Summer Treasures

So the rain has finally come and I must admit I was rather pleased because we still haven't managed to get the outside tap working and lugging the watering can about to tend my precious plants is a bit too much like hard work.

Even though today was grey an drizzly it was full of hapiness for me because I had a wonderfully rare treat, a couple of hours of Barney and mummy time on a trip into town. It doesn't happen often and I worry a lot about our special bond diminishing now that he's at school and because on work days I hardly see him at all. Thankfully, even though he's fighting off a cold, we had a perfect time today being quiet together, holding hands, spotting elephants in the town quiz, wondering about things and chatting.

(A treat from mum's garden, aren't they fabulous.)

A trip to the old fashioned sweet shop in the Butter Market is always the first port of call. The lady there always talks so kindly to B and he's ever so polite back that it makes my heart want to burst! While munching plenty of chewy teeth, white mice and fried eggs we pottered around the collector's market looking at the wonderful treasures on display.

B was given a small, vintage-style toy car because the chap was selling it in a tray of various bits and bobs and didn't really want anything for it - it made B's day. I found an ancient galvanised bucket to use as a planter and this sweet tiny cake stand for just £1. I think I might use it to display my few strings of pearls or save it for vintage baubles at Christmas.


My most favourite find were these wonderful watercolours. There was an enormous pile of floral and country scenes that had come from a house clearance and we rummaged through the lot to find this lovely pair, again £1 each. They're quite big so I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for some bargain frames. I think they're glorious, just what I was looking for to add some colour to our rather plain, cheerless hall and stairs.

And as soon as the sun comes out again I'm going to be skipping through the fields in the most lovely skirt I think I have ever owned. The minute I saw it I knew it would be coming home with me - sorry for displaying this on my dresser again! It's the best place in the house to take pictures as the light floods in through the conservatory but everyone must be so bored of seeing these plates!

And finally a rather dull, everyday picture but one that makes both me and Woody so thrilled. After living here for six months we finally have somewhere to display our books!

Our funny triangle shaped house with huge windows means that there are very few places to put up shelves or bookcases, but that big blue & yellow Swedish shop came up trumps and delivered two of these slim, bargain bookcases which finally make our place feel more like home. They need a bit of prettying up but for now I'm so pleased just to have got rid of a few more boxes!