Well the evenings are getting darker earlier and the winter coats are hung on the pegs in the hall. It can only mean one thing - almost the end of car boot season! It was a sorry state at our local car boot up by the Helicopter Museum on Sunday. Admittedly we got there late on account of a very lovely night away (well 15 minutes down the road but who cares we got a full night's sleep thanks to Granny babysitting!) so the real goodies must have been snapped up early.

There were about a quarter of the normal numbers of sellers and it took 10 minutes of bumbling around to find a stall with little boys treasures. Thank goodness for the 12 year old boy who was having a clear out. "Mama, I've found the children's section" big boy proclaimed to everyone and anyone within ear shot. 20p later we had a couple of cars to add to the collection. A Bat Mobile and a 'Sally' from Disney Cars.

On our last trip to our family beach hut we managed somehow to bury the boules set (despite digging around for 10 minutes looking) so I snapped a set up for £1.

We found an as new story book about teeth for 50p (great as we are off to the Dentist next month) and I found this sweet little ceramic pot which has a fretwork pattern for £1. I knew exactly what I would keep in it! My mini screw driver set! I use it all the time opening kids toys to replace AA batteries and tightening the back of picture frames.

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I also picked up this vintage knitting needle wooden case in an antiques shop earlier in the week. I have no intention of keeping knitting needles in it, I am going to use it for my scale rules for work! I spied it whilst I was listening in to a conversation between a gentleman haggling over this crate and the shop keeper. She wanted £12 he wanted to pay £10. In the end he got fed up and left and I ran over and hooked it under my arm! £12 - I have seen them online for £30!

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It is currently a Halloween prop but will be great for newborn photography as well as something interesting to use to add height to a buffet table like this. I have it in mind for the boy's Halloween tea party and my sister's baby shower for starters!

Did you get any second hand bargains last week?! Join in with #MagpieMonday

I was meant to post this on Monday for my regular entry to Missie Lizzie B's Magpie Monday link but it has taken me all week to hide myself off and finish making these blooming book pumpkins! It looked like such a simple idea on Pinterest but crikey, you basically have to cut about 5 pages at a time, so forget it if you want a quick and easy craft! Cut a D shape into your book, then pull the pages from the outer spine cover. Glue your twig to the spine and fan the pages around the twig. I glued the pages together to hold the pumpkin shape. Tie a bit of green string round the top for a leaf effect.

They do look fab though and the fireplace is now coming on nicely (I know, I know as if there is really room for anything else).

I picked up a stack of old books in the charity shop for between 50p and a £1 each. I chose all nature ones as when you look at the pumpkins from different angles you catch a glimpse of an owl or mushroom!

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There was one book that just seemed too beautiful to cut up. In fact it did seem a bit criminal hacking into all of them.

Nature Diary by Janet Marsh is a year long affectionate journal of her observations of the Itchen Valley in Hampshire. A glorious tribute to the English Countryside and accompanied by the most delicate and intricate water colours.

I have wanted to decorate the wall in my office but nothing has caught my eye no matter how hard I have been looking. I have some frames from when I first started changing big boy's room into my hidey hole and there were two illustrations from the book that were too beautiful to keep shut up in the pages.

Bargain books recycled into something of beauty!

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I have this debate quite often. But it is almost always with my Mum. We debate whether you would describe yourself as a mother or a wife first.

I wonder if my answer will stay the same regardless of how old my children are. When they have flown the nest and what is left is two people who got married/got together a long time ago. My Mum's answer is always the same. Mother first, wife second.

She has been married twice. Once to my Dad who I hardly ever see (they divorced less than amicably when I was at University and I believe the years of him not having obligatory trips to the zoo/bowling at weekends led to the gradual decline of our relationship. I say obligatory because unlike a lot of the attentive and loving single Dads I read about and know, it would have had to be forced upon him) and now to an understanding man with children and grandchildren of his own.

I say understanding because my Mum makes no qualms about the fact that she will always put her children first.

I know in my heart I am a mother first. Who I would save first if the house was on fire and who is my priority, not just because they need me more to feed them and entertain them, but who I choose to give more of my time to. My husband moans that he gets what is left over. What is left at the end of a long day, after the children are fed, bathed and in bed after a story, after we have eaten and after I have photographed some crafty blog post idea or other or caught up on Facebook or joined in some Twitter Mums Party.

You can imagine what's left is hardly any time at all. About 30 seconds before my head hits the pillow.

I also am guilty of calling my husband Dada when the children aren't even in ear shot. Fine to encourage small boy to speak but I'll admit it must be irritating to be made to the third child in the house sometimes! Talked to in a silly voice in baby talk.

I suppose it is what you do with the time that is left that matters. That it is ok to be a mother first, wife second if you remember that you were a wife in the first place. That that other person made you the mother you are.

And that it is ok to want to be a wife first. I know some people must find it unimaginable to want to leave your children to have a night or weekend away with your other half. But we have and it meant that for a very short time in the rush of daily family routine, my husband was the one who had my full attention.

They say that a baby is one of the biggest if not the biggest strains on a relationship. At what should be the most joyous time in your lives it can test your relationship to breaking point. I suppose it is easy to be all consumed with motherhood.

I realise the importance of finding a balance but know in my heart I will always be a mother first.

What would you say you were? Mother first or wife first? Can you being a good wife and still put your children first?