It's Christmastime

Quiet gingham corner

Christmas card display table with the branches that fell last week from the big old pine tree in the garden

Look who's hiding in those branches

Of course the paper chain

Vintage Christmas Balls

A wee pine tree growing where it should not have been, plucked into a teacup

Messy dresser, as always

The tree, who can get great pictures of their tree? Not me

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Did the shopping. Did the wrapping. Did the decorating. Did the baking. Now doing the cleaning. How do we do it all? And I don't know about you but this is all pretty well done on my own. Hubby just kind of congratulates me on a job well done.

Thanks honey.

Chocolate Biscuits (Again)

These Milk Chocolate Rounds were available here at Sobeys and IGA. They were packaged under their label of Our Compliments (I think). I need them. I cannot find them. The sanity of this blogger is at stake. If anyone knows where I can find them please let me know.

Thank you.

Blimey, Marks and Spencer, where are you when I need you the most?

PS How sad and pathetic is it that one blogger has used the title "Chocolate Biscuits" more than once as a post title?

Cath Kidston Christmas Catalogue

I know the catalogue has been out for a while and I have been meaning to comment on this since the day mine arrived. On page 10 there is this photo of the girl drawing her bath. At first I thought what a lovely photo! Right? Then I looked really closely at her feet. Is it just me or do they look dirty? And her toenails are, well, how can I put this nicely? They are not clean. I was a little unsure about this and showed it to my husband. His comment? "I don't think she shaved her legs either." Well it is winter right? I guess my legs don't look the best at this time of year either! Well, what do you think? Bad photography or dirty feet?

That being said, I did love so many items and of course do want it all.

And lastly, a handy tip. I always cut out the little fold over shopping list and use it as a bookmark. Do you?

Will Your Christmas be Merry & Bright?

All images are from the beautifully photographed

Merry & Bright

*301 Festive Ideas for Celebrating Christmas

I got it. Sooo lovely.

Knit Hat

I have been totally playing with blogger and flickr, trying to figure out how to easily enlarge my photos without too much html knowledge.

If anyone out there knows how to do this simply please let me know. This is a little baby hat I knit on the weekend. My husband's sister is pregnant and I thought I would knit up something for her for Christmas. The little crochet flower can be taken off if it is a boy. I made the pattern up myself after spotting it on this blog. I just fell in love with that wee hat and could not for the life of me find a pattern on the web so I winged it.



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I am still reeling from the discovery of the horrid conditions at the Toronto Humane Society. Yesterday, it was discovered that the food they have been feeding the animals is over six years old. I just cannot comprehend that there was not any kind of supervision or governing body keeping an eye on this organisation. Who watches the watchers?





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Thanks for popping in and listening to my drivel ;)

Lisa

I am so sickened by this...

Please note there are some very disturbing photos on this page.

What is going to happen next? I am very confused.

How could things have escalated to this degree?

I am still reading reports.

And the saddest thing? My eldest daughter has asked most of her friends and family to donate to The Toronto Humane Society instead of Christmas gifts. Apparently some of the donated funds are used for useless lawsuits.

Jam and Bread

My bedroom is very special to me. I tend to luxuriate in there. I knit in bed. I read in bed. I drink tea in bed. I eat jam and bread in bed. Sometimes, on rainy Saturdays or Sundays, my husband and I just spend salubrious hours, cosied right in beneath the duvets. Right now it is a very soothing green colour. I know it needs to be painted but I loathe the thought of actually doing it. I just lurve this bedroom with the gingham headboard and the ever so lovely wallpaper. Tranquil.

My problem is I love too many styles. And colours. And patterns.

I wish I could pinpoint the look I really want. But, alas, I cannot.

Blues, greens and pinky reds are definitely some of my very favourites.

How sweet is this spot blanket? And the lovely, lovely flowery sheets? Divine!

See how I just love it all? How I cannot make up my mind? Too many choices I tell you!

And just look at that scrummy pale blue pillowslip? And let us not forget that perpetual problem of the husband. Where are the boundaries there?

Photos::Bella Notte, Pineconehill, Google Images

Pumpkin Pie

I know I should be posting pictures of my trip, and I will but I just had to show you someone special.

This is Pumpkin. He showed up at our door around Thanksgiving. Hence the name Pumpkin. He is very, very handsome. And lovable. He doesn't seem to mind the crazy lady that feeds him in her pajamas during the daytime.

He also does not seem to mind kids going in and out with hockey bags, knapsacks and hockey sticks.

And although he knows they are way beneath him, he tolerates the occasional pug that crosses his path. You just know in his head he is saying "silly bugger".

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Soon to update you on my trip with pictures. Did I tell you they won the Gold Medal?

Mary Poppins

Floated in with her umbrella and carpet bag in hand



Many wonderful items were lovingly made



But a special place in my heart



warms to the beauty



of luscious green




Words cannot express my appreciation

Words cannot express my appreciation, Thank you, Mary.

PS Blogger is quite naughty today and will not allow me to link. Please drop by and see Mary at http://marypoppins-homesweethome.blogspot.com/

Leaving Soon

Hello my Pretties! I can only hope your Hallowe'en was as enjoyable as mine. Today is my birthday and we have been celebrating it all weekend. My middle daughter had to leave today for Vancouver as she has been chosen to play at the Women's Nationals for hockey. We are flying out on Wednesday for six days to watch the games. Which leads me to an important question. If any of my readers come from the Vancouver/Surrey area I would appreciate a little insider information on where to go for our type of stuff. You know what I mean. Vintage, antiques, thrift/charity shops, cheery little shops with that touch of retro? Please let me know if you are in possession of this kind of top secret information. I promise not to tell anyone if it is your little secret.

* * *

Have a great week, my Lovelies!

Ahhh, My Personal Favourite...Hallowe'en

Wishing

You

All

A

Truly

Frightful

Hallowe'en

except for the first image and the Grimshaw painting, these are all truly haunted homes

Selina Lake

Another girly crush

Congratulations, London!

I know you will love it!

Anthropologie

Am I the Only One

That wishes Greengate had stores here in North America?

Why must we be deprived of cosiness and comfort?

Where are we to find the beauty of autumn and winter patterns with the Scandinavian touch?

And how gorgeous is that blanket? Hmmm, lovely colours, slightly felted, I wonder if I could copy that...

What I Am Doing

I was trying to figure out which gingham I wanted for the cushions I wish to sew. The phone rang. DN1's professor lost her assignment. Can you please email it to me mum? Now, I need to hand it in. Stop.

Thought about adding another row to my ripple blanket (yes, I am still crocheting this, unbelievable, I know). And thank you so much Fiona, for the lovely cushion! Phone rang. DN3 has forgotten gym clothes. Stop.

In between sad and pathetic distractions, I gaze at my new (to me) enamelware teapot. It matches the coffeepot I got earlier this year, do you remember?

Arrange potted geraniums in window in slight haphazard manner. Phone rang. DN2 and billeted hockey friend are sick at school, need picking up. Stop.

Come home and make cup of tea. Decide to pack it in for the day.

While lying on sofa reading Caroline Graham (good one) and drinking tea, I look out window and think I should have just done this all day...

PS Thank you all so much for the fabric love. Now who will be the next one to snag a bit of this loveliness I wonder?

So Much Prettiness

I would truly like to say I have been a busy bee. That has not been the case. I mean I have been busy doing the usual, but nothing crafty or really fun. I have such a chaotic schedule over the next little while I just feel a bit overwhelmed. But nice things are happening as well. For example, do you remember this charming fabric I found last fall and have been meaning to make into curtains for the kitchen? (We will not discuss exactly how long it has taken me to actually take the fabric to my lovely seamstress that does extraordinary things with the wee bits of fabric I give her). Well as I was perusing Nostalgia at the Stonehouse, don't I come across just the most gorgeous fabric on this little chair she re-covered?

I thought "What beautiful fabric!". Then thought, my gosh, is that the same fabric that I have? Niki seems to be pretty sure it is. And if a professional like Niki thinks it is well than so do I.

Well, what do you think? I am sure you have all visited her before but if you haven't why don't you drop by? She has lots of handmade goodies as well.

And another little surprise that warmed my heart. Jane (sadly blogless) emailed me to tell me she has been using my hexagon knitting pattern to make this stunning blanket for her son that is going away to University. She got the idea from this magazine page and had googled "knitted hexagon pattern" and found mine. It is so terribly nice to hear from people that have used the pattern. Brilliant job, Jane!

I am working on one or two things as well but the camera is missing (again) and I will not torture you all with the other sad excuse of a camera that is our backup.

Stay tuned, I will have pictures eventually.

Lisa

Always Hungry for Toast

Gather the wood

Light the fire Pour the wine

Fall is here

Images :: Toast

Nigella

As I was watching an episode of "Nigella Bites" the other night, I was totally struck by the appearance of Nigella. She had long stringy hair, parted in the middle, a not quite so beautiful complexion and nose that appeared much larger than what she has now in more recent shows. This particular episode was many years old, I presume. I wasn't even sure at the time it was her. I found this older photo of her and it is very much like what she looked like on the old program.

I'm thinking some polishing was done over the last few years. That being said I think she is a beautiful woman. I may even have a little girly crush on her. I think she exudes sensuality with that mix of domesticity that is charming and at the same time nonthreatening.

But that is just my opinion ;)

Home

I know, I know, I could be a bit more inventive than the jug of flowers. But I did some cleanup yesterday for a little get together for the two oldest birthdays (bad mum, 3 weeks and 6 weeks late) and I just thought they looked pretty. And quite frankly, the tidiest area in the whole house.

Things have been so busy and chaotic around here. Loads and loads of laundry (3 or 4 full loads per day), appointments, shopping well you all know the routine, right?

We are still doing tours of schools. The above picture are the dorms at Renssaeler (I will get the correct spelling of this one day). What a lovely campus. Just not sure about the surrounding area. Our first introduction to the city was a transvestite in a purple dress, running shoes and soccer socks at the gas station. Hmmm...

This is Quinnipiac. I did not go with her to this one. She went on an official visit there on the weekend. She is in loooooooove with this one.


And Clarkson. Beautiful, scenic campus. Gorgeous rink (yes, rinks can be gorgeous to hockey players). And did I mention it is only 5 hours from Mummy?

Guess which one I am loving so far ;)

The Girl in the Cafe

I watched this movie on Saturday.
I think Kelly MacDonald is so beautiful.


What a great movie. If you get a chance, watch it.

Liberty At Pottery Barn

Did we know Liberty of London was at Pottery Barn for Kids?

I obviously need to get in the loop!

Still travelling...