Sunday, 30 January 2011

7 Good Things Vol 10

The best things in life are free...

1. Hugs at the end of long day...


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2. Sleeping in


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3. The wonder of the stars, reminding me that there are far greater forces at work



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4. Words, beautiful words spilling for amazing minds



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5. The wonder of creating music



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6. The love of a family



7. The still of the morning


(This is sunrise this morning)

Have a peaceful week my friends

Lindy xxx

Saturday, 29 January 2011

Saturday Steals Vol 22

When I first started doing Saturday Steals (make that Sunday because I'm tardy), I was all about the produce and today I am returning to my roots! You know me, I love a good food related bargain. Or perhaps its just that the most common thing I buy is food, either way these were a definite steal.

Now around these parts cherries are an incredibly expensive thing. They are currently £8/ kg meaning that the bag below is about £4 worth of cherries. Now I love cherries but not enough to pay £4 for such a momentary pleasure. Thats just pushing it a little to far!



But whilst I was at work last night, I found these three beautiful bags of cherries reduced to only 50p/ kg. Which mean that in total these beauties cost me 58p for all of them!. Now if that isn't a steal I don't know what is!



(And yet I've already eaten the other two bags, why do you ask?!)

Excellent fruit. Price that won't make my bank manager weep. It makes for a good weekend!

Happy weekend friends,

Lindy xxx

Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Bookmarking...

For ages I've been promising an update on what I'm doing craft wise and here it is! Because I'm so busy at the moment with work and what not most of the craft projects I've been attempting have been quite small. On that theme this was the perfect project for me! I got this in kit form for Christmas; little enough that I could cart it around and simple enough that I could do it when I was really tired, it was great!

The kit had clear instructions and it was remarkably easy to follow the pattern, which I was pleased about because I haven't done any cross stitch in a very long time.

My only complaint would be that there was no quite enough green floss in the kit to finish the edging and I had to go digging in my stash to find a similar colour.


The finished article


For the sake of honesty heres what the back looked like! I really need to get neater!


With the backing on...


Put to good use!

All I need to find out now is where I can get that Adia fabric with the pretty edging on so I can make some more! I think they would make very good presents, and at the rate I sew I should be done in time for Christmas!

Happy Wednesday!

Lindy xxx

Monday, 24 January 2011

7 Good Things Vol 9

I'm posting a little later today because I failed to charge my ipad over the weekend- epic fail!

But I having a pretty good time at the moment so my 7 things were once again pretty easy to come up with.

1. My Persephone Books catalogue turned up at the end of last week and I enjoyed reading it immensely. Persephone books is a independent publisher which predominantly focuses on previously out of print early 20th century books by women. They are beautifully finished books with amazing end plates created from fabrics which come from the period or are in some way connected with the characters or author. My geek-o-meter topped out! Now I just have to save up some money to actually buy these beautiful things!
2. My Mum brought me back some rock for a recent seaside trip- so yummy!
3. Pretty new yarn to make me some fingerless mittens
4. These videos.... so fantastic and informative!
5. Delicious lasagne made by Jim
6. I left work early today and got to walk home in the sunlight!
7. I finally finished my Physics book, 'We need to talk about Kelvin'.... and my mind? Its blown. Review to follow later in the week!

Well I hope you are all having a fantastic time, please share some of your good things in the comments!

Happy Monday!

Love Lindy xxxx

Sunday, 23 January 2011

Saturday Steals Vol 21

Ahh, my friends I am a late comer to this party because unfortunately I have been at work. It is the bane of my life... and I have to go back tomorrow!

But on a more positive note I have acquired some very pretty dress this week. For only £12 and £8.80 respectively because I found a cool online coupon which deducted 20% off my bill, I am counting these as a steal!

http://www.peacocks.co.uk/product/index.jsp?productId=4575521&prodFindSrc=paramNav

http://www.peacocks.co.uk/product/index.jsp?productId=4498891&prodFindSrc=paramNav

(Sorry no photos because the website won't co-operate and the Royal Mail are still looking after them for me!)

And actually thats a good point for all you Saturday Stealers out there, before I buy anything on the internet I always google for a promotional cope. Nine times out of ten I find something, be it free shipping or 20% off and something is much much better than nothing!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend, I think I might go and sleep for a week!

Lindy xxx

Thursday, 20 January 2011

The Sun also Rises

I think I’ve mentioned before how much I love the sunrise; I never thought I’d be in this position- one where I’m up to watch the sunrise more days than I’m not. Yesterday was a particularly spectacular one. It caught me off guard; a beauty so elemental that it touched my soul at its very core.



The pinks and the purples seemed to battle for dominance over the darken grey sky, slowing pushing their way out, like arms of the universe gently caressing the morning, reassuring the day that it was not alone.



That although the sun had risen every day for the last 5 billion years, this day, would not go un announced in to the cosmos. Its dawning would not go un noticed and without fan fare.



By the time I reached work this morning the sky had mellowed, the vibrant pinks and purples had given way to a gentle golden glow, bathing the landscape. It was beautiful. It reminded me in this grey and often difficult world, that there was beauty. Beauty that is free to all, elemental and right.



This feeling stayed with me for the rest of the day. There is a word to describe this kind of feeling- numinous. A feeling of spiritual awe at the incomprehensible. I could look up the scientific explanation for why sunrise causes the sky to take on different colour, and this would explain to the how. But it would not touch on the why.

Yesterday I stopped to worship at the alter of beauty and nature. I complain about getting up early for my job all the time, and yesterday I was reminded to count my blessings. I live in a beautiful albeit sometimes difficult and dangerous cosmos. It is stunning and inexplicable to me in equal measures. Yet that is the attraction. I love the sunrise precisely because I cannot explain it. A daily reminder that somethings do not need to have a purpose, and that some feelings are worthy because of their innate existence.

Happy Thursday my friends.

Lindy xxx

(Of course I didn't have my camera with me yesterday so these pictures are ones I've taken over the last year of various mornings.)

Monday, 17 January 2011

7 Good Things Vol 8

Happy Monday! For the first time in ages I had a weekend off and I enjoyed it immensely. I totally see why people might ‘live for the weekend’, it really is that good! I normally only get every other Sunday off from work, so its a really nice change of pace to have some time for just me and Jim.

So here are my good things, I promise you these weren’t hard to come up with!

1. The weekend. It was just impossibly nice!
2. The vegetarian ‘Shepard’s Pie’ which James made- so so good.
3. ‘The Kings Speech’, we went to see this on Sunday evening with my Dad and it really does live up to all the hype.
4. Chamomile tea, I have memories of my Granny washing my hair in this when I was a child to make sure it stayed blonde and consequently I haven’t drunk much of it since! But I was missing out, because it is seriously relaxing and refreshing.
5. This site. It never fails to inspire me.
6. Sweet I love you notes from Jim to cheer me up
7. These Youtube videos. Immense. (Be warned there is swearing).

What is making you happy this Monday?

Lindy xxx

Saturday, 15 January 2011

Picture Winter: Cooling It









These photos were taken whilst visiting my Gran today, it was so nice to see her again, and I got to take some cool shots of her garden. Good family, good conversation and good photos. All in all a good day!

Friday, 14 January 2011

100th Post!

(The photos in this post are snapshots from my day based on the ‘Picture Winter’ prompt- ‘Looking Out’)

Today is my 100th blog post and this feels like a good place to stop and take stock and give thanks. I would like to give thanks to you the reader for sticking with me through 100 bumbling snap shots in to my life. To see that people are reading my writing a sharing my life is a great pleasure and comfort to me.


This is probably also a good place to answer the question, why I write a blog. Why I feel its necessary to share with the world what I had for tea or what I think of a particular book. Mostly I think it comes from my own love of blogs. I read some fantastic ones and I adore finding out how people are living their lives on the other side of the world; what people thousands of miles away from me ate for dinner or did last night. The world and the universe can seem unimaginably vast and intimidating to me, and blogs can make me feel closer to people I have never met, and likely never will.

I also think its about the process of telling a story. I’m a relatively shy person by nature and I find it hard to make new friends. I love that I can include new people in the story of my life, that I can share with people outside of my tight knit world; that I get other perspectives and other opinions that I might not hear.


I also love that it gives me an opportunity to practice my writing skills, indeed since leaving university I treasure this all the more. I enjoy the process of writing, I love thinking about what I’m going to write about during the day and I love sitting down and expressing myself though words in the evening. It is of great comfort to me to set things out, and to share my triumphs and failures with others (did anyone see last nights dinner!)

But to echo what I said at the beginning of this post I mostly love hearing everyone else's stories. To hear of peoples joys and triumphs. but also of their heartbreaks and their sorrow. I laugh, cry and rejoice along with people that I only know though the hollow tap of the keyboard and the eerie glow of the monitor. Blogs have broken my heart and picked me up at the end of a long week. They can be a window in to someone else’s soul and that is a precious thing.



You might not need to know that whilst writing this I drank a cup of camomile tea because I had a cruddy day at work and that particular herb is meant to induce calm. I also ate some left over christmas chocolates and listened to country music on itunes because it was a very bad day and these things made me feel better. But don’t you feel better for knowing it? Because I feel better for telling you. Whilst you sit there this morning or evening and drink tea, you can know that I thought of you whilst I drank mine.

Thank you for listening to me for 100 posts dear reader, heres to the next 100!

Happy Friday

Lindy xxxx

Thursday, 13 January 2011

Big Picture... Controlled Chaos

Controlled chaos is probably a good way to describe my cooking. Without the controlled part. Not so much.

This is what I managed to produce for dinner tonight.



It was practically uneatable. Delia I am not. I think the sauce I used was the wrong type, it wasn't a specific stir fry sauce and I don't think I cooked for long enough.


Anyway. What do you do when its relatively late at night and dinner is un edible?

I think you get in the car in the pouring rain...

And give in to capitalism...

The are approximately over 6 billion people in the world today, which i guestimate most of which managed to cook and provide dinner for themselves and their families. I think I need to improve me my cooking skills!

Wednesday, 12 January 2011

The Big Picture...

One of my New Years resolutions was to take more time on doing creative things. In order to further this I decided to sign up for an online class. I think I've mentioned that back in October I won a giveaway on the wonderful blog A Beautiful Mess, and part of this was a gift certificate to 'Big Picture Classes', a site which offers online classes in things such as scrap booking and photography; and thus I signed up for a photography class called Picture Winter.

Everyday you get a prompt which gives you an idea with which to take a picture, and there is also an online class room where you can upload your pictures too.

Because of work commitments and other things I haven't quite managed to take a picture every day, but below are some of the ones I have done already.

Looking Out

A Little Sunshine (Orange)


Cracked Open


Warm Your Heart

Intended for Every Day Use

Bundle Up

Seeking Balance

Although work constraints mean that most of the photos I take are done inside because the light has gone by the time I get home, I'm finding this an excellent way to at least try to do more artistic things every day, even if it is just as simple as taking a photo.

Happy Wednesday

Lindy xxx

Monday, 10 January 2011

7 Good Things Vol 7

This weeks 7 things are a little truncated because I have to rush out to a school Governors meetings I'm afraid. But hopefully I'll be back later in the week with news of my latest project (in a crafty sense that is!)

1. Warm mugs of tea to wake my brain up mid morning.
2. Loading my iPod with loads of music I haven't heard for ages.
3. James making us an Indian feast last night for dinner.
4. A really good work out at the gym, I would never have believed that exercise could feel that good.
5. Getting to hold my newest cousin for a whole afternoon. He was gorgeous. I could have held him forever!
6. Fun embroidery projects (I will share later I promise!)
7. Excellent new books to read on the train ( We Need to Talk About Kelvin I'm looking at you!)

Hope everyone is having an excellent Monday

Love Lindy xxxx

Wednesday, 5 January 2011

Perfect Day...

Or perhaps I should title this post perfect week, because thus far it has been just that! Today has been particularly amazing as James brought me a body wrap and facial treatment at the Centreparcs Spa for Christmas. I couldn't recommend this more highly. I'm currently all soft and relaxed sitting in our villa with a cup of tea. Perfection.

We're just about to go out of a evening swim before heading home to watch a movie and have some tea. On the subject of movies we've seen some pretty amazing ones this week. My favourite thus far being Scott Pilgrim vs The World. One of the most random film, yet one of the more entertaining I have seen in a long while. Is everying Micheal Cera does that good? And yes I know most people managed to see this in the cinema, but I am just not that organized. Plus the cinema where I live is pretty crappy and very expensive, I just feel cheated!

So the purpose of this post, which I will agree is a little hidden, is just to check in and hope that everyone else is having an amazing start to 2011 too. I promise, back with many photos next week!

Love Lindy xxx

Monday, 3 January 2011

7 Good Things Vol 6

Well once again I am blogging from the iPad so we shall be sans photos for today. Since it's the first Monday in 2011, I am determined to start the year off with the best intensions and be more deliberate in writing these down! So without further ado my 7 good things are....

1. I'm currently on my way to Centerparcs! Love it.
2. It's starting to snow, and what could be better then staying in a villa in a forest in the snow? eh?!
3. At centreparcs they have chalk boards in the kitchens to write messages to each other on. I need one of these for my house!
4. Singing along to Disney tunes in the car at the top of your voice.
5. A whole week off of work within which I get to go to a spa because James brought me a massage for Christmas.
6. Did I mention the week off of work and the spa?
7. James, especially when he is being extra nice to me after I'm grouchy because I did a night shift.

Hope every one has a fantastic week

Love xxx

Ps: did I mention that nightshift was murderous?!

Saturday, 1 January 2011

Saturday Steals Vol 20

Ahh the joys of blogging from my iPad? No photos. So you will just have to flex your imagination. My Saturday steal this week comes from the wonders of the January sales.

Now I have a favourite pair of brown boots. Comfortable. Good colour. Fleece lined. Pretty much perfect. Unfortunatly this perfection has recently been marred with the sole starting to disintegrate and the zip breaking. Making my once favourite pair of boots unwearable! Not so good.

Usher in the wonder of the January sales. These boots were originally meant to be £79. For £79 I would want my boots to be able to make me fly or something. For that amount of money I would want them to have magic powers and to stop me getting lost. In my world £79 is an awful lot of money for shoes.

£29 however is more my kind of price. For that I don't feel ripped off and indeed I feel as though I got a deal! £29 for cute brown boots with swanky purple lining that will go with large proportion of my wardrobe? Now that is my kind of saturday steal!

Hope everyone enjoyed their New Years celebrations, me I stayed in with James and watched the fireworks on the TV. Nice quiet night in because I had to be up for my mega crazy day at work today (1000- 1800 and then 2200- 600) yes I know I am mad!

Lindy xxx