hope springs eternal

doesn't it?

Winter Times

I'm still not quite back to my usual self. I'm trying not to feel guilty about that and also about not writing my blog or reading yours, or yours, or yours. AIIII! Oh! and Iris turned FOUR! I have been meaning to do a post about that.. ARGH!!

Anyway, here's a little look into the wintery days round here in the last week or so.

Back soon with more. Maybe. Hopefully. Thanks for sticking around, and THANKS so much for ALL the amazing comments on my last post. I am going to get some more postcards and I AM going to put them in the SHOP.

To The Market & Beyond

Right, where were we? I have been sucked into a maelstrom and a whirligig and find myself slightly bamboozled. Last week, I had some really nice things in the mail, that really, deserve their own post by rights. Thanks, Alessandra & Louise!

Here's a little look at what Louise sent me (read more on her blog).

I got a haircut, so please now enjoy this side view of my head.

I have been thinking of a sort of 1940s chin-length bob, (I'm growing out my fringe) which I can pin up on one side. I'd still like to go red. Really, really, really red. Iris had her hair cut too, mainly because she refuses to brush it resulting in epic battles most mornings. It looks nice, a neat blunt fringed bob. She has much better hair than me.

I went to a giant flea on Sunday and that was mighty fun. I bought myself a few choice garments perfect for Autumn/Winter and that made me naturally, rather happy.

There was lots of vintage furs for some reason (Winter coming?), I have a friend who wears vintage fur very well, but I don't know myself, which is kind of silly, cos I eat meat (now), I wear leather, I have sheepskin rugs.. Would you?

I also got some great fabric, and new things for the shop!

But now Iris has chicken pox, and we're very much in its all itchy wake. The poor lamb even has one on her tongue for goodness sake!

So, she's not in kindergarten this week, and the shop (shelves emptying fast, AMAZING!) remains un-updated, my flickr 365 lolls around uncared for, and (yikes) all my spare time is taken up with Twitter. I have rather fallen for it. Much to the detriment of everything else. Whoops. See you there?!

Oh and I must say, I am tickled pink to see that I have *200* no wait, *201* followers, that's really lovely and amazing. Thank you muchly. And hallo Bob!

more summertime adventures

Another set of nights under canvas. Blue skies, early mornings, starry nights, strawberry beer, trout (caught by Paul) fried in butter, pony rides, handfuls of glossy cherries, orange and mascarpone ice cream, junk shop shopping, sandy beaches, picnics. Pretty perfect.

But we also had Iris, darling, darling, headstrong, wilful Iris, who spent quite a lot of time with a family across the way, who were nice enough, but pfff, I really wanted her to hang with us a bit more. And it's SO embarrassing when your child consistently refuses to do ANYTHING you ask them, esp in front of strangers. She'd up and go over in the middle of dinner! Before breakfast! Infuriating!

Aaaaaanyway, I do love Iris's gregarious and social nature, I do, I really do, it'll stand her in good stead in life. But *&%£! it drives me crazy sometimes!! *breathe*

EDIT ** re-reading this, I wonder if I don't sound a little hysterical? Sorry. It sounds pretty minor really, and it was, I suppose I am grappling with (as if it were some huge and slippery eel) is, how to strike a balance sometimes, do I let her play happily if it means forgoing dinner? And yes, she is am amazing character, very determined and full of confidence. Thank you for all your comments so far, they have in turned heartened me and made me laugh. **

And now, some jolly pictures...

Any tips on dealing with headstrong three-and-a-half year olds gratefully, gratefully received...

Much To Do, Achieve Nothing

Right so, I'm, as is very (worryingly) usual these days, chasing my tail.

And I'm going to give you a peek inside my worrisome brain as it frets over all the THINGS I have to achieve! Gasp at the audacious lack of productivity despite massive ongoing rollover to-do list! See the frustration at having ideas that can't be fully or readily realised!

Now add a dash of worry about my lack of enthusiasm for my 365! A hefty splash of concern that my blog is boring and moany (erm... yeah.. whoops..)! Then add in some domestic angst like why haven't we sold our house yet? Should we move somewhere else? Why is my house always so filthy? And before your very eyes there I go into a downward tail spin. It's most disconcerting.

Now here are some nice pictures.









I'm off to contemplate my navel, re-write my to-do list (again), unblock the kitchen sink and maybe, just maybe, get something of worth done today. Well, here's hoping..

A Life Less Camera

So sad! I have to give back the amazing digital SLR camera I've had on loan since the beginning of the month. Wail! Gnash! I have truly loved it. Even if I didn't fully understand it most of the time.

Of course, now I want a fancy-pants SLR all of my very own and I'm tracking a few on ebay right now. Like a big game hunter if you will. If you have any recommendations, then I'd love to hear. It does make me feel rather nervous to think that I'm going to be without a camera for an unknown period of time. Hey ho.

Here are few of the last minute photographs I took before Paul (literally) (okay, almost literally) wrestled the camera from me. Come back! Come back!











p.s. I have had to put comment moderation on again (sorry, I know it's a terrible bore) but I've been getting lots of spam recently. What is spam for exactly? I don't get it...