Friskney, Burghley and lots of crafts

We popped over to see the home of the family that previously owned our home last week. Beautiful, quiet setting completely away from it all. They have a late 60s bungalow which they are renovating and redecorating. All looking very lovely, sitting in 3 acres of greenery with a duckpond enclosed in one section of the garden to keep their Indian runner ducks (one of which was rather loopy), calling ducks and variety of cute rabbits, safe and sound. Katie and Ben had great fun driving around on their sit-on lawn mower/tractor. All very safe, the engine would cut out as soon as a bottom lifted from the seat (which happened frequently when Ben was trying to press down the reverse pedal) and no we didn't experience any nightmares like run over bystanders or pets! Had a great afternoon/evening with delicious bbq, what felt like a whole bottle of the drinkable alcohol very similar to the smooth pale creamy stuff beginning with B, and a running commentary of past antics which had taken place in our home whilst scanning through disk loads of old photographs. We were pleased as punch to be given an early 70s aerial view of our home - something that will be treasured.

Just need to concentrate on the theory test now!

Headed to Burghley Horse Trials on the Saturday as P is lucky enough to help as a marshal most years. This year he had a pretty important job of being with the TV Producer for the day and was able to get very close to the likes of Zara Phillips (with Mum, Princess Anne in the background) as the TV crew interviewed her after her stint on the cross-country course. Katie, naturally, was in her element seeing the riders, the beautiful horses, the jumps (she loves the idea of competing in cross-country) and probably top the list, visiting the Utterly Horses stand to spend her hard earned cash. Ben spent his hard earned cash on a fun little spud gun which, after many frustrating attempts trying to make it work, suddenly worked with vengeance on Monday with me finding mini spuds all over the kitchen floor! He and Katie set up an army of mini men and had a gun battle!

Love the look of toleration on Katie's face!

Taken by Katie, thought it was a good one.


Came home from Burghley to find my Aunt had very kindly posted a whole load of succulents and cacti (together with pots) for Katie to plant up, which she did first thing Sunday morning.


Today we had friends over for the afternoon and Katie held a Woollie (as in wollie horses) Festival with fete like games; tombola, raffle, lasso the rocking horse, a swap table and lucky dip for us all to take part in. I boosted her raffle prizes by making these ...

which should have included this ...


but Katie pleaded for me to keep it!

Katie also made this cute little doll all by herself (from the library, the book "Art from Fabric" which I cannot source on Amazon or Ebay unfortunately. It's a lovely crafty book, the kind we like here.). So lots of craft making has been happening inbetween other things.


I have been meaning to post a couple of piccies that Ben had taken of his new fish which have settled very quickly into their new home. He bought them a couple of weeks ago, the orange/silver is called "Flame", the darker one is "Rock". Cool names, both of which Ben thought up.



Back to "work" next week for us. We have lots of ideas, I just need to get myself into gear and sort them all out now.