Christmas 2011

 I cooked
We laughed
We drank
We ate -  a lot

 

 

 

We translated
We opened presents
He drove
We ate again - a whole lot more

 

 

Christmas 2011 was a good one, notwithstanding the fact that I only finished the washing up yesterday!

Hope you had a great Christmas too!

Rocking chair - it was fate

We have a little nook in our bedroom, between the left side of the chimney breast and the window. The perfect spot to relax and enjoy the beautiful view over the front garden and the green in the distance. Until recently, we were missing the essential tool to do just that. A chair. I'd thought about it occasionally, and dreamt of a rocking chair. My mum had a wicker one when I was growing up, but she gave it away. Funny how things go in and out of fashion. Anyway, my dream was brought to the forefront of my thoughts after I saw this inspiring post from my friend in Switzerland. This gave me the kick up the backside I needed. And boy did it send me flying. Right onto the phone to Mr PF, and straight onto ebay for some perusing. It was clearly meant to be, because a beautiful wooden chair was up for sale in a neighbouring town. Perfect, since this is the kind of item that is pick-up only, for obvious reasons! We waited and we waited and I went totally berserk in the last few minutes of the auction. We had agreed in advance on a maximum price we were willing to pay, and successfully defeated an opponent who went in at the minimum price (yes, this got terribly competitive!). So there, in the space of a couple of days, I went from being reminded about this chair which would make our bedroom feel so much more cosy, to finding a perfect one on ebay only around the corner from where we live, to actually winning it and bringing it home. How nicely do things work out sometimes? I think that's what they call fate.

An absolute bargain too, especially if you look at the price of new ones going out there... silly money! This one is in absolute mint condition, and the wood is simply beautiful. No nasty varnish to scrape off. It's going to stay as it is for the moment, but we may decide to paint it in the future. Until then, it needs a cushion. I need to get the sewing machine out.

I like to play pretend though and imagine that I've actually pulled my finger out and made up this tapestry kit I was given last Christmas... Can someone please stop the clock, there just isn't enough time!!!

Photos of sunshine

Whilst looking at the photos from Norfolk yesterday, I found a folder entitled "Summer". How perfect to remind ourselves of warmer times when it's so frigging cold outside? Perfect I reckon! It's dark when I leave the house in the morning, and it's dark when I leave work, so it's nice to remind myself that it just won't last. Fancy coming along on the late summer ride? How about starting with a glass of elderflower cordial, whilst relaxing on a deck chair in the garden, reading French magazines?

Or enjoying breakfast in the back yard... wow this seems like a million light years away!

Making the most of colourful flowers in the living room...

And late blooms outdoors too...

The last barbecue of the year with homemade burgers...

Water drops after a short shower...

Felix le chat playing in the front garden...

And that late summer sky, so full of heat and blooms and light...

I think I need to start thinking about a holiday in the sun!!

Me and my staircase

It's practically become a love story. Me and my staircase. My staircase and me (I?). I spent an unholy amount of time bent down over those steps on both Saturday and Sunday, making sure all little corners were covered. One coat of primer, coat no.1 of paint, coat no.2 of paint, coat no.3 of paint... and I won't even go into the sanding work that was done before that... epic it was...

Mr Petit Filoux couldn't help you ask? Well he could and he tried. But the control freak monster peaked its dirty little head out and couldn't face the idea of anyone else touching the allmighty staircase. He just might not do it as well as me, you know? So in the end, he didn't get much of a chance to be fair. I took control, I made my bed and I lied in it. Four coats in total, left side down, up the stairs, right side down. My back was cripple by the end of it, and I swear I couldn't have faced doing a fifth coat, good job it didn't need it. But what can you do when you just can't let go? You keep your mouth shut and you get on with it.

Now all we're waiting for is for the carpet people to come back to fit the stair runner. And that will mark the end of the new flooring saga, the mayhem we've lived in for the last few weeks, the scary emptying of our bank accounts and the restoration of both my sanity and my craft life. Oh how I'm missed you!!

That favourite room?

Not that I'm trying to convince you or anything. But you tell me this wouldn't be your favourite room too if this was the view you had first thing in the morning?

Yep, thought so!

Have a lovely Friday everyone, the weekend is around the corner!

Who knew?

It would be so frigging difficult to choose a carpet colour. One that will match our future curtains and wall colours (that haven't been picked yet!). One I'll be happy with. One that doesn't look dirty before it's even been used.

I never knew there were so many shades of beige/cream/ off white. Someone help me.

Well actually I've been trying to help myself by making little colour montages...

Quite inspiring I think! And so much fun to make too... If only there was no budget to stick to!

Cadeaux

First of all, I'd like to thank all of you for your comments on my last post. Whilst I found some to be rather on the defensive, I appreciate all of them and all have been useful. We have not reached a decision as yet, but I'd like to make it quite clear that I wasn't trying to find "excuses" not to get a cat, no one is forcing me to get one (or two), but rather I was trying to write down every thing that could possibly annoy us or make use change our minds. Isn't it best to consider every possibility before bringing it into our home?! Anyway, I do not wish to defend my position against people who clearly have a manichean view of the world with those that love cats and those that don't. Some on us love animals but simply like to make informed choices. Now, onto today's post if you will!

Living somewhere new means people want to share your joy. And make it even bigger than it already is (your joy that is). (And yes, I realise that sounds totally weird and foreign! I'm sure you get it anyway). So anyway, they feel that one way of doing just that is to give us presents. We have been given a few so far and honestly, it's just so much fun to get new things! They don't have to cost much, it's just the novelty you know? So far we got a few goodies from France (more on those some other time)...

The finest washing machine in the land...

Some seating for our garden... I could eat that fabric I love it so much!

And a generous aunt is helping us stay in touch with music in the kitchen.

Finally, we got ourselves a little present too - one that consists of a table and two chairs - surely there are some nice days left out there during which we could sit our little bottoms outside in the garden and soak up those rays? Bought in the sale too, so a completely reasonable purchase, I'm sure you'll agree!

Now, I don't want to sound like I'm gloating, and life has proved to have its ups and downs, but it's feeling pretty damn good right now. So, let's enjoy what's left of August and keep all our fingers crossed that an Indian summer is on its way...

What were you doing this morning?

In the "what we you doing" series, I bet your heart didn't beat as fast as mine did a couple of mornings ago at 6.15am. Let me tell you the story...

Mr Petit Filoux got out of bed first and without his glasses on, couldn't quite see what that dark patch was on the wall. There definitely wasn't a hole from the previous owner hanging a picture there at that height...

Close you eyes, he tells me, I have to turn the light on. (Yes I was lounging in bed.)

Oh. My. Goodness, he says.

I jump out of bed and subsequently jump out of my skin too. There is the biggest spider I have ever seen in my entire life in this country right there, on my bedroom wall, chilling out above the radiator not far from the open window.

Mr Petit Filoux offers to squash it. I say no, it'll only make a mess on the wall. Call me an animal lover. So off I trot down the stairs and grab our biggest pint glass from the kitchen. And as if by magic, my nerves calm down, I trap the spider in the glass and slide a piece of paper so I can carry it outside right at the far end of the garden.

But before that, I insisted Mr Petit Filoux take a photo. For the record. The biggest spider ever in my living memory. Fat body and fat legs. Look, that's a pint glass. And there's a human hand for scale too.

You'll have guessed right, we've slept with the window firmly shut ever since.

At the weekend

Soulemama does "right now" posts so well, I thought I'd try it myself... although of course I'm a little busy and posting tends to be delayed a little somehow... I'm sure noone will mind though! And it's quite nice doing a little retrospective anyway...

At the weekend I:

* Enjoyed lovely flowers scattered around my home. I can actually say "my home" now which is rather unerving... and terribly exciting!

* Prepared lunch for some garden helpers. The weather was good, new tools were purchased, gloves were worn (through? already?!). We've started the battle of the gardens. And we're enjoying some seasonal cuttings on the mantelpiece - I'm in love!

* Was thinking that my crochet top is long overdue. It just needs blocking and sewing up woman, get your skates on! Did I do anything about it though? Not yet, *sigh*...

* Got a little sad that we've had to say goodbye to our furry friend... and already thinking of a way to fill his shoes paws...

* Painted my toes red. Meant to do it in my favourite shade so far this year, Marron glace by Mavala, but a party meant it just had to match...
* Tried to make the most of the weekend and not let myself have a heart attack after the quote we were given to get the carpet changed... now, where's that lottery ticket gone?!

Favourite room

I'm sure everyone must have a favourite room in their house. Somewhere you might like because you feel comfortable in it, somewhere you can relax, somewhere you can read in peace, or somewhere you can sing to the top of your voice without anyone taking notice. My favourite room? The bathroom. Might sound like an odd choice to some, but let me tell you why.

The house on that side is east facing and on bright clear days, the view of the sun rise from the bathroom window is simply incredible. You can feel yourself slowing down, breathing a little deeper, closing your eyes with the sun rays coming through. Any day that starts that way has got to be a good day, no doubt.

And when you have a beautifully smelling rose which has found a new home right there, I'm pretty sure it can't get any better than that.

Dog sitting

He's only small...

But that doesn't stop him to have a larger than life personality - wait until you walk away, upstairs (where he's not allowed) or throw him a ball in the park ...

Or wait until he gets used to you and the routine sets in... here he is waiting for Mr Petit Filoux to get home from work...

We'll miss him when we have to give him back. No more cuddles on the sofa. No more hairy company under the table when we have dinner.

But then the cleaning will have to start. Oh dear, where to start?

What were you doing last night?

Sounds like a dodgy horror movie doesn't it? Well after we'd a few hours of torrential rain yesterday evening, I went out in the garden armed with a plastic bag in lieu of a bucket, and another plastic bag in lieu of a glove. Hey, you work with what you've got, right?

No no I didn't go and pick flowers, I'm not that bonkers. Well actually you may decide that's debatable, because I did go on a snail hunt. I feel rather strongly about anything slimy (I blame these little buggers) so I couldn't leave them wondering around the garden knowing the amount of damage they can cause to my beautiful plants.

So I picked. And picked. And picked. And half an hour later, let's just say my bag was rather heavy. First major positive. First implies second? Yep yep. I found a casualty of the torrential downpours, a beautiful pink and most fragrant rose.

ps you'll be glad to know the snails didn't come to any harm and were gracefully dumped at the back of the green on the other side of the road.

Eyes wide open

I'm taking it all in. Trying to make the most of the nice weather. Enjoying where I am at this stage of my life.

Thinking of what can be done to the house, getting a little inspiration from those freebies (thanks again Freecycle!)

Enjoying flowers in and out...

And making the most of the "out" yet again, taking advantage of the warm warm sun to clean and dry winter woolies...

Getting ready to sample some home-grown, albeit not by me, fruits of my garden...

It's frigging amazing I'll tell you that for nothing. If you can feel pride and happiness in this post, I think you're on the right track. Just keep going.