My Gardening Triumph!

I love lavender. The perfume, the pretty blue flowers, the soft grey/green leaves. I love lavender.

Can't grow it, though. I have lost count of the number of poor little lavender plants that have come to a sad ending, under my brown thumb.

Until now! See, all I had to do was move to a less humid, cooler climate, and remember to actually water it once every couple of days -- and...........................

There are flowers on my lavender plant (calling it a 'bush' at this stage would be just a bit too ambitious, I think!).

I knew I loved small town living!! Now I had better go and water the lavender plant. It was looking a bit seedy when I walked past it this morning.

Banner of Blessings

For all of you vintage hearts out there, you are in for a treat.... Check out Banner of Blessings, for free... yes, you heard me, free blog and Etsy banners. They are gorgeous vignettes, all taken by Polly, who runs the site. I like this one, but had so much trouble choosing that I may just use them all in rotation, over the coming months!

Found a bargain!

Brad worked on Saturday, so I found myself driving to the shops with Naomi, at around 8.30am. On the way I happened to pass a sign advertising a garage sale. Maybe it is the wee drop of canny Scottish blood in my veins, but I do love to find a bargain. I quite enjoy rummaging through garage sales! But as it is not really Brad's thing, and sleep on weekend mornings is at a premium, I rarely get the chance.

But here was my opportunity - footloose & fancy free, and with money in my purse! Browsing through the items, I spotted a lovely little set of shelves & drawers for a kids room - but sadly, it was already sold. Then I hit paydirt.

These pillowcases were bundled together with a sign saying "Pair of pillowcases, $2". Seriously?!?! I liked the fabric, could see that they were mariner's compass quilt block patterns, and snapped them up. When I got them home and had a closer inspection, it is clear that these are hand-quilted! Someone's mother / aunt / grandmother has put hours of work into them.... and I got it all for the princely sum of $2!!!

PS -- please ignore the fact that we have a pink floral bedspread on the bed today... I was so excited by my find that I had to use them straight away -- matching linen, or not!

A place to curl up.

They say a picture says a thousand words.... I have always wanted to have a window seat, to snuggle up with a blanket, soup and a book, on wet days, and watch the raindrops slide down the window panes, and soak the pretty cottage garden outside.

Thanks to DesignerSpaces.com for supplying the photo that shows exactly what I was thinking of!

Very Vintage - Part 1

I haven't really let on much in this blog, but I am a closet vintage addict. I have been outed to my nearest and dearest (Mum and Emma), but that is ok, because they are as addicted as I am! But for those of you to whom this comes as a shock, please take a few deep breaths. I assure you that our house is not decorated in flocked rose-print wallpaper. Alas.

But I do dream of one day living in a cottage, or a house with character... something with history, and lovely little nooks and crannies just begging to be decorated with restored furniture and scattered vases of the flowers I will grow in the cottage garden. (Ignoring my black thumb). For this I think I am going to have to move - either down south, or back to the UK. There just aint nothin' like that here in our tropical paradise. But more on that in the years to come....

So I have decided to treat you, over the next couple of weeks, to a selection of my favourite vintage websites - the ones that keep my genteel Pride & Prejudice-style daydreams alive, while I wipe off the shmeared banana from sticky hands and highchairs... have I mentioned that I HATE banana??

Top of the list is The BrocanteHome Chronicles. Brocante is a French word meaning 'a thing of trivial value'. This site is all about bringing some vintage joy into the mundane life of a SAHM. Alison has an amazing list of Puttery Treats that are perfect to help you bring a little bit of joy, luxury, or pleasure into your life - in the simplest ways! Even just reading the list is a treat in itself.

Alison has just run her first Puttery Treats challenge - bloggers were invited to choose a treat and then write about how they incorporated it into their home / life. Some of the responses were utterly delicious to read - there really are some talented writers out there in bloggy-land. And of course, all who participated got to enjoy their treat! The next Puttery Treats challenge begins in January, so keep an eye out for it.

I hope you enjoy Brocante Home as much as I do...