A Sweet Escape #100creativedays Day 29

I've decided to take a holiday in my mind to my dream life because quite frankly, real life is getting a little too real...

"Dear Lucy

I'm currently sitting on my veranda, watching a gentle breeze nip at my olive trees. I've just got back from riding my newest horse, Phoenix. He's a pinto and looks like he galloped straight out of an old Western. He's such a gentle soul and a very comfortable ride.

I've recently taken to making jam. I've had a few hits and misses, more hits than misses mind you! I managed to make the most delicious lemon and lime marmalade - it's very tart but is amazing on flapjacks. I'm hoping to try my hand at apple-cinnamon jam. I'm finding these recipes in an old family cookbook I found at the manor library. Apparently Heath's grandmother was quite the cook back in the day and known for her passion for invention in the kitchen!

I can't wait for my girls to be old enough to start baking with me. They've just started walking and you can see their distinct personalities coming through. Kaite is definitely more adventurous and I sometimes feel like I should cover the whole house in bubblewrap. Lola seems to be more curious and seems to pick up small skills faster. Lola seems to have inherited Heath's brown curls, while Kaite's hair is blonde and straight but almost vertical most days! I love my little monsters so much. You always said I'd end up with twins.     

I'm managing to write my next novel - I'm not giving anything away but it's worlds apart from my earlier work. The girls have really got into a routine now and I have a great au pair who comes three times a week. Heath also has special "daddy time" scheduled every Sunday afternoon. Motherhood is not easy, but I'm enjoying it so much.

How are your renovations going? I'm in the market for a good contractor - we're planning on converting the attic into a studio for Heath. It's long overdue and will mean that he can work from home some days. I still have my little safe haven in the garden cottage.

Talking about the garden, you should see the size of the azaleas you gave me! Your green thumb magic must have rubbed off on them because they're taking over my garden!

My darling, I must sign off now, but I'll see you next month at your garden party.

All my love
Sharon"

A Bedtime Story #100creativedays Day 23

One dark and stormy night, as the wind howled and the rain lashed, a stressed out little princess hid under a tree. How had she come to be outside on such a horrid night? Well this is her tale of woe...

The little princess was heavy hearted, broken hearted and over strained. Her shoulders hurt, her head hurt and her jaw made a weird clicking sound when she tried to eat. She was very weary.

In absolute frustration, she send a decree to all the land, asking for relief of her stressful curse. Many wise people and a few fools sought audience with the little princess. They brought her pills and lotions, they taught her chants, they stuck needles in her shoulders... But she only sighed deeper and felt more forlorn.

Eventually a wrinkly old man came to the kingdom with a scroll. He did not say a word, and just handed the princess the scroll. Upon the scroll was written "reach for the stars".

In desperation, the little princess stood on the edge of her balcony and reached up as high as she could. Truly believing the answer lay in the stars. Suddenly, she felt a mighty shove and fell off the balcony. She landed in a crumpled heap in a puddle, and dragged herself to the shelter of a nearby tree.

Looking up to the balcony, she saw the old man, and he screeched at her "now you REALLY have something to be miserable about you silly little bitch"

THE END