Cottages, Crafting and Cooking!

I was reading one of my favorite blogs and this amazing lady is not only one of the best crafters out there, she has an amazing house and lives in one of the most stunning places ever. Literally sounds like she has it all doesn't it???

Anyway, she posted this photo, the one on the left here, and said this was about 100 yards from her childhood home. Is that not the most peaceful and charming place you've ever seen???

I don't think I need to tell you how much I love English Cottages and how I wish I could live in one, maybe one day who knows?

Things here have been crazy busy and I'm trying to get it all done, I have a house desperately asking for attention, I have fabric begging to be made into beautiful projects and I have ingredients sitting on kitchen shelves asking to be made into delicious food. I really should start making a list of what I need to accomplish and then jump right in with both feet.....maybe that's what I'll do today?!?!?!

Yesterday afternoon I had a Parent/Teacher conference for Jasmine, she's doing great, the teacher loves her to death and we got to talk about the usual stuff parents talk about, are they good in class? Are they respectful of others? Is there anything I need to be working on her with? So I was happy to hear good things about Jasmine, we always knew she was a great student so it's good to have it reiterated by the teacher. She got two A's, one B and two C's.....we'll be working on those C's for sure LOL

I don't know about the rest of you out there but we're not the kind of parents to get upset or ground them or whatever when they don't get straight A's, to me what matters is that I'm seeing my child work hard and devote herself to her school work, if she is still getting C's then so be it, do I condone it though? No, and we've talked to her about it so she doesn't think that it's acceptable to not try and better herself but we've also made her realize that she must never hide or be scared of her grades......we're in this together, whatever her grades we'll all work at it as a family and I think for me that is what matters.

One of the big things with Jasmine is that she does not enjoy reading, she finds it boring, no matter what books we throw her way.........and it's funny because she's the 3rd top reader in her class......go figure.

Anyway, I realized that I need to turn reading into something that she will enjoy so she's now got a small area in her room that has become her reading area, just throw down a cute little quilt, a couple pillows and some books, she likes reading there and she likes it even better when the pugs join her and take a small nap at her feet. (btw, ignore the date on the picture, I just realized that I haven't reset my date on my camera in forever LOL)

After the conference we came home and the kids wanted to decorate their little pumpkins so that's what we did, there was paint and yarn and fabric and all sorts of goodies available but my children are painters.......they have blinders to everything else around LOL

So here's the masterpieces, they didn't want help with theirs and I love watching the kids just having fun and doing whatever their hearts desire.

Back in Idaho, I went to the base thrift store and came upon this beautiful fabric, I just fell in love with it, it was free, there were a couple yards on it and I just love the pattern, so I picked it up and it's been sitting in my crafts box for months now. I've decided to take it out and finally do something with it but I need your help, see I seem to have hit a blank when it comes to sewing, I look at it and I know it would look beautiful somewhere in my house, but where???? Curtains, pillows......what?????? Help please, I know there's tons of crafty ladies out there with great ideas so help a girl out will ya???

Right now I have a wonderful Beef Curry cooking away in the crockpot and it's a first for me because curry is one of those dishes that I make myself on the stove top, that's how I learnt from my greatgrandmother but you know the crockpot looks so inviting and I have so much to do around here that I want, no, I NEED this day to focus on the house instead of the kitchen.

I swear Curry has to be one of our favorite dishes in this house, we never get enough of it :)

I'm heading out to get started on the house but I wanted to leave you with this photo of Nicholas, while watching tv this morning I heard my name from the couch and turned to find him trying to hand me a rose.....ok so a plastic rose, but still it's the thought that counts right?

Ahhhhhh, my ideal place to live!!!

You know as I get older I find myself thinking about the kind of place I would love to retire to, live out the rest of my days.....and for some reason I'm always drawn to England. Why?? I haven't the foggiest idea!!!

I think maybe my obsession with Anne of Green Gables? LOL

Seriously though, I dream of moving to one of the small English Villages, I picture green everywhere and beautiful quaint cottages, just like the picture above and my house would be the white and blue one just because it's so cute.

I guess in a way it's my homemaker screaming in me, wanting to be released into a small cute cottage to run amock. I picture beautiful breakfast tables overflowing with waffles and bacon and eggs and cute teapots, a small vase of flowers sitting ever so prettily on the table.

I also envision a bedroom much like this one:

A girl can dream can't she??? That's what I plan on doing, keep dreaming and who knows maybe one day in the future I'll be blogging from the english countryside, talking about crumpets and Yorkshire pudding LOL

You do know if I ever go to England even if just on vacation, I'll be searching for my friend Sarah to finally meet her face to face....poor poor Sarah LOL

Anyway, it's another beautiful monday morning here, we're finally heading for Spring, the temperature is supposed to be in the 60's this week which after all the cold and snow is a much welcomed one. I can NOT wait to start walking, taking the kids to school and picking them up, walking to the park and the library or just around the neighborhood.

Winter always brings on the pounds for me, I have a little tire around my stomach that needs to go like, yesterday, I think because I sit around snacking and not really getting much exercise outside. When Spring arrives and I get out there with the kids, the pounds just drop and I for one can't wait.

I have a house to clean, menus to plan and grocery lists to write up. The next 2 weeks are going to be busy ones, I have a couple of dental appointments and errands to run, some reorganizing to do and house hunting too. We're still searching for the perfect house for us to buy, it's such a huge step and so scary isn't it?? Wish us luck!!!

While out at the base thrift store I found a couple of books and even though I have so many already, I can't pass up a good one. I picked one up and I'll be honest and admit that the only reason I grabbed it is because it says "Delicious Recipe & Knitting Pattern Included". Am I the only one who picks up books just because they have a recipe included???

It's from a series called "A Knitting Mystery" by Maggie Sefton and even though I'm more into romance and christian contemporary romance books, I think I'll enjoy this one. What's even better is that I paid NOTHING for it. They always have a bunch of books for free and you would be surprised at the great ones you'll find.

With that I'm going to leave you all, I better get back to cleaning around here. I'll be back later to post my menu on my food blog.

Today's TO DO LIST:

Ironing
Put away laundry
Vacuum
Start bread
Wash children's bedding
Clean appliances