Knick-Knacks, Bric-a-Brac. We give it all a home.

 

Knick-Knacks, Bric-a-Brac. We give it all a home.

Blog Post No.10

21/09/2012.

Even the most beautifully organised and minimalists among us all have precious knick-knacks hiding in cupboards, on shelves and stored in the loft and bric-a-brac items that really should have gone to a charity shop long ago.

After all however ruthless we like to be when doing that inevitable spring clean (not necessarily in spring might I add, I usually do a spring clean at the start of summer, autumn and winter too! But that’s because I have some defective gene from my paternal Grandmother which means I have to keep my home organised in a ridiculously scrupulous manner) there are just some things that you can’t help but tell yourself they will come in useful one day no matter how battered and worn. You also keep things because they remind you of something attached to a pleasant memory. I’m not talking your child or grandchild’s baby clothes or a greetings card but something less precious such as a mug that you bought when you were a student or a t-shirt that you wore to a party when you first drank something a little stronger than cherryade.

In the most recent of all mighty clear out’s Mr N and me found several unusual items that don’t even belong to us. Amongst the pile we found a five inch, yes I said five inch, black and white plug in television complete with reasonably non-tatty box. I know, I know I am usually a vintage-loving, retro hunting kinda-gal but on this occasion it was NOT something I had carefully collected at a thrift store but something we found in our loft shortly after moving in. I can just imagine Betty sat watching early episodes of Coronation Street at her ferule legged coffee table complete with formica top. Betty lived here before us and being the softy that I am when nearing exchange of contracts and they told us they would completely clear the house as soon as they could I said oh don’t worry whatever you don’t want just leave behind and we will rehouse. So alongside the teeny-tiny t.v there was a G-Plan record player in a teak sideboard style cabinet- so groovy but far too seventies for my taste (still going begging should anyone wish to collect!) Also a teak-ish wardrobe with the door in the middle and the clothes rails positioned each side going from front to back and a five hook claw in the middle, it sort of reminded me of something you would see in the art deco era in a Fred Astaire film. But being the crafty homemaker that I am I decided to up-cycle this vintage piece and I have transformed it into a shabby chic style armoire with just a lick of porcelain coloured paint and some stylish Mr and Mrs accessories. It now looks most at home in our master-bed.

As for bric-a-brac our homes are filled with them, giant stacks of jig-saws you’ve done that many times you could do with your eyes closed, endless boxes full of lego and building blocks that the kids don’t really play with anymore. Teddy bears and soft toys that the whole family have accumulated which let’s face it you only ever really have one teddy bear that you will treasure for ever. Mine being a green hippo my older sister brought me back from a school trip to Germany when I was only one. He has been stitched back together more times than I care to think of his eyes have rubbed off and my Grandmother has replaced various parts of him over the years in particular his label which I used to put my little finger through and would only go to sleep should I have him and a dodey, on the odd occasion he went missing I used to take one of my brothers vests with me for a nap- so I could put my finger through the label. Strange you might think…But having recently discovered a new baby/toddler toy strange I am not. What I am indeed referring to is Taggies®

I could have been a millionaire if I have thought about it!

Photo Credit : http://www.myblankets.com/Taggies.html

 

 

 

To be continued……

-Mrs N x

Rainy Day Re-decorating.

Blog Post No.9

Sunday 16/09/2012

Rainy Day Re-decorating.

Today has been a drizzly Sunday so Mr N and I decided to put on our D.I.Y. caps and get stuck into some well overdue jobs round the house.

We woke early so after breakfast together, we got stuck in. I have shabby chic-ified our chunky farmhouse antique pine coffee table and a nest of pine tables that I picked up recently for £4 (a real bargain!) that practically match our coffee table. I sanded the tops of each of the coffee tables and painted them in an antique cream matt finish paint. Whilst waiting for them to dry off I did a little mandatory housework whilst Mr N took down some shelves and storage in preparation for creating the room into a library.

Once the tables were touch-dry I finished them with some varnish to seal from stains and coffee rings, Mr N never uses our coasters! They now look really cool even if I do say so myself and completely suit our home.

We have also done some sorting out of things for our local charity shops in an attempt to de-clutter. Well I did some sorting out; Mr N on the other hand is loathed to part with anything he always says, “Oh that will come in use.” What he thinks he will do with an old school rucksack that has holes in and tons of odd and ends that have no real purpose but hey they are his bits and bobs.

As much as we had intended to spend the whole day finishing bits of decorating and finishing odd jobs around the house the lure of a lazy Sunday together soon became too much to resist. The rain was coming down fast and much noisier than earlier in the day and its hypnotic sound found us snuggled up on the sofa with Charliepuppy taking up most of the space. He is a smallish doggy but unfortunately for him, he is sporting one of those funny buster collars. He has to wear it for a few days to stop him licking his paw as he hurt it and then licked it unrelinquished and caused a tiny infection to which he has antibiotics. The poor pup. At first it was to our great amusement that he couldn’t climb the stairs or jump up on the sofa as he couldn’t gage the size of the collar but now we just feel sorry for the little mite as he does look incredibly depressed inside his lampshade.

We just sat there listening to the rain and enjoying the lazy Sunday. It was lovely. To keep with the lazy Sunday theme Mr N called at our local chippy for a Fish Supper and so we have spent the rest of the day watching things we have sky plussed and drinking cocoa.

What do you do with your lazy Sundays? Email me at: mrsn_slawit@hotmail.co.uk

-Mrs N x

 

Home all alone.

Flash fiction. 100 words exactly.

Home all alone.

 

Cheryl heard it again.

A noise was coming from downstairs. She hid behind the door grasping a coat hanger for defence and listened again for the noise.

 

There was definitely someone in the house.

She buried her face into the dressing-gown hanging on a hook on the back of the door, she shut her eyes suddenly remembering her mobile was charging on the hall table. What now?

 

The sound of footsteps appeared to be getting closer…

She peered through the crack in the old oak door…

 

Cheryl let out a sigh of relief… It was just Jasper the family dog.

 

The days are getting shorter.

 

Blog Post No. 8

04/09/2012

The days are getting shorter.

You know it’s that time of year when you need to start wearing thick socks and long legs of an evening just to stop spiders or more accurately, small dog eating tarantulas, crawling around your bare ankles and feet. Long gone are the days of flip flops, sandals and bare legs. From tomorrow no longer am I stepping out in my comfy and casual, yes I am going to admit it to you Croc despising people that, I love my Croc flip flops! They are so ergonomic and they are pretty and fairly plain light pink and white. I know, I know I hear endless scornful remarks about Crocs being a hideous fashion faux pas but I do not care, I am far from a chav and I don’t wear as a fashion statement but to give my feet the comfort they deserve. You see my Great-Great-Grandmother used to say and I quote; “If you only buy two good things in your life, buy a good bed and a good pair of comfortable shoes because if you’re not in one you’re bound to be in the other.” Due to last night’s spider incident I have opted to wear only toe covering footwear to avoid future spiders-on-steroids crossing my feet like they are a footbridge.

The days are getting shorter and the nights are drawing in. It’s getting darker earlier and earlier each day. I don’t know why we are shocked by this, as the same thing happens every year. I don’t know if it’s just me but each year at this time I always find it strange and ever so slightly unusual.

The evenings are also becoming ever cooler. During the day the sun is still bright and there is the last warmth of the summer sun drifting through the air but come evening when the sun has disappeared until the morrow it gets a little chilly. Large woven throws and fleece blankets are a must when sat in front of the box of an eve.

That eerie chill reminds us that winter is only around the corner and Christmas is just on the horizon. Aaaargh!

 Summer is but a fond memory and September 21^st brings with it the start of autumn is settling its boots by the fire. So here’s to welcoming autumn with open arms as it’s not all bad really. Autumn brings out my inner Betty Crocker and conjures up recipes of pumpkin pie, apple crumble and butternut squash and brown rice risotto.

 

I like to make autumn crafts with the kids, from collages made from leaves to handmade chocolate leaves to decorate home-baked cupcakes.

Autumn can be lovely, not just a stop-gap between a glorious summer and a festive winter. Embrace the autumn months and all it has to offer.

Bonfire night is awaited with eager anticipation and the excitement is set to simmer until ‘All Hallows Eve’ has come and gone again. No matter how old I get I will always enjoy Halloween. Dressing up in a ghastly way and decorating the house with plastic spiders and faux cobwebs, carving pumpkins into jack o’ lanterns and enough candy to fill a bouncy castle such fun.

Then comes Bonfire night arrives and you are filled to the brim with homemade treacle-toffee and potato-pie, toffee apples and baked potatoes, you all gather together as friends and family round a giant handmade fiery glow. You have your hats and scarves and have dug out your gloves and you are wrapped up warm to bare the cold night air to hoover round the bonfire. Fireworks are a treat and the little ones are supervised with sparklers all is brimming with excitement.

A final thought; get your conkers out! Recent press has reported on the banning of conkers in schools. When we were kids we played conkers it was a ritual at this time of year to go out conker hunting. No one I know, nor does anyone I’ve asked know anyone who has been harmed by a conker! I say playing conkers is part of growing up! Don’t you?!

-Mrs N x

Autumn reminds me of a popular poem by John Keats….

John Keats - To Autumn

I

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

 

II

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?

Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find

Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,

Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;

Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,

Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook

Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:

And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep

Steady thy laden head across a brook;

Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,

Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

 

III

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, -

While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,

And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue;

Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn

Among the river sallows, borne aloft

Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;

And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;

Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft

The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;

And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.