Monday 3 November 2008


How come you're always left with the Bounty's when the trick or treaters have all gone??

Lots of news to catch you up on but I'll make it quick because it's nearly 9.30pm and I haven't eaten yet. Half term has been upon us and we've squeezed in a quick trip up to Scotland during which I discovered that I can crochet in the car without throwing up - yippeee, made the 8 hour journey so much more pleasant! We then went to stay with my folks for a few days, which involved a bit of nursing on my part because poor Mum has pneumonia, but is hopefully on the mend now.

We had a great Halloween weekend, visited a few neighbours, ate a few sausages, and threw a party here on the Saturday night with fireworks, chilli and a bit too much alcohol!


This is my attempt at the Country Living pumpkin fest, bit difficult to achieve with a kitchen knife and a screwdriver, funnily enough I didn't have a lino cutter to hand!

Today has been a nice restful one, a friend round for coffee and cake, fire lit and tonight a very quiet house because Ian is in London having dinner at the Houses of Parliament - how the other half live eh!


Last but not least, my most exciting little update.................drum roll please...........I appear to have got myself a job! I know, I know, most of the people who know me had to scrape themselves up off the floor when they heard! For 6 weeks, over Christmas I will be helping the well-to-do offload some of their spondoolies in The White Company. It fits in with school hours and it will be nice to earn some of my own money for a while. Of course, the staff discount had no bearing on my decision...............although there is a rather nice rosebud nightdress I've got my eye on!

I'll finish with a couple of housey shots. At breakfast I looked over at these gorgeous flowers given to me by a friend and had to take a photo, I know they're probably out of season, sorry Lucy, but you have to admit they are fab.



..............and this tree outside our kitchen doors is a real treat too....

Have a lovely week all...............

















25 comments:

Sweet Mary said...

What a nice blog and pretty pictures. I have that issue of Country Living over here in NZ - air-freighted! I thought the pumpkins looked great - your and theirs.

MelMel said...

Love the coffe cover and your kitchen is so sweet!

Well done with the job...i love the white company!
xxx

LinenandRoses said...

Gorgeous flowers. I love the console table they're standing on with all your piles of lovely plates. Looks great. Well done on the job. Do you mind me asking, have you managed to find a retail job that doesn't require weekend work? I've been wondering about trying to get some Christmas retail work as I've done it before but I just don't fancy having to work weekends. Done that too often in the past and it's not fun. I'm guessing working in the white company would be great though. Such lovely things they sell.

French Knots said...

What lovely house shots, very CL!
Hope you manage not to spend all your wages in the White Company :)

Lesley (Notesfrommydays) said...

oh how lucky getting work at the white company - i wouldnt consider it work though i would love it :-)
Love the flowers a bit of colour on these dark days !
Lesley x

Calico Kate said...

I love the Bounty ones - they always go first in this house!
I have discovered that I can knit in the car which makes our regular 3 hour trips to hospital n Glasgow very much more productive, and so relaxing. I haven't ever learned how to crochet, perhaps that is this winters project.
Oh Lucky you, not just to have a job in the White Company but to have the shop near to you!
Love your blog even tho this is the first time I have posted a comment, have been reading for a while now!
Have a lovely day.
CalicoKate x

Anonymous said...

Well The White Company certainly knocks M & S, W H Smiths, Woolies and all those other High St stores recruiting for Christmas doesn't it? Guess your close friends and relatives will be taking a closer look at the catalogue.

Claire said...

Gosh what a busy week you had, we didnt stray to far from home except to go to Bowood House, fab for kids!! Hope your mum is feeling better.
Well done on your job, I love the White Company, the closest shop to Cardiff is Bath and I've been in a few times, candles are gorgeous and their bed linen looks gorgeous but a wee bit expensive, I bet your all wages will be spent there!! When do you start?
Your flowers brighten up your already gorgeous kitchen!!

mollycupcakes said...

Those stocks look so gorgeous, i could almost smell them from here in kent grey Kent lol they put a smile on my face, they're one of my favs. Thanks honey for sharing.
Hope your mum gets better soon.
Good to hear you didn't go crazy on the long car journey, they do go on don't. I find the 3 and half hours up to Cheltenham a nightmare, if the girls are one of thier moods lol it's the journey from hell.
Fabulous punkins, loving the bird one. Very chic!
I'm counting down the days until the Vintage fair and have the luck to go to the Christmas vintage sale here in Sevenoaks the day before yours, my purse won't know whats hit it lol
Take care honey, speak soon.
Many hugs,
Catherine x

Miss sew n sew said...

Love your pumpkins I was going to give those a go but never got round to it. Well done on your little job I've got a feeling that quite a bit of your wage will be spent on there goodies I know I would!
Sarahx

Anonymous said...

Hello I love you're blog I'm starting to look for vintage things you're taste is similar to mine I love gingham and flowers i to go to boot sales and charity shop for my finds will have to post a few pics of my quilts i brought.

Jackie

Anonymous said...

Your pumpkins are fab! Well done you, getting a job. And in a posh shop too.

And I hope your mum gets better soon.

If you're worried about those neglected bounty bars, send 'em over, I'll polish them off.

(actually -don't. I am feeling a little bloated from Halloween.)

Things Hand Made said...

Have fun in the White comapny, what a great place to get a discount! I will try to say hello if I get the chance to come in.

Anonymous said...

Your blog is always so lovely to read. A real quick round up of things with lovely photos. Love Emma xxxxx

Lesley (Notesfrommydays) said...

Hi again - had a bit of a prob with emails so sent you one last night and hope it came through !
Lx

MelMel said...

You have an award....the hot blogger one!xxx

gayle said...

I enjoyed those photos, esp the lovely kitchen. I am jealous re the white company, I love their Christmas decorations. Got a great tablecloth there a few years ago for £10.

Brocante said...

I felt at home here! I especially loved your plates in the heading! I will be back and have linked you to my favourites if that is ok for you!

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

The white company...what can I say... I am a shade of green!!!!

Carol said...

Good luck with the new job...love The White Compnay ! and I too have my eye on the Rosebud nightie!
I was going to have an attempt at Country Living's version of cutting out pumpkins but I get so frustrated with it.
I will no longer be a Cotswold 'partime' resident...boo hoo. We are mostly packed now and Monday is the day we hand over the keys. I will cry - I know.
The really difficult bit is trying to squeeze two homes into one. I cannot part with very much as we do not know where we will buy or how big it will be...thankfully the garage is very big.
Have a great weekend.
Carol x

Attic24 said...

LOL Scented Stocks are ok at any time I say because they don't strike me as being particularly spring or summerish? Its mainly the daffs I have trouble with, oh listen to me, such an eejit sometimes!
Gorgeous photos Julia, I lvoe glimpses of your home.
Congrats on the job too, wow the W.Co, glorious.
And I LAUGHED out loud when i imagined you attacking a pumpkin with a screwdriver, now why the bloody hell didn't I think of that?? I was DESPerAte to do a pumpkin a-la-country-living but also lacked the required lino cutting tool. I'll know next time.

Julia..have to say this :: I wish you blogged more often (no pressure lol), love your blog but the gaps in bewteen posts are lllllllloooooooooong.
Love to you
Lx
ps are you gonna be trying a crochet bag? You could do it, its same stitch as grannies and pot covers. Hope you doxxxxxx

Garden Girl said...

Congrats on your job, how exciting! The staff discount can only be a good thing.
Stop crocheting NOW-you will be showing everyone up next week!! (have you got time to give me a private lesson?!)
x

Betty said...

Your house looks so pretty! It's been too long since I visited! It's chilly and cold here and your rosebud nightdress conjures up pictures of an old white flannel nightgown that had little rosebuds all over it.

DESIGN BY CATHLEEN said...

I Love Vintage plates! Great Blog! I will visit again!
Cathleen :-)

Ragged Roses said...

Congrats on your job, well done, don't go spending all your earnings in the shop though (too tempting...)
Kimx