Two blog awards!

I just received this great award twice for my blog from Mommy's Dream and The Pinecone Teacup! Which was a great surprise, both these lovely ladies come across as having such warm personalities and they create amazing crafts. I am honoured to have them feature me!  Here are their blogs, be sure to check them out; The Pinecone Teacup, Mommy's Dream
I am not sure if I should answer fourteen questions as nominated twice!! 


So, the rules of this award are that I have to share seven things you might not know about me and then pass it on to seven other bloggers that have blogs worthy of the Kreativ Blogger Award. Here goes...



1.  Ten years ago we visited Canada for one week and decided to take a gamble on life and brought our house, not knowing anyone or anything!  Thankfully it has turned out super for us!  We went back to England and announced our plans to family which came as a bombshell! 



2. I still have a strong English accent (which I don't think I'll lose!) and have trouble ordering Tim Horton's I asked for Cafe Mocha and an assortment of ten Timbits and got a chocolate milk and one plain Timbit!  It happens alot!! :D



3. I have a BTEC in Travel & Tourism and a Masters in Microsoft and I used to work as a PA and did company training before giving up work to move to Canada.



3. I love cooking and drinking tea!  My husband spoiled me with an AGA a few years ago as it was the oven I had always wanted and we had been using the one the previous owners left!  Roast dinners are my fave I guess I am still a typical Brit! :)



4. I started crafting more during my pregnancy last year as I was on or in bed the majority of it!  My husband became the domestic man of my dreams and I fell in love with him in all over again, he cooked my fave roast dinners, cleaned, took care of me and our eldest daughter and even planted up my veggie patch whilst working full time! Bless! <3



5. Gardening is my other passion, our hobby farm is fifty acres and I re-landscaped four of it into flower gardens.  I have a Helie House out back nestled in the woods where I like to go and have me time.  We have candlelight suppers in there in the good weather and enjoying roasting chestnuts on the fire in there in the winter months.

6. I love animals!  We have three Border Collies two of which flew over from England with us and who like to round up the chickens!, two cats, two rabbits, two Guinea pigs, two aquariums a koi  pond and eleven hens!  My first six hens I had eight years ago became my pets and all had names!  I once got so excited at finding my first garter snake in the garden I picked it up and carried it into the house to show hubby, it managed to slip out of my hands and head along the hallway!  Hubby is not overly keen on snakes!!  Snakey was soon re-caught and released back into the garden, I now call hubby over when I find some new and exciting wildlife!

7.  I am into Woodlot management having 35+ acres of it, we do our best to preserve and nurture it.  I love nothing more than seeing a carpet of pink and purple wild geraniums in the Spring.

Now for the seven blogs to receive this award (it was hard to pick just seven!)...please be sure to visit these blogs and get to know these amazing people on a different level than just from their shops! I have had the privilege of getting to know each of these amazing women a little bit and I think you'll like them as much as I do!
 
Threads of Magique
Aspen healing art
Gia Bowtique
Artistic glass decor and more
Sew Brookie Designs
Mommy the Marketer
Edith & Elizabeth

Warmest wishes to all, Helen

Hancox Homestead update

I decided to take to my blog today to share with you the latest goings on of Hancox Homestead and life in general. 


Lets start with life; the majority of my time is spent with my two beautiful girls and I am adjusting to having my second who has just gone 14 weeks.  I am so blessed to have them and they are really good girls.  I was always told "your only playing at it with one!"  I agree, having two is hard work.  My youngest (14weeks) is 2ft tall and over 15lbs in weight, she started her first foods early (2 weeks ago) and is enjoying and savouring every mouthful!  My eldest who is 4 1/2 is starting soccer in a few weeks and I am really looking forward to being a 'soccer mom' sitting on the benches cheering her on.


What most of you don't know is that we don't have the benefits of having family around the corner to help us out, they are all back in the UK. We decided to take a chance on life and move to Canada nine years ago with my husbands job, the plant was brand new and my husband got to help build it up from the ground and eventually he was to become plant manager a dream for us. Sadly we have found out that the plant is closing next year and that dream will not be reached. We refuse to move again as we totally lucked out with our home and adopted family as I lovingly like to refer to my wonderful neighbours and friends!


Faced with the uncertainty of the future we decided to take Hancox Homestead further, we have taken our selling of Golf course and driving range equipment to another level and my husband is now the sole distributor for Michigan and Ontario.  We have been very busy doing this as when the plant finally closes we want to have our business so successful that my husband won't have to look for further employment.


We are still selling firewood, we lovingly maintain our land and with 35+ acres of woodlot it is a great way to make money from moving overpowering and uprooting trees.  This is a very labour intensive job and my wonderful husband does most of it, the chainsaw and I are not friends and I can't see us ever been!  But, the log splitter and I get along great so that's where I help!


We sell the free range eggs our delightful feathered friends bestow upon us at $2.00 a dozen and  as you know I am selling my crafts.  I don't seem to be selling as much as I had first hoped through Etsy, so I am also looking at outlets.  I have just made batches of lemon and lavender soaps and have a large collection of jewellery I must add!


This time of year is particularly busy with my vegetable patch starting and my gardens to dig etc...   As mentioned before one day I would love to be totally self sufficient.  I am also interested in hydroponics but that is on hold for a short while.


With two young children, three dogs, two cats, two rabbits, two guinea pigs, two aquariums a koi pond, eleven hens and a husband! life never stops still and I wanted to share with you.



Some other great news; my mom who has battled cancer for the last five years has just been given the all clear so something to celebrate! :)


So now you know where my time has shifted too, but I want all my fabulous friends and fans to know that whilst I am not around as much it doesn't mean I don't like you any less and you are all appreciated! <3