Finally It’s here….  and no I don’t mean a blog post.  I’m talking about Summer!!!  Phew thank goodness I thought I was going to be hibernating forever.

So I haven’t blogged in a while and I’ve been up to so much,  like what? you ask.  Well we had a trip to New Orleans which was so fabulous that I didn’t want to leave,  which was kinda odd as New Orleans wasn’t really on my radar of places I wanted to go.

I 

I can’t even begin to pick out pictures from the trip but these 3 are probably my favourite……I think they capture the spontaneous, happy nature of New Orleans.  It seemed like every corner you turned you were met with some ocular, visual or taste sensation and unlike anywhere else I’ve been (so far) in the USA it really seemed to have had no influence from Britain or Germany in it’s aesthetic…..but that of course is just my take.

I’ve also been enjoying Spring,  and everything that entails………I like gardening!!! Who knew?  certainly not me……..but I’m loving planning and planting and yes even weeding I guess having helpers helps a lot

Actually these guys are pesky garden helpers,  not useful at all unlike my resident best helper ever

He’s awesome,  and apparently lives in my hosta.  Which is brilliant , as one day I had noticed that I had seemed to have encouraged quite a number of slugs with all my planting,  and whilst I was googling slug repellants  my little buddy above was taking care of the little buggers…….what a hero……although as a Scottish person new to gardening it’s weird to think there is snakes in my garden.

So in amidst of all this activity I have been critter creating………….I’ll share soon ; )

Personally 2012 was a fabulous Year for us (which I am incredibly grateful for).  We bought our fabulous first home and spent many glorious summer days enjoying the deck

We learned that having a house that backs onto the woods makes us something of  a critter hangout……

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the poor squirrels who I muttered at and bad mouthed around town for emptying my bird feeders instantly……….turns out they were innocent and it’s more to do with these guys

I know the picture isn’t the best but I hope you can see that the real seed thief is the white tailed deer…….we have at least 4 that regularly come and hang out in our yard (love them)

I also learned that as much as I love a roaring fire (I mean how could you not?  a real fireplace was pretty high on my list of house requirements when we were looking.)

It sure does take a lot more work than I thought starting from when the cord of wood arrives

I guess my problem is I really am a city girl,  I had absolutely no concept of how much wood a cord is…..thank goodness we have the world’s best neighbours as they gave me a log holder and a log bag that made stacking all that wood a lot easier.

I also vended at the most fun Christmas Craft fairs and met so many super nice vendors and shoppers and Spencer  got a new Mom in Hingham

He looked so happy to have found his forever home,  which makes me happy to know he will be so loved.

This Christmas we did all our Christmas gift shopping from Crafters, artists and independent stores and I  absolutely love my pressies this year……Mark did a great job.  Some of my fave goodies are my vintage santa and reindeer table topper, my vintage apothecary jars and my Heidi Kenney Christmas ornaments……I especially love the candlestick.  I also got a cast iron circus elephant door stop that I forgot to take a picture of… and he is quite simply one of my favourite things ever. My parents sent me some pretty unique pussy cat frames from Spain that I have on my kitchen window.

So here’s to 2013 I hope it’s as brilliant as 2013 and brings us all lots of good things…..and more regular blog posts from me ; )

We had sooooo much snow last weekend it was what the people in the know call a noreaster  (which Markie thought was a made up word….dummy)  so of course we lost power for a few days again…..brrrrrrrr it was chilly,  thank god for pussycat blankets.

We went to the last outdoor Sowa Market on Sunday (losing power is a great reason to go out and about on a chilly day) . It was so much fun as it was the Market of the living dead and vendors and shoppers were decked out in the best Halloween costumes.  I wish I’d remembered to bring my Harry Potter sorting hat…….there really aren’t that many excuses to go out and about in it and I clearly messed up by missing my one great opportunity….boooooo

Maureen arrived to stay with us this week

And I got to tell you I absolutely love her!!!  She took even longer than past critters as I gave her individual “spikeys” all over her and I totally adore how tactile and sweet she is.

She’s looking forward to this weekend as it is the official start of the holiday shows……..wooooohoooo.  So if you are in the area please come by and wish the critters a Happy Holiday

Saturday  the 5th of Nov 9 am to 3 pm at the Dr John C Page School in West Newbury

And then on Sunday the 6th of Nov

So we are very excited to start the holiday shows,   ooooh I love the holiday show countdown,   it’s like a timer to the countdown to how long it is till I can  stuff my face with mince pies and sweeties in the name of the holidays………mmmmmmmm mince pies.

I hope to see you at the shows this weekend.