Steve was looking at a local facebook page where people stick a photo of what they want to sell and you contact them if you are interested ... he managed to be the first to secure these 2 tables ... not actually these 2, as ours are currently over at Steve's place ... but exactly the same as these! We paid £25 for the little coffee table and £35 for the console table ... when looking for these pictures on line, I discovered that the coffee table is £70 and the console table is £100 new ... the ones we picked up on Wednesday night from the local seller are in great condition and worth every penny :)


I probably wouldn't have thought we needed this console table, but it was such a good price and went with the coffee table that we couldn't say no!


I am really pleased with them and can't wait till the house is ready and we can start using them :D

a quilt I am making

I woke and the sun was shining ... it was shining outside and it was shining in my spirit ... I looked ahead at the next few months and I saw sunshine ... I saw new beginning and a new life ... it was as if I was standing in a doorway looking out on to this beautiful scene ... behind me, inside, it was dark and all I wanted was to step out ... take a few steps and enjoy every minute of it ... I stood on that door step today and took a few deep breaths of what is to come ... I stood with peace in my heart and a realisation that I have never looked forward with such happiness and excitement at the next few months as I do right now ... and not just the next few months, my whole future!


I have never felt such a brightness over my future before, with no black clouds ... I am looking forward to it all ... and this lovely bright future starts with a trip away ... a little holiday ... a birthday ... and a new journal, as a new chapter needs a fresh new page ... I'm going one better and going to start a new book! ... my old journal will be closed and the remaining pages left blank



I have so much to thank God for and so much marvel over ... so much has changed in my life and yet it all feels so natural and normal ... like it always was like this ... yet I have not forgotten before ... I still remember the pain ... but its back there in the dark ... I don't look back ... I don't need to as I have an amazing view ahead of me!




the sun shone today and spring arrived ... properly arrived ... there were buds and blossoms all over the hedges ... new growth ... it has been a long hard winter, but spring is here and summer always follows spring ... ahead is sunshine ... lots of lovely soak it up and run around like you were a kid sunshine ... something tried to pull me back into the darkness this evening, but I am not going to look back at it or let it ... I am going to take that step out into this gorgeous spring and I am going to lie in the sun and look up at the clouds and thank God every day that he has blessed me.

walking into work, I wore a coat ... apart from the little April shower that passed me, the sun was shining ... the air was warm and I arrived at work hot!! I think that's classed as Spring, right?!

I snapped some photos in the garden when I got home from work, but the sun had already gone, so the lights not great ... but its so nice to see some colour out there :D ... here's hoping the sunshine lasts!!

I feel like I have not blogged properly for ages ... I have been kinda busy doing 10 things at once ...

After working loads (and I mean loads) of extra hours the last few months at work, my hours have now gone way down, to less then before!! This is actually pretty good (apart from the loss of money) as I'm leaving at the end of the month to start my own business up again (I know!! why?? I swore I never wanted to do tax returns again!! haha) so its given me lots of time to plan.

I have been shopping ... a whole day of mega shopping with my mum ... happy day! totally broke now!! but I do have some gorgeous baskets and other home bits!

I have been crying over Joanna's blog ... this week they have been in China to adopt their second child ... I cried a couple of years ago too when they picked up little M ... I am so happy for them.

I have been trying to get organised and labeled a load of folders and boxes.

I went to the Hobby Craft Sewing show at the NEC and had a lovely time with my mum, cousin and two aunties :D

I have made some new designs and am very excited about other ideas I have.

I am still drinking lots of tea!

I've moved my work mobile to a different network ready for when I move in a couple of months, as there is no reception there!

I have done big sort/clear out and listed a load on ebay (yes, I am totally shocked at the cost of sending packets now ... I will be using My Hermes far more)

I have been sewing hexagons for my patchwork quilt.

I have been missing my man who is working hard lambing.

I have done a bit of work on my website ready for maria's little owl to be up and running ... still got more to do though.

I'm wishing my diet was working :/

I am thankful I have unlimited texts!

I enjoyed watching C4 Labyrinth based on the book by Kate Mosse.

I am wondering how I will fit all my crafts into our little home!

I have been orgainsing my organiser ... my filofax... and made new dividers for it.

I have a new nephew ... Benjamin ... born on his due date, 29.3.13 ... so I now have 4 beautiful nieces (my newest niece is one of the photos below) and a 2 scrummy nephews.


 you can follow me on instagram @mariainthewood

Over the past few weeks I have been working on updating my wholesale leaflet and I think it is now pretty much ready to rock-and-roll!!! I am really pleased with it and the price list and order form too.


If you are interested in stocking Bygone Beach Days goodies, then please just contact me for a leaflet!

I spent yesterday afternoon catching up on some good tv drama and filling up my Bygone Beach Days etsy shop :)


as with my folksy shop, I have a special offer on ... a FREE door hanger with every order while stocks last (one per order)!


I also want to remind you that I have a GIVEAWAY on at the moment, you could WIN a beautiful mounted picture ...


its very easy to win one! give it a go!!
xxx

on Saturday we took at trip out to West Midland Safari & Leisure Park ... I got a bit carried away with taking photos and took over 200 ... here are some of them ... ok, here are quite a lot of them!!




































































it was such a lovely out ... thank you Steve :)
if you are wanting a day out then I would recommend it ... its not the cheapest to get into, but once you are there, there is a lot to see and do!