This year's love

Hello there,

You may remember that I restyled my hall during the hurricane that wasn't last year.  If so, you'll know already that I have a small but growing collection of hearts.

We don't go in much for St. Valentine's Day celebrations in the House of NKK.  Anyone who's been in the States between Christmas and 14 February and watched the commercial machine crank up the volume on Hallmark-style romance will understand why.  That, and an in-built contrariness about being told to love each other NOW.  So the heart collection isn't bought on St. Valentine's Day but at random days of the year, when I see a heart that calls to me.  And so it was, just after Christmas, that the tinkle of this lovely proved too difficult to resist.

So, there you have it.  This year's love.  With bells on.

Tonight, I am off to my first WI meeting.  Yes indeed.

Happy St. Valentine's Day everybody.

C.x

And the winner is...

Hello there,

Last week was a bit crap so I am a bit behind on my blogging (again).  But it is a new week and I have given myself a vigorous shake and am Getting On With It now.

So, to business.  Welcome welcome to my new followers.  How lovely to have you here.  And thank you thank you thank you for all your comments on my blogiversary.   In my last year of primary school, our head nun used to refer to scatty girls as Féileacán (fay-le-cawn), and I sometimes think I should rename my blog accordingly.  I have all these grand ideas about posts that I carry around in my head, but somehow they don't get written except in snatches so looking back on the last year, you might be forgiven for thinking that there is no rhyme or reason to this blog.  But the good news is that you don't seem to mind.  And that makes me very chuffed indeed.  You also seem to like my photographs, which is great because I am always happy with a camera in my hand.  And it pleases me that you like the name because even now, a year on, I love NKK.  So the butterfly can flit off.

Anyway, the thing I hate about giveaways is that not everyone gets a prize.  But according to the random generator (Mr. P.) the lucky number here was 10, so if Annie from Knitsofacto could get in touch with your address, I'll parcel up the book and send it on its way.  I suspect that Annie is more of a knitter, but this book seems like the perfect enticement to get sewing.  Congratulations to Annie.

And in keeping with the randomness, on this bleak and grey day I thought you might like these beauties, seen recently in a nearby former RAF airfield.

Back tomorrow.

C.x

Winter garden

Hello there,

I have a sore throat and earache.  Whoa is me.  I've slept most of the day today.  But the weekend - the weekend was a delight.  Much rummaging and pottering and gossiping and drinking and eating and general merriment.  Which probably led to the grots today, but worth it.  We had a sprinkling of snow on Saturday.  Enough to make it look pretty by the sea without too much disruption.

We walked through the churchyard on the way to the sea and came across this.  Just beautiful.

The snowfall overnight meant the garden was entirely transformed on Sunday.  I haven't shown you the garden yet because it's a complete tip.  But there is nothing like snow to pretty things up.  Here, then, is my garden.  Or at least little bits of it, dressed in white.

Off to dose up on hot toddy now.  

C.x

Glow

Hello everybody,

Brrr.  Hope you're managing to stay warm.  It's sooo cold here, but beautifully sunny so that's okay. And I'm trying to contain my excitement because we have visitors coming for the weekend.  Two whole days of eating and drinking and chatting and general girliness.  And it's finally given us the incentive to sort out the bedroom that we've been using as a dumping ground since we moved in.  So this is how it looks now.

I made the lampshade this morning.  Can I just say that again - I made the lampshade this morning.  Yes indeed.  As my sister will tell you, I am a bit obsessed with lampshades at the moment.  It's so difficult to find nice ones for anything approaching a reasonable price.  And then it occurred to me that I could make my own. 

It was a bit fiddly and I needed to call in Mr. P to help at some point.  I suspect it's the kind of thing that gets easier with practice.  Which is good because I have a second kit and am waiting for some Etsy fabric to cover it with.  

Like it?

Have a lovely weekend.

C.x