Living Room Love

The formal living area is progressing nicely. Nearly all who visit this room tell us it resembles a quaint chapel set in the trees. 

I'll let you into a little secret. I entered this room after walking through the front entry and well, the rest is history. I knew I wanted this house. This room sold me the house.

I sit in this space everyday and give thanks that she's all mine. 

Morning sun streams through the windows. Delightful. Even the pooch loves this room.

I truly do adore this room.
One feels at peace sitting in her surrounds.

I pinch myself everyday. We are finally here.

Annie xx

Memories

Last weekend I unpacked this box. We moved three months ago. Slowly but surely getting there.

This box held keepsakes from my children's early years. Royal Doulton & Royal Albert crockery were popular gifts 20+ years ago and my babies were indulged by their relatives. 

Now awaiting grand-children. I'm not holding my breath.

Precious little bunny and teddies hand crafted by elderly relatives
My son's antique rattle. A Baptism gift from his Godparents

Can you see my pinkie above? This is my shiny kitchen bench top. Would you like to know how many times a day I need to wipe this service over? I surely have the cleanest benches this side of the black stump because the jet black shows every crumb!
But I love it to bits.

My daughter's Baptism candle. February is wretchedly hot and her candle kind of keeled over 20yrs ago. We made the decision to relegate it to candle heaven

 
My comb and brush from baby hood. This precious set is Very Old.

Now totally off topic...the latest acquisition to the redroses hacienda. A laundry basket. I'm obsessively particular about laundry hampers and it's taken me yonks to find a suitable style for the main bath. I love this  weathered look. The man of the house asked if I realised it looks like it's been lying on the beach.

Bless him... that's the idea.

Our en suite still requires a new laundry hamper and let me tell you I'm having a devil of a time tracking down the style I want and not paying a small fortune for the privilege.

Annie
xx

Chasing rainbows

Almost a year has passed since our last sailing adventure in Far North Queensland.

Sigh....

If you were granted a wish to transport yourself any where in the world, right this minute, where oh where would your destination be?

Annie
xx

Ikea hunting and gathering and Orange

Do you enjoy visiting Ikea?

Have you trekked to Ikea and vowed Not to purchase, only browse? 

I took a girlfriend along once and the willpower she displayed was phenomenal! Didn't purchase a single solitary item. Unlike moi.

So Mr redroses and I hauled ourselves down the motorway on a hunting and gathering expedition to buy a few things, one being a fold-out sofa bed contraption for visitors.

I'm one of those people who is tactile with a capital T. I must touch and visualise and in this case lie on the bed to feel the vibe. And hope any relatives who sleep on this will be comfy. A gentleman and his wife were trying out the bed next to us and he gave us a giggle by saying it pays to not give visiting rellies anything too comfy or they'll never leave.
Slogging it out at Ikea also requires sturdy walking shoes to navigate the maze.

I'm not ashamed to admit to blog land that this place does my head in but I'm learning to deep breathe and hasten with caution when deciphering the catalogue, measurements and Swedish model descriptions. Mistakes happen.

Sustenance is vital to the whole experience and I don't know about you but I must have fish and chips and two large mugs of tea while we recuperate in the cafeteria before hitting the self-serve docks.

All in all I like Ikea but do find you have to work hard to achieve the end result. Especially when it comes to the biggish purchases and flat pack jigsaw puzzles. Good thing Mr redroses enjoys the notion of a challenge. Providing he gets a restorative coffee at half time!

Now onto a bit of fashion...orange is everywhere and many bloggers are writing pieces about it in the fashion world. Recently I bought home another frock and this one is totally orange. I have never been drawn to this colour but have decided to live dangerously and so I couldn't pass up this little cotton number.
I'm also in awe of talented seamstresses who run up creations, like Patricia from Red Cardinal. Pop over and take a peek at the lovely orange shift dress she's produced.
Trouble is I was taught to sew from a young age but have never enjoyed the experience. Nowadays I only do the odd alteration.
Plus I've never meet a sewing machine that tolerates my impatient technique!

Do you belong to that clever camp that can conjure up a fabulicious creation from a bolt of cloth?

Annie

Planning a Laundry

What is the best method to avoid tackling the ironing basket?

Why, construct a blog post and munch on caramel popcorn that's how. I don't have an over active sweet tooth by any stretch of the imagination but on the odd occasion my daughter brings home this treat I let my hair down. 

So it's action stations at the redroses hacienda again with plans for more renovation and budget dipping. Our bodies and brains needed to rest a wee bit and just potter finishing off several odd jobs before we launched into more reno projects.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that working solidly for six months on this house left us mighty tired and drained.

Mr redroses is renewing parts of the front deck entry. I tell you it's wonderful having a partner that's super handy. The railing was given a new spray of black paint to cover the battle ship grey. The green boards will be disappearing soon too.

Now for some warts and all photos.
The architect is drawing up plans for a new laundry off this area near the door and adjustable awnings will be erected over these west facing windows to counter the summer heat. That clothes line will be retired for a less conspicuous model.
That's my washing flapping in the breeze. To the northern hemisphere folk reading, we Aussies have a penchant for washing, often, and line drying. I truly think it's in our DNA.

Did you grow up with a Hill's Hoist in your backyard? Did you hang on and spin around going weeeee when your Mum wasn't looking? Me too.

Most of this soil will be dug out, the pavers ripped out and a spray on pebbly finish will be laid. The main garden is on the other side of the house so this space is primarily for drying laundry and growing pretty blooms.

Now here's the makeshift laundry that is poky and I can't believe I'm showing you this space because it's messy as. This area will be converted into a powder room after the laundry is constructed, which probably won't be until next year as Christmas is fast approaching and Australia tends to shut down from Dec to Feb. with many tradies taking summer holidays.

Can you see the Wonder Woman magnet on the drier? that would be me ha ha.

Alrighty I'm off to pump some iron!
xx
Ps. and I've gobbled way too much popcorn....

The price of milk and bread....

Okay so I'm feeling deliciously naughty today. 

Look what came home with the milk and bread

 I just don't know what came over me.

A bit like an out of body experience.

On the night I wear this fabulicious beauty I may strike a photographic pose and even flash some leg for a blog post...

Maybe...

xx

Going Organic

Do you choose to eat organically grown foods?

Occassionally I like to indulge my family's taste buds on food which tastes like it did when I was a child. Unfortunately the cost is somewhat expensive but I've discovered that choosing wisely and only buying exactly the amount I need there is no wastage. 

Yesterday I called into the organic produce shop and stocked up on some goodies. Every week I remind myself to get organised and check out one of the farmers markets in Brisbane as I believe they are very worthwhile. 

To reduce this cost we have constructed a small makeshift vegetable patch in an area that will eventually be landscaped and the proper bells and whistles vege garden will be housed in another area in raised beds.
We've planted cherry tomatoes, roma tomatoes, eggplant, lettuce and silver beet. The architectural structure comprising of old fly screen doors is to keep out the bush turkeys. The turkeys don't bother eating the growing produce but they do like to scrape the dirt and mulch into enormous piles. Hence we've not gone overboard and have only planted a few things as an experiment in hardiness.

On a previous property we enjoyed a huge vege patch and ran free range chooks and Mr redroses would love chooks again but I'm being a meany and saying no because we could never bring ourselves to 'do away' with the old girls once their laying days were over and so we nurtured and fed geriatric poultry for years after their productive lives ceased. I'm sure the old timers around about had a good giggle at our expense.
Dare say I shall just keep paying extra for free range eggs.

Yesterdays lunch was thick cut spelt fig and pistachio nut bread with organic cheddar, tomato, avocado and chutney. Rather yum. I am not a fan of figs but the flavour in this loaf is subtle.
Another reason to purchase a decent mixer to start making my own bread again.

Then amaranth apple slice. Pity I was out of cream. Please note I do not always serve goodies on fine china, when I'm overdue for lunch and the old blood sugar is in free fall I could practically eat the brown paper bag too!

Sorry but here is another gratuitous rose photo. I'm beside myself with excitement to see these blooms on my wee rose bushes. The perfume is divine and leaves the shop bought specimens for dead in this regard.

Do tell.....are you into organic produce, do you mind paying extra for it and what is your favourite food item in the organic line?
xx

Staircase facelift part 1

The highlight of my Friday night! 

To my Australian friends this photo is a complete no-brainer. That's right girls...the mega hardware barn commonly referred to as Bunnings. More black spray paint was sought to complete a project that is underway at the house. If staircases and railings excite you then this may be of interest, if not, then probably not...sorry no thrilling post today as pottering around trying to complete stuff here is the story of our lives at present.

Here are before photos of the stairs leading to our bedroom and study. I had hoped to show the after pics too but alas the job is not finished. Soon...Mr redroses is working flat out

 This was the sight upon taking possession and renovating commenced. Revolting carpet and various shades of 90's blue.

The front entry is undergoing a mini tuck and face lift involving black paint. I did load a photo but the computer's eaten it, how annoying :(    

Looking closely will reveal a subtle curve in the railing and stairs. This detail is rather cute but became problematic for closing in under the stairs which was the intention. In a nutshell we abandoned this idea and invented another solution which works brilliantly and gives an easy access storage nook.
Now the teaser...yes sirree of course it involves black paint and silver! I do hope I never tire of these colours because I'll be in trouble.

We have attempted to describe the style this house is heading in and to be honest it's shaping up to have a personality all her own. Instinctively I felt the design would offer up all manner of pleasant surprises during the reno and we've not been disappointed.
It's got a groove going on which includes, Beachy, Hampton's, Nautical, Asian and French influences, soft industrial, Scandinavian and maybe several more. Our philosophy is to go with the flow and let the existing architecture be the guide.

Beautiful weather here today....ideal for spray painting!
Enjoy the weekend everyone and thanks for reading to the end of my stair story.
xx

Stamina...and shopping

 The other day my darling daughter says 'lets hit the shopping centre Mum, I'm after a new outfit for tomorrow nights 21st birthday party'. Pardon..another one! Mind you, all her friends male/female alike, keep the gift giving component to a sensible level of expenditure otherwise it becomes quite ridiculous.

Moving along...
So I threw on a comfy three year old Zara long top/very short dress whatsy over leggings, my new on sale leopard print Cue cardi, teamed with a gifted Peruvian necklace.

You would expect a pair of cute little ballet flats for a 'quick' shopping haul would suffice but I'm learning the hard way I really should be sensible and don shoes with support for a few laps of a mega mall. Plus the binding rubbed and caused a blister. Luckily a bandaid was procured post haste.

While I sat and bopped along to Talking Heads over the boutique sound system I pondered if the lovely young ladies perusing the racks and working in these establishments realise we mothers' are one step ahead  as far as decades past bands are concerned or do they assume it 'new' music? Funny the stuff one does analyse sitting in a trendy dress shop.
Anyways for my pleasure there lay an abundance of stylish magazines to flick through between zipping and unzipping the dresses my girl tried on in the itty bitty change room.

After the successful purchase of a divine little pink number we resorted to a spot of  healthy high energy food and a nice cup of tea. That's dd there with the croissant and jam and I'm about to devour these delish hot chips slathered in high fat sour cream and chilli sauce.

It's ok we still had more shopping to gather so the calories were mandatory.

This pic was hurriedly snapped before she rushed out the door and as the evening had turned quite chilly a jacket was quickly organised. Notice the shorter hemline...the young ones with beautiful pins can so carry off this length bless them.

Has my shopping stamina embarked on a long holiday? My body felt tired afterwards. I remember the days I could hunt and gather for HOURS now I'm more of a 'lets get this over with' kinda gal.
Am I alone here??

The pooch snuggled up as I recuperated in my cozy dressing gown at days end.
But guess what? Next time my daughter requests yours truly as her companion for what ever reason I'll be there with bells on because these hours spent together are so very precious and I shall always cherish every minute we share. I vividly recall bringing my sweet little newborn bundle home and never expecting she would be a grown woman forging her way in the world five minutes later!
And don't get me started on my son who is in his mid-twenties, has flown the coup and is truly a man of the world. The years..have..sped..by.
And I love them both, with all my heart.
xx

A Touch of Pink

This morning I was lying in bed waiting for blog post inspiration. These freshly cut roses, yes from my garden,   I knew I must share and so this set me to thinking about the little touches of pink which pervade my home and life. Pink is so soothing, calming and pretty. As I searched for the pink items around my home I was pleasantly surprised with how it's subconsciously entering my life.

Is this because pink and it's varying hues are soothing, calming and pretty?

By the way aren't these roses the most divine shade of dusty pink and the scent is out of this world!

So here are some random pics of my subtle pink world...

My go to cake contribution for an event usually involves cupcakes layered with pink rose water icing. Whilst my efforts don't exactly resemble these from the Crabapple bakery cupcake cookbook, I do my best.

A bit of fun from Tarjay...I couldn't say no to those sweet pom poms

Circa 1982 Mikasa Silk Flowers. Maybe I have admired pink longer than I realised.

Royal Albert Moss Rose

And last but certainly not least, a cute pink piggy money box my darling grown up son gifted me last Christmas because piggy's face looks so happy!

Is there a colour in your home/life which is not always glaringly obvious but pops out surprisingly here and there and gives you pleasure?
xx