Pet Talk- trade, share, learn and love everything in the world of pets!

We all love cute animals, be it puppies, dogs, cats, kittens, rabbits or even reptiles. Lots of you have pets too, they make great companions don’t they. Well two of my innovative Irish friends Jonathan and Amanada have been working very hard on a new project of theirs. They have combined their love of pets and computers to launch a new website Pet Talk.  The website is still work in progress but already there is alot of interest in it. It is a community and trading hub for all things pet related. Their site is a place for pets and their owners (aka you and me) to gather and swap daily tails of adventure.  Having spoken to Jonathan he thinks of it as social networking for pets and their owners. So why not check out their new pet pages and add a pet page for your own furry friend (I did!). The pet pages allow you to build a profile of your pet, blog about your pet and most importantly add photos so everyone can see just how cute they really are.  People can vote for their favourite pet. PetTalk also offers you a chance to share your pet stories, queries and general pet talk in the forum area. Even if you don’t have a pet you’ll enjoy looking at the cute animals. So I recommend that you check this brand new community and website out and get your pets featured on it!

Christmas markets in Munich???

Has anyone ever visited the Christmas markets in Munich? If so what did you think, any accomodation you would recommend? There must be some German people on wordpress that could give me some information or perhaps you have visited yourself?

Thanks

October update

No. 1. Continue with cross stitch pattern and hopefully have most of it complete by the end of October- this is progressing well, here it is, I have to finish one of the eyes, the sign along the top and the leaves on the ground.

From this —–> 

——-> to this

No. 2. Start my Plant Identification Key Guide of species in my local area (sketches, plant pressings, photographs & info)- photographs, info started, this is coming together well.

No. 3. Start Consultancy work- I have this started- reports completed.

No. 4. Declutter my bedroom and sort out winter clothes-  Almost complete, I have the clothes I don’t want bagged and ready for the charity shop

No. 5. Visit old friends- I caught up with my friends this month, visited some of them, others visited me (check my other blog), I emailed and phoned the others.

No. 6. Do some calligraphy writing- I didn’t get around to doing this yet

No. 7. Start Ecology course assignments- I am awaiting my assignment list which hopefully I will get this week

No. 8. Visit a local woodland for an autumnal walk- I did this and took some nice photos

No. 9. Update my Blog s on a regular basis- Well as you can see I haven’t neglected my blog!

Autumn time in Ireland- some beautiful leaves

Autumn is a second Spring when every leaf is a flower

L-O-V-E Letters

Love is all around us, love is the little things we do for each other.  So today cast the gift of a lovely thought into the heart of a friend.

Some pretty Russian dolls & patterns..

An Old Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days,

and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,

wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world

with joy that long endures.

May all life’s passing seasons

bring the best to you and yours!

The Usual High Street Christmas Shopping or Be Creative!?!?

I know it’s very early to be talking about Christmas but last year I said I am defiantly going to do my Christmas shopping early as I hate all the crowds, people rushing around and sheer mayhem of last-minute Christmas shopping. So this year I am trying to stay clear of the high street and shopping centres as much as I can. I never know what to buy either as we buy for the same people every year so Im looking for some new ideas. Below are a few nice gifts I saw which might suit some of my friends. I’m not very creative otherwise I could hand make some presents for my friends. Although if I put my mind to it, I could make my Christmas cards, gift tags and even frame some of my cross stitch patterns for presents. Maybe you have some nice simple ideas??? If you do let me know. There are wonderful handmade  gifts of all types online at Etsy, so your presents will defiantly be unique and you don’t even have to leave your house to do your Christmas shopping.  For those of you who aren’t very creative and want to shop on the High Street here are some nice ideas..

For your crafty friend..

Beautiful Country Living Sewing Box Set from Boots. It includes detachable pin cushions. Price approximately £20.00

For your girly friend…

The Goddess Guide by Irish journalist Gisele Scanlon- full of fashion, travel, lifestyle tips and information. The front cover is beautiful, Vogue voted it in among the top five beautiful books- Amazon. Price Approximately- £15.oo

For your house proud friend…

 

 

 

 

 

 A pretty duvet set.  This one is from Harry Corrys. Price Approximately £45.00 for double duvet set and pillows.

 

For a close friend…

 

 

 

Card making kit contains material to make 20 cards with envelopes including  embellishments, 3D stickers, patterned papers, vellums, brads and flat stickers. Dual tip brush markers, See D’s Morsels stamps and outline stickers. Available from WH Smith. Price approximately £24.00

 

 

 

 

 

For a male friend..

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new coat for the Spring time, this one is from Jack & Jones

 

 

 

 

 

 Some other ideas for stocking fillers…

 

 From top left,

No.1 Journal (you could even try and make your own)- Featured above Cath Kidston Home Ideas Journal: A Style Sourcebook and Ideas Organiser

No. 2 Stickers- Cath Kidston Label and Sticker Book: Fun sticky in classic prints

No.3 Note Block for desk-  Cath Kidston Bloc Pad Mini Dot: Useful block of paper with printed edges with space in the corned to put a pen.

No.4 Some cushions from any household/ textile retailer or if your crafty make the covers yourself

No.5 Keyrings- Flower Enamel Keyring with Diamante detail from Monsoon

No.6 Lipstick holder- Dragonfly enamel Lipstick Holder with Diamante detail from Monsoon

No.7 Fancy perfume bottle- Small Cut Glass Perfume Bottle with dipper from Monsoon

No.8  World Atlas or any other type of Atlas/Maps from any local bookstore

No.9 Hot Water Bottle- To You Hot Water Bottle & Cover from New Look 

No. 10 Purse- Leather Purse from New Look

No.11 Purse- Bow Front Purse from New Look

No. 12 Notecard Set- Museum & Galleries Oxford Botanic magnetic notecard box.  Each box contains a set of 20 varnished cards (of one design) and envelopes.     

No. 13 Stationary Set-  Museum & Galleries Wedgwood English rose gift box set includes gift box, 1 slimline journal, 1 address book and 1 writing set from House of Fraser

No. 14 Garden Journal/ Book- Roger La Borde garden journal, with seasonal tips, planner, plant and address sections, storage pocket, elastic binder and colour index. Hard backed and spiral-bound from House of Fraser

No. 15 Pretty pens

No. 16 Cute teddy bear

No. 17 A 2010 calendar, Top Gear Calendar featured above

No. 18 Another 2010 calendar, Marilyn Monroe Calendar featured above

No. 19 Small puzzle book/game, Lagoon Group Sudoku a day memo block. Sudoku Puzzle Day by Day desk block is a collection of 365 easy, medium and hard Sudoku puzzles from House of Fraser

No. 20 Pretty Journals/ Notebooks- featured above Roger La Borde Golden fritillary small softback journal with duck egg blue background and delicate gold butterflies fluttering across the cover

No. 21 Family tree kit- Featured above K Two Products family tree organiser with four sections to help plan and plot your family tree. Consisting of a planning, contacts and family stories section, there is a large fold out family tree planner and storage pockets and keepsake envelope from House of Fraser

No. 22 ‘Things to do’ List- Featured above Emma Bridgewater black and white things to do,  a 7 day reminder pad from House of Fraser

No. 23 Cuff Links- Linea Brushed shiny silver square cufflinks featured above from House of Fraser

* Note, these are just examples of very normal Christmas gift items which I have come across all of which are under £20.00 from high street stores but remember it is important to shop local and support local crafters, so perhaps visit a local Christmas Craft Fair, Check out Etsy online as it has truly unique and wonderful items for sale all handmade which is a major bonus. Remember also to support your local charity shops as you can come across some cheap and cheerful items. You can also get creative and made some of your own gifts. Most of all enjoy your christmas shopping and crafting and remember you don’t have to spend lots of money, at the end of the day it’s the thought that counts.

Today I like…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterflies……………

Actually I like butterflies every day, they are so delicate, pretty & colourful. So elegant and serene, so small and yet so magnificent! I know its Autumn now but I was just thinking about the poor caterpillars I was squashing on my mother’s brussels sprouts last week and wondered if I had left them, would they transform into magical butterflies or maybe moths, who knows. Next time I think I’ll gather them up and relocate them rather than killing them as that is very cruel and after all they are one of gods creatures.

For more information and photographs visit The Butterfly WebSite

 

Some nice flowers set recently at home