Cats in the Kitchen, Flora in the Garden

BEWARE THIS IS A POSTING OFA SMUG SATISFIED PERSON AND IT DRIPS SUGAR AND HONEY AND EVERYTHING SWEET CARRY ON READING AT YOUR PERIL.

I have had such a splendiferous [is that a real word? well it is now] day, today my birthday, that I just have to share it with you. It was not a day of thrills and great new excitements. Just a perfect day, in the words of the song. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and all its small pleasures. A perfect way to spend a birthday.

First of all many many thanks and love and hugs to everyone, who mentioned my birthday on their sites, sent me emails, sent me beautiful email greetings cards and videos, sent me snail mail cards and presents. I will get round you all, to thank you personally, over the next few days and also show some of the lovely cards etc, but today I am just overwhelmed by it all.



This was my Perfect Day. We slept in, on my birthday of all days, usually up by seven it was after eight! The sun was shining, the sky was the brightest blue and there was not a breath of wind. Switched the computer on and already there were emails etc waiting. Then stopped for breakfast and the mail lady. I already had a little pile of items that had arrived early, which I was under strict instructions not to open until today, the mail lady brought more. Then I spent a lovely time opening them all and enjoying the various contents. I was having my dinner cooked for me by my husband this evening so I decided on a trip to the little market town nearby to visit their lovely butcher that sells local meat.



I caught my little country bus for the ride in the opposite direction to the one I most often take. The countryside was just perfect, full of beautiful trees with orange, yellow and copper leaves pressed up against a completely cloud free intense blue sky. The hedges packed with beautiful red berries such as rosehips. Not a cold day, just perfect for a jumper and gilet, and, of course, my magic hat [which I will tell you all about further down the posting] As I arrived in the market town the old church bell was tolling eleven and I decided I had time to look at a couple of shops before doing my food shopping.

There is a shop I always pass on the way to the bakers that often has lovely items in the window, I have never really paid it a lot of attention as usually there are jumpers etc blocking the interior view, but I noticed something rather special in the window at a very reasonable price and decided to go in. Well, I was stunned, inside was the most beautiful selection of gorgeous accessories, jewellery, ornaments and just pretty items. I ended up buying a couple of items for christmas as well as the object I had spotted in the window. [ I am being very vague about these items in case my daughter, Sweetpea is reading this posting as she often does].



Then on the bus coming in before we turned into the market square, I had noticed set back off the road an animal charity shop so I decided to go and have a look. There I found this beautiful Japanese hand painted china, two plates, two saucers, but only one cup. It was exquisite, an ochre background with blue birds on branches and a blue edging round the rims. Very fragile and delicate bone china £5 - a bargain I bought it. Then I bought, don't laugh a tiger for £3.50. I don't buy a lot of soft toys but this is more than a soft toy it looks real, its about two foot long and so well made and modelled, the way its haunches are contoured they look as though they are muscled and it has the most realistic face and expressive eyes. I will photograph it and post it another day. Well I fell in love with it and had to have it. Then a quick visit to the butcher and the baker, for two slices of their delicious sinful chocolate cake which is so yummy [I don't do a whole birthday cake as there are just two of us and I know my husband would have one slice and then not want anymore and the rest would be there as serious temptation]



Home for a later lunch and phone calls from the children, then up to my artroom for a little artwork, then a late afternoon browsing through a pile of magazines I have been saving. Then it was time to be called through to the dining room where my dinner was served, after which it was time for the delicious chocolate cake. Next a lovely candlelit and incense evening with glasses of red wine and some television and music. Now I have rounded off the day by posting this. It couldn't have been any better.

It doesn't quite end tonight, because I still have Sweetpea coming up from London on Saturday, staying until Tuesday morning and bringing up presents for me from herself and from my son.

My magic hat, pictured below. This hat that my son bought me two years ago as part of my christmas present is what I call my magic hat. You just pull it on and turn the brim up at the front. The hat seems to effect people, it makes them cheerful, they speak to you, they tell you things. They say things like' what a colourful hat, it cheers up a grey day' or nod at you and say things like 'lovely day'. People are often friendly it just seems that when I wear this hat, people are even friendlier, smile at you more, pass the time of day more. That is why I try not to overuse it. I also seem to find wonderful bargains when I wear this hat.



My two pieces of art work, greetings cards which illustrate this posting at the top of the page, are called in order of showing. The one at the top right is His Mother always let him play with the shells after his flying lesson and the one to the left it Very occasionally even a fairy will lose her joie de vivre.

By the way, talking about my last posting and Christmas memories etc. Anyone like the idea of me doing a Christmas memories, stories, yes even Christmas Ghost stories, website along the same lines as the Halloween one. It would be such fun and I would love to do it. Items to be posted nearer to Christmas, say 15 th to 24th December and left in situ until end of January. I will call it Daisy Lupin's Wonder of Christmas Story Circle. Will everyone participate?

Have some fun
Coming soon in early November
Daisy Lupin’s stream of consciousness game
Pick one of the words or phrases
Let it take you where it will, Go with it,
See where you end up, then post it on your site.
Come on, join in, let’s ramble