Posy

I feel low..

It can be summed up in the words of Chris Martin at the end of Coldplay's song Low - "..coz I feel low ohhh ohh oh.., coz I feel low, oh no...." It is with particular reason that I can identify with those words this Sunday. I have spent since Wednesday evening in (and sometimes considerable) pain. Yes, another 3 days spent in bed with another migraine and I am getting fed up with having my days off ruined. Now, I normally keep quiet about the sorry affair I have with my headaches, knowing that I am fortunate only to have them and nothing really serious. But I have been struck really low with this attack and my leg is sore from my injections. These injections are wonderful in the fact that I can often be up and running in 2 hours but are agony to administer and the side effects make me think I am dying for the first 5 minutes. Anyway, all my plans have gone out of the window - sewing, painting, blogging etc I even had to put off Matthew (brother#3) who was coming to visit. I had good plans. Nevermind.

Last week was stressful. We were without hot water for many days and had to shower at a friend's house. Thanks Fe. The plumber made up his own timetable and cost it seems! This photo is taken from our bath of one of my least favourite corners! Apart from a short toddle on the beach this afternoon, it was the only view I really saw over the last 3 days. That and my bed.

Actually, it doesn't look too bad in the picture does it? And I know I'll be feeling more cheerful soon...nothing that a nice cup of tea and a new episode of 24 to cheer oneself up! Hope your weekend was better..

Thursday

This is what I gaze out at, everyday. It's the view from our french doors that lead from our sitting room. It's also the view that gladdens my heart but equally sometimes fills me with dread at what needs to be done. I love to watch the garden change through the seasons. This is what it looks like 10 minutes ago as I gazed out to check the progress of the newly potted babies. All seems to be flourishing rather quickly it seems. This probably means that my flower show will abruptly come to a halt in mid June. I'm not a sensible gardener by any means. This is a small garden only filled with things I love, regardless of when they flower but I know that I should try to plan for new flowers each month. The problem is I tend to concentrate on my containers (old enamel buckets & tin baths) and I'm a sucker for any daisy-like flower and lavender and as for my flowerbeds, its foxgloves and hollyhocks all the way! I'm obsessed with foxgloves and hollyhocks. The problem there is that I could find not one single one this spring - where on earth have they gone was the question I asked everybody? Hummm..I think I may have someone who is a little 'pull-happy' and doesn't recognise baby foxgloves. Poor things and poor me as I have spent a long time nurturing them and transporting many from Ludlow. I have even looked through old photos to show 'pull-happy' (as proof) that there were some growing there! Nevermind, it has made me think of other plants to grow in my neglated beds.

Let's hope you'll see a good flower display this year when I update you soon. Things look promising....though it's now really dark and threatening to rain..typical English weather!

Everything is coming up roses

If there was ever a defining moment that ignited my homemaking style it was when my eyes fell on this picture. That happened about 6 years ago and the above picture still completely enchants, inspires and delights me even after all these years. I think I first saw the picture in an article from either the Mail On Sunday's You Magazine or Country Living. It was taken from this book (ISBN1-903116-07-4)

The owner of the beautiful floral plates is Lucinda Chambers, who works for Vogue. Her kitchen is featured in this book and it is lovely.

There are 2 different styles on either side of the kitchen but it is the butler sink and the plate rack that does it for me. What also fascinates me is that it looks so unstyled, effortless and casual. There seems to be no thought in where things are placed and this really challenges me as I have very set ideas where I think things should go. Does my house look too contrived? Too rigid? And guess what? I recognised Lucinda's sink in the 2001 Cath Kidston catalogue after I bought the book.

 

I never tire of studying it and comparing all the different pictures I have of it. Does anyone else do that? I can spend a crazy amount of time pouring over pictures of people's houses. Anth always says he is can't believe my powers of observation and that it can't be the same sink and who would even notice! It is, believe me, I notice.

So I am now always hopeful that I might open a book or magazine and see a little more of this wonderful kitchen and find out more about the lady who puts it all together so effortlessly..

A slow end

It has been a slow weekend to mark the end of the Easter holidays. The sun has shone and as I had already finished potting up most of my containers it meant that the only tool in my hand was my camera.

Have you ever seen a lilac bluebell?  Is it still called a bluebell? We went for a walk this afternoon at Occombe farm. It has a lovely nature trail.

But there was someone missing - Tom has gone to London today.

 

There was a lot of unfurling going on. I like unfurling - it's like magic. I also like curling up too, especially on the sofa.

So it's back to school tomorrow and that means watching even more unfurling...the unfurling of tiny minds. Now that is magic!

My birds!

Indulge me please! I have just been looking through my photographs - on my incredibly super laptop - and I came across this photo taken last Christmas. I had forgotten all about it as I am very 'click-happy' due to the wonders of digital and now not wasting film. This means that I have hundreds of photographs and sometimes the odd 2 or 3 slip by unnoticed.

So... this is for all our family in New Zealand and for anyone else who is interested in seeing how quickly these 3 are growing. Are you wondering about the 'birds' thing? Remember this list? Well #17 explains my habit of changing loved ones names and calling the children 'the birds' is just another eccentricity. I have a distant recollection of it starting with Bambi - you know when he tries to speak and says, "bird!"

My sweet birds they are and they are doing just fine. We are very proud parents. Just trying not to think about them flying the nest!

The Best

How many international, corporate companies do you know that wish you well? That are even bothered about your welfare enough to write sweet messages on their packaging? None, but lovely Green Gate. (Yes, I know it's not really a personal message but I am soft enough to be touched by the little things!)

I came across these pillowcases in Totnes and exclaimed quite loudly in the shop!

Can you see why these were made for me? Yes - they have a pink candy stripe and a beautiful print. When my cry of joy alerted the shop assistant she explained that these pillowcases were not in the current catalogue ( a fact I had already gathered!) but they had chosen them at the trade fair. I hope my photograph shows them to their best. They were packaged with the sweet message which made me come over quite soppy! I also found some pencils which now sit in my corner?

There are pink, red, blue & green spotted pencils inside. Lovely. So in my eyes it's simple, I have total love & respect for Green Gate as I keep thinking that they can't better their current collection and then they go ahead and do! Do follow the link on my sidebar to see what all the fuss is about.

Talking of fusses, I am so loving my lap top thatI could smother it's big 17 inch widescreen with kisses..I have discovered things that I didn't know computers could do! This is in marked contrast to the incredible hassle I have been having with my new mobile, a Sony Ericsson w850i. The phone itself is great, such a difference between my Motorola (1 year old) to this, but I have literally spent 2/3 hours yesterday afternoon, 2 hours each on a Thursday, Fri and another Thurs trying to set it all up - the latest problem was trying to receive picture messages. I had set aside today to make some new summer cushions but was prepared to have to go back to the shop again. This time I was going to get cross (I don't do cross usually in shops!) - but I think after all it was a fault in my old mobile not sending the pictures to my new one...oh dear! The relief I felt at not having to go over and sit for hours trying to be assertive but understanding, was huge. I even thought about taking my crochet over to do whilst I endlessly waited as people would try out something on my phone and then excuse themselves and serve someone else; but felt that really wouldn't give out the right vibe if I needed to 'kick ass'!

So a new laptop and mobile have meant only one thing - not much else done! Especially as I, since yesterday, discovered (and this really, really blows my mind) that one can access our local library online and search their catalogues and do all the things that I only thought you could only do in the library! I'm a bit obsessed by libraries but I won't expand on that today as this is getting rather a long post. So my sewing will be shelved for another day as I am discovering many new things. Yes, that's what I'll call this last week of the Easter holidays - discovery week..everything else can wait can't it?

A present

I received a little packet in the mail this week, full of lovely surprises. It was from lovely Kathryn and I kept finding more as I delved in further! First was this wonderful 'I love Posy' card which is so full of detail you could stare at it for hours.

Then in a ribbon tied envelope came another beautiful card, with my favourite word on the front!

Lastly, a sweet little bag with a Cath Kidston notebook inside! The notebook has taken residence with all it's other brothers and sisters in my corner!

So that just leaves me to say thank you - which seems quite inadequate given the thought and time involved in the giving...but I mean it, I really do.

Alfie's Big Adventure

This was the moment Alfie first felt the breeze ruffle his fur. His first experience of the big outdoors. We had decided when we got him, from the Persian rescue last October, to let him outside when the weather improved. He hadn't shown any interest in what was behind the glass of our french doors, so I was quite intrigued to see what he would make of it. I was actually more nervous than anything. What if he ran off? What if someone catnapped him? Because of these and many other "what ifs" I put Posy's pink floral collar on him! I don't think he realised.

He stayed fairly close to home. He only got into one scrape with our neighbour's cat, and ran back looking like a bottle-brush with his fur standing on end!

Now he's not a happy puss when the french door is closed and meows until someone lets him out. So there is a blue collar on my shopping list, and not a moment too soon!

On a different note - you may have noticed that I have changed my banner picture. A very kind blog reader did my original banner but it has always been a goal of mine to learn how to do my own. Tonight I think I've had a break through but am wondering if it looks OK on other people's computers? Every time I've tried in the past it has looked distorted. Would you be so kind as to tell me if it looks OK to you as I'm thinking it might just be my new super-duper laptop making everything look good! Thank you.

Refreshed & Renewed!

Anth and I had a rare day out together on Saturday. The sun shone and the birds sang. Spring was well and truly in the air. We drove to Hill House Nursery deep in the Devon countryside and spent a few hours just pottering and choosing plants. Oh, it was lovely. The nursery is next to a small church.

I breathe easier up there. The only sounds are the birds and the air is full of perfume from the various greenhouses. We stopped for a proper Devonshire cream tea.

Look at Anth reading the Times..I sat beside him and pretended that we actually were sitting in our own garden..just look,

wouldn't you want to pretend too?

I'm finally blogging on my laptop..yay, it arrived yesterday and it has exceeded my expectations. It has cost more than anything I have ever bought and was feeling a bit wobbly. I mean, just think of all the Cath K blankets and GreenGate goodness I could have bought. I take it all back now, I have a super duper widescreen that makes my photos look outstanding! And best of all I'm sitting in my corner as I type this. For those who are wondering, my mother is doing very well. She has struggled with a nasty urinary infection (pure hell) but hopefully that has gone now. Thank you for your kind wishes, she reads them and is very touched. I tell her that you can't beat the kindness of the blogging world.

So, time for just one more photo of the Devon countryside in the spring, empty fields and empty trees just waiting to be renewed.

Embroideries

Before you ask, no I haven't made this! Shame. It is from this book.

The ISBN number is 1-85585-641-7 though I'm not sure if it is still in print. I cannot even remember (very unlike me) where I found it, but I have had this project in my head for many months now.

What a wonderful way to use up old embroidered tray cloths/tablecloths which might have otherwise seen better days. The patches on this cushion cover are machine zigzagged together by using invisible monofilament thread. Now this is something I've never used in my machine before and I can imagine it must be a nightmare! But what a clever lady Janet is. The rest of the book has other beautiful projects but it is this one that has inspired me most. I do try to use my old embroideries.

This bag I made a while ago. Ahem, don't look too closely at the sewing!

And these are some of my covered Inspiration books. And remember the bunting I made, I've got yards and yards of it and I'm very bad at putting it out! Umm, that's naughty as my machine seized up with the workload of trying to get it ready for the Lucy and Alice's baptism. What a dreadful waste..

(Note to self..have more celebrations...) 

Here comes Spring!

The countryside is slowly bursting into life and the first forget-me-nots and bluebells (my favourite flower) are ever so gently unfurling in our garden. I love bluebells.

I'm always so happy to see them. At school, whilst walking to the playground at playtime, I noticed this flowering shrub peeping over the wall.

I just loved the colour of the pale blue sky against the tiny, white flowers, so I ran to get my camera. This behavior got some very puzzled looks and I got asked what I was doing more times than I could count. That was until a small voice chirped up and said, "Oh, that's just Mrs Goble, she always does that!"

I can't remember the name of the shrub but isn't it pretty against a pale, watery sky? We took some to make our Easter Tree in class and it looks stunning. I'm welcoming spring and have a trip to Hill House Nursery planned in the next few days. Anth has even mentioned that he wants to come, (on second thoughts I may have misheard as he hates the fact that I take so long choosing plants even though I ensconce him in the Tea Room with the newspaper!) I'm also very excited because I am ordering a lap-top today - just for me (secretly) as we are only a 1 computer household for 5 of us who all need to use one in various ways. So it will mean that I can sit in my 'corner' of the sofa and be comfortable and warm whilst I blog etc!

Now, that is brilliant - almost as brilliant as the pale blue sky!

Birthday Girl of 12...

This was the moment that Alice had been waiting months for. Months. Maybe even a year. No, not her actual birthday, which is today; but whether she had been chosen for Taf Gold. Taf, which stands for Torbay Acting Factory, is her acting class that she goes to every Wednesday and every year her teacher chooses her 'best' students to do a big performance. This year is High School Musical (which by Christmas I was already tired of hearing the endless sing-a-long songs - I can't even escape it at school as the older children are always singing them in the corridors!) a huge favourite of hers so her longing to be part of Taf Gold was heightened. Anth and I received the letter on Friday and decided to keep it until today, her birthday, to give it to her. Bless. It has made her day, and mine as I have to confess that I shed a tear when I found out on Friday as I knew how much it meant to her.

It wasn't just Alice who had a good time..

..umm naughty kitties. They even ripped the paper.

It's been a very busy weekend. Mum and Robin joined us today and I seem to have been running around constantly with no chance to sit and certainly no chance to blog but I intend to go and put my feet up now.

On second thoughts maybe it's a lie down I need...if you look very carefully and count the candles on Alice's cake this tired Mummy only put 11 candles on the cake!! Oops. They were a mixed odd bunch anyway but I'm sure I counted 12!

Oh, and before anyone asks, no I didn't make it myself (me, make a cake - that's saved for my special friends who then promptly drop it in the road, hey Fe?) it was a good old Easter carrot cake from Sainsburys. Happy 12th Birthday darling, we are so pleased for you and hope you have a happy year ahead.