Posy

A trolley

Isn't it funny how you live with something for years and don't really 'notice' it. I had one of those moments a week or 2 ago when I had to take everything out of the sitting room so I could sand the floor. My corner had to be dismantled - the place by my favourite seat on the sofa that houses my collections of aurora borealis and china flower brooches, inspiration books (yes, I will do another post on them but you maybe interested to read this in the meantime - gosh my corner looks rather empty in 2006!)
Anyway, it was when I was putting everything back that I realised how 1980's my corner table was. I chose it from Laura Ashley (my 'old' Cath Kidston) in 1988 when Anth and I returned to the UK from New Zealand, and they were all the rage then..circular tables made from chipboard which you covered with a long table cloth (usually with a frill around the edge) and then had a smaller one in matching colour tones on top of that, again with a frilled edge. Well, that table has done me well, bless it but when I started to put things back again I realised that the round table needed to be a bigger, edgier, rectangular more flea market sort of table. I needed more space too as my corner was terribly messy with wool, sewing baskets, box files, tins etc. So a search began immediately for that perfect table. I was wanting a shabby metal garden table - still do, but wasn't holding out much hope for finding one of those. Then on Friday I went to Totnes and whilst browsing in a shop came across what they called a victorian tea trolley made from wicker.

"Ah," I thought, "this might be just the thing." So after a lot of pondering and a call to Anth, it came home with me.

It even has a little box compartment (which I'm thinking must have been for cutlery in those long gone victorian times) which I can keep all my boring but essential items like chargers, glue and scissors.

 

I wasn't too sure at first but I'm liking it more and more, especially as the whole corner looks tidier and less fussy. 

And that, dear friends, is a very good thing indeed.

 
 
 
 

Who's that girl?

Thank you one and all for your kind words about our 'new' floor. I haven't had much time this week to spend sitting in it and enjoying the changes. It has been back to school for me and on the very first day came down with another migraine so all my blogging plans went out of the window. Sorry. But enough of the horrible things and let's move onto something that makes me smile and laugh out loud every time I see it.

You will recognise our fridge door - my little space for a little Chris love and my collection of flowery fridge magnets. Cath is there of course; a picture taken from the new book on my Christmas list 'The Perfect English Cottage' by Ros Byam Shaw; a postcard of my favourite painting 'The Presence'; a small picture torn out of a magazine of the most wonderful christmas pudding hamster bed (if I had a hamster I would so want one, though I am assuming it can be washed right?)  A postcard of Justin Leigh (who used to present my much loved BBC Radio Devon lunchtime phone-in) sent to me by my lovely friend Justine (who thinks I'm totally mad.) But wait...who is that with Chris?
Let's look a little bit closer.

 
Mmm..she looks faintly familiar..

WAIT A MINUTE.....IT'S ME!!!!!  Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a hoot. This picture is my iphone's wallpaper and it has been shown around the staff room and to anyone else who has come near me in the last 2 days. It takes my breath away. 
Lucy found a website called www.faceinhole.com which allows sad people like me to paste their own picture next to the celebrity of their choice or a piece of art work etc. As well as 'being with' Chris I'm also loving the fact that I look skinny (thank you Gwyneth).
So this picture will definitely be staying on the fridge for a while - walking with Chris and being skinny - what more can a girl wish for!?   

Done and even dusted

Well it's finished - well nothing's actually completely finished in this house, but the paint brush has been put away for the time being. The floor actually needs a third coat of paint but I just can't face it at the moment so I'm trying to ignore that fact.

It took a looong time to put everything back but it allowed me to sort out the books and my corner. I even made another loose cover for the chair in between sandings.

It is very hit and miss and tucked in to fit so don't look too closely. I have used 2 old embroidered tablecloths over the arms and a vintage curtain on the seat and a piece of fabric (that I found waay back when we went to New Zealand. It never fails to surprise me how I seem to be able to remember exactly when and where I found some fabric or treasure of mine but can't remember what I did 2 days ago!) But it's the added lace that made me do the happy dance. I absolutely love it. I found it at school shoved high upon a shelf in a plastic bag and I seem to remember someone offering it to me but can't remember who! See I told you my memory was bad. The lace has been taken off some net curtains and I have become obsessed with it. Really, really badly. I have had to contain myself in festooning it all over the house, I mean I don't want the house to look twee as I strive for eclectic and flea market; but it looks so good to me. Maybe I am just twee whatever 'twee' may be. Anyway, I think the lace 'makes' the covers and I continue to do my happy dance (and singing!)

I have even put the lace on the curtains and temporarily pinned on some doilies inspired by the oh-so-glorious Tif (and that's another recent obsession of mine - her fabulous blog Dottie Angel. I think she has the most wonderful style.)

I haven't decided whether to go ahead and sew the doilies on yet. Mmm, not sure.

Slight problem with the rug...the cats don't like it and won't go on it! We bought 2 cheap rugs from Ikea. A black one and a lime green one. I am hoping that the black will make the room look less 'twee' and a little more edgy! See, I'm super sensitive to 'twee' now, besides I actually like black. But if a vintage floral one came along I wouldn't say no - I'm on the lookout now.

Oh, I mustn't forget the new fairy lights.

 

They are yellow and give off a warm cozy glow. I have changed our mantelpiece a bit too.

There, all finished. Now for the details:

Floor paint - International Quick drying floor paint in Polar White.
Fairy lights - Marks and Spencers Christmas range (they're green and gold)
Rug - Ikea, Hampen Rug £34
Everything else is all from car boots/charity shops etc.

And yes, in case you are wondering..it was all worth it..

Putting it all back

 
And yes, these white floorboards are in the sitting room! I painted for many, many hours yesterday and long into the night. Now comes the bit I've been waiting for...putting it all together. I can see that light at the end of the tunnel.
Phew...

Still going

:Note: I hasten to add that the above white floorboard is not in the sitting room..yet. But soon. Yes, soon dear friends.

How it's going

The dining room.

The sitting room.

The hall.

And that's only downstairs. Take it from me that upstairs looks just the same. It hasn't been the greatest of weeks. On Tuesday the floor was sanded (by someone else) but when I came to paint it we realised that we would have to redo it....ahhh. So yesterday we hired another sander and poor old Anth had to do it and now it's ready for painting. I was hoping that by now it would be all over and I was going to have over all the people I have said 'Oh you must come and have a cup of tea'  to in the last few months. But that may happen yet. As we had to wait 2 days before we could hire the sander again I managed to squeeze in some sewing. I have nearly finished another loose cover for the chair and I have changed our curtains a bit.
Right then, I really need to get my painting clothes on and get back on track...that's if I can actually find the paint brush!
 
 

Changes again

The week has arrived when the rather stained and tatty sitting room carpet, will be assigned to the dump and some beautifully sanded white floorboards will take it's place. Yes, I've been counting the days and now there are no more days left to count. Yay! But before I show you grotty 'before' pictures let me fill you in on the past weekend.
Early on Friday, Anth had his exam in Exeter (the closest and loveliest city to where we live) which allowed me to go along and do some shopping (I had realised that I hadn't been to Exeter since last December when I got my iphone.) We had had a rather worrying email from Tom that morning who was feeling terribly ill with a nasty chest infection - so had decided that we would drive up to Wales and collect him after Anth's 4 hour exam. (He thinks he has dome well...phew!) We even squeezed in a trip to Ikea and ended up not returning home till after 11pm. A very long and tiring day but it's good to have Tom home for a short while to feed him up and make him well again. Saturday and Sunday were spent taking everything out of the sitting room - yes all the printer's tray bits, my sparkly corner, the books and the wall of flowers. You can hardly get through our front door because of the piles of stuff. The carpet came up yesterday and I am just loving the boards already -

 
even though they are paint splattered.
I'm in a good place at the moment and feel excited and happy about the weeks ahead. I bought my first Christmas magazine on Friday

and treated myself to the fabrics beneath it. I know what I'm making for Christmas for my friends and family  (not the mistletoe now,  which I'm still  hoping to make for myself instead) and am loving making it. I have another crochet project in my head which may very well be my 'Christmas project' but more about that another time. Now I must get going with the nail punch and buy some cement. We are sanding tomorrow...wish me luck!
 
 

Glimpses - part 3

 


The mantelpiece

 
 
 

Thanks for all your recent comments. Many of you asked about the dust. Well, I don't really dust my printers tray apart from running my finger along the narrow shelves every now and then and commenting that I really should dust them one day! As I've said before I'm a terrible housekeeper and can find many other things to distract me from dusting. Having said that, I do so love a clean house too. Mmm, there's no hope really.. I will also show you what's in my inspiration books another day. I am officially on half term now for 2 weeks! Life couldn't be better...sander here I come...

Glimpses - of my treasures

:: A few of my treasures ::
Some of my lace bobbins - I adore ancient bobbins made from bone but sadly don't have many.
More about my lace making here.

 

My brooches and inspiration books.

 

One of our printer's trays

The dresser

My wall of flowers

What about you? What do you collect?

   
 

Glimpses

**Thank you, friends for all your kind anniversary wishes. We found some time to be alone during the day (rare, I can tell you but more frequent than it ever used to be now the children are older!) and in the evening we had dinner in our favourite restaurant.**

For the next few days I'm going to be sharing a few photographs of around the house. Anth has an exam on Friday and I need to be spending less time blathering on my laptop and more time supporting him and keeping house. So this will mean less words everyday (I hope I can control my need to talk,) more cooking (darn it) and more pictures until normal service is resumed.

So let's start in the kitchen in a small sunny corner and turn to our right.

 

[The view of the open understairs cupboard door incase you are wondering..) and the ironing board (I can't believe I've just posted a picture of my ironing board..oh dear. But it's the old flowery Green Gate cover that makes it pretty.)

 

Have a great day.
 
 
 

four and twenty years ago

Today, four and twenty years ago I started my married life with Anthony - at around 3.15pm to be exact. We spent yesterday smiling at each other and every now and then saying, "Can you believe it's almost been 24 years?" I can, but then I can't. Sometimes it only feels like yesterday and other times it seems a lifetime ago that days after our wedding we flew to New Zealand to live there indefinitely. I was 21 and Anth was 23 - that seems so young now but I knew the moment I saw him that he was 'the one' so that made all those life changing decisions so much easier.
So I'm just going to take a little time here to show him how much I appreciate him as I haven't bought him a card (oops) - so 24 years of marriage call for 24 thank yous I think.. 

1. Thank you for our 3 wonderful children.
2. Thank you for providing us with our cosy home.
3. Thank you for letting me decorate said cosy home however I want.
4. Thank you for smiling when you read my blog.
5. Thank you, again, for living with such floral goodness.
6. Thank you for letting Lucy and I dominate the TV.
7. Thank you for accepting the fact that I don't drink alcohol and can't share a bottle of wine with you.
8. Thank you for letting me take up the sitting room carpet (only one week to go -yippee!)
9. Thank you for letting me have an iphone and you make do with a 'normal' phone.
10. Thank you for always sleeping on the right side of the bed.
11. Thank you for living in the UK.
12. Thank you for doing the dishes most days.
13. Thank you for having a faith.
14. Thank you for being such fine example to our children.
15. Thank you for never getting grumpy about me ringing you up at least twice a day to tell you I love you.
16. Thank you for being the best husband in the world.
17. Thank you for making me so proud of you.
18. Thank you for tidying after me.
19. Thank you for being the best kisser in the entire universe.
20. Thank you for getting more handsome each passing day.
21. Thank you for making my life special and happy.
22. Thank you for making dinner because you know I hate it.
23. Thank you for driving at night.
24. Thank you for completing me.

Happy Anniversary darling...

Being me. Apparently.

 

Good afternoon friends. How are you all doing this rainy Friday? Good, I hope. I should not be sitting here blogging if truth be told and I can only do this because everyone is at school/work and cannot shout at me! You see in 4 hours we will be having a sleepover of massive proportions - 3 extra teenage girls will be descending upon us for the night. One of Alice's friends and 2 of Lucy's. That means that we will have 5 teenage girls here in our small humble home but we only have one extra bed. Hmm.
I have been given very strict instructions to tidy and clean the house for their arrival and not to spend too many hours on my laptop. Hmm. I also had a very interesting conversation with Lucy last night. It went like this:

Lucy: "....blah blah blah..and I have a talk to them about it."

Me: (pricking up my ears) "What on earth do you mean, have a talk to them about it?"

Lucy: "Well, before anyone comes to the house I have a talk to them about it."

Me: "What about?"

Lucy: "Well I have to explain that the house is like a junk shop/charity shop and that it's like someone has sicked up flowers."

Me: "Sicked up flowers? That's an awful thing to say!"

Lucy: (trying to justify herself.) "Well, there is a flower on everything."

Me: (rather prickly now.) "Good."

Lucy: (continuing to justify her actions.) "Well, I have to tell them that my family is like nothing you can imagine. [Me thinks she has inherited my occasional habit of exaggerating here!] No other mother has a shrine to Chris Martin on their fridge. [True.] What shocks them most is the noise...

Me: "Ah.."

I realise that she has a valid point there. My youngest brother Matthew and I probably hold the family record for being noisy. If we're not singing we're clapping, and if we're not clapping we're laughing (and Matthew does have the loudest guffaw ever.) I then remembered an incident that happened when we were preparing for the visit of Bernard and Jeanette in August. That morning I had decided to do the wallpapering of the understairs cupboard where the new boiler had been fitted. I wanted to do a patchwork effect - nothing that needed careful measuring. I was still in my pyjamas and thought right I will do it now or it won't get done at all. It really was a botched attempt as I never prepare anything, being too inpatient. So I grabbed the left over Cath Kidston wallpapers I had lying around and just went for it.

   

Not brilliant photos and not brilliant wallpapering really, but I am easily pleased and the paper covered the large holes in the plaster and the flaking paint in an instance. I'm so lazy I love instant results! Now whenever I do any decorating that has the potential to look great and I'm pleased with the results, I do a sort of mental and physical 'dance for joy on the spot' sort of thing. Well this August morning the first thing that came to mind was a song when I stepped back to admire what I had done in all of 2 minutes. And out of my mouth came this loud, almost ecstatic made up ditty. I had taken the chorus of Kings of Leon Sex is on fire,
a song I really didn't know or own but had heard Tom playing it, and sang "Whoa oaa, Jane Goble's on fire..err!" 
I didn't just do this once either. Oh no. I suddenly saw Lucy appear around the door. "Will you stop that please." she hissed under her breath.
Ah. I then remembered she had a friend upstairs. Apparently she still talks about that now and the same friend witnessed me opening the latest Cath catalogue too apparently...
Well, I have come to the conclusion that these teenagers in my corner of the world must be a mature and sensible bunch - sent here to help and guide me,but hey, that is no bad thing is it, after all I need as much help as I can get at my age. Don't you? Have a great weekend.

Rainy day and birds.

It has been raining all day today; at times quite torrential. We haven't had much rain in the last month or two but we probably have had our monthly quota just today. But today, despite the rain, I have had 2 unusual encounters. The first, along the lanes whilst I was being driven to school by Anth. We came across some wildlife..nothing unusual, I see pheasants and rabbits on a daily basis, but today it was this

- a peacock! Excuse the poor photo but I was in the car. A peacock deep in the Devon lanes. Then at school I popped out of the classroom and came face to face with my friend from the trees outside..

But alas, I may have birds where I least expect them; but I have none where I really would like them...like here

 
On my return home I put on my wellies, grabbed an umbrella and went to check if any of the food put out a few weeks ago had been touched.

It hadn't. I've had no birds (sparrows) now for 3 months. I miss them and I keep having to throw away the food. I don't have much luck with birds do I!? They are either in the wrong place or not there at all.
 I'm now officially taking it personally...
 

A letter of encouragement

{My children - July 2005}

I'm writing this letter to encourage you, if like me, you had wondered where the son you bore some years ago had disappeared to. In his place we have had someone who sometimes was unrecognisable from the laughing, sunny boy we knew so well.
But do not despair - your son will return - and in our case he returned to be a wiser, more lovelier son than we could have ever hoped for.
As you might remember, Tom went back to Uni about 3 weeks ago to start his 2nd year, and in these few weeks we have seen an incredible change in him. Take this phone call last week for example:

Anth:  Hi Tom, what have you done today?
Tom:  Well I got up at 7.30 (miracle 1) had breakfast and went into town to apply for a job (miracle 2). I then dashed to uni to go to a lecture (miracle 3) which I really enjoyed (miracle 4). The lecturer told us about a book we will be using so I went straight to the library to get it (miracle 5). I spent 3 hours in the library (miracle 6) and then when I left the library I saw a poster wanting volunteers to help old people do their gardens so I signed up (miracle 7).
Anth:...stunned silence...
Tom:  I then went home and tidied my room (miracle 8)
Anth:..er, Tom that's fantastic..we're so proud of you...

That was an '8 miracle' phone call - and most of our daily phone calls are sprinkled with the odd miracle or two. In hindsight, we now think he spent his first year at Uni being rather overwhelmed (understandably) and is now coming into his own. Praise God. He even has 2 jobs - yes 2, after a year or two spent cajoling/encouraging/begging him to at least try and get one or do some voluntary work instead.  Anth and I could weep with relief and are sending up quiet prayers of thanksgiving. He is even making his own packed lunches instead of buying sandwiches; he's worn the black skinny jeans (bought 2 years ago after ensuring me he would wear them but never did,) nearly everyday. Everyday. On Sunday he spent 6 hours in the library..and so the transformation continues.
But seriously, if you have a teenager you don't recognise, be patient and hang on in there because when the time is right the bedroom door (cocoon) will open and this new person will emerge and you'll realise that it was going to be OK all along..

 

 

Weekending

 Morning all,
I hope you all had a good weekend. Mine? Well it was very quiet but it was good.
It had a bit of this.

   
Some sitting by this.

    
A visit by our dear friends Mike, Justine and Joshua;

(Hasn't he grown - he's a real little boy now and so adorable;)
We have drunk many cups of this.

 

Admired Alice's new haircut.

Re-discovered this album.

 
And because the weekend was full of those things..

..my Monday will be spent doing this...ironing..well, life can't be all play can it?

An ordinary Thursday in pictures

  7.15am

7.20am :: breakfast

8.32am :: drive to school

10am :: numeracy

10.15am :: playtime

12 noon :: phonics

 

12.45 :: lunch

1pm :: Sewing club

1.10pm :: check blog and read comments (lovely)

 

1.15pm :: text from Tom

(more about Tom another day. A miracle seems to have happened!)

3.25pm :: home-time for the children

4.10pm :: home-time for me
 

4.15pm :: housework

6.30pm :: light the fire (even though it isn't really that cold)  just for the pure pleasure of it.

6.31pm :: get my crochet out for the first time that day - ignoring the total mess still evident in every other room and the rather hideous smell from the kitchen bin. Beg Lucy and Alice to make the fillings for our baked potatoes..

..and don't move all night..bliss..

Date Night

Wednesday evening. The most wonderful man in the world.. and me. One of best views in town.

A stroll and when the light began to fade

it was into the nearest hotel for a spot of tea and crochet. How wild is that. Not.
But I wouldn't want it any other way.

Visions of the past

It was whilst we were at Matthew's house the other weekend (Coldplay's concert) that I spied a large cardboard box in the middle of his kitchen with the words 'Family Photos' scribed in my mother's hand. I was over to the box in a trice and pulled out an album.

Oh the absolute joy - I hadn't seen these photographs in years. "Oh Anthony," I exclaimed, "this is like treasure to me!" There I was in various stages of my life.. 

..babyhood

..toddler-hood (with kittens in my pocket)

Look at the wallpaper in this photo, it's true vintage rosy goodness.

And then a new brother arrived every year or two.

This was my first ever knitted creation - though I seem to remember the teacher did most of it!

Our first day at school here in Devon. I just love my mother's shadow in the corner and realised I would recognise it anywhere.
But what thrilled me more was the discovery of an old album of photographs of the hotel I lived in from the age of 9 until I left home at 17. The Palace Hotel. The hotel I call home. They were taken by an elderly man who used to do odd jobs around the hotel but loved photography and was always taking photos.

There are pictures of most of the reception rooms, some bedrooms and a few members of staff, and even photos of me posing by the pool etc. I remember having to pose for them and hating every minute of it but oh my, I'm so, so grateful for everyone of those cringe worthy photos now because they have changed the hotel inside and out and the lovely gardens are no more.

So a small handful of the photo albums have come back home with me, rather than go into Matthew's attic. And they will be poured over by me with delight and the odd tear for the days gone by.

 

Some new books

 

I have bought a book or 3 recently and must share them with you.
I'll start with my favourite, a vintage inspired treasure called

Pretty Little Things To Make  by Judith More. This is a sweet book and try as I might I couldn't walk out of the shop without it.

I particularly adore the wonderful illustrations and photographs and if you love vintage children's clothes then this book won't fail to inspire.

Second up is

Crochet Stitch Motifs by Erika Knight I realise that I have a little obsession with crochet books as I have bought 2 in 2 months - (they probably have all the same motifs in them if truth be known!)

And finally

The Encyclopedia of Knitting and Crochet by Luise RobertsA very good information source. This is my favourite page..

I just love those flowers and the colour combinations.
All great books. Can anyone recommend any other crochet books?

This weekend I...

..went to a wedding..

..nursed most of the family..

...had a rummaged through the attic and came across a very old CK ironing board cover. My first ever CK purchase many years ago. (Incidentally, I didn't find what I originally went up in the attic for. Typical.)

..looked for signs of autumn..

...found joy on our doormat..

..smiled when I came across this in the garden...

..did some potting up..

..cut the grass..

.. lit the fire in the evenings..

How was yours?

Colour

The 'why I'm happy today' list

I do hope you are not all getting totally bored with the whole list thing. I really love writing them as it is making me focus on the good things - big and little - rather than what I could be worrying about...have I mentioned to you that I worry? I do. A lot. And I'm also loving reading your lists in the comments as well so do join in if you feel like sharing.

So here we go..

:: The magical signs of a new season (quite possibly my favourite) approaching ::

:: Wearing boots again (and my new skirt too.) ::

:: Lovely Steph'scomment she left yesterday about 2 children's Christmas books she bought after reading my book list. I'm so glad you're pleased Steph. ::

:: The fact that I have finished my 'solo' teaching for the week already ::

:: My new mug bought for me by my dear friend Sarah - it is so me ::

:: Half term is drawing ever closer (end of October) which is when I'm painting the floorboards in the sitting room. I can hardly wait ::

:: The late summer sun which continues to shine ::

:: 2 more DVDs of Lark Rise To Candleford (series one) to watch ::

:: Alfie on sentry duty ::

:: The song of a robin who has taken up residence in a tree outside our classroom ::

:: There is about 5 or 6 weeks before the Christmas magazines are out ::

:: And finally, I will probably light our fire in the next week as the evenings are getting cooler ::

What bliss....