Since I found Anne & Martina’s blog last summer, I’ve been enjoying weekly editions of Sunday Bloglines by Anne. We all lead busy lives, and Anne especially (she tells us how long her work days are!), and sometimes you can’t spend the time searching for new blogs that you like.

In light of this fact, Anne is having a contest — go tell her your favourite blog to read. Don’t forget to say I sent you! It does not have to be a KnitBlog, in fact, I shared a BookBlog! Enjoy!!

…there was a Fantasy / Folklore / Mythology Book Challenge. I found out about it at Stephanie’s blog – The Written Word - which I’ve really been enjoying. Between Booking Through Thursday and my general book reports (I wouldn’t call them reviews) I’ve also been attracting a number of book-bloggers to the site. In turn, I’ve been visiting their sites. There are a lot of book challenges going on this year – click here to see a list at Books ‘N Border Collies’ blog. I had seen a few of those before, but I wasn’t particularly taken by them, as I usually like to read what I like, when I like… it’s a hobby!

However, I just found out about Carl’s Once Upon a Time II Challenge over at Stainless Steel Droppings. I really want to join — it started yesterday but I have until March 25th to sign up. I’ll have to do some research into the books I want to put on my list, but the bonus is it finishes on Midsummer Night’s Eve and to mark the occasion (part of Quest the Third), Carl suggests that you read Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, which I absolutely love! I think I even kept my annotated copy (I hope) from studying it in High School. There are Three different Quests – I haven’t decided which to do, or all of them. I’m leaning towards Quest the First which involves picking 5 books that fit into the “Once Upon a Time” genre: Fantasy, Folklore, Fairy Tales, and Mythology. I think that this one allows for me to change my list (if I do it) as I can decide on some “back ups” when my fancy changes.

I’m still debating… what do you think? I don’t want to feel guilty when I don’t want to finish the challenge. That’s why I don’t really join KALs or Knitting Wars.

For many years, my birthday also marked the First Day of Spring. This year, being a leap year, the first day of spring was not the 21st but the 20th.  Today however really felt like Spring – warm sun and windy weather.

Yesterday I received lots of lovely messages online from friends back home, and online blogging friends. Thank you everyone sooo much! It means so much to me! (And thanks for Facebook!)

I also got a host of lovely things from the BF’s family:

(Not shown: pyjama pants which are already in bed!)

Yesterday for my birthday, CW took me to see The Other Boleyn Girl in theaters and we went to dinner afterwards. The Printworks in Manchester used to be where all the publishing houses were, and now it’s got the theaters and a number of restaurants – we went to “Old Orleans”. I thought that The Other Boleyn Girl was a great movie, I definitely prefer the book, but I think that the movie was very well done. I really liked the cinematography – the shots of all the castles with wide-open skys to set the scene. All the actors were really good, I was very impressed with Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn. In case you are wondering about the historical accuracy, it is accurate – all the characters are based on real people – but there are some incidents that are disputed such as George’s sexuality, the ages of the Boleyn siblings, and the charge of incest against Anne and George. Check out the wikipedia article.

Today we went into town (Manchester) to go shopping and it was dead packed. I kept getting bumped into a walked into and once a kid ran straight into me and pushed me to the side, and kept going!

But when we got back I had a slice of cake and a cup of tea (in my favourite cup here at CW’s Grandparents’).

CinnamonGirl is having a contest on her blog – celebrating the first day of Spring with a mmmmalabrigo giveaway! Let her know I sent you and happy spring to everyone.

She also asks for fun, to share your favourite spring flower — I love tulips! We’ve had red and yellow bulbs in my front garden for as long as I can remember. I just think their shape is so attractive and the colours are so vibrant. I’d love to see a turqoise tulip! That’d be amazing.

Happy Birthday to me!
Happy Birthday to meee!!!
Happy Birthday dear…. ME!!!
Happy Birthday to me!!

Today (March 21st), 20 years ago, my mother and father went to the hospital. It wasn’t stressful, and it wasn’t a rush… I was a scheduled C-section as my mom is a small woman and she had already had my older sister via C-section too. Our main babysitter at the time, Lisa, took my sister to the Purdy’s Chocolate Factory open house.

My hospital photo

My Nanny’s (Grandma) writing on the back, and her lipstick kiss

My 2nd birthday (I think…)

My 4th birthday with my Nanny in the background.