Coco checks out...

You're not going to believe  this...but Coco got got. She had just moved back in with Ned after her pecking order injury, and had been let out to enjoy the morning sunshine. The enclosure was completely covered in net and wire - and we have NO idea how that pesky fox got in, in broad daylight, with kids in and out the garden, but he did. 

We followed the trail of feathers up the garden and through to next door - then under the fence and off he went. I wouldn't mind but she wouldn't even warrant a small snack, never mind a meal.

So, in the last few weeks it's Mr Fox 2, Ladies 0, along with the 2 ducks who took off through the hole and the demise of BJ the hamster. The circle of life has been well and truly done this summer - so much so that the boys are becoming slightly blase about it all!

Meanwhile, I've broken my vow to never moan about the weather and moaned about the weather. It feels like winter here and the boys are driving me stir crazy! Bring back long hot summer days and tea in the garden. 

On an upside, Granny is back from her travels (sounds like we defo need to visit Prague) and we've had some lovely visits from much younger members of the family, including lovely little Luca, who was fascinated by my camera and kept attempting to climb my bosom on order to reach it 

(no mean feat)

Mabel in the background, eating a dinosaur (whole!)

We also took a trip up to the North East, where Cleggy's family are from. Grandma and Grandad took us to the Life Centre in Newcastle, where the current exhibition was all about Wallace and Gromit. It was indeed a grand day out (see what I did there?) and lovely to spend some time with them.

There was loads of hands on stuff to do  - our favourite being a challenge to build a marble run using the tray of equipment provided. Naturally my competitive streak kicked in (I fought it) and it became a mission. I embarrassed myself by asking the man in charge if mine was the best of the day, forgetting it was about the kids! (he said it was...obviously humouring me!)

In the evening we took Cleggy's Grandma (Great Granny Long) out for tea - she too was on great form! (and looking good for 91!)

And finally to this weeks makes - a large commission of Chipper Nelly boxes (much bigger than I normally do) for friend of a friend Nikki;

This one is huge and for her new goddaughter....

Nikki asked for two smaller boxes inside for Emilia's first tooth and for some magic sparkle dust (wishing I had a fairy godmother!)

 

I was really stuck on this Christening box until I had the idea to see if the Church in question had any defining features I could use to decorate the top. I was delighted to find that it was quite unusual and distinctive so made it out of paper. Good old google images!

...and among other things, a pencil box for a budding artist - how thoughtful. Would rather like it myself!

Off to Surrey tomorrow to wave goodbye to my beautiful Goddaughter Hannah and her fiance (also handsome!) Wade who are off to Australia to get married and start a new adventure together.

Happy weekend

fee x