making room in the spare room

Last week I moved things around to make room for the essential 'extras' that will soon be delivered- but are only really required once a year...like: Christmas decorations (I have a rather large collection that began one fateful Christmas at one of the DisneyWorld hotels- with the assistance of nail clippers and a rather large suitcase); like: 'cool things I may one day need but can't figure out a use for / don't have room for now'; like: three boxes of vintage ribbon and rickrack that I won on a really really good ebay auction; like: camping stuff, hiking stuff, biking stuff (things I never seem to have the time for these days); like: photos from a previous life. 

I've come to several conclusions with the re-arrangement I orchestrated.  I've realised I would like to (finally) buy a house, plant some roots and let things come as they may (of course, with some directional nods from yours truly!). I've realised that although I couldn't live without 'that dress' five years ago it's finally time to give it up- which doesn't mean it no longer has purpose or value- just not for me. 

I've realised that every purchase, every little detail and everything else I bring into my doll-sized space doesn't need to be over-thought, it just needs to be chosen.  'Chosen' implies by it's very nature that there has been thought...possibly not a lot of thought, mind you- but thought nonetheless...

I have never lived in an empty house- growing up we always had four- of EVERYTHING! And even when I was a student- my houses and rooms have always been full- full of memories (which might be a blanket that my grandmother crocheted), full of found treasures (like my collection of vintage glass and linen), full of things-that-I-just-couldn't-live-without like my sewing machine.  Since I've been a proper adult I've acquired more stuff- more blankets, more linens and more glass.  More makeup, more books, more dvds, more cds. More clocks, more baskets and yes, more old suitcases.  The odd mirror.  Maybe one or two bowls.  A couple of framed pictures... You know me well if you know these things.  But the most important thing is you.  And me.  All that stuff is just stuff and if it wasn't here I would still be me and you would still be you and we would still be laughing and having a great time in an empty room.  Well, maybe not empty...

my horoscope last week:

You don't need anyone to tell you what to do today, for you can be your own taskmaster, but you are likely to rebel if someone else tries to take charge. Unfortunately, happiness won't come from rigidly forcing your agenda onto the day. Be flexible, for you could be ready to join in the fun if you can let go of your expectations. Don't hesitate if someone invites you to do something very cool; just say yes.

...hmmmmmmm

my version of a craving

Mmmmm...cinnamon buns!  Not too sure if this is going to squash whatever it is I've been craving lately- and not really my shining moment as I don't like making pastry of any sort- so it's had a few twists put into the recipe- it needed a bit of Hurley-fying! The instructions on the recipe said to fill the pastry and let it sit overnight (after letting the dough prove and punching it down...)- but it sort of expanded out of the pan I had it in- and I'm at a loose end for bigger pans- so I've had to pull out my casserole pot! Fingers crossed it works and doesn't expand in the next few hours before I bake it! I'll see soon enough and let you know...

...an hour later and just what I thought- EXPANSION!

and now COOKED!

It was okay but I'm sure with practice it would be loooooverly! (but it does sparkle quite nicely!)!

...and no, it didn't curb the craving!

curious.

Don't you just love getting into a freshly made bed? Lovely cool cotton or linen sheets, a big fluffy duvet and so many pillows that you need to throw some off before you actually go to sleep! I love my bed.  I love linen- as most of my friends know, I have several old suitcases stuffed full of linens I've picked up at boot sales, charity shops, white elephant stalls and yes, I admit, I've even accepted the odd piece from friends!  But this is piece is not for the bed as a bed- it's just an accoutrement for the sleeper of the bed.  I usually just shove my pj's under my pillow after I make my bed in the morning...(yes, slovenly ways in bedmaking have no room in my house- thanks to my then-single mum, household chores were drilled into me before I could even write my name!)- but in the olden days they had special Pyjamas cases. In leather. Lined in silk. With special embossing. And it's just small enough to NOT be big enough for my cotton jimjams. One for the 'specials' suitcases...Or maybe I need to rethink what I'm wearing to bed?! Ohhhh, it's getting so cold at night and in the mornings now though- maybe I need to rethink what's in my bed instead of worrying what's under the pillow before I get into bed!

sleeping on the train...

...on Richmond-Waterloo train on a Tuesday evening in June- as soon as his mate left this guy folded into himself and crashed in an instant! It must've been a hard day- and I bet when he woke up he had a sore neck!

Ode to Dozer

I don't really have an ode to Mary's best friend Dozer- who has succumbed to the ravages of old dog age- but he was a pretty cool old boy- a puppy at heart with the hugest 'woof' I've ever heard- and then a lick to prove him wrong. I remember looking after him- well, my mum had to in the end (thanks to a shoddy US repair job on my CANADIAN jeep)...the guys at the garage in La Jolla thought I wouldn't be able to tell that they'd used an imperial part instead of a metric one...well, I didn't, but the miles after did!

So mum gave Doze a week's food supply each day- and went through the dino-sized bag in a fortnight instead of a month...and there was much evidence to that effect! Not groundhogs digging, just Dozer-sized droppings! He will be sorely missed- but had the best Parent-style life possible.

Crow at Stonehenge

Like he's the RULER OF THE WORLD.

walkin' outta his shoes

So I was about 10 feet from the entrance gate to my house and as I looked down to step onto the curb I saw these:

...if you look closely, you'll see that they've been literally walked out of! Way too funny and definitely worthy of a post.

sticks on the footpath

As I was walking home the other night I saw this:

I was hoping beyond hope that it was still there in the morning as the photo I took that night was (not very good)! After thinking about it and seeing the photo I took I thought how sad that I was hoping beyond hope that a random stick was on the footpath in the morning! Anyways, here it is and I'm pleased it was there for me the next day.

1970's- carboot style

So I was at a local carboot sale recently and there was a woman there trying to convince me that this 1970's wedding bonnet was from the 1800's... Luckily I wasn't tempted by her whopping £60 pricetag as I know a thing or two about fabrics, styles and 'real life prices' for tat!!!



I did, however, buy the embroidered toaster cover that was sitting underneath said bonnet, as well as a few tatted pieces, assorted doilies and a hand-sewn and embroidered tablecloth...well, I had to give the woman something for taking a photo of history!

Makin' orange crayons!

This is the BEST video I've seen this week!
Now I just wanna crack open a new box, take a deep breath of the waxy, ever-present school room smell and get on with colouring a rainbow!...or maybe a page of Cinderella...or Elmo...or just get the iron out, a pencil sharpener for trimmings and some wax paper (thanks for sending it, mum!) to make those funky melted creations that really are just a waste of electricity, time and decent crayons- but oh-so-fun to make!

Yep, I reckon if you're a child of the 70's crayon memories are with you for life.

Christmas pincushions made in September...

Well. These were supposed to be Christmas gifts for the Driver (et al.) girls in 2009- so I suppose I'm early for 2010?!

It's taken me about 3 months to find some decent animals at the local charity shops- well, the 'right' kind of animals, that is! They will be privileged residents of Richmond for not much longer- winging their way this week to all corners of the UK and beyond!

Let me know what you think...

Texas- revisited

Not sure if I ever put this on here- but I've been thinking about Texas a lot these past few weeks. This time last year I was there for my (supposed) last visit- and then it was Kyla and Joe's wedding- and Grace & Mur's 40th birthday party. Much thanks to Cliff for pouring the vodka & coke's- to excess (he was on a mission of his own in Seattle)...

This is a Texas Giant Redheaded Centipede - Scolopendra heros- it was squiggling around at the bottom of the pool at the hotel and I had to get the front desk girl to come and help me get it out- YUCK! For a girl who was well-known as 'the bug lady' for years, this face-to-face meeting was one I didn't need to have that morning!