Picknickery and other fun stuff

I can't believe it's Saturday already and I haven't even posted about the great bloggery picnic!

There are reasons for my tardiness, more of which later. Now, how about that picnic?

I have to say, every time I meet up with fellow bloggers is a total delight and Wednesday's picnic was no exception. Despite worrying weather forecasts, the day turned out to be beautiful - sunny and warm with a fresh Spring breeze. Perfect picnic weather.

The venue - Millets Farm Centre - could not have been better, for adults or children. While we sat in the sunshine, chatting like old friends, the children were off making the most of the play area, farm animals and handy climbing trees.

There were some 'old friends' who I have met up with before, including my great bloggy friends Locket...

and Trashy - both there with their gorgeous children......and there were some wonderful rare breed pigs for us all to admire......you didn't really think I was insinuating anything about Locket and Trash with these pics did you?....

Here they are - looking as normal as they're ever likely to :-)

It was lovely to see Ali again and Locket's bossy sister Ally. It was a real delight to meet Kitty and Julia, who I have had numerous email conversations with before Wednesday's meet up - I happened upon Julia outside the farm shop and I just knew it was her, by the look of panic and bewilderment on her face as she sought out her fellow picnickers :-)

It was fab to meet some other great bloggers who I hadn't realised would be there - first off there was Julie - Mrs Little Cotton Rabbits herself! (Trash and I nearly wet ourselves when we 'found' Julie and her gorgeous daughter looking for the picnic!! We may have squealed quite loudly....sorry 'bout that Julie....you must be used to it by now,huh?!)

Then, there was Eve, Jane, Kate and Penny - all truly lovely people and so friendly. By the end of the day I felt like I had known everyone for years. The children had a fantastic time - in fact we hardly saw them....which can only be good, right ;-)

They did venture back,briefly, when we built the Easter egg mountain - along with several other children, gatecrashing from neighbouring picnics.

Trashy and Locket did a grand, if slightly confused, job of drawing out names for the Great Picnic Secret Santa. I got this absolutely gorgeous bundle of goodies from Jane.

The beautiful stitchery is a mug warmer - although I've made a management decision and have hung it on my fledgling quilt wall instead. The armchair pincushion and 'important things' pocket (my rather fumbling term!) has already been put to very good use and I'm wondering how I've managed so long without it! The chocolate has also been sampled and proved to be worthy of just one more bite....

Trashy presented me with a lovely birthday gift too. The paper bunting is gorgeous and now adorns our living room wall - ostensibly as a nod to Minx's birthday but I'm not sure it's ever coming down again! See that turquoisy fabric Trashy gave me? That's from Jodie's scrap basket! Real famous Aussie fabric for me! Jealous Locket?.....mwah ha haaa

So, to round up, it was a wonderful day, spent with the best of people, the sweetest children, a great venue and perfect weather - and presents! If only you could all have been there. Those of you whose plans to be there went awry - you were very much missed and we are going to have to organise another one!! Locket - you did a grand job of organising this picnic - thank you!!!

Mmm - so what else has been going on in Moogshouse? Well, for starters I got a very yummy birthday parcel in the post from Maria. I love the yellow fabrics Maria - lovely Spring colours :-)

It was my baby girl's 8th birthday yesterday and to celebrate she wanted a sleepover (ugh!). Of course, this meant a full-on assault on the much neglected housework, so Thursday and a fair chunk of Friday were taken care of!

She'd asked for money for her birthday, so that she could go clothes shopping (ugh!).
However, she did have one surprise present - her new best friend Tilly :-)

I wish Jodie could have seen her face on Friday morning when she first saw Tilly. They are already the very bestest of friends and Tilly has to be changed into her pyjamas at bedtime and her clothes are neatly folded and put away in her little suitcase :-)

As well as yucky housework, I had to lay on the crafty pressure by making four party bags, each with a crocheted flower brooch. I finished these just 20 minutes before the first little insomniac arrived for the We'regoingtostayawakeforaslongaspossibleover!

....and carrying on the craftiness, each little party girl got to make a memory wire bracelet - thanks Emma for the idea for this one! I had a whole host of pretty, delicate beads ready for these and every single one of those girlies ignored them totally and went for full on chunky bling!!

The 'sleep'over could have been worse - a bit. One little madam decided she didn't feel like playing with anyone else at all thankyouverymuch and spent the entire evening plagueing Moogsdad, me, Moog and the gerbils, in turn - before electing to teach herself how to play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star on the zither at b***dy midnight....ahem.

This little sweetheart had the best of times :-)

....and after going to sleep at 12.30am and lying in until 8am what could be better than four long hours, on a Saturday afternoon, going in and out of every shop in town, with your doting mother (!!), as you endeavour to spend every last penny of your birthday money.......

She did well though - eventually buying herself some fab new clothes, five pairs of shoes and some slippers!!!!! Thank goodness for that great designer shoe shop.....Matalano dahling ;-)

So, what's next? Rest, relaxation and recouperation?

Nope.

Early morning Easter bunny shenanigans, followed by a trip up to Grandma's for lunch.

I'll have a rest when they're back at school.

Not.

xxxx