Wednesday 15 April 2009

Easter Weekend


I didn't intend to be away from my blog for so long and have I missed it! This last week has been so busy, with Josh being on holiday, visiting the in-laws on Easter Sunday and a couple of nice days out with Rob. We've also been having quotes for a new bathroom and kitchen which has taken time and me ending up getting fidgety about having people in the house trying to impose their ideas on me. I keep getting asked stupid questions like 'why do you like belfast sinks?'. I get the feeling that just because I live in a small terraced house, with a small kitchen that I should have the cheapest kitchen with the crappiest materials! Is it me? I am odd? Do you always get the third degree because you like something that is a little more unusual?

Anyway, I am a bit late really showing our little efforts at decorating for Easter but I refuse to be left out so here are our little bits and bobs. They didn't take much time and certainly no skill but I love Easter as much as I hate Christmas, so we always have to have a few bits and pieces about.





We had a great day on Friday. Years ago, we used to visit Hay-on-Wye a couple of times a year, but it must have been around fifteen years since our last visit to the festival to see my screen hero Dirk Bogarde. Anyhow, we decided it was time to visit once again, so the picnic was duly packed and we set off on the journey that took us through Leominster before we finally got to Hay. Hay has always been famous for its huge amount of bookshops and was the initial attraction for us both as book lovers but I have to say that the whole shopping experience has improved since we last went there and there is now a really good selectioon of shops for professional shoppers like me. I make no apologies for the number of photos of shops that follow! Yep. Friday was a shopping fest, I'm a shopaholic and I love it. I don't want to be cured thank you! If you want a closer peek in any of the shop windows, just enlarge the pics for a better view.

The Green Room was full of loveliness for your garden and even had its own little yard packed full of goodness.







I did get a couple of repro bargains from here.





Lots of French vintage goodies in here.



Some Bridgewatery goodness in here.



Some more antiques in here.



The greengrocer in our town doesn't look like this.



I thought this shop looked very inviting



and this shop gets regular mentions in Country Living, Period Living etc.







Of course the town does a have a few bookshops.







Good places to eat and stay.





Rob and Josh indulged themselves in some goodies.



and so did I.







I hope you enjoyed your trip to Hay with us as I don't think we will be going very far away from home today. At eight-thirty this morning the sky was black and only lit up as the lightning streaked across the sky and the thunder rumbled ominously. I think today might be the day for making those little cornflake nests that I should have made last week.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your Easter decs. are lovely :o) well worth the wait. Such a beautiful post today xx
Sumea

Shabby Chick said...

Lovely pictures, looks like a wonderful day. I like the idea of a Murder and Mayhem book shop, sounds like my kind of place! I really want to go shopping now :D

Hope the weather isn't too bad today, it was rainy here when I woke up but it seems to just be a dull shade of grey now.

Mel xxx

Sal said...

I thought that Hay was lovely when we visited in the autumn.I loved the 'French goodies' shop !!
;-)

{Love, Love, Love} said...

Hay On Wye looks like a lovely place to visit....maybe I will get there one day! x

This Vintage Life... said...

That looks like a shoppers paradise...shame it's on the other side of the country from me!

Lovely easter decorations too.
Deb x

Simone said...

Lovely post Tracey. If you want a Belfast sink then have it!!! I would love to go shopping in a place like that as I hate shopping centres but love shopping! The soaps you bought look delicious. I suppose I should go off now and make the obligitory chocolate crispy cakes too. I have all the ingredients - just haven't got around to making them!

Country Cottage Chic said...

I've wanted to go to Hay for ages - your post has inspired me to actually do it!

Unknown said...

If you want a Belfast Sink....GO AND HAVE ONE, I think that they are Fab, we had one at our old house and I miss it terribly, the poxy stainless steel one that we have now always looks dull and horrid, give me traditional stuff any day of they week!! As my husband keeps reminding me...when it is in his favour!! Life is not a rehearsal, enjoy it while you can!! Thank you for your lovely comment on my Blog too!! Andrea x

TAPESTRIESOFNATURE said...

THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP! I WAS A BIT DISAPPOINTED WHEN I WAS THERE THREE YEARS AGO, BUT NOW I THINK IT WILL BE A "MUST" WHEN I'M ON HOLIDAY. THOSE WERE GREAT PICTURES ALSO.

Mr Lee said...

Happy Easter!Nice to meet you.Good luck.Welcome to our blog
http://china-cutter.blogspot.com/

Alchamillamolly said...

what a lovely post - a guy I work with and my brothewr are always nagging me to go to Hay on Wye and now I know why! it looks lovely. We have lovely places in North Yorkshire but we don't have lovely shops like you do down in the South I think it's 'cos we are tight - well I aren't!! I also think you should march out of your house anyone you feel is looking down on you. It is your home and they should respect that and if you want a Belfast sink - HAVE ONE! These people should be cow towing to your needs at the moment they are lucky that you want some work doing! perhaps a little reminder about that wouldn't go amiss mext time one comes to quote

Heart in the country said...

Thanks for the tour of Hay, I've always wanted to go there...I'll have to move it up my to do list, it really looks as if you go back in time!

I love you cake stands by the way.

Ali @ Betty and Violet said...

I love your Easter decorations!

It was lovely to have a virtual tour of Hay, it is a few years since I last visited and I love it! You obviously had a very successful shopping day! I remember the cinema bookshop really well ~ I could spend a whole day in there...

...Nina Nixon... said...

Lovely pictures all that chocolate, yum!

Nina x

Curlew Country said...

What a lovely place, really enjoyed your pictures. I've never been to Hay but we've just bought a caravan so its definitely going on our list to visit very soon. Beautiful. looks like you had a lovely relaxing time.

Stephx

Louise said...

I made the obligatory chocolate nests at Easter, I even took a photo! Hay looks like a great place to visit. I would love a mooch around the antiques market, and like how they have all the paraphanalia lined up against the building wall, very tempting to go inside. I spot an old milk churn I would rather like in my garden! x

Unknown said...

What a lovely thing to do over Easter...a big fan of Dirk Bogarde myself; 'I Could Go On Singing' is an amazing film, and the documentary stuff he has to say about working with Judy Garland on it is even better!
Love finding blogs with loads of pictures!
Thanks
x 5ft inf

Pipany said...

Hi Tracey. I really enjoyed that as we went to Hay for the first time last year and absolutely loved it. Remember lots of those shops. Thank you x

Country Bliss said...

Hay on Wye looks like such a pretty place with lovely shops. As for the Belfast sink I'd go for it, it's your home you should do what you want not what's expected.
Yvonne x

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

I have earmarked Hay as a place to go for many years and seeing your photos has really whetted my appetite... It is going to either require a lot of willpower OR money to visit but hopefully this summer I will finally get there....
Thank you for the grand tour!

Michele xxx

Anonymous said...

Hello
Many thanks for your encouraging comment on my blog.
Hope you have a super weekend
x
sumea

sumea said...

Hello
Many thanks for your comment :o)
Hope you and yours have a good week
x
Sumea

nimblejacks said...

easter did whizz past didn't it? I didn't go near my computer we were so busy as a family. Out the other side now sees us expecting a puppy in a week and a bit! Kids are sooooo excited!

Anonymous said...

Hi sweetie
you havemn't posted in a while
You ok?
enjoying the sunshine maybe, it's glorious here today.
x
Sumea

This Vintage Life... said...

Hope you enjoyed a lovely anniversary Tracey!
Deb x

Ragged Roses said...

I have always wanted to go to Hay on Wye - particularly to visit all the bookshops, but seeing your photos I wouldn't mind snooping round all those other shops too!!!
How lucky you were to have seen Dirk Bogarde, I love his books,
Kimx