Salutations on this most Hallowed Day...

In celebration of this Hallowe'en day I present to you one of my most favourite set designs of all time.

The Practical Magic home.

This home was featured in a Victoria magazine shortly after the film debuted. I have this magazine somewhere but how divine is this chair? This set designer is a genius.

How gorgeous is this conservatory?

This aubusson is stunning.

Aga love.

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Happy Hallowe'en

Source: Amasveritas and Google Images

Trying to fit my birthday in...

I am sitting at my desk trying desperately to figure our schedule over the next week or so. Friday night is Hallowe'en and DN2 has a hockey game. I must stay to give out sweets while my husband takes her to her game. My youngest will go with a neighbour for the trick or treating part. Saturday is my birthday. We have two hockey games so any kind of celebration will be postponed.

Sunday is a whole other matter. We must drive DN2 3 hours east of here as she has been chosen to represent Ontario at the 2008 National Women's Under-18 Championship. She is then gone for the whole week til the following Sunday. We then have to be back here to prepare for a charity function at 5:00. Not sure when I will eat cake?

Perhaps just a celebration with my bloggy friends?

Canadian Home and Country Magazine

You simply must go visit and order a subscription. They have a brand new website with tips, forums and wonderful pictures and ideas. You know I have talked about them before.

Still in love...

A Day in My Life

Not that it is exciting by any means. My days consist mostly of driving children to and from schools and subway stations. All three girls go to different schools, the oldest in university. In between jaunts I shop, cook, bake, knit and crochet. Notice I didn't mention cleaning, ironing and laundry? But there is that too. Today I went directly to the supermarket after dropping off the oldest, specifically for barley for the beef soup I am making from the Sunday prime rib roast.

That being done, I found a recipe for yummy brownies and decided we were in need of a chocolate fix.

My little man has been wondering when there will be time for a walk along the ravine. Poor guy. Mummy hasn't taken him for a good walk in days. Today is a definite coat and wellies day. The temperatures have really started to drop and leaves are blowing around like a true autumnal day.

And, finally, last night I did another row of the ripple blanket. And guess what? The yarn ran out about 15 stitches away from the end of the row. I do not have any more of this particular yarn. Don't you just love it when the wool gods are not on your side?

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Please forgive the super lousy photos. As you may have guessed, the camera is not fixed and I am still using the not so brilliant one.

PS I just loved all the comments on my rose fabric post. I am elated to know there are so many people out there just like me that totally love fabric and buy it with absolutely no plan for it whatsoever.

Knitting (The Planning Stage)

Grab your bag, you are coming on a knitting tour with me...

I love to knit when the weather turns, like it has here. I have so many projects in mind I do not know where to start. There is a baby coming in the family soon so I must concentrate on that, I know.

The problem is I already have a couple of things on the needles and hook. I have not finished the Ripple blanket yet. I have a granny square baby blanket I have to sew up (yuk) and one or two other items that need finishing.


But I sooo want to dive in and knit something for myself. (Selfish thing that I am).


Don't you just adore Rowan? Their patterns are always shown so well in their magazines and books. Don't you just want to grab your carpet bag and hop on a steam train?


So lovely. I am also a huge fan of Louisa Harding.


Well, for heaven's sake, go knit something!





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Have a great weekend!



Sources:



Rowan

Kim Hargreaves



Louisa Harding

Fabric and Roses

On Sunday my girlfriend and I went to a large antique market and all I came home with was a Laura Ashley cosmetic bag and what else? Fabric. It is truly beautiful and when the camera is repaired I will show it to you.

This brings me to the question of what the heck am I going to do with all this fabric? I have quite a bit for someone that is a novice sewer. The problem is I cannot resist gorgeous floral fabric. Period.

I absolutely revel in it. It gives me such a wonderful feeling it is almost indescribable. I am sure those that have this addiction know exactly what I am saying. But I only have the need for so many cushions. And blankets. And sheets. And pillowslips.
What is it about these fabrics that evoke such euphoria in me?

That being said, I had some lovely sheer fabric in a cotton print that I just used for curtains on the back door. DN1 was kind enough to point out last night that they have a floral print in them. Gee mum, more florals? I cannot emphasize enough the sarcasm that was in her voice.

Do you love fabric as much as this? Are you addicted? What do you do with all your fabric? And does hubby ever comment on the growing pile or the florification of your home?

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I will update you with photos as soon as there is a working camera available;)

Potting Bench

I receive many googled searches for potting bench, potting table and vintage potting bench. Since I had these stored on my computer I thought it might make some one's day today to find a whole collection of them on one page. Not to mention I still do not have a good camera and thought this may fill a post nicely.

I just love this one, up against a stone wall. I don't think I would keep books out there, however.
Here's a little space saver. In the galvanized metal. What a great idea.

How pretty is this? What a lovely shade of blue.

I adore the scalloped edge on this one.

This is a cute idea.

How easy is this? A table and some simple trellis at the back.

Storage can be as simple as a few planks held across by pots or bricks.

It really is only limited to your imagination. I have seen the simplest ones made just using a table and old wooden crates. It certainly does not have to be elaborate, it is for potting and dealing with dirt for heaven's sake.

Sources:

Becky's Barn

Family Home Plans

Argos

Country Home

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

The Nicest Compliment

picture of the "Burrow"

A friend of DN2 came over on Saturday night. As she walked through the house she told my daughter "I just love your kitchen. It is right out of Harry Potter". I'm thinking that is a compliment, right?

Just to let you ladies know, the picture above is not my kitchen. It is from Harry Potter. I do wish, however, that it was my kitchen. I'm thinking if it was indeed that dark, the Pug hair would surely not show quite so much.

And then there were none...

We are down to our last camera. And it doesn't seem like it is long for this world. It kept shutting off while I was trying to take these pictures. Oh, boy. Who was talking about this kind of stuff happening in threes? Someone in blogland. Well, I dropped the iron today. I don't mean a gentle slip from the ironing board on to the carpet. I mean a "what the heck is stuck to the bloody ironing board, why isn't coming with me?" Yank, pull, ooops. It ricocheted off the dryer before it bounced on the concrete floor. Now that still works. This little spot in the family room/kitchen got a little makeover. Well, not really a makeover just a new table. Okay, new to me. Mother gave it to me and I painted it. It was a deep Chinese red. Really red. Super red. I feel calmer with it white. Above is the lovely print my parents got me for my birthday last year. Remember I just happened to have an antique frame the exact size hidden under my bed?

Moving on. A cute jug I found while I was away. $1.99 well spent, I must say. The hydrangeas are from the garden. They are lovely shades of purple, mauve, blue and blue/green.

Elderberry Syrup. That's what this will be in another half hour. Elizabeth gave me a great idea. Finally, the bane of my existence may somehow be beneficial. I say this because the bleedin' bush is so enormous now it has crept into the neighbours yard and is beginning to take over there as well. They may make me start paying rent. It is humongous, so it better start paying its way.

Darling, Sorry I've Not Been Around

But we were away for the last three days in New York for a Hockey Tournament. But I am here now to show you some pictures I've had for a while stored and thought you would enjoy. They are from a book called English Country something and I loved it. I call the style "English Country Clutter". That is kind of my decorating philosophy and it works for me.

The bedroom is not so cluttered but soothing and relaxing.

Look at that gorgeous lamp in the sitting room.

More cluttery lovliness. Gosh, Martha would hate my style.

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And want to hear some irony? All the compliments on my photography (thank you) and I go and break the camera the first day of school. Someone is laughing at me right now.

Porch Rippling ~ An Update on Crocheting the World's Largest Ripple Blanket

I have spent a few days here and there doing some Porch Crochet. The problem is it cannot be too warm as the darn thing is getting fairly large and hot. The last few days seem to be cooling down so that has allowed for some serious rippling. The shot below is the "Pretend it is Totally Done" shot.

This next shot is the "Holy crap, that is all I've done?" shot.

Twenty-four stripes thus far. I have been using Paton's Merino and the most lovely Cascade 220. Really mad at myself for stupidly ordering only four skeins when it was on sale for just over $4.00. It is now 7 or 8 dollars. One colour takes me about an hour. That's while watching television. If this or that is too interesting, it may take longer.

I am also trying to quickly knit some umbilical cord hats and gum-nut hats for a baby just born at my husband's office. We will see how those turn out considering I haven't knit in months. Rippling is all consuming.

The Three P's (Picnicking, Plum Cake Eating, Picking Fruit and Veg)

Picking the pears from our garden yielded me a small load today. They should be dropping off by the dozens by next week. My husband brought home goodies from his parent's house last night. More green beans, lovely Roma tomatoes (long gone) and some cucumbers. Much, much more to come, I am sure.
I have been picnicking with DN3. It seems the appeal of watching goldfish in the pond, running the dog at top speed and bird watching is lost on 16 year olds and 19 year olds. But the 10 year old loves it and asks everyday, "are we going to the park for a picnic today?"

And I made a plum cake. I always want to show you how brilliant my culinary endeavors turn out but, alas, I am greedy and always dive in before a proper picture can be taken. But can't you see I loved it? I poured some double cream on top of it. Is that bad?



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I will be giving you an update shortly on the Ripple Afghan which is coming along nicely, just so terribly wwwwide. Whose idea was it to make one of these in kingsize anyhow?



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Oh, and silly me, I forgot to mention in the set design post which movie I was showcasing. It is The Holiday with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet.