Our Vacation Thus Far...

The beach homes along the shore.

This one is lovely.

This is the little turn of the century home we are staying at.

Another home right on the beach.

This one is so wonderfully maintained. Really stunning.

I had to show you the most charming taps in our washroom.

Our cosy bedroom with the original chintz linoleum.


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We are returning there today or tomorrow for four or five more days of rest, reading and eating.

I Won!!!

I won! Tracey at Funkymonkey emailed me with the most amazing news a little while ago. I won her blog contest, can you believe it? I never, ever win anything. Ever. But I did. And do you see what I won? The most gorgeous blue spotty bag from Tesco. Remember the Tesco that would not open a store for me in Canada when I wanted to buy a gazillion Cath Kidston Marie Curie bags?

Not only did I win the blue spotty bag but on the same day I won an ebay auction for the floral one. I won't say how much I paid for it but I do hope some of the proceeds went towards the charity.




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So please go visit Tracey and say hello. She has the most wonderful blog. Lovely pictures, beautiful garden, I just know you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Thank you so much, Tracey.



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PS I did have two more pictures of the spotty bag but blogger did not want to upload pictures today, I am quite lucky I could post what I did.

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?

Most Humbled

The lovely Dawn at The Gahan Girls has honoured me with this award. A few words about Dawn. I came across her blog a few months back and it was one of those blogs you love instantly. You know the ones where you immediately begin looking through archives because, alas, you have met another soulmate? That was how it has been ever since. Soulful moments, charming thrift finds and delightful photography. Did I mention the dog? One of the most handsomest fellows in blogland?

A most profound thank you, Dawn.

Here are the rules:

1. Please put the logo on your blog.

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.

3. You must nominate 7 fellow bloggers for this award.

4. Add links to the recipients.

5. Leave a comment so the recipients know they have received an award.

These are the bloggers I am nominating:

Sairer at Vintage, Pretty and Shabby. And not just because she leaves me beautiful comments. Her blog epitomizes comfortable, shabby decor and I love it. Not to mention some very heartfelt posts.

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Julia at Vintage Heaven. Just because she makes living look so beautiful.

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Vee at A Haven for Vee. What can I say? A sweetie that always has a kind word. Those that know Vee know exactly what I mean.

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Elizabeth at Kittycafe. We have known eachother quite a while now and have been blogging for about the same time. A creative and homey blog with inventive ideas.

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Kim at Ragged Roses. Because Kim can show us beauty everywhere. In a simple tumbler, an edge of a lampshade or jug full of candy canes.

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Deborah at This Vintage Life. Eiderdowns, Carltonware and chickens. What more is there to love? Well there's a beautiful garden, a lovely shop...

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Cathy at PinkGreen. Just because everything looks fun there. And because I am insanely jealous of her 5 pound carpet. And all her wonderful Cath things. And well she's just a great read.

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I do have so much more to tell you but I have had an ill child for two days now and must get back to the Florence Nightingale thing.

Stay tuned and thanks again, Dawn.

Tidying Up

Before I forget, thank you all for the potting bench love. It really isn't much but it works for me beautifully. I am not a neat gardener and I used to make the most horrid mess planting on the patio table. Now I just hose off the dirt and that's that.

Here are some pictures of the livingroom. I tidied up a bit in there yesterday and thought it looked pretty. The sun was shining in a bit and it looked fairly decent so I thought you could have a peek. The other end you have seen before but this is the business end.
This is where I knit, crochet, read and listen to the radio. I have often thought about changing the colour in here but I can't help but still love the cosiness of the burgundy. The sun streams through around 4:00 and it is a very peaceful spot. This is the room where I hear the best stories from the girls. It is a place without the distractions of television and playstation. For some reason it opens up their thoughts and without much prodding I get to hear almost everything that goes on in their busy and exciting lives. What's that about living vicariously through others? Not I.


So this room is relatively tidy. I must continue on cleaning the rest of the house that is, quite frankly, coated in dog hair. Speaking of dogs, I came across this painting by Henry Barraud. Did you know back then they used to clip the pugs ears? Aren't they funny? But the picture is quite lovely don't you think?

Have a wonderful weekend. And thanks so much for taking the time to read my little blurbs.

xoxo

My Potting Bench, Possible Sewing Project and a Jaunt Through the Garden

I had to show you a picture of "The Fairy" rose. One of the hardest working roses. It will bloom here until November.

My little potting bench. It is a vintage enamel topped table with a little drawer. I got it at a garage sale for $10.00 and it was worth every penny.

I moved the plant in the middle so you can see the rock.

It is a very famous rock. My mother took a wee piece of this with her last time she was in England. Shhhh! You do remember me telling you it was for sale?

Oh, Elderberry, how you have grown! And your neighbour, John Cabot, so happy together.

A mix of white and blue lobelia in an old baby blue tub.

A few pots with lisianthus, geraniums, lavender...

And my sewing project. My mum and dad used to deal in wicker years ago and gave me this ugly picnic basket that I detested. Brown and beige sort of stripes through it. Horrid. Then, late one night, while trying to sleep, it occurred to me. Paint the thing. So I did. Now it has to be lined.

I'm thinking that's the hard part.

Ikea Slipcover

Sweet Julia and Kelly were curious to see how the slipcover worked out for my club chair. I kind of delayed it as I wanted to wash the cushion cover to see if it would shrink a wee bit in the wash. It did, but the over all cover is still a smidge big but I like the look of slipcovers that are, you know, loose and cosy looking.

I am quite pleased with the overall look so now the poor chair my mum gave me now seems to have a new life.

I don't think the Ikea picture does it any justice. It really is a sweet pattern with touches of blue morning glories that you really can't pick up on the camera (at least not my camera).

Oh, and all the flowers are from the garden. What I managed to pick in between the huge rains we've had over the last 2 weeks.

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Thanks for taking the time to drop by.

Cath Kidston Delights Tesco

Oh, dear Tesco, where are you when I need you the most?

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!

Ask and You Shall Receive...

Tim Tams are the most delectable cookie ever to pass these lips. I wrote a whole post on them a while back and am ashamed to admit, still very addicted to them and am totally guilty of cleaning out a whole store, without any remorse whatsoever. I am such a pig. For those in the UK they should be available at Tesco's.
Skinny Sticks are usually in the organic section. They are kind of chip/crisp like but better for you. Well that's what I tell myself if I polish off a whole bag. Moving on.

I picked this up today. I got a brain wave at 1:00 am while lying in bed trying to sleep that I have a club chair in the family room that desperately needed a new slipcover and thought jeez doesn't Ikea have a chair like this? Don't they sell a slipcover for it? Wouldn't it look great on that club chair? Bob's your uncle. Did I mention we have three (3) Ikeas here within a 20 minute drive?

I think I'm a lucky puppy.

Tagged

By KnittingMania


1. What was I doing 10 years ago:

I had a nine year old and a 6 year old. My six year old was just learning how to play hockey, if I knew then what I know now… Stay at home mum, doing the kid things, still gardening and playing house


2. My five favorite snacks:

Tim-Tams, herbed goat cheese on water biscuits, any nut I can find, anything covered in chocolate, and here’s a kicker, Skinny Sticks


3. Five things on my to do list today:

Ironing, trying to find the floor in the laundry room, putting clothes away, figuring out a nutritious dinner people will eat AND enjoy, weed the garden


4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

Charity, Family, Animals, buy large property



5. Five jobs that I've had:

Sample girl at grocery store, cashier, office manager, supply teacher, and still striving for that perfect housewife thing


6. Five bad habits of mine:

Obsessive bed making and adjusting (ask my husband about this one when he is helping me change the bedding)

untimely sarcasm

5 o’clock pm snacker (I become gluttonous just before the dinner hour after not eating all day and consume an odd mixture yogurt, Tim-Tams, and sometimes, pickles or olives while I am preparing another meal to eat)

I am sometimes just a bit too honest

I tend to whistle while I talk to people on the phone


7. Five places I've lived:

Well, the truth of the matter is, I am like a Dixie Chick song, I married my high school sweetheart and moved to a home eight doors away from my parents basically the same postal code


8. Five random things people wouldn't know about me:

I pray every night

I fall asleep thinking of THE most random things like whether the dog food I have for Dibbs is fattening, did I leave that load in the washer and should I let my daughter go to university in the US, what if she meets a guy down there and wants to stay…

I think my nose is the only redeeming quality of my whole face and actually thought of a nose ring/stud at one time

I have an irrational fear of driving over water and on bridges

I get inexplicable cravings for peanut butter and at night, right before bed, I will take a tablespoon, scoop and eat right from the jar but would yell at my kids if I caught them doing such a dastardly act


9. Five cd's I would have on a desert island:

U2 “The Joshua Tree”
The Three Tenors
Oasis not sure which one probably “What’s the Story, Morning Glory”
The Best of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Andrea Bocelli “Romanza”


10. People I want to get to know better:

I will leave this up to anyone that wants to play

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Now aren't you sorry you clicked me today?

The Power of the Peony

In the bedroom.

On the kitchen table.

In the livingroom.






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Have a spectacular weekend.

When I'm Not Gardening...

I am reading in the garden. A House in the Country by Jocelyn Playfair. I can't tell you how much I am enjoying this book.
Kitchen Essays by Agnes Jekyll. Sister-in-law to the other famous Jekyll. I haven't really read this one yet but am so looking forward to it.

And lastly, Every Eye by Isobel English.


I am unable to get many of the Persephone Books here. They do not seem to be widely distributed in Canada. So I have to go to the website, get the titles and authors and look in the stores or in the library for them published by other houses.







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I hope you are all having a wonderful week. The weather has broken here but the humidity is coming back tomorrow. Nasty.

Thanks for dropping by.

Saturday

Sad ~ because it is almost 40 degrees with the humidity and too hot to sit in my favourite spot in the garden
Overwhelmed ~ because my mother picked this up for me at a church sale and only paid 50 cents for it

Happy ~ because the ripple blanket is so beautiful and tranquil to crochet and so very pleased with the yarn

Giddy ~ because things are really starting to bloom, finally

Happy Weekend!