Friday 27 June 2014

Celebrate the small things

I've been having a few problems with Blogger this week, posts not loading and reading lists disappearing, so please accept my apologies if I've missed your posts this week. It may even be that some of you have been experiencing the same issues, anyway, thankfully all seems to be running smoothly again now. 

So what else has been happening this week? Well, not much writing has been done, I feel a little lost with that at the moment, but maybe that can wait till next week's IWSG. 

But on the plus side I have managed a couple of walks this last week. Getting out in the fresh air gives me a pick-me-up.

We've had rain today for the first time in quite a while but I know the garden will benefit, and we picked strawberries from the plot last weekend and more are nearly ready. Have also been enjoying some home grown lettuce leaves in my lunchtime salads.

I am taking a trip to Wales with my husband this weekend. He has some things to do up there and I am going along to keep him company. I am looking forward to a change of scenery and spending some time together. Not sure what the weather is going to do, I suspect there might be some more rain. Difficulty is knowing what to pack. It's only a couple of nights but I seem to have laid out enough stuff for a fortnight! Layers are key I think, and a lightweight jacket. And what to do about footwear? I might need a dressy pair to go out to dinner in, a comfy pair to walk around in, maybe some flip flops or sandals ... aargh I hate packing!

Hope you all have a good weekend, whatever you are up to. I will catch up with comments and visits when I get back.

Thanks, as ever, to our lovely host Viklit for hosting supported by her team of co-hosts.


LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge
Katie @ TheCyborg Mom
CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse

#CTST

Friday 20 June 2014

Celebrate the small things


Thanks to Viklit and her co-hosts


LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge
Katie @ TheCyborg Mom
CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse


#CTST 

With the longest day this weekend it certainly feels like summer is here. The weather is continuing to be lovely and the evenings so light you can almost forget it's time to go to bed! So. what did this week bring? Well, some highs and lows to be honest. 

But there are things to celebrate and be thankful for:
  • Hubby has been away working for a week but will be back Friday night so looking forward to that.
  • Daughter number one has finished 2nd year at University and has passed with excellent results.
  • Daughter number two has finished her A level exams.She has worked so hard and deserves to do well so fingers crossed for the results in August that will enable her to go the University of her choice. She had a presentation evening at college last night and won a student of the year award in ICT which was a lovely surprise. She has a summer dance to look forward to tonight with her friends, several of which will be staying with us overnight I think. I love a house full of happy teenagers!
  • I have managed to edit a few chapters on my draft and I am pleased with the results so far.
  • I went for a lovely long walk on Wednesday evening with a couple of friends and we saw dolphins swimming and playing in the sea. A truly awesome sight. 

Friday 13 June 2014

Celebrate the small things


Thanks to Viklit and her co-hosts


LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge
Katie @ TheCyborg Mom
CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse

#CTST 



Welcome Friday once again and time to think about the last week and celebrate all those little (or big!) things that made us smile. I haven't really been around blogland all that much over the last few days, not for any particular reason, but I have been trying to enjoy the sunshine and the light evenings after work to get outside. If you live in the UK you will know we don't like to waste the sunshine when it does appear!

So this week I am celebrating:
  • Leaving the house without a coat!
  • Sunny, light evenings.
  • Enjoying several walks.
  • Winning a copy of Annalisa Crawford's new ebook 'Our Beautiful Child.' Looking forward to reading this one, thanks Annalisa.

Out now on Kindle


Happy weekend everyone.

Wednesday 4 June 2014

IWSG


Life has been so hectic of late that IWSG slipped my mind today until I just logged on and the familiar badge popped up on my reading list! Still, I'm working on the assumption that this must be a good thing as I can't be too worried about anything new! All the usual 'writerly' anxieties are buzzy around my brain, but I am dealing with them for the most part. So for this month I will wish you all well, I will hop around and see what others are dealing with this month.

As ever thanks to, Alex J. Cavanugh for hosting this fantastic group. Thanks also to our co-hosts this month; 
C. Lee McKenzie, Tracy Jo, Melanie Schulz,and LG Keltner!

Sunday 1 June 2014

Birthstone Unicorns - Pearl (June)

Can you believe it's June already?  This month's featured birthstone is the beautiful pearl. Their natural lustre and translucence make the pearl one of the most well known and much favoured gems. Apart from the usual milky-white hue we associate with the pearl they can also be found in silver, cream, green, lavender, blue, black and golden shades. Alternative stones for the month of June are Alexandrite and Moonstone, but as my unicorn is called Pearl we will focus on them for this post. I have added a short extract from her story on the tab above if you wish to read it.

Formed from the tears of Aphrodite, a love potion from Cleopatra, a wedding gift from Krishna to his daughter. The legends surrounding this, one of the oldest gems, are numerous. Here are just a few more facts and interesting stories.

  • The word Pearl is from the French 'Perle' which in turn has origins in the Latin word 'Perna' meaning leg. The thought is that the shells in which pearls are formed have a shape similar to a ham or leg of mutton.
  • The characteristics of loyalty, faithfulness and friendship are associated with this gemstone
  • They are reputed to be helpful for health problems relating to the stomach and intestines, heart and spleen.
  • The Roman General,Vitelllius allegedly financed an entire military campaign with one of his mother's pearl earrings!
  • Wealthy Roman women liked to wear their pearls whilst they slept. They adorned their couches and trappings with them also to remind them (and others presumably!) of their wealth.
  • Julius Caesar was noted to be a great lover of the pearl.
  • In Tudor England the 1500's were known as 'The Pearl Age.'
  • In the 1900's the first successful commercial culturing of saltwater pearls began. Since the 1920's cultured pearls have almost completely replaced natural pearls in the market.
  • The largest pearl in the world is believed to about about 3 inches long and 2 inches across and weighs about  1/3 of a pound. Known as the' Pearl of Asia' Shah Jahan of India gave it as a gift to his wife, Mumtaz (for whom he also built the Taj Mahal).
  • Warriors from India encrusted their swords with pearls to represent tears and sorrow.
  • In South Asian mythology pearls were said to be dewdrops from heaven that fell into the sea where they were caught by shellfish under the first rays of the rising sun at full moon.
  • Pearls have often been used in medicines and to prevent diseases. In China there is evidence to suggest this was as early as 2000 BC and in Europe they were widely used until the 17th century. 
  • One of the most famous pearls is said to be 'La Peregrina' (The Wanderer). It is said that around 400 years ago a black slave gave it to his master in exchange for his freedom. 
  • Pearls are a gemstone for 30 years of marriage. (Our 30th anniversary next year, wonder if I'll get one!)
Finally , I will leave you with the verse from the Gregorian Poem for this month. Happy birthday to all born in the sunny month of June.

By her who in June was born,
No gem save Pearls shall be worn,
They will ensure her constancy,
True friendship and fidelity.