January brings the snow ...

January brings the snow;
Makes our feet and fingers glow.

Sara Coleridge

The snow arrived on my little island yesterday, and came down all day relentlessly, but not settling.  After the school run it upped its game and settled, putting paid to my plans for the evening.  (A new crochet class, I'll tell you more when I've been!) Today it's melting, and to be honest I'm glad, as I don't really like it ... love the look of it at first, but then I hate the inconvenience, the slushiness and the danger of it.

This morning I walked the children and Ruby to school, and when I came back, had my porridge (looks a lot, but it's a small bowl!) and gave the girls theirs too ... this photo was taken last week, before the snow ...

Today, I've got a rare kind of day ... no appointments, no needing to be anywhere, so I'll tell you my plans for a perfect day.  The children I mind arrive at 7.30, so I got up particularly early and threw some ingredients into my slow cooker.  I love this kind of cooking, quick, easy and great for using things up.  I've used some chicken breasts, potatoes, carrots, garlic, onions and butternut squash.  Later, I might toss in a handful of button mushrooms and it will fill the house with delicious smells ready to welcome everyone home later.  With a lovely crusty loaf it's just what you need to warm the cockles!

Chores out of the way, I'm going to be sitting by this ...

In my new to me, upcycled rocking chair ...

Do you remember how it looked when I brought it home?

Annie Sloan came to the rescue once again! A lovely shop was selling EXACTLY (( know, because I've been back to check!) the same rocking chair for £225! It cost me £15 and a bit of paint.

I've got a couple of new magazines to leaf through ...

and a gorgeous book, given to me by my lovely friend Francesca, it's called French General Handmade Soirees and is full of beautiful projects for special occasions ...

Beautiful photography ..

Vintage papers ...

and lots of tantalising recipes ...

I'll sit back enjoying the colour and scent of these ...

and the cheeriness of this little lavender bag, given to me by the lovely Maria and made by The Vanilla Squirrel, using beautiful vintage fabrics and crammed full of heady summer-scented lavender.

... remembering snowy days from winters past ...

Actually, I'll be doing no such thing! Jacob is coming home at the weekend (hurray!!). We haven't seen him since before Christmas, so we're going to have a Christmas Dinner and present exchange ... I draw the line at re-erecting the tree! As you may recall, his room is used to store my vintage stock and also any ongoing projects.  When I open his bedroom door, my mother's words ring in my ears ...

'It's like Ozzy Woods in here!'

(This photo is courtesy of Google ...

 it's not actually Jacob's room, but you get the gist!)

Ozzy Woods was a local dealer who had a large warehouse selling furniture and carpets, and all manner of things for the home.  Health and safety was not an issue, and sofas hung from the rafters, piles of carpets teetered precariously and the path was strewn with various bits of bric a brac.  Local followers may remember Ozzy's and perhaps their mothers used these words too.

So in reality, my day is being spent lugging furniture and boxes from Jacob's room to somewhere else (where, I do not know), cleaning and making it a bit more welcome for Christmas in January.

Keep warm and carry on!

Love Claire xxx