Barefoot Wanderings

Journal Page

A bit of fun in my journal,
playing again with paint combos, new stamps and some texture.

Colours: Golden Heavy Body Manganese Blue and Quin Magenta, and Matisse Flow Antique White

Some More Reading

The Secret Lives of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The past week I have been fighting off a cold and ended up spending most of this weekend in bed. At times curled up with this wonderful book. This has got to be the most beautiful and moving story I have read in a while. It made me laugh and it made me cry. It is a story of a young girls journey to find what is lost to her, in finding herself and a place where she belongs. It is set in South Carolina in a time of racial tension, and it also has references to Bees and Bee Keeping giving weight to what is happening in the story.

It is well written and easy to read. It is the type of book where I wanted to read on to find out more and at the same time wanting to take my time reading it because I did not want it to end too soon. I stopped myself reading to allow the story and the meaning to sink in and settle over me, and to give me time to think about what I had read.
Perhaps I was touched by this book more so because I was unwell, and though it contained themes and topics that were not of the happy variety, it was comforting, and full of strength, hope and love.

The most moving part is towards the end when the girl is told in a really beautiful way that what she is looking for is within herself, that the strength needed in life is within us.

A great read.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
A few weeks ago I read this book and I really enjoyed it. I found it a fitting end to the Harry Potter series. To me it seemed to go back to what the first few books were like, not so dark. It was a real easy read and it tied everything up without being 'sickly'. I still have a few questions but the most intriguing one to me is how did Neville get the sword?...perhaps I missed something?!

Overall I have enjoyed reading all the books in this series. I found 'The Goblet of Fire' the most difficult to get through. I would probably like to read them all again but I'm not sure if in reality I will as there are just so many great books out there. I certainly look forward to my children reading them and hope they get as much enjoyment out of them as I did. I believe there are great messages in these books about 'Good & Evil' but also about life.

Holiday Reading

Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda

When deciding what books to take away to read (as I have a pile) I read the first line or paragraph of a few but this was the one I kept going back to and then could not put down.

This book has been translated into English from French. There are a few instances when this is a little obvious but it does not detract from the book.
It is the story of how three quite different characters come together. It is easy to read and flows really well.
The author reveals glimpses, gives snatches of information that make you want to keep reading to find our more.

I liked the pace of the story but thought that it was wrapped up quickly and too nicely.

It was a really enjoyable light read.

Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

I had read a few recommendations for this books and so was leant this book by Megan to read.

I really loved from whose perspective this book was written from. I had never read a book written from the view of a dead person looking down on the happenings on earth before.

Whilst this book is about a young girl who is murdered, which it is not really about the murder but how it effects the family and those nearby, it is still quite a light and enjoyable read.

In most  books I read there is usually one (sometimes more) quite significant line/passage that really strikes me.  Both of these books had no such significant, stand out bit but were enjoyable to read.

And the Winner is.....

..drumroll.... Ro!

Congratulations Ro, I'll be sending the package to you soon.
Have fun creating!

Thanks to everyone that left comments and sent emails.

Shared Songs

I have been having a great time over at Michelle's GPP Street Team this month with everyone Making Some Noise by posting music & songs. Some of the songs don't really appeal to my music taste but it is great to hear such a great variety and things I wouldn't normally listen to.

There have been two songs so far that I had not heard before and am now loving. I just had to put them here so I can come back and listen to them (you know how it is, this thing called my memeory needs a bit of kick to get it going some days).

The one that really grabbed me the most was on Laura's blog. This is such a great video (you have to get past the promo first) the choreography is AMAZING, so fluid, great eye candy and the music gets me moving!
Dhoom Again.....

OOhhh, I'd just love to move like that!

The other song was on Jill's blog, it's quite a moving song...and again great eye candy....hmmmmm perhaps a bit of a theme here...anyway, it's Il Divo - Mama

Whilst I'm sharing songs that I have come to enjoy through others..... when I go to my amazing reflexologist Jocelyn, she plays a fab CD for me, this is one of my fav songs from the CD - really great to relax to. This is the only video on YouTube I could find, not great but it's fab to see the very talented Eric Bana.

Madeleine Peyroux - Dance Me To The End of Love

Give Away

I am feeling a bit generous and inspired by Michelle Ward, so I have a little give away of some things I collected whilst I was on holidays.

 

Give away contents: White A4 sheet of decorative paper, green mesh, decorated tissue paper, handmade japanese papers, decorative serviettes and tissues, British Bookshops & Stationers Manila pockets/envelopes, and an unmounted stamp from a UK company.

All you need to do to enter/play is leave a comment on this post by next Monday August 13, and answer the following question: where did I go on holidays?
I'll then draw a name from a hat and send the package off to that lucky person...please remember to input your email address so I can contact you should you be the lucky winner.

7 Random Things

Whilst I was away I was tagged by Marie to list 7 random things about myself, here they are......

1. I love wearing stripey/colourful socks with toes in them

2. If my voice was good enough for others to listen to, I would (possibly!) have become a rock singer.

3. The only band I will buy a CD of without having heard even a note of is Bon Jovi.

4. Since pregnancy my sense of smell has changed and I get headaches from a lot of perfumes and highly scented products. (so I hate walking through the cosmetic area of a department stores where they constantly shove scents at you!)

5. I am actually quite a shy person, who finds it difficult to meet people and make conversation.

6. My choice of an alcoholic drink is still Southern Comfort & Coke (I never threw up on it like some others who can no longer even stand the smell of it!)....although since being influenced, ooops I mean meeting, Megan I do also like Caprioskas.

7. I love getting presents!

I tag you.

GPP Crusade No 11 - Make Some Noise

This months crusade over at Michelle Wards GPP Street Team is all about MUSIC!
I have such a wide range of taste in music it is hard to choose (I may have to do more than one post!!)

My first choice will have to be Bon Jovi, I love a lot of their songs and CDs so since they have a new CD out 'Lost Highway' (a great CD - it's Bon Jovi with an influence of Country Music) I'll go with something from there, this is what I could find:

Bon Jovi with Leanne Rimes - Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore (Unplugged)

Whilst I was in the UK I got a chance to watch the Concert for Diana on TV. I saw some really great bands, some I hadn't heard of. This following band was one of them, I liked the songs they played so much I went out and bought the CD. I was not disappoint it is really GREAT!

The Feeling - I Love it When You Call

Ok, so I can't resist putting in one more, I have loved this artist's music since the 80s. He has such an awesome voice and has been through many of my lifes up & downs!

Midge Ure - Breathe

For those that aren't in the know but are curious he was the lead singer of Ultravox, (amoungst others) and he co-wrote the Band Aid hit 'Do They KNow It's Christmas' and helped organise Live Aid.

Room with a View

This is the view I had sitting on my bed upstairs in England. It is the backgarden of my parents-in-law. It is such a great garden, I know the children will miss it too. There is actually more garden behind the trees at the back (it has a vege patch and a small grass area that the kids LOVED to go to). The path to it is 'hidden' by the way the trees are planted.

Whilst this picture is lovely and sunny we did not have great weather whilst we were there. I have been to England a few times (1996, 1998, 2000 & 2004) and this has been the worst weather yet!...but we don't go for the weather, we go to see family and friends.

My In-laws live in a really pretty village south of London in West Sussex. I was amazed, and disappointed, to discover that the three antique shops in the village have now gone - closed because of eBay, but they still had the lovely gift shops and the 5 pubs! We spent time with family and visiting various local attractions, including Pooh Corner & Pooh Sticks Bridge at Hartfield - and we did play 'Pooh Sticks'. We often went and picked our own Strawberries & Raspberries at a farm near by. The kids loved it, my son now likes strawberries! Freshly picked are always tasty but I think the ones we pick in the UK are tastier again.

We went to Cornwall for a week, staying in a large house as my brother-in-law and his family, and some of his wife's family came as well so there were 13 of us! We stayed in a place call Tregoodwell right next to Camelford. (The biggest town nearby was Wadebridge).

In Cornwall we went to the Eden Project  and Tintagel (the legendary birth place of King Arthur). We did a day trip drive going to Land's End (the western most point of England), through St Ives & Penzance. We had to stop for an immediate toilet break and came to Porthlaven (a fishing village), because it was not a set destination it was one of those pleasant finds. We then stopped at Truro for dinner and found a great restuarant called 'chantek'.

If you are ever in Camelford there is a GREAT restuarant I would recommend called Raval's, the food was delicious, service was great and the place itself was really inviting.

The day we arrived in England my beautiful daughter turned four.

Whilst we were in Cornwall my Hubby turned 40 and to celebrate we all went to Fifteen Cornwall for lunch. It was a really great experience and the food was fantastic. After lunch we got changed and went for a walk along the beach. It was the first time we had seen some sun in a while. It was low tide and there were quite a few  pools of water left along the shore. Whilst it was still cold it didn't stop the kids putting their feet in, so we then took off their shoes! I think this only encouraged them more, before we knew it they were in up to their necks! Oh to be a child, it was great.

We also went to London for a few days, again catching up with family & friends and also to do a bit of shopping. The kids loved catching the tube but I think the highlight for them was the visit to Hamleys, a toy shop with SEVEN levels!, and yes they did come home loaded up with new toys.

The children travelled really well, especially on the way back as we travelled straight thru, including the fact that my son had a stomach bug and threw up at Heathrow airport and when we got on the plane, and we had a three hour delay in Bangkok due to some engine failure. I could not have asked them to have behaved any better than they did, and both of them slept during both legs of the journey. I am lucky to have such cheeky angels.