Emporium

We have a beautiful shop in the countryside near us. It is so fancy that it isn't actually called what it is - ie a Garden Centre. Road signs instead direct you to the 'Emporium'. Everything is tasteful (read expensive) and tasty (in the deli and restaurant). At this time of year they even have an ice rink!

Ice skating isn't like riding a bike. If you don't attempt it for 20 years then you do actually forget... Or, is the ice just much slippier? I stepped gracefully onto the rink ready to swish across in an elegant fashion... Then, I gripped the side barrier in fear. What was happening to my legs? They were running away from me in opposite directions.... A few turns around the ice later and I finally plucked up the courage to let go and eventually managed some semblance of 'skating' but it wasn't pretty... and it hurt. My muscles were so tense that every slide and slip sent screams of protest through my body.

Small boy got himself a blister and that was all the excuse I needed to get the implements of torture off my legs and sidle into the cafe for a restoring cuppa.

Maybe I shouldn't leave it so long next time!

The whole point of this post was to share this photograph of wooden snowflakes from the emporium's wares. I played with some textures from Kim Klassen and a few filters. Lovely Kim is giving away free textures in the run up to Christmas. I'm using 'more magic' for the words and 'ugg love' for the crackle.