Friday randomness

Today is all about me. Yeah, me me me!
I feel like chatting a little about things that I'm enjoying or finding inspiring and generally loving at the moment, and roses happen to be one of them. You could say I am having a serious love affair with roses this year. Last year it was hearts and this year it's roses. Never really been fussed for them before, but during the last six months or so I've found myself looking out for them everywhere I go. I've been buying rosy fabrics, rosy pillowcases, paper roses, fabcic roses,  pots of roses, rosy lampshades, clothes with little ribbon rosebuds on ( a Boden/charity shop find) and pictures of roses too. It all adds up to a delicious amount of pinky prettiness around the home and I like that.

In my bedroom I'm starting to stick up some flowery pink rose pictures and these are two I've bought recently. Up the top there is a beautiful rosy postcard from paperchase, and above is a card I bought yesterday from WHSmiths. I know that technically speaking they aren't roses (are they peonies?) but they are very rosyish and I love the colours, the vivid shades of pinks against the blue.

I am continuing to be really inspired by yarn and crochet, and to be honest I can't ever see this diminishing. I will probably be crocheting my way into my own coffin when I'm a little old lady.
I had  a little visit to my local yarn shop yesterday, oh the joys to be had in a shop full of Rowan and Debbie Bliss yarns! I added a few new colours to my arran wool stash as I decided on a whim yesterday at Knit and Natter (Lovely C, this is your doing!) that I really missed making granny squares and absolutely had to make some. So hex's are temporarily on hold while I get the grannies out of my system. I'm not sure whether I'm making a cushion cover or a bag yet, I think it might be a bag actually. Will keep you posted on that one.

I was round the house earlier today at lunch time, taking few snaps of things to show you. This little cabinet is one of my favourite things, it was hand made and decorated by my Mums partner, and given to J and I as a house warming present when we bought our first house together 10 years ago. The little painted Shaker Village on the shelves there came from a local antiques centre :: I've had the little wooden buildings elsewhere in the house and just this week moved them to sit on the cabinet shelves. I love seeing the hand made woodiness of these things together.

A little bit of my mantel :: fairy lights with heart shaped stones and feathers collected on various walks and holidays. Reminders of a happy summer.

And another calendar! Yay! I have been searching and searching for this calender during the whole of this year, and not been able to find it anywhere. When we moved house last November I remember packing it away and then this week, whilst looking for something else, I came across it, in with a pile of old photos and papers. I love the seasonal photographs and the little suggestions of what to do each month. Incidentally, these calendars come free with the December issue of Country Homes, so watch out for the 2009 calendar in the next issue.



I immediately turned to the October page and really loved that reminder to celebrate my Bed this month, honestly I don't need much encouragement there as I worship my bed.
It did make me look at our bedding and see actually how in need of an up-grade it was. It was really on it's way out :: the duvet, goodness knows how old it was, but it had become very lumpy in places and thin in others. And the duvet cover we have been using was all wrong too. It was the wrong size (I bought it cheap in a sale) and never fit the duvet properly. It used to be too wide for it, but not long enough, so some bits were flappy and some bits all bunched up.
So you know what, today I have treated us to a new goosefeather duvet and a lovely new crisp white Egyptian cotton duvet cover. Can't wait to go to bed tonight!



So new bedding, and new hair too. Been for my semi-annual stint at the hairdressers this morning, and after a little hesitation I think I do like my new cut. The neat bob that I had cut in May had long grown out, so I decided on a little change, some layers, highlights and a bit of a flicky-out thing going on. Yes, I think I do like it, although still need to get used to it.
I went out into the yard earlier to take the picture of myself for the record (quite good at taking mugshots-of-self now, although oopos I managed to chop off the top of my head there), and I was sitting in front of the few remaining sweet peas, oh, how delicious! I picked the the flowers that were there to bring them into the house, they really are so delightful, just look at those colours.......

.......beautiful, aren't they?

As you may well know, it's my 40th birthday on Sunday, and after a bit of a wobble, I am feeling very positive and hunkydory about it all. I have been umming and ahhing about what to do by means of a birthday celebration and after much agonising, I decided not to stay home and party but to run away to sea instead. Hahaha!! Yeah, the sea is calling me, and I have to go. My wonderful in-laws are looking after the Little Poeple for us, and J and I are going across to the East Coast of Yorkshire to one of our most favourite places in all the world :: Robin Hoods Bay. We're just staying one night, in a small hotel, so I am thinking fine food, breezy walks, dinky shops, delightful cafes, welcoming pubs. Wonderful husband. What more could I ask for?
Bring.
It.
On.

We head off early tomorrow but we'll be back on Sunday afternoon for champagne and a small tea party with family and friends. So I'll see you all next week, into my new decade, as ditsy as ever no doubt.
xxxxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[Siobhan]

How very young and pretty you look. I've just spent ages looking at your stunningly beautiful and delightful blog. It turns out it wasn't new after all - I had visited before at just this point. Your blog has come on in leaps and bounds and is now packed solid with wonderful things. Your crochet and use of colour is some of the best to be found anywhere - a craftswoman at work. I was amazed to find out how short a time you have been crocheting. It really is incredibly beautiful. I found you again from Hen's blog. Will visit regularly from now on (and get impatient if you don't update quickly enough!) A real visual treat! Many thanks for sharing.

[Ange]

Fab, fab hair Lucy - it realy brings out yoru eyes!
Hope you had a lovely birthday yesterday and a lovely time away with J.
Ange
xx

[do you mind if i knit]

I forgot to say in the comment I just left................ I'm having a yellow rose thing at the moment................... oh, and those are Peonies in that second card................. a Chinese version of the rose I think.................. I must look it up................... : )

[do you mind if i knit]

Happy Birthday Lucy.................... I thought you were a lot younger than that.................. I honestly placed you in your very early thirties! I'm 37 (eek), and I thought you were quite a few years younger than me! I'm just amazed.................. Anyway, the new hair cut is fantastic............... it really suits you, and you shouldn't have any doubts about it. I hope you had a lovely time in Robin Hood's Bay................. you lucky thing! : )

[Nicola]

Hi Luce,
Hope you had a wonderful night away and enjoyed time with your lovely family yesterday. You look fabulous for 40 and the new haircut really suits you. Happy Birthday!
Love Nicola xoxo

[Leisa]

What a delightful post! A very Happy Birthday for this week! Love the hair - isn't it great to have a new do sometimes! Thank you so much for your wonderful blog - I love it!

[kali @ poppy lane]

hey gorgeous! wishing you the best day, year and decade ahead...HAPPY BIRTHDAY and hugs!
xoxoxox Kali

[Mrs Be]

Bit late in my birthday wishes here but hope you had a good one! Have to echo the others & say you don't look 40!

Didn't know what the old hairdo looked like but the new one looks fab!

[Roanne]

Your hair looks lovely Lucy. I hope you have a very special weekend and a wonderful birthday.
Love Roanne x

[Fi]

Just popped by to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I'm sending you the bestest birthday wishes over the hills that separate us. I always think 'Luce is over those hills' when I look out of the attic window. Have a lovely weekend, I'm looking forward to hearing all about it next week. Fi x

[kathy]

Happy Birthday Lucy, you look fabulous. Have a lovely time. Kathyx

[Karen]

Hi Lucy, Happy Birthday. Hope you had a lovely time at Robin Hoods Bay and that the sun shone for you.
Enjoy your tea party this afternoon. Being 40 is fun and you have such a positive attitude to life this could be the beginning of your best decade yet! Love Kx

[Gem]

Happy birthday Lucy, hope you have a fab time! The new haircut really suits you too. I know what you mean about the "wobble" - I have a milestone birthday coming up on the 20th of this month and there has been a bit of angst about the whole thing! Silly really....
xx

[sarah]

Hi Lucy,

Didn't know you are forty, you certainly don't look it, I only have 4 years left of my thirties.....I have just painted my bedroom wimbourne white and can't wait ot get the room back to normal after the disruption of decorating...the white revolution has begun...boring for some but i find it relaxing and peaceful.....have a great night away..looking forward tto seeing you on the 17th xxx Enjoy you champagne x

[Barbara]

Happy Birthday Lucy. Have a lovely day.
Barbara

[driftwood]

wishing you most wonderful birthday wishes, hope you had a fantastic time away! xx

[Janette]

happy birthday,

I'm loving my 40's so hope you enjoy yours too. Great haircut aswell.

Janette
x

[Cláudia]

Parabéns Lucy!!!
Deus te abençoe e continue a te dar muita criatividade.
Amo seu blog.
Beijos

[Jennifer]

Wow, you are soooooooooooooooo cute. Just how I imagined you were. Natural looking , pretty, "fresh". You could be in movie! I just love your blog. I told you that before that when I see that you have updated your blog I click on it first!!! I wish I could be your neighbor. You really are inspiring. Can I ask where did you get your fairy lights for your fireplace? Can we see your fireplace all lit up? I love that idea!!!! Your ideas and life are so bright and happy. You are really still making a difference all the way to BOise Idaho! Thank you!! Jennifer

[Patricia]

A lovely post. A very very
happy birthday.

[periwinkle]

Have a lovely birthday, new haircut really suits you
lisa x

[inkberryblue]

I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

[Pink feather paradise]

Happy birthday, and what a fab hair do...suits you very much and 40.... no way!

Enjoy your weekend

Alex

[Alice C]

Happy Birthday Lucy!
I wish you a day full of sunshine and laughter and a year when your dreams come true.
Alicex

[Georganna]

Your hair is so cute -- perfect for your adorable & very young looking little face. You could be 20!
I love my bed too -- oh such a little piece of fluffy, soft, heavenly-ness and refuge in this often scary world.