ready to flower.

The Clematis is full of bud and flower all along one side of the garden and back fence - we must try and encourage it to spread into the new bit.

Bluebells and tulips surround the base of the tree - beautiful. The grasses and ferns are all beginning to unfurl and grow. The apple tree blossom is in flower and the tree is now leafing up lovely. 

As I said it's the best place to be and it's where you'll find me until at least October!

So sad.....

I was just just looking back through my Summer posts tonight, reminding myself of last Summer and thinking ahead to this year, whilst watching a programme about the Winter storms. 

The photo's of our time at the Jubilee Pool last Summer really stand out - a reminder of a great day and a great place. With the images of the Winter storms on the TV screen I wondered how the Pool had fared and the images I found make me so sad.

This is as close a comparison to my photo above and what a shock. The Friends of Jubilee Pool have a Facebook page HERE and reading the latest update it looks most certainly like we won't be enjoying a day or two there this Summer.

Very sad.

5 April Views

Last year I decided to look back at the garden at the same time in April to see how it differed year by year. Last year was so bitterly cold that everything was so late, this year I'm pleased to share a much greener view of the garden.

2010

2011

2012

2013

 

2014

It's a typical April day today, full of April showers. I really don't like the rain but everything is looking much greener and full of promise. Fingers crossed the sun will be shining next weekend as it's Bank Holiday weekend and my Saturday off!

Catch up

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment on my last post, I'm glad so many of you understand. I know I've said it before but when Jeff's Mum died so early from cancer, it really made me re-evaluate how I lived my life - that you have only one go at it, so be as happy as you can.

 I've found my motivation after my calf injury to get back out there in attempt to shift the pounds. My holiday is now only 14 weeks away so no excuses now. I'm aiming on a walk/run at least 5 times a week and with healthier food choices along the way, I should see some improvement!

I was chuffed to see a photo I posted on facebook, make the printed pages of our local paper - a nice surprise as I read the Journal!

I'm also in the process of emptying the old toy, game, book cupboard - I can't remember the last time anyone got something out of it so it's going to a new home and making way for a new chair which is on order. As the children have got older we need more seating space so I get to re-style the corner, I'm hoping once I move it, I won't need to repaint!

On a dots and spots note - 50% FRIDAY will be taking a break. Next week will be the last one for a while, so make the most of it!

Where I'm at....

I've been looking back through some of my blog posts and very few lately have been about dots and spots but about the garden, holidays, family life, more a diary rather than a design blog. My blog was always a 'mish mash' of the two, the work/life balance etc. Because I've decided to take a step back for a year from exhibiting at shows and designing, I feel I haven't as much to share on the dots and spots front - nothing new, 'wow' or exciting. It's just a routine of orders 'pinging' in, being picked and packed and sent out.

I recently read an article Jane Lindsey of 'Snapdragon Online Ltd' had been asked to write about work/life balance for Totally 4 Women, you can read it HERE so much of what she writes, rings home to me too.

Christmas 2012 was a tipping point for me too, I had already decided changes needed to be made after a stupidly busy trading period and when Jeff received his redundancy news a few months later, something had to give. We were already signed up to two London Trade Shows and had committed ourselves to a new product range for 2013 but my love affair with dots and spots had changed. We decided in 2014 not to exhibit at Trade Shows, not bring out a new product range or glossy catalogue - I'm enjoying my time more now I'm off the work treadmill. I'm not panicked about design deadlines and people's expectations of me, keeping up with other's, always having to come up with the next big thing.

This year I'm enjoying going over to the unit and making up the orders, I'm enjoying doing the odd day in my friend's shop - meeting and actually talking to other people. I'm enjoying looking at what other people are doing without feeling any pressure to compete and come up with the next new idea. I'm enjoying having the time to spend at home or meet up with friends and I'm enjoying a little bit of 'ME' time, focusing on my health and fitness a little more now I have the time.

I want dots and spots to continue but not in the crazy way it had become. It needs to bring in an income or I'll have to do something else. I still want to do new things but without the pressure and expectation. I don't want to grow bigger, take on staff  etc so it needs to work for me and family life. Jeff's new job means he doesn't have the time to support the business in the way he did. The children as they get older I find, need you around more so whilst I continue to enjoy my 'year off' I am also thinking ahead to how dots and spots will develop into the future.

Happy Easter

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter

We weren't going to exchange eggs this year, save the calories but despite that Sophie and Sam have each ended up with quite a collection! My Sister and niece came over on Thursday and we had our annual Easter Egg Hunt with the cousins on Good Friday, always a fun morning. This morning is feeling a little odd as Sophie had a sleepover last night and is on a sewing workshop this morning so Easter Sunday won't really start until she comes home at lunch time.

The weather has sadly turned - it's cold and grey outside with the promise of rain later. We have been so lucky this holiday to have had nice sunny weather.

The garden has come on a treat!

There is still a bit to do - a gravel path needs to be laid, the fence needs to be painted, an area needs to be levelled and covered for a seating area and our vegetable beds need to be planted out. The path and seating area will have to wait until May half term as Jeff will be back to working Saturdays. I shall try and paint the fence during school time as and when I get a bit of time. It's most certainly too cold to be out there today.

Have a lovely Easter weekend x