Colour and Hope

A little sunshine, a breath of warmth, a splash of colour and I feel like a different person. The egg yolk yellow of these miniature daffodils just gives me an instant lift as well as the corner of our home where they will sit. The weather has been loads warmer and dry enough to some tidying in the garden. I have to say that the garden doesn't look wonderful for its tidy up but there are plenty of strong healthy shoots and the promise of luscious green leaves and bright flowers brings a certain amount of excitement.





These little packets of seeds always make me feel excited. I know I'll have to hang on to them until April before I can plant them outside but I love buying them, knowing that these alien looking seeds behave impeccably and always grow beautifully once planted in their little black seed trays.




Ferreting around in the cellar this morning I stumbled upon this forgotten little trug that I had painted and decorated with images of seed packets. I thought perhaps it's time that I begin to use it.( Any ideas of what I do use it for will be gratefully received). I love seed packets and I can't explain why. I love to see them at the garden centre, row after row in their racks. Some, very familar plants, others that I've never heard of , that look full of promise and give you a wonderful sense of anticipation as you plant them up and wait patiently as the tiny little seedlings poke their heads through the soil. At this time of year Father-in-law has a stash of seed packets that hold great excitement. Already the sweet peas will have been planted in trays, familar varieites that will be guaranteed to win prizes and new plants each year promising large blowsy flowers and heady scents. He knows I like the old fashioned, less showy varieties of sweet pea and he now always plants a selection of these and presents them to me with their short stems and deep velvety colours, to sit in a pretty vintage jug. Some of the sweet peas are nurtured lovingly for the horticultural shows during the sumer. Others will be on sale at the gate next to the honesty box. All that beauty from these little paper packets of seeds.



All we need now is for the weather to continue to improve, a little sun, a little rain and we can all begin to breathe and relax again. How I love Spring!

A Special Request

At thirteen years old Josh doesn't avidly read every blog entry his Mom posts. However, this week he has made a very special request - that I put his new guitar on the blog for all my blogging ladies to see and admire. He began bass guitar lessons twelve months ago and has decided to learn guitar as well. This meant a trip into Birmingham last weekend to search for the perfect guitar. He had been told that he wouldn't find the right guitar - but that the right guitar would find him. And it did. He is now the extremely excited and proud owner of a Gretsch Corvette in burgundy.





It has a classic Bigsby whammy bar, (cool), and two pickups, (cool) and I am reliably informed that some great guitarists use or have used Gretsch guitars, including George Harrison, The Edge, Neil Young and Joe Perry from Aerosmith, (cool). This beautiful guitar now lives in Josh's room, picked up, caressed, stroked, played, marvelled at. 'Thanks Dad'. 'Thanks Mom' has been said over and over again in the past few days.



And please don't miss the studded leather guitar strap - this was by far the coolest strap in the shop!

Cake Stand OCD?

Today, I fully intended a quick post to show off my latest couple of purchases but it has developed somewhat, as I begin to realise that I might have a problem. Firstly, let me show you my latest tin (I'll save that particular problem for another day). I saw this for the first time over at The Henhouse and feeling quite upset that I hadn't received my copy of the Emma Bridgewater catalogue I popped over to the Bridgewater website and a few days later, here I am, proud possessor of this gorgeous little tin but still not in possesion of an EB catalogue. Now, the next item I'm going to show you is part of the problem.



Yes, I love its pink, frilly, gorgeousness and the fact that at a fiver from Matalan it's quite a bargain and you cannot deny how luscious pink-iced cupcakes will look sat on top of its sheer loveliness. The problem is, I already have several cake stands and think that I might just have cake stand OCD. I have some lovely domed cake stands





and some very nice glass stands that will stack neatly on top of each other for a glamorous display.




I love the patterns that are formed in these moulded glass pieces.





I also have a very pretty, flowery, thirties style stand



and some very attractive creamware stands.



I think that's eight cake stands in total. My passion for them doesn't stop there. I've also been eyeing up this piece of gorgeousness from Laura Ashley.


I'm trying very hard at the moment trying not to add it to my basket and proceed to checkout. Well then ladies, do I have a problem? Should I seek help? I'm like this with everything - I have to have loads of stuff and one is never enough. Except for husbands.

And do you know the worst thing about this obsession? - I haven't got one slice of fruit cake, one coffee cupcake, no scones, not even a slice of plain sponge to adorn one of these wonderful cake stands today. Sad or what?

I also have to thank Tracey at Tracey's crafty scraps for this award. Many thanks Tracey.

Cheer

This morning seemed darker and wetter than ever. it has been confirmed, what we already knew, that we are in recession. We've been told at work, that there are no job losses for this year but next year...who knows. Well, I'm fed up with trying not to spend money, the darkness, rain and the bloody economy. So when I saw these little beauties I threw caution to the wind, spent some money and provided a little cheer for my home.



Aah! I already feel better for little hint of spring that these precious green shoots bring. Hopefully, in a few weeks time the heady scent of blue and lilac hyacinths will waft through the house and provide some much needed colour and cheerfulness. Something else that cheers me up no end are these little coffee and walnut cupcakes.



I found the recipe for these little cakes in this wonderful book by Kate Shirazi.



There was an article in last April's CL about this lady, who runs a cupcake making business from home. If you pop over to her website cakeadoodledo.co.uk you can see the wonderful creations that she sells.



Her gorgeousl little book has a range of cakes from 'low-faff' (my level) up to 'high-faff' cakes which look far too good to eat. Just take a look here(these two photos are from the book, not my creations sadly.)



and here

...........yum. Well they certainly add a little cheer don't they? (As well as a few inches, but we won't go there).

Listening to this wonderful man perform last night certainly lifted my spirits. Please let me introduce you to Mr. Martin Simpson, winner of the best album in the BBC Folk Awards last year with 'Prodigal Son'.


He was absolutely superb last night. I tried to upload a video for you but alas, Youtube and Blogger don't seem to be talking to each other at present. Martin's song about his father 'Never any Good' took the folk world by storm last year. As the video won't load I'll give you the link here Martin Simpson 'Never any Good'. It's an honest song, not sentimental, but it will give you goosebumps!

I'm off to listen to his album now - that will cheer me up even more!

Have a good weekend everyone.

Recipe for a Perfect Saturday

There's nothing like waking up on a Saturday morning with no-one to please but yourselves. It's bitingly cold outside although there is no frost. It's time to snuggle down in bed with a few good magazines and a mug of steaming hot tea.

Then when it's time to face the day what about a short journey to a local market town with luscious tea rooms


that also has wonderful views from its dining room windows?


It's just the sort of morning that you need a hearty breakfast



and a hot chocolate with all the trimmings.



Scrumptious.

Once breakfast is digested its off to gaze round some wonderful shops.











The wind is becoming increasingly cold and the skies a more intense grey, so we decide to leave the High Town via the steps into Low Town and make our way home.

Where it's a relief to be cosy in front of a warm fire

with tea and cookies.

Catching Up

January - and today is the day when things begin to get back to normal. No more worrying (as usual) about the Christmas meal being edible. It was fine (as usual) but it never stops me fretting! Today I am on my own and it's time to catch up. There are lots of things that have been neglected over the past two weeks and they now need attention. Now, all todays chores are finished and I can have a little r&r and start cross stitching again. Who knows, the chess board might get completed soon. This morning was a bit of a surprise as we woke up to this.



I should have been brave and ventured out for a walk in the local park to take some spectacular photos but no chance - I'm staying put and staying snug and warm today and I won't even venture outdoors for you lovely bloggers. I might however watch my new DVD, which I won in Annie's giveaway at A Saucerful of Secrets. I love old films and being able to snuggle up and watch a Hollywood romance or an Ealing Comedy, and admire the old stars like Bette Davis and Ingrid Bergman and films like The Wicked Lady and Rebecca.I think today is just the sort of day to curl up with a mug of hot chocolate and a good film. I'd love to know if you do the same or which film stars you like to watch.



My wonderful package also included a jar of Green and Blacks Hot Chocolate and best of all, a surprise gift made by Annie herself.



This little brooch is so beautifully made and so individual. I think it will have to kept on display when it's not being worn - so I'm now searching for a little cushion to pin it on, so that it's there for all to see and admire. You must visit Annie's blog and website where you can see her gorgeous home and the beautiful dolls that she makes.

I've got quite a few photos of places we visited over Christmas but thought that today I'd show you some of our Boxing Day walk along the canal.



This is my favourite walk, in summer or winter and it was such a gloriously sunny day you just had to be happy. (Plus the thought of not having to cook a three course meal made me feel even more chirpy!)


As usual there were plenty of brightly coloured narrowboats lined up against the towpath





although today we don't see anyone going through the locks.



It is a day to stay put and keep warm as we watch woodsmoke from the boats curl up from their little chimneys and we see some of the occupants emerge from the cabins to walk down the towpath to the pub.


I'd love a little cottage next to the canal and to be able to watch the boats as they travel along sedately and watch the wildlife in the spring. Of course we see ducklings but we have seen herons and at twilight bats swooping above the water between the trees. All in all I love it here.