Butterfly world

The other day my friend Sue and I decided to have a day out but when we were ready to jump on the bus it began to chuck it down with rain and it was pretty chilly too and suddenly the idea of a day out shopping and walking around outdoors didn't seem quite so appealing.

I came up with the bright idea of a trip to Butterfly world at Preston Park which is quite close by as my friend had never been in before.

It costs £3.50 admission for adults and you can come and go as you please all day. You enter via a small shop with lots of butterfly related souvenirs and the receptionist brings her gorgeous talking parrot Maia to work with her and the parrot sits in her large cage and greets everyone and waves!

Once inside the large Butterfly enclosure you step into a warm, steamy tropical paradise housed in a very large conservatory type building. Tropical blooms and plants abound and the huge exotic butterflies flit and flutter all around you, if you sit or stand still for long they even land on you!

Seats are provided and you can just sit and relax in this lovely warm environment.

There is a waterfall and a pretty stream with lots of Koi carp which you can feed with food available at 20p a packet.

At the far end is a small mini zoo, with snakes tarantulas and lizards plus the current attraction 3 cute Meercats.

Collage picture of Smokey cat

I can hardly believe its now 3 weeks since we lost our lovely Smokey.

To be honest I'm finding it very hard to cope with and am still tearful and weepy at times. I get up on a morning and expect to find him waiting to be fed, I go upstairs during the day and expect to find him lying on the bed sunning himself, sometimes my chest aches so much from not being able to hold him close and give him a cuddle, ever again.

I wanted to do something in memory of him and made this little collage of photos of him.

Hope you like it.

My OWOH giveaway mini pillow arrived

We went away for a long weekend at our caravan in the Durham Dales and arrived home nicely chilled out to find my One world one Heart giveaway prize waiting.

Its a dainty little mini pillow made from vintage fabrics by Laurie at http://indulgeyourshelf.blogspot.com/

If you love vintage items do pop by her blog and see some of her tips and tricks.

Its a very pretty little handmade treasure and I'm delighted I was the lucky recipient.