Flower Show and Keeping Sane

Well, here we are at the start of Week 2 of The Exams having successfully got through Week 1 intact and still relatively sane.

This week is a little less hectic for Bella, with only 4 exams, each on a different day and all starting at 9am so out of the way early with the rest of the day free to rest and revise for the next day.

Resting has taken the form of lots of sleeping and cuddling and playing with Logan

and taking photos of whatever she can find of interest in the garden, including her rather tired and battered Mum (recovering from cold and exam support stress!)

a rare photo of moi (glasses pushed on top of head as usual - I'm still vain after all these years about wearing them in photos, and this photo is the best of several - the other ones were too clear and showed up all my lines and grey hairs!)

and around the house

Bessie

my birthday present from Mum and Dad who popped over for lunch today - am thrilled with this distressed metal napkin holder full of Cath Kidston napkins, and funnily enough had been thinking of treating myself to something similar from Dibor (love their stuff so much!)

And a few of my flower photos of this lovely purple flower, which I still do not know the name of as I keep forgetting to look it up!

Whilst suffering from a cold and trying to keep myself from panicking wildly about Bella and her exam revision (or lack of), I have been busy taking my mind off "things" (in between the usual chores, running around doing exam runs and shopping - just so you don't think I do nothing but read and sew ; 0  )

by

1) reading an old favourite book " The Diary of a Provincial Lady" by E. M. Delafield - there is something so comforting and familiar to me about this book, that crosses the social barriers and the time differences, with its down to earth continually counting the pennies and worrying about children and husband who says very little and falls asleep with The Times every night, so that even though it is set in an pre-war era with maids, cooks and gardeners and in an entirely different social background with boarding schools and French governesses, I can relate to it. 

and 2) finishing off some patchwork and hand-quilted cushion fronts from a year or two ago, mainly by adding some brightly coloured tied "bits" or tufting and a bit of embroidery

made from old shirts

Bears Paw blocks

made from old shirts

embroidery on a crazy patchwork cushion front

3) by hanging some "new" old beautifully soft and gently faded linen Sanderson curtains in our bedroom (Chelsea Rose???)

4) by rather scarily being enchanted when finding a bright red leathery rhodendron leaf (probably indicating some plant or soil nutrient deficiency?) at virtually the same time as delightedly picking up a heart shaped white rose petal and then taking photos of them (maybe the "still being sane" thing at the beginning was untrue??)

And 5) by looking forward to Chelsea Flower Show, where I'm visiting on Wednesday! I am so looking forward to that!!  Went 2 years ago for the first time and loved it!

So, a huge Thank You to you all for your lovely comments and best wishes for Bella and of your support (for me!) during these exam weeks.

Be back soon with reports of Chelsea Flower Show and my list of Blog Awards!!