A perfect weekend breakfast

My idea of a perfect lazy weekend breakfast is quick & easy little pancakes, fruit & yoghurt. 

I always use my Mom's recipe & it takes a couple of minutes to whip up an indulgent breakfast to be eaten in the conservatory while enjoying the rare luxury of quiet time. 

Our conservatory faces our lush garden & it is a real joy to gather thoughts & just enjoy the luxury of 'me' time. 

I love using our vintage coloured cutlery / flatware. The teaspoon is modern, the rest are probably 1950's & belonged to my great Aunt who had great style.

I love mixing old & new - the plates are a favourite pattern by Portmeirion called Portobello & are a particular modern favourite of mine ….

I love indulging my passion for a lazy breakfast when I when I have the luxury of time.  Fruit with pancakes sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, yoghurt & coffee are just perfect. Do you take time to just relax on the weekend? 

Have a fabulous week, thanks for stopping by, your comments are always appreciated. 

Dee ~♥~

The Hall of Mirrors, Amber Fort, Jaipur

Hi everyone
There is something really lovely about attention to detail.  While visiting India with Ms M, I was blown away by their attention to detail. They share my love of symmetry & it is evident everywhere - in perfect details in both their buildings & the finer details …

They also love intricate & elaborate shapes that gladden my heart. One of our favourite places was Jaipur & the Amber Fort 

On a visit to the Amber Fort in Jaipur, we set eyes on the stunning Hall of Mirrors

Mirrors set in to intricate patterns & details - reflections twinkling in the light …

The ceiling was awesome with tiny mirrors reflecting light in the hall …

Some of the patterns & details make you appreciate the workmanship involved …

 Perfect details & shapes adorn the walls of this amazing hall …

The Hall of Mirrors is under those arches - from a distance they cannot be seen or appreciated … 

Some things in life need to be seen close up & personal for their beauty to shine!

I hope this has fascinated you as much as it fascinated Ms M & I - a thing of incredible beauty

Have a lovely Sunday wherever you are, thank you for spending time reading the blog & taking time to comment!
Dee ~♥~

Displaying my Ethiopian cross collection

Hi everyone, I am sure you have had the experience of changing one thing at home & then it escalates in to several jobs …

We recently decided that the red wall in our living room was a little too dark because of some of our dark furniture. The obvious (and only) paint choice was Natural Calico by Dulux. We have used this paint colour on almost every wall in the house because it is the perfect neutral, warm colour that unifies the spaces.

Most importantly, the neutral colour allows me to indulge my passion for regular change of soft furnishings & things about the house.

Our living room was repainted in Natural Calico & it took 3 coats of paint before the red was gone;  with the days shortening for Autumn, I love the lighter look.

The corner held my Ethiopian treasures from the more than 5 years we spent there …

I was gifted this huge painting some time back & thought it was time to put it up but the biggest space was the one occupied by my Ethiopian collection so that was moved ….

With no obvious space to hang the collection, the crosses were put to one side. I bought each of these myself on my travels so they are special to me.  I needed to find another way to group & display them.

A chance find of a large vintage frame with good moulding gave me the solution - the painting in the frame was 'primitive' so it was perfect for my use.

Will the crosses fit?? YES ….

 I found some of the beautiful, hand woven cloths I bought in Ethiopia to cover the picture …

 I needed to join two pieces so opted for bondaweb to make up the right size for the frame.

Perfect - now to get the fabric in to the frame without completely removing the board which was firmly nailed in place.

 I opted to glue it in place on the frame & press the fabric edges under the edge of the frame with a thin knife …

My collection of crosses will be attached to brass thumb tacks, I am working it out as I go along …

 Completed, now to change the fitting from landscape to portrait & it is ready for hanging.

The gold paint is not as bold as the large frame, but it fits in nicely now.

An afternoon well spent grouping my collection so that they can be on display again.

Never pass up a generously moulded frame in a vintage shop is my advice. Look beyond the picture to the possibilities.

Thank you for stopping by, reading & taking the time to leave a comment. I hope this has inspired you.
Dee ~♥~

Time for some pinks ….

Hi everyone

Our Shropshire mornings have been decidedly Autumnal this week with mists, dew on the grass & much crisper temperatures.

The changes have spurred me to change the sideboard for warmer pink colours ….

I love these two sets that I use together because I don't have a lot of either set but they combine nicely to make a useable set.

I know several of my followers are as passionate about lovely china as I am so I am sharing the back stamps too …

Don't you love the muted vintage look of the traditional set?

 The fluted edges of the cream Spode echo the shape of the other set …

Time to get started on the sideboard …

My small collection of old cranberry / ruby glass is perfect for this setting …

I love to combine old & new - the modern Ikea lantern & tea light holders add a modern light touch to the sideboard. The beautiful hydrangeas are from our garden - aren't they just beautiful?

It feels a little more autumnal & I rather like the change. I hope you do too …

Thanks for stopping by & taking time to read & leave a comment. Have a lovely weekend wherever you are ….

Dee ~♥~

A local flower show …

Hi everyone - has your season changed as well? Our dismal summer has given way to a very wet, cool start to September & the nights are already drawing in.

However, it is a busy time at home, getting the garden winter ready so it can be both winter ready for bad weather & nice to look at from the house as well …

My friend Ellie & I popped to a large local nursery that has the largest glass houses in the West Midlands to look for some winter inspiration & instead we found an Autumn flower show in the large marquee so had a look.

How could you not be in awe of such fabulous food specimens?

Huge & gloriously formed onions - it won't take long to peel these for supper …

Fabulous - that is what my past efforts have looked like …

 
My least favourite vegetable - marrow …

Perfectly formed & presented …

Be still my celery loving heart ….

I really ought to learn to love marrow …

Carrots anyone?

I have seen some stunning sweet corn / mielies grown in South Africa; these would be tasty …

A basket of stunning goodness …

Have a look at these massive leeks? I love the green leaves / tops that look so pretty

 A good way of keeping them neat, but I prefer the wavy free ones …

How do you even grow carrots & parsnips that are so long? It baffled & amazed us in equal measures.

My favourite colours - perfect

How lovely is this needlework? I love the texture & colours …

Another interesting exhibit …

What an interesting experience to just celebrate local growers. We picked up a homemade (not by us) lemon drizzle cake & headed back home for tea - feeling quite inadequate at our growing efforts.

Have you participated in such events or are you happy to just enjoy looking at it. Thanks for stopping by & taking the time to leave a comment.
Dee ~♥~