Its Been a Long Time....

I know, I know and I am sorry. Really. Honestly. Ok, maybe not, but I've BIN BIZZY!!

We have settled into Devon like we have never been anywhere else. The job list appears as long, but things are slowly getting done and sliding into place. The girls are really happy and busy, and I actually have a social life which is amazing!

I continue to be a member of the WI which I love - its brilliant and mostly good fun. We have a few projects/competitions going which I enjoy. I just painted a picture for the St Georges Day Cup which is a Devon-wide thing. Stupidly I am nervous about it! I don't know why, cos I don't have expectations of winning - I just wanted to take part and have my picture up with the rest. But now I feel a bit of an imposter among artists, if you get my drift! There were 3 themes, Air, Sea or Earth and I chose Sea. God knows why, cos I never have been able to paint water! But apparently I felt inspired. Did'nt finish the first canvas, but finally finished the second one last night, in time to post tomorrow. Here it is, comments very very welcome! Its supposed (!) to represent the push and pull of the moon. I know, its not the greatest, but I am pleased with it, just a bit shy about it cos I know its not great but then, if I am pleased with it, what the hell?!

I have also decided to start up a lawn mowing venture! It came about as my next door neighbour said there was a job going, but found out today I dipped out on that one, so decided to do something about it and do some posters and cards etc!! So I have..... and will be putting one in the shop. I shall be dimocking all over the place! lol - I am going to be SO scared! Got a new petrol mower (which I can only just start up - I think you are supposed to have arms as long as an orangutan's) and our friends from Sussex brought our old OLD landrover down so I can potter about in that. I DO fancy working outside and I know I should be able to mow a lawn and trim the edges etc. Well, I can bluff it and hope I learn fast..... ARGH!!!


What else? Well, still helping out with the jumble sales which is a right hoot - what a laugh! Was on books last time, which was a bit tame to be honest, but have graduated to Clothes which is a massive free for all - its the funniest thing in the world!! God everyone gets so serious and competitive and I usually have a massive grin on my face - unless they are quibbling about the price, and then I just get STUBBORN cos its PENNIES. I get bargains to boot (well, not boots this time, but a school fleece which has just saved me £12 so I am happy!).

The veggy patch is coming on FAB. We got the greenhouse up last weekend. The ground is an absolute SOD to dig - rock hard, full of rocks and, like rocks, no nutrients to speak of. So we have a lovely, georgeous huge mound of cow poo which we are liberally spreading around over it. Also a mountain of wood chip from when we took the trees down. Shaun has dug one square of the four and dug in the compost too. I added wood chip. This is our first main veg bed. Another bed has cow poo on it, no digging yet. We are going to bung spuds and Jerusalem Artichokes in there and let them do the hard work. The third bed we have just planted up with all our fruit trees - lots of gooseberries, blackcurrent and a boysenberry. The fourth bed is sitting there and I may well "green compost" it by planting comfrey to later dig in.

I have sewn ALL SORTS of seeds in the greenhouse and am avidly waiting for little green shoots to appear! I have put in garlic and the first batch of spring onions in the first bed - but then its absolutely lashed it down all day so I wouldn't be surprised if the seeds are all washed away.......

We had friends over for late sunday lunch today - game casserole (goose and phesant- sort of game casserole) with baby turnips, celery, carrot - lovely and I was really pleased with it. Kids had a blast together too. I was showing Gabby some old photos - they didn't see us while we were going through the mill with Molly. It made me realise how far we had come. shes a little handful now and its FAB. There were a lot of happy memories in the photo album tho -lots of milestones. I love this blog too - its nice to look back.

Festivals! We are going to TWO this year and its brilliant. I am SO excited its stupid! Need to tart up the caravan a bit and shaun needs to fix the brake. We are going to the sunrise festival in June and the Big Green in August. Amazing! Brilliant! Fab!!! Taking the kids too which will be great - I can just see them jigging about in the sunshine!

Oh, I am doing Yoga again which is brilliant fun. She certainly gets us stretching and I do get the giggles a fair bit!

You know, I couldn't possibly tell you everything that has been happening over the last few months. Life is so good.