No nutcracker

Thanks so much for all your well wishes for my poor old husband trapped on a train for over 12 hours, he made it safely back home at 1.30 pm this afternoon.

But away from the chaos, I have had a lovely day. We got the coveted window seat in our favourite cafe as not many people had made the journey into town, had lovely warming meals and frothy cappuccinos, later we drank hot chocolate and shared a brownie before heading back out. With all the snow falling we embraced the season and did some christmas shopping then struggled home with our bags full of gift wrap and my best purchase of the day, a huge net of shiny mixed nuts in their shells. Slight problem. No nutcracker in the house.

Now the snow is really coming down but it looks perfect for a evening winter walk, I love the silence that the snow provides, so we are going to get out there to take advantage of our very own Narnia. While the snow is untouched. Stay safe x

Snow days

So I was going to move over to my new blog today, but with a husband missing for 14 hours trapped on a train in the snow in some far away town, we will all have to wait a few more days for the final tweaks to be completed. At least he is with a whole train full of people, may have even made some new friends? I do love to look at the snow but now I jus want him home. I have been house bound for a couple of days now so I will brave the outside to meet a friend and have a nice hot drink and a piece of cake in a nearby cafe whilst I await my favourite persons return. I hope you are all okay wherever you live x

Batten down the hatches

I hope you are all tucked up on this wild November evening. Nothing more satisfying than a hand made (not by me though) chicken and leek pie with a side of locally grown vegetables. I have been rain battered by leaving the house today but it made this dinner taste even sweeter.

Don't worry, in my haste to batten down the hatches and put my feet up with a box of chocolates, I haven't forgotten to select the winners of last week giveaways, so here goes . . . .

Mondays Farrow and Ball book and paint chart won by Jac of Coco Sunday.
Tuesdays Photographic prints won by Rimpsukaisa.
Wednesdays Make it pretty box won by Denise of A bun can dance.
Thursdays delicious Dorset cereal bars won by Jenny of Winni Briggs House.


Happy November to you x

Super strong winds and heavy rain

I concur, super strong winds and heavy rain battering my windows and I HAVE to go out there! Oh why! Thought I would start the day with a way more cheerful image than the fate that befalls me outside my front door. Hope you are snuggled and cosy at home without a reason to leave the house today.

Give away winners will be announced later today x

Plum

The sky remains the same, dark grey and always threatening never the less I have found a colour that really lifts my spirits and which luckily pairs perfectly with all greys. Plum. I have seen a few flashes of plum (a hat, scarf and skirt) in the off the runway shots in New York over at Style.com.

I managed to grab a some all my own today in the form of a soft throw and it was only £7.50. It befriends my hand embellished cushions very nicely. Although I will probably end up wearing it as a cape, its chilly at home today.

Grapefruit and Jasmine

It's snowing and icy out, and I am tucked up in bed for a second day with tonsillitis and a splitting headache, so with my screen brightness turned down and before I fall asleep again, I thought I would tell you about Parks Candles.
A while ago a sweet girl named Amy asked me to review a new product line, I get quite a few messages in my inbox about the promotion of various things and normally decide against it, but as I love scented candles and have them in most of my rooms I gladly accepted Amy's offer.
I was not disappointed, the Parks range of 100% natural wax candles are fragranced with organic essential oils which filled my rooms with a gorgeous lasting aroma of Grapefruit and Jasmine a lovely crisp fresh scent that seemed a more than appropriate start to the new year.
Other fragrances include Rosemary and bergamot, Camomile, violet, orris and honey and Lemongrass and mint. I love how scenting a room can add an extra layer, change your mood, soothe and calm, or just chase away the memory of what you have been cooking in the kitchen, and who doesn't find the gentle flicker of candle light welcoming and restorative all at once. I have the candle next to my bed now and even though it is not lit I can smell the divinely refreshing scent of grapefruit.

Such a nice gift to give or receive, plus these candles are also on sale at the moment too at Debenhams so I think I will stock up.

A cat is waiting.

It is hot outside.
Very warm.
Real close.
Grey clouds building.
Making it darker.

Out in the yard.
Not mine but someone's.
A cat is waiting.
A storm is on it's way.

I am safe and dry inside.
Waiting for rain to start.
One of my favorite types of Summer evening.

bye for now.

It has been an eat all day kind of day. Yummy breakfast bacon, eggs, fresh pressed coffee and caramel shake. Pate on toast and tea for lunch. Salt. pepper and butter corn for supper. Topped off with an ice cold glass of coke with a twist of lime. Might even make time for a hot chocolate before bed.

A friend gave me another lovely bunch of raggedy stocks on Friday, pink and white this time. Our little home is all bright with sunshine and flowers, we didn't even leave the house once today.

But I will be leaving tomorrow, leaving to spend the week with my sisters and mum in Ireland. I am so excited. Hope those irish rain clouds disappear. I will be back with pictures and words maybe during the week maybe I will save it for my return on Saturday.

I hope you have had a great weekend and will enjoy a happy next week.

bye for now.

Seagulls and hot chocolate

Sunday was fresh orange juice before a brisk walk along the beach. Making the most of the winter breeze. Stopping on the harbor arm to watch the gulls and waves and sit and drink some hot chocolate from a flask. Picked up some bread and cheese from the local deli and went home to eat it before the dark sky threatened to open up on us. Then just stayed cosy at home until sleeping time.

Two

So two days to go. I'm hoping today's grey sky will empty it's contents over the next twenty four hours so its clear Wednesday.

Yay for Paul!

The weather has taken a turn for the worse (again!) pouring with rain and way too windy for an umbrella! Makes me want to stay indoors and try to recreate some of the almost too beautiful to eat food by Sweet Paul. Paul has done a recent feature looking back at some of the fabulous work he and his marvelous photographer friends have created since he moved to New York. Plus if you still want to see more he will be Guest blogging over at This week for dinner.
How am I going to get to work? Drowned rat springs to mind, I don't even have anything with a hood, I am at the complete mercy of the skies and I think they have ideas of whipping my newly washed hair in to a soggy comb over!