Bye Bye 2021 Hello 2022

 

Happy New Year to all my blogging chums. Hope you have a good time tonight seeing the old year off.

Looking forward to sharing more with you all in 2022. I'm hoping it's gonna be a BIG year.

Recycling Christmas - Waste Not Want Not

 I have to say I'm pretty glad Christmas is over and done with, yes I know, bah humbug and all that. I just haven't been able to feel the cheer this year, or last to be honest. Next year I think the Mr and I should either go away somewhere or have a good few family members to ours. That I hope will make for a jollier time. 

I took my decorations down today and it feels great. My Christmas cards are going to a friend who makes gift tags from old cards and sells them for charity. Our tree will be recycled, and used as garden mulch.

Morgana helping me pack away the decorations

I have kept my Christmas stamps this year as they can help charities raise money. Country Living magazine recently gave details of all the charities raising funds from stamps and other things.

I have decided to collect to help Hedgehogs. I also have a few other things on this list which I'm happy to send.

I'm also collecting ends of candles and unused wax bits and bobs, to give to a new local business that is just starting up, making new candles from old. I have quite a bit already collected because it galls me to see a ton of wax left in candle jars and so I had been digging it all out with a mind to do something similar myself. Giving to a new business is even better.

I also recycled the turkey today and made a delicious soup. Using up the itty bitty pieces of turkey, very sad droopy spring onions, parsnips that were just starting to crinkle, slighty soft celery, good crisp onion and carrot. Oh and a couple of handfuls of small pasta shapes. Are you like me and often have a small amount of pasta shapes left in the bag? I've put them to good use today.

It doesn't look that lush but trust me it was very tasty and nourishing. It will stretch for another meal tomorrow night with a cheese board and crusty bread. 

Christmas Day 2021

 

Christmas at Chatsworth

Merry Christmas One & All

 

I wish the very best to all of my blogging chums. I feel sure we're all hoping 2022 will be kinder.

And I do hope Santa brings you a little something to make you smile, that is of course if you're not on the naughty list.

The Charles Paris Mystery Series

 If you're planning on travelling this season to meet with friends or family and your journey is quite a long one, can I recommend listening to The Charles Paris mystery series starring Bill Nighy. There have been quite a few series so far and we always listen to them when we're travelling. They are funny, clever and they make the time fly past. The Mr somehow manages to download them so we can listen in the car, on demand. If you're tech savvy, which I am clearly not, you should be able to do this. I have added a link here which I hope you will be able to access to get a flavour of the character Bill plays.

And most randomly here's a very sweet image I just had to share.

from www.wherethewildis.co.uk.

Solstice Blessings

 

This beautiful image from the very talented and intuitive Wendy at Painted Dreams.

Found It

 

This is the cheery little Christmas film I misplaced, but hurrah I have found it. 

Calling all Bloomsbury Fans

Many moons ago I worked at a most remakable place, Charleston Farmhouse. My time there was very special as I worked with a team of folk who were all fabulous in their own way. One of my old muccas was Darren Clarke, here he is talking about the new loans the house has received. The farmhouse used to close for the Winter but now remains open, so if you find yourself in East Sussex anytime soon it's a wonderful place to visit.

For friends more local to me, I understand there is a Beyond Bloomsbury exhibition on at The Millennium Gallery in Sheffield until February13th.

Colourful Kitchen

 

Having decided I would go ahead and re-paint the kitchen cupboards I toyed with a few colour combos. I knew I was definitely going to use Annie Sloan chalk paint as it is so easy to use and has a great finish, especially after two coats of matt clear varnish, courtesy of Wilko. Better I think than waxing. 

The cupboards were previously painted with Little Greene paints in neutral colours, and the dresser in an olive green, but I have to say I was not impressed with the coverage nor longevity. Although I decided not to over paint the top of the dresser, to create a bit more interest.

The two samples above were Scandinavian Pink and Antibes Green. The green in reality was a bit too urgent for me. So after some more sampling I went for Tilton and Primer Red. I adore the richness of the Prime Red. you may have spotted the same colour on my bedroom chest of drawers.

It's lovely to have it all finished, which means I can now concentrate on my somewhat strange crochet housecoat. I'm becoming increasingly keen to finish it what with the chilly weather an all. Talking of slightly 'odd' knitwear have you all discovered Tom Daley's new crochet/knit site? It's fab but a wee bit bonkers, click here to take a squiz.

Keep safe and warm till next time.

This and That

 The Mr has been outside in the hellish weather doing important things in the garden, there are always important things to do in the garden, of course. I was inside busy varnishing my welsh dresser, like you do, when he called me, very excited. He had spotted a Hedgehog, (or Hogwodge as my dear friend Linda used to call them), ambling along, it's only the second one he has ever seen in his life! Such a shame the little film he took didn't turn out so well. 

image from Zazzle.

I am slowly getting more in the Christmas mood, I hope you all are too dear chums. After spotting Sue's socky delight advent calendar, I rushed to get one, I needed some new socks and these are super nice and really quite a good price. Sadly out of stock on line now, but I managed to track down a box at a local store. Hurrah.

I did have a super cute Christmas film featuring felted animals, that I had hoped to share, which I have somehow managed to delete, yes, yes, I know I'm too tidy. So instead I'll leave you with a slightly disturbing  article about strange Christmas cards. Possibly best filed under 'better not send'.

Snowed In But Keeping Busy

 

We managed a brief outing to Bakewell this morning, to get some fresh air and to enjoy a local Christmas event at the agricultural centre. Mulled wine, big eyed reindeer and a few pennies spent, back home before the snow descended again, to crack on with some work.

I have been extra busy chalk painting my kitchen cupboards. Still quite a lot to do before I'm finished but I have managed to fit in a little time to work on a crochet housecoat. I have been inspired by some very expensive garments I spied on line at Bergdorf Goodman and Anthropologie. Plus a rather beautiful painting of Iris Tree courtesy of Philip Mould.

The snow globe view at the top of this post is a view from one of our lounge windows. A Mountain Ash which until a few days ago was covered in red berries, now providing some much needed food for our lovely birds. I'm glad we didn't cut it back too soon.

Keep warm and safe my chickadees.

Country House Style Curtains

 Oh my, these curtains have been a long time coming. What with one thing or another. And in truth they are not exactly the way they should have been. BUT, I bloomin love them. The tiny ditsy flowers remind me of the heritage designs that Laura Ashley did so well, sadly no longer available. They complete my bedroom revamp and I couldn't be happier.

So today I have started on a little freshen up in the kitchen, featuring some lush Annie Sloan paint.  This really will be my last job in the house for the forseeable future. It's only taken five years to totally transform the house. What ever will she do next? I hear you cry. Well of course I have other things to be getting on with, which I'll share with you shortly.  

Have a great weekend everyone.

A Baking Weekend

 

I did a little bit of home baking at the weekend. I know not why I suddenly had a hankering for a Jamiacan pattie, but I did, and managed to find several recipes on line. I have to own up to not really being a pastry maker but shop bought has palm oil in and anyhoo I needed to add curry powder and tumeric to my pattie pastry. Well my friends they were delicious. I have frozen half of the spicy beef filling for another time as I had too much. I'm thinking they would go down very well with mulled wine. No?

I also made some of my old favourite savoury biscuits, known as 'Nutters' in our household. Parmesan and ground almonds make these nibbles fantastic with drinks, so very good for the upcoming festivities.

We've also harvested some salsify this week. The seeds were free with a gardening magazine a while back. I roasted some up and they were very similar to parsnip but perhaps a tad sweeter and drier. Off course I have kept the one that looks like a Mandrake, not wishing to upset any fairie folk.

Small Drops Of Thrifty Joy

 

I've not always been a big fan of Chrysanthemums, they have a bad reputation, strangely brought about I think by their virtue of longevity. Garage flowers. But actually they should be celebrated for that reason, good value blooms, that can look elegant and joyful. I purchased mine from Sarah Raven, they arrived late and were very late to flower, but I'm bowled over by their beautiful soft colours. Not cheap but I'm hoping to over winter them in the greenhouse, where as they die back I can harvest some seeds. I have a vision of an enormous bed of them, I'll be able to fill the house with them next Autumn and who knows may even be able to sell a few to my local florist.

The Mr has started to harvest his beetroot crop, so this week I have revisited an old thrifty recipe of mine which you can find on my sidebar. Beetroot dip. Devoured by us atop some wonderful cous cous, with haloumi and warmed pitta breads. Cooking once and eating twice, we had the remainder of the cous cous last night with fried eggs, tremendous.

And last but not least we are going to The Ritz cinema soon to see the new Wes Anderson film. I can't wait.

Happy thrifting my friends.

Samhain Blessings

 

This wonderful image dropped into my mail box from the lovely Wendy @ Painting Dreams I'd like to wish all my blogger friends Samhain Blessings.

Wendy creates the most amazing cards, wall hangings, cushion covers and oodles more, do pop over to her site and explore, your spirits will be lifted.

Idyllic Scilly Isles

 The rain has blown over for a wee while and the sun is streaming through my window reminding me I need to post about our September trip to The Scilly Isles. I hope my witterings might strike a cord and perhaps create some interest. And maybe a litte joy.

Visiting the Islands has been on my list for an absolute age, I suspect it is on the lists of many folks, and is awkward or expensive to get to,  which is why the islands are not heaving with people. Yet most people I spoke to come back to the islands year on year. So perhaps it is the same folk who always visit?

This image from Pinterest

To say the islands are extraordinary is an understatement. Quiet, historic, breathtakingly beautiful and choc full of the most amazing wildlife and exotic plants. I would happily go there twice a year if I had the time and money. As it is I'm trying to book for 2023, yes you really do need to book way in advance.

Porthcressa beach middle of the day.

We spent a few nights in Penzance too before we sailed to the islands. We had the best time. Our B&B was exceptional The Summer House. 

The breakfast room at The Summer House

 

The Admiral Benbow Pub

The chocolate house 18th century holiday let

T

A funny garden sculpture

The Mr and I can't wait to go back to the sunshine and fun.

It's Been A Good Day

 

At times I think I can be guilty of focusing on the things that have not quite gone to plan. Coming up against negative or rude folk we meet on a day to day basis, can spoil our own sense of well being. For instance, yesterday I had to do an emergency stop to avoid hitting the chump who pulled out in front of me at the last minute into a space that did not exist. But let us not dwell.

Today has been a great day. I had a wonderful 40 minute swim and 20 minute pool exercise, which feels great. I picked a bumper crop of raspberries, some I will freeze. And FINALLY my Chrysanthemums, (yes, I did have to get the dictionary out for that one), have flowered. The Mr also helped me hang the two pictures I bought on holiday in The Scilly Isles. I will post about the Isles soon as they were most extraordinary.

Don't let the current dark and mizzle weather get you done my lovely readers, we can make our own sunshine in our collective blog world.

Knitted Art Installation at Dumfries House Unveiled.

 

I have no idea how much media coverage this kindly art installation has received. But I'm glad I did spot the unveiling on Facebook. During lockdown I heard about this initiative to get folk back to knitting and also to encourage people to take up knitting. As I understand it knitting skills are slowly being lost and that would be such a tremendous shame. 

The Prince's Foundation is at the heart of this idea and so Dumfries House put out a call to knitters all over the world to contribute. Knitted squares arrived from Italy, Belguim, Tasmania, United States, Canada and Derbyshire. The ones from Derbyshire were knitted by me! I can't spot them in the photo, but I'm pleased to think they are part of the installation and I believe the squares will be donated as blankets to the homeless this Winter.

For The Love of Films

 As you may have noticed dear reader I am a girl of eclectic tastes. Last night the Mr and I poodled off to see the latest Timothy Spall film, The Last Bus. It was a slow story, intimate and moving and I really enjoyed it. I feel as though I now know every cm of the actor's face. Every nuance was amazing. We watched it at my favourite cinema, which is about 30 minutes from us on a good run.

We have recently become members, as we wanted to support them and also because we want to see more films this year. You may have guessed it has a distinct art deco vibe, with lush seating and a big screen. They also serve tea and cake and wines, beers etc. I like to book a sofa and my favourite one is called Fred & Ginger.

I'm waiting on booking the new Bond film, all very exciting. Are you all going?

Ghosts Bloopers

 A bit more of Ghosts, I do love them so. 

Laughter really is infectious.

Glamour, Tea and Muffin Cake

 It's been a busy few days, what with one thing and another, I'm hitting the gym and pool as often as my body will allow and I've started the awful job of painting the garden railings. So a good helping of double pain. Productive though, one hopes.

On a brighter note my lovely mother in law picked two huge bags of damsons for me and so I was forced to make a huge muffin cake. I've never cooked with damsons before and I didn't want to make jam so consulted Google and found a Delia Smith on line recipe. It turned out really well and I think is a much better idea than individual muffins. It feels a wee bit healthy too as it has fresh damsons in it and roughly chopped almonds on top. A great breakfast choice with a strong coffee.

After all my exertions yesterday I decided a cosy up and an old Hitchcock film was the order of the day. Tea and cake also featured. To Catch A Thief was on the telly box and as I haven't watched it in years I really enjoyed it.

Oh the swanky glamour of Cannes, Cary and Grace, unbeatable.

And the best line of the film came when Grace Kelly (Frances Stevens), turned to her mother, Jessie Royce Landis (Jessie Stevens),  and says as they enter the 18th century masquerade ball scene , " my nerves could stand a drink", and her mother says, "your nerves and your mother". 

Who else loves spotting Hitchcock?