Help!

Now I'm a girl that tends to go overboard a bit. When I like something, I like it a lot. It tends to become something of an obsession. And I'll admit it, I do have a bit of a 'thing' for ceramic jugs.I collect them. I collect a lot of them. Over the years I've probably collected somewhere between 30 and 40 of them. Old, new, patterned and plain, large, small and some incredibly tiny. There's no method in my madness. I don't buy just from one range. Bridgewater, Nicholas Mosse, Brixton Pottery - I'll have 'em all! I am a woman without control! You might think that today I might be showing you some of my collection. Oh no ladies - I need your help. Mr F. bought me this jug a couple of years ago from a shop in Bishops Castle. It is my very favourite and I would love to buy some more of these gorgeous ceramics. But the shop in Bishops Castle has closed and I don't now where I can buy more.

There is no pottery logo, just a very discreet bell stamped on the base. Everywhere we visit I look out for this lovely, individual range. I've spent hours on the internet looking for a website or supplier without success.

Have you ever seen any? Do you know the maker? Please let me know if you have.

Not that I need any more jugs.

I'd love to know what you can't resist buying and don't forget let me know if you know where I can buy any of this wonderful range

Lovely Leominster

New Years Eve and the first opportunity we have had in weeks to get out and about. There's no snow to hamper us any longer and pretty though it was I'm heartily glad to see the back of it. The rush and responsibilities of Christmas are over and normal life can begin again.

Teenage Boy decided that friends and the local park were much more exciting, so we were free to have a day out without any grumps or groans or 'can we go home now' uttered every five minutes. Mr F. suggested a trip to Leominster. How I love this place. Full of antiques and shops selling vintage it's just the sort of place I love running riot in. Shop fronts are genteel Georgian affairs





and shop windows are filled with goodies that entice me inside followed by a very patient OH. Generally, it's not an expensive place either and wonderful things can be found for pocket money.


One of my faves is The Blue Door, full of vintage and new items that would sit so nicely in my home


and the rambling Zani's with room after room full of such lusciousness I don't know where to look first.


These were my acquisitions from Zani's yesterday. An old metal sign to be fixed to the garden wall


and some gorgeously coloured threads that will be displayed at a later date.



Oh the excitement! Of course everyone has to visit Utter Clutter. But do go on a diet before your visit - space is VERY tight!




By contrast Minster House rambles upstairs and downstairs, into the cellar and out into the garden and has things for sale from a couple of quid into the hundreds.....something for everyone. There's even a roaring open fire in the winter. If only they served tea.




Nevermind, we were able to visit Barber and Manuel for tea and the BEST chocolate brownies ever

sat in front of a fireplace still decorated with Christmas stockings made from vintage fabrics. Oh! I'm so glad to be out and about and back to normal.



Happy New Year everyone.

Ready

Today I finally feel as though Christmas is real. I finished work yesterday evening and was glad to do so. There was no heating in the building for five days running and we were all perished, the chief of all our branches visited and never even thanked us for putting up with the conditions. It was a cold, long journey on the train to get home to a warm home and warm hearts.

Today feels positive. The jewelled colours of Christmas chocolate immediately cheers me up and yes, I've pinched one. But don't tell my teenage boy - he's been told not to touch until Christmas Eve. I know he's not touched them.......there would be a tell-tale trail of discarded wrappers glistening and glinting all over the house.

Christmas is certainly on the way and I feel ready after a few final touches to here and there. Baubles popped underneath a domed cake stand should look o.k. as a table centre for Christmas Day I think?





And there's a wreath on the kitchen door as a welcome



Presents are wrapped and ready under the tree.



The Teenager has gone out to meet friends and I'm going to enjoy these last few quiet hours before the hustle and bustle of Christmas really begins. I may even watch a film this afternoon.....I might even pinch a few more of those chocolates. Would you like one? Help yourself.


The snow has really only affected us badly since Saturday when its heavy, silent downfall filled the skies and streets and quietened the normal sounds of the day replacing them with the thuds of snowballs landing and children shouting and laughing as the snow hit its target. You've all probably seen enough snowy pictures to last you until the summer but we enjoyed such a wonderful afternoon walk at the weekend around our town that I just wanted to share a few with
you if you don't mind. Down our street




to the local park





and a walk around the frozen pond






through the town and past beautiful St Thomas's church.





As the light faded, we walked home along the canal, past the Bonded Warehouse, still busy with families queueing for narrowboat trips to see Santa




passing a few narrowboats along the way. It was dark by the time we reached home and we were ready for that warming cup of tea.



Have a great Christmas everyone. Stay warm and safe annd enjoy the snow. Let me know what you're up to.

Unexpected Snowfall

I've been listening to the radio this morning. Presenters are taking phone calls from from people who have seen upto 14 inches of snow. Well, it's bloomin cold here in the West Midlands and I'm not particularly fond of snow but I am beginning to feel left out now. Don't get me wrong, if I'm snowed in tomorrow and can't get to the hairdresser I'll be mightily displeased but today, when I don't have to go out particularly, well perhaps a litle of the white stuff might be quite nice. I bought the jigsaw last weekend intending to keep it until Christmas as a little something to do inbetween all that eating. However, it is proving difficult to resist and as I no longer have Downton abbey or The Pilllars of the Earth to keep me out of trouble... well I might just have to unwrap it.




I have walked into town this morning and for once the charity shops came up trumps and I found this beautiful tablecloth. I love its cheerfully embroidered flowers, just right to brighten up a day of leaden skies. I also found this bright jingly jangly heart that does sound very like the bells on Santa's sleigh. I was extremely norty because I couldn't resist this little red heart either.




I thought you might like to meet our new pets. They came all the way from Ikea and will go on the Christmas tree eventually. At the moment though they do like exploring the house and keep popping up all over the place. Today, they're in the kitchen having agood old nose around. Thankfully, they've not discovered the biscuit tin yet.



Well, I think it's the kind of afternoon to spend with a pot of tea



in front of a snuggly, cosy fire.


I bought this for Christmas too. Do you think I would be very very norty if I opened it now?

Have a great weekend, I'd love to know what you're up to.

Rambling

I've not been near my blog for weeks again. I've felt that I've had nothing interesting to write about or to show you. For months the house has been in upheaval as Mr F. struggles to find time to decorate inbetween work and other commitments and my bedroom has been turned into a storage room with just enough space to navigate a route around the bed. Still, I suppose it will all get done at some stage and then I'll have plenty of pics to share. I've missed writing my blog and reading your comments, so here I am back again, not a lot to say so I'll just ramble on a bit if you don't mind.



One positive of late is my refound interest in cross stitch. I finished this chess board over the half term holiday. I've had it on the go for simply ages I'm ashamed to say. I'm pretty pleased with it and it has spurred me on to begin a project in petit point.



I've still got to make sense of this bundle of threads but the colours are wonderful, exactly right for this beautiful time of year.



A Sunday walk in the park last week showed off all the glory of Autumn. Since then, the wind and the rain have blown most of these golden jewels off the trees and little feet in brightly coloured wellies are jumping into the huge heaps of papery leaves that have been enthusiastically gathered. Much more fun than the swings and slides in the play area!







This is the time of year to cosy up as nights become darker and colder. After a summer of idleness, fairylights are switched on and add a warm glow in a dark corner. The the tub of hot chocolate stays permanently on the kitchen worktop ready for young Master F. to come home from school, usually uttering pleas for marshmallows and chocolate flakes to be added because it's been such a hard day at school.




I love to spend the evenings in my winter pyjamas. Do you like my new Primark ones?Exactly right to settle down for an evening of Autumn t.v. and I've LOVED watching Downton Abbey. I can't wait until the next series.





Time for me to put the kettle on for myself I think. Just want to leave you with this view from my kitchen window today. I bet that poor cat wishes he was somewhere as cosy as me.




I hope not to be leaving it so long between posts in future.....

September Days

September brings a a sense of expectation for me. I look forward to closing the curtains against the dark, lighting the fire and putting on cozy socks for the first time this autumn. September is a time of opportunity. The time for English apples, making damson gin, preserving and pickling and making the most of the last of the summer flowers. This is the time of year I need to 'play house', make us cosy and warm and nothing makes me cosier than cooking and baking.





I love buying cookbooks. Many are packed away at present as we decorate our study(spare bedroom) but there is nothing lovlier than curling up on the sofa with a favourite cookbook. My very favourite at the moment is this by lovley Lotte Duncan.



Any blogger who loves vintage will ooh and aah over this book. Not only are the recipes mouthwateringly good but it is a feast for the eyes as well. The pictures show the food photographed in Lotte's beautiful cottage and garden. Believe me you'll pick this book up again and again and love every minute of it.



I loved this plum cake I made from it.



Another favourite at the moment is the Popina baking book. Try the chocolate cookies from here - the best I've ever made.





Young Master F has a real passion for cupcakes and I think I could make these from memory now.



And of course yuo have to make the most of the strawberries whilst there is still a hint of warmth before Sunday lunch return to the ritual of fruit crumbles.



Whilst I witter on about baking and food. Has anyone been watching The Great British Bake Off? I've loved watching this series but I was so disappointed with the final. I didn't like losing one contestant after the first challenge and felt that some of the comments directed at one of the contestants was so unfair. I was with Mary Berry - I so wanted Miranda to get through. Her lemony cupcakes were just the thing for afternoon tea. I'd love to know what you think.