Lest we Forget

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Tales of Pip The Pickle

Our little Pip is proving his/her self to be a right pickle!

Pop over to Pip & the Magpie's to hear the tale & a scary scan photo!!

xxx

Nearly Halfway

This is Pip...can you see the bump?

Pregnancy has taken me slightly by surprise, I never knew I would be this tired, but now the sickness has gone I feel 100% better and am enjoying having a little bump...its heavy...I blame the Wonderful Dutchman's heavy bone genes!!

On a positive note I am SO EXCITED about this baby...It makes me admire my Darling Ma so much more (if that is possible!). We are having our 20 week scan soon and we are not going to find out the sex of our Pip...we figure the surprise is far more fun!

I was looking through my blog today as I was wondering when I started writing it....what I discovered left me smiling...the 27th March 2008...which happens to be our due date next year!! Strange or what?

This pregnancy has been full of date co-incidents.

~Our first due date was 1st April ...the first day me and the Wonderful one met~

~We found out we were expecting a day after the Wonderful Ones Birthday~

~Our 12 week scan was the day after our first year wedding anniversary~

This little wriggling Pip was just meant to be!

xxx

First Frost

A big Kiss from the sky on a frosty autumn morning.

The gentle icy covering makes everything so beautiful.

The old faithful winter coat and hat are out....I wonder how long I will fit into that coat of mine....and what I will do when I don't.

A good coat is hard to find :)

Wednesdays Wisdom

After years of wanting to change my body, of wanting a better, flatter, thinner, more toned body....

I now realise that we should cherish what we do have, respect the brilliance of our bodies...it's the only one we will ever have.

Mine is growing and nurturing Our Little Pip

I couldn't be more proud of my bumpy, lumpy, beautiful body ;)

Well Hello!

We have news!! 

The Wonderful Dutchman and I are expecting a baby :)

We are thrilled, delighted and very excited. I am 14 weeks today and our bundle is due in March...a spring baby, what could be more perfect?

Our little Pip has his/her own blog over here.

Gardens, Walks & Celebrations

Our 'Love in the mist' with an unusual butterfly taking a rest...

...My Aunts amazing leeks...

...A scrummy Birthday cake...

...Don't you just love those colours?...

...one hot day, one hot black dog, one loving Dutchman...

...An abandoned house, still shows the beauty & care of the past...

...Our heavenly scented sweet peas...

...the wonders of a man calling his cows on the common... "come on me beauties, come on"

...The friendliness of neighbours...

...Frogs, lily pads, bubbles and home grown raspberries...

...Love Growing larger than I ever thought possible...

What a happy Summer we have had!

xxx

Loss

Yesterday I went to say goodbye to someone who filled my childhood memories, who lost his way.

A Son, Brother, Dad, Uncle, Cousin, & a Friend.

You will be so missed Christopher.

xxx

Happy Fathers Day Dad

Dads are stone skimmers, mud wallowers, water wallopers, ceiling swoopers, shoulder gallopers, upsy-downsy, over-and-through, round-and-about whoosers. Dads are smugglers and secret sharers.
-- Helen Thomson

Love From your Little Ship Mate 

xxx

Darling Jude

I know you will recognise this bouquet if you have been following my blog for a while.

This is Darling Judes bouquet. It was made a few years ago, but it continues to bring me a huge amount of pride.

 Jude has become a great champion of Vintage Magpie. She is always there to remind me why I do this job...why I create these beautiful works of art.

Her bouquet had pieces of her family history in it. Unfortunately due to ill health her Mum couldn't be there on her day, but her bouquet has her nurses medal in it and was of great comfort to Jude when she walked up the aisle....see what she said about it here.

I was recently featured on Urban Sugar's blog, and to my joy Jude had posted a comment....

this is what she said....

"I cannot praise the Magpie's work enough. For any bride thinking of getting a bouquet from Emma I can guarantee it will bring you memories, and an heirloom to last a lifetime. One of my main reasons for getting a Vintage Magpie Bouquet (aside from how fabulous they look) was the link it gave me to members of my family who couldn't be at my wedding- particularly my adored Mum. My Mum passed away a few weeks ago, and looking at my bouquet, which houses her most treasured and personal things, gives me comfort every day. You simply cannot put a price on that."

Once again Jude has amazed me. Even in what I can only imagine to be a heartbreaking time for her, she has taken the time to write such wonderful and thoughtful things about my work. 

So Thank you Jude. Your soul is beautiful and I'm sure your Mum is looking down at you with a heart brimming over with pride at what an amazing woman she brought into this world.

xxx

Miss Katie & Mr Noel

A month ago The Wonderful Dutchman and I were at Miss Katie's & Mr Noel's wedding. It was a glorious day of love, laughter, happiness and tipi's! It seems like 4 months ago & I cant believe I havent blogged her bouquet! 

Miss Katie originally wanted an ivory bouquet, but once she had found her dress and told me about it we decided on a mixture of purples....3 different tones worked a treat!!

I tried different colours to bind the bouquet....it took a while to finally go bold with her handle...the plum worked so well, and a little change is always good.

Miss Katie married my best friend. I have known him since I was 12, shockingly that was 18 years ago. Noel is a wonderful friend, always positive, happy and possibly the most talkative person I know. He is so hardworking. He traded his talents in metal work for their wedding bands, making protective window frames for the jeweler who created their rings....stories like that are never far away with this adorable couple :)

I cannot express what pride I had seeing them get married. Being a little part of it was beautiful.

I wish this gorgeous little family all the luck, love, health, wealth and happiness this Magpie can give.

Here is to may more cute babies, a lifetime of holding hands, a showering of kisses every day, a million hugs and for the stars to shine so brightly over their marriage.

I love you guys!!

xxx

Sorry for the Delay...Normal Service shall Resume

So, that pesky BT man took rather a long time to sort out our line...Its always the one thing I hate about moving...having to talk to BT...nightmare!! But everything is back to normal now, we can start to enjoy our new house...which we adore!!!

The Wonderful Dutchman checking out the garden {with Beer}...chatting about our plans for a veggie garden, herb garden and mass of sweetpea's...I think we might be slightly ahead of ourselves...but it is fun to give it a whirl...we have never had a garden which gets sunshine....the possibilities are endless!!

Last weekend we made a start...it was emotional as I discovered I had killed a gorgeous bumble bee nest...I was sad for some time...I love bees and watching 2 bees flying around trying to find there nest was upsetting. But there will be plenty of new happy smelling flowers for them later in the year.

Its felt good to be working the soil, planting seeds and watering...sore backs and all!

So all in all we are super happy in our new tiny home...we have found the smallest house in the high street...it reminds me of a Dutch canal house......no wonder I love it.

Our first meal....and a happy, happy couple.

Happy Weekend!

Hearts for Holland

This time last year The Wonderful Dutchman and I were in Holland...it was beautiful.....spring is the best time to see Holland in all its glory.

However this weekend we hear of a horrible event in Amsterdam...a shooting...in a shopping mall....on a Saturday. Horrific...My Wonderful Dutchman feels far from his home when something like this happens...in a place where you have friends, a place you know well....his homeland.

Although this world is getting smaller, one act can make you feel so far away....rushed phone calls,  and Facebook messages confirmed everyone was safe...a sigh of relief.

But still the thoughts rattle in your head.....Why does a 24 year old man feel the need to harm others? What has happened in his short life?

It breaks my heart......just how are we bringing up our children?

Our heart goes out to all those affected...we are both sending all our love to friends and family in Holland

xxx

For Japan with Love

Tomorrow there is a blogger silence...no blogging allowed to support and help raise money for Japan.

I shall be taking part. I cannot even start to understand the utter helpless feeling these families are experiencing... my heart is breaking for them. Everyday I see more moving images.... now with the nuclear disaster, the freezing temperature and the snow .... I cant help but feel completely compelled to help in some way, shape or form.

Shelterbox is a Cornwall based organisation which...

 "Provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters at the time when they need it the most."

They are simply wonderful, they send out amazing boxes which include everything you could need in a situation like this....why don't you look inside the box .... then look inside you wallet and

give generously....

Remember Japan IS our problem....we are all living on the same Earth

We are all family, we are all connected to this beautiful world....Please help them even if its £2....every penny will help them.

Thank you xxx