Spring Flowers

I would just like to say thank you for all your kind comments on my last post. They really have encouraged me to continue blogging. I just needed that kickstart to get inspired again and what better way than to celebrate the last day of February with some spring flowers. Spring is well and truly here in my books and few daffodils and some polyanthus really brighten up the home.

Have great week everyone.

Susie X

A Me Time Weekend!

Hello, how are you all? I’ve been so wrapped up in problems at work that I haven’t really had time to think about blogging. I know I haven’t posted for ages and I’m sorry for neglecting all my bloggy friends but sometimes I find it really hard to get inspired, so much so that I think I might stop blogging. Do you ever feel like that?

This weekend I have had some me time. To hell with the housework, cooking , cleaning, ironing and washing. Yesterday I had a day’s shopping.

I went to Shrewsbury and took my time browsing in ‘out of the way’ shops that I don’t normally have time to shop in. There are a lot of little independent shops in Shrewsbury selling things you don’t normally see in general high street stores. I bought this really pretty jug in a shop called Vintage. They have lots of gorgeous vintage stuff and I could have spent a fortune but then I saw this necklace in Whitestuff and bought that instead.

Something for my summer wardrobe...I bought some espadrille sandals in Next and finally,

some heart door hangers for my new dresser. All in all a very good day.

Today though I’m sitting by the fire with a cup of coffee, Country Living Magazine and a bag of Cadbury’s mini eggs because we’ve had more of this...

...yes it has snowed again so I think I’ll just sit inside and watch it falling.

Hope you all have a good week.

Susie X

Photo Opportunity

We had more snow here in Shropshire on Sunday. I thought we'd seen the last of it but this little lot wasn't forecast so it came as a bit of a shock. By the afternoon though it has stopped and the sun came out. I went out with my camera and just snapped away. I love taking photographs in the snow as everything looks so different.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Susie

Avatar

I have to tell you about Avatar! If you haven’t seen it yet then do, I’m sure you will be as surprised as I was!

James Cameron’s new film has been receiving a lot of awards and nominations recently so I thought I go along to the cinema to see what all the fuss was about. I went with absolutely no expectations of the film and didn’t have much idea of what it was about. I’m not one for fantastical sci-fi type movies with tons of action and special effects but I have to say, Avatar is now one of my favourite films of all time!

Avatar has to be the most visually spectacular film I have ever seen. The special effects are breathtaking and it is the first film I’ve seen with luminescent visual effects which look stunningly pretty on the big screen. It is utterly captivating and you feel literally immersed in the virtual world of the beautiful planet of Pandora and begin to forget that what you are seeing isn’t real!

If you are not a big fan of fantasy/sci-fi, but enjoy a bit of escapism and a good love story then you will like Avatar. I know I’m sounding like I must have shares in the film or something but I would watch it again in a heartbeat!

Here it is!

Most of you guessed that my new piece of kitchen furniture was a dresser and here it is! I am really pleased with it. It was made by my brother who, very handily, happens to be a carpenter! The paintwork is Blue Grey by Farrow and Ball and the boards at the back of the shelves are painted in contrasting Off White. Eventually I hope to get the rest of the kitchen to match!

Now I have somewhere to show off all my Cath Kidston stuff!

I bought this cutlery basket today from a little shop in Ellesmere called Hoppies. They have lots gorgeous interiors stuff and have a web site here. They have some very nice restored furniture.

Do you remember the hyacinths I planted last September? Well the pink ones are out and smelling gorgeous but unfortunately the yellow ones didnt seem to do as well and they stilll haven't come out.

We had more snow last night but today is a beautiful, sunny day. I took a little walk around the garden to see what's coming through. These snowdrops peeking through the snow should be out in the next few days.

The catkins are appearing on the hazel in the hedge.

And finally, I saw this today. Yes, it is blue sky! It hasn't been around for a while, at least not this blue anyway. It is amazing how a sunny day with clear blue sky can lift your spirits isn't it. Spring is not far away.

Susie

Can you tell what it is yet?

Hello everyone. Have you survived the snow, frost, heavy rain that seems to be pelting down on the world at the moment? Thank you for all your encouraging comments on my last post. I’m happier now! I had been worrying about the results of my yearly mammogram. There was a little ‘glitch’ on my last film so I was recalled to have extra views and an ultrasound scan. Having already had breast cancer I was scared sh**less as you can imagine and the wait for the results has at times been unbearable, but thankfully, all is okay so I feel I can now start getting on with things again! I’m having a piece of furniture made for the kitchen. It is something that I have always wanted and I can’t wait for it to be finished. This is how it looks at the moment. Can you tell what it is? All will be revealed…hopefully in a couple of week’s time!

As I'm into all things mismatched at the moment, as a treat to myself I have ordered this Eclectic Cutlery Set from Contemporary Home. It consists of four knives, four forks, four spoons and four teaspoons and each piece is different.

Finally, I am really pleased to receive an award from the Duchess over at Rose Tea Cottage. I feel very honoured...almost like royalty!! Thank you for thinking of me Duchess.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Susie

Chilly Walk

Yes, more snow! Are you all sick of the sight of it yet? As much as I love the snow and how pretty is can look, I hate all the problems it brings with it. I haven't been in the land of blog for a few days and I have found it difficult to get started and inspired by anything this year. I've been too preoccupied with the cold weather. I had a horrible week last week. Getting to work has been a struggle but I did manage to get in every day, although arriving late! Of course you get no thanks for arriving which makes you wonder why you even bothered. January, as you probably guessed, is not my favourite month of the year and the sooner its over the better!
I decided to go for a walk yesterday to try and cheer myself up. The mere in Ellesmere is completely frozen over. This is quite unusual and I think I have only seen it completely frozen a couple of times in my lifetime.

There are lots of migrant birds visiting for the warmer weather! These Canada geese must have got quite a shock when they arrived to this weather.

They get fed regularly by people visiting the mere so as soon as you arrive they swarm around you looking for something to eat.

My garden seems to have survived the worst of it. I have an olive tree outside the back door which amazingly seems to have survived the -14C degree temperature.

The sun came out today which has melted quite a bit of the snow but temperatures still havent risen above freezing. Hopefully I will be in a better mood for my next post! I did notice when walking around the garden that there are lots of daffodils and snowdrops beginning to come through so spring can't be that far away....can it?

Happy New Year

A very happy, healthy and prosperous 2010 everyone.

Happy New Year

Family Christmas

I hope you all had a good Christmas.

I spent Christmas Day at my parent's house with my family and we all had a lovely time.

The table was set for dinner.

We all opened our presents in the morning and my father had these slippers!!

We had the traditional turkey and Christmas pudding for dinner.


This little elf couldn't wait for the pudding to be served so decided to help himself!

On the Sunday it was my turn and everyone came to my place for lunch.

One of my Christmas presents was a CK cake stand so I made good use of it with my Nigella Lawson rocky road.

Rufus enjoyed playing with the streamers.

And...after I'd complained about not having any snow in Shropshire....we eventually had some on the night before Christmas eve.