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Keeping everything crossed

So, with the weather forcing the organisers to cancel Sheriff Hutton Village Market today, I’m keeping everything crossed that Crayke Village Market goes ahead next week. I feel so ‘rusty’ with the big break from trading, and while I haven’t been well enough to work I plan to be back on Saturday (taking it easy of course).

While I was in hospital with limited internet and no tv, I took to watching the birds in the tree outside of my window. I’ve always been fascinated by nature, I remember going to bird sanctuaries with my family as a kid, my dad being a keen aviculturist with his cages full of canaries, budgerigars and quail. I love watching the squirrel and the pigeons outside work on a morning – they always come to say hello.

I went out in the car (me driving) for the first time yesterday. I didn’t go far and although it was nice to be out the house, it wore me out so I think I need to take a bit more time to rest before I drive again! At least I knew where I was going, because I have the absolute worst sense of direction!

Sunday 20th October is the last day to get free shipping when you spend £10 or more. That equates to just 5 birthday cards, or if there’s a winter wedding or anniversary coming up maybe three birthday cards and two others? The 5 for £10 works on any of the cards priced at £2.40 and once you get to 5 each card after is still only £2. What a deal!

I hope you are staying warm and dry today, it’s not the weather to go out shopping or exploring.

Cari xx

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Easter crafts and our first market of 2024

A colleague recently asked me if I had any plans for Easter break.  Now my children are adults, I don’t have any need to think up fun ways to amuse them in a bid to save my sanity, so I thought about all the house management type jobs I have planned then responded with ‘no, not really’.

Of course that’s not strictly true, as I will be at Crayke Market over the two weeks off, but apart from that I will mostly be sorting the kitchen cupboards and getting rid of things we no longer need – oh, and relaxing as much as possible.

Duckling craft kit

 

If you are still looking for activities to do with your children, and the weather doesn’t cooperate, these cute craft kits might come in handy.  They come with everything you need to make the model and will keep older children (and adults) amused for hours.

Rabbit craft kit

I hope you do manage some days out in the sunshine too, as there will be lots of fun events happening in your area for Easter.  If you have any to share please reply with details below.

Cari

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Prepping for the next three months

I think autumn has to be my favourite season.  The air gets cooler, but not too cold, the trees begin to change colour, there are conkers to find and Christmas is on its way.

We have Christmas fairs booked but this year I’m concentrating on growing my online business.  I’m not getting any younger and attending a Christmas fair usually means a near 12 hour day working, not to mention all the prep the week before to make sure I don’t forget something.  It’s exhausting.  Our children help of course, they’ve grown up with us attending Christmas fairs (right from birth!) but I know this isn’t what they want to be doing.

I have piles of Christmas stock all waiting to be added to the shop.  I really need to push myself to get that done for you all, otherwise they will still be sat here this time next year.

 

Are you starting to prep for Christmas?  Let me know if you are, or if it’s still too early.

Cari

 

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I’m not wishing the year away!

Isn’t it typical that the sun makes an appearance just at the end of the school holidays?

Im not complaining, but I had grand plans to sit in the back garden each morning, sipping my coffee and watching the dog entertain himself with all the various scents from the nighttime visitors.  We rescued an old garden table, bought a parasol for it and collected garden furniture off freecycle in preparation, only for me to have to purchase a cover for it all a lot sooner than I had anticipated!

A final flourish from summer before I return to my day job at school, where thoughts inevitably turn to the next significant holiday.  Christmas in our family means lots of Fayres and markets every weekend, followed by a small family celebration and then New Year.  This heralds the family birthdays, which all fall into the first half of the year.

It’s handy having a card shop, with lots of birthday cards to choose from, when this time of year arrives.  Honestly, it does feel like we just get one out the way then another arrives!  In 2024 I hope to have some lovely new designs to share with you all, but if you need to be organised then the majority of my birthday card stock is available from the shop section now.  One advantage of having a card shop in your dining room is that you don’t stock up then lose all the birthday cards you’ve just bought after putting them ‘somewhere safe’.

Anyway, I’m almost wishing the rest of 2023 away, and the run up to Christmas is my favourite time of year.  All of our Christmas card packs support charities, with the newer designs (which are arriving soon) supporting Trussell Trust.  If you don’t want to shop online with me then I will be sharing a list of events we’re attending soon.

Cari