Confession Time

In my quest to 'simplify' I have been editing our collection of paint pots.  I have to confess, I found four unopened pots of paints bought for projects yet to start.  One being the little wall display cabinet seen here, waiting to be painted in Farrow and Ball's Railings. (sort of black)!  Note to self; finish projects before buying more 'future' projects.

Hoping for Sunny Days

Even though the sun shone today, I missed the best part of today due to errands.  Currently drowning in my sea of ironing (some think I iron too much).  I found this smaller jug and silver plated plate in our local charity shop.  Today made me feel hopefully for some sunny days.

Rewind

Oh dear, sums up the majority of my weekend.  Before I launch into how I wish to rewind, the positives; my dear friend gave birth to her second child (a baby boy), a lovely family get together and the sun came out to brighten us along the way.  Rewind, because I felt rushed from one thing to another, last minute things being forgotten, feeling hormonal all weekend and missing out on taking photographs.  Grateful that my husband was patient with me.  I did snap these three out twelve shots!  Did you make the most of your weekend?

Random Friday

Firstly let me start to wishing you a wonderful Friday.  I love Fridays, even though by the time they come around I am shattered!  I love how relaxed I feel, during the week I am thinking of all the things I need to do, but by Fridays I switch of ready for the weekend.  The first image is from my coffee last week at Stanmer House, the rest is home.

Finally

Last weekend R put up our new shelf ledges.  It was much welcome as most of my prints have been stacked in a corner or waiting to frame a couple of newly acquired cards.  Hope that your week is more settled, with this cold spell.  (Snow in the UK)!

January C and L

Sorry for the lack of posts, no excuse really!  Maybe it is because the collection of recent shots are a little random.  For example, I thought for my dear friends aboard like it when I post pictures of the girls.   I had a fair few to shift through but picked these two, because usually I am following the girls around with my camera waiting for a lovely shot.  What happens next, is I usually give up and call them so they can turn around and look at the camera.

Stanmer Park Walk

Yesterday I joined a friend on her dog walk.  We left the village and popped to Stanmer Park, it was lovely.  Finally it snowed today, Yippee!

Kitchen Corner

We are still waiting for snow.  The late mornings have been flooding our kitchen with a yellow glow.  This morning I thought I would randomly arrange some bits as to take some photos.  I then joined a friend for a dog walk and those photos will be posted tomorrow.  What are you waiting for?

Hotel Love

Ever since I've read about this hotel and I often visit its website to dream about a weekend away.  However I am still not ready to leave the girls with anyone, also we would have to save our pennies!  It would have be different if the girls were older, or if grandparents were younger or nearer.  But one day we'll have a weekend away, just 'us' until then we keep this dream on hold.  This lovely designed hotel is The William Cecil in Lincolnshire, in the town of Stamford.  Spread over three townhouses, with 27 bedrooms to choose from, each differing.  Boasting a highly recommended restaurant, the idea of weekend free from cooking is another plus point to getting away!
ps. C is still not settled, a weary me!

Still ~ Kitchen

Yesterday C was struggling with her persistent cold and wanted to stay at home.  Not yet five years old, the school were very understanding about her not feeling her usual self.  C is not sleeping well, claiming that she is too lonely in room and sometimes gets scared.  So our bedtime routine is a little longer, bath, book, chat, cuddle up until she looks sleepy, then I say I have to go to the loo, put a wash on etc... then promise to check on her in ten minutes, 9 out of 10 times she is asleep.  It's not like her, so we will have to wait and see.  When the girls are home on a school day, the rule is no tv, no ipad, so it is truly a restful day.  I needed to show the mop to our kitchen floor, so three hours later I cleaned the room top to bottom.  C helped and now for a few hours our kitchen feels still and uncluttered again.  It is only a matter of hours before we are back to square one, but I am enjoying it for now.

Firefly Drinks

 Props for my little photo set up

Happy Friday, really looking forward to this weekend not much on, but hoping for snow!  Anyway for those of you that follow me on Pinterest you would know that I have a weakness for lovely packaging. It quenches the side of me that wished I had done graphic design.  I am always on the lookout for packaging that use photography.  Found these little treasures the other day, love the polaroid feel to the photos used.  Out of the two drinks my favourite is Pomegranate & Elderflower.  Happy Weekend!

Cards

 Alison Hardcastle

 Tom Frost

 Helen Dardik

Debbie Urquhart

Today is only the second morning of the school run and I am shattered, yearning for those holiday lie-in's.  Also R went back to work last week and he has deadlines looming, so the girls and I are missing him, as he is working late.  Stocking up on cards, two of my favourites and two new discoveries.
I have been a big fan of Alison Hardcastle for a long time now, her simple use of handwritten fonts, lovely designs and stunning colours just win me over every time.  Also love my Tom Frost for Betty and Dupree and Helen Dardik for lagom finds, in fact so much, not sure I will send them out, maybe frame them and hang them up!  As for Debbie Urquhart, I have been a fan ever since reading about her many years ago.  Her paintings have such a stillness to them and often feature still life and you know how much I love still things!  Hope you like them too....

Brighton Marina

Yesterday afternoon we joined our friends whom live opposite to take our little ones for a walk along the marina.  It was foggy and grey but loved being outdoors and somewhere different.  The girls enjoyed watching the those fishing and looking out for boats.  A lot of time was spent reading out the names of boats and making up names if they had a boat....It got rather silly!
Day 7 of one word count 365, after the lovely inspiring comments, I have adapted my original word to 'simplify' thanks to Claire at Thriftwood.  I felt constrained by organise, as this is not in my nature nor does it come naturally.  So I found that simplify, could be applied to the things that I want to change  this year, my possessions (still banging on about de-cluttering), my time, my fitness/diet, my dreams.  Love mediating on this word, as my world around me goes in to manic/overdrive mode, I feel slightly calmer, that my path and capacity need not be compared.  Keep it simple.