Catching Up

 As usual, the week after a holiday is a busy one. Catching up on washing and settling back in a home. Unfortunately, back to school and work too. Camilla (the camera...!) has been firmly rooted in her camera bag, but I have been snapping on instagram, so here's what we have been up to.

The new, 'emergency' boots I bought on holiday have become a great pair of garden boots! Easy on and off when the lawn is a litle damp! The basket was giving me a helping hand too, as usual ;) It was so nice to come back to my little (and I mean little) garden empire. It has come on so much from starting out with nothing at all. I can't wait to show you how it looks in a few weeks!!!

We returned from our holiday late Friday evening and Saturday was a fine day, so we decided to have a barbeque, the first outdoor meal in our new house, very exciting! We had yummy (and healthy!) kebabs with a range of salads followed by marshmallows, of course!

Sunday featured a last minute nip in to the city, I was treated to some goodies from lush. A lavender scented bubble bar, very fitting for our wedding anniversary.

And in the evening, we went to a local restaurant to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. They even had wheat and lavender in jars and bottles on the tables. It was far too perfect. 

 And then when we were home, we snuggled up and watched The History Boys, brilliant film!

 Tuesday we made fajitas. Mr Bee was very excited to assemble his own dinner. It was glorious.

 Breakfast on the go. A strawberry and oatmeal smoothie from my new breakfast recipe book. YUM!

Soup Wednesdays. I made roasted tomato and basil soup for dinner and baked a delicious pesto swirl loaf to accompany. It was divine!

Nicer weather! Our afternoons after school have been blessed with a little bit of sun! Three evenings this week we have been able to sit and play in the garden. We have been dreaming about days like these. 

And lastly, a beautiful bit of cow parsley on the school run. Beautiful!

So that is a little snippet of our week. What have you been up to?

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Christmas Eve, a day for traditions.

Sugar cookies made by the bee and me. Advent Santa came to pick which one we should leave for Real Santa when he comes to delivers the presents. 

 Mr Bee's advent scene courtesy of his Playmobil Advent Calendar. Worth every penny, he has played with it every day, he will be sad to see it put away I am sure!

 A whole day of preparing tomorrows Christmas feast, cooking the ham and making Tomato and Mascarpone soup.

 Two special books for a special little boy. A gift from our friend Helen to read on the night before Christmas, and the special gift Santa dropped off on his practice run last night ;)

 Then to set out the stockings and leave refreshments for Father Christmas and his faithful reindeers. Mr Bee really didn't like the smell of the Port, you should have seen his little face after he smelled it!

 And then to bring down all of the gifts, and my goodness there are a lot of them! That doesn't even include the star gift, of which we have a special plan. And the big present from Papa and I, which it seems Sonny Jim has taken a liking to!

Merry Christmas lovely readers, have a wonderful day with those who love you, hopefully this will be the best year yet :)