Friday, June 17, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Hello June
June is here already and this month I am taking part in a giveaway for "Love your Body" month via Let it Unravel. Up for grabs is one of my Organic lavender bars of soap from my new luxury line! Pop on over to see Stacy on her Let it Unravel blog to find instructions on how to enter!
As mentioned before my new line is now underway and arriving online, favourite sellers like my Lavender shampoo and conditioner are now in, there is more to come keep posted!
Life in general is busy here, we had my mom come and stay with us for five weeks, she arrived back in the UK this morning! We have been trying to get going on the gardens but it has been way too wet, I think I may get to till the veggie patch this morning. I potted up new herbs as I couldn't get them in the ground. I really feel like I am behind!
The Driving Range will be opening we are delayed due to weather and a tree permit, so it will be later this month. We are so excited and nervous at the same time! Everything is ready we just need the lane way putting through! Yesterday afternoon I took my first walk on the Driving range grass~happy days! I would of done a grass angel but my four wet dogs would of ended up diving on me! I also took my first drive of the golf cart, should of added warning plates!
Our future is really changing, fingers crossed for the better.
This afternoon my eldest daughter and I go back horse riding we haven't been since last October, a hobby that my daughter just loves. However, I think she will need a bigger pony as she has been growing like a weed!
My youngest is running everywhere at just 16 months she is very advanced, we have just started her in day care one day a week. This means I will have a day to get everything done including all my online selling world!
That's all for now, thanks for stopping on by and thank you to those who have just joined my blog as part of the giveaway! I shall try to update more often.
I am off on a date with the garden so take care all, Helen <3
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Spring is coming......
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| One of last years Spring arrivals |
Spring is coming...So I hope!
Wow my last blog was titled 'where has January gone' and now I am wondering the same about February! I guess life has got really busy here!
I saw another Birthday come and go this month, I wish they would slow down! We have been busy training our puppy Amber who was my Birthday pressie from my hubby and girls. Although my eldest daughter refuses to admit that she is mine and claims her as her own! Amber is doing so well and between you and I, I love the 7am walks outside it is a great way to wake up, especially those mornings when I am in my dressing gown and snow boots with the cold snow whipping at my legs! Buster our eldest dog is still with us and happily I can say the impact of having the new puppy has made him rather youthful again, he is fourteen and almost blind!
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| Our old guy! |
Sadly we had to say "goodbye" to Winnie the guinea who passed away this weekend, it had to be on the day we were taking our girls for their portrait updates didn't it?! They were all smiles and it wasn't until a day later when we went out to feed the others that my eldest daughter realised he had gone and there were tears however, nothing a MacDonald's happy meal couldn't cure!
My husband had another hospital appointment this week and the cyst he had removed from his gum/jaw is nothing more than a cyst~thankfully! The only downside, he is back on pureed foods again! This will be his fourth week now, he had just started on solids for a few days! He is looking a slim Jim and certainly needs a smaller size~way to get a new wardrobe!
That's a little news of our home life now onto the Driving Range which we are planning on opening in three months!
We have a website we are currently working on, it is live now but we are in the process of updating it; hancoxhomesteadgolf.com
Well we had a mass thaw last week and when we went back to see if there was any sign of grass seed appearing there was not. We are sure it will come when the time is right! Hubby did find a huge buck antler so he came back with my new ornament! We are fencing the area as soon as we can but we have always encouraged wildlife on to our property so hopefully they won't get too upset when things are up and running as it is still going to leave them 30 acres of woods to play in!
The lane way and parking area have been mapped out and we are ready to go when the weather allows us. Could all my friends join me in the 'sunshine dance' PLEASE! Our equipment from Green Joy who we distribute for is getting processed and we finally decided on a design for the office/building for the Driving Range. It has a screened in porch so our customers can sit and take in the scenery after they have swung away!
My most exciting part of all this was picking out a golf cart, as it will be my new mode of transport from May till September!
Other news;
My online shops are still going and as most of you will know I have been adding new items, some OOAK (one of a kind) jewellery has been listed and Easter soaps, gift packs are starting to come.
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| Organic Easter egg soaps |
I try and get involved with what my fellow friends and talented artists are doing and will be donating again to Heather at The Pine Cone Tea Cup who does the Cancer 'Relay for Life' and Anna at Artibility who does the 'Toys for Tots'.
If you have your own handmade craft shop/items and wish to donate to these to great causes please send a message to these lovely ladies;
I think that is all my news to date so I shall say bye for now and thanks for taking the time to sit and catch up with me,
Helen & family :)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Where has January gone?
I can not believe where January has gone, one minute it seems like we were wishing in the New Year and making resolutions~mine was to get organised, and I continue to do so!
So far this year it's shaping up to be a good one;
Work is progressing on the Driving Range, we are right on plan! I shan't bore you with all the details like how I was very excited to be a proud owner of deluxe porta potties (as a female it was important to me and ranked high on my list!) Especially as I will be spending my days over there running things!
I have taken on the task of designing and maintaining our website which I hope to have up and running very soon. Not only will it give details of our Range but you will be able to purchase our Green Joy products directly from it! I shall post the link once it is live!
As word spreads around the community we have been approached by people/companies who are very supportive and have offered their help~people really can be wonderful and we are excited to be meeting them!
Our hobby farm has a new addition~Amber the Australian shepherd joined us last week and is training up nicely!
My youngest daughter celebrated her first Birthday this month, which really made me sit and reflect on the past year. Time flies and before you know it they are walking and talking as if they have from day one!
My online businesses saw a few changes I decided to drop a site and downgrade one which I think I will remove in this next month. I need to spend my time wisely!
I have just introduced Organic and non bleeding colourants to my Bath & Beauty store. Watch over these next few months as my line is expanding! Bath salts, shampoo's, conditioners and more are coming.
As for Helsia Jewellery well I have found a love for Vintage and will be implementing more.
Lets not forget the day for l<3ve~Valentines! My products have been arriving online since December;
The one thing both my stores was lacking was products for men! There is now cufflinks in my Jewellery shop and more beer soaps along with a line of shaving products will be coming to Hancox Homestead Bath!
So far this year it's shaping up to be a good one;
Work is progressing on the Driving Range, we are right on plan! I shan't bore you with all the details like how I was very excited to be a proud owner of deluxe porta potties (as a female it was important to me and ranked high on my list!) Especially as I will be spending my days over there running things!
I have taken on the task of designing and maintaining our website which I hope to have up and running very soon. Not only will it give details of our Range but you will be able to purchase our Green Joy products directly from it! I shall post the link once it is live!
As word spreads around the community we have been approached by people/companies who are very supportive and have offered their help~people really can be wonderful and we are excited to be meeting them!
Our hobby farm has a new addition~Amber the Australian shepherd joined us last week and is training up nicely!
My youngest daughter celebrated her first Birthday this month, which really made me sit and reflect on the past year. Time flies and before you know it they are walking and talking as if they have from day one!
My online businesses saw a few changes I decided to drop a site and downgrade one which I think I will remove in this next month. I need to spend my time wisely!
As for Helsia Jewellery well I have found a love for Vintage and will be implementing more.
Lets not forget the day for l<3ve~Valentines! My products have been arriving online since December;
The one thing both my stores was lacking was products for men! There is now cufflinks in my Jewellery shop and more beer soaps along with a line of shaving products will be coming to Hancox Homestead Bath!
That's the majority of January's news from Hancox Homestead, so I will bid you well and as always thanks for sharing in my update and on our journey.
Warmest wishes, Helen & family
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
In memory of my sister Lindsey
It is coming up to three years ago that I lost my younger sister Lindsey. There is not a day goes by that there isn't some reminder of her in my life and whilst I would of loved a lifetime of memories I cherish the ones we made.
They say that time is a healer and I really used to believe that, now I believe that time allows you to adjust to not having that person you love in your life.
It was such a sad time and I realise now that it also set me on my own personal journey. You do a lot of soul and answer searching as I am sure that those of you have lost someone dear know.
The things that I learnt when I was back in the UK sorting through Lindsey's small amount of belongings~we weren't that different! We had the same books, Cd's, Dvd's. The Cd's I had wanted to buy but never got around to were in her collection which I inherited. It took me a little time to play them without crying and now I sing them to the best of my singing ability~I am tone deaf! I know wherever Lindsey is she is laughing at me doing so.
There are still songs I have to switch off the radio and movies I will probably never watch again with a dry eye that were her favourites.
For some time I thought she was mad at me, until I found our/my family portrait in her book by her favourite poem.
Pictures of Lindsey hang in our home, my eldest and only daughter at the time was only two and whilst has some memories of flying back to the UK doesn't remember what for. We have not yet discussed with her what happened as we feel she is too young. Whilst never meeting her Aunty Lindsey, I know her Aunty Lindsey is watching over her.
Lindsey and I were from a single parent home we lived with our mom and the majority of the time fought like cat and dog. I blame it on the hormones! I spent most of my teenage years looking after Lindsey whilst mom had to go out to work. At times I really resented that I was stuck in looking after my younger sister~again!
Then one day it happened, we became the best of friends! We talked every day, sometimes about the most random stuff , we always teamed up together if there was something that needed sorting and out of pure boredom had the best burping competitions!
When I left home to move in with my now hubby, we would get together in the week, go shopping together and always got together on a Friday night or the weekend for a girly night out or sometimes I would do dinner and try out new recipes~when Lindsey was feeling brave enough to eat it, red wine was always on hand to make anything taste better!
Lindsey helped us move to Canada nearly ten years ago, she spent three weeks here and enjoyed every minute of it, especially the get lost car rides that found us completely in the wrong places but we got to take in all the great scenery we wouldn't had we of stayed on track! For those of you who know me I have this annoying little tune I tend to hum when I get lost, have no clue where I am and starting to panic! Lindsey soon picked up on this and had great delight in joining along and teasing me!
Now the only little tiff we had those three weeks was over a pack of chocolate chip cookies! We are both cookie monsters so imagine my surprise when I was in desperate need of a cookie fix to find the empty packet in the cupboard! Lindsey made it up to me by sending me packets of cookies for Christmas and my Birthday!
We finally got around to painting the hallway which was very hard for me as on one of Lindsey's visits she had slipped down the last few stairs of our wooden staircase with a bottle of beer in one hand and cigarette in the other. The beer went flying all up the wall and she snapped her cigarette in half! The beer runs stained the wall and whilst they are now painted over, they will always be there in my memory along with a giggle over the fact she was more upset she had snapped her cigarette in half than anything else!
I had always hoped that one day she might follow in my footsteps and move out here, move away from a place that hadn't always made us happy. Sadly it was not meant to be.
As stubborn as me, Lindsey chose her own path in life, unfortunately it caused a few troublesome years. Always the one in the middle trying to hold things together I was constantly on the phone normally telling her to give her head a shake and pull it together. It's hard trying to deal with things when your thousands of miles away. There was times I just wanted to fly over to kick her arse into shape but the truth of the matter is she was always stronger than me!
Then came the day when I was just plain exhausted from all the family expecting me to do something from afar. I had phone calls that demanded to speak to me when I was in the shower so I would get out soaking wet and stand there playing phone around again! I had to step away and that is what I did!
I don't feel guilty as I know that I did more than most would do and I know that Lindz knew that. Yes I wish I had of rang up in what were her last months and had a normal chat instead of ranting. I think we can all look back and wish things had been different or we had acted in a different way.
Lindsey drowned in the pond she loved to walk around frequently and after all the inquests they deemed it as suicide. We will never know what happened and never got the chance to say goodbye.
I found this really hard to cope with given the fact that she had spent the last few months of her life turning everything around for the better.
At this time every year my heart goes out to the brave members of the Burntwood sub aqua club, who not linked to the police but friends of our family did the dive to find our Lindz. These remarkable people had never recovered a body before and are my family's hero's for giving us closure! (The police did not have the resources available) They asked and were the pall bearers at the funeral.
I have to thank those who have come on the emotional ride with me and helped me along, I have to thank those friends who unknowingly came into my life at the right times.
Lindsey would of been 30 this year, so instead of feeling sad we intend to celebrate her life!
They say that time is a healer and I really used to believe that, now I believe that time allows you to adjust to not having that person you love in your life.
It was such a sad time and I realise now that it also set me on my own personal journey. You do a lot of soul and answer searching as I am sure that those of you have lost someone dear know.
The things that I learnt when I was back in the UK sorting through Lindsey's small amount of belongings~we weren't that different! We had the same books, Cd's, Dvd's. The Cd's I had wanted to buy but never got around to were in her collection which I inherited. It took me a little time to play them without crying and now I sing them to the best of my singing ability~I am tone deaf! I know wherever Lindsey is she is laughing at me doing so.
There are still songs I have to switch off the radio and movies I will probably never watch again with a dry eye that were her favourites.
For some time I thought she was mad at me, until I found our/my family portrait in her book by her favourite poem.
Pictures of Lindsey hang in our home, my eldest and only daughter at the time was only two and whilst has some memories of flying back to the UK doesn't remember what for. We have not yet discussed with her what happened as we feel she is too young. Whilst never meeting her Aunty Lindsey, I know her Aunty Lindsey is watching over her.
Lindsey and I were from a single parent home we lived with our mom and the majority of the time fought like cat and dog. I blame it on the hormones! I spent most of my teenage years looking after Lindsey whilst mom had to go out to work. At times I really resented that I was stuck in looking after my younger sister~again!
When I left home to move in with my now hubby, we would get together in the week, go shopping together and always got together on a Friday night or the weekend for a girly night out or sometimes I would do dinner and try out new recipes~when Lindsey was feeling brave enough to eat it, red wine was always on hand to make anything taste better!
Lindsey helped us move to Canada nearly ten years ago, she spent three weeks here and enjoyed every minute of it, especially the get lost car rides that found us completely in the wrong places but we got to take in all the great scenery we wouldn't had we of stayed on track! For those of you who know me I have this annoying little tune I tend to hum when I get lost, have no clue where I am and starting to panic! Lindsey soon picked up on this and had great delight in joining along and teasing me!
Now the only little tiff we had those three weeks was over a pack of chocolate chip cookies! We are both cookie monsters so imagine my surprise when I was in desperate need of a cookie fix to find the empty packet in the cupboard! Lindsey made it up to me by sending me packets of cookies for Christmas and my Birthday!
We finally got around to painting the hallway which was very hard for me as on one of Lindsey's visits she had slipped down the last few stairs of our wooden staircase with a bottle of beer in one hand and cigarette in the other. The beer went flying all up the wall and she snapped her cigarette in half! The beer runs stained the wall and whilst they are now painted over, they will always be there in my memory along with a giggle over the fact she was more upset she had snapped her cigarette in half than anything else!
I had always hoped that one day she might follow in my footsteps and move out here, move away from a place that hadn't always made us happy. Sadly it was not meant to be.
As stubborn as me, Lindsey chose her own path in life, unfortunately it caused a few troublesome years. Always the one in the middle trying to hold things together I was constantly on the phone normally telling her to give her head a shake and pull it together. It's hard trying to deal with things when your thousands of miles away. There was times I just wanted to fly over to kick her arse into shape but the truth of the matter is she was always stronger than me!
Then came the day when I was just plain exhausted from all the family expecting me to do something from afar. I had phone calls that demanded to speak to me when I was in the shower so I would get out soaking wet and stand there playing phone around again! I had to step away and that is what I did!
I don't feel guilty as I know that I did more than most would do and I know that Lindz knew that. Yes I wish I had of rang up in what were her last months and had a normal chat instead of ranting. I think we can all look back and wish things had been different or we had acted in a different way.
Lindsey drowned in the pond she loved to walk around frequently and after all the inquests they deemed it as suicide. We will never know what happened and never got the chance to say goodbye.
I found this really hard to cope with given the fact that she had spent the last few months of her life turning everything around for the better.
At this time every year my heart goes out to the brave members of the Burntwood sub aqua club, who not linked to the police but friends of our family did the dive to find our Lindz. These remarkable people had never recovered a body before and are my family's hero's for giving us closure! (The police did not have the resources available) They asked and were the pall bearers at the funeral.
I have to thank those who have come on the emotional ride with me and helped me along, I have to thank those friends who unknowingly came into my life at the right times.
Lindsey would of been 30 this year, so instead of feeling sad we intend to celebrate her life!
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