A Book to Inspire

Have you read The Book of Idle Pleasures? It is one of my favourites at the moment. I first read it about a year and a half ago and it was exactly my kind of read. I first read it when The Husband and I were in Edinburgh in early Spring. I’d been going through a tough time at work and was loosing my way and my priorities. We had an amazing time in Edinburgh and I spent a lot of time walking around with Daisy Dog and thinking about this book. It is full of short pages on ways to spend free time-or more importantly things that don’t cost very much and should be put into every day-to make each day better.

This book is certainly a ‘getting into the cosy seasons’ book and certainly makes me want to take a couple of days off to get into the garden and potter.

Anyone who has even spent 5 minutes on this blog will know I’m a cosy season’s sort of girl. And when the calendar rolled onto Saturday the first of September-certainly autumn in my opinion-The Husband and I decided to have the laziest of lazy days.

Pottering should be held with more regard, it should be thought of not as a bad thing, but a very, very good one. We were clearing up the back bedroom making it a calm and beautiful room again, letting the wonderful amber autumn light pour in through the windows. We plumped cushions, and picked up bits of treats Daisy Dog had long since discarded. We did what we wanted and what came naturally. It was a good day.

September

This September is amazing-I love autumn at the best of times, but this is great! Summer was a total wash-out, but autumn could never disappoint as living in the North East of Scotland we are used to wind and gales. So when autumn brings with it an ‘Indian Summer’ we are most joyous indeed!


The beautiful hues of amber permeating the blinds at home and breaking through to gently wake us is the most wonderful way to wake up. The journey to work through rolling fields of spun gold cheer me immensely, and the general demeanour of folk who are used to gloom changes and all of a sudden we are as bright as the sky!

Yes, I think I can get used to this.

Soon to be Makes and a CK Fan!

When a new shop opens it always nice to go in and have a little look around, but when the new shop that opens is a Cath Kidston shop it really is quite a different thing for a girl like me.

I love the vintage, the floral and the pastel coloured look. I love the table linen, and pretty dresses. I love almost everything in that shop-and given half a chance (and lots of pennies) I’d carry bundles home with me after every visit.

When the new Autumn magazine dropped through the front door, I did what any normal girl would do. I made a big pot of tea and found a thick marker to circle things with. When I spotted that they are running sessions on making your own lampshade I lamented over the fact that these things never come this far North-oh but look, what joy! They do travel to Aberdeen! They travel all the way up to my local store! So with that information I marked in my big pink diary that I was to phone at 9am sharp to retain some tickets.

True to my word I was ringing at ten to, five to, on the hour…annoying the poor operator on the other end of the line….until….I got the tickets!

On the 19th I’ll be standing there with my besty Holly and with all the skill I can muster I will form my own lampshade only to carry home that little prized possession to show The Husband. Like a small child I will stand in the middle of the room-holding aloft my newest creation….oh and we get 15% discount on the night too (but those bags will be sneaked into the house).

Every so often I make myself a big pot of tea and plan to write on here. I get half way through describing a place I have been or a book I have read and I stop only to delete the paragraph, get up and start washing the dishes.

I do however spend time reading other blogs, which say, do and make many things I wish I could.

The Husband and I recently returned from a lovely two week holiday in Cyprus, and I guess very much like a New Year makes us say we will act differently, and I feel a break does the same.

This leads me to the point of why I wish to write on here now, and not get up half way through. I wish to say that I haven’t fulfilled many of my New Years Resolutions, and getting into my favourite season is going to spur me on to do what I actually want to do with my own free time.

My New Seasons resolutions are to use up the flexi days that I am entitled to through work. I am very lucky to be given an opportunity which not a great many have, so I will use it…and do you know that in my head they are already spent? I plan to potter, and potter a great deal. I plan to use up weekday holidays moving plant pots from one room to the other. I plan to use them by completing a great book in a day. I plan to drink plenty of tea.

Another resolution would include spending more quality time with The Husband, who falls into a category marked ‘other’ at present. We sit together when there is not another task to do, we walk together when there are not other people wanting our time and we collapse together when we are tired from the activities of the day.

I look forward to bringing these resolutions into the Autumn, and I also look forward to actually blogging in the season too.

Daisy is practically a star!

Daisy is beyond excited at the chance to try out Pedigree Ultimate Joint Care+ which helps out dogs that are getting a teensy bit older and need a wee bit more help to get around – or indeed get up to the sofa or bed.


We’ve got some pics of her beside her little bag of goodies which will help us to help her.

I will do my utmost to keep you posted of her little trial and show off the newly energised Daisy Dog!

x x x

Forever and ever

“One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands out and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun--which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. One knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting through and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again something one cannot quite hear, however much one tries. Then sometimes the immense quiet of the dark blue at night with the millions of stars waiting and watching makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in someone's eyes.”


Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

midsummer's night dream

Fairy mischief reigns supreme tonight so make sure you tell the person you love how you feel or you might get some unwanted fairy dust sprinkled about!

Maybe its time to read about or watch a play, film or ballet of one of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies!

Follow Oberon, Titania, Bottom and Puck along with the poor lovers; hopefully it will be in an open air production near you tonight.

Spring has come!

“There's naught as nice as th' smell o' good clean earth, except th' smell o' fresh growin' things when th' rain falls on 'em.”

― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

When i came back...

Hello Blogging lovlies!!  I see that everyone has been super busy taking off all those extra layers of woolies and getting into the Spring-time mood!
I've just been working....and working.........and working, although i really must admit that i love my job, and can't believe i only started in December.
My plans for keeping busy over the weekend have been really good.  I'm pleased to say that i've done 'something' at the end of each week.  Now, im not claiming that what i've been up to is super exciting, or even very interesting to other people, but we've had a grand old time just getting up to stuff, going on walks, visiting charity shops etc...

Now i really must say that i've not been blogging a lot and that for the last couple of weeks i've been meaning to post about the BLOG LOVE SWAP....Ooops, that was a long time ago...i may upload lots of pics by way of apology.
However, i am beyong grateful to the lovely, funny and very talented Pene over at Scrap my Midlife Crisis which is such a great blog.  Now i have to admit that when clicking on links between recent posts and thereby finding this amazing blog i did firstly click because i saw a cute little westie by the name of Daisy (just like my little madam)...but you can't help but stay on the blog looking at the beautiful makes, funny pics and all round 'good banter'!  Now this very talented lady has done something else very lovely.  She has given me an award!  And (drum roll please) it's my very first one!  I feel awful that i haven't been in Blogland for ages and haven't seen it, but i promise you that as soon as i did click on my little old blog house and saw that i had comments i hadn't read i went away and posted this message right now!!!
So thank you, thank you, thank you!  I am very excited, happy, grateful and touched that you even thought of me!

Happy Valentines Day

May your day be full of nice things like hugs, kisses and special words....

Nice dinner...

Heart shaped, yummy, and very cosy for your tummy! 

Love, Sheila.x

The Weekend Part 2

The last couple of weekends have been utterly perfect. The first few in January were full of trips and brekkers in the little town. We visited friends and were visited. Guests came and were entertained, big, family dishes were cooked and cakes baked. February started as more of the same and then this last weekend was utter perfection. The Valentines Escape with TH was so lovely, so magical and so different from anything we’ve done before it couldn’t help but be special.


This coming weekend is going to be different from all of those and very difficult. This year’s resolution was to DO THINGS. It’s easy when your loved ones are close to you, but The Husband is heading away this weekend, and whenever he goes I miss him more than words can say.

So this weekend I will be brave, I will stick to my resolution, and I will do things. I will keep happy and busy and not let it slip away just because I could end up disappointed with being a bit lonely. You never know I could end up enjoying myself a great deal-slathered in a face mask watching chick flicks!

Valentines Escape

What a busy and most exciting weekend!

Upon finishing work on Friday I was picked up by TH and taken away to a lovely five star luxury hotel. The Marcliffe at Pitfodels is such a real treat to go to, and I’ve never, ever been to anywhere like it. We had such a spacious suite and a beautiful view out over the hills, fields and river Dee. We had fizz on arrival, fruit and chocolates from The Highland Chocolatier.

I spent the first hour wondering around and sitting down every so often to try and take it in, knowing fine well the weekend would pass in a flash-as it has done.  Spying the First Minister, taking tea in the drawing room and looking at the art work and floral displays took up much more time than I ever thought it would!

We went out after unpacking (i was much too concerned for my new silk dress and its scrunched up arrival in my over night bag), and headed straight into town to get some nice food and catch a movie.  When we came back we lounged around for a while and then headed for bed as i was constantly going on about making the most of our time there!

The next day we got up and had brekkers in the conservatory, and then took tea in the drawing room before going out to one of our favourite antique shops on Royal Deeside.  We headed back again for High Tea and then i nipped upstairs for a little nap before we had supper in the big conservatory.

It was the loveliest trip i have ever been on.  I have never been to anywhere so fancy and loved every single minute of it.  Unfortunately the trade off was that TH took me there to celebrate Valentines day, but also to keep me reminded of our trip while he heads away for a little while with work.  It was, however, a wonderful weekend and will never, ever, ever be forgotten!

Blog Love Swap

At the start of the year i signed up to a great looking Valentines themed swap i blogged about here.  Well through this swap I've found a brand new blog and have got emailing.  Can't wait to see how things turn out!

 

As my partners blog is quite new i did email to get some ideas, but luckily the swap is so relevant it'd be hard to go very wrong.  Ive also enjoyed being a bit pushed and dashing out to different shops for a look and ideas in my lunch break, as its in a different part of town and therefore quite new shops for me to have a nosey around!

My swap partner can be found here.

These weekends Part One

I've decided to try and be good. I want to get out more and do more. I don't want to waste my time doing mundane tasks and boring old jobs. I want to get out and walk, visit and have adventures.

 

Yes, great big exciting adventures would be great, but who really can expect to (have the energy to) have them every single weekend?  Ever since reading The Wonderful Weekend Book i have always meant to do something over the weekend, and not just use it as an extension of the working week. 

Since giving up working over the weekend, i really can do all of the lovely things i have been meaning to.

From walking around my local town, where all of these pictures were taken) to spending time in the garden, or at the Farmers Market in The Big Town.

 I want to be able to say i did something, no matter how small, i want to know that i have many, many useful and fun weekends to look forward to in a year...I'm bored with using them as chore days, I'm going out!

The Weekend

I blogged a wee while ago about a book I loved called The Wonderful Weekend Book. I still think its great and unlike fictional works, I read non-fiction more than once and keep their battered copies on the bookshelf. Over Christmas I read this one, starting and finishing in no particular place and going through the whole book.

Last year my resolution was to lose weight. I managed to lose four stone, but didn’t keep a track of it the way I wished I had. I guess when it comes to weight you either get to do a big post about how wonderful you’ve done… Or you end up having to do posts which feature beautiful descriptions of cakes, but you do have to add in that you haven’t lost what you hoped you would that week!

The up-side of my resolution last year was that its made me healthier. I was always one for long walks, but I ate so badly, now I have to admit that I'm quite proud of what I put into my body and I feel miles better because of it. There is still a little way to go, but the important thing is that I’ve got a good habit now.

That takes me nicely onto this years resolution. I haven’t blogged about it so far, but I have been doing it. This year I want to DO something in the weekend. Just like the Elspeth Thomson book I love so much. It should be easier for me to keep up blogging about it, and it makes me feel good when I achieve something, no matter how small, in the weekend. I need to catch up and start getting back into the bloggy swing, but I can’t wait to share our tiny little mini-advantures!

What makes me Happy

Sometimes when I get away from work early I rush home and get to see daylight.

When I leave for work it’s dark and cold.

And when I come home it’s dark and cold.

But sometimes, on very rare occasions I get home and its still daylight.

And on those very rare occasions that I do get home and if its still daylight I take Daisy out for a walk.

She always gets nice walks, but I do miss the evenings we had in Summer when it was still bright when I got home. So when it’s light enough to go for a longer wonder around the village we go off the beaten track and head over the golf course to the sea.

She runs around and I pad over the sand away in my own little world, day dreaming and planning, and letting my imagination flow where it will.

Daisy on the other hand runs like the wind, drags seaweed along with her, and snaps her little teeth at any shells coming into shore riding on the small waves.

If you phone i won't pick up!

I won't pick up if you phone.  I will be watching the last Sherlock in the series.  I will be glued to the TV, sitting on the sofa with a pot of tea ready.  You see i can hardly only have a cup, what would happen if i wanted some more tea...sky+?  But then I'd only be dashing around the kitchen like a woman possessed?

So please, don't let anyone in the family interrupt my scheduling, its the last one!

There are still some things around..

Every where i pop my head in blogland there are some more Spring stories and pretty pastel flowers.  Up here in the North of Scotland its still a bit frosty and there is still sleet coming down on us every so often, we don't have any spring things yet or pretty pastel flowers.  We still have cold.  We still have wet, and inside of the house we've still got some decorations I've forgotten to take down....oops, bad luck.  So here they are now, not to be seen until the end of this year!

Lots of cook books, and a bit of home made decorations 

Darn flash!  I do love Paddington 

I love my cookbooks, very varied and good to read up and get lots of ideas from 

Even the cups got a little tinsel on them

This corner doesn't look too festive... 

oops, i spoke too soon! 

these lights are staying up, no matter what month it is, i love the light glow in the evening 

All the bags piled up on the sofa ready to go into the loft.  Poor rabbit, he cant see a thing! 

The tea shelf, just a wee bit of tinsel still hanging around.  I promise this week its all coming down, all the bits i thought id gotten earlier, I'll find and put up in the loft!

Last of the Christmas Presents

This is the last of the Christmas presents.  TH gave me money to buy a Barbour in the January sales.  The jacket i liked best of all wasn't in the sales, but at least i watied it out.  I'm the sort of person that will inevitably buy it the day before it gets reduced by half!

I love my new jacket so much.  I go the olive one as the liberty print is the prettiest one, i think anyway.  With the jacket i got the choice of a free gift.  There were lots of options like lovely Barbour hats and scarf sets, but then i spied the thing i really wanted...a new little coat for Daisy Dog.  I think this is a bargain, although i wouldn't actually spend the £32 for the dog coat, i certainly thought it was fine to pick it as the free gift.  I'm going to have to take pics of her in her little new wax outfit.  I love the smell of Barbour's as my Uncle had a sports shop and i grew up in amongst that lovely waxy smell.  They are really good value too as i plan to send it away every so often to get fixed and altered.  Well, by that i certainly mean that MY jacket will be sent away for....not Daisy's!