***having fun and games***

with my new camera.....I am a very lucky girl...my dear hubby bought me a new digital camera for my blogging....he said 'it would good for me to have a better one'... nice thought considering I haven't even got one...I had been using my eldest daughters for the last few months which isn't quite fair.....she will need hers back sometime soon....sooooo...as you can see I have been playing around and boy o' boy I don't know what the hell I'm doing.... I have been racing around all the little corners of home shooting this and that and took over 75 shots all rubbish, plus the batteries were nearly flat so heaven knows how much power I will use until I get bored of this new game...if I do that is....needless to say hubby is down the shop to buy....yep....re-chargable batteries and charger......silly shots I have put up I know, but it is a start and if you feel like it you can grade me.....I am going to have an A.B.C. grading thingy going just for a bit of fun....so if you send your thoughts please grade as follows (back at school again) he he

1. A = Astounding
2. B = Brilliant
3. C = Crap

crystal lamp detail

dragonfly wax and dye on cloth by Haley

(photo taken through it's glass frame)

metal chook on window sill

detail of mouldy old grapes

le' hospeeece finds

so that is all for today......have to go aaaaand .....yes you guessed, take some photos....toodleoooo

***vintage again***

hand-painted french wardrobe

tapestry wall hanging

cherub


detailed chairs

cloakroom shelf

jewelery etc

***the crazy quilt hanging***

remember the start of the crazy quilt that I put on blog awhile back....well it is now finished and I will probably put it on e-bay.....so what do you think?....to be perfectly honest I'm not sure if I like it or not....but then I am like that about a lot of creative things I do.....never think they are that much cop....this one is called 'love a rose garden' and the label I made at the bottom says as much...though it says 'love love love a rose garden'....the sewing machine ran away with that word ha! ha!

the before

and the after

perhaps I shall make another crazy wall hanging thingy at another time........need a break now to try something else .....what that may be I am not sure....so until next time toodleoooo

....also thought I would put this picture in cos it reminded me of wishing I had mail when we lived in Oz.....used to miss not hearing from anyone and would sing that Carpenters song.....'Hey Mr. Postman look and see is there a letter, a letter for me...'

photo link

***the face behind the mask***

so can it be true that....

"there will be time to put on a face to meet the faces that you meet" TS Eliot

.....are we always genuinely ourselves...or do we don the mask.....I guess only each individual knows the true answer to that.....sometimes I'm sure I 've worn a mask to suit a parent, a partner, a child, a friend a boss or a complete stranger, perhaps when feeling out of my depth or securely encased......perhaps just because I'd like to be someone else or adventure into a new situation...do we ever really know ourselves.... know that what we show of our-self is the true face .......

wonderful photos bysuffolkriddell

whatever the case I'd love to have a few of these masks and to be part of such a great parade....what fun... and what a great way to be anonymously myself......whoever myself is.......toodleoooo

*** self-indulgence***

and being very tired....... these have to be contradictions.... how can you be one while being the other......hope you get my drift....have been gardening for my lady and I am shattered.....I hardly feel like doing this but I do so enjoy the discipline and I feel it beneficial...I think.....

anyhow the rain has held off and the grey, damp, moist sky somehow feels comforting.....I don't really mind it though I think him upstairs is having a laugh ....there is a calmness outside, not much stirring of the leaves...it's as if the planet is holding her breath for a moment...why I'm not sure....maybe another storm on the way...maybe she's just feeling weary...maybe dreaming of new beginnings, maybe not.....

I dream of going to work looking like this and returning looking the same way...I guess that is self indulenge...toodleooooo....

collection by jean paul gaultier (photos-fabio boraso)

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/

***beauty and the beast***

mosiac from book pompeii & hercvlanevm...photos my edwin smith

in nature......a place where all sorts happen.... sometimes we can help ...most times not.....

I was watching the elephant program last night.....all sorts of drama going on...baby elephant being swept down river (mum did get it out) and all the panic that created... with mum carrying on....trumpeting in fear...baby's trunk trying to reach out for help.....older daughters lending support as best they could , knowing somehow all was not well......The mother was even swishing at the water with her tusks and trunk trying to break up the current and using her body as a shield so baby could get across..... needless to say my hands were covering my eyes and I was shrieking .....(these programs are not good for the heart you know...either the organ or the emotional one)....anyway....got over that trauma when a two month elephant calf was spotted being rejecting by another herd.....dear little thing you could see how sad and forlorn it was... all it wanted was a little comfort and the only member of the herd who seemed to care was a tiny youngster that reached out to touch and smell and inquire as all youngsters of most species do....the herd had to cross river again and youngster followed...it didn't have anyone to look after it....and the others were threatening it and bashing at it with their trunks...so sad...it managed to cross, no thanks to the others...and stood alone while the others wandered off feeding....it was definitely an orphan...apparently cos gestation is so long and babies are dependent until 16 years of age the mothers can't afford to waste time taking care of members from another group.....anyway by then I was in tears....(had to ring my sister to find out what happens)....dear little soul.......I can't cope with anything happening to babies of any species and animals in general....I think as humans we are one of the unkindest species seeing as we have intelligence....anyway Saba (the lady narrating the show) decide the orphan needed a hand and is going to try and rescue it to take to the Kenyan elephant orphanage ......( that's where I was born by the way.....nooooo.....not in an orphanage... in the country)....Hurrah....not sure wether that was successful as part two next week....little sod was proving more difficult to capture than first thought.....so I dried my eyes and hoped for the best....elephants really are amazing...they really do love each other within their own group anyhow and we should not shoot them....so there....and of course nature is itself is kinda cruel....lions eating little gazells and crocs eating wilderbeast and magpies eating baby birds etc etc....but that is something I have to come to terms with...damn hard though.......soooo that's my little bit for the day....hope you weren't too bored or depressed..... so until next time......toodleooooooo

mosiac from book pompeii & hercvlanevm photo edwin smith

***the cobweb forest***

morning fellow earthlings...hope all is well with you in this world...the drizzle is still here and I cannot...won't...go and do my gardening jobs today...must look after the bones...will try tomorrow....will instead attempt to finish my crazy quilt hanging thingy and connect you to this amazing site of fantastical creativity....

' Through the Cobweb Forest '.... oh how lucky we are to have this amazing world of blogging for without it we would be rather alone in our creative endeavours.....so be empowered O' people of the nations... you can forever be eager to knit that stitch....thread that needle and dip that paint brush into the swirly colours that is your imagination......and in doing so be at peace with yourselves.......

where did that lot come from.....I must get out more....smiles.....toodleooooo

click on treethis picture is from the cobweb forest site

***what a morning***

it's drizzling again....so perhaps it's time

punch 1929

weather not so pleasant again yesterday...my mate Jilly popped up as she wanted to go to church...I wasn't up for it though...Haley popped around and we talked of honeymoon plans as I made a hearty soup and garlic bread...wanted to do Kali's super looking bread but don't know how....

I said to hubby "I watched a goodish film last night called 'Deja vu'.. " he said, "Have you seen it before!" I replied stupidly, "No!!".....duhhhhhh creased up when I got the joke though...

big sigh.....what to do today...perhaps sew....perhaps clean...perhaps have a bath....light some candles....look at some 40's mags if I can find them....feeling it's one of those days...need a change but can't seem to get the energy or motivation to do something about it...should go visit my dad in Newbury but....another boring flight....plus the cost (not cheap escaping this rock) am so desperate to move...and Tassie is tugging tenaciously...will have to be patient.....

if you dream it....you can be it.... toodleoooooo

***fellow vintage lovers***

my favourite vintage stall

and the people who have it are great .....anything you like (if not sold) you can e-mail arthur_falla@hotmail.com and he can sometimes source stuff....I do love pottering around here...we have this marque once a year in our parish and all sorts turn up....in fact a lady who is from Jersey and lives in Hobart Tasmania has a jewellery stall and we got chatting and when she said she was from Hobart I was over the moon as we would love to live there in the future... she told me all about her house which is one of the oldest sandstone homes and is right in the middle of the city....can't believe she lives there and comes back here every year...the world is a small place even if one lives on the other side of the world....

fabrics for Kali

cool toast rack

more later from other stalls .....some photo were too blurred so have to go through them and retrieve what I can..... toodleooooo

***the gardens where I work***

inspiration is all around if you look for it......all things have their magical qualities.....being able to really see and not just look is perhaps the key......

double left click to bring up the larger image...it's better big time....

***a night time stint***

I couldn't sleep....again... so played about and did some graphic art...this is the result.....perhaps now I shall be able to sleep while she.....whoever she is.....can dream of home....

***bits of this an' that***

with one of the strangest being a cluster of pearls known as the Southern Cross.....this feat of nature consists of a group of nine pearls that formed naturally into an almost perfect Latin cross.........seven pearls form the shaft and two either side ......it is about an inch and a half in length with the pearls having grown together....this being confirmed microscopicaly......this wonderful thing was discovered in 1874 in Roebourne in Western Australia by a guy called Clark..... it seems to have changed hands many times doubling in price on several occasions...

my graphic version of the cross

anyway I had a pearl of a magazine delivered to my door this morning and I am so chuffed with it.....it's my Artful Blogger by Somerset Studio.....I am so pleased with all the pictures.... inside is amazing....so go treat yourself.......

blog on

what do only elephants have..........baby elephants.......I know I know.....that is what comes of reading Answers Annual from 1926....toodleooooo......

***not being the queen***

as I've just finished watching the movie The Queen and can't say I was that impressed....don't get me wrong Helen is a great actress but on the whole it has to be all speculation.....how does anyone really know who says what to whom.....certainly not the script writers...anything said in those four walls on the whole would be repeatless and does anyone really care anyhow....no amount of yabbering would ever compensate for the loss of Diana, especially to her family, and we mere mortals have no way of knowing or feeling what any of that lot do or did think or feel.....

Ghosts was okay...the movie that is.....not that the 23 chinese cockelers drowned in the bay ....they seemed to have a tough life ....I guess we would all do what we can to pave a better way for our families....and I can understand a little of both sides opinions....the migrants and the locals...it's tough on everyone...those without are always going to seek a better way and those ...with... could find change as not an easy option.....well that my thought for the night....tooodleoooooo

***receiving special things like***

"This award will be awarded to those that are just nice people , good blog friends and those that inspire good feelings and inspiration! Those that care about others that are there to lend support or those that are just a positive influence in our blogging world!"



from Kali at Enjoying My Journey giving me an award was sooooo sweet...I have never had an award for anything so what a surprise....I am indeed a lucky girl....so will do as she has done and will pass on though may have to be in stages......

It almost feels like being back at school when the teachers would do the same....you'd get an award for best behaved...best prefect...best class student etc etc....wonder if they still do all that....school was not the best for me especially boarding school...I was 7 and my sister 5 1/2 when we were sent and boy was that weird....I was always in trouble anyway...not that I did anything bad... I would not conform.....whatever that was supposed to mean.....

I wonder if there are awards out there for nice mum....nice friend....nice wife....nice hostess....nice daughter etc...perhaps we could start a trend....

then has to go tooooooo ..........

Kali from Enjoying my Journey ........cos she is my best blogging buddy

Lee-Ann from Pear Tree Cottage

Lindy from Lindy's Little Corner

Alison from The Brocante Home

Eli from A bit of Pink Heaven

Alice from A Growing Delight

just beacause.....till soooooooon...

***pretty maids all in a row***

as are these lovely vintage aprons, red one isn't though....Stepford Wives (movie) will get a run for their money....a couple of these I wore for the bar-b-que....and seeing as how I had to wash two I thought I would do the lot...I do so love these older prints and should look out for more....could't sleep so thought I would put these pics up instead of shuteye....

I loved the movie Stepford Wives, it really is a fantasy only cos of the pretend perfection though sometimes life would be cool like that just for a minute. Reminds me of Pleasantville and The Truman Show two other pretend that I am fond of....always said I should have been born a little earlier so I could have taken part in that era....not that there is anything wrong with this one...it's just the nice manners, when men were polite and kids were respectful and OOOhhhh...I don't know.....when everything seemed all suger and spice....dream on baby....

***the day after***

outside the front door are my home grown hanging baskets with my favoutite surfinas (petunias) these smell lovely in the late evening....



the church bar-b-que and all is over for another year.....each year we do the same thing...a day to set up, a day to shop and cook, a day to eat and enjoy the company and a day to pack all away again....so we are completly stuffed....I was going to take loads of photos but with running around like a blue a......d fly I never had a chance as it was I was still washing dishes and the floor at ten o'clock last night....some of the girls helped out but after feeding nearly 60 people, and this was a quiet year, it still takes time. The setting looked great ....bunting, gazebos, brollies, rugs, croquet, three tressle tables with all sorts of rice , pasta, salads, bread, basil toms, new spuds, etc....you get the picture..very pleasant....soooooooooo I will have to just put up a couple of photos of our little cottage instead...and then I will try to get some sewing done...ha ha!
Have also put four loads of washing out...mainly teatowels aprons and tableclothes ....very boring...till soon....



a corner of our kitchen....brought the table from Oz and the meat safe and Brian made the plate dresser shelf from an old pine wardrobe that was too big and heavy to cart everywhere.....30's bread bin ws £1.00 from L'Hospeeeece ...some china came from Oz as well...

some glasses from Oz and L'Hospeeece.......well you never can have enough lol....

this lot is the back up supply....

*** a very scary moment***

......so won't do it again....I was using flickr to see what photos were around and thought I would try that blog button that you see sometimes at the top of someones photo....anyway long and short of it the photo showed up and I thought that was pretty clever.....UNTIL I went to delete it from my posts and it wouldn't go away....the entry did delete but the photo stayed on my blog site for ages and I was really scared....seeing as it wouldn't go away I went to flickr asked questions about blog phots and it seems you are not allowed to use the blog photo with out permission anyhow ....so I wonder what is the point of having a blog button anyway....really really not nice feeling like that...I certainly do not like doing things wrong especially if it would annoy someone....well it's gone now and boy am I grateful...moral being not all is as it seems....toodlooooo

***it's not hogwash***

it's real.....for those that don't see Hedgehogs very often or never have ever...then here you are ...Mandi to the rescue once again......Brian my hubby found baby hog 1 out in the afternoon...a definate no no...these guys are only about 4 weeks old and the size of an orange and feeding in daylight means they are in distress besides they should still be with mother.....anyway called Hog lady helper to get her to take to the Main Hog lady who takes care of them until they are large enough to be returned here they're always released back from where they came...No sooner had she gone then Hog 2 shows up...smaller and lighter.....so main Hog lady comes this time to pick up....not long after well a couple of hours I see Hog 3....no photo cos was busy looking for 4&5 just in case but didn't see them....picked up a larger Hog though as it looked not very strong and wobbly....she was a girl but don't think it was mom cos couldn't see any used nipples....anyway Hog lady back again to pick them up so hope that will be that for now.....Perhaps mom is still around cos saw Hog poo down the path but just don't know ....these guys travel miles anyway so it could have come from anywhere.....
just as well they were found anyway as blowflies had laid eggs on their underbelly and we all know what happens when the hatch...so they will be combed off and Hogs will be fattened up and home they will come to live happily ever after.....

if they can avoid getting squished.....we're bang in the middle of the parish and there are two roads either side of the property.....Parish hall to the north.....us on the rectory grounds in the middle and the church on the south with two big glebe fields on the east and west so almost an oasis.....though once you get across the roads after a few houses are more fields so hogs do get a chance....anyway nature lesson over.....am off hog watching....toodleooooooo

***what is frustrating***

....is the fact of things getting the better of me....I want to do do something using html and will it work no....I'm sure there are gremlins in computers and when they get bored they pop around in amongst the wiring having a field day...or hard drive day...anyhow I won't give up cos I don't like to fail...besides it makes the time spent then wasted and what is the point of that...Patience is a virtue....hmmmm....bet Bill Gates loses the plot sometimes.....sooooooooo will put something else up to cheer myself a little...

This is the view of the orchard from the window where I am now doing this

(albeit slightly of to the right and taken at ground level)

This is in the orchard where we have our picnic bench and sometimes meals etc

A girl can never have enough watering cans

***monday monday***

.....and I can't remember the rest of the words to that song. Anyhow hope all had a good weekend...it was really hot and now has changed....again...still did a couple of hours gardening work for one of my ladies... laid and dug in three bags of compost and put down 8 bags of ....woodchips....please don't shout at me...she is 84 years of age and dear soul can't do the weeding any more and I have so much else to do besides just weed so it seemed the better idea....and it looks good for now...better than than two foot high couch grass which took about 8 hours to dig the worst out first...and all this in a small patio garden....
Before going out yesterday to our daughter and friends barbaque I started a new project...a small crazy quilt hanging...picture whatever....not sure how it will turn out and how to hang it ...will figure that one out later....would welcome any idea though...so here is a picture of yeterdays four hour attempt....

Also thought I would show you this altered art collage picture I made...It's a vintage photo transfer put onto fabric and then added a couple more layers of fabrics then put onto hessian, then suspened in a frame...hence....'Little girl lays at the foot of her bed...' etc....

so when i have done more to the quilt will let you know...toodleoooo

***Thinking I'd let you know***

about this lamp

This lamp was put together by ME.....All of it was made up from the bits and pieces I bought over several months from my local op-shop...here we call it the Hospice shop.....and I call it ....now say ..... L'hhhospeece boutique....in a french accent....not that I am french

and anyway before I lose the drift...back to the lamp....

the base was bought seperatly for £3.00 $6.00

the glass shade was £3.00 $6.00

the vintage crystals where in a big bowl loads and loads of them too many to count...

£10.00 $20.00 so I glued some satin braid to the outside of the glass shade and hooked the crystals one by one into the braid thereby creating a new old looking lamp...well the base is the oldest probably 30's ...it is fluted wood with a brassy base and the crystals? don't know...still it was cheaper than buying a proper one...and I still have crystals over....Simple really aaaaaaaa....

You can't really see the cream swirls in the glass shade though.... pity cos the bulb is too bright and it looks better in real life ...perehaps I'll take another photo at a later date....toodleoooooo