All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey ...

Well, that's September done and dusted for another year! It's funny,  the melancholia has just lifted ... it's like this every year ... all the changes have happened, not without a bit of drama, admittedly, but all sorted now, as far as we are able, and everyone's getting on with their new routines.

For the first time in it seems like ages, me and Steve got up early on Sunday morning, with the intention of calling in at a car boot sale at Ulverston, on the way to Windermere, where we were heading to pick up some much-needed Annie Sloan paint.  Just as I was approaching Ulverston, I saw a sign advertising my favourite car boot sale, which I hadn't realised was on.  I bought the lovely little English Bull Terrier dog there ... to think I almost missed him!

When we got back I set to with my tins of paint and started upcycling.  I forgot to photograph the mirror above and the table/side cupboard below before their makeover ... just believe me, they were in a very dire state!

This is a lovely sewing chest which I upcycled a while ago ... the outside was absolutely appalling, filthy, cracked vinyl ... when you opened it, it was lined with the most beautiful, vintage fabric!

I have a fair few Vintage events coming up, so the paintbrush is always out! My evenings are spent making crochet brooches and embroidered pictures, as my stall needs stocking up for the big 'C' (spoken in a whisper) events ...

Just a quick post today, my lovelies, I promise to be back soon, but my lunch is calling ... Butternut Squash and Peanut soup ... recipe below if you'd like it ... just the ticket for days when there's a chill in the air ...

Butternut Squash & Peanut Soup

2 large Onions

1 large Butternut Squash

Carrots

Peppers

2 tins chopped tomatoes

(any other red, yellow, orange veg you want to add!)

Finely chopped chillis, ginger and garlic

2 chicken or veg stock cubes

Smooth Peanut Butter

Sweat the onions in olive oil until cooked, add the chillis, ginger and garlic and continue to cook for a few minutes ... then add all the rest of the ingredients (chopped or diced) and bring to the boil.  Simmer for up to 40 minutes, then cool.  Blend until smooth and add a dollop of peanut butter, and heat through to melt.  Serve with a swirl of cream and lots of crusty bread and butter.

I've been quite loose with the quantities, but this does make a lot ... I decant it into takeaway boxes and freeze it so I have it handy in the right portion size.  I haven't met anyone who doesn't like this ... you can just leave the peanut butter out if someone has a peanut allergy, and it could be added separately to individual bowls and stirred in. It's actually very versatile, curry powder can be added, it can be topped with croutons or grated cheese ... the possibilities are endless!

Bon Appettit!

Oh yes, before I forget, me and Millie are a bit excited ... have booked tickets on a coach to Harrogate for the Country Living Fair at the end of November ... oooh, we're madly saving up for afternoon tea at Betty's!!

Have a lovely week, won't you?

Love, Claire xxx

Ch-ch-ch-changes ...

It's getting to that time of year again my lovelies, the time that I always start to feel queasy about ... September and the beginning of Autumn.  I love the colours of  Autumn, and once it's in full swing, even celebrate its loveliness ... but it's this bit ... nights starting to draw in, that 'back to school' feeling, changes in the air ... they fill me with a feeling of dread and melancholy that I don't really understand.

I don't want to depress anyone, or have you all feeling sorry for me ... other people have these feelings about Christmas, and even Summer, it's just a fact of life with me, that I always feel like this towards the end of August, and then it leaves me as quickly as it arrived ... after the changes.

We had great news and celebrations last week! Harry was accepted at his first choice of University, Salford, to study Physics, so he will be starting his big adventure in the big wide world in about 3 weeks time ...

Millie has now left school and is waiting for her GCSE results, and is starting at 6th Form College also in September.

I find it so hard to believe that my two youngest are now young adults ... it doesn't seem like 5 minutes since they were playing together. More flutterings in the nest ... something that is happening all over the country at this time ...

Moving on to something completely different ... I found a bright orange, pine shelf at the car boot sale and thought the perfect place for it to go would be above our bed.  I got the Annie Sloan Old Ochre out and you can see the finished product above ...

Of course that then made our bed look shabby, so that had to be dismantled and also given the AS treatment.  Luckily it was a bright, sunny day, so I painted in the garden and it was back in situ within a couple of hours. I'm really pleased with its new look!

Lurking in my workroom was another bright orange nightmare ... a set of drawers that I though would be perfect as a bedside table ... you can see the orange of the inside in this picture ...

While waiting for the paint to dry (not long in this case) I popped onto Facebook, where a local seller had a beautiful granny square blanket for sale.  I quickly contacted her, as things like that don't hang around for long ... when I arrived at her house she turned out to be a lady I have bought from often at one of my Sunday car boot sales ...

The work that has gone into this is immense, and I can't imagine how much the wool would have cost as it has 168 squares! After a quick wash and freshen up with Lavender and Camomile Comfort, I took great pleasure in watching it dry in the sun, impatient to take it to its new home ...

I will just give you a little rundown of my bedroom makeover ... it has not been painted or decorated for 5 years, but just with a bit of tweaking and an afternoon's work, I feel that I've got a new room!

Shelf  - car boot sale - £3
Cupboard - charity shop - £7
Blanket - Facebook selling page £15
Bed - old one I already had
Paint - dregs of 2 tins lurking in cupboard

I've never been one to completely change a room - whenever I decorate I look forward to putting my old stuff back in - even when  I moved house, I visualised how the existing furniture and accessories would look in my new home.  I like it to evolve, with different things here and there, constantly changing, but forever staying the same ... Putting things in different rooms seems to give them a new lease of life too, as you see them with a new eye when they're placed in different surroundings.

I've just discovered a great site (is that what you call it?) on Instagram, for those of you who subscribe to this amazing time-guzzling social network.  Polargram (wearepolargram if you want to follow them) develop your favourite Instagram pictures ... they look like Polaroids ...and send them to you very quickly (mine arrived within 2 days).  The cost is £5 for 12, £7 for 25 and free post and packing.  I have not been sponsored by them to advertise their product, I just thought I'd like to share a great service with you.  Think I may use them as price tags on my furniture ...

That's all for now my lovelies, as I have to go to town to buy duvets, pillows, pots and pans, etc ... I'm giving Harry cookery lessons too, and lectures on 'how to eat well on a thrifty budget' ... Hettie Brown would be so proud of me ...

Have a wonderful week, won't you?

Love, Claire xxx

Busy doing nothing, working the whole day through ...

The weather outside is still frightful, though I know from the lovely Instagram pics I've been drooling over lately, that lots of you ARE having glorious sunshine! Lucky you, and make hay while the sun shines ...

Last week, when the days were more clement, you could find me stripped off in the garden upcycling furniture (this is a lie ... it would frighten the horses that pass by). The upcycling furniture bit is true though ...

A friend told me that she had an old, oak cupboard, that could do with titivating, and basically that she couldn't be arsed bothered. I called round and found this little beauty! Dirty, unloved, glassless ... right up my street ...

Armed with my trusty Annie Sloan brush and tin of Country Grey, I set to. It took a whole ten minutes because I take such care with my projects ... sanding, priming, etc (I absolutely do NOT do any of these things, that is why Annie is my best friend) ... and when the paint was dry, I was ready to experiment!

I had seen somewhere in Blogland that someone had used tissues and napkins to decoupage things, so thought I'd give it a go.  I peeled the patterned sheet off the napkins, pasted (using solvite) part of the inside of the cupboard.  I started trying to put whole squares on, but it looked too contrived and the pattern didn't match anyway, so I just started tearing random strips off and plastering on, giving another coat of paste on top.  Some of it tore, but I just patched it up ... some was rumpled, but it all added to an aged, vintage looking effect.  The above pic is a close-up of the inside of the cupboard when it was finished.

This is the after picture, titivated within an inch of its life! I was going to add chicken wire but decided to just leave it as it is ... note it is complete with old key on a ribbon, but if you fancy anything inside, you can just reach in and take it ... It has been said before, on several occasions, that I am completely barking mad.

Of course, this then warranted a little change around, as the clock had to be taken down ... it's new home is 2 feet away, to the right, and it's settled in nicely, thank you.

I've been picking little posies from my garden (while I have some flowering, I am trying to be thrifty by not buying any) ...

and from my country walks lovely bouquets of blowsy, frothy wildflowers ...   never pick the roots, and always just one stem from a clump, so it's not noticeable ...

Some more rich pickings, this time from a couple of car boot sales I went to on Sunday ... I got a bootload of stuff (it's amazing what you can get in a Micra) but here are my favourites ... the above retro radio, a bit sorry for itself, but just needing a bit of a spruce-up and new batteries, just what I need for my workroom ...

and a brand new Cath Kidston flask for £2! Vintage tupperware containers (50p, a lovely Chinese biscuit barrel (£1) and a little hamper containing 2 children's tea sets (30p)

I've been following Hettie Brown's mantra 'Treading gently, Being thrifty, Living simply' by picking my own flowers, making my own jam (gorgeous strawberry, summer berries and chilli) and doing meal plans.  Like Sophie (Hettie Brown), I find planing for a week a bit daunting, so am doing it over  3 days (the real reason is I can't fit more than that on the blackboard).  I do like that I have already shopped for it and the decision is made, rather than umming and aahing about what to make each day.  It doesn't stop family members moaning though, unfortunately.

Hysteria is mounting (admittedly, mostly me) for Thursday's celebrations ... Millie's Leaver's Summer Ball! Hope the nice weather will make an appearance for an hour or two, that would be perfect ...

Until next time, my lovelies, have fun in the sun

Love, Claire xxx

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

Sadly, I haven't got an open fire ... just a faux woodburning stove, but it doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it? Anyway, I've finally got round to decorating my home for Christmas so thought I'd share it with you, so do come on in!

I got the idea of using my ice skates as a door decoration from Fee, although hers is much more elaborate and stunning than mine. I love the idea though and think that these skates will make an appearance every year now.  And to think I wanted to sell them! I actually have 2 pairs ... bought from 2 old ladies at a car boot sale in the summer. They were dumped apologetically at the side of the stall, in a bin bag covered by old curtains.  "We nearly didn't bring them", they said, "because we didn't think anyone would want them, they're a bit rusty".  Two pairs of vintage leather, ice skates?  "Would £4 for both be ok, love?"

My lovely Dickensian picture which stands at the top of the stairs, facing the front door ....

and vintage vases, planted up with hyacinth bulbs and decorated with charity shop finds (a big bag of toadstools, which seem to be very popular this year. for 75p)

In the back room, my other pair of skates, toasting themselves by the ahem! woodburner.

Lovely little owl decoration (also very popular this year), found in a gigantic bag of vintage decorations bought in the summer for £1.  I think he's very old ... and very fragile too, amazing how he's survived and remained perfectly intact.

Little Hornsea deers, which seem to come into their own at this time of year ...

and their friend Thumper the rabbit! These Hornsea pieces used to be in the free boxes in the charity shops, or very cheaply priced, but I've noticed that they are getting quite pricey now.

Plump robin at home on the mantlepiece ...

A very old copy of Christmas Books by Charles Dickens ... how can a Kindle compare to this?

The tissue-thin pages ...

The smooth leather cover ... oh and the smell! How many people over the years have dusted off this beautiful book, and rediscovered it each Christmas?

And presents wrapped and waiting for The Big Day!

Hand made felt bauble which I treated myself to at the Country Living Fair ...

and Ruby's own bauble ... it even has her curly tail!

And the tree in the back room ... I bought a bigger sofa for the front room and too late realised that there wouldn't be room for the Christmas Tree! The tree has now moved to the back room and I bought a new bare branch tree which takes up less room for the front room.

It's very simple and unassuming, compared to the blowsiness of the Big Tree, but I love it! It twinkles very prettily, and I'd love two next year at either side of the front door.  Where I live, though, they'd have to be tied down and chained to the wall or they'd be flying round the garden!

And the last word has to go to Ruby ...

"D'ya like my Christmas jacket?"

Hope you all have a fabulous week, and looking forward to seeing all your Christmas preparations!

Love, Claire xxx

Listen ... do you want to know a secret?

Hello everyone! After the torrent of wonderful comments on my previous post, the one where I told you how I set my timer to do my housework, I thought I'd share a few other little tips with you ...

Instead of throwing away old wellies (large or small) use them as plant pots! These look lovely and welcoming at the front door ... make a few holes with a darning needle to allow water to drain through, and put a few pebbles in the foot too, otherwise the stagnant water will get a bit whiffy! If you don't have any yourself they can usually be picked up very cheaply at car boot sales or charity shops.  These little darlings were 50p ... bootiful!

Whenever you use a lemon, don't just throw it away, instead put the shells into your dishwasher. The lemons will help to cut through grease, make your dishwasher smell citrus fresh, and sparkle your glassware!

When you return from your holidays, nothing brings you back to earth more quickly than emptying 4 or 5 large suitcases on to the kitchen floor and sorting and separating the washing.  To save yourself this heartache, take a few bin bags or large carriers with you and sort the washing on a daily basis.  It doesn't really take any longer than just slinging it in the suitcase! Have a bag for whites, one for coloureds and a dark one.  When you return it's much less daunting to just select and deal with one bag at a time than to sift through a mountain of dirty, smelly washing.

If you're of a sensitive disposition, or eating your breakfast, you might want to skip this one! If your daft dog, or indeed, your child, has an accident on your precious vintage rug, remove the excess whilst gagging and wearing a protective mask wipe with a wrung out, barely damp, cloth without rubbing too hard, and then sprinkle the area with good old bicarbonate of soda and leave for a few hours.  Then simply hoover the area,  and the stain will have disappeared, along with the smell.

Courtesy of Google

To avoid the torture of finding a matching set of bedding, simply fold the duvet cover, bed sheets, and pillowcases (saving one) and place into the saved one and fold ... your airing/linen cupboard will be transformed by the neat stacks of sweet-smelling, orderly bedding! All you need to do is select the set you want and remove from the pile, instead of all that flinging everything around to find a matching pillowcase! I've done this all my life and am amazed when I pass on this tip to others, as I just thought everyone knew about this one ... By the way, I really, really, have bedroom envy for the picture above!

Now I really must apologise for the next image ... not that it isn't beautiful ... but the 'C' word in October isn't always acceptable!

Courtesy of Google

In my defence, I can't do a post sharing my top tips without adding my 2 favourite Christmas ones!  If you have more than one child, I know what a nightmare it can be to wrap and label all their presents.  I pick a different roll of paper for each child, writing in a notebook which is which, as between one marathon wrapping session and the next I'm bound to you may forget.  This dispenses with any need for labelling as each present is colour-coded and on Christmas Eve (when the elves bring pyjamas, miraculously wrapped in the right paper), Father Christmas puts the wooden heart with the name of the child on the relevant pile so there is no mix-up on The Big Day.

Courtesy of Google

Just before (about 45 minutes) serving up the most important meal of the year, put all your plates and serving dishes into the dishwasher and put on a quick, hot wash.  When they are dry, but still very hot, put the food in the serving dishes and immediately wrap in tinfoil.  Leave the plates in the hot dishwasher until required.  This frees up valuable space in an already overloaded oven.

And remember, if all else fails, flowers will ALWAYS make it better!

Hope you all have a fabulous week!

Love, Claire xxx