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

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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.