Y I DON'T DIY

First and foremost, happy MEMORIAL DAY to all, especially our veterans...

Second, I haven't seen momma bird since the day she came back... I fear that the egg is an orphan...

Third, and this pertains to my post title, DIY is not my strong point... I am much better at designing something than trying to make it actually come to fruition...

That's where Mr. SP comes in... He got the build~it gene...

I wanted to finish the exterior of the GARDEN COTTAGE yesterday and well let's just say Mr. SP didn't... So I thought I could do it myself... I was just patting myself on the back after finishing the project and thinking "hey that wasn't so hard after all" when Mr. SP appeared and announced that...

I HAD CUT THE CABLE...

On race day no less...

Of course I said "well you should have helped me and it wouldn't have happened".

The cable company couldn't come out til Tuesday... I wasn't sweating it...

You see, Mr. SP has amnesia about this but it's not the first time this has happened... And I knew he could fix it... And with a race on tv, it was just a matter of time...

You see I'm posting right? Case closed...

Smashing Glass!

Above is just a small sample of some of the items I made on a recent recycled glass workshop I attended locally in Ipswich. Anita does the most amazing work which she sells at fairs and gallery exhibitions but she also does workshops - for details of her work and the next workshops see http://www.misshoneypieglass.com/. It is a hugely creative day and really absorbing. The best bit is that all the glass is recycled using old window glass, primarily.

I met Anita at a local fair we were both exhibiting at and knew then that I would have to do one of her workshops! In fact I have been on two now and am itching to go again - next time Nicola is coming along too....Nicola lurve's glass so it will be right up her street! I've managed to frame the small hearts and my next job is to make up some wooden plinths for displaying the little houses and flower design...hopefully I'll get this done before I go again. I'm aiming to make some little glass Christmas tree ornaments for presents, and for the tree, next time I go. Gosh, I don't believe I said that word (Christmas) and it's not even June yet!

Jacqui

Grilling

On one of many gorgeous days we had in April we decided to grill some steaks. My supermarket was having a deal on fresh mozzarella so I bought a few tomatoes, some basil and the mozzarella for caprese salad:


SP cooked the steaks perfectly, nice and charred on the outside and rare in the middle:


I don't eat a ton of red meat but there is something so satisfying about cutting into a well-cooked steak and eating that first juicy bite.

Bridal Shower

One of my dearest friends from college got married earlier this month, but way back in March I went down to Baltimore for her bridal shower/bachelorette party weekend. It was a ton of fun and I'm so happy for M & S.

M's bridesmaids really outdid themselves with the food. Here's the spread looking quite inviting:


It wouldn't be a party in Baltimore without crab dip:


A party favorite, spinach dip with pumpernickel bread:


A delicious pasta salad:


Yummy sandwiches and wraps:


Fresh fruit (I couldn't get enough of the pineapple):


Bean dip that was out of this world amazing, made by the mom of one of the bridesmaids:


Cookies in the shape of some of M's favorite Balitmore things:


The only food I managed to photograph from the bachelorette party was the crab pretzel at our first stop. This was so amazing I want to go back to Baltimore just to have another one all to myself. It's a huge soft pretzel topped with luscious, creamy crab dip and cheese, then broiled:


Wow, that it good!

Mornings and Lunch Dates

Every morning, my husband has a special time with one of our children individually. There’s never been a complaint at being woken up earlier than the rest. They each look forward to their special morning of the week with Daddy.

 

The meeting place is the kitchen table and they talk over coffee and hot cocoa. It doesn’t take anything fancy to connect with a child... just time and attention.  And lots of it. They’ve had this tradition now going on 8 years, and I’m betting it will continue into adulthood.

A few years ago I started my own little one-on-one tradition and established lunch dates on Saturdays. The children take turns going out for a slice of pizza with me. Today’s lunch date was with my big boy Gavin.

 

It’s always amazing to me how few words are necessary (on my part) for Gavin to feel he’s had a terrific time with Mom. He really, really likes to talk. So I listen. And funny enough, what he talks about is mostly over my head, which these days revolves 99% around computer programming.

I'm convinced he didn’t inherit a single thing from me except maybe the blond hair. He takes after my husband all the way.  I enjoy watching him grow and engage in the things he’s passionate about.

 

He’s been working a lot lately with his daddy, and together they created his first marketable software program. On today’s lunch date, I promised him a plug on my blog.  So here’s the plug…

 

Before our children ever started a formal math program, we had them learn their math facts backwards and forwards. It’s proven very helpful, and it inspired my husband and son to create a math flashcard software program.

 

It has features we haven’t been able to find in other programs, and we think it will be useful to other children and schools besides our own.

Have your children try out the free 7-day trial and let us know how you like it. Gavin’s just an email away should you have questions about the program. He’d love to answer them. Remember, he loves to talk. :)

For a link to the 7-day free trial click here.

My favourite place....

You may be surprised to hear that Halfpenny Home is my second favourite place in the world. My favourite place is here, on my allotment with my chickens, ducks and compost heap. This is what I do before I get to the shop in the morning and after I close the big doors at the end of the day. Hope you have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, Nicola.

Magic Spray

Today I lined up the dining chairs outside in a sunny spot...

and tried out (for the first time ever) a fabric protector spray that promises to:

• repel stains
• spills
• and water.

Afterwards, I baked up some blueberry muffins with the girls.



And enjoyed munching them out on the porch... waiting for the spray to work its magic...

with the hope that one day, blueberries and white upholstery will peacefully coexist.

Meatloaf Muffins

Meatloaf muffins are one of my favorite ways to cook meatloaf. Everything is already portioned out and it only takes 30 minutes to cook.


For these I added salsa and breadcrumbs to the meatloaf mix, then topped each muffin with ketchup. Mashed potatoes and corn rounded out the meal.

Seeing Red…again!

AS IN ‘RED GERANIUMS’

I had a free day yesterday and so I finally had a chance to bring up all my flowers and get them out – not that I have an array of different ones, you all know by now I’m a softy when it comes to Geraniums … it’s one of my favorite flowers to decorate with next to Lavender – which I totally forgot to bring up.

Yesterday it reached 89 degrees and no air con. and the humidity was 55% – not bad but if you knew me I can’t stand heat or
temps over 70/72 and no humidity … but that said, I put on as little as I could get away with for clothes and went about
putting out the flowers.

Don’t have much as far as information to add today so hope you enjoy the pictures.

Here’s the stash before I put them around!
I had 11 pots and 6 clusters to work with
Wishing I had more white after using the two I had

 

 

Now here’s where they all ended up

I think this turned out great….it’s my Americana display – I bought an old box last Winter and love the printing on it … and it’s Blue so it worked great for this in our screen room
 
close up of box

In the kitchen by the side window

In a Salt Glaze bowl in the den
 

In a crock under a table in the family room

On the fireplace

One I do every year….in my large trencher in the dining room

And outside on the courtyard

And last - in a basket above our bed

Now just a couple pictures of some flowers I set outside
These are by the garage
 

Back door area
I use the large Redwing crock for my displays all year long.
I keep the birch twigs in there for fullness and just add my flowers
for the seasons and at Christmas we put a lit tree in it

Courtyard area – finally got my flowers planted and it stormed that night and knocked off most of the little pinks!

 

On the front porch
This actually looks better than it is showing – picture doesn’t
show how very nice it really looks for some reason
I bought this tall bucket at a shop up north, it’s about 36 inches tall
 

I’ve been trying to visit all of you as I can this week – have to be gone all of tomorrow to my aunts to help there so won’t
have access to a computer but will be back for the weekend and will check in on more blogs – I’ve got a lot of catching up to do!

I think my girls liked their winnings from my giveaway! Hope so!

Karen

The fruits of my labour!

I've done it! And just in time for Strawberry season too! This is my first knitting project ever - well, unless you count the skinny scarf type efforts of my very young years. It was with a lot of trepidation that I embarked on this project - eagerly encouraged by Nicola who, I have to say, is just totally inspirational and without whom I would never have attempted it! There were a couple of panic phone calls along the way, just to check that I was doing things right, but here it is....and I am so proud of myself!

From comments both in the studio and on the blog, I think there will be a lot more strawberries popping up before long - it just cheers you up doesn't it? And knowing I've made it myself just makes it so much more special! I think I may just make another one.....or two.....

I just had to include the picture of my westie, who's a bit of an attention seeker - he couldn't resist getting in on the act when I was taking these pictures - spot the tea-cosy in the background!

Jacqui

Return to Blogging

Man...where did the time go? My last post was April 2? I'm sorry about that. What can I say except work has been crazy, things with Baby Girl have been crazy and life just keeps getting in the way. I even (gasp) stopped taking photos of meals because I didn't know when I'd get around to blogging about them.

The good news is I have a ton of pictures and Blogger has this nifty feature where I can write all my posts at once and have one publish each day. So stay tuned...

Colors and Paint Cans

Paint colors.  I've gotten lots of emails about them.  Two of my colors have names.  The others are custom, so I have pictures of my paint cans.  It's the best I can do! 

The first color with a name is "China Moon".  It's from Valspar's "Seaside Retreat" line from Lowes.  To me, it's a lovely neutral.  Not too brown and not too gray.  I have it in my kitchen, dining area, living room, and our little master bedroom (above the wainscoting).  I probably would have put it in every room of the house had I found it sooner.  It contrasts nicely with all my whites, browns, and grays.  It's the color on the walls to the left of the bed below.

image courtesy Lowes.com

   

This next one is on the walls in the girls, boys, and playroom/office rooms. Many people have asked me about this color, and I thought it was a custom color and I didn't have a name for it.  Lo and behold I looked at the paint can this morning and realized I have been wrong all along.  It's actually another color from the Seaside Retreat line from Lowes.  It's called "Stonecastle".  It's the beigy color below.

 

However, I must tell you this color can be tricky.  Depending on the light in the room, it can go all the way from looking green to gray to beige.  So, definitely do a test spot on your wall in the room you're wanting to paint, and watch how it changes throughout the day.

You've probably noticed by now all of the beadboard and wainscoting throughout our house.  It's a custom white from Home Depot (below):

Last but not least is the most requested paint color in my house (below):

This color is on our island and gutter bookshelves.  I've not only had people from my blog request this color, but also people in real life who come to my house.  It is a really pretty color. 

Some of you will be sad to know that the turquoise color in the sneak peaks of my laundry room did not stay!  Some were asking the color.  That room was painted when we moved in, so I haven't a name or a paint can for it.  I do like it, but for my laundry room, I wanted something more subdued.  So I chose a soft gray color, which I love.  I'll be sharing that paint color once I reveal the laundry room in its entirety. 

I apologize for not getting back to many people who have asked about my paint colors.  And if it's not to late in coming, happy painting!