Dear Weather Gods...

Dear Weather Gods,

When I was talking about SPRING in my previous blog post,

this was not exactly what I had in mind...:

The snow that fell last week here in the south of England nearly put a stop to my work trip to Sweden, with a large number of flights cancelled from Heathrow last Sunday...

However, I made it both there and back, but I had only been back for a day, 

when again I woke up today to a world covered in a fluffy white blanket...

So, true to my conviction that one can lure spring out of its hiding place if one only tries hard enough, using floral bribes and bulb reminders of how spring is really done, I confess to having done a rather desperate raid of the garden centre shelves yesterday...

And what better box to fill with Muscari/grape hyacinths, than this lovely, 

numbered tin one, a gift from my dear blog friend, Lotta!?

So, there we are, all ready for spring... so feel free to take the cue from me, dear Weather Gods. 

Feel free to go wild and crazy with warm temperatures and colourful buds. 

We are ready, so bud away!

Thank you all for your lovely comments about my tulip play last time, 

and for visiting my blog despite the loooong wait between the posts! 

Wishing you a fabulous weekend. I know my weekend will be special, 

as I am expecting a very special visitor in the Swenglish Home...

All the best,

Helena

No commentsRead more

Sprout mania...

Dear readers,

If I promise not to show a single little sprout for the rest of the year...

...will you allow me to play around with these little green fellows just one more time?

You see, as I was looking at the moss wreath earlier, thinking it needed a little something extra, the idea suddenly seemed obvious... some Christmas baubles from Mother Nature's own X-mas shop.

Joined by napkin rings made from a fallen down branch from the forest, ivy from the garden, pine cones brought back from the forest in Sweden, some cinnamon sticks, and my rusty "gazebo" (which I think used to sit on top of a chimney, as a bird safe guard) - now with a small candle holder hung 'cauldron style', this simple table setting was created today to the tunes of Bing Crosby's "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..."...

Keeping up with the season, the CALM letters above the white sofa (in the 

background) have been replaced by NOEL (also cut from leftover floor boards).

And these beauties... are they not stunning? I wonder if the people working with these small shoe lasts many years ago could have imagined the latter would one day serve as candle holders (the little hole on top seemed to scream out for a small candle!)... The lovely American shoe lasts were a precious, precious gift from a dear friend, Annelie. Dearest Annelie, thank you so, SO much!

And now, now I can hear you moan "Please, we are 'sprouted out'! Sprout no more!" 

So, I promise, no more sprouts for a looong time!

Wishing you a lovely week leading up to Christmas!

Helena

No commentsRead more

I'm dreaming of a moss Christmas...

Little by little, step by step...

... small signs of the season are appearing here and there...

True to nature - both mine and Mother Nature herself - I keep on "mossing" the place.

The little "tree" above was made by a twig from the forest (with a convenient "tripod" at 

the top end), a moss ball and some conkers to keep it steady in the concrete pot.

***

And if we look the other way... 

Well, a mini Christmas tree has found its way in, subtly decorated with some tin hearts.

Perhaps I have gone a little overboard with the moss this year, but I find it a lovely way of introducing a natural, seasonal vibe to the house, and one which does not cost a thing! However, with fresh moss come a LOT of new house friends... and the slug that was found yesterday hanging in a thin thread of its own slime, dangling under the moss wreath I have made and hung above the kitchen table (will show you soon), well, he has been shown the door and will have to find somewhere else to celebrate the festive season!

Thank you so much for your kind comments on my last post and welcome to all new readers!

All the best,

Helena

No commentsRead more

A sticky American situation...

Those of you who have been following me for some time now know that I have a weakness for several interior styles, one of which is the star-studded "New England" style...

So yesterday, when I made some 

American pancakes as a special treat for the boys ...

... the craft-starved yours truly just had to play a little making instant mini-bunting 

("instant" here reads "glue" rather than sewing machine) and flags to top off...

... the pile of pancakes covered in drippy, sticky, gorgeous American syrup...

And all this just because a few weeks ago I happened to stumble upon ...

... a local gem...

A fabulous little vintage café in our neighbour village Box... 

Toast Coffee House is owned by lovely Lucy and Simon Wright, 

and not only do they always make you feel very welcome...

... they have created a fabulous little slice of vintage heaven in their former garage (!),

offering coffees, cakes and lighter bites, which you can enjoy at one of the old wooden tables, 

whilst you listen to the shelves whispering tempting tunes of pretty tins and yummy foods...

(Love the coasters Lucy has made from old grain (?) sacks! - Not for sale.-)

***

Again, I bow humbly at your incredibly kind words on my last blog post. I am very frustrated I have not got the time to visit you all and tell you in person how happy and "lifted" I feel when I read your amazing comments, but thank you, THANK YOU! Every comment is like being given a hug and an approving pat on the back, and I soar. I think I might just have the loveliest readers in the blog universe!

Helena

No commentsRead more

Golden glory for lunch anyone...?

After an inspired autumn walk, I felt like bringing some golden sunshine into the house...

A few - by the man in the house - home grown pumpkins were still around...

One small home-made willow wreath on the table, a leaf-clad larger ditto hanging above...

And yes, for those of you wondering, the photo above 

was taken whilst levitating, in true Halloween spirit...

My hessian (burlap) fabric here again used as table cloth and glass decoration. 

(See here how it was used for a spring table.) 

And the best bit? With the exception of the two pears and the rustic bread, 

all the material was old, recycled or free from the forest...

May all your meals be sun-lit and scrumptious today!

Helena

No commentsRead more

A sunny day in October...

... I decided to add these enormous Turkish acorns to the side table in the kitchen...

(Like my children, I seem to end up with all sorts of treasures in my coat 

pockets - these brown-hatted friends picked in Ankara a few weeks back.)

...next to my treasured little cabinet (given this lovely 

vintage look by my talented friend Sarah)...

... and since I was in a decorating mood, I quickly snatched one of the green pumpkins 

from the row of pumpkins lined up in the conservatory to "redden" 

(hoping the man in the house will not notice the blunt veggie kidnapping)...

On the bottom shelf, nothing new: a bucket of old conkers, two rusty shoe lasts and...

...my "planted" onions with some fresh moss...

The sun was flooding the room today...

... encouraging day dreams of summery scents and sun-soaked happiness...

... forgetting, in a moment's blissful ignorance, that there are only 63 days to Christmas!!!

Hoping your weekend is sun-soaked and fabulous, wherever you are!

All the best,

Helena

No commentsRead more