A Plea: Where is Summer?

No doubt many of you here in the UK have been affected by the torrential rains we have been having this Summer. I think the phrase 'what a washout' is somewhat understating the situation! Our village was cut off for a day or so due to flooded roads and lanes, but apart from a leak in the dormer window of our bathroom, I think we got off quite lightly. I can only imagine how I would feel if my home was under several feet of water. I feel I have spent far too much time stuck indoors this Summer and I would really like to be sitting on the bench above, reading a book and sipping a cold glass of wine on a balmy July evening...

...it would also be nice to have the stable door and windows open all day...

...but at least I don't have to water these very often!

On a happier note, look what I received in the post last week!

I was lucky enough to be the first name drawn for a super prize give-away of treats from Victoria's wonderful candle company Coasts of Cornwall. It was a lovely treat opening up the ribbon-tied packages, but an even better one when I breathed in the wonderful aromas!

Victoria had kindly sent me three candles; Lavender, Cinnamon and Rosewater, and Cotton. I cannot recommend these enough! The Cotton candle really does have the wonderful aroma of washing dried on the line - amazing!


Here's hoping that August will be the Summer we are all yearning for!

Random Facts!

Sue has tagged me - so kind! - to divulge 8 facts about myself! I shall leave you all to decide whether they are interesting or worthy of a blog post! I have kept the details uncharacteristically brief - it was either that or elaborate on each point far too much!

1. I've been on a submarine.

2. I ran a successful secretarial business for some years - but I've never learnt to touch type or do shorthand!

3. The words 'frock' and 'slacks' make me shiver!

4. My favourite 'comfort food' is a toasted teacake (or currant bun/hot cross bun!) with lashings of butter and tomato ketchup!

5. I absolutely cannot tolerate litter! If I see someone dropping any (whether or not they're a burly 6' 5" muscle-man!) I have to say something!

6. I have a phobia of showers - particularly enclosed ones! So it has to be a bath for me!

7. My favourite films are those such as Manhunter, Aliens, Silence of the Lambs and anything really gory or with a murdering psycho in it!

8. In total contrast to No. 7, I love animals - especially cats - am a vegetarian, and adore all things vintage and pretty!!!

I'm supposed to tag 8 other bloggers but I think most of the people I had in mind have already been tagged!

One rainy Sunday...

I think we've had more than a few rainy Sundays just lately, not to mention, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays etc! On just such a day a few weeks ago, I decided to turn my hand to a project I'd had in mind for a while. On one of my trips to a flea market, I'd bought an old wooden filing cabinet. It was painted white, with aluminium handles and was crying out for a transformation.

I had some 1940s wallpaper which I thought would be perfect, so I set to work!

It was a rather tricky job covering some of the corners but I got there in the end! I then had to find the right handles and settled on these milk glass grab handles, I think they finish it off nicely!

These drawers are destined for my new office but I think they look quite nice in my bedroom!

Have you been working on any 'rainy day' projects?

Who's that girl?

Last year, I wrote a post about a wonderful oil painting I have of a young girl called Alice Scatterbrook, painted in 1933 - here she is below:

Well, I have another mystery girl! This is a beautiful hand coloured and framed photo of an enigmatic young miss, with stunning tresses! She was captured at a time when, although the child is still very much present, you can see the elegant young lady she will become in a few years time. I don't know why, but when I first set eyes on her, the name 'Alice' jumped into my head! Wouldn't it be a wonderful coincidence if both my mystery girls shared the same name!

This charming young lady sat for this photo in 1927. I know this because when I got her home, the paper which had sealed the back crumbled in my hands and when I removed the tattered pieces I discovered some handwritten notes. Apparently it was 'urgent for Monday'! Not surprising really, considering the wonderful subject; I imagine the proud parents to have been eager to see the finished work! There is a name and address which is Hall, 12 Harrington Street and what looks like Norwich or Warwick - although the old fashioned and ornate writing is lovely, it is a little hard to decipher!

The detail of her embroidered and lace dress is exquisite and she is holding a pale pink rose in her hands to match the bow in her hair.
She was originally destined for my shop but the more I look at her the more I'd like to keep her! I know I shouldn't - I'm sure she would go to a good home! What do you think I should do?!