*My Lovely Birthday*

Thank you all so much for your wonderful birthday wishes in my last post!

I had a lovely day, it started the night before when we went out to a lovely country inn for a meal with friends, and then when I got home I was allowed to 'see' my present from James!
He had made me this lovely huge gift box with lots of delightful presents in. He had wrapped everything in brown wrapping paper and tied each pressie with raffia and then filled the box with raffia!
I didn't open it until the next morning though, but obviously I could see a few of the lovely gifts peeking out!!!



Here are a few of my lovely gifts, I got one of these wonderful pink cake stands and a cutie of a pink teapot to match, which I have wanted forever!!!

One of the boxes was extremely heavy and I was sooooo excited to find out it was Turkish Delight! I absolutely love Turkish Delight and James had bought it from a fab sweetie shop in town called Fairylicious ~ just how cute is that name!!!!



I also got lots of other fab pressies in my gift box, which included a Basher print, which I think will have to have its own post, a couple of Charmed boxed sets as I love Charmed and have loved it since seeing the very first episode, but never actually got around to buying the box sets after I bought the first season!!!
3 bottles of pink bubbly!!! Mmmmmm ~ one of which we transferred into my pink teapot and then poured into our champagne flutes, and I actually think it tasted better this way! Tee hee!
I also got the new Harry Potter DVD & some beautiful Lene Bjerre cushions ~ although I actually got these before my birthday!



I received this beautiful vintage glass plate stand from my mummy, who amongst other things also got me a wonderfully huge white cake stand and a wooden clothes airer ~ I've wanted one of these for absolutely ever!!!



I had a wonderful day shopping around all 'my' shops ~ shabby vintage lovely shops and we picked up some lunch from a cute bakery/deli in town called Angel Share (another sweet name) and then we had all these goodies to look forward to on the evening, well a girl has to have french fancies and tunocks teacakes doesn't she!!!
We also had smoked cheese and oat biscuits along with some wonderfully yummy double hot pepper jelly that we picked up whilst in Somerset from *The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company*
Mmmmmmm it is absolutely dee-licious!!!!
So I had a really *cute* birthday and it really doesn't end there as I'm off out tonight for another meal with more friends! Lucky me!

*Birthday Party*

Eeek, it's my birthday tomorrow and so you are all invited to my birthday party ~ tee hee!
So pop on your best party dresses, get out your new shoes, tie your hair back with a cute ribbon and drop on by for lots and lots of sweet treats!
Look for the house with the cupcake bunting and come on in ...

*Remembrance*

Why Wear A Poppy

"Please wear a poppy", the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.

A boy came whistling down the street
Bouncing along on care-free feet
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady", said he, "May I have one?"
When she's pinned it on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"

The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men and women who died in war,
And because they did, you and I are free -
That's why we wear a poppy, you see".

"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes,
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
And became a man - as you will, too."

:He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said "Good-bye,
I'll soon be back, Mom, so please don't cry".

"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire".

"Till at last, the war was won -
And that's why we wear a poppy, son".

The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son - did he come back all right?

A tear rolled down each faded cheek;
She shook her head, but didn't speak
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me, you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, is oft delayed,
Though our freedom was bought - and thousands paid.

And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their very all
And asked to answer their country's call

That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy, Remember - and Give!
Lest we forget....

Author Unknown

*Preparing for Guests*

A lovely article from MarthaStewart.com arrived in my mailbox the other day entitled 'Six Simple Steps to Get Ready for Guests' now with the holiday season just around the corner for a lot of people this is quite useful, but for me no, as sadly we don't have a guest room as we only live in a 2 bedroomed home and our spare bedroom has been turned into an Art Studio for my husband well and a craft room too as I have a little pine table and chair and some cute little pine stands that James kindly made for me which have lovely willow boxes on them jam packed full of material, twine, paint, wooden hearts etc. but I do so long for a beautiful guest room to make homely and welcoming for any guests that may arrive.

I want to arrange soap in pretty little tea cup saucers, I want to wrap some dried lavender with raffia and place on a pretty painted cabinet along side some old books, I want to have a distressed peg rail with a pretty little wooden hanger hanging on it perhaps with a beautiful shawl alongside it, I want a jug full of fresh flowers and candles too ... I just want a guest room. Now having actual guests to stay, mmmmmm now that is a completely different matter!

Do I perhaps just like to play 'house'? ... well more than likely, but that is because I find it fun, and I'm sure there are alot of you out there that are exactly the same, come on you know who you are! *Giggle* Now wouldn't it be fun if we could all get together and play 'house' together in one giant mansion, now who is going to bring the fairycakes for tea?