Tag, PIF, Candy and Swapsies

Ah the language of Blogland, I am not yet fluent, but I am learning the lingo fast. Yes, I finally know what PIF means, although I'm not letting on how long it actually took me to work it out.
There's a bunch of things been attaching themselves to me around here lately and I am mighty pleased about it all and wanted to share. So in no particular order, lets start talking Bloguese...

First off, the Tag.
Passed on to me a little while ago by Brenda at Butlers Abroad, it's the book tag, and these are the rules ::
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

The book that I'm browsing through at the moment is called "Decorating Your Garden" by Tessa Evelegh. I remember I bought it about 10 years ago BC (Before Children) in the days when J and I would often spend Saturdays in town, browsing leisurely through bookshops before going to our favourite pub for a bowl of soup and rather a large quantity of fine ale before staggering homewards in the early eve. Oh what a distant memory that is! People who say that having children doesn't necessarily mean you have to change your lifestyle are lying, let me tell you. Much as I adore my family life right now, I do occasionally hanker for the old times.
Anyhow, this book is lovely, it's a large hardback and cost me £20 at a time when money was in short supply, so it was a huge indulgence then. It has lots of pictures, hence the above photo of page 123. No sentences, just beautiful mosaic. I've never attempted mosaic but have several books about it, and would love to try my hand at it and make something decorative for my small back yard. I have BIG aspirations for my little outdoor space, I'll show you more of that next week.

I am going to tag 3 people for this one ::

• Clairey @ Blogging for Brenda
• Fi @ Marmelade Rose
• Simone @ Linden Grove

Second up is the PIF (Pay it Forward) ahhh see I do know, I do know!!
I was really, really chuffed when I found out I was picked recently for a PIF gift from the wonderful Kim at Ragged Roses. I haven't yet received said PIF-gift, but like the rules say, it has 365 days in which to arrive.  Kim, purlease don't make me wait that long, you have no idea how excited I can get at such prospects. Really, I get jump-up-and-down excited.

Third up is the Blog Candy.
Now this hasn't arrived yet either, but hopefully will be coming to me from the lovely Claire at Serendipity Loves New York. Now I understand this to be a lovely gift of some sorts, being given to me purely for being the first person to leave a comment when invited. Me me me, I was First oh yeah, gimme candy, see me jumping up and down!!!!

Fourth up (you still with me?), the Swap.
I decided to be brave and join in my first ever swap, organised by Rachael Rabbit. If you fancy joining in (go on, go on!),  go take a look and sign up by Friday 20th June. I think it's going to be fun and I'm looking forward to dusting off my sewing stuff and getting creative again. Yes, I'm not bad at sewing and once upon a time I did used to make stuff and sell it for a living, another dim distant memory BC. I'll show you my work sometime, remind me won't you?

oh well done for sticking with me today, and I hope you like the images from the book. As you can see above, right now I am blogging with a mug of hot lemsip, yes I have a truly snotty cold. A stinker. Obviously an excellent weekend away with old friends involving mojito cocktails and only three hours sleep has left me with a delapidated immune system. Only myself to blame.
Sniff, slurp, see you tomorrow xx

Comments

[julia]

Haven't been brave enough to join in with the swapsies just yet! Sill remembering life BC - god we had soooo much time, I even remember thinking "what could we do" instead of "how can we fit it all in" !!
Loving the pics as usual
Julia xx

[simone]

I remember life BC. Seems like such a long time ago....The decorating your garden book looks very interesting. I'll have to pass on the book tag as I did it back in April about The NEW Complete Book of Self Sufficiency but thank you for nominating me! As for PIF's and swaps; I would love to join in one day but at the moment I am taking forever to actually make something! I would love you to feature your work on your blog one day.

[Maddy]

Well I do hope you fell better son, sniff sniff.

Love the table, I have always wanted to make one of these. In a past life (before kids) I make lots of leadlight windows and so I have loads of off cuts of glass that I intend to one day use on a table. Love it.

Have a great weekend.

[French Knots]

What lovely pictures, I especially like the tin cans used as planters, what a great and artistic idea.