Rain didn't stop play!

Oh dear, what a wet week this first of the summer holidays has been. The weekend was so hot and full of sunshine that we barely left the sea, the only annoying thing being that I had forgotten the snorkelling kit and so missed out on the pleasure of snooping around in the transluscent depths. Never mind, as it was we swam for ages leaving the water for a brief moment to warm up with a cup of hot chocolate - well, that's what I did anyway - and then throwing ourselves back in for another go. Bliss.





It was also my lovely Lauren's 21st birthday and for her present I made my first ever quilted coverlet...sooo excited and yet the darkness of the day means I have the worst photographs to show you.





Hmm, will have to take better ones when it is brighter






Hey ho, that seems such a long time ago already and now all I have outside the window is a sea of rain. This has meant thinking of things other than beach trips to amuse everyone. Enter Mr Dave and 'French Day'! We have had many such days dedicated to a variety of themes: Chinese Day which involved Elias teaching us some basic Tai Kwondo (sp?) moves, making a dragon banner and playing Mah Jong; Wizard Day which saw Dave and Lucy dressed in flowing capes and wigs on the beach collecting shells for potion making, writing spells with homemade quills (feathers from our ducks of course) and a brief lesson in how to fly on a broomstick (also homemade by the way). There are other of these days which are always arranged by Dave for he and the youngest of the children - I just tag along where I can.So, French Day involved Lucy looking amazingly chic and elegant with the help of her big sister Lauren (back from Thailand...Hurray!) who dressed her hair like this...





and Isabella who went for the Folie Bergere look!!!





They helped Dave (dressed in a Maurice Chevalier style with linen suit and casual air) shop for pain au chocolate which was consumed with bowls of hot chocolate for petit dejeuner; they helped cook coq au vin for dinner (yum), played a french card game (normally Tarot but I think this was a new one) as dear Edith sang of love and regret, and we all watched Amelie in the afternoon. French lessons given by me made us laugh as Isabella desperately tried to get it right and sadly failed. A lovely day.



Other things have included meals with the family gathered around the table chatting merrily, playing yet more games which tonight will be by the fire as I am struggling with this dismal light.


and finally, I obviously have a colour theme going on here as Lauren's rose and lilac quilt inspired me to creat a new line of scented sachets and here they are... my Lavender & Chamomile Scented Sachets





which come in sprigged lilac





and sprigged rose





I am really pleased with them and think they would make the ideal gift or way to treat yourself.

Phew that was a long post. Hope the rain leaves soon

Bye for now xx