Finally, a post!

Hello folks, before I start with my post I would like to say a very sincere thank you for all the comments I received on my last post.  I found them very moving.

Right, here goes.  

There's been a lot of changes in my life and attitude to things of late (not really surprisingly) I've been trying literally to put my house in order.  The seemingly endless task of sorting out and decorating has begun, and as I'm sure you know the rooms that are finished make EVERYTHING else in the home look super shabby!  Last Summer I did manage to decorate our downstairs loo and hallway and also the bathroom, which were long overdue but finally I have redecorated our dining room!  I really don't like to admit that it has been many, many years since it was last decorated.

I took the plunge and 'Annie Sloaned' the dresser, corner unit, bookcase and hostess trolley, and though I shall whisper very quietly that I'm really not a fan of 'shabby chic' I really needed to make drastic changes.  Out went the over sized dining table and 6 chairs (now re-homed with my beautiful daughter and her lovely partner.)  It's taken me a while - I'm not getting any younger and I know when I've done enough!  Here's some befores and afters....

The dresser top before - I don't have good views of the whole of it!

(incidentally, the daffodil china is one of the (many) things that has been re-homed.

Sold it to a vintage tea shop.)

Painted in AS Louis Blue and Original (off white)
then it's been AS Soft waxed to finish.

The knobs are crackled cream (eBay)

I've painted the interiors to match.
Please note fab new carpet

Couldn't find a before photo I'd taken so this is from here but identical to mine.
Mahogany heated hostess trolley

After!

My pine bookcase was very similar to this one, but of course mine only cost £25 from a charity shop!

but afterwards it looked like this!

(This shows a little of the old peachy carpet)

The 'old' corner unit

And again after it'd been Annie Sloaned.

I managed to get hold of a fab pine farmhouse style table and hard wood chairs off eBay which someone had kindly already painted and waxed in AS Pure White.  

(Sid's sleeping quarters showing by the radiator - she's 19 now and needs a bit of comfort.) 

Since taking this photo I've also changed the curtains to a china blue colour.

It took me around 4 weeks plodding along at my own pace to do but we are delighted with the finished result.  I did however roller on the AS paint as I preferred the finish to brush painted.

There has been a LOT of thinning out of 'stuff', some has gone (back) to charity, some has been stored in the loft and some given to friends - with more to do in every room.

I'm in the process of sorting out the gardens at the moment, and then the kitchen is next up, it too will be attacked by Annie Sloan - who has time to rub down oak cupboards and drawers?  Not me!
I have taken to decision that ALL our downstairs rooms will be in blue and white.....well why not?  Both hubs and I like those colours :o)

On to other matters.

Hedgehogs are still a huge part of my life :o)  I've actually lost count of how many I've released back into the wild this year, I think it's nine or ten.  Four of those were my little Autumn juveniles, and the others needed a safe place to live and Joan at the rescue centre chose me to release them.
I found out an amazing fact from Joan when collecting one of the spiky little critters for release - she has run the rescue centre for the last 15 years, taking in between 450 -500 hedgehogs a year.  Those who are able to be treated are lovingly cared for and cured only to be handed back to the folk who bought them in for release.  Joan had NEVER seen any of them returned to the wild!  A few days later Joan rang me and asked if I could take another one, and that she could bring it round for me as she would be in the area.  I suggested she leave it until later in the evening so that she could release it.  She was over the moon!  She arrived around 8 o'clock, we had a cuppa and a chat until it was dark enough.  I marked 'Lucky' so that I could keep a close eye on him for the next few weeks.  Joan placed him into one of the hoggy 'Hiltons' in the garden and we sat on a bench and waited for it to emerge.  Half an hour passed and nothing happened, then Joan gave me a nudge as another hog had appeared for a forage around the food in the garden - she was beaming from ear to ear.  A few minutes later another hog appeared and started to hoover up some mealworms, then a third large hog appeared and snuffled over right between our feet to  one of the water dishes for a long drink.  Joan was beside herself.  Then 'Lucky' finally snuffled out and promptly began to eat.  We were both overjoyed.  We stayed outside for another 15 minutes or so until Joan had to leave.  She told me the next day she'd had a lump in her throat as she was so moved to see the delightful little creatures doing what they should be doing.  It was a privilege to be the one that finally let Joan release one of her beloved little patients.

Lucky.

Thank you for reading this, I know I've been missing for quite a while and there's been a lot of heart searching as to weather or not I was going to blog at all...for now I will try and 'get back into the swing' of it all as I do miss catching up with you all.

Best wishes as always

x x x

Bits of this and bits of that.

Hello folks!  Hope you are all well.

Firstly, I'd like to say a big hello and welcome to my new followers (waves) it's great to see new faces here, and though my posting is somewhat intermittent I hope you enjoy them!
(I do try to contact you personally, but sometimes there isn't a link I can use.)

The weather has been lovely for the past couple of weeks and there has been a lot of catching up on jobs going on here at home.  There have been visits to the doctors with Mom - still no news of when the Memory Clinic will FINALLY be in touch, but again they've been chased up.  She is in much the same condition with her memory (or, lack of it!) and the battle continues as to weather or not daily tablets have been taken :o(

Life seems to pass by in a whirl with no time to sit and enjoy...anyway, I have managed to find a few bargains.  It's been so long since I found them I've forgotten the cost, but I do know that none were over £3 (and I think Mom has problems!)

There was this dear mirror mosaic bird which stands around 4" tall

and

A Portmierion candlestick

Surprisingly, I found some Willow Pattern too ;o)

This 4" high sugar bowl (?) without a lid, soon to be filled with a small plant.

and finally..

You know I love glass...

A stained glass window hanger around 6" diameter,

and yes I do remember it cost me £1.50.

* * *

We have been feeding/caring for our hedgehogs as always, and we are having on average six visiting each night - and have had as many as eight!  I'm afraid I have been remiss and not took many photos, but here's one I thought you may like.

She (Mavis) peeping round one of my compost bins.

All of the released hogs are visiting, and Archie is the one that comes every night...we hear his loud snuffling long before we see him!

The Bark butter I make for the birds is gobbled up in record time, especially by the starlings - BUT I do have a warning for you should you decide to make it too...

I have a sneaky feeling that it contains some sort of Starling Viagra, as last Sunday morning I was woken up early (5.35am) by the sound of loud, raucous birds calling and chattering in the garden.  I decided to get up as it was SO loud, and greeting my eyes when I opened he blinds were SEVENTEEN young starlings and their parents - all tucking in to the bark butter!  It was not unlike Hitchcock's The Birds ;o) 

Here are just a few I managed to snap a few days later..

Of course, what comes with having so many birds visiting the garden?

This is two days worth :o(

UGH!  You should(n't) see some of the plants...

Plans are afoot though, the bench has to be rebuilt as a lot of the wood has rotted, once done I have a cover for it so that we can always find a clean seat!   The chair (2nd photo) has totally had it and is bound for the tip!

The house martins have finally arrived :o)  We thought they were going to build a nest at the apex of the roof, but it wasn't to be.  Here they are checking it out though.

They have nested on quite a few of the houses in the Crescent, so we can still enjoy their aerobatic swoops over the garden as they feed :o)

I also have frequent visits by a couple of Jackdaws who are certainly camera shy, I did however manage to get a couple of shots off the other morning through the bedroom window.

but it looks like this one is suffering from Avian Pox like the Great Tit I used to have visiting :o(

I shall report it to the RSPB as requested.

* * *

I'm glad to say that the resident Frogs are back in the pond.  I have had some (huge) problems with the dreaded Blanket Weed, but have discovered a natural killer that works without harming the pond life.  Cloverleaf Blanket Answer and then followed up with Pure Pond soft bio-degradable balls placed inside the filter once the water had cleared, both products were recommended by the aquatics centre I use .  I will add the products to my new 'Recommended by me'  page.

* * *

There have been lovely, warm evening when we've 'escaped' for a few hours over Cannock Chase

(just 4 miles from our home) and spotted some wildlife...

Sika Deer

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer

A lonesome Rabbit

The best view I could get of a (rarely seen around here) Jay.

I cannot tell you how much I enjoy these trips, they soothe the soul.

Well, that's it folks!   All for now.

Best wishes

xxx

P.S.

Thank you for all your comments, I do love to receive them and read them all :o)

This and that

Hello folks!

I've been trying to complete the Hedgehog Info Page (the link is just below the header) over the last few days - I think I have now, but you never know what I may think of next ;o)  I'd love some constructive feedback please. 

So much going on in 'real life' I'm struggling sometimes to keep up with everyone, so forgive my lack of commenting.

I'd really like to welcome my latest followers, it's great to see you here :o)  I see I'm creeping up towards the magical 100, and will have to find a giveaway when I reach that number. 

I have been popping in the charity shops and have managed to find a 'few' things, hope you like them.

(At this point frustration hits - I'd finished the L O N G draft and just hopped off to check on some facts and the above was posted by its self, and lost all the rest :o((  I'm NOT a happy blogger)  Here goes again!  You may need to get a glass of wine or a cup of tea before reading any further though ;o)

I totally forgot to show you what dear Daughter had made me when she came to visit over the Jubilee weekend, yards and yards or beautiful bunting!  Enough to trim all around the conservatory.


Isn't it jolly?  I LOVE IT - thank you dear Vicky :o)
(Sorry about the reflection of the plate on the wall)

I hate to think of all those hours of love that is put into any needle worked item and it ends up in the charity shop, I feel the need to rescue them - am I alone ?  When I spotted this 3 foot long tapestry bell pull I had to have it..

and in close up

all that work for just £3.
On the same day this sweet little cross stitched red squirrel caught my eye
4" x 4" frame - 50p

Cute eh?

By now you  know I'm obsessed I'm in love with blue and white.  Oh, and cats.  So you just know I wasn't going to resist this wall plate ;o)

and the backstamp..

Whilst typing this I realise that I didn't show you a little jug I found about a month ago on a trip to Ironbridge (which is only about 16 miles from my home.) Inevitably I'm going to visit it's one and only charity shop while I'm there!  It's a National Trust souvenir piece from beautiful Lanhydrock in Cornwall.
 

It's just about 2.5" high

I wonder if they're made by the famous Emma Bridgewater?
It was only two quid anyway :o) (£2)

A few weeks ago I spotted this little old crystal inkwell, the stopper was welded in place by all the dried turquoise ink that remained in it.  It's 4.5" high x 2.5" wide.  I filled a jug with warm soapy water and plunged it in over night, and next morning hey-presto the stopper came out with ease.  It took another day to soak off the ink remnants though.

 

I took a chance for £1.50 and it worked :o)

I wonder how many times the nib dipped into it and what wonderful words is helped to write?

(Sorry folks - I did warn you earlier it's a L O N G post, there's still more.)

On another occasion on entering the shop this struck me as beautiful, and I'm not normally into cherubs.

The little bird is so quaint.  It's china and stands 6" high, just £3.

I'm definitely NOT a Kindle kind of person, there is in my opinion nothing like holding a real book and so not surprisingly I have hundreds of them that are often read and referred to.  You know I'm like a magpie with gold colours too, so when I spied these 7" high x 4.5" wide pineapple bookends...

the original price sticker said £21, they're in perfect condition and were priced at just £4.50 :o)

Guess who's books they're holding up right now?

For some time I have been buying any hedgehog themed item to donate to the hog rescue open day to help boost funds.  Obviously there are a few items I've decided I wish to re-home...

The largest being 5.5" long.  The three items added up to £2.50.

Incidentally, the largest ones spines feel just like the real thing when you stroke it - a relaxed one of course with spines down!

Then there's this little group which includes a field mouse, it's just like home;o)

around 4" long and 5" tall, 75p.

You know I'm a collector-holic, well another thing I collect is walking sticks - not the expensive silver topped variety, but things that catch my eye.  Last week I found the smaller of the two pictured at my 'suppliers' for £3.50

The handles are antler.

In close up, the taller one

Which I bought last year from the same shop - that cost £5

and the small one

this reminded me that I'd got something a month or so back I didn't 'show' you either.

I'd looked at it for a few days in the shop until the penny (finally) dropped that it's a pen holder!

The antler is glued into a heavy granite base, and the pen fits snugly in the hole pictured on the right hand 'branch' and all for a very reasonable 50p  It sits next to the phone.

Phew, nearly finished now, just two more to go.

On Wednesday when I just happened to be passing my supplier ;o)

there was a tall stack of various vintage suitcases, this smaller one caught my eye and with a little TLC I'm certain it'll look fabulous

It's 16" x 10.5" x 5" in real leather, and a leather interior too. 

I thought £8 was a bargain.  A man bought the other five that was there while I was still browsing - but he didn't get a lovely leather one...

And FINALLY (Yes, I CAN hear your cheers!)

Yesterday this little beauty needed to be re-homed, and I had a feeling it was something special too.

A vintage pyjama case in really good condition, and a happy surprise lurked underneath

Made by 'Merrythought'.  It was £4. 

This label was used from 1957 to 1991.  Looking at the condition I believe it was made in the sixties.  The lining is in pink silk.  He's quite at home in the guest room snoozing on the bed!

I know you're thinking than goodness this post is at an end - and thank you for sticking with it!

If you have the energy and will left I'd love to read your comments - even if it's telling me to do shorter posts in future!

My very best wishes to you all