Let's go for a walk ...

Ruby, champing at the bit, showing off in her new Cath Kidston collar and lead

500 yard walk up the road, with my husband and Ruby, past the salt marsh on one side, and football fields on the other

to the beach ...

 and the sea ...

We are so lucky to live a few minutes away from this. Even on a cold grey day, I love the way the blues, greys, browns and blacks blend together, and change depending on the weather

Wonder how long those hearts have been there?

Even though the day was dull, we could still make out the outline of Blackpool Tower, seventy miles away, but my camera not sharp enough to catch the image.

We walk along the beach for about a mile, and then turn down a lane, where the fields usually have cows, horses and sheep, but none seem to be playing out today ...


Past the Riding school, where there are already signs of Spring ...

Then we get to the village, and the pub where we had our wedding reception, all those years ago. It was a very popular place when we married, but when the landlord moved, never seemed to get on its feet again, however, a couple of years ago it was bought again and is currently being renovated, and is an essential part of the village and larger community.

Down a country lane with fields on one side

and the saltmarsh on the other side, hidden by hedgerows that have been petrified into weird and wonderful shapes by the sea gales

Usually, when we do this walk, we see curlews, pheasants, herons and on one very rare occasion a fox ... but unfortunately, today the wildlife seems a bit camera shy, probably as soon as we've gone past they're all coming out from their lairs and performing, like the pandas on the Kit-Kat advert in the Nineties!

Spot the rabbit (you'll need very good eyesight)

More signs of spring, green buds slowly unfurling ...

Daffodils in the wild;

and gorse which has stayed in flower all through the bleak, cold winter, but is now springing to life with new growth.

One man and his dog;

past the caravan site,

Mr Mole's been busy,

we're on the last lap now,  the first houses are coming into view, and then back onto our road, past the open saltmarsh, (that's the village we visited on the horizon),

and back home, to mugs of tea and bacon sandwiches.

Thanks so much for joining me, and hope you all have a wonderful weekend xxx

Looking thru' the windows

Making Decisions

When we looked at this house for the first time, I fell in love with the original 1936 bay window in the back room. Five cold winters later, we have come to the realisation that they sadly have to go. Each morning I have to mop the window sills and wipe each soaking window pane down.  There are gaps in the leading where the wind blows through, and some are cracked.

My husband spent his fortnight's holiday 2 summers ago, stripping them back, filling gaps with putty, and painting them ... a real labour of love, but however much we look after them, they are rusted and the wood is rotting beyond repair.  The order is in for brand spanking new upvc (not my favourite thing) which hopefully will reduce our astronomical heating bills ... the heat is just flying out of the gaps.  We live by the sea, so maintenance on wooden windows would be constant ... we may get French windows which lead onto the garden (which the chickens have desecrated!) so my job for the summer is sorting the garden out.  Please tell me I'm doing the right thing ..... x

TUESDAY TIP:

To remove a musty, mildewy smell from towels, curtains or clothes, add white vinegar to the rinse compartment of your washing machine.  This should remove the smell first time, but if it doesn't just repeat and it should disappear.  Using vinegar as a substitute for fabric conditioner is also beneficial to people with sensitive skins as it removes every trace of washing powder

What's in a name?

The name Thriftwood came about because I like a little play on words ... from driftwood, because I live by the sea ...  obviously from the word thrift because thrifting and being thrifty is what I do best but mainly because  Thrift is a lovely little plant, with pink flowers, that grows in the most inhospitable places, yet survives and multiplies

Well, I've finally started a blog! Can't believe it's taken me so long, but please bear with me, and I will be posting pictures before long, but as I am a complete technophobe, really need to get my head round what is required! Thank you for looking, and I will be back ... xxx