Kitchen Windows

I would not be exaggerating if I told you I am jealous of windows. Fiercely. Not in windows generally, just those that are in the kitchen, above the sink. I do not have a window right above my sink, and I think it is so beautiful and calming.

Shouldn't it be mandatory that all kitchen sinks must have a window above them? I have an angled sink that looks at the window but is not directly below the window. Next kitchen, I am telling you right now? Must have the window. They are just too pretty not to.

So just for the record, if you have such a window, I am jealous.

Pretty Flowers

A lovely vintage flower picture. Oh, how I adore these old pictures of roses and hydrangeas.

This is one of the poinsettias I had from Christmas. It still looks gorgeous. Isn't it the most adorable poinsettia? And it has barely dropped a leaf.

One of my many needlepoint cushions. Just because I love it.


A little vintage needlepoint lipstick case Mother gave me so many years ago and for whatever reason it sits in the drawer in the kitchen.

A little painted tin for the porch I picked up thrifting.

And a super crappy picture of cupcakes made last night and almost gone this morning. Which brings me to this week's question, how many cupcakes in one day are too many? My great friend Clara told me if you have to ask it is too many. We decided three is quite enough for one day. What do you think? Five too many? Just for the record, I had three yesterday, one of which, was not iced.

Happy Valentine's Day and a Few Snippets

This is the card I got my husband last Valentine's day. Oh, my goodness, I thought it was just the sweetest looking card ever. I have saved it and was unable to find one as adorable this year so I thought I would post another picture of it. I am sorry to say our day will be spent going back and forth from hockey games between two of the three daughters. There will not be a romantic dinner for us today. But Mr. Vintage and Rosy isn't one to care. And I do not mean that in a bad way. We have a wonderful relationship and appreciate each other every single day, not just on Valentine's. We go to dinner without kids two or three times a month and some evenings or weekend mornings we hide inside our bedroom with pots of tea and biscuits and while away the hours in each other's company reading, cuddling and watching our favourite movies. As a matter of fact, my oldest had to write one of those lists on facebook that they are all getting now and one of her "non-fiction" statements was "my mother is the luckiest woman in the world to have my father as a husband". She also wrote "I believe my parents are the best parents in the world. Truly". Is that not a wonderful Valentine's Day gift?

But I must admit I would much rather be grabbing my true love and wandering the countryside with my picnic basket in hand and pretty thermos full of tea. Wouldn't that be lovely? We will pretend that is possible and totally forget that it is -12 C with the windchill here right now.

We will continue to pretend and stare longingly at the jug of flowers from my garden last year.

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Have a beautiful day, my pretties, whatever you do.

Lisa xo

~PS Rachel Ashwell has written an update on her blog if you are interested~

Things That Made Me Smile Today

my favourite tea towels

my green transferware sink

the blue transferware cup in the girl's bathroom

February Homes and Antiques (thank you Sara)

my kitchen counter

my new vintage tin

I hope there are many things in your home that made you smile today!

Was Price the Problem?

Just an update, ladies. I am not sure if some of you are aware of the Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic website that carries her products. The items are/were very expensive (although there is no denying her items are gorgeous) and have led to a discussion type forum on the previous post. Check it out for yourself, I am interested in knowing what you think?

More Sad and Shabby News

Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic fame has filed for Bankruptcy Protection categorised as Chapter 11 in the United States. How sad. You can read her blog entry here. I do not know if this is just for her stores or for the merchandise she sells at Target as well.

I know during these tough economic times there really isn't any company that is safe but I thought there was a real resurgence going on with that kind of decorating and style. I wonder though, as her Shabby Home products were terribly expensive. Perhaps that has bearing on it.

We shall see how much her items increase in value on ebay.


PS I am without my desktop for a few days while it is in for repair. Posts may be sporadic. But I am reading all of you on my daughter's laptop.

Lisa xo

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London, England ~ Closed Today

I found these beautiful photos at BBC.

How did you spend your snow day? I am envisioning cooking, crafting and knitting.

Uncontained Excitement

Are you ever so excited you just cannot contain yourself? That is how I was yesterday. A parcel was delivered and I was so anxious to open it but I had to drive my daughter to her exam and had to wait until I got home. Then when I did open it, I just wanted to stare at it. Oooh, so lovely.

The Cath Kidston flowery dusters I have been drooling over at so many blogs. Look at that pretty pattern. Perhaps too beautiful for dusting? (I don't even want to take them out of the package)

And what is this? Sarah Smith? Does Sarah have a little crush on Cath too? Mmmm. But how cute are they?

And, finally, BBC Homes and Antiques. How fabulous is that? Not easy to find here and when you do it is well over a month behind.

So here is the story of my lovely gifts. I am reading a very cute little blog called Flossie and Tom. She blogs about her lovely dusters. I comment on how beautiful they are along with all her other pretty goodies and what does she do? Writes me back and offers to send me some. How sweet is that? After a little swap arranging, here we are. Aren't we all so lucky to belong to this wonderful place called the blog world?

Thank you so much, Sara.

Does Debbie Bliss Have a Crush on Cath Kidston?

I mean who doesn't, right? But as I'm breezing through the beautiful images of the Debbie Bliss books I'm getting a real Cath Kidston-esque feel.

What do you think? Or perhaps they are the same person?

Have they every been in the same room together?

Cuteness, eiderdowns, fair isle patterns, polka dots?

I wonder...

But seriously, the patterns in these books are wonderful. I am thinking about knitting the most charming little booties in the Quick Baby Knits books. Oh, they are simply darling. I also started some socks with some Trekking yarn I've had for about two years. My imagination is so much more organised than my real life.

source: Quick Baby Knits and Home by Debbie Bliss

I Love Green

I love green. Green paint, green doors, green velvet. I love green depression glass, green Carltonware and green jadeite.

I have a collection of green transferware.

Lately, I have been thinking about painting. Everything, other than the laundry room needs a good re-do and sprucing up.

My bedroom is a lovely shade of green right now. Very tranquil and serene. And is a colour that seems to go well with so many other colours.

So I am not quite sure where to go from here. I love turquoise too. These are wonderful colours for a bedroom as they evoke such calmness and serenity.

So I am not quite sure whether to stick with another shade of green, the same shade or go with something closer to the blues.

Sometimes too much choice is more of a problem than not enough choice. Do you have these dilemmas with paint colours as well? I am always so undecided til it is actually up on the walls. Although, I must say I have never re-painted a room because I hated the colour so much. That would be dreadful.

Still pondering...

Just What America Seems to Need Right Now...Beautiful

a little love

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