No more posts here.

I won't be posting on this blog anymore. I have loved it since I began but time for a new one. I will put a link to this on my new blog when I get a minute in case anybody would like to take a look now and again.x

News! News! News!

Today all paperwork is complete and we have exchanged on our house so this means... well check out my new blog. Hope you will continue to follow me. xxxx

 http://welshdreamsnowreality.blogspot.co.uk

Eeek!

Thank you all.

Just to say thank you for everybodies kind words regarding my last post. Very kind of you.xx

I consider myself an intelligent woman but..

today something happened to make me realise everybody is vulnerable.

I was the victim of a scam artist on the telephone. I was lured into thinking there was a virus problem with my computer and after gaining access to my bank account I lost over £900.

Thankfully, most gratefully and forever in debt will I be to the bank we were refunded our money.

I will not go into all the details, mainly because I am so very, very embarrased about it all but suffice to say do not give anything of yourself away over the telephone, EVER! 

People will always ring back if they are legitimate or find another way to contact you. If you are even mildly suspicious of their intentions then hang up!

Never buy anything over the phone. 

I would hate anybody to feel any way near the way I did for about 4 hours this afternoon; sick to the stomach thinking I had completely ruined Christmas.

Louise.xx 

Christmas Memory In My Vignette (if that is the word).

At Christmas I like to have little displays around the house. I mentioned the other day about Pretty Nostalgic and the bottom left of the photo shows another issue of this with a festive article about toys, along with a couple of other things.

Bottom right is a vintage colouring book produced in 1958 by the Blackpool Cooperative Society which I picked up at a car boot fair for £3.50. 
 

It is untouched in pristine condition and I think there may be some of the inside pages shown from an earlier post here.

The book at the back is very special to me. Again I think I have posted about it before but it just epitomises the way I aspire to decorate and enjoy my home at Christmas, plus it is a bit battered as it was a present many years ago.

Does anybody else have a special Christmas book they like to look back at? I know A Christmas Carol is a favourite of Sadie over at A Life In The English Rain.

Louise.x



 

Christmas Catch Up

Hello.

Been a bit busy the last few days so thought I'd let you see what I've been up to.

I've been doing some making and baking so have some yummy clementine curd as an alternative to lemon for a change.

I've been making mincepies with the Mary Berry pastry I think I mentioned. In the picture below you can also see an open copy of one of my Pretty Nostalgic magazines. Anybody heard of them? I subscribed to it for a good while and love using the vintage images in lots of my sesonal decorations throughout the house. This one as you can see is Christmas themed.

 

No picture of mincepies as all my first batch have been eaten, but I am on it!

Now this image is of something I have been getting round to doing for a couple of weeks and finally it is done! I saw something on Pinterest making stars out of wood so I salvaged some kindling and made this. It may go outside in a little while but for now adorns the microwave with the other items. Quite chuffed with it.

Today, after cutting some greenery for a a friend to take to her craft class I decided not to put it off and have brought in my own. I love the fact that I have cupboard and shelf tops I can dress!  The photos below are from the kitchen; the first the top of the dresser (my Panetone cake is sitting there, too, nom nom!).

The above photo is one of the shelves above the cooker end and below are the shelves above the Rayburn and microwave.

We were busy at the weekend and did not have time to get a real tree, plus the busget didn't really allow for it, so we have decided to go with the fake white one. I love it, and here we are.

And finally the front door now has a decoration. I never quite get them big enough but I love it and it is nice to see when people get up close at the door.
 

Ok, all caught up and now must dash as I've muffins to come out of the oven for when the boys come home in a little while, and a slow-cook sausage casserole to go in.

Louise.xx

Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD) anybody have trouble with this?

Good afternoon.

I've just put two loaves in to bake and now I'm having lunch whilst listening to Jeremy Vine. (Eating an uber un-healthy Pot Noodle but what hurts now and then?) 

Current subject is as the title of this post. I have, of course, heard of it before. I do feel very sorry for people suffering from this condition. My favourite times of the year are Autumn and November. I love the drawing in of the nights, comfort food, closing the curtains early and lighting the fire at about 3pm so all is cozy when my men come home; somebody on the radio described the dark days as mushroom sky. 

I know the last couple of weeks here in Wales we have had rain and wind of biblical proportions, but I have to say that as long as we and the dog are indoors safe and we are not making unnecessary journeys then we are ok. 

It really is some sort of mental health issue though as people report having suffered from depression before the SAD is diagnosed.

I have always been quite a positive and up beat kind of person and not really susceptible to periods of darkness.

As I said, I have realy sympathy for those who find the darker months of the year a real chore to deal with.

Does anybody have trouble with this or know anybody?

Louise.x