goodbye 2009 it has been quite a ride...

1. path, 2. dream, 3. comics and crumpets, 4. hot chocolate, 5. egg tree, 6. dry, 7. hung to dry, 8. birthday cake, 9. going home, 10. the camper... the dress..., 11. inside Betty, 12. Ted, 13. daydream, 14. fishing, 15. open top bus, 16. evening light, 17. happy camping, 18. a happy camper, 19. there was a party..., 20. delight, 21. photo's, lots of photos! by the lovely susannah, 22. skinny dipping, 23. cup of tea, 24. the nativity, 25. mantle

we had lots of holidays together as a family; in Betty the VW camper van, a Cornish tipi, a pink Welsh cottage and camping trips - Alfie's first tooth fell out closely followed by the second - I did the fab unravelling course - it snowed in February and we played and played on the sledge until we couldn't feel our toes - met new friends through flickr and blogging - and cherished old friends - went on a bear hunt - skinny dipped - launched myself as a photographer - had a makeover and appeared in a national magazine - faced new work challenges and lost a loved one...

What a year, full of new experiences, adventures and many brave decisions. I look forward to 2010 with a little more confidence to face all that it holds in store for us.

Happy new year to you, and thank you for sharing your comments and wisdom on this blog in 2009.

Emma x

tools of the trade...

Lots of his little friends were having computers for Christmas, we bought him a tool set. He spent Christmas Day, with Granddad, cutting up bits of wood and cardboard boxes with his saw. He is now building a wood store with daddy! Sometimes I worry that our more traditional approach, won't help him to fit in with his peers, do they think we're a really geeky family?

Merry Christmas...

baking gingerbread, more pictures here

The boys and I have been busy making a gingerbread house, really easy to make and although ours is less than perfect, I would say we grouted the sides together rather than delicately iced! I know this will be a tradition from now on in our house, as we delighted in making this ourselves from scratch.

We have also been spending today, Christmas eve watching Santa on his travels around the globe, thanks to the NORAD website, excited as he gets closer to the UK.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas x

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

photograph by me

It's cold here at the moment and we have had a few layers of snow, enough to dust the tops of the yew trees in the churchyard and bring an erie silence that comes with a snowfall. Although I could probably get out and about, the ice on our road is putting me off after watching the neighbours slide about. So inside we stay, hoping for a little more snow so that we can go sledging and hoping that it stays a little while longer for Christmas day, which would be perfect!

I hope you are enjoying the weather wherever you are?

solstice, stories and snug by the fire

we spent our winter solstice, snug by the fire. Yes, the fire, our new wood burning stove, the one I have been saving up for since we moved in seven years ago, put off with the arrival of babies. Finally and somewhat rashly, I ordered one and it was installed last week, just in time for Christmas. We have had it fired up constantly since! I am sure the novelty will wear off soon, but until then we are toasting marshmallows, crumpets, pancakes and chestnuts and just sitting watching the flames, reading stories.