Happy Feb- Things I love.

Happy Feb...... Where did Jan go! I've been really busy,  Today saw a bit of sunshine, hopefully we will get lots more....... Thought I would show you a few things  I love around my farmhouse.

This is my chalk bowl. I painted it myself. I love the colours of the chalk. They are the pastel colours I love..

This is my metal chicken. She sits on my lounge windowsill to welcome my visitors. Or maybe scare away!
What do you think.?

I also painted this vase. My purple sheep is enjoying the sun. The picture makes me smile.Great storage for our straws.

I found this keyholder at a local boot fair. It has a raised picture and looks perfect in my kitchen. I also hang
my Laura Ashley bag from it.

My floral candle holder. I love this because I can use a very large candle and it burns forever..Floral's a girl can never have too many!

What are the things you love around your house.? Do you love floral's as much as me.? Would love to hear.

                                     Bye for now, time to get back to  normal life.......

Homemade Tomato Chutney

 

 

Its that time of year again! Holidays are over, children back to school. All thoughts are now on,

dare I say CHRISTMAS.

 

 

So I thought I would share with you my Homemade Tomato Chutney. I make this every year for use at home and some for extra treats for family and friends.

 

 

 

If  you would like to make your own here is the recipe.

 

 

2 -1/2 lbs of tomatoes

 

2-1/2 lbs of cooking apples

 

2 lbs of onions

 

1 lb of raisins

 

1 lb 6 oz of sugar

 

2 level dessert spoons of ginger

 

half a tea spoon of cayenne pepper

 

3 pints of already spiced vinegar ( can use plain dark vinegar and add mixed spice)

 

suitable glass jars with metal screw type lids

 

 

 







 

 

Wash your tomatoes and cut into quarters. Peel and cut into small pieces your cooking apples and onions. Put them all into a large pan with the raisins. Then add the cayenne, ginger and sugar.

Last but not least pour in your vinegar and give a good stir.

Bring the mixture to boil, then simmer for approx 3 hours, occasionally stirring.

 

 

 

 

It is ready when most of the vinegar has been adsorbed . Next you wash your jars and put them in the oven for a couple of minutes to sterilise them. Put the lids into a bowl of boiling water then drain.

Take your jars out (be very careful they will be red hot). Fill with your chutney. I use a large ladle and metal jam sprout, it makes filling the jars less messy. Fill to the top and screw lids tightly down..

Put to one side to cool down.

 

 

 

Now you have delicious Chutney for yourself and a few extras for perhaps Christmas gifts.

 

                                                                 ENJOY1

 

















Charming Florals

 

 

I love floral of all shapes and sizes.  So I thought I would share some with you.

Above is a enamel jug, which I picked up from France. It is a bit battered and chipped.
But this adds to its charm. The flowers are all from my garden.

 

 

This plate is very pretty with its pink and blue flowers with a gold background. I was lucky to pick this up from a car boot.

 

 

My Laura Ashley teddy 2007. I had to include him because he is so cute and cuddly.
He has floral pads on his feet. and takes pride of place on my bedroom shelf.

 

 

My makeup bag is even floral. I was lucky to be given this as a gift at Christmas.

 

 

Two jewellery boxes. One is metal with a glass top with a rose. The other is a padded floral material box. They both have lovely pink roses on.

 

This is a plain canvas covered with left over fabric from my curtains.

 

 

My pots are still blooming, thus adding colour to the corners of my garden.

 

 

 

Today I planted our sunflower plants. We grew them in pots from seeds. Hopefully if the sun keeps shining we will have a lovely display by the veg plot.

 



 

I picked this up from a charity shop.The flowers are a lovely muted colour.

 

 

 

I love bunting. It always looks so special. I have two rows of bunting up in my kitchen. This is one of them. I brought this one from e-bay. 

 

I hope you have enjoyed sharing some of my floral treasures.

 

 

 

 

 







Vintage cake stands

                                   
                                       WELCOME TO MY COLLECTION OF CAKE STANDS

I love all Vintage China, but I could not resist this modern Laura Ashley three tier cake stand. It matches perfectly the ice cream colours in my kitchen, and is sturdy enough for everyday use. Anyway Laura Ashley had their sale on so I had to treat myself.....

This is my favourite  Vintage two tier cake stand. I love the simplicity of the flowers and the large expanse of a beautiful blue border. This one I picked up from a car boot sale many years ago.

This Vintage beauty is cream  with very delicate flowers and two shades of blue.

I purchased this three tier cake stand of ebay. It is made up of Vintage plates which compliment each other. It is a very delicate stand, and I think you will agree makes good use of vintage plates and makes them really special.

Anyone for tea?   Three tier cake stand made up from three matching modern plates. Unusual because all plates the same size.

I brought this plate stand back from France with two  matching smaller ones. They have been very well used and look very old. They are all marked  Fleur des Champs underneath.

My collection is fairly Small. But because of the height of the plate stands they are hard to store, unless you want to take them apart. So I have told myself that unless I love them and can't walk away, no more purchases.
                                        Wish me luck !.