our wild flower meadow

We have had great pleasure from trying to grow a wild flower meadow in our back garden.
Yes some of the lawn had to go, but the variety of insect and flowers has been wonderful.
It is amazing just how some of the flower manage to grow in such shapes.
Hopefully this will attract some butterflies soon.
Keith has put some more photos of the Adam Henson Bees and Butterflies seeds on the following link

http://slickpic.us/496231MwNM

28th wedding anniversary today.

After 28 years, my how we have all changed, LOL

BBC Gardeners World Live and food show at the NEC, with a very laid back Monty Don

What a couple of days we have had, visiting the BBC Gardeners World live and BBC food show at the NEC.
The photo above is taken at a talk by a very laid back Monty Don, shame to say Nigel did not make an appearance.
Try and work out what Carol Klein is sniffing in one of the photos in the album, link below.
Joe Swift is just the same as when you see him on the TV, top bloke.
Fantastic flower displays, especially the Birmingham Council display, very moving.
We managed to get to see lots of both gardeners and chefs, James Martin was really genuine with his thanks to the large crowd in the super theatre.
We also timed it just right to see the first cookery demonstration from Ping Coombes, the Masterchef 2014 winner, she was a breath of fresh air to cooking displays, well done to her.
Keith managed to win a £20 gift voucher, just for being the first person to stand up at another cooker demonstration.
The link below will take you to Keiths photos from both shows, yes get a cup of tea, Keith took lots of photos, LOL.


http://slickpic.us/475914g1cT

Queens birthday fly past

Just a few minutes after they flew over Buckingham Palace, London, we were lucky enough to see some of the planes that took part, and wow, this shows just how low they were over our house.
Great flying, well done to all the pilots.

new back garden look

We have gone for a change this year in our back garden.
Keith messed up part of the lawn in the winter, so we have always wanted a meadow like look and thanks to Adam Henson, ( BBC Countryfile ) new seeds we think we are on the way to having one.
The idea is to help the bees and butterflies, hope there are more butterflies than bees, LOL.
The seed on the front left have been sown for about 5 weeks now, so within the next month some flower should appear.
It is so pleasing when you sow seeds and they actually grow.

lovely holiday

We have just returned from a lovely break at our favourite seaside hotel, the view from our balcony is so relaxing. As is allowed on your holidays, we ate and drank far to much, LOL
It was great to see the staff at the Hotel Yaramar on the Costa Del Sol, Spain again, they are so friendly and even remembered us, although it is a few years since we have been there.
Ah well, is it back to work again, and also the cold wet weather we are having at the moment back home.
Can't wait until we go back there again, especially as we found a new very big shopping mall.
Thanks to everyone at the Yaramar for making the break so enjoyable.

a bubbly weekend

What a lovely bubbly weekend myself and Keith had.
I never know who gets most fun from playing with the bubbles, myself or Jake or grandson at least Jake has the energy to chase them around, LOL
Isn't it funny, you can spend a lot of money on toys, yet some washing up liquid can provide so much fun, especially when Jakes dad had so much trouble getting them to work, and then got a face full of them.
We struck lucky with the weather, and managed some walking whilst we were away.
Jakes comment of the weekend, we had promised him to go and play with the bubbles after a cup of tea, whilst I was drinking my tea, I happened to open up my ipad, Jake knew that I was going to be playing a game on it and it would delay his playing outside, he came out with,
" Nanny, don't even think about it"
My how he is growing up, LOL

Had to be done in Kensington, London

 

Whilst in Kensington, London for the Hugglets, Bearfest show, we just could not resist going for a lovely slice of cake each and a cup of tea.

It was great until the bill came, over £17 pounds.

 

Hugglets Bearfest Feb 23rd Kensington, London

Our friend Jena gave us the best laugh of the day, he said that his shoes, pictured above, also came in a camouflage version, try working that one out....

 

Myself and Keith had a walk around Harrods whilst in London, this handmade Easter Egg was just a little to much for Keith to treat me to,  £1149 .

 

Thank you to everyone who supported me at Hugglets, you are very kind, and I am so pleased some of my creations have now found new homes, both in the UK and overseas.

 

Hugglets 23rd Feb 2014, Kensington, London

I am so pleased, I have been given a table to exhibit because of a cancellation.
Hall 1 table 60.
If you are going please come and say hello.
This is a different table location to where we normally are, but really looking forward to the show.
Bearst wishes

Maureen

can you guess who and what this is

This is fairly easy, because his name is Rudolph, and his white coloured friend is called Holly.
Xmas is coming.

Barbaras mawspaws collection

Thanks to Barbara for sending this photo of her collection of mawspaws creations.
Apart from her bears, she also is a keen gardener and has some lovely pets.
If you have a photo of your mawspaws collection, please email one to Keith

Breast cancer charity bear for 2013

Hi
I have just put my Breast Cancer Charity bear on to my website.
I hope you like her.
Bearst wishes
Maureen

Jakes 5th Birthday weekend celebrations

What a weekend, we went up to see our grandson, Jake, who had just celebrated his 5th birthday.
After a long day shopping on Saturday we took him greyhound racing at Coventry on Saturday evening, once again he was shouting loudly for his chosen greyhound, if it won we gave him pretend winnings, just as not to encourage him into gambling, LOL.
I had a couple of nice winners on the trio and we actually came back with more money than we went with, result.
On Sunday the was a large family gathering for a meal at The Farmhouse in Coventry.
What a superb place, serving either Indian or English meals, I had the korma, the best I have ever had, Keith had the tikka sizzler, made him reach for the water after the first mouthful, but said it was the best he had ever had also.
Between the 13 of us we all had different meals, all served at the same time and all hot, well done to everyone at this really good restaurant.
To round it of Jake had a Fireman Sam birthday cake, that was tasty too.
Excellent weekend, just need a rest to recover now,LOL

Back home from London show

Thanks to everyone who came and adopted my creations at Kensington Hugglets show, we had a great time, especially enjoyed meeting friends who we had only ever known by their email address.
Visitors had come from far and wide, we spoke to people from the USA and Norway who had made the trip especially to take in the visit.
The young girl from Norway had been treated to the trip by her grand mother as a birthday present, we really felt sorry for because she fell in love with one of Maurens cats, saying she would have a look around before making her mind up. Sorry to say that the cat was adopted just after she left our stand, but she took it very well and said she had had a wonderful birthday present, and really enjoyed the show.
We also managed to chat to some of our regular visitors from the UK, travelling from Cheshire, Birmingham, and many part of London.
A long and very tiring day, but well worth it.
Keith will be updating the website over the next couple of days, when he has had his beauty sleep and recovered, LOL
Thanks again to everyone we met.
Bearst wishes
Maureen

Kensington show, here we come

Very excited, this Sunday, 8th Sept., I will be exhibiting my creations at Hugglets, Kensington Town Hall, London, doors open 1030 - 1600
Always a very nervous time, wondering if anyone will adopt a creation, if you are coming along please come and say hello, always great to put a face to an email address.
For all our website visitors, thank you so much for all your patience, as I have been making new creations for the show.
Bearst wishes
Maureen

A tiring day at Bucks Couny Show

The sun shone, the crowds turned out, and some of the wonderful animals on show, well, they were a little tired, LOL.
A wonderful day at this years Bucks County Show, I have never seen so many people there, and the variety of animals was fantastic. A special well done to those involved in showing the cattle, my favourites, their day must have started very, very early, and the quality of there charges was just fantastic.

great effort at Dinton Fete

A quintessential English village fete, held at Dinton, a small village near where we live, on Bank Holiday Monday.
Well done to everyone concerned, a wonderful afternoon of fun and some great homemade cakes, and raising much needed funds for local areas.
The fete was officially opened by Tony Hadley.

Poppy tastic

For many years I have tried to have a decent display of Poppies in my garden, shame to admit I have failed miserably, that is until this year.
All it took was to sprinkle a packet of Ornamental Poppy seeds and hey presto, the most fantastic display this year.
Keith has ben out with his camera and put a gallery of them on the following link,

http://sli.so/1801523,jm


The best factor is that the bees actually love the poppies, so not only a beautiful display but helping the bees, which we have heard are struggling at the moment.
A bee can just about be seen in the photo above having brunch, LOL

Elizabeth, Happy birthday

To my dear sister, have a wonderful birthday