Puttering

The May picture from the BBC H&A calendar. Tranquility.

My summer blankets are coming out of hibernation. The big chunky eiderdowns and duvets are going to be put away after they are aired and their covers washed. I have quite a collection of the chenille/candlewick covers now I am thinking I may sell one or two. Greens and pinks are my favourite. The top one is a lovely pink but it looks white in the photo. I am also going to sell off some of my Cath Kidston/Ikea Rosali items this summer. Once I know how much I will need to send off with my daughter to university I will be doing a nice clear out. Waaaay too many linens in this house!

A touch of gardening but not nearly enough done.

Pansy love.

A wee tin I found in my travels and just liked it. I couldn't get the thing opened and it wasn't until I brought it home that I found a length of pink velvet ribbon inside!

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Did finally get the Prom dress. Beautiful strapless aubergine coloured full length gown with a bit of a train. Superb.

Now for shoes...

What are you up to on this fine day?

I will guess you are just dying to know what I am up too, right? I am so funny. I am eating, savouring and well not to put too fine of a point on it, pigging out totally on the long sought after, previously mentioned biscuits. I FOUND them! Oh the excitement is palatable here. Shortly after I touched on this subject, right here on my little blog I discovered them at my grocery store under a new name. They are now a President's Choice product and are still the same biscuit I have bragged about so many times. After spotting them I had to tell my husband to turn around while I scooped the lot off the shelf. They are now safely hidden in the sideboard in the dining room. Ahhh, relief.

The curtains have been made by my lovely and talented seamstress. I could not get a better shot as the sun is quite hidden in this spot of the house. But they are lurvely. Trust me. I will try and get a better picture so that you can truly appreciate the Sanderson beauty.

Sock knitting at its finest. Slow but beautiful. I knit a pair of these about 3 or 4 years ago in a mauve colourway. They wear like iron. Four winters of wear and not a hole. If you like sock knitting I cannot emphasize more the durability of this yarn. The camera did not pick up the gorgeous colour. It is a pink and pinky red with a moss green.

And finally, washing the green linen curtains that are usually hanging here. I won't get into too much detail but the dog basket sits right beside the curtains on the right and they were quite, um, dirty in that area...however last time I washed them the linen shrunk a wee bit and of course the lining didn't and well I guess that's another job to put on the list.

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I am going to assume that everyone had just the jolliest of holidays. We had several days of doing absolutely nothing. Snuggled down in comfy flannel jimjams watching movies and consuming loads (not exaggerating here in the slightest) of chocolate. Did I mention I found these?

Life is good.

PS You know I could have entitled this "Chocolate Biscuits" but I didn't. That would have been the THIRD time ;)

Please, Please Tell Me...

Why do the clotheslines break AFTER you have put the last item on them?

Rose and Peony Parade

More peonies to love and admire. My mother's are not fully in bloom yet but I will be pilfering some from there as well. Mine are almost finished.

This is Earth Song. What a heavenly shaped rose. Such a pretty colour as well.

John Cabot is doing his bit. It was so windy I was unable to get a really nice photo. I am sure there will be more to come.

William Baffin looking every so charming. He is a very hard worker and loves where he is living. Morning sun and later afternoon sun seems to be his preference. There are hundreds (thousands?) of buds, just waiting to open.

We are still waiting for the Fairy and my Celeste. Soon.

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My summer is really shaping up to be a busy one. I have enrolled the youngest in a camp for two weeks and hopefully a soccer camp later in the summer. We will be away up north for a week or two with my mum and dad, which we do every year. I am also suppose to be going away again with some friends for a weekend shopping in the US and will also be making some trips down there for University trips for DN2. We also have 8-10 home visits lined up with the US universities that wish to come see my daughter at home. This will be taking up much of July.

Again, not sure where all this "time" is suppose to materialise from.

Also, I just made up another batch of the laundry powder. It really lasted quite a long time and am ever so pleased with it. Have you tried it yet?

PS Thank you so very much for your lovely comments on my flowers and the new header. As always, you make my day (week, month...)

Potting Sheds

I am not the neat, tidy, everything has its place type of Potting Shed Girl.

I guess I am more of a shabby, rustic, country type Potting Shed Girl.

We need a new potting/storage shed.

I am loving all these ideas.

Photos:

The Potting Shed

Garden Structures

Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways

(I definitely lean towards The Potting Shed)

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Didn't I totally forget to tell you how the laundry soap worked? Brilliant! I am so happy I tried it. The laundry smells so clean. I know that sounds silly but it smells indescribably clean and fresh. I think I am now a convert. Oh, and very white and stains seem to be disappearing so I will soldier on with the homemade. The recipe is basically this:

2 cups borax

2 cups washing soda

1 bar of grated soap (I used Ivory as that was what I had on hand)

baking soda (not all recipes call for this so I used one box for the whole lot)

I mixed as I went and ending up tripling the recipe. The key here is you only require a couple of TABLESPOONS per load. Seriously, this stuff will last forever.

So thrilled ;)

Lisa xo

This is the plan...

I am going to attempt to make my own laundry soap. My middle daughter has eczema and has always had an allergy to a famous name brand laundry detergent so I have always had to use another brand. Lately, with this brand, she has been complaining of itchiness again so I thought I would give this a try. Apparently, you only use a few tablespoons to half a cup for these homemade mixtures. I am making the powdered version. The liquid just seems too icky as you must boil it on the stove. There are many resources on the web for these recipes. Let me know if you attempt any of them. And wish me luck!

Cath Came Calling

And I answered the door! Actually, my best and lovely friend, Clara, found this shortly before Christmas and snapped it up for me. How lovely is it for Cath Kidston to be here, in Canada! Even if it is just bubbly goodness, it is beautiful.

Well this picture is rubbish. So sorry but you know my camera woes. The Cabbages and Roses book I got myself back on my birthday and there are a few others there Santa was sweet enough to bring me, I will try and get a better picture of them again for you. Oh, and the charming Johnson Brothers teacup and saucer from DN3 picked up at a bazaar for me for Christmas. Love.

And said daughter asked as I was taking the pictures if I ever took a picture of her room. Yes, I have, many moons ago but here is another. The cutest sleeping bag and pillowslip with the most adorable rosebud pattern. Santa was sweet to her as well.

Another tea and biscuit dvd. All Creatures Great and Small. The first series with the original Helen. There was something about her I just loved...

On the "something's gotta give" subject: note to self, do NOT purchase one more pillowslip. Ever. (There are a total of 15 pillows on all our beds right now? Get the picture?) Did you say addiction?

And finally, a wee bit of knitting for the wee bairn soon to grace this lovely world. The bib pattern from the Mason-Dixon Knitting book.

Lisa xo

Sidetracked

Changed the bedding

Gazed at new chandelier

Hung pictures

Filled basket

Ladies, please tell me your secret

Really, how do you get things done? How do you not fall behind on housework, ironing, laundry, the list goes on.

I am perpetually behind. I know I get lost on bloglines (144 and counting), and I sit and stare into flowers in a jug or breezing through magazines and books but I can't be wasting that much time can I? I did have a few appointments this week, the dentist and the doctor (another sinus infection) but I should not be this far behind in everything.

On the way home from the doctor I slipped in to the charity shop and picked up a few items. (See how I try and coordinate my time and errands?) A pretty old painting with peonies.

Oh, and the lampshade as well. This was 5.99 with the price tag still on it. Can you believe it was selling for 119.00 in the store?

And the pillow with the original rose ticking.


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I am now going to clean.


PS When I get my kitchen cupboards painted you all will be the first to see my kitchen

I am here...

But I have been sooo busy. Crafty and busy. We have had rain here almost everyday for 2 weeks now so I thought I would give you a shot of the only plant that looks good. I tried my hands at some Cath Kidston clothes pegs. What do you think?

I think they're sweet. And they will make hanging the washing out so much more enjoyable. If we ever get to hang it out again with all the rains we've had.

I finally lined the picnic basket. It had to be done all by hand. I now know I am terrible at gathering. If you see any tutorials on these let me know. Please, please do not look too closely at the sewing.

We are leaving to get away for a few days and I want to take this with us so we can use it for picnics and at the water. We will be coming home for a few days and then returning. I will leave it with my mum and dad that go off on drives, not knowing where they are going or how long they will be but they always take a packed lunch so it is theirs for the rest of the week.

All ready. Just fill with wine and food.

I have been tagged by Julia. I am to post 5 interesting things about myself that you probably didn't know. My question is do you really want to know? I will think about this while I am away. I do have so much more to tell you but I haven't the time right now as I must pack. My DN3 is finally feeling better. A sore throat for almost 2 weeks. A virus the doctor said. My goodness.

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Oh, and I went away last weekend to Buffalo shopping. You are allowed $400.00 worth of stuff for 48 hours to cross back over without penalty. Who thinks I was a good girl and stuck to my limit? Did I mention there is a Macy's and Lord + Taylor there?

The Wonders of Mactac

Busy little bee. That's me. I have been painting our disgusting laundry room. There are not any before pictures because it was too gross to post. It had, get this, dark wood panelling. Yuk. It is now covered in a very soft white. Positively delightful. My little ironing table that I made ages ago, now looks ever so wonderful against the calm white. I am thinking about some cute vintage glass knobs for the drawer.

I have fallen deeply in love with mactac. I lined the shelves with it and it is so sweet. Did you know it comes in a myriad of patterns now? Not just the ugly fruit ones I remember when I was a wee one. The ones I have here are actually Laura Ashley.

DN2's job yesterday was to adhere the paper to the shelves. She does not appreciate the wonders of mactac. Actually, she hates it. And the little bubbles just about sent her over the edge. No worries, with a little creative adjustments they were gone. Love this stuff. Really.

Break's over. Gotta go.

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Hope you are having a productive week, too!

Pasta, Pictures, Purchasing and Pillows

I am trying to concentrate my effort on achieving some kind of order in the house today. It is undetermined yet as to whether this will actually happen. I do know that we are having Pasta al Forno for dinner tonight, so I figure I am at least one step ahead. Right?
I have also been fiddling with my new camera, trying to not always use "manual" and to figure out some of the features I am obviously not using to my full advantage.

I have a lovely pink geranium that has doubled in size since bringing it inside in the fall. It has decided to bloom.
The beautiful mauve/green hydrangea I picked up for the holidays.
I have thrown this picture in to give you a little hint on my latest project.

Don't you just love spotty fabric?

Oh, did I mention I am suppose to be ironing RIGHT NOW?

My ebay delivery finally came. It was sheets I had ordered in a quaint little gingham pattern, however, gingham does not like to appear live. But it is there and it is adorable.

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Oh, and Colin and Justin are designers that have had many shows here and in the UK. They are hilarious with, I think and very skewed idea of what is desirable but I do love to watch their shows. They now reside, at least part time, in Toronto. I am very sorry to those that had no clue as to who they were. I tend to live in a tiny bubble here. But if you do get a chance to see them, let me know what you think.