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/AVvXsEhJ4JlOek-ffpis5qvYzt6Dr4dyHUMMQwCd5GrEhioBaX-6XzkcPAPxvhtm5k570E8TJX8bhidB19ljHpOLTOwTbts-Yik3AbQHxX2QkxSLcZorL2fOWnz7cz9dnJNjnVasCuZdLO5a4Tcv/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/AVvXsEhJ4JlOek-ffpis5qvYzt6Dr4dyHUMMQwCd5GrEhioBaX-6XzkcPAPxvhtm5k570E8TJX8bhidB19ljHpOLTOwTbts-Yik3AbQHxX2QkxSLcZorL2fOWnz7cz9dnJNjnVasCuZdLO5a4Tcv/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/AVvXsEiSjeB5Hj-yTG1F8eUpwi4XFu6DGcj-PopXsQ2alHw88z90bOMed2P_pO-VYI6WXvnzNuFqVRMFmnFTuq6RJcH-vn_9-kxTbQ9peCbjBTEzNzTavcJu5t84qexXKdpWCKLkjCRVdovN0hkG/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/AVvXsEiSjeB5Hj-yTG1F8eUpwi4XFu6DGcj-PopXsQ2alHw88z90bOMed2P_pO-VYI6WXvnzNuFqVRMFmnFTuq6RJcH-vn_9-kxTbQ9peCbjBTEzNzTavcJu5t84qexXKdpWCKLkjCRVdovN0hkG/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/AVvXsEie0xvOZRucTnHLOPzh6qhyphenhyphen5v1bDQmjPR4Xs0AlHiepxDGTHOZtzfnw2cLI3hnlqmBeFLgWrAlvXiqpjd0ejja63e_LzYvUvJTk2xvL4N2tWuRRgav0DsLDhQMC4wOhcrx5PyYQ9SdkrzaV/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/AVvXsEie0xvOZRucTnHLOPzh6qhyphenhyphen5v1bDQmjPR4Xs0AlHiepxDGTHOZtzfnw2cLI3hnlqmBeFLgWrAlvXiqpjd0ejja63e_LzYvUvJTk2xvL4N2tWuRRgav0DsLDhQMC4wOhcrx5PyYQ9SdkrzaV/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/AVvXsEjYwzXU6Ma5c6zFvInNmF7IgkzIjBOKgVCGfpqy_8tcBF62fmWK9laJ2mcCrSbIiqUEwmrIiggtPSL0CKgo5fF2XBHDnZM9UrEbKoxTBpDdmQD04mYqt9HnJGqcxf8VifnHdYOdqR0rdXF7/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/AVvXsEjYwzXU6Ma5c6zFvInNmF7IgkzIjBOKgVCGfpqy_8tcBF62fmWK9laJ2mcCrSbIiqUEwmrIiggtPSL0CKgo5fF2XBHDnZM9UrEbKoxTBpDdmQD04mYqt9HnJGqcxf8VifnHdYOdqR0rdXF7/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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UNDERSTANDING UNDERTONES

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />WHAT COLOR IS THAT... REALLY...?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOnOYaUPccvH68M3fp-gUxK1cHPejLTKrwtHJMezLFwRQxkTZ37LF9IwrEOvk2X3fQwpqt61QohOIjXCUU8nbYeKT8Us9wGXyv7syKvHhhyphenhyphensFLbE3Sz8qmkLc15ENDQ3u6aCBTnuX13vp/s1600/bm+storm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOnOYaUPccvH68M3fp-gUxK1cHPejLTKrwtHJMezLFwRQxkTZ37LF9IwrEOvk2X3fQwpqt61QohOIjXCUU8nbYeKT8Us9wGXyv7syKvHhhyphenhyphensFLbE3Sz8qmkLc15ENDQ3u6aCBTnuX13vp/s400/bm+storm.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br /><br><br />Welcome to the world of gray.<br><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />And I do mean world.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />For it seems there are endless grays</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />and gray no longer means the color of cement</div><br /><div><br /><br><br /></div></div></div><a href="http://yournestdesign.blogspot.com/2012/11/understanding-undertones.html#more">Read more »</a>

UNDERSTANDING UNDERTONES

WHAT COLOR IS THAT... REALLY...? Welcome to the world of gray. And I do mean world. For it seems there are endless grays and gray no longer ...

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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/AVvXsEhznoEo2vmVhs8BfUiAMGS1gtEN4l63RbJT9t2QonHnJTtljfjUpkQVE1XRyhCV2voGyIf1II6-t25YPzqIreJFV4zYsrKANuVDBmoape-VmgShEB8vAmIfHcX_2o8qbaBjqlzmwv5SIH19/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/AVvXsEhznoEo2vmVhs8BfUiAMGS1gtEN4l63RbJT9t2QonHnJTtljfjUpkQVE1XRyhCV2voGyIf1II6-t25YPzqIreJFV4zYsrKANuVDBmoape-VmgShEB8vAmIfHcX_2o8qbaBjqlzmwv5SIH19/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/AVvXsEg6My-SzGpQ9sEI0npAVQlMakwihcaIZ3G7u_mecuEKfZG3_PJW5eC5egscdfI5YYf9v9cp6suhmwTLrWgAQZScN4LrnMF858EbDSFmLaM5hf6gFd1RM1BaQSUcXgjsiGAez8kWYyKhWaqy/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/AVvXsEg6My-SzGpQ9sEI0npAVQlMakwihcaIZ3G7u_mecuEKfZG3_PJW5eC5egscdfI5YYf9v9cp6suhmwTLrWgAQZScN4LrnMF858EbDSFmLaM5hf6gFd1RM1BaQSUcXgjsiGAez8kWYyKhWaqy/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/AVvXsEi8je8ucIxRivmXSfzcVAIIt_LhacNhtzKH4ShyphenhyphenTcdkaiSFVBsBplDmm2NFg8IL6pbHsStPV98L3S_0sQqFmGyKvAZ9W3h8DC5-gh1J6jtueCGu0sz7YCzamgVt3PTctk7A4olURbNkBAdY/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/AVvXsEi8je8ucIxRivmXSfzcVAIIt_LhacNhtzKH4ShyphenhyphenTcdkaiSFVBsBplDmm2NFg8IL6pbHsStPV98L3S_0sQqFmGyKvAZ9W3h8DC5-gh1J6jtueCGu0sz7YCzamgVt3PTctk7A4olURbNkBAdY/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/AVvXsEijmSAijDTW_vIoLaMl3d3vGHBoNL5AqTrPRQCNvpzC8-K0v_Oz5CTxNIA6YpJW__nTUC4O8AoWdd6UhfrC1laJrCjavZKxeGL8Nw6Jgo8zoi7bWse348EBhnrDoNeb_UMVubITt1Dj8szl/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/AVvXsEijmSAijDTW_vIoLaMl3d3vGHBoNL5AqTrPRQCNvpzC8-K0v_Oz5CTxNIA6YpJW__nTUC4O8AoWdd6UhfrC1laJrCjavZKxeGL8Nw6Jgo8zoi7bWse348EBhnrDoNeb_UMVubITt1Dj8szl/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/AVvXsEh0fsPmEAo3pwtGDygfqUDon2oxWMvSaoFFZTuSTGwSKbtLuo4d1sjADPp1HMsSmdg3F5K4Rr6iULYbygg5Ye9rWRZYaYNRTRXJdGTlqpd9XJM-ZIuco6HayonHMCCVHMKIaM6AFqiS_mXu/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/AVvXsEh0fsPmEAo3pwtGDygfqUDon2oxWMvSaoFFZTuSTGwSKbtLuo4d1sjADPp1HMsSmdg3F5K4Rr6iULYbygg5Ye9rWRZYaYNRTRXJdGTlqpd9XJM-ZIuco6HayonHMCCVHMKIaM6AFqiS_mXu/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/AVvXsEgPcWLPFt2SUfHq9OCOYUY0qPbDmMjRkDJ8jNYaKwU-0KYk2hi0EIjGMw1_TsxhkyoqQtVc4mzHn7YVHVKWOpR4L6rNcT7_qWMeXEQtepdGLxylpz4W7rqCj2XkLlgkPs-cMFTItkqIvvxk/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/AVvXsEgPcWLPFt2SUfHq9OCOYUY0qPbDmMjRkDJ8jNYaKwU-0KYk2hi0EIjGMw1_TsxhkyoqQtVc4mzHn7YVHVKWOpR4L6rNcT7_qWMeXEQtepdGLxylpz4W7rqCj2XkLlgkPs-cMFTItkqIvvxk/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/AVvXsEh5NcttRjMiXL0iV2VkPEMmYIBWbtOrjvv1PizheI3lJCULZLNl_xmNoLAO7wXU8zq-s3KY3YPPcQ2jXjMZ47hsEpm8LljIAjX8oXfh9mf3KnBNTFrAyqM4hHYqhC03qxoUPVjEVwiqBkuN/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/AVvXsEh5NcttRjMiXL0iV2VkPEMmYIBWbtOrjvv1PizheI3lJCULZLNl_xmNoLAO7wXU8zq-s3KY3YPPcQ2jXjMZ47hsEpm8LljIAjX8oXfh9mf3KnBNTFrAyqM4hHYqhC03qxoUPVjEVwiqBkuN/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/AVvXsEicxgb8xyFu3h6DrsVrzg1utcfAy5xeAfzaWmiYHnb1qPsqvxelJc-3FvMvLvYQj_mexTpiGP7DKj8q5-hMTK3LE0E3LJSA4av_FM0zz_Z1kRJDyrIYTFhnR4ZZt5OqTvNAFey8H6J4zxyW/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/AVvXsEicxgb8xyFu3h6DrsVrzg1utcfAy5xeAfzaWmiYHnb1qPsqvxelJc-3FvMvLvYQj_mexTpiGP7DKj8q5-hMTK3LE0E3LJSA4av_FM0zz_Z1kRJDyrIYTFhnR4ZZt5OqTvNAFey8H6J4zxyW/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/AVvXsEhZ59PLJpo7xZq-izdTeD6c8gddtzJEO22hCAM1h5D1PYV60F7cCtaTpB6IXYY7guM6_NT-DACosBc9ZrgxXvWISM2NSErNKofaLeHmuj4UgF4bgfZL8GiKo0mgfYH4_bsek9B9mQvHZhti/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/AVvXsEhZ59PLJpo7xZq-izdTeD6c8gddtzJEO22hCAM1h5D1PYV60F7cCtaTpB6IXYY7guM6_NT-DACosBc9ZrgxXvWISM2NSErNKofaLeHmuj4UgF4bgfZL8GiKo0mgfYH4_bsek9B9mQvHZhti/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/AVvXsEjtA5TpJ1khK04VHz197dIXERIuQ7SqCRHsoVsRudYWIc3_F_RsHIAdeUwTXB9cxcPywnZp-Jgsk-OS-CGZ3nGLMIKwhghnvWson5-oQa7FL2HtTXuGLSAQ4IpiM510Q8M90s_40lkvSVB7/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/AVvXsEjtA5TpJ1khK04VHz197dIXERIuQ7SqCRHsoVsRudYWIc3_F_RsHIAdeUwTXB9cxcPywnZp-Jgsk-OS-CGZ3nGLMIKwhghnvWson5-oQa7FL2HtTXuGLSAQ4IpiM510Q8M90s_40lkvSVB7/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/AVvXsEiz2y7xtYhG3wHkW3EwEVK0i6AoN2ofKUi_t0P27gyfj10CSaDbCAoVwUQGlDKfJ8EObAgHsNQ5sCoPQhPsQ0VJ1XGd2bWrfmNX_2kaoNeE1e4cQzgceDgZOXHCUp0LYbVSiq5yS1BizpoQ/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/AVvXsEiz2y7xtYhG3wHkW3EwEVK0i6AoN2ofKUi_t0P27gyfj10CSaDbCAoVwUQGlDKfJ8EObAgHsNQ5sCoPQhPsQ0VJ1XGd2bWrfmNX_2kaoNeE1e4cQzgceDgZOXHCUp0LYbVSiq5yS1BizpoQ/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/AVvXsEi5243F7WLS_zR33wz3XI91WwWwwKB4T4OJNN1vFoXboq1r_tOP7sulRTAcvAPalTlfdxJ-r-WdZ-QSEIrTfOM4xjELyhZq3Eo5zEY7Gt_hLRp4cwulxVXkXgb-UEojt_J82Gaf-ZBahiTT/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/AVvXsEi5243F7WLS_zR33wz3XI91WwWwwKB4T4OJNN1vFoXboq1r_tOP7sulRTAcvAPalTlfdxJ-r-WdZ-QSEIrTfOM4xjELyhZq3Eo5zEY7Gt_hLRp4cwulxVXkXgb-UEojt_J82Gaf-ZBahiTT/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/AVvXsEiOriVmOv-dkRZL3PyBGz6vMlcqO1duObeUjAMf9ike2LfQOH6vu4hlZl9dkEQ6IH6q5-4UaG0e3wrj9FOfc1by-AdxA7Wy1c7pizCCDW9vWmOLw8UWvJpy3EaV7rfq1dprsY71ky6WmVmb/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/AVvXsEiOriVmOv-dkRZL3PyBGz6vMlcqO1duObeUjAMf9ike2LfQOH6vu4hlZl9dkEQ6IH6q5-4UaG0e3wrj9FOfc1by-AdxA7Wy1c7pizCCDW9vWmOLw8UWvJpy3EaV7rfq1dprsY71ky6WmVmb/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/AVvXsEgivdKxyKBi2uHFt3iQ5dnMLjNz2LzoW4kr9lBO-STl5hkdyEv837J8AhOhvWhJyO3v9fixKOEbStysVzaIRrc5EzZ4EO63yoPrxi9xeansj2ZjiFjWDsIt8VDQvLTLaqppGYzMeImmzv_t/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/AVvXsEgivdKxyKBi2uHFt3iQ5dnMLjNz2LzoW4kr9lBO-STl5hkdyEv837J8AhOhvWhJyO3v9fixKOEbStysVzaIRrc5EzZ4EO63yoPrxi9xeansj2ZjiFjWDsIt8VDQvLTLaqppGYzMeImmzv_t/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/AVvXsEgWA3kXpaPSmoSkSsxOvFQZ04C4sbGHfnb6YH6TIV2zfgo7GCyhBNBt_u__6WEnhlX_P8fyRKeTSeaK3hDO5BSywwoJgvmhZ0xMKphN1Yyq9jWXtvTItItXW2krK_Lg-DhJxnCQqnKP33xX/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/AVvXsEgWA3kXpaPSmoSkSsxOvFQZ04C4sbGHfnb6YH6TIV2zfgo7GCyhBNBt_u__6WEnhlX_P8fyRKeTSeaK3hDO5BSywwoJgvmhZ0xMKphN1Yyq9jWXtvTItItXW2krK_Lg-DhJxnCQqnKP33xX/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/AVvXsEiYAYd2Iqr90MslVuEqS0oxo7sRXIsGUm-MnCOyYba-fdz43ONrWKBxKZwwfIJiOtb5PBfpWzhpfPpIPG2zvnK7_GgjrocqW8sIkv0oJGT50qG9D48I7Q37JWx2jiwDMEYfWP6xbWD6m3jI/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/AVvXsEiYAYd2Iqr90MslVuEqS0oxo7sRXIsGUm-MnCOyYba-fdz43ONrWKBxKZwwfIJiOtb5PBfpWzhpfPpIPG2zvnK7_GgjrocqW8sIkv0oJGT50qG9D48I7Q37JWx2jiwDMEYfWP6xbWD6m3jI/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/AVvXsEgp6y0eNL6KlbHygaRlU7k0cDB9PdbYHLAvoB2qXNaNhhzvdhaWingx79BTXYaajs1dfJKWznqVi3MLN1luHgMoY9PLw2U5FI0o5K5C6O5Zv8_5SnM9rBxjNV0iXjzVgcK9P8hVVmB9r6KE/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/AVvXsEgp6y0eNL6KlbHygaRlU7k0cDB9PdbYHLAvoB2qXNaNhhzvdhaWingx79BTXYaajs1dfJKWznqVi3MLN1luHgMoY9PLw2U5FI0o5K5C6O5Zv8_5SnM9rBxjNV0iXjzVgcK9P8hVVmB9r6KE/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/AVvXsEjbWfmPy5D_xO9lmMxsM3zv6G1SD7PdH1aNWqqr0aOWjOaBPh7qz6IVg4y7CKs6vTXVaBNR6DOsvB4fPLVX3gVbAQMqISNfQd0X3NFrK67K4oCl6V3o0l57HuSb2umpeptSuLFnedUkp7xk/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/AVvXsEjbWfmPy5D_xO9lmMxsM3zv6G1SD7PdH1aNWqqr0aOWjOaBPh7qz6IVg4y7CKs6vTXVaBNR6DOsvB4fPLVX3gVbAQMqISNfQd0X3NFrK67K4oCl6V3o0l57HuSb2umpeptSuLFnedUkp7xk/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/AVvXsEhQHF7AWrRPKLb7qeGn1xs78GjQCQPApuj6mUZywfBm4m7c8aHwmqhuD5QGhgxCwSZuIXHuZMhxKDrKp4sE1Tbx23cFhjCgFLFiVfHvL6XsnC_iflwQQJcjtA5HZKRSowsFMy3CetOHOJ0j/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/AVvXsEhQHF7AWrRPKLb7qeGn1xs78GjQCQPApuj6mUZywfBm4m7c8aHwmqhuD5QGhgxCwSZuIXHuZMhxKDrKp4sE1Tbx23cFhjCgFLFiVfHvL6XsnC_iflwQQJcjtA5HZKRSowsFMy3CetOHOJ0j/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/AVvXsEikJVtC4jNHUKAlBUxX_864zVYMS9rF7da-JR2T043i-jI2mTwJRVT371Aki8Fo8fkGWz-6G3m6foF7dhNFKSq2qz1Dp1GrQpLKoChlRZijmKcNTAitb3lVyi3ilgb5dg5_Op743TUu8GbU/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/AVvXsEikJVtC4jNHUKAlBUxX_864zVYMS9rF7da-JR2T043i-jI2mTwJRVT371Aki8Fo8fkGWz-6G3m6foF7dhNFKSq2qz1Dp1GrQpLKoChlRZijmKcNTAitb3lVyi3ilgb5dg5_Op743TUu8GbU/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/AVvXsEhDd2PA5JPT_kdLsN0X1o7xfq2Hg9WUfCo1U_DcewlDpddNzCb6vKhsSkOPRRtND_8Jipo8NsZhvYVxvPWpOg-192hjG6E9ylk7xD8o_sVjB24hJEFtEz6icfFda5Eu5Q7UXFoV3ZlR3TNy/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/AVvXsEhDd2PA5JPT_kdLsN0X1o7xfq2Hg9WUfCo1U_DcewlDpddNzCb6vKhsSkOPRRtND_8Jipo8NsZhvYVxvPWpOg-192hjG6E9ylk7xD8o_sVjB24hJEFtEz6icfFda5Eu5Q7UXFoV3ZlR3TNy/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/AVvXsEicOuKy67HLqUfN7FzBVyYTbogLC5yFSKjGZtJBK12KxydvleeLTDv-wMJJYtioJE5YzCYj4LQ2yW_nRKE2xjUD7hyVFhfNqohc0C1dVO__m8fF4bu6-lXumve2fp6ztqeeoqhYqrVP5Q9s/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/AVvXsEicOuKy67HLqUfN7FzBVyYTbogLC5yFSKjGZtJBK12KxydvleeLTDv-wMJJYtioJE5YzCYj4LQ2yW_nRKE2xjUD7hyVFhfNqohc0C1dVO__m8fF4bu6-lXumve2fp6ztqeeoqhYqrVP5Q9s/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/AVvXsEjcoUVFwngbWCxyhEyjs2SVfmVAnh1zgq9dRPCJ1TrTtSYD-G7aSE6ss8ybMCAwaFjUlcltuidrjLn1XKr5vtn_jkBpZJO875q6pD5gk4bEEsp0o2mbuXK-Filwp5pAR597OQHlwr6WENaM/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/AVvXsEjcoUVFwngbWCxyhEyjs2SVfmVAnh1zgq9dRPCJ1TrTtSYD-G7aSE6ss8ybMCAwaFjUlcltuidrjLn1XKr5vtn_jkBpZJO875q6pD5gk4bEEsp0o2mbuXK-Filwp5pAR597OQHlwr6WENaM/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/AVvXsEieHbZyN2-jWEAFZfJScYny0YYsAkp3AxDgTgvEkUN0Ggd4aoR5h9QFF9KxDTNB6wad2qlJDjocyD5ehz_2jgNb48HHjalE-DQAOO7-h2f8MmBZ3dXTAk563ROjeBDay8wp24whsZdaCsvW/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/AVvXsEieHbZyN2-jWEAFZfJScYny0YYsAkp3AxDgTgvEkUN0Ggd4aoR5h9QFF9KxDTNB6wad2qlJDjocyD5ehz_2jgNb48HHjalE-DQAOO7-h2f8MmBZ3dXTAk563ROjeBDay8wp24whsZdaCsvW/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...

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