Magazine-a-holic!!

I have been without a working camera for a while, and therefore have had nothing interesting to post. However, I have spent a windy, cold and wet day paging through two years' collection of magazines. Looking again at where and why I have turned down the pages for future reference.
I share some of these with you....

I love red and white

More red and white!!

I loved this blue shabby door

And more red and white!!

Lovely study

Rustic kitchen.  Love it!!!!

Thanks to Country Homes and Interiors, Country Living, 25 Beautiful Homes, and Period Living magazines

Living by the sea

Summer is waning, the nights are getting cooler, but it is still lovely enough to take a stroll along the beach. Here in Eastbourne, the beach is not sandy, but made up of pebbles and many seashells. My grand-daughter brings me precious finds!

I have been looking at Better Homes and Gardens' ideas for decorating with seashells. Some of them are quite lovely.....

Summer Gardens

A learning curve on hanging baskets at the Doll's House

Begonia at the Doll's House

St Johns Wort (?) in my garden

Alas, no roses, there is too much shade!!

Lovely English cottage garden

Ah, my dream garden!!

Chelsea flower show

When I first came back to England,  I was used to large African gardens,  with sweeping lawns and neat clipped flower beds.  I have now become completely enamoured of the gorgeous and profuse English cottage garden.

So many people these days have a 'wild' part of their garden (space permitting) where grasses are allowed to grow high, with wild flowers tangled within.  This is to allow wild creatures to continue their presence in the area,  such as hedgehogs, squirrels etc.

Branklin Trust garden

The 'Doll's House' (my diminutive home) has acquired the use of a small piece of ground adjacent to my patio,  and I have been learning
about English summer flowers.  A lot of mistakes have been made,  but progress has been made.
A birdfeeder has brought delight to my neighbour and myself, especially when an errant and gluttonous squirrel furtively
hangs on the feeder stuffing himself to capacity and storing the balance in his fat little cheeks!
Alas,  never quick enough to catch him in the act on camera!
A later post maybe!!!

Have a happy Friday!!

To lift the spirits!!

Today, I went to the dentist.  Arrived home feeling really down.  Lovely Grand-love arrived clutching, in grubby hands, a few roses, plucked from a wild garden......How wonderful that made me feel!!

We placed two in a jam jar, and scattered the petals of another in a bowl with a floating candle.  Splendid meditation!!  God bless Grandchildren!!

A.W.O.L.

thanks to Anestezia for picture

BETWEEN two golden tufts of summer grass,
I see the world through hot air as through glass,
And by my face sweet lights and colors pass.

Sir Edmund William Gosse(  1849–1928)

BETWEEN two golden tufts of summer grass,

I see the world through hot air as through glass,

And by my face sweet lights and colors pass.

J Waterhouse's 'Ophelia'

Happy Friday to you all!  I have been away from home again,  and glad to be back.  Am relaxing for a little while and will be busy catching up on all your wonderful blogs.
How I would love to be lying in the grass pondering life,  as is the lovely lady in the Waterhouse painting!!

I am stuck for ideas!!

My doll's house (as my abode is affectionately known) has an awkward staircase beneath which is an open space where I store my vacuum cleaner and other items.  In front of that is the tv connection (meaning I cannot move my tv)

At the moment,  the tv is on a small folding table with cloth, and nobody can come up with an idea to fill the space.

This made me look up stairway decorating ideas on google,  and there are some fabulous ideas,  shared here.

mmmmmmmm  I still think my house is way too small!!!!

Thanks to Country Living, Home to Home.

Unusual Houses

Low Impact Woodland House, Wales, United Kingdom
(I'm looking for a hobbit!!!)

Mind House, Barcelona, Spain

Conch Shell House Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Inside Conch Shell House

Stone House, Guimaraes, Portugal

Here are some pictures of some of the most unusual dwellings I have ever seen!!  What do you think?

The French Bedroom Company

Just about half an hour's drive away from my home town is Haywards Heath,  where a gorgeous place called the French Bedroom Company is situated.

I have just received my latest issue of Country Homes and Interiors (UK) and on page 82 is the most gorgeous bed.  So I searched for the company who made the bed and lo and behold,  it is local to me.
I have added some pics from their website for you to drool over........

I love them all!!!  Happy Monday to you all!

The warmth of a log fire

I have just had new heating installed (it was delayed for six months making Winter very cold indeed!!) it made me think of the days spent when I was younger in front of a huge log fire.  It was so comforting on a cold Winter's evening.  A cup of cocoa and a good conversation,  or quiet gathering of thoughts after a long day.

I love big fireplaces,  especially inglenook fireplaces.  They were more prevalent in England and France and are becoming more fashionable, even in the United States.

Some fireplace!!!!

Modern take on the inglenook

The old ones are often found with an adjacent bread oven.

A traditional bread oven

Meanwhile Spring is around the corner,  can't wait for country walks and sunny days!