2 Little Lost Girls

We are almost in December, everybody seems to be getting busier and the traffic on the roads is definitely getting heavier. I'm trying to be organised, have written a Christmas card list, as good as finished our present shopping and have dispatched hubby to the post office to send my 12 days of Christmas Swap parcel (it's on it's way Jo, should be with you soon).

Last week wasn't a good week, we had some bad news on Tuesday regarding our son, but he turned what could have been an awful situation right around. It turned from a bad week to celebrating at the weekend, life really can change so much in 24 hours!

The Christmas lights were turned on in the city centre on Thursday evening and the shops stayed open for the first evening of late night shopping. The atmosphere was lovely, Christmas was definitely in the air and children were excited to see their first sighting of the year of Father Christmas when he arrived on his sleigh (I do miss have little ones around). We took Imogen to choose a couple of charms for her Pandora bracelet, one from us and one from her grandparents. Andrew also bought me an early Christmas present, a Queen Bee with flowers. I'm very lucky, it's a beautiful Christmas present and I love bees.

Earlier this week I also found these 2 little girls in a charity shop, don't you think they have the prettiest little faces.

 As some of you may know, I have a weakness for dolls. I have some Blythe dolls and some other collectible ball jointed dolls. I picked these 2 up and ummed and arrrred over them for a while. They are apparently Dutch, I don't know anything else about them, just that they are quite old. At first I was just going to get the darker haired one as I liked her face best, and the blonde one is missing a boot, but how could I separate them?

They are so wide eyed and innocent, they looked like 2 little lost girls sitting on the shelf, I had to give them a good home to go to!

I also found a couple of jumpers. It's so hard to find jumpers or cardigans that have a high wool content, so many things nowadays are made with acrylic. I can spend ages going through the charity shops looking at all the tags in the clothes to establish the wool content, I'm sure the people there must wonder what on earth I'm doing!

I'm so pleased with the colours of these 2, dark green and 'sand' for my beach! I also slipped some marzipan in for Andrew, really don't like it myself, but he loves it.

That's about it for me, not much happening here, Imogen is late at school every night madly rehearsing for a play. I thought I'd end with a couple of pictures of our beautiful babies.

This is Sassy

Cheeky Alfie

Bit timid, but heart of a wolf, Gary

My beautiful girl, Honey

I think she knows how gorgeous she is

Take care
xxx

A 1950's Dreamhouse

I found this pretty kitchen while ambling along being nosey at other people's interiors. It's been untouched for over 60 years (well I'm not saying it hasn't been kept clean, just not updated) and I think it's so pretty. Apparently the pink was very popular in the 1950's because of Maime Eisenhower, so it was often referred to in the US as Maime Pink and was very popular due to housewives wanting to emulate their first lady.

It was full of state of the art appliances that still had their instruction manuals with them.

I think though that the above pictures are a far cry from what would have been in my grandparents kitchens at the time. Colour would have been the least of their concerns, I imagine they probably wouldn't have even owned a fridge and a dishwasher would have been unimaginable!

I also found this pretty, well kept house. It was last decorated by the owner in the 1950's and '60's, and according to google was in the house owner's favourite colours.

A beautiful entrance hall, so light, bright and welcoming

I would be too nervous to touch anything here for fear of making a mess, it's like a show home

Everything is so pretty and goes together so well

I think many people would be glad to have this kitchen today!

Pretty little breakfast nook, I showed this to my husband and he just said 'no' without me saying anything else! Bit too pink and too much frou-frou for him I think.

Not sure about the carpet in here, but still pretty colours

I can't imagine how house looking as tidy as this in every room at the same time, I think we have more of a 'lived in' look... hehe!

Off to enjoy a bowl of cherries

Have a good weekend
Take care
xxx

Fauna

I love pieces of Fauna pottery. I suppose like lots of things that were made in the 60's and 70's, they remind of bits and pieces that my Nan and Granddad had. I wanted to own a Fauna vase for a while so when I found these 3 pieces dotted about, I thought they would love to come home with me :)

I found this one first, made in Hornsea (very close to us) where most Fauna was made. I think it's so cute, but I just love the little Bambi.

Flushed with the excitment of finding the Bambi vase, I then saw a wee rabbit (should I call it a Thumper to keep with the theme!)

Then another larger vase (or is it a jug?) with another little Bambi and her squirrel friend.

The 3 pieces sit together now in my conservatory. There are lots more designs in the Fauna range, but I think these 3 are my favourites... not that I'm promising I wouldn't get anymore of course!

Take care

xxx

Pretty Things

I thought I'd show you some of my pretty finds today. I love a good wander around the charity shops, looking at the once loved pieces of china and bric a brac. I try to discipline myself and only allow myself to buy something if it makes my heart sing - otherwise we'd get overrun with bits and pieces and I'd be featuring in one of the hoarder programmes on TV! It's very hard sometimes when I'm holding something pretty to put it back and think, yes it's lovely, but I'm not going to buy it!

Here are some of my pretty, heart singing pieces. A beautiful plate found at a car boot and pretty, delicate cups and saucers.

This little dish is so pretty, I love the small flower design.

Pretty little jug, just right to fill with cream to pour over our Sunday afternoon deserts.

This glass dish needs to be filled with brightly coloured wrapped sweeties.

I haven't picked up any crochet since I finished Imogen's bobble blanket, but I have so many projects I want to do! I've made a start on a Granny Square throw to go over Andrew's chair in the conservatory. It's going to be quite narrow, just over the back and seat, not the sides. Here are the first few squares, still quite a few more to make yet.

Really enjoying making squares again, think I'll go and do some more now... anything rather than make a start on all those ends that need to be sewn in!

Take care
xxx

Restricted Access

I haven't been out much the last couple of weeks and haven't been feeling too well in myself, so as the sun decided to make a rare appearance today, Andy took me out for the afternoon. We planed to go looking at antiques and have a bit of a mooch around, just window shopping really.

There aren't many places locally (that we know of), we searched out a couple that were quite nearby. This is the first place

Look at that tiny door, there was no way my wheelchair was going through there. We parked up and Andy went to have a look. I can walk a few steps outside, and wondered if we took my chair in with us if I'd be able to have a little mosey about. He was gone for a while, came back and said it's very deceiving from the outside, it was enormous and absolutely packed full. There was no way I'd be able to manage and definitely wouldn't be able to put the chair up to sit on - how disappointing :( While I understand that making everything accessible can be an expensive endeavour and is some cases just not viable, it is so frustrating not to be able to even glance inside. Having run a small business ourselves, I don't expect people to jump through hoops, but I don't think clearing a path for a wheelchair is really too big a deal!

We found another place not too far away and they couldn't have been more helpful! The Old Waterloo Antiques & Collectables. Plenty of wheelchair access and very accommodating :) It had so many beautiful... and quirky things. There was a lovely fireplace surround with stunning tiles (I wish I had a photo to show you) that I'm sure should be in our house, unfortunately there is nowhere to put it and Andy didn't agree.

I also loved this wrought iron rooster, it would look so nice as against the kitchen door....

Maybe another day....

The man we spoke to owns the business with his father, and was very talented. He showed us a table he made using some old flooring

and there were stunning engravings in stone too.

he made the stone carving against the wall.

Definitely worth another visit.

Take care
xxx