Time To Light The Lamps And Snuggle In ....

In a couple of weeks,  the clocks will be falling back an hour, and it’s time, once again,  to make our homes as cosy as we can, so that we don’t start to feel ‘down’ with the onset of the shorter days.  Summer is now becoming a distant memory, with the exception of certain people!  Daughter number 1 who lives in Ibiza, keeps sending me photos of sandy beaches, hot sun, and stunning sunsets. I am starting to go off her! 😉. This is the latest photo she’s been teasing me with. No wonder she loves it so much over on that beautiful Island. 

But, meanwhile, I shall be lighting the lamps and the candles (although I tend to use wax melts more these days) and getting through some lovely books from  my bookshelf.  With all that’s going on, I certainly don’t want anything too heavy at the moment. Something to lift the spirits is the order of the day I think.  Although I’ll never say no to a good thriller! 

Have you heard of the word ...Hygge?  It’s pronounced hue-gah, and comes from a Norwegian word meaning “well-being.”  In other words, enjoying life’s simple pleasures, often achieved with good food, drink, comfy surroundings, warm blankets and candlelight. So, as you will see, Autumn and Winter are just made for us all to practice some Hygge. Colourful throws on the armchairs, potpourri scented with smells of orange and cinnamon - anything to bring us cheer whilst these darker days are with us. Of course, I’m aware that in many parts  of the world, you are approaching Springtime. Forgive me, but I have to write as it is with the Seasons in my homeland! 

Most of the colours are fading in the garden at the moment, but I took this photo of a wilting rose earlier today. I think it still looks quite beautiful. 

I love this photo with my youngest grandchildren enjoying playing in the Autumn leaves 🍁 

Just came across this little quote, which I thought I would include in my Post today. It’s so true ...

So my friends, may your lives be filled with Hygge during the coming Season. See you again soon. 

Image courtesy of Pinterest.com

November is here....

Hallo again little peeps.  So! November is here and it won’t be long until my favourite time of the year is with us once again.  

For those of you that are in Autumn at the moment, have you got used to the clocks going back, and the darker evenings that are now with us?!  It takes a bit of getting used to, doesn’t it?!  To be honest, I don’t really mind the darker evenings, as we can make our homes as cosy as possible.  I’ve always got a book on the go, but I tend to read even more during these shorter days.  I just love how a book can transport you to another place and you can lose yourself for a couple of hours.  

I can never have too many books.  At this time of the year, I also love to settle down and watch a good, romantic Christmas film.  I know - soppy, but I love them.  Especially as most of these films take place in America, and there is always snow, and the houses are gorgeously decorated.  Deck the halls, and all that! 😊🎄.  Of course, the house is decorated with pretty candles, which all adds to the cosy mood.

I have to admit to putting up just a few Christmas things - the rest of them will go up at the end of this month .  Too early do I hear you say??  Not for this girl!

I really like to get all my Christmas cards written by the first week in December, at the latest, and my presents bought and wrapped.  That way, I can really enjoy the lead up to Christmas, and just spend the time eating mince pies and drinking sherry!  NO! I jest - honestly 😊.

Here are a couple of Autumn pics for you.  The first one is the colour in my own garden at the moment, and the second one was taken at Saltram House, a magnificent, Georgian National Trust property nearby. 

Well, I’ll leave you again for now.  Hope you enjoyed the pics. By the time I write my next post, I suspect the house will be fully decorated!  Bye for now.

End of August is here!

Well, here we are on the last day of August.  Hopefully we will have some more warm, sunny days to look forward to in September.  I seem to have gained some more Followers to my Blog just recently, so I would like to welcome you and thank you for deciding to ‘follow me’.  It was nine years ago that I started blogging, encouraged by my number 1 daughter, who was running a successful Fashion Blog at that time. Since starting, I have made wonderful friends from all over the world - friends that encourage and lift you up.  I’m afraid I just can’t understand all the negativity in the world, which seems to have been encouraged, in many ways, by social media.  

It seems that many of you share my love of notebooks, as mentioned in my last Post.  In fact, I was given some great ideas as to how to make good use of my own Notebooks!  I’m sure most of you also love books, and reading. I’ve loved reading since I was a young child, and my two daughters and three grandchildren also adore books.  Now that the evenings are starting to pull in again (over here in the U.K. anyway!  I know that many of you are now starting to look forward to LIGHTER evenings in your own part of the world!) I’m sure that I will be reading even more. 

I can still remember, as a young child, feeling the excitement the night before my birthday, as I knew I would be receiving a new book.  How simple life was back then.  I still have a few of those books, dating back to the 1950’s! To me, reading a new book is a joy, and I love getting to know all the characters, and completely losing myself in the story. There has never been a time when I’ve not had a book on the go.  They have certainly helped me through sad times in the past.  

I hope you have all had a lovely Summer, and I’m sure many of you are looking forward to the Summer yet to come.  At the moment, I have a little harvest in my own garden. The apples have all been pressed, and made into pure apple juice. 

 So then, life is good.  Enjoy your weekend everyone ❤️

The Mother's Book

I was reading a post a couple of days ago, written by my friend lyndylou over at The Giggle Fest.  The post was entitled "The Best Present - EVER!!!"

It reminded me of a present that my youngest daughter brought me a couple of years ago for Mothers Day.  It's called The Mother's Book by Elma Van Vlietm, and there is a banner across it, which states "The Only Gift Book You Hope To Get Back."

The author had been told that her beloved mum didn't have long to live, and she explained that the hardest part was thinking about how her future would be - a future without her mum.  Elma explains that she still had so many questions that she wanted to ask, about her mum, about herself when she was young, and how her mum had felt at particular moments in her life.

So that is why she decided to create The Mother's Book.  She realized the truth in the saying, "You don't know what you have, until it's gone." 

I am gradually working my way through the book, and filling it with photographs.  I have just flicked it open to a page which says "what are the fondest memories you have of your father?"

This is what I have written, "My dad gave me so much love when I was growing up, and I will always remember how he came into the hospital to see me after you (my youngest daughter) were born.  (Your dad was in the Army, and couldn't get Leave to see me when you were born - he was serving in Northern Ireland at the time).  My dad wasn't very well at all at the time, but he said that he couldn't have me in the hospital with a new little baby all on my own."

That was so typical of the love had had for me.  He never let me down.

I remember, as a little girl, playing football with my  dad, and him trying to teach me to catch the ball, which always slipped right through my fingers.  "Butterfingers" he used to say!

He also painstakingly taught me handwriting.  My dad's handwriting was so beautiful."

From this, I think you will see that this was a lovely gift for both of us.  I will hand it over to my daughter, who will have all these memories to pass on to her little girl, and I will know that all my memories will never be forgotten.

How beautiful is that?