For my big brother xx

Things to make me smile!

Other than the children of course ( before I am chastised ) obviously they give me the biggest smiles...even at 3 a.m.
No, these are the material things that I have added to my growing collection.
I have decided the house needs cheering up, especially now all of the lovely Christmas decorations have gone. I have 'taken over' the Kitchen and Dining room and given them a much needed facelift and have been keeping my peepers open for pretty things to complete the transformation.
My local charity shops have been particularly obliging, I seem to be able to spot exactly what I want! Maybe it was always there before and I just didn't see it? Anyway, I am rather pleased with my new Vintage treasures; Mr Bunny is too as I am being very thrifty.
I have developed a love for coloured glass, I can't think why I didn't see it all before. Green especially is gorgeous. I found these only last week and I just know they are going to look wonderful filled with Daffodils.

Aren't they pretty!
I also found this. I am not quite sure what it will be used for. It's too small for fruit really and a little wide for flowers. Am sure I shall find a use for it, it was too nice to leave on the shelf.

I think my favourite find was this adorable little piece of Crown Derby. It was an absolute steal frankly, apparently it's hard to find. It does have a little crazing to the glaze but I think it just adds to it's charm. It was only when I took it to show Grandma that she reminded me she had a matching piece; a jam pot that belonged to her Nanny! I knew it looked familiar.

When I spotted this sweet tray I had to have it. Aren't Hydrangeas beautiful? I love how happy this is, it has already been put to good use and the price was no more than pocket money.

Oh, have just spotted the wall behind it -ughh. That was before the facelift, it's much brighter now!
I also found a few other bits and bobs that are dotted around, I am really pleased with them all and I think the Kitchen is looking especially nice.

I shall have to make pastry now!

I really will have to stop buying for a while; I am running out of shelves and cabinets to store things. Maybe I just need hubby to put more up for me? The ones he put up are already being put to good use as you can see.

Well I really must dash, it's so lovely today - almost sunny enough to use the washing line ( I did say almost)
Hope the sun is shining wherever you are,

Love

Maybe it's Maybelline?

Happy Valentines Day!

We actually don't celebrate it at all anymore; it's so terribly commercial and expensive and seems rather silly when you have been together almost eleven years.

After all, wasn't half the fun of Valentines supposed to be in the not knowing who had sent it? I remember being at school and waiting for the post to arrive, some girls always had heaps of them! It was all so much fun.

It doesn't seem quite the same handing a mass produced card across the breakfast table with huge bunches of extortionately priced, forced blooms. I think I would rather wait for my lovely roses to grow in the garden.

But that's just us and I'm probably sounding very unromantic but the fact that my husband bought me flowers because he's expected to doesn't feel very romantic. I always felt a little bit guilty that his hard earnt pennies were being spent on something that was ten times dearer than they should have been when he could have bought me a lovely bunch a week later without leaving his pockets empty. I think I would be over the moon to get a surprise bunch some other time of the year!

As to the cost of trying to eat out on Valentines day, that's another post altogether I think. Valentines seems to have become like the word 'Baby' or 'Wedding' to the retail/hospitality industry. In other words, carte blanche to print money and I object, very much indeed!

But that's just us, we decided mutually. For anyone that is celebrating with their amour today I hope you are feeling very loved and having a wonderful day and just to prove that I am not an awful grump here are some of my favourite Vintage Valentines cards.

In fact, I am an incurable romantic and my darling hubby is just the best in the world. I utterly adore him, every day of the year.

Have a super, happy day!

Love

Happy Happy Mummy!

I am a very happy mummy today!

#2 son decided to take a day from College and #1 son arrived home for two days so
I have a full nest, BLISS!!!

Hope you're all having a lovely Monday too,

Love,