flu

About a week ago Joshy started to cough, but I wrapped him up and sent him to school as he still seemed quite scampish, on Monday afternoon a sign was outside his classroom saying many of the reception class were ill and if your child had any symptoms to stay at home, by Tuesday morning Josh was full of flu, and spent most of the week tucked up in his bed asleep or lying on the sofa wrapped in a soft vintage blanket sleeping, he has had a temperature and cough, aches and cold symptoms, we think he has definitely had a flu type virus. As his aches have started to fade and he's sat up playing Noddy my body is feeling sludgy and my aches are beginning.

As my little boy fought through his bug he clung to me, I could not move without him crying, and so I nursed and sat sewing and making by his side whilst he slumbered in and out of poorly sleep. I've made my first two felt flowers, sewing little faded colours of felt into petals and leaves, to give the impression of a vintage brooch worn and loved on a warm winter coat.

and making Christmas decorations I ordered whiles ago (as Josh says) from Posie gets Cosy, finding peace in the little embroidered flowers, holding sleepless nights at bay with the gentle sewing of beads into flower beds,

also a few granny squares, not sure whether to make arm rests or a lap blanket or maybe a bigger one, full of colour and warmth to drape over the chair by the fire, ready and waiting for the cooler evenings of the months to come.

House work has had to wait, toys and chores have piled in corners waiting to fall, to spill out into our day, ironing baskets have grown big enough to rival Rapunzel's hair, I'm sure if we had a fire we could use our ironing tied together to abseil to safety! But these things have seemed unimportant this week and maybe can wait a few days more.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend, mine may be spent in pyjamas tucked in a world of crochet and embroidery away from the rain and gathering storms outside. Liz has given me an award, thank you Liz! I will pass that on next week when hopefully poorly ones have been returned to school and I have time to sit with tea and cakes and read and comment on pretty blogs.

cream tea

In between sunshine and bike rides, Cath Kidston apron tied over warm faded lilac jumper, violet trim and violet zip, work tops dusted with falling flour, mixing bowl filled, ingredients swirled,

little hands and big hands kneading, mixing, making . . . a disaster, eight little hard scones, not cooked in the middle, not tasting nice, only about half an inch high! oh pants! My dreams of spending a relaxing Sunday out under the ever changing clouds and winter sun wrapped in mittens and giggles before coming home to sit in front of the fire with scones and tea, dashed by my hard stodgy baking!

Wondering what went wrong I rang Grandma. Six hours away at the end of the line Grandma explained how to kneed without over touching, not to use the rolling pin just my finger tips. Whilst Joshy and Steve dashed out between raindrops I re-mixed and re-made, my second dough so soft like a little cloud floating across the work top, eight little rounds of creamy soft dough baking at gas mark 7. As the rain began to fall again we sat nibbling big melty scones with tea and strawberry jam, Joshy with crumbs on his hands, a big jammy smile said in only a way a four year old can 'this scone is rather nice Mummy!'

Dottie for Dottie

Yesterday morning after dropping Joshy at school I found myself at the beach, The early morning mist gently coloured by the waking sun lay like a creamy vintage eiderdown upon the sea, the waves seeming to stretch forever, the Isle of Wight hidden in its sleepy soft blanket of morning sun and bright soft fog.

I love walking along the beach almost empty, the beach huts shuttered tight, the pebbles undisturbed, the holiday makers long gone, past big white houses and pinky seaside flowers with fuzzy green grasses, I like to choose a house, pretend, open the front door, light a fire, put on my pinney and bake, then curl in an armchair, watching the sea, reading old enid blytons, making bacon sandwiches for lunch with a big cup of tea, collecting shells and afternoon embroidery ...

back in our little cottage I do these things, as Winter begins my heart skips, I layer blankets, and childrens books to read to sleepy boys,

I arrange 1930s china brought from a sprawling charity shop by the beach, I stick thrifted buttons from second hand shops inside picture frames inspired by the fab Tif,

with flowers fading I display vintage knitting needles with rainbow colours,

and more dollies brought from the same beach Charity Shop, the perfect colours of sea and shore,

I add vintage dollies under my own, like a pretty floral matress, and make more inspired by my beachy walk and of course Dottie Angel, these colours remind me of faded memories of nans in aprons, back doors open letting the country side in for tea and home made cakes,

and nestled in the back I found this little tray, with cream melamine frame, so sweet and fitting for our little cottage, as I turned the tray in my hands, a little paper label on the back read, 'Watchet Products, Somerset', my very own sea side memories staying with my nan and grandad, playing by the sea, the fishing boats, my nan in her blue floral tea dresses half apron at her waist, my grandad digging his vegtables, back in Watchet, back in Somerset, back in time.

Vintage Travel

After a few weeks of stress and undecided dreams and plans mounting and piling like fragile glass on a wonky shelf I took a breather, bags packed Joshy and I headed up North to stay with Grandma, and on a cold but sunny day we drove over the moors up past Hebden Bridge, past the canal and barges, ducks and little quirky shops to here ...

for a day of Steam Trains and pretty platforms, vintage clocks and gas lights, rows of coloured fairy lights hanging merrily beside cream and red wood, bricks and colourful posters,

Joshy was in his element, spotting signals and sidings, points and following the trail of dancing steam as it sped past our window into the trees,

Here we are at the platform where 'The Railway Children' was filmed, as we were the only people there the man showed us round, unlocking gates and letting us in to peek,

we played trying to lift vintage luggage, and looked longingly at bright old adverts, the colours and images jumping from their tin signs onto the platform, just as pretty as the flowers and autumn leaves still desperately clinging to the trees.

pull Joshy, pull!

Inside the office as it was so quiet, we got to stand and see, listen to the old bell, light the gas light, the lines of tickets all ready and waiting, the colours of a faded rainbow

the old stick phone, still used today, everything old but homely in this little railway office, outside in the little room where the public buy their tickets a real fire flickered in the corner, throwing warmth and cosy memories out into the small room,

Here we are Joshy and me, sat in our seat, surrounded by polished wood and soft blue checks whilst outside the gleaming window orange trees and winter sunshine guided us from Oxenhope to Haworth (home of Emily Bronte). Back in our little cottage we drew pictures and looked at folded tickets and smiling faces, everyday stresses packed away I'm trying to catch up with crafts, and blogs (thank you for my awards I will try and do a post about them and pass them on in a few days) but for now I have housework and vintage day-dreaming!

weight loss wednesday!

I've decided to take part in weight loss Wednesday, over at rosey little things, oh no more warm fairy cakes for me, or cooling jam tarts where you know you should wait until they're cool but cant resist the sweet jammy scent, making a milky cup of tea, picking a pretty vintage side plate, and sitting with Country Living, or bundles of colourful crochet on your lap, slowly nibbling a little mid morning treat! HO-HUM, it will be worth it.

This week was my first and I lost two pounds! I have a new crochet project working along side my fillet crochet which is not good for tired eyes at the end of weary days, talking of weary days this evening we rushed, having tea, picking conkers from the fallen leaves, meeting Daddy before setting off for parents evening, in the car we sat in a muddle stuck behind three horses! finally at school we ran in slightly late, the car park empty-ish, the lights quite dim for a parents evening, into the corridor past the cleaner, said Hi to the headmistress, who trying not to laugh reminded me that parents evening is next week! I felt so foolish!

I've got so much for my next post, awards, stephs giveaway and crochet, I'll be back on Friday, hopefully my red cheeks will have faded by then!

Crinoine Ladies

Look what I found, stood pretty surrounded by big bright blooms and sweeping flowered paths, waiting for butterflies and maybe a sweetheart, picking the delicate petals, humming a little tune,

Before now I've never really like crinoline ladies, until about a month ago giving up my quest to find a pretty tray cloth for our kitchen table, deciding to make my own, not vintage but vintage inspired, I saw this crochet booklet on Etsy, just a few clicks (how dangerous is that!)

and before long fine cream thread running through my ringers like a swirling brook, curling around the grassy banks, under the little stone bridge on down past the fields and trees, stacking up trebles, into a lacy silhouette, perfect for popping over a CK table cloth, lying above the kitschy prints and under the vintage green glass of our fruit bowl.

Crinoline ladies, creamy and dreamy on china and crochet, to live with us in our little cottage bliss.

Whipped up spray that is rainbow scattered

Autumn days when the grass is jewelled, and the silk inside a chestnut shell, la la la ...

Oh I love this season, with the sunlight filtering in through our little cottage window, fresh clear blue skies and droplets of dew on the grass and branches. The week before last I went to Joshys' Harvest Festival, sat in the school hall, polished floors slightly slippy, long wooden benches, an old piano singing hymes and skipping over merry chords, children singing forgotten favourites,

Whipped up spray that is rainbow scattered, And a swallow curving in the sky, Shoes so comfy though they're worn out and they're battered, And the taste of apple pie ....

Scent of gardens when the rains been falling, And a minnow darting down a stream, la la la

Afterwards, the words of the song accompanying me home, dancing, skipping beside me, staying with me, leaving me cosy and warm happy just to walk kicking sleeping conkers from their grassy beds,

home for milky tea, a few rows of rainbow sock knitting (from here), before venturing into the sunny crisp day, cath kidston messenger bag across one shoulder, faded flowers and candy stripes draped like a pretty shawl, feet in bright socks and canvas lace tided shoes, knowing the way, searching shelves lined with vintage china, to buy and bring home, love and use. Some old blue and cream cutlery, not quite CK but pretty still,

a pretty cup and saucer, to lovely to leave lonely on the shelf,

and a new for me food cover, for pence, raffia flowers singing gaily, whirling round the delicate mesh dome.

but best of all, waiting at the top of the stairs, a chair, the perfect hue of pink-ness, rosy and vintage, matching my crochet granny squares so sweetly, my little round crochet cushion too, and my Posy gets cosy doll (still waiting for a skirt poor thing!) I always feel weary when you buy a slice of heaven in a charity shop and the staff treat you as if you should be sectioned. Back home on route to our bedroom our little chair slowly waltzed with me, resting in corners here and there, (please excuse the little pile of toys, and one spider man shoe!)

oh it would be so nice to not have a telly, the corner next to the fireplace would have been perfect. Just enough space for a foot rest and a sewing box too, or maybe my tea trolley could come and sit laden with vintage china and a few cakes!

Today and yesterday Joshy better at school, seeming settled and happier but full of cold and chesty coughs stayed in the warm with me, we glued animal faces, and read and snuggled, eating cake and wrapping toes in chunky socks we stayed in our little world, crochet and blog visiting will have to wait until Monday, its been ages since I sat leaving comments and looking eyes wide at vintage treasures and crochet and embroidery bliss.