Scarey Moments

It was a really gorgeous dark chocolate brown satin blouse......I thought.
So I picked the Large. I am a 12 top but the sizing in some of the cheaper shops are way out. No, I mean it. You know.
I walked into the fitting room with Katie who had a couple of maternity tops to try on.
I always change with my back to the mirror and then as I turn round to see my reflection for the first time in the new outfit, I know instantly if it works for me.
Sometimes its good, but this time it's ughhhhhhhhhhh...... it was a tiny weeny bit to small for me LOL.
OMG, diet, not again, not another diet.
I had put the blouse over my head not wanting to undo all the buttons and I had forced my arms into the little sleeves and I really mean 'Forced' into this gorgeous little blouse and do you know, I don't know why for life of me why I did that, so stupid of me.

As I looked at the reflection I started to glow, I could feel the heat rising....panic had begun to set in.

I knew all to well what was happening and I could not stop it. I thought about shouting to Katie for help.....I was too embarressed. Katie would tell me off; I just knew it. I can hear her saying, 'MUM what were you thinking of, you should have known when you put your arms in, it is too small for you'.

I turned away form the mirror, could not bear to see myself. I looked like a big brown bloater.
I was trapped in this gorgeous chocolate brown satin blouse. A soft satin blouse that should have gently touched my female curves and clung ever so lightly in all the right places, had suddenly turned into a straight jacket...............this was a thick old satin........a no stretch at all satin....not cut on the bias satin!
Rigid, tough and taking Sh..t from no one satin.

I decided to try and calm myself, take control again........slowly I tried to pull my arms out. No, they were not budging, stuck in forever. I had a quick look again in the mirror. The tops of both arms were getting redder, like a Tourniquet this blouse had a grip of iron.

Turning away form the mirror, I grabbed both sides of the blouse and desperatly tried to pull it up and over my head. Not a chance, not moving even a millimetre.
Deep breath and yank harder. No way. I think this blouse was laughing at me!
I am going to pull so hard and stretch my broad back as much as I can and this bouse will give in and rip, I hope. Then I will be free........

No way said the blouse.............I cupped my face. I could feel tears getting ready to flow.
One more try......come on Carol you can to it.

Breathing out, I crossed my arms to grab a hold of both sleeves and to try and move the satin bandage, even a little bit may help............eeeeeeeeh eeeeeeeeeeeeeh then with a quick flick of my hands I changed position to grab both side of the bouse and pulled upwards again. Yes, we have movement.

I hate you, you horrid satin blouse. Yes it's off.
I very quickly got dressed and brushed my long blonde hair back and calm as you like, walked from the changing room as if nothing had happened.
Katie was standing outside by now, frowning. I dare not tell her what I had been through.
I am a cool Mummy.
HA Ha
XX

An Award And A New Kitchen

Sandi, this is for you.............






















I have decieded at that I should really post some images of my kitchen...Carols Kitchen....for sandimcbride.blogspot.com/











So this is it from all angles.


I wanted a plain Skaker style of kitchen...easy to keep clean ! And this one is quite plain and is made by 'Plain English' who I have to say, to date have been the best kitchen cabinate makers that I have ever used.











It is hand painted in Farrow & Ball Off White. The handles are hammered metal and hand made, not screwed into place as one would expect but were nailed into position. This did worry me, as I thought they may work loose. They haven't and they look great and do a perfect job.











I have a very clever hubby........who said that we will re-use the grantite already in my kitchen.

Impossible.......all the kitchen designers said. But he insisted, saying that, if when we removed it from the old cupboards it broke, we would then buy new granite.





Well with the help of 5 very strong men, it was removed and carefuuly placed in the garden and then put back after the units has been fitted. We did have to order two new pieces where the Aga stands, as the cooker that was there before was much smaller and closer to the wall. This saved us a over two thousand!




The units are made from Peachwood, which so I am told is very hard.




I did not want tiles this time, just for change really. So the walls were re-plastered and painted in Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion - which is the only paint that we will now use. It is completely washable and does not stain, brillaint paint.

I still have to put up the black iron curtain pole above the window, this had been left as I did not know if I wanted curtains or blinds or some sort.


I have made up my mind and want curtains; so just have to decide on material. Any suggestions welcome!




I would have prefered a bulter sink, but as we were using the original granite had no choice but to keep the same stainless steel sink. It does go well as I have the big American style fridge freezer.
Sophie if you are reading this, note the Primrose tea pot, I had to buy this as I remember my teachers all drinking from this design and it brought back happy school memories.

We have solid oak floor boards which run thoughout the whole of the downstairs, except for the lounge where I had to have a fitted wool carpet for extra warmth, nobody is ever allowed in this room with shoes on.

A must in my new litchen was a big larder this time. I would have liked a proper walkin pantry but there was not enough space.

The kitchen is part of the house which is very open plan. The kitchen, dinning room and family sitting room are all in one large open plan area. We are all in this room most of the time, including the two dogs or if my daughter Katie is visiting three dogs. I spend a fair bit of time in the study now.......blogging ! {"_"}

I hope that you enjoy the tour.




I will do a follow up when the new curtains are hung. The Bunting is for Nigella and was another Ebay purchase.

My wine..........which I do not drink as the headaches are just not worth it. I have decided I am best sticking to a couple of Gin & Tonics !
Cheers all x

Tagged

The Tale Of Tag





Just for a little bit of visual fun, my Nigella on an organic farm in the Peak District this summer. Nigella is the little blue & white campervan.........



I have taken up the offer of being 'Tagged' by sweetnothingsbj.blogspot.com

Here are just 7 small pieces about me that you may not know. But there is whole lot more to come out..............and that may be for another day.

1. I hate conflict. I do not like to be the centre of attention and prefer cosy gatherings rather that big events.


2. I love entertaining, cooking for family & friends, picnics, days on the beach or out in the camper, I cannot help it I just take over with the cooking, on the cooker, campfire, bbq or portable gas stov, whatever the applience for cooking that is where I am usually found hagging around.


3. I think I am quite creative ! and like to make anything from cushions and curtains to fridge magnets. I love painting and modelling and I can crochet! slowly ! infact I never completely finish the blankets that I start.


4. I love the countryside best and the coast, infact I love this country. I am a bit of a stay at home. I do travel abroad but do not like flying and prefer to sail.


5. I love to give advise and support. I wanted to be a nurse when I left school, but did as my parents wanted and went into Banking and Finance.
6. I have to be tidy, this is hard to keep on top of at times, but somehow I manage it. I work well under pressure.
7. I need my sleep................so I am off to bed !

Well now it is up to you.... reading this, to make your own list for us to see !

All invited.

Skywatch Friday....running late !

Just Beautiful

An Evening

Sky

North Devon

Collections

Candlesticks

Having seen on http://buttercupandroses.blogspot.com/ a collection of lovely candlesticks grouped together I thought how lovely they looked. Jennifer had spotted a similar collection on http://curlewcountry.blogspot.com/and had made up her own collection.

I was on a mission, I too wanted a collection for my Christmas display. I went to Cabbages & Roses and bought two, they are the ones with the candles in and then went to the local charity shops and found all the others, only at a fraction of the cost!

I think that I still need a few more or maybe I should arrange them a little differently.

The glow from the candles is a lovely sight to see in the Winter months.

My Buddah Collection

This is my latest one, bought for me by a special friend, Carole. We have been close friends since we were 5 years old.

The smallest of these three was bought by Katie my daughter. The thin one came form a little shop somewhere, I cannot remember and the other from a seaside town...cannot remember again as as I have had them so long !

This is probably my favourite. My Mum bought this one for me when I had just got married.

I wonder why !!!

It worked and very quickly too.

Glass Jar Collection

The two top glass jars are my latest. The small one came from The Station Mill Antique Centre in Chipping Norton and the big one from a lovely shop called No 20 also in Chipping Norton. I have not decided what to keep in them yet as they are not fully airtight ! Any suggestions ?

It does have to be kitchen store supplies though.
The two with pasta in came from a traditional sweetie shop in Bourton On The Water.

I do have a lot more spacial glass jars in the larder.......

Vintage Cutlery

I love these.........I have several butter knives. A complete set of forks and knives for fish. Serving spoons and a couple of forks. A set of knives which I put out when serving cheese. They really are special to me and never ever go in the dishwasher.

Interior Design Books

I collect books, too many books. I have a nice selection of Interior Design and Garden Design books. This is just a few of the Interiors books and all of them are a feast for the eyes.

Dried Chillie Collection

I bought these last year from a local farm shop, they were fresh then and quite cheap to buy. I strung them up and hung them in the kitchen from the top of my larder cupboard and there they have stayed. I will not use them now as I like to look at them ! I adore hot food...the more chilli the better for me !

I have another little glass jar in my larder full of home grown chillies which are so easy to grow and look lovely in a pot for the patio.

Chillies In A Pot

This pot is not one that I would put on display as I do not like the plastic type, but we had no other available and hub had to get it into a bigger pot. You can see they are quite pretty plants and the chillies are lovely when there are a lot of them. They are easy to dry and then store or you can pick them, wash them and pop them in a bag and store in the frezzer.

Must Have's

Following Sophie's Fab Friday Theme

Must Have's

Sophie http://www.sophiehoneysuckle.blogspot.com/

has asked us to join in with fun which she read about while visiting Tara over at http://www.bellapink.typepad.com/

So, here is my dressing table.

As you can see not too much on display, all my perfumes are out, although I mostly use 'Euphoria' by Calvin Klien and 'Rush' by Gucci during the colder months and something a little lighter and fresher during the summer. I tend only to use a Clarins moisteriser and a Mac eye creme called Fast Response. I do not wear much foundation, but like Sophie hate shine, Mac Mineralize is great as you are not left with any real trace of power. A quick whisk across my cheekbones with benefit dandelion blusher, which is a gorgeous pale pink and ideal for the winter. Mac or Maybelene mascara, and lippy which I cannot leave home without I use Mac lipstick and choose the shade to suit the clothes or event, pale during the day and a bit more colour for evening.

That's it. I can be ready in no time at all.

Another big must have is a nice bath oil or bath salts, I love The Sancuary 'everything' - body creme, shower gel, bath Salt Soak and Hot Sugar Body Polish, yummy. Johnsons baby Naturals are really great too and I love the smell. For a little colour on my pale body....no time to sit and sunbathe, I use Dove Summer Glow Body Lotion.

I have a love for antique mirrors, I have three. Brushes, Mason & Pearson and Air Hedz paddle brush to de-tangle my hair after washing. Mason & Pearson Combe.

Jewellery, I find it hard to pass a shop with a nice display of beads, I love them!I like silver more in the summer and gold in the winter. I do not wear many rings, wedding ring eternity and engaement ring.

I do love some beads though and have so many now that when I go on holiday it is a problem getting them there without them becoming all entangled. I have to take most of them with me or I feel that I am missing something.

My Sanctury I really like my bedroom, but I have really gone off the curtains that I made so carefully and lined with blackout lining. I really want Linen curtains....but as I have Nigella's pale blue polka dot curtains waiting to be finished and the study curtains also in the pile of 'to be made' I have to wait.

That old bed has been with us nearly all our married life, 26 years and is tiny. It was a saturday morning, I woke and hub was there asleep next to me.....he had not long been in bed, as he had just finished a night shift. This was a good time to tell him I wanted a new bed, and it had to be antique......I am going to the Old Kent Road to buy a antique bed, I whispered in his ear......ok he said, in his sort of sleep state !Great. I was off, enlisting the help of a friend. I arrived at an old junk shop in The Old Kent Road, Walworth, called The Golden Gate. There it was, as if it was meant for me. I fell in love with the old bed with its old floor boards as a base. It measured 4 feet wide so the floorboards were cut 3 inches over the sides so it would support a 4'6" mattess.

It was delivered and soon after the babies started to appear in quick succession.

Well, its goodnight from me and I am hoping that some of you join in

C xx

Gifts & Awards

The Postman Knocked Twice!

Well what a great morning so far !

I love Fridays...........

Firstly, I have joined in with the fun on Fridays that Dot has started called Skywatch Friday. I have posted my image of my Friday sky - not today I must add as the sky is plain blue this morning, but one I took this summer. It was one of several that I had taken as the sun was setting. North Devon, Lynton, a beautiful piece of English Coast.

Then....... My Man Mr Postie came back to me, bearing gifts.......Michele at Cowboys & Custard sent me some lovely cards that she had made, you must go and visit her. Michele has some beautiful cards to buy which she sells at various carft fairs.

Mr Postie also brought my long awaited parcel from Amazon...inside a DVD with Ray Winston who I think is a great actor - Nil By Mouth which won 2 Bafta Awards and also stars Kathy Burke another brilliant actress and is written and directed by Gary Oldman - love him too !

2 books by Stephen Fry. His autobiography Moab Is My Washpot and Paperweight, a collaboration of his homour and sarcasm at its best. Plus Country Living - Crafting Vintage Style by Christina Strutt..........simply gorgeus and I cannot wait to start making............

So, as you can see great morning. Then I opend by Blog to find that I had Won another Award, OMG...Mrs Nesbit has sent me an award for winning her Friday Fun Competion.....pop over and see what is all about!

An Award

My First Award..... Thank You Sandi

I have an award, what a lovely suprise to find waiting for me in my mailbox this morning.

Sandi you are so thoughtful.

I now have to think about who I will pass my awards onto.

Well here goes,
My first will go to another newcomer to Blogland
Michele @ Cowboys & Custard...a little va va voom for your pen....
Catherine @ Alchamilla......a spooky double for us !
Joanna @Higglety Pigglety....coz I love her pictures..........all of them!
Kim @ Ragged Roses...for being a good Mum and braving the cold when she felt unwell !
Deanna @ My Love Affaire With Thrift shops.....she makes me laugh !
Ruth @Oh So Vintage....because she has to put up with house viewings and deserves an award
and Jayne @ Country Cottage Chic...for a useful piece of information !

{"_"} Well done fellow bloggers {"_"}

Awardees please click on http://santasmailbox.blogspot.com/2007/09/spirit-of-christmas-award-2_23.html you can paste your award in and pass it on to those you feel deserve it...Carol...X................now known as Katherines Dream

Being Organised

Well Trying To Be Organised !



I just have to keep a list, it makes me feel better, in control - sort of - and this is the time of year when many of us do actually make a list of some sort or another.....

1. Christmas Cards
2. Christmas Presents
3. Christmas Big Food Shop
4. Christmas Eve Food Shop
5. Boxing Day Food
6. News Years Eve Food

I have in recent years kept my lists in these little books in the image above. This has proved to save me so much time and has also been extreamly useful to look back at various lists ! I love little Note Books. I have the Christmas book, the Birthday book, the Home Decorating book which has all the rooms listed and the paint names, materials, measurements etc. I have a Directions To book as I can never remember how to get there unless I do the trip regularly, Gas & Electric Readings book, now this one is very useful and has been used in discrepancies when I was sure the electric company were charging too much! Fun Places To Camp book........this is getting embarassing now so I'll stop now.

Anyway, I have found my little books invaluable ! and they look nice. My children will have great fun looking through them one day, as it gives away all my Christmas shopping secrets....ha ha....

Housework

Monday Wash Day

Monday, emmmmm.

I have to get on and do it.

Would rather play on the PC.

No, no, no Carol..........

Ironing is now out of control.

So, this is it short and sweet............Hope you all have a great Monday............................

Carol x

Beautiful Rose's

It has been a lovely day today, head still hurting a wee bit, but if I move slowly I can cope!

My Mum An English Rose


Took Mum & Dad out for Sunday lunch. We arrived at the chosen country pub, sat at our table and was entertained by a live folk group playing traditional Irish Folk music....wonderful, as was the roast beef dinner !
Mum sat next to me, My lovely Mum, a true English 'Rose'. But sadly she is not quite herself, her memory has almost gone now. It hurts so much to see her slowly going into a world of her own, she cannot hold a conversation, although she does know who we all are, most of time.......


Here is an old photo of her holding my sister Jacquline.


My Dad was away fighting in the second word war, her never saw my sister until she was four years old....


Mum told me that when Dad came home it was like starting all over again, he went away a boy and came home a man and it took time to get to know one another again. They have been married for 64 years.

In this picture Mum is only 15 years old, she is with her older sister Emmy. Mum had two older brothers Tommy and Danny and more sisters, called Florance, Dorothy and Lilly.
I miss my Mum who used to phone me every day.
I miss my Mum who would listen to my moans and put things into perspective.
She came to my house everyday, and always had something in her basket for me that she had baked. She loved to cook. That has all gone now but to me she is and always will be A True English Rose.

Another Bliss

Don't You Just Love Them ! Babies Asleep !

Gorgeous, no other word to discribe him.

It is a very short post this morning as I have so much to catch up on. But I thought I would share this image with you.

Pumpkin Head

,

Yummy Spicey Pumpkin Soup

Finally made it out of the house.............

Arrive at the Farmshop to buy my Pumpkin.


You have to choose carefully, right size and shape. I do this every year. Well, Pumpkin chosen I can now buy some nice pies and guess what........more hearts....2 more to be exact and of the Twiggy kind.

They will make good Christmas grifts.

Great Farm shop, could spend hours here.

It is a dull, dull day again, but the beautiful brightly coloured pumpkins cheer me up !

Inside is full of everything lovely...........emmmmm... cannot spend too much......pay for my purchases and I am happy again. Driving home I decide what will go into this soup. I never make it the same way !

Onions, garlic, lots of.......my home grown dried chillies...two home dried bay leaves, sea salt, vegtable stock, boiling water, tomato puree, all spice and some seeds from the dried corriander pods.

Bung everyting into a big pot, and bring to the boil. Season to taste. I decided I needed to add some butter and milk. Pop into the simmering oven to finish.

Just how I like it spicey hot.

Hi everyone..........