A Tuesday surprise

I haven't posted for over a week as I have been otherwise occupied with work, housework, shopping for and sending first aid kits to Uganda, christmas shopping, pumpkin carving and generic house work and cooking. 

But I thought my Tuesday surprise deserved a post of its own. 

Here's some background to the surprise:

I have been begging Luke to let us get a puppy for ages. He has said no. I tried to work on his parents too but they weren't convinced. I gave up asking. 

I've also been dropping subtle marriage hints at Luke but to no avail. 

On Tuesday Luke asked if I could walk home from the station after work as he had to work late. Slightly annoyed (it was dark and the weather had suddenly turned cold) I wandered home, did some housework, still no sign of Luke. 

You've perhaps all guessed from the above what happened but I'll share it with you anyway :)

A while later I hear a knock at the door and I go and see a Luke shaped outline through the glass. 

I opened the door and what did he thrust in my face? Nothing other than a tiny working Labrador puppy called Beau. Naturally I cried. Then he tells me to look under his collar and nestled under the puppy's fat rolls was a beautiful sparkly ring. I cried some more. 

Turns out Luke had planned this for some time. And all my hints had just been a barrel of laughs for him. He bought the ring when we were in Toronto in April. I never noticed. I hid it in the loft for months. Him and my soon to be mom in law drove all the way to North Wales on Tuesday to collect Beau. 

I had little time to believe what was happening, phoned family and friends, cleaned up dog wee, trod in dog wee, and cleaned the house for everyone to come round to celebrate. We ate Chinese and drank champagne. 

29 October 2013 is a date I will remember for the rest of my life. And for perfect reasons. 

Here's to planning the perfect wedding, and embarking on my future with my lovely man and his dog x

Weekend Highlights

•         Luke coming home with a bunch of flowers on Friday. For no reason. They are lovely and injected a little summer back into the house now all the rain has come. The picture above was taken from Pinterest, if only I was that good at flower arranging
•           Getting the great news that an old friend gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Sadly, they live up in Scotland now so it’ll be a while ‘til I get a munch
•          Being very proactive and getting ALL my Christmas shopping done. I am so proud with myself. I decided what I was buying everyone months ago so Luke and I took a trip down to Bicester Village and bought everything :) I might even wrap them all next weekend. It will certainly save the stress when the German Christmas market comes to Birmingham and it’s impossible to get out of the office door.
•      Having another homely day on Saturday and making lots of things to stock up for when the snow comes. Thai green and red curry pastes, lots of soup and I also made homemade coleslaw, which tastes SO much better than shop bought.
•     The wondrous invention that is peanut butter icecream. But after noting the amount of rubbish pummelled into the shop bought varieties, Luke and I made our own. Chocolate ice-cream (most likely with the same about of rubbish in it by hey ho), with lumps of crunchy peanut butter and Nutella mixed through, then put back in the freezer so the Nutella hardens. Absolute delight in a bowl.

image found via Pinterest

A bundle of joy

Where has this year gone?! 

A year ago today we woke up to the news that our niece was born and what a pretty girl she is. She came at just the right time. 

 

She brings us happiness when we are feeling glum and she lightens up any room with her sparkle. She makes us forget all our troubles and focus on the real things, not the material things. 

Naturally her arrival has made me feel quite broody but right now, she is all we need. So we spoil her and we love her. 

At 365 days old, she has a few little tooty pegs, is a marathon crawler and has taken her first few steps. She loves chicken (especially Nandos), loves throwing strawberries and other red fruit on her mom's lovely cream carpet, points and takes pleasure in throwing her buttery toast on the dogs' heads (they don't mind). She blows kisses, she waves and she is always smiling. 

 

We love you little one, and although the year has flown by a little too quickly for my liking, it has been heartwarming to watch you grow and be part of your little life. Here's to more memories.

 

Luke worked his joinery magic and knocked up this toy box, which I upholstered and painted her name. 



Happy first birthday to our darling niece, Mila. 

 



The Drunken Duck

Whilst in the Lake District for a weekend away, we decided we ought to try out the highly recommended restaurant, The Drunken Duck. Nestled high on a hill overlooking the village of Ambleside, this is a pub ideal for an evening retreat after a long day of walking.