Early one morning ...

I woke up very early on Saturday. Not sure whether it was the cats or the seagulls that did it, both seem to be conspiring to deprive us of most of our sleep this summer. Maybe it's the unsettled weather or maybe our cats are just too darned greedy demanding their breakfast at the crack of dawn. Nothing we can do about the seagulls, they're here until the autumn.
The forecast had been for rain but that was definitely sun shining through the curtains, so I crept downstairs to feed the cats. Having successfully tackled the creaky floorboards and sshhed the cats I grabbed a book and cushions for the garden bench and armed with a cup of tea decided to savour a few moments of quiet outside.
I am, I think, more of a morning person than night owl. Most evenings I'm usually dead to the world on the sofa by 10.30, but left alone for a few minutes with a cup of tea after having chosen to wake up early (chosen being the keyword here, I hate being woken up) I am happy. Sitting in the garden and listening to the silence knowing that everyone else was still fast asleep, neighbours included, felt wonderful, some sort of guilty pleasure to indulge in. I am alone a lot during the week, but nothing compares to this kind of silence!


I'd decided to reread "The Summer Book" by Tove Jansson, who wrote the Moomin stories. It's the story of a little girl who goes to stay with her elderly grandmother one summer on an island off Finland. It's beautiful and charming and above all about SUMMER! (she has also written a collection of short stories that have been published in "A Winter Book" which may be more appropriate for the weather we're having now)!

But my mind wasn't on the reading, more on trying to put into order the million and one things that were running round inside my head. I'd had a busy week and felt like I'd been chasing my tail a lot of the time. By Friday I was in the very happy and fortunate position to have orders from three stockists for my corsages. I knew that this little lot had to be finished, priced and sent off - number 1 on the list.


I also wanted to make a new teacosy and it was good to sit and think about the colours etc for this. Bright red with a blue border maybe and a little flourish somewhere I think. Something bright and cheery - number 2 on the list.
I have had an old footstool tucked under the stairs for several months that I have earmarked for this project and spurred on by your positive comments about my own footstool that's going to be another addition to the list. Is it too big for Etsy do you think?
Just about to go in and pour myself a second cuppa when my youngest came running up the garden steps ... "Mummy. mummy we'd better hurry". "What's the matter?" "Mummy we've only got seven days till my party and you promised me the garden would look like 'Far Far Away' and Daddy's got to make me some Shrek signs and remember you promised me you both wouldn't dress up and we've got to think of some games and prizes and I want a treasure hunt and is there enough room in my bedroom for the sleepover? Come on Mummy hurry up we better have breakfast quick."
So there it is - Shrek slime, purple and gold bunting and Daddy's signs need to go on that list too. Well it was nice while it lasted.