Interview By Expats Blog

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Recently</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was approached by Expats Blog</div><div style="text-align: center;">for an interview</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I figured, why not?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCeKdjh26uTtlZpfVHWZMaVmfZajowh_iCWltN2QPB87F8sfpCjdsOSfhH_72pxFYdj_4yG0K7iy9kKVxaz5TBuIEN268W01AK3XWrBd1DXuJVyv0aaAIKypheVhOBFt9VOCVc-qjKyYa/s1600/Capture111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCeKdjh26uTtlZpfVHWZMaVmfZajowh_iCWltN2QPB87F8sfpCjdsOSfhH_72pxFYdj_4yG0K7iy9kKVxaz5TBuIEN268W01AK3XWrBd1DXuJVyv0aaAIKypheVhOBFt9VOCVc-qjKyYa/s400/Capture111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I try to find the right balance of what to share personally online,<br />and I've revealed a little more about me in this <a href="http://www.expatsblog.com/articles/1423/america-to-england-expat-interview-with-laura">interview</a> with Expats Blog<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I hope you enjoy it :)</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Interview By Expats Blog

Recently I was approached by Expats Blog for an interview I figured, why not? I try to find the right balance of what to share personally on...

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Weekend In Photos

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Another weekend has passed,</div><div style="text-align: center;">captured within a few images</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the view from Holmbury Hill of</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Weald of Surrey and Sussex</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZILmttS0scOrIGBi6IGKjoIY7Y_ZqtuTJpHQtob82xSHrFMBol6hbL73vyVJPLkJicxdSjq2_nFGaxQROTqrA0czPKRQxe_6of7rEtplb4I-n9pFKhQf3JvWoUUTuXLh7yBCjeN7JKdTH/s1600/photo+(81)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZILmttS0scOrIGBi6IGKjoIY7Y_ZqtuTJpHQtob82xSHrFMBol6hbL73vyVJPLkJicxdSjq2_nFGaxQROTqrA0czPKRQxe_6of7rEtplb4I-n9pFKhQf3JvWoUUTuXLh7yBCjeN7JKdTH/s640/photo+(81)-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Weald crosses Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, and Surrey</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What was once a vast forest </div><div style="text-align: center;">is now a picture-perfect landscape of scattered farms and villages<br /><br /><br /><div>While the rain melted the snow this week,</div><div>chilly temperatures froze local ponds</div><div>to create yet another scene calling my name :)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyT7DUQMzkJ66dbPKVKwAp0KzeNPSVHY01HLYOHEJWfQ2pUiQKgGwtB4CPm5vgxvRgKuV_ZL7GPFytBF5SYL_TR0D0xdI6UJaLb3WpKvYJwLAxKx1iAsgG8zOHu-Yrrp2ziPWeg7uxEfpj/s1600/photo+%252883%2529-010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyT7DUQMzkJ66dbPKVKwAp0KzeNPSVHY01HLYOHEJWfQ2pUiQKgGwtB4CPm5vgxvRgKuV_ZL7GPFytBF5SYL_TR0D0xdI6UJaLb3WpKvYJwLAxKx1iAsgG8zOHu-Yrrp2ziPWeg7uxEfpj/s640/photo+%252883%2529-010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The River Thames, however, was not frozen</div><div style="text-align: center;">as seen by rowers in Bray</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLefc4nXkeFd4SRdJnMuSaZAeiSPvVkes3LubVf4Q5Wma5i5cJumqWONRc_4J-ETeKq9zkTMSEcBYPIhXiupsQDNHNiX6_Mn-zs3qKQUKpzGGWee_DfiEXVC79NXYUwI3DZc_L-eEaTmfn/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLefc4nXkeFd4SRdJnMuSaZAeiSPvVkes3LubVf4Q5Wma5i5cJumqWONRc_4J-ETeKq9zkTMSEcBYPIhXiupsQDNHNiX6_Mn-zs3qKQUKpzGGWee_DfiEXVC79NXYUwI3DZc_L-eEaTmfn/s640/image.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />The River Thames used to freeze regularly<br />You can read about it in a previous post <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/frozen-river-thames.html">here</a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a great week :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weald">Wikipedia</a></span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Weekend In Photos

Another weekend has passed, captured within a few images I love the view from Holmbury Hill of the Weald of Surrey and Sussex The Weald cros...

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Snow Days

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The weekend was filled with snow play</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a wintry walk</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEGuwoYm3rW0XiQz7TprFMzq01gtzWqDaqGtfYYQoOHjt8mJP4dteE7yoRffhuZcLXykZOSfGkCYzIODvCOI0SNrYPLI7WOcRfYLzU45D-gajnCqL6SeIUMC_2f5zfAVjJ6fDtzk1gSgF/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEGuwoYm3rW0XiQz7TprFMzq01gtzWqDaqGtfYYQoOHjt8mJP4dteE7yoRffhuZcLXykZOSfGkCYzIODvCOI0SNrYPLI7WOcRfYLzU45D-gajnCqL6SeIUMC_2f5zfAVjJ6fDtzk1gSgF/s640/PicMonkey+Collage+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Monday brought loud cheers </div><div style="text-align: center;">when school cancelled due to road conditions</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiEHVqx1a-qlPtpArL3spRGv-euQNjcLCjJ-H4detcEpsjhd1tZnGvvV7ZWU6OKdMMgu-E6ZiK8SzyTuOTCwvVQu7WlpMMh3dIzFOKGv52-jJqf4DFktd67X5oM2afXlxcpUnrn7BNLNN/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+3-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiEHVqx1a-qlPtpArL3spRGv-euQNjcLCjJ-H4detcEpsjhd1tZnGvvV7ZWU6OKdMMgu-E6ZiK8SzyTuOTCwvVQu7WlpMMh3dIzFOKGv52-jJqf4DFktd67X5oM2afXlxcpUnrn7BNLNN/s640/PicMonkey+Collage+3-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">By Tuesday,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the roads had cleared</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">so I hopped, skipped, jumped to </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hilliergardens">Sir Harold Hillier Gardens</a>,</div><div style="text-align: center;">one of the biggest 'Winter Gardens' in Europe</div><div style="text-align: center;">covering three acres with 650 different plantings</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although it is January,</div><div style="text-align: center;">there were already blooms in the garden</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4XzELm7vnLXq4llSG9YOi22Tu_w3x4Ed64NlV0htIcfnMh8hcC_bLSEo-kobjtm6TYxOefSlLyT7j2QKbomg1ot_8Zib0PbRSfvGES0oTZL-mWYlVSWj4szZgxy5SAx6DtO7bvZvMFPs/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+7-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4XzELm7vnLXq4llSG9YOi22Tu_w3x4Ed64NlV0htIcfnMh8hcC_bLSEo-kobjtm6TYxOefSlLyT7j2QKbomg1ot_8Zib0PbRSfvGES0oTZL-mWYlVSWj4szZgxy5SAx6DtO7bvZvMFPs/s640/PicMonkey+Collage+7-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">extremely fragrant <i>Daphne Bholua 'Jacqueline Postill'</i> and hellebore</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_BMLrWHQTvM48sS_DXayc_7q_tapt5XLAACEBT4jsJHZpDNJRqB7qIrC6F7whHCAemiipSV3CZfWJ-MUAdLcgaq9oIzpZ4vhNuqC3Zfv9VvLn0CVRM2kft-rOmtsF_NtmCsxxu7mp__b/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+8-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_BMLrWHQTvM48sS_DXayc_7q_tapt5XLAACEBT4jsJHZpDNJRqB7qIrC6F7whHCAemiipSV3CZfWJ-MUAdLcgaq9oIzpZ4vhNuqC3Zfv9VvLn0CVRM2kft-rOmtsF_NtmCsxxu7mp__b/s640/PicMonkey+Collage+8-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">witch hazel</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was completely smitten by the bark in the birch grove</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPyJneUn-EtTL2j7MN87mPzu1uizdPMmfTVUclWjyoKFdHVkjbbvw_CIfm0qulOeJhDytKS35qHD8FmIY7Gwsmfnww9ECJN-HoGiuTIf0347_fEM8uKA8jSAZV2tCHjR0xcbXg2h9Bajs/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPyJneUn-EtTL2j7MN87mPzu1uizdPMmfTVUclWjyoKFdHVkjbbvw_CIfm0qulOeJhDytKS35qHD8FmIY7Gwsmfnww9ECJN-HoGiuTIf0347_fEM8uKA8jSAZV2tCHjR0xcbXg2h9Bajs/s640/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYH5HuJAk-3WlP9yqtGLuAzBy3t23JT9SZOUto8R-yDlAOucuImacB1BHuqNKUBOSu69fCfUNzFA4FN7XYffPWkv8I1Z8PmL5sYaOn3GHo0RnibvYvoekL50_-tCxl4Nmeyyzp0jdQc12/s1600/photo+(62)-0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYH5HuJAk-3WlP9yqtGLuAzBy3t23JT9SZOUto8R-yDlAOucuImacB1BHuqNKUBOSu69fCfUNzFA4FN7XYffPWkv8I1Z8PmL5sYaOn3GHo0RnibvYvoekL50_-tCxl4Nmeyyzp0jdQc12/s640/photo+(62)-0011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy the rest of your week!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Snow Days

The weekend was filled with snow play and a wintry walk Monday brought loud cheers  when school cancelled due to road conditions By Tuesday,...

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Snow, England Style

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Wondering what to post this weekend,</div><div style="text-align: center;">my answer came from the sky...</div><div style="text-align: center;">SNOW</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It doesn't snow 'big' or often</div><div style="text-align: center;">in this part of England</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So beautiful to witness the landscape clothed in white</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_bK1V1IOA_hwGtIiShQGk0fREj6myIWXwD9SaFOLK9rGwbVM291M70dACAHiRl_X2f_jdXi93jzSJ0xW-pgStN7Fjf-JgjObDmNYcsONbknkcVsxsLdk0Ji7kps-RIMbKQJzhb_pUg_J/s1600/photo+(33)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_bK1V1IOA_hwGtIiShQGk0fREj6myIWXwD9SaFOLK9rGwbVM291M70dACAHiRl_X2f_jdXi93jzSJ0xW-pgStN7Fjf-JgjObDmNYcsONbknkcVsxsLdk0Ji7kps-RIMbKQJzhb_pUg_J/s640/photo+(33)-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thatched houses</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8OqbSaC8gTl0r8_l4QG3U5aiKy07lIGPFBNty9F20VK8ftDN6x8r1qiL6GL2890Dj6nYR8NbzGeVE_-I41HLvX9lfsp235vbsT0EBhY3blwHsrZteGlCIlt-0yC0WgAJM_RZyI3vYjF1/s1600/photo+(28)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8OqbSaC8gTl0r8_l4QG3U5aiKy07lIGPFBNty9F20VK8ftDN6x8r1qiL6GL2890Dj6nYR8NbzGeVE_-I41HLvX9lfsp235vbsT0EBhY3blwHsrZteGlCIlt-0yC0WgAJM_RZyI3vYjF1/s640/photo+(28)-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fields </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJFWVDU2lbY40aqDQ3hJwaZ9UOUj2YRrtsEfDBrSt_0BFHX67DEi7EKil2DuKE7r-ivwpzpZ0cSizg9E6LtJ2k3OCyYAU3As_ZzK8gpLMujJXniPaSWOOMneSMU7k9YEolWb_7PbIDdCK/s1600/photo+(22)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJFWVDU2lbY40aqDQ3hJwaZ9UOUj2YRrtsEfDBrSt_0BFHX67DEi7EKil2DuKE7r-ivwpzpZ0cSizg9E6LtJ2k3OCyYAU3As_ZzK8gpLMujJXniPaSWOOMneSMU7k9YEolWb_7PbIDdCK/s640/photo+(22)-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">and farms</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pLGYAzyyMUM2b10AUF7cQRQntVdqBHBaZy0mh-UNKEXBURJkEYiP1bfLPypdpBekBP0mZJtXJMyQVyiLMvEaWlbYOfAFth7p7tvccvMRIQ0AmezhF0ZVnvEjTFhV2fxofdGWQEP27TcK/s1600/photo+(21)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pLGYAzyyMUM2b10AUF7cQRQntVdqBHBaZy0mh-UNKEXBURJkEYiP1bfLPypdpBekBP0mZJtXJMyQVyiLMvEaWlbYOfAFth7p7tvccvMRIQ0AmezhF0ZVnvEjTFhV2fxofdGWQEP27TcK/s640/photo+(21)-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Up ahead</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANEkWuMdb472qDFH8CkK_mNSKYyKzXCpcNvK-s6DMhh5fJvziAJf8nx1n4_i0MejxaNrnoWyRAs19pu6UIGp_Zo4WJAE3r9p11nIj6oAM6jJsdH9ehXvYgXHkYzecl_Oi3TcyZD-8y0ht/s1600/photo+(45).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANEkWuMdb472qDFH8CkK_mNSKYyKzXCpcNvK-s6DMhh5fJvziAJf8nx1n4_i0MejxaNrnoWyRAs19pu6UIGp_Zo4WJAE3r9p11nIj6oAM6jJsdH9ehXvYgXHkYzecl_Oi3TcyZD-8y0ht/s640/photo+(45).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and behind</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLzI3Vd9lwuNbV8NDWT9u-TT4ET7B_w_EbGIA04FJwv5AEqkhE9ivWbsFwUJrxVpaxDH1cSQ30Lax423hqfoV-PH5XUVJp30wQuKEWoyozEIbOTDVWt8oMWSS52MegR_LcyJ0zY0VRRWi/s1600/photo+(46)-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLzI3Vd9lwuNbV8NDWT9u-TT4ET7B_w_EbGIA04FJwv5AEqkhE9ivWbsFwUJrxVpaxDH1cSQ30Lax423hqfoV-PH5XUVJp30wQuKEWoyozEIbOTDVWt8oMWSS52MegR_LcyJ0zY0VRRWi/s640/photo+(46)-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My kids were thrilled</div><div style="text-align: center;">school was let out early yesterday</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ah.... snow days!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdRevK-6zaLpMieKbUDC8eiLlBh9cv04fqiq-hikgvdqPOsmrn6-odRIRVwU-8re6GokZQAxjWAmbXM10_HGc6dIzYEVG2PUqW4glNsa-Of39fFIvLzO1ru_6nyPipJnQWdJAvv2eNuF5/s1600/photo+(44)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdRevK-6zaLpMieKbUDC8eiLlBh9cv04fqiq-hikgvdqPOsmrn6-odRIRVwU-8re6GokZQAxjWAmbXM10_HGc6dIzYEVG2PUqW4glNsa-Of39fFIvLzO1ru_6nyPipJnQWdJAvv2eNuF5/s640/photo+(44)-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Driving is treacherous</div><div style="text-align: center;">as icy roads are narrow and windy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ineffective salt is used to manage the ice,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but in an area that rarely receives significant snowfall</div><div style="text-align: center;">there is probably little reason to upgrade their method</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As the English have taught me,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you surrender...</div><div style="text-align: center;">have patience...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and just pour yourself a cuppa</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a wonderful weekend</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- all photos by me -</i></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Snow, England Style

Wondering what to post this weekend, my answer came from the sky... SNOW It doesn't snow 'big' or often in this part of England ...

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Tips To Defrost A Windscreen

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">I am a bit intrigued as to why English drivers</div><div style="text-align: center;">have frost-free cars on a chilly morning</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Having lived in snow country,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am a bit embarrassed to say I still haven't graduated from</div><div style="text-align: center;">using a plastic card to scrape my car </div><div style="text-align: center;">before my mad dash to get to school on time</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzeuBXM6qAgKF4PXXSn3-S30iorfokOlqNnEK_TQk59aE70oOQvtKZlxAUYieq-fgkukK8OfTF1LO750hYVhwj1Dv_IIH9FH_To9qpQ_fY3q737K9h_6wGHBCLJ0v13Av4O3uELRE-l-2/s1600/DSC04192-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzeuBXM6qAgKF4PXXSn3-S30iorfokOlqNnEK_TQk59aE70oOQvtKZlxAUYieq-fgkukK8OfTF1LO750hYVhwj1Dv_IIH9FH_To9qpQ_fY3q737K9h_6wGHBCLJ0v13Av4O3uELRE-l-2/s640/DSC04192-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As most of the English do not park in their garage </div><div style="text-align: center;">(it is used for storage)</div><div style="text-align: center;">they must have some magic trick up their sleeves?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a few possibilities:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Throw water on the windshield with wipers on</div><div style="text-align: center;">(never hot, which could crack windows)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Overnight, cover windscreen with a towel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Use one of the popular de-icer sprays I've seen for sale</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spray a vinegar/water mix on windscreen the night before</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">5.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wipe a homemade saltwater mixture over windows</div><div style="text-align: center;">when parked for the evening</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">6.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Without worries of a stolen car, </div><div style="text-align: center;">warm car a few minutes before leaving </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Most of these I haven't tried </div><div style="text-align: center;">but entering the frosty season, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I may experiment </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you have any tips to share </div><div style="text-align: center;">so I stop looking like the foolish American </div><div style="text-align: center;">in a frost-covered car? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small;">- photo by me - </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Windshield recipes: <a href="http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_7312034_keep-windscreens-frost_free.html">eHow</a></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Tips To Defrost A Windscreen

I am a bit intrigued as to why English drivers have frost-free cars on a chilly morning Having lived in snow country, I am a bit embarrassed...

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Fun Photo Apps

<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJl_oeaqogB8Hp6aOZxsRarcwBrQuGTl8m5_-Z5kFLCQ9X2XgXIRSL5sW9jUV5uiy4Vc7bW7bLB3-Md4153CpXRLUOsvpwIoIvhgoehP74VxOh6Xpg8QZUZNS3_fcP1_Y0hTxoGbfuiYYK/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJl_oeaqogB8Hp6aOZxsRarcwBrQuGTl8m5_-Z5kFLCQ9X2XgXIRSL5sW9jUV5uiy4Vc7bW7bLB3-Md4153CpXRLUOsvpwIoIvhgoehP74VxOh6Xpg8QZUZNS3_fcP1_Y0hTxoGbfuiYYK/s640/photo+(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Photo of phone booth using Percolator App</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Twenty years ago, </div><div style="text-align: center;">a smartphone would have seemed to be technology from a James Bond movie</div><div style="text-align: center;">with its infinite gadgets in the palm of your hand<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Interactive map, flashlight, mirror, video camera,</div><div style="text-align: center;">compass, translator, encyclopedia, and phone</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Really quite astounding, eh?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So as happy accidents happen,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I forgot my camera charger at home (again!)</div><div style="text-align: center;">and had to document half of our vacation with my iPhone,</div><div style="text-align: center;">forcing me to explore the possibilities of the technology<br /><br />Although I don't have the newest iPhone,<br />I was surprised the quality of my photos was comparable<br />to my DSLR camera<br /><br />While not great for high-quality zooming or nighttime shots,<br />this little phone camera is certainly light-weight and convenient<br />with a wide angle lens<br /><br />Here are some photo apps that have me really excited...<br /><br />:: <a href="http://www.eyeapps.com/Home.html">ProHDR</a> ($1.99) ::<br /><br />I use this app for landscape shots<br />It snaps two photos - one overexposed and one underexposed<br />and blends them together to create one photograph<br />with amazing depth and color<br /><br />I find this to be a good solution for capturing the sky<br />which often appears white in my photos<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQiXxKlsxQDhYSaoDNA5elbueuEmi5naEkwsg3kbC5zl-cGGYc1tcBILVizx2qCk6aEoImuclFw1bn5FOei0g484IZRpTIMtvLAgj898DZqUs088nEzydfL08Eg8YUO3C76RkfI9mQdWx/s1600/Walk2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQiXxKlsxQDhYSaoDNA5elbueuEmi5naEkwsg3kbC5zl-cGGYc1tcBILVizx2qCk6aEoImuclFw1bn5FOei0g484IZRpTIMtvLAgj898DZqUs088nEzydfL08Eg8YUO3C76RkfI9mQdWx/s640/Walk2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />On my desktop, I use <a href="http://picasa.google.com/">Picasa</a> and <a href="http://www.picmonkey.com/">PicMonkey</a> for photo editing<br />On my phone, I use <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/adobe-photoshop-express/id331975235?mt=8">Photoshop Express</a> (free)<br /><br />:: <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instapicframe-picture-frames/id527860351?mt=8">InstaPicFrame</a> (free) ::<br />provides collages and those coveted circle frames<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZE2V7rteM4Gp3AQxJ8f0AxKzoFzRuAUhUkomAlYOzsJ_v93oQdbI1o4CE1XGBij6bH6d6LFIUI0TRkTkcvYrNLmuvwDsN0pgJNo2DH368r_SpLyeLksMKxYjUQ3nWE1jeueTyqejhA7u2/s1600/December+2012-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZE2V7rteM4Gp3AQxJ8f0AxKzoFzRuAUhUkomAlYOzsJ_v93oQdbI1o4CE1XGBij6bH6d6LFIUI0TRkTkcvYrNLmuvwDsN0pgJNo2DH368r_SpLyeLksMKxYjUQ3nWE1jeueTyqejhA7u2/s640/December+2012-011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />:: <a href="http://www.percolatorapp.com/">Percolator</a> ($1.99) ::<br /><br />I am CRAZY about this app<br />which turns your photo into cool artwork<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvfECEPVFRmzJrHR64ON9GjZ8KKmWOpsGiqfLh52CP9vRClhi395wH2O8TDSGaJcvlTE-g8cJUhVyVIbgnAQ_-gu7BhELff-jfksholflgvhV4F9coqPlu-V2Lxre4-mAvBy5wGQshLK9/s1600/December+2012-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvfECEPVFRmzJrHR64ON9GjZ8KKmWOpsGiqfLh52CP9vRClhi395wH2O8TDSGaJcvlTE-g8cJUhVyVIbgnAQ_-gu7BhELff-jfksholflgvhV4F9coqPlu-V2Lxre4-mAvBy5wGQshLK9/s640/December+2012-007.jpg" width="618" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of wall graffiti</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />:: <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photoartista-haiku/id405788462?mt=8">PhotoArtista Haiku</a> ($2.99) ::<br /><br />Not my favorite app, but it has its merits<br />by turning photographs into watercolor paintings<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0qstkMBWE1VS2RXXVJidbl1JtKIwgcspqNTDxGCLE7xayz8w13w9Ii188bRzmJapNGiLvduBrBPP3LjiT9S7zugUV8JzmH9AXy5NVGcLGiOcHKbGpXM5YrnPwOB9HIgDAPjPE5gnDDSN/s1600/Collages2-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0qstkMBWE1VS2RXXVJidbl1JtKIwgcspqNTDxGCLE7xayz8w13w9Ii188bRzmJapNGiLvduBrBPP3LjiT9S7zugUV8JzmH9AXy5NVGcLGiOcHKbGpXM5YrnPwOB9HIgDAPjPE5gnDDSN/s640/Collages2-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">:: <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/toonpaint/id349890672?mt=8">ToonPAINT</a> (£1.49) with upgrade (£.69) ::</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I find this app to be very addictive,</div><div style="text-align: center;">transforming photos into graphic woodblock prints</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLq0bDQ5eVAXcbp_zAa5wo6dXxFy0f2sxOZR-w9HSxlF9OIu671uvQC6Wb3BJZyDUYoNLOhgfzpzbzoC-w1EFvDZOSeMo-0rwgZGMGKRkY7ClCaBNSRWurbtbxv8Y_VbEgkfuIsmYJfBl/s1600/iPhone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLq0bDQ5eVAXcbp_zAa5wo6dXxFy0f2sxOZR-w9HSxlF9OIu671uvQC6Wb3BJZyDUYoNLOhgfzpzbzoC-w1EFvDZOSeMo-0rwgZGMGKRkY7ClCaBNSRWurbtbxv8Y_VbEgkfuIsmYJfBl/s640/iPhone.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Bundles of roses at market</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Many of these apps allow you to upload into Instagram and Facebook</div><div style="text-align: center;">and work on other Apple devices too</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If your desired photo is on your desktop,</div><div style="text-align: center;">email yourself the photo, upload onto your device, and have a go!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then email your finished photo back to yourself in 'actual size' for better resolution</div><div style="text-align: center;">and download onto your desktop</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So easy and fun!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And for the kiddos, these are a great alternative to phone video games<br />They can spend hours making masterpieces :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all images are my own -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I found some of these apps (and more) in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/iPhone-Obsessed-Photo-Editing-Experiments/dp/0321771621/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357887074&sr=8-1-spell">iPhone Obsessed</a> (book)</i></span></div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is not a sponsored post. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just excited to share :)</span></i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Fun Photo Apps

Photo of phone booth using Percolator App Twenty years ago,  a smartphone would have seemed to be technology from a James Bond movie with it...

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Reading Tea Leaves

<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.399999618530273px;">“</span><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.399999618530273px;">Y</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.399999618530273px;">ou can never get a cup of tea large enough </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.399999618530273px;">or a book long enough to suit me” </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; line-height: 20.399999618530273px;">~ C.S. Lewis</span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.399999618530273px;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjGsanFu5hglRTkCoXCEFmdoF5EQ73t2eowD-q20-K48hsDZJIZu1gBbNw_HLcy7kloHFuOR3Bq1xSzhNOh7Un6YytmW1FGxGMMi5kqlzdGmBDiD0Cgsy4FQ8HUEA57ZqcGnZk-XnvYcV/s1600/7000876609_fa51e0e6c1_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjGsanFu5hglRTkCoXCEFmdoF5EQ73t2eowD-q20-K48hsDZJIZu1gBbNw_HLcy7kloHFuOR3Bq1xSzhNOh7Un6YytmW1FGxGMMi5kqlzdGmBDiD0Cgsy4FQ8HUEA57ZqcGnZk-XnvYcV/s640/7000876609_fa51e0e6c1_c.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">credit: <a href="http://sandrakavital.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/sables-sachets-de-a-devorer.html">Le P<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px; text-align: justify;">é</span>trin</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.399999618530273px;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.399999618530273px;">Having heard here the common phrase</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.399999618530273px;">'reading tea leaves',</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.399999618530273px;">I had to investigate what that was all about</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Tasseography' is the fortune telling method of reading tea leaves,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">possibly practiced in England as early as the seventeenth century </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">when tea was introduced to Europe</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After you drink most of the liquid from your loose tea,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">swirl the cup to scatter the leaves</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Look at the patterns of tea leaves in the cup</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">which may look like a letter, a heart shape, or a ring</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> See a list of symbols <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.tasseography.com/">here</a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The leaves closest to the rim represent the present</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The middle of the cup is the future</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And the bottom of the teacup is your far future</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Victorian times,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">clever fortune telling cups were designed to help with readings</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfeHbYb0N1Mxe-3911-9YnvbFlb0k-13LVIIvHFsTM78pYyN1Q2LEVC0gJQ-zqrdR-lzl90YTRR4fB46UJr0WaIZV6gGxBk7NxmM6voi40e_7p3mQq96dWuyNRuFbqkIpPCK2OEgky7ZM/s1600/100627372894671314_ASXnS53w_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfeHbYb0N1Mxe-3911-9YnvbFlb0k-13LVIIvHFsTM78pYyN1Q2LEVC0gJQ-zqrdR-lzl90YTRR4fB46UJr0WaIZV6gGxBk7NxmM6voi40e_7p3mQq96dWuyNRuFbqkIpPCK2OEgky7ZM/s640/100627372894671314_ASXnS53w_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">via <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Paragon-Fortune-Telling-Tea-Cup-Saucer-Tea-Leaf-Reading-BLUE-800151-Teaset-/260977474404?pt=UK_PotteryPorcelain_Glass_PotteryPorcelain_China_SM&hash=item3cc3783b64">ebay</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reading tea leaves could be a whole new objective at tea parties now :)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I couldn't resist this quote</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Women are like tea bags, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">they don’t know how strong they are </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">until they get into hot water.” </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2625; line-height: 20.383333206176758px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">~ Eleanor Roosevelt (wife of former US President, Franklin D Roosevelt)</span></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasseography">Wikipedia</a></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Reading Tea Leaves

“ Y ou can never get a cup of tea large enough  or a book long enough to suit me”  ~ C.S. Lewis credit: Le P é trin Having heard here the co...

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Forest Dens

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Take a walk through any Surrey forest,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">you are likely to stumble upon one of these</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJb3Ed-dGcA6ZWDJrLgChaIgbnnIxi3kGCC8nmBFm2SRQJjnai44khn_IsIJbqlIlgX6_1nn6NIBmE7DVjyA52FBZZ0svaDNAuJrsHBoITsY_TYsovt086U1gISJ4tFsliOEO6Bt6bxQRK/s1600/IMG_3257-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJb3Ed-dGcA6ZWDJrLgChaIgbnnIxi3kGCC8nmBFm2SRQJjnai44khn_IsIJbqlIlgX6_1nn6NIBmE7DVjyA52FBZZ0svaDNAuJrsHBoITsY_TYsovt086U1gISJ4tFsliOEO6Bt6bxQRK/s640/IMG_3257-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Play dens are made by children with their families,</div><div style="text-align: center;">gathering nearby branches to prop against a tree</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Possibly standing for decades,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a passerby may add to the pile</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Such a delightful playground accessory to any forest :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Related post:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/50-things-before-you-turn-11-34.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">50 Things You Should Do Before You Turn 11 3/4</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Forest Dens

Take a walk through any Surrey forest, you are likely to stumble upon one of these Play dens are made by children with their families, gathe...

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Scrambled States Of America Game

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We've heard from other expat American families</div><div style="text-align: center;">that while their children may receive a more global education,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a strong US geography base might be lacking</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Clever Santa delivered a family game this year</div><div style="text-align: center;">which teaches (or reviews) US state locations, capitals, and state nicknames</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We played it on our vacation,</div><div style="text-align: center;">tirelessly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_2GqqMHZituZivZ7_bl7YRhgH8soYsEk00fniN0pbUm6lbSetwN9LtCNPcHyLW2ZKHHcvzvTZgaKoLKlLAtKhxmXOGukxR5VIoNN0EEo9UZCSbMbNDb2QuM-bUPCh68MIDx-x9mlsdnB/s1600/Scrambled+States.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_2GqqMHZituZivZ7_bl7YRhgH8soYsEk00fniN0pbUm6lbSetwN9LtCNPcHyLW2ZKHHcvzvTZgaKoLKlLAtKhxmXOGukxR5VIoNN0EEo9UZCSbMbNDb2QuM-bUPCh68MIDx-x9mlsdnB/s640/Scrambled+States.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Based on book of same title<br />via <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gamewright-5505-Scrambled-States/dp/B0009XBY1W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357299485&sr=8-1&keywords=scrambled+states+of+america">Amazon</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Targeted for children 8+,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this game is fun for tweens too</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a great concept with many tasks,</div><div style="text-align: center;">such as finding the closest state and finding hidden names within capitals</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It later brought up interesting dinner discussion such as</div><div style="text-align: center;">''Why is it called Rhode Island when it is not an island?''</div><div style="text-align: center;">''What is the proper pronunciation of Montpelier?''</div><div style="text-align: center;">''How do you call someone from Juneau?''</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hmm, good questions</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div>My only complaint about this game is</div><div>it is not available for other countries or continents</div><div>(hint, hint Gamewright)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many Europeans are surprised that Americans often can't name</div><div style="text-align: center;">the capitals of all 50 US states</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is because many capitals are in small cities that</div><div style="text-align: center;"> rarely make national news and seldom visited</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Hoping you are having a wonderful new year so far</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you so much for reading :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sharing about this game only because it has been a great find for our family.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received no free product or compensation for this post.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Scrambled States Of America Game

We've heard from other expat American families that while their children may receive a more global education, a strong US geography base...

Read more »