Has it really been that long?

[Autumn fare: pigeon salad, with local Halloumi, local pigeon and roasted butternut squash from the garden, washed down with some delicious Apple juice from up the road]

Has it really been that long? I think this is probably the longest I have gone without blogging. I'm finding that there just aren't enough hours in the day at the moment. If I blog then it means even less time for Tim and I to spend together! In fact, I'm not really sure what happened between July and Oct, it's all been a blur. I just don't know how I do it sometimes - tomorrow I have to pack for going away to Amsterdam on Friday. It's the only time I have to do it as Monday and Tuesday I'll be working late no doubt (nothing changes) Wednesday I am busy in the afternoon/evening, Thursday night I have my course so I won't get home until 10pm and Friday morning I have to get up at 5am! My life is exhausting, but I've come to realise that I make it that way - there are people who do an average job (ie, they do what is required of them and nothing more) and leave work every day at 5.30, but I just can't let go enough to do that. I was officially awarded my promotion though this week. The first time in my life that all my hard work has been recognised! :-) It also means that some of the renovations that we simply couldn't afford before might become a reality.

You see the dining room here and our kitchen + utility room? Well we are thinking of knocking this all through into a big kitchen. I'm not usually a massive fan of this open plan kitchen/diner where mummy can watch darling child do homework whilst baking (does that even happen?!), but if it means we can have a nice free standing country kitchen with dressers instead of fitted cupboards, a belfast sink and an aga then I think it might be a good solution. Also, the reality is the dining room just doesn't get used as it should.

[Kitchen]

[Utility room]

[Dining room]

Some of these are nice:


[Farmhouse kitchen - this one is my favourite]
[Rustic chic]
[Pretty shaker style kitchen][This a bit different, but pretty]

I had some good news on Wednesday - my little sister had a beautiful baby girl called Sophie. Isn't she cute and she's such a good little baby! I am officially an aunty! I made her this little basket. You will probably vaguely recognise the owl - I pinched this idea from Hen (nowhere near as nice as Hen's!). My sister used to love owls when she was little, and her favourite soft owl toy was called Ollie the owl so this is my version of Ollie.

[Baby Sophie]


[Ollie the Owl]

I wanted to say a big thank you to Sharon over at Clover Cottage for sending me this cute tea towel (Rosie approved of the cat!). Sharon - I will send you the cushion covers by Christmas, promise! :-)


I also won Lemonade Kitty's giveaway (how lucky am I?). I posted pics of the lovely wrapping but foolishly forgot to take pictures of my winnings. I won some toastie slippers (much needed at the moment), a wooden button, 2 children's books (love these!) and a really pretty brooch! :-) Thank you both! :-)


Now, on to some bargains I got on ebay: this really pretty 50s picnic hamper was £15 and the Edwardian mirror was £12.


More bargains from ebay coming soon...