New Routines....

Happy Sunday :)

I'm sitting here writing this with a steamy hot cuppa and buttery crumpet...yum :)

This week has been all change for me...I'm very house proud...I like things to look nice...clean...tidy and lovely to look at (something Hubby does not understand...as there's just us and the dog to look at it!)...but I'm not in love with housework...as you know I'm good at lists but have never been very good at routines...I had made my mind up last week when feeling under the weather...that a simple cleaning and tidy routine would be a great idea...there has been much reading about such routines on the internet over the past few months...so the plan went into action...now before bed I tidy up everywhere...put Puppy Dogs toys away (of which there are many!)...make sure the kitchen is all tidy...bleach the sink...straighten the cushions and blankets...tidy my crochet away....tidy up the books...its so quick to do and I can't believe what a difference this little change has done! When I get up in the morning...instead of thinking...I really need to tidy up...its all lovely...neat...tidy...straight and dare I say clean looking! It really starts the day off great...I feel that I'm on top of things already...its made the days seem calmer...and because I don't have to start tidying I've got more of the dreaded "proper" housework done! Its been a win/win situation :) I'm feeling so chuffed I've extended my "routine" to the laundry and dishwasher...I now load...wash...and then put away the crockery from the dishwasher instead of leaving it till the morning...and with the laundry...its washed, dried, ironed and put away in the same day...I've been asking myself why it has taken this long to "cotton on" to this idea???

~O~

Thankfully the lovely weather has continued this week...apart from a blip in the middle for one day when it just rained continuously...our eldest grandson came to visit this week as it was half term...its lovely that he still wants to come and spend time with us and his great grand parents...he's a teenager now so you don't really expect them to move out of their rooms and the gaming station! He is very grown up these days...but it was lovely to see boy in him when we took Puppy Dog over the fields to play ball...he took great delight in sending her running through all the muddy patches (he didn't have to bath her afterwards!)...he giggled away to himself happily...I even got a hug goodbye when he left...I usually get a "see ya nan" :) 

On another day Hubs and me decided we would go down to the bottom field...we haven't been there for months as it just floods...but with all the dry weather we had had we figured it may have dried out...which it had...mostly...Puppy was overjoyed to free...playing with sticks :)

"go on...pick up my stick and throw it for me...you know you want too"

The sun was out but boy was it ever cold...the wind was biting...hence my very wrapped up yeti look :)

These gorgeous silver birch trees we pass on our trail were peeling off their winter coat to reveal the silvery white new bark for the Spring...its definitely on its way :)

~O~

We have had another Birthday this week...Hubbys...so I made his favourite lemon sponge cake :)

The birthdays come thick and fast now...until the beginning of June and then it slows down a bit...so there will be lots of present buying over the next few weeks :)

I just have to show you how my roses open up from last week...they have been stunning...

aren't they beautiful :)

~O~

On the crochet front...I'm plodding on with the stripes and squares blanket...plodding is the wrong word really...I'm loving doing it...its just I have lots of other ideas popping into my head...I want to start them too :)

The daily squares are being completed...can't quite believe how many days have gone already this year! Hubby thinks I'm making a new carpet! Ha ha :)

And I've sorted through my little left over basket and found a few more missing colours for my colour wheel...

This is the little hoard of crafty bits I purchased the other week...wooden boxes to decoupage, little wooden eggs for Easter...a see through frame for...not sure yet but I have been after one of these for sometime...and a pocket watch case...this is for later on in the year...I do have a plan :)... this little lot should keep me happy for a while...not sure what I will use the boxes for...just loved them...the little buckets have been put straight in the bathroom with shells in them :)

~O~

From the net this week...my favourite thing has been...this planter I love it...last year I re-homed one of these buckets from a skip...a few more and I could build this???

and for the interior...I am completely in love with Blanket Ladders...I have this week commissioned my Dad to make me one for the lounge...so I hope he's busy up the garage making it as I write...ha ha :)

Well what a romp through the week that has been!  I better go and start the late, late lunch we are having today...as we had a late, late breakfast :)

I will leave you with this weeks vintage photo....

Penny Sweets!...fruit salads were my favourite...used to have these from the corner shop every afternoon on the walk home from school :)

This week quote...

I am so thankful for everything in my life...I try not to complain...and taking life day by day is good advice I think :)

Have a fabulous week....enjoy everything you do...see ya next week xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Happy Valentines :)

Hello...late again this week...but for a very good reason...I've been partying...its been my Grandsons Birthday...so lovely buffet food, lovely company...and glasses of fizz...fabulous :) and playing with light sabres :)

Happy Valentines I hope you have all had a lovely day

I have to say it has been a much better week than the previous one! Everyone is well again and almost back to fighting fit...myself...I have been a bit out of sync...a little down...I sometimes wish I had a clone of myself so I could give myself a good talking to and to knock some sense into me...but there isn't...so I have been taking it easy...going with the flow...and doing some grounding work...I have found myself feeling a bit anxious at times...so I thought I would share how I try and bring my mind back into focus and calm down...it might help someone out there who needs it...first I make sure I'm doing plenty of deep breaths in...holding for a few seconds before breathing right out...then look around you...wherever you are...outdoors is better but indoors is fine...find 5 things you can see and focus on them...then 4 things you can touch....feel the textures, the rough and the smooth...3 things you can hear...you'll be surprised what you hear when you really listen, birds, cars, alarms, water, your heart beat...then 2 things you can smell...maybe grass, flowers, the air after rainfall, baking...then try and find 1 thing you can taste...this one can be hard, I don't always find this one...but just the trying makes your mind focus...This really brings you into the now, grounds you and takes away the anxiety as your not thinking about it....

The weather has been beautiful here in middle England...I know parts of the UK have had snow and others lots of rain...but we have had beautiful frosty mornings, freezing air but the bluest of skies and sunshine everyday...although accompanied by cold strong winds...it has been a pleasure being outside...Winter may still be holding us tightly by the hand...but Spring is letting us know she is there...waiting in the wings...I have seen the first leaves of bluebells sneaking out of the ground...catkins on the trees...the buds of the blossom trees just waiting to burst open and more and more daffodils...so she's definitely not far away :)

I was going to buy some bright and cheery daffs for the house this week...then I stumbled on these...a little pot of loveliness for the same price...but you get the bulbs to plant in the garden after....

they have been double headed flowers too...

Baking this week has been all about our Grandsons birthday cake...Star Wars the theme this year...

It went down a storm...thankfully...he had this for his party yesterday with all his friends...today we had lovely cupcakes made by my daughter...she's turning into quite the cake maker :)

I also purchased a spiraliser this week...just a cheap one to try it out...courgette has never been so creative...ha ha...but it was easy to use and great fun and even Hubby ate courgette without moaning :)

I had a little trip out to the Range...I love their craft section...in fact I love all of the store...I got some little bits and bobs for crafty makes over the next few weeks...but I forgot to photo them...so I will do that for next weeks post...Crochet has been steady...daily squares are done...and as I had the new Stylecraft Colour Chart...I thought a little organising of my colour wheel was in order and to also see how many colours I was missing...the answer...lots and lots...so more yarn to buy...yippee! :)

The Stripes and Squares blanket is taking shape...the next block of stripes have been completed and work is well on the way with next block of squares...this was my Friday evening...crochet and Gin and Tonic...I know how to live you know! :)))

Hubby gave me the most beautiful bouquet flowers for Valentines...quite a shock as we don't normally bother...maybe he had picked up that I have been a little "out of sorts"...their fragrance is amazing...

My perusal through the internet this week has been on kitchens for some reason...I have no idea why...the only thing I can think of is my latest obsession with barn sliding doors...and a lot are on kitchens...like this one...

I'm in love with these doors! And look at that pantry! A large pantry is definitely on my dream house wish list :)

This is my favourite Pin of the Week...

such a lovely space...loving the duck egg blue doors...and its so achievable for us mere mortals :)

Well I've taken enough of your time for this week...and Country File is about to start :)  so I leave you with this weeks vintage picture...keeping with the theme of today....

Love Hearts are now officially vintage...they came into production in 1954...I haven't had any for many, many years but I bet the words have changed now in these modern days...it will be all text speak etc I suppose...ha ha

This weeks quote....

I'm going to do just that...I'm going to start my "Happy Thoughts" scrapbook...gather up all my dreams and put them in one place.... :)

Have a fantastic week...enjoy everything you do...and go and collect a few dreams :) xxxxxxx

 

 

Not The Week I Had Planned....

Well Hello there....

Its been a funny ol' week! Monday started good...I had plans for this week...crafty and tasks to add to the daily list calendar...

Monday evening Hubby came home from work feeling quite poorly....now he is prone to "Man Flu" but this was a touch of the said man flu along with a nasty little tummy bug! So he was a home for the rest of the week..."dying"...then to make matters worse...Puppy Dog then decides that she's going to catch this tummy bug too! So it has been a week full of CSI gloves...cleaning of sicky carpets from Puppy Dog (she was very good...no accidents in the house with the other end!)...aggressive toilet cleaning (too much info I know)....anti bacterial wipes and spray...I'm not a lover of all this anti-bacterial stuff...as I think its gone all a bit mad...nobody builds up any resistance to anything anymore...but this tummy bug was not going to make itself cosy in our home...so its been far from the week I had planned...by midweek I have to say I was feeling like I had been through a mangle...that I had been rung out and feeling very flat! I wasn't feeling too good...but there's a saying I use in our home..."if Moms got a pulse...she's ok"!  This saying is why when I had my operation last year I went to my mom and dads to recover...at least I could rest there...ha ha...

Crochet was my solace...although I didn't get to do much...I decided to mix things up a bit with the latest blanket and mix in some squares along with the stripes (I have to say I do find stripes really boring to do)...

I'm now adding another block of stripes...knowing I can soon be making squares again will spur me on...

The daily squares are now up to 38 so this morning I have joined them together...they look like a very colourful row of bunting at the moment :)

I also listed last weeks blankets onto the Etsy Shop...the link can be found on the right hand side margin of the blog :)

On Monday my little handles arrived for my mini craft chest of drawers...I wasn't all that pleased with the result of my paint job last week...so I watched some videos on YouTube and it was clear I had to be brave with the wax...so armed with my dads old shaving brush I set to work lathering on the wax...and with vigorous polishing (it was a great work out!) I am really happy with the result of my first attempt...and the handles were just perfect :)

This is how it started life....

This is the finished result....happy face :)))

Baking this week has been two fold...my friend Dot told me sometime ago about pilchard cake for dogs...and as Puppy Dog was not very well I thought I would make her treat...and I thought I might be a little more nutritious for her...I'm not a lover of fish...and boy did it stink whilst making it! But she absolutely loves it...so it was well worth it...and it really did seem to help her...I did threaten to give Hubby some too...ha ha :) 

Pilchard Cake for Puppy Dog :)

I didn't bake again 'til yesterday...I decided to make choux buns...I have made choux pastry before...many years ago (probably 30!)...the pastry mixed perfectly...the baking...not so good...well I'm blaming the oven...because I had one perfectly risen and cooked bun...the rest...well you will see... :0/

The near perfect bun...filled with fresh cream and topped with chocolate...yummy...

The others...well...I think I've made a new recipe of choux pastry turnovers!

They tasted just as yummy... :)

Whilst the madness and sickness was going on around me...there were a few quiet moments to flick through the Country Homes magazine....and watch back to back episodes of "Fixer Upper"... I had the remote!!!

And the usual trawl through the Pinterest etc...seems everyone is looking forward to Spring arriving...I'm feeling a bit like that too...I do love Winter but this one has been so mild and wet I will be glad to see the back of it...

My favourite pic from Pinterest this week was....

aren't those little pansies just adorable and such a lovely simple display of flowers...I LOVE it!

My favourite interior this week...wasn't really and a total interior...its this lovely "almost outside" space...

I love everything about it...the colours are just so soothing...how I would love a porch/veranda like this...I think this is what drew me to the house we have booked for our holidays...

I can't wait to sit on that covered porch and get in that hot tub!!

Next week I have a very special baking project...its my middle grandsons birthday...so a Star Wars themed cake is in the making...

and I can't wait to play with his present...but you will see that and the cake next week :)

So after an "unexpected" week I hope the following one will be a little quieter...less messy...more productive one...

I couldn't really find a vintage photo that I liked this week...so I will leave you with a "funny" that sort of summed up how I felt...

And I'm glad to report that Hubby has recovered sufficiently to take control of the remote once more :0) and Puppy Dog has her appetite back...so hopefully I will be able to Rise AND Shine next week! Ha ha...

I will leave you now with this weeks quote...a bit of theme here...

Something I think we should all make note of...perfection is only in OUR head...no one else will know and will think its perfection...just take it all One Moment At A Time....

Till next week...enjoy everything do...one moment at a time...xxxxxx

 

January Over All Ready!!!

Morning All...

I cannot believe how we have hurtled through January already! It really has gone quickly...and now I'm quite happy for Spring to making little signs of waking up :)

The weather has been its usually mixed up self again this week...although it has been colder...so at least I have had some wear out of the new winter woollies that had been purchased in preparation :)

The Grandsons have been enjoying the muddy puddles :) doesn't it make you smile when they enjoy such simple pleasures...I still love paddling in muddy puddles :)

I seem to have had a very crafty week...(so that's why there's dust on the mantle ha ha )...I've joined all the squares in my bright and breezy blanket....

I have loved working with these colours...they are very different for me...but I shall be returning again in the future :)

With the little left overs I made a teeny tiny blanket for a dolly or teddy....

And I've kept up to date with the daily squares...I'm thinking now that with the pile growing I'm going to have to start joining them up into little blocks...so I may start that this week :)

I did make my little bit of crochet wall art too....ready for the craft room...

And...I painted the little drawers...but they are not quite finished yet...as I changed my mind about the handles and have ordered new ones...so I'm saving the photos of that until its done :) but here's a sneaky peek...

New handles...

My bake this week was a Cherry Bakewell...done in a large tray and cut into slices...and topped with white chocolate...yummy

I purchased some tulips this week...don't you just love tulips :) as I know a lot of you buy these...I thought I would share a little tip from my floristry days with you that some may not know...tulips continue to grow in the vase! That's why they go "leggy" and bend over...its because the stems are getting too long...you need to top the water up each day as they are thirsty little flowers...and chop an inch off the stems each day...or every other day...here's the photos of mine....

this is the day I bought them and trimmed and popped in the vase...measuring about 12 inches...

this is the following day...as you can see they are now 13 inches...so an inch growth in a day!

Trimming them down will make them last so much longer.... :)

My favourite interior I've found this week is this lounge...oh how I could just be so happy here...I love the colour scheme :)

I have become addicted to "Fixer Upper"...I always followed Jo and Chip on Facebook and Pinterest but I didn't know we got their TV programme over here in the UK...until I was flicking through the TV mag and there it was...on every day...I was over joyed...I just love Jo's sense of style and the way she re-uses old objects....I soooo want a "fixer upper" of my own.... (entered in to dream home state of mind....)

My favourite photo of the week on Pinterest has been this...

isn't it adorable...I'm not sure I would have used it in the laundry...but what a great idea for a child's bedroom or playroom...I would have it in my craft room...I love dolls houses...maybe I should buy a dolls house as my "fixer upper"...now there's a thought ha ha

Now that my blanket is finished I looked to my wool stash to decide what to make next....Hubby asked if I needed any more wool yet? As I was deep in thought about the next blanket project...I stupidly answered "no...I've got enough".... how on earth did those words come out of my mouth????

So...the next day I huffed a bit...and he said "what's the matter"...to which I replied "you know I don't seem to have the right colour combo I'm looking for in the wool I have left"...I kept my fingers tightly crossed behind my back as I was telling a little fib...because of course I had the wool I wanted...but I wanted more...more...more...to which he replied "I thought that might be the case when I asked you...go and order what you want"....yay! Happily I ordered another top up for the stash....I'm so happy...so next time I must remember to keep my wits about me when he asks again ha ha :)

This is what's in the basket now...and stripes for a change...

So I seem to have hurtled through this week myself...and I've so enjoyed it...its been quite a light week...no deep thinking time this week :)

Its been a bit of a photo heavy post this week hasn't it...so I will leave you with yet another two...this weeks vintage photo had to change this morning...with the sad news of the death of another national treasure....Sir Terry Wogan...you have made me smile over the years....you will be missed by many

photo from silversurfers.com

And this weeks quote...a very simple one....

I have a few of these...and I thank my lucky stars...I'm very blessed to have some of the best friends....

I will take my leave for this week...so have a fabulous week...enjoy everything you do...maybe go a little crazy with your friends.... :) xxxxxxx

Thank you for your lovely comments that you leave here on the blog and on the Facebook page...they really do mean a lot and make my heart sing a little louder :) xxx