The Vintage Magpie

Pinch, punch first of the month....

I can't believe its October already....  this year is flying by.

I have two little people who are very glad its October sitting in the studio,  Halloween being their favourite celebration ... but they have a few finishing touches to be put together today, so all will be revealed tomorrow... if I can keep them quiet until then!

See you Friday xxx

Coping with Stress No. 4

No. 4 - Begin and end the day with prayer, meditation and reflection

Its funny how we all forget to give ourselves time.   Too busy running around after other things.  But I have found a wonderful escape these last two weeks that I hope I never give up. 

I am getting up an hour earlier than usual, getting dressed in an comfy old clothes and going straight out of the door.   I take Florence with me, to the park, and we walk.  That's it.

We walk and I get some head space, before the mayhem of the morning begins.  Before this discovery I would take Florence along on the walk to school, but this usually resulted in chaos... either the arguing over who was going to hold her lead, or someone invariable tripping over her on the rush. 

And during that walk I get to notice things around me, even if its only for ten minutes.

the leaves changing, and the birds singing... and the silence.  I get to appreciate the silence.

I think of all the things I am grateful for, what I hope to achieve with my day ..... and I breathe.

Please please try it.... just 10 minutes will make such a difference.

Oh and at the weekend I took the two nippers with me, which wasn't as silent but was still wonderful..and I think they appreciated the same things as I did... except the silence.

And this is James' scarf...I  finally finished knitting it last week ...

which came in very handy on the very frosty morning!! 

Let me know if you try it...

xx

Restorative Food

On Sunday just gone, 3 out the of the five of us woke up with a horrible cold.

So on the old age premise of 'Feed a cold' we did just that... and started off with pancakes and golden syrup.

Followed by 'happy' fruit....

and then I made up a batch of carrot and coriander soup...... which warmed the cockles splendidly.

From this book, my favourite all round soup book, by Covent Garden.  You can find a newer version here.

And the Lauren whipped us up a batch of Happy Anniversary cupcakes for tea ...

which put a smile back on everyone's face!!

Tomorrow (as we are all still suffering) I'm going to make up a batch of chicken noodle soup...  there's something about the onset of Autumn (and of course the onset of colds) that makes you automatically run for the soup book. 

Bring it on.... the soup that is... oh and Autumn, we just love Autumn.

x

Time for Beer!

Not the liquid kind, you understand..... Beer is a little village in South Devon with, it is said, the most amazing little beach cove, so... as we are celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary this weekend we thought we'd nip down and take a look for the day.... the weather isn't brilliant but there's no rain forcast and its going to brighten up later... so if you fancy it hop on board and let's get down there!

Ok, from this view.. I'm guessing the rumours are right.  This looks like an amazing place.

Bugsy I get the red deck chair, in case you haven't guessed red's my favourite colour - in decorating that is... otherwise it's pea green - but that's another story.

Oh, and can I have the red boat too... not because I deem myself as a 'lively lady' but because red is my favourite colour for boats too...

Time for a cuppa ....

I especially asked the lovely man at the beach cafe for a rosy teacup for you  .... yes, they've got real rosy china teacups for tea on the beach... could it be more splendid?  Oh, that and fresh crab sandwiches and chips.. on the beach in your deckchair ... first class ticket to heaven.

Now tell me, could a picture of the seaside look more British than than?  LOL !!

Oh hang on.. yes, possibly... she's flying the flag!!

Now.... who fancies a trip into the village... Mr F will look after the bags whilst we're gone...

Now look what we've stumbled upon... a beautiful little teashop/antiques (a heavenly combination on its own, but that's not all) and inside Cath Kidston's boat wallpaper adorns the walls.. a turn to the left away from tea shop area takes us into the antiques room... and OMG .. I thought that was my dresser... look.. the blue one with the Union Jack flags.. that must mean I need all of the Emma Bridgewater stuff too... its a sign... oh and I bugsy the vintage Roberts radio on the top too...Oh, and those two paisley eiderdowns have my name written all over them.... now, if only I had more than coppers rattling around in my purse!!

Oh well... let's take a little look around the corner ...

Ok... now its all gotten too much.  I think I shall weep if we stay here much longer!!  This cottage is rentable.  Sweet lord, I've made it to the light!!

We had a wonderful day in Beer, if you are ever around this part of the country its a definite must see (but be sure to knock for me before you go!).

Have a wonderful week xx

Progress this week..

Hello everyone, am I glad its Friday!  It's been a hectic week here once again, but we have been blessed with gorgeous weather to see us through.  The drive to my studio has been glorious, full of sunshine with chilly mornings which means you can smell the woodsmoke from the cottage  woodburners in the air first thing in the morning, a sure sign that Autumn has arrived!

Progress on the studio has been slow this week, as we have been viewing secondary schools for Issy most days.  The decision making is so draining and scary.... what to do for the best for her....

This decision making is somewhat easier .... what cardigan to choose?

The familiar flags are up and flying in the windows and if you look through the window in the door you can just see the curtain I have hung in the door way, an old Sanderson print called English Rose, I picked up a whole roll of it in a charity shop years ago, so its great to put it to good use.

And this little lady made it to the post office and has headed off across the pond to find a new home.

We are visiting Issy's school to be served tea, coffee and cake by Issy this morning to raise money for the MacMillan nurses, angels in our midst - a welcome treat.

Hope you all have a wonderfully restful weekend.xx

Letting The Light In ...

I couldn't keep these photos to myself...

how these kittens are drawn to the warm sunny spots, to play in and bask in... their sheer joy at being in the sun is infectious.

I hope they make you smile :)

See you tomorrow x

Coping With Stress .. Nos. 2 and 3!

No.2
Set aside one day a week for rest and renewal.

Ok, so last Sunday we downed all tools and headed off to the beautiful village of Cockington to bask in the sunshine. 

and have a long, sleepy picnic on the grass

and take a stroll with a lovely friend who had come to stay and enjoy the West Country for the weekend.

No. 3

Let Mother Nature nuture

And she certainly did.  Autumn was floating through air, quite literally, as beautiful golden leaves fell like confetti through the air, and the light and shadows cast by the afternoon sun were breathtaking.  As we walked soaking it all in there was a sense of Mother Nature slowing your pace, gently pressing your shoulders down and helping you breathe easier step by step.

It was soothing to just watch the magic for a while.

Hope you catch a moment to watch the season change this week xx

With a little help from my friends...

Over the last couple of days, I have called upon my family and friends to lend me a hand, and they have been wonderful!  My lovely friend Sally Ann came to help me change the paintwork...

and she's a good honest friend, who when we started painting, was honest about the colour.  When we painted the first coat it really wasn't the colour I was expecting... I wanted a kind of duck egg blue, but as we painted it was more like one of those 'white with a hint of ...' colours, and when we both stood back to take a look, it really didn't have much impact.

but as we stood chatting over several cups of tea, quite literally watching paint dry, the paint started to darken up, and I started to stop the panic breathing!

Then came the saga of getting my 7 foot dresser out of my house and into the studio.  Mr F is suffering from a bad back injury which meant that neighbours and fellow shopkeepers had to be drafted in to help me move it!  It took quite a while to work out how to get it out of the house, and then strap it to the roof of the car (don't ask :o ).  Then when we finally arrived at Chudleigh, looking fairly pale and feeling slightly sick, I begged a fellow shopkeeper to help me down the courtyard and in through the narrow doorway of the studio.  I don't think I was the only one saying a prayer of thanks when it finally squeezed in with less than 1/2 inch between the top of the dresser and the ceiling!  I would certainly rather not have that experience again!  Having said that the pain was worth it as it does look beautiful as you look through the window.

So, as I gradually transport things from home to the studio, things are starting to slowly fall into place.

and the little folk are more visible without the distracting purple paint, and are patiently waiting for the fairy lights to go up around the window.

And I am patiently waiting for a permanent sign and a few other bits and pieces to make it feel like 'home' :)

and maybe one day make it feel as magical as it might feel to be going in here too!!

Have a great week everyone xx

I couldn't resist....

I couldn't resist showing you some more photos of our babies....

the joy these little ones give us every day, laughter and cuddles is amazing....

So, so, soooooooo cute.  Five and a half weeks old.   I haven't made any plans for their adoptions yet, I can't bring myself too - although I know we can't keep any, its like a farmyard here already!

But they are sooo god damn cute. 

Off to the studio today to hang up my Vintage Magpie sign and enrol a friend to help with painting the outside.... pictures to come next week!

Have a great weekend everyone xxx



 

Coping With Stress ... No.1

'In this world without quiet corners, there can be no easy escapes..... from hullabaloo, from terrible, unquiet fuss.'
Salman Rushdie

Tip 1.
Carve out an hour a day for solitude.

This is a tricky one, an hour a day seems impossible to me to take for myself...so instead, on the way home I stopped off near a local pub on the riverside .... took my book and my flask and lay by the riverbank and read for 20 minutes.  Just 20 minutes... but those 20 minutes were worth a hell of a lot to my head.

Its amazing what 20 minutes of peace can do.... try and fit some time in for yourself today xxxx