The Last Post Before Christmas

I know that you are all very busy now, finishing touches and last minute shopping.

We are all probably feeling a bit tired of shopping and queuing and traffic!

I am not doing housework until the last moment which will be Saturday and Sunday maybe.

Then the Cleaning Closet is closed for the holidays!

I do enjoy the evenings though. I take this time for me.... and enjoy the quiet.... as I sit amidst the mess of Freddie's toys, wrapping paper, cards, piles of clean washing that has not found it's way to the ironing basket and those extra bit's of shopping that you get just in case and have no room for in the larder!

Just a few more pictures to keep you going.


The Hyacinths have now flowered and smell wonderful.

This is another shelf!

in my study where I spend far too much time at the PC doing 'you know what'.

The study is halfway through being transformed.

So just a little peek so you can see where this all happens!

A nice smelling candle as I Blog away.........

Found this in a box of decorations.

It is meant to be put at the base of a candle, but I pinned it to the lampshade instead!

And last of all something for the grandchildren.

Freddie will stand at look at this for quite a while...

I would love to know what my 18th month old little grandson is thinking !

all he can say when he sees it is 'Wow'

I wish you all great cheer!

Have a wonderful time with your family and friends this Christmas

Carol

XXX

A Winter Break In The New Forest

Last weekend we went on a little trip to the New Forest. I did think when I booked this weekend break that I would be completely organised for Christmas and that I could go away and forget everything for a while! lol

No I was not organised, presents still to buy, cards still to write and send!

House in a mess.

This is my eldest daughter Katie - 22 weeks pregnant and her lovely husband Paul.

We are standing outside the cottage which is right in the forest, heaven!


The cottage was decorated for Christmas. This is the mantle over the log burner in the dining room.

The Christmas tree!

The Quay at Lymington which is a beautiful town and full of gorgeous little shops.....had a little spend up here! and Sunday lunch.

Paul and a fallen tree.

Katie and I outside our little shop. (Not really)

See the shop title........this is in Burley, Witch country.

Hubby, Katie and Paul examining the huge root system on this tree.

New Forest Ponies, they just wander wherever they want and are a bit scary they are not frightened of cars or people. These ones started to follow us along the lane....too close for me. By the time we reached the end of the lane we had about 10 ponies walking behind us!

It was a wonderful weekend and as expected went all too quickly, I should have booked a week!

{"_"}

Carol

XxX

An Award

An Award from my lovely friend Kristina and now 7 things about me.....

1. I really enjoy Blogging, it has opened a whole new world of friends.

2. I love the sea and a rocky or pebble beach the best, with rock pools and sea glass and driftwood to keep me busy hunting them out.

3. I enjoy my home and everything in it and to do with it, except housework of course!

4. My garden is a passion, it makes me de-stress.

5. I go mad if I cannot find things, I have to be tidy and orderly, even if in the process the place is in chaos trying to achieve it!

6. I love to laugh.... and do giggle a lot with my friends and family. I try to see the funny side!

7. I have to have a clean bed with feather pillows and duvet, white linen or crisp cotton sheets and pillow cases and now a new feather mattress topper - which if you do not have one, is pure heaven to sleep on!

I am going to pass this award on to....

http://rhondisrosecoloredglasses.blogspot.com/

http://curlewcountry.blogspot.com/

http://www.infocowboysandcustard.blogspot.com/

and

http://thechiccountryhome.blogspot.com/

And this is my latest shelf, Shaker style. I wanted it painted in a dark colour as everything else gets painted in various shades of Farrow & Ball whites or the palest blues!

Merry

Blogger's

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

&

May all your dreams come true

With Lots and Lots of Love.......

Carol

xxx

Christmas Decorations Part Three

2007 Christmas Decorations Nearly Complete

If I can stop myself from twinking them!

Candle in a cage......

Evening glow.......

Home made red gingham tree for the Christmas Tree.....

The Christmas Tree just needs the presents to go underneath....

Candles bought by the score.......

Fairy lights for the mirror.....

The lady with the lamp's.........

Cosy evenings by the......

Frosty lights around the hall mirror and a tiny Christmas tree.....

Mr Snowman to watch over me as I Blog in the study........

A little spruce for the study room shelves.......

Father Christmas sweetie pot........

The Christmas Tree awaits it's parcel's........

For another day........

xxxCxxx

Christmas Decorations Part Two

It is getting very busy with build up to Christmas, a little panic is setting in as I am going away for a fews days and thought that I would have finished all my Christmas preparations, apart from the very last bit of food shipping.

I did put a few more Christmas decorations out.......not very many I might add.

A red check ribbon and one of my Christmas hearts and this cabinate top is done!

Oh, and a little decoration pinned to the lampshade!

One of my favourite character's is The Snowman he is brought out every year.

Last year I bought another one........just to even things up on the mantle!

This is him! not quite as nice as the real 'Snowman' he is a Villeroy & Boch snowman!
A sweetie jar and candles with cones and cinnamon sticks.

New baubles waiting for the Christmas tree.

I hope we can go to the farm shop and choose one today!

I need Hubby's help so I have to wait until he comes home form work.

White Hyacinths in a painted white basket.

New cream lantern and as you can see form the size of my candles, they are used often!

And another new lantern.

I think this is 'another' collection just starting!
When it gets dark and the votive's and lantern's are alight the house looks quite magical.

Mantle completed!

Katie's New Kitchen

It is all so exciting for Katie & Paul, their first brand new fitted kitchen.

I know that some of you love to see the before and after shots so thought that you may like to see Katie's kitchen.

The carpenter was there for 3 days. Basically the kitchen had been made in the workshop. The carpenter fitted the cabinets, then the oak work surface, plinths and shelving.

He done an excellent job.

The kitchen is hand painted in Farrow & Ball Shaded White - very similar to my own kitchen.Katie did not want tiles, just an oak up stand and the wall painted in Farrow & Ball Pointing - Modern Emulsion which is excellent for keeping clean!

A black Range Cooker has been fitted into the chimney breast, which had to be widened - Paul her Hubby is a builder so that was not a problem. The kitchen was completely re-wired, re-plumbed, re-plastered and new a floor and ceiling lights fitted.

This is the oak work surface being cut to size.

Mu hubby plumbed in the Belfast sink.........do you know the difference between a Butler sink and a Belfast sink?

Answer- The Belfast sink has an overflow as there was no shortage of water in Ireland where they were made. The Butler sink has no overflow because of the shortage of water in London!

Well that was what the carpenter told us and I have not checked this out yet.

Katie and her kitchen
See the twig Heart.........I bought........... as you have probably guessed anyway.

Katie is now 20 weeks pregnant if you enlarge this image you can see the little bump.... just about!

The oak shelves are still missing, they should have been fitted by the carpenter but he was not given enough oak to make them! always a glitch somewhere!

This is the 'larder' that houses the boiler in the top cabinet and the washing machine in the lower......it is made to look like a larder.

They still have a few little jobs to finish.

Hopefully, tomorrow I will have some Christmas decorations to show you.

xCx