A big haul of books marked the end of one of my favourite carboot sales this past weekend, until next spring anyhow. Never fear, of course, there's one on all the year round as well, and for that I say, phew.
Anyway lots of lovely books for our groaning shelves. And a few other things as well. A nice old Miffy book. Deborah over at Kickcan and Conkers did a great post about Dick Bruna today. Of course now, I want a wall of Dick Bruna covers. She always posts such treats!
I already have the Tell Me A Story for the under fives so it was extra nice to find this one, next in the series. 
Two more Teddy Robinson books.
A tiny book of Lady and the Tramp. Iris watched this recently and really liked it, and I have a soft spot for it because we got a puppy when I was small and I named him - Tramp - as I was reading the book at the time. 
Two gloriously bright wooden puzzles, we had fun today doing the bird one! The circus one has a tiny and vital piece missing (the acrobat's face), but the box is so lovely, it might be worth framing it instead. 
A sweet and velvety patchwork cushion. I have hopeful aspirations toward patchwork this winter. Maybe a little cushion is a good place to start. 
And finally, Iris wore her new katvig tights the other day. They're about the most cheery thing ever. 
I am remembering last week when we had a few days of blissful Autumn-tinged old-fashioned adventure.
Although, you wouldn't really think it was mid September on the beach last Thursday!
We spent the day at Exmouth, I haven't been there for a long time.
But I loved it, it's practically pickled in the past, with plenty of old-fashioned seaside charm.
We picked mussels from the shoreline and ate them for tea..
We pootled around in swan boats - a beautiful black swan boat to be exact.
And walked around the shops, I was particularly taken by this window display. If you look carefully, you can spot me!
I spotted this on the way back from Exmouth. I really want to go up in it. It's like a stationary hot-air balloon. Weirdly modern yet retro. 
The next day, we took a steam train to Dartmouth.
Doesn't this cafe on the station look wonderful? Straight out of the late 1940s.
I found a new love, giant ice cream cones! Three in two days!
We walked through woods, by canals, and fed swans (no beautiful black ones though sadly.)
I'll have to store these days up in my memory, like a squirrel storing nuts for the winter...
Have I been getting a bit off topic recently? It seems like it's been a while since I posted any of my finds, which might explain why I have a HUGE pile of things on my desk, all demanding your attention.
So I'm going to remedy that right now - have a gander at this little lot..
Tins - gotta love a nice tin. I am a little compulsive about them. The snazzy alligator one that has 'Turnright's Assorted Dainties' on the inside of the lid, belonged to my great Grandmother.
While I was poking around the family archive, I found the aforementioned tin and inside it were a few treasures.
A camera - I'm going to try it with some film.
A panorama viewer for slides, bought in 1974 according to the box.
And my favourite thing, some woven name tags with my Great Grandmother's initials on them. Her surname was Van Sertima. I really quite fancy taking it as my own surname.
Some tap shoes for Iris that are too big, but which are still irresistible, especially it seems, for walks in the woods*.
A sweet little jumper - too small for Iris (and me of course) sadly. 
Then some kitchenalia, an enamel butter dish in a fetching shade of red. 
And a Nymolle cheese board, although I think this is more of a decorative piece.
Nice illustration though, eh?
Of course, there's more. Lots of books, including one called Jacky's Trip To The Moon, does anyone know it? It's from 1977. It's wonderful.
I have also been very busy with some new fireable decals, which means that some of my plates can be used for pretty cakes as well as hung on your wall. I'll do a grand unveiling soon. I'm very excited.
* No, I did not let her wear them for a walk in the woods.
So, we've had the 1940s, the 1950s, don't quite know what happened to the 1960s, I'll have to check the family archive. But, here are few photographs of me (narcissist, eh?), my mum and aunt from the 1970s.
1970
1971
Me aged 4 months.
Groovy buggy and sunshade.
I'm just glad that this photograph exists, for oh so many reasons.
I see Iris here.
All my clothes were made by my Nan-Nan. I WISH I still had all of them (just what happens to these things? do you think it's still out there somewhere? I don't know what my mother was thinking!), but in particular this yellow deer cardigan.
This concludes the peek into my family and our past, well, until I find the 1960s of course.
