Kitchen Love

Gosh it's been a week since my last post..time does fly.
To kick off this gloomy winter Monday in my neck of the woods I'm sharing photos of my kitchen. Those of you who've been following this blog since the early days (a year this August!) will know my family commenced a major renovation on our little piece of paradise set in the trees. A few of my blog friends have suggested I show more of my home and so here we are, the kitchen was a major exercise and I think it deserves to make an appearance on this little blog.
I was intending to share before pics then realised they're stored on the desktop and if I shut down the laptop to start again etc etc this post will never get up darlinks, so you will just have to use your imaginations.
So imagine an original 1990 kitchen in varying shades of blue with a servery bench top the size of a airport runway. We totally gutted the space in February 2011. The result is a design which Mr red roses and I conjured up. We'd renovated the kitchen in our last house using white cupboards and black bench tops and found that aesthetic suited us brilliantly so it was a no brainer to run with that scheme again. I can't see myself ever getting tired of black and white contrast. Clean, clutter free surfaces in my kitchen make my heart sing..
All in all I am beyond happy with the design and functionality. I hope you enjoy taking a wander through these photos I took on the iPhone soon after we moved in after the renovations.

I am very proud of my house because Mr red roses and I toiled extremely hard and extraordinary effort was poured into transforming this house.
You've surely heard the saying..'Blood Sweat and Tears', well it applied to us!

Entertaining is figuring in our lives once more since the dust has settled (figuratively speaking).
There's still a laundry to build and exciting plans for the outside entertaining area. All the fun and joy of major works (fingers crossed) are to commence in the not too distant future and the testament to our optimism is the cement mixer has been uncovered and hauled out to be press ganged into earning it's keep once again.

Wishing you happy tidings this week and stay safe.

Annie xx

Serviette Anyone?

Well I knew I had a passion for serviettes and in particular Ikea serviettes but this is ridiculous.

Who knew they could accumulate like this, tucked away in the recesses of cupboards!

Annie xx

Kitchen Corner

Today my plans were scuttled due to the sniffles and so I wandered around this morning feeling sorry for myself until I happened upon my kitchen corner. This spot is beautiful on a sunny morning.
First thing every day I boil the kettle and brew green tea in a teapot. I cannot start the day without this fix. First item I pack when travelling is a supply of green tea. Unless of course I'm visiting Japan because to pack green tea would just be silly.

The sun streams through my kitchen window and fills me with delight. I'm a summer personality and glum overcast days are not to my liking.
Do you have a tea arrangement set up in your kitchen? Tea is my poison and am known to imbibe several cups a day.

These delicate orange beauties jumped into my shopping basket yesterday. See I need to get me some roses growing quick smart.

For the sake of a nice photo the stainless steel kettle was removed. The framed postcard I purchased in Paris and knew these two ladies would fit very nicely at my tea station.

Sigh.....Talk about glam..those were the days.

I don't eat pineapple upside down cake for breakfast although it would be nice. Baked this oldie but goodie last night for dessert and because the colour matches the roses it is included in this post.
By the way this cake is a favourite with everyone. And dead easy to make.
In fact last nights dinner was also very retro with a 70's mainstay Coq au Vin as the main course. My daughter remarked on this step back in time and laughs when I pull out my dog eared recipe books from that era.
What can I say..I'm a child of the sixties.

I love this jar. Mind you it is empty as the lid is not airtight but oh well, it looks pretty.

Mr Owl sits on my window sill as a reminder to 'Be wise Annie'. Do you think the eyes express his concern that he has a monumental task which burdens him greatly?

The cute picture below is from the front of a greeting card I kept. Love it to bits because the pooch is a little princess and don't we all like to be a princess and precious sometimes. For the life of me I cannot remember the giver but perhaps they were trying to give me a hint? Maybe it was my husband. Must ask.

Time to boil the kettle AGAIN and partake of a good strong brew of Irish breakfast tea and a piece of leftover cake. Must confess I belong to the group that enjoys tea sipped from fine china.

Now a comfort movie or two might be in order and perhaps a mani with my fav shade to give my sorely neglected nails a treat. I will be wise today and take it easy.

Hope your Friday is being kind to you.
xx