Procrastinating

Firstly may I say thank you to everyones lovely comments concerning my upcoming trip to New York. I appreciate the excitement you feel for me and it is lovely to be able to share this news with you. Now the most pressing thing on my mind, of course, is packing. I have my wardrobe and shoes mostly sorted but am in a dilemma about whether to pack boots. Would this be overkill for October? I am taking super comfortable Merrill walking shoes, a low heeled mary jane for dining out and am also debating whether to pack a pair of sandals. Will it be warm enough for sandals during fall in NY?? I stalk the weather reports and read trip advisers for recommendations but am getting mixed signals about what the weather can do during October. I have decided to take my light wool coat just in case. Any suggestions would be appreciated as I'm trying to stick to my usual three pairs of shoes limit. While I sat this morning in my pretty room deliberating world peace and which shoes to take I snapped some instagram photos and wasted time playing with filters because isn't this just the best thing to do when procrastinating? And writing blog posts when I should be actioning all sorts of jobs and errands!! Annie xx

Am I the only one having trouble with the new blogger interface layout? My draft is written with appropriate spacing then preview and published post is bunched together plus I can only enable the large size photo and I prefer the extra-large option plus the photo is no longer displayed in the draft, only codes? :-(

Morning Tea and a Pretty Chair

Today a friend and I enjoyed a lovely morning at the WAC.

Coffee, tea and cakes in the retro cafe were consumed after wandering through the myriad of shops looking for treasures.

 I purchased a sweet chair from Sandy's shop 'Paint me White'. 

I spied this telephone on my wanderings through the antique centre and remember when my parents bought one of these trendy (at the time) telephones when I was a child. I thought I had the grooviest parents!

And here is the quaint fold-up chair in the shade I'm loving right now. I placed it in my living room for now but do feel it is the perfect size and design to be situated anywhere in my home.

Much fun was had playing around with cushions and books and best of all it will be a versatile addition to my home.
Thanks Sandy, your wares are lovely and so very reasonably priced.

Isn't it fun bringing a new furniture addition into one's abode?

Annie xx

My Secret Little Man

Introducing the new addition in my home. A secret little man that my family have yet to discover.

I found him waiting for me at the antique centre. I spied him on one of my visits a week ago and knew just where he would fit in my house.

But I wasn't convinced so did about six laps of the centre to make up my mind. He was reasonably priced so I figured I had nothing to lose. 

He fits brilliantly in the wall cut out near the entry. I believe we will be very happy co-habitating

A secret little nook to display pretties

Lately I'm drawn to subtle blue hues for calm and serenity

He does look wise

I suppose I'm easily amused because I'm filled with mirth that my family haven't discovered my little man who stands in his little nook.
How long I wonder before the cat is out of the bag?

Annie xx

A Pretty Heart all Wrapped up in Blue

Yesterday I received a beautiful gift from Jane, a dear blog friend. Jane is a talented and crafty lady.
Handmade gifts are extra special don't you agree?

Thank you Jane for creating my 'heart from the heart' and I do believe it will look right at home in my precious favourite room.

Annie xx

Easter and Change

The other day I popped into a home wares store and these little bunnies jumped into my handbag. The perfect spot was waiting for them on the entry table. I smile every time I pass by these three cuties.

Easter holds different meaning for many folk these days. Throughout my childhood Easter involved a Good Friday breakfast of hot cross buns (never consumed before Good Friday, in fact the shops only baked them the week of Easter) salmon rissoles or baked fish for lunch then a quite afternoon viewing a biblical film on television with extended family.  Easter Sunday involved waking to chocolate eggs then a roast chicken lunch after attending Mass. Nothing has changed menu wise on Good Friday (being raised a Catholic I dare not consume meat...a lightening bolt will strike me down) but other traditions have changed. 

My children are grown and are enjoying spending the long weekend with their respective friends out of town instead of being glued to home and my dear mother lives in a care facility. Why is this different?

My Mum is no longer well enough to leave her residence to visit my home for celebrations and as previously mentioned, the kids are out living their lives. So in effect my determination to hold onto my idea of Easter with every family member around me has hit a wall this year. What to do? 

Absolutely nothing, except rejoice in the fact Mr red roses is rostered off from work for the whole Easter break which is the first time in living memory, I'll visit Mum tomorrow bearing chocolate and I am thankful my children have the nicest bunch of friends any parent could wish for. 

Sometimes one needs to let go of traditions, be it through choice or circumstances beyond our control.

 The sun is shining through the windows in my favourite room and I rejoice that I am here to enjoy it. So while my lifelong version of Easter is now different I still regard this blessed time of year as one to take stock and give thanks for just...Being.

Our plan today was to partake of a movie but I can't bare to drag myself away from home with it's view of majestic tall trees and bird song to sit in a dark theatre so instead we shall go for a leisurely stroll by the river later this afternoon and maybe a yummy Vietnamese dinner to finish off the day.

Wishing everyone a beautiful and restful Easter be it full of tradition or not.

Annie xx

My Favourite Room

My favourite room in the house. 

My family lovingly refer to this space as Mum's room and I am just a little possessive of it.

I can't describe the peaceful serenity which pours over me upon entering and every morning I look forward to opening the shutters and embracing the light.

I may have mentioned elsewhere in a previous post how the vaulted ceiling sold me this house. Mind you we have renovated and redecorated so the now is somewhat different to the before.

Yes this room sends shivers down my spine.

Love it to bits.

Do you have a room in your home that speaks to you like my room speaks to me?

A sentimental piece

Shells collected over the years

Every sofa needs an accompanying beautiful basket to hold throws to grab for a chilly evening.

The very talented A-M sourced this beauty for my room. That girl has a gift I tell you.

A sweet little candle and holder from Du Monde

Wishing you all a lovely weekend. The sun is shining here and it's shaping up to be a glorious day.

Annie xx

A Splash of Faux Blooms

For a good while now I have been contemplating purchasing a bunch of faux blooms to add interest and colour in my formal living area. Real blooms are preferable to my sensitivities but realistically, the bank balance groans whenever I stock up at the flower vendor. On the odd occasion I shall lash out for the real article but austerity measures are afoot due to further renovations planned at the red roses hacienda. 

Yesterday I spied these cranberry coloured blooms on sale at Earthborn for $7.95 per stem. I have no idea the price of fake flowers in other countries but down here they are expensive as are the real variety 

Plus the quality of the fake type is not always fantastic. 

Plus I always over think and panic if the specimens I bring home will look..well..crapola.

The moment I saw these ones I knew the shade was speaking to me and because I have gone nuts for any colour resembling cranberry...well the rest is history.

Of course these blooms look fake but I'm not letting that fact bother me anymore. Walking into this predominately white room to be greeted by this cheery vibrant burst makes me happy and that's all that matters.

A touch of doctoring was in order to attain the desired aesthetic. A mass of greenery is not on my radar so this was removed and the long stems hacked off and the plastic yellow stoma's were cut off.
A firm hand, brute force and twisting and turning to snap through the plastic and wire and I was in business.

All this activity happened right on dinner preparation time which is often the case, it's usually the time of day I feel inspired. Not great I know but hey, I run with the urge.

The rose bushes have been in hiatus but are once again in bloom and so these lovelies found their way to the entry table

Do you decorate with round ceramic balls? To solve the problem of this stand alone runaway ball that rests on the butlers table I resorted to placing on an unused shower drain part left over from a bathroom reno

Sitting last night admiring the 'under the sea' effect my crystal basket light fittings show on the vaulted ceiling and the new blooms
Love this room...

How interesting would it be to analyse the colour preferences we incorporate into our abode. At the moment I like a splash of happy bright cheerful in certain areas. Maybe it's due our glorious summer weather or..whatever.
All I know is these cheap as chips fake blooms are making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and I'm not going to argue with myself over the merits of fake verses real!

Annie xx

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