Here is Alfie, pretending to be asleep! I wish I could join him. We have had two very busy days with early starts, then last night neither of us slept beyond 3.30 a.m. and as a consequence, feel rather shattered now. We dragged ourselves out of bed at 7 and without having even a cup of tea, shot straight down to the car boot sale in town, although on first wander round, we thought we would be coming home empty-handed. Fortunately another circuit and some new cars unpacking brought us some more stock for the Unit.
Elecampane in the border.
We had intended to attend a remembrance parade in Hay-on-Wye, in memory of the Somme, and its fallen, but with both of us too tired to drive anyway far, let alone a 3 hours round trip, we decided we would have to forgo attendance.
Shasta Daisies, beside the Elecampane.
This is a David Austin rose, with a Graham Thomas label, but it looks too peachy to me.
Here are two little pieces of jewellery I bought recently (VERY cheaply). Sadly, both are damaged - the elephant brooch on the left has lost the pin on the back, and a bit of poor chain is on the top (replacing an original necklace), so I shall try and rectify that. The little turquoise wheel brooch needs a dab of solder on the back too. I don't do jewellery as a rule, but need to learn about it - and silver too - as we don't want to be lugging round big bits of furniture into our dotage! Small and light . . .
I am just too tired to write any more at the moment, but hopefully a good night's sleep will put me back to normal again.
The elephant is rather nice. Alfie looks very contented and the flowers are lovely. I have a couple of elecampane plants flowering too though not as wellas yours. I love the name and the connection with medieval herb gardens.
ReplyDeleteIt's a quality little piece and I think will be worth repairing, although he can be used on a necklace. You and I grow Elecampane for the very same reason!
DeleteLove love love the turquoise brooch, just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHope your both feel better soon.
cheers, parsnip and thehamish
I just had to buy it (only £1 as well!) I hope it can be fixed but if it can't I shall keep it and enjoy looking at it - such a beautiful design.
DeleteOur neighbor who creates scrimshaw jewelry has an assortment of 'pins' in varying sizes. He puts them neatly on the back with a clear glue.
ReplyDeleteAlfie is quite a splendid creature, isn't he! The splotch over his nose reminds me of our boys, Nellie and Bobby--in a different coloration.
Elecampine grew wild on the roadsides near my childhood home--its appearance marked the nearing of summers' end.
Ah, summer's end indeed. It felt quite autumnal today - just as you have a real spring day still in winter, so can summer borrow a day from October! I will get a pin and do the same with some superglue Sharon - thanks for that tip from your neighbour.
DeleteOh how lovely that Elecampane used to grow wild where you grew up.
Your boy reminds me of our boy who sadly is no longer with us. Me and DH too are sleeping badly in this weather, so up and down with it being cold or humid!!couldn't be bothered to venture out booting today.. Lovely finds
ReplyDeleteWe have two brothers - Alfie and Little Whale (who is black and white). They are both such sweethearts. Hope seeing Alfie brought back happy memories of your chap, rather than sadness at losing him.
DeleteOur house is cool even on the hottest day - it was us being over-busy I think - two 12 hour working days in a row - and so you go to bed exhausted and wake up with tension still in your body.
I have a small wooden elephant on the windowsill, on the understanding that you must always have an elephant in the room! Yours is a very pretty one. I have a Graham Thomas rose to, it was supposed to be yellow, but everything seems to be pink, it is a pretty one yours whatever it is called.
ReplyDeleteWe obviously have deviant Graham Thomas roses! I've never heard that about elephants before - only that if you have one it's trunk should be turning upwards for good luck - which means OOPS with the one I've got!
DeleteThe David Ausstin rose is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThis part of my post is cut and pasted from your post about moving to Wales. I am not sure if you saw it. Sorry if you have.
BB, found this post whilst looking for Hovel In The Hills. I too had books which inspired me including Susan Hill's The Magic Apple Tree along with the Good Life and the TV production of A Woman of Substance, funnily enough, if you remember the shop scene where Emma is surrounded by homemade pickles, cakes ete. which made me want to make jam and preserves. I know there are other things which inspired me and about 2 years ago or so all I could dream about was having an Aga - got a Rayburn now - and feeding my chooks in my wellies and apron - check! Will have to buy the John Weymour book, have been meaning to since before we moved and will look at the other four posts in this series. Where exatly in West Wales do you live? I know you visited Dawn and Dawn visited me so you may be closer than I think.x
Louise Houghton20 July 2016 at 06:05
Have ordered the John Seymour book and hope to have it by Saturday.x
Louise Houghton26 July 2016 at 00:38
The book has arrived and I am really enjoying it.
Hi Louise - I'm about 6 miles downriver from Dawn, though I've been so busy this summer she is probably wondering if she will ever see me again! It would be lovely to meet up.
DeleteSorry, you're right about me missing the bit where you posted on my moving to Wales post. It doesn't show up in my feed. Glad you have your Rayburn (we have a Hergom, which is a Spanish beastie). Smiling at your inspiration for making jams and pickles! I've always made them too and have quite a few special books of recipes. I think we have a good few inspirations and books in common.
Glad your John Seymour book arrived. That should keep you quiet for a bit! Ask Dawn for my email addy and we can chat that way.
We have just purchased, via a well know auction site, a solid fuel Rayburn, picking it up at the weekend. (Aplogies if you read this again on my blog later on.) We have oil to use up with the current one and will do so when ready to turn it back on in a couple of months and then we will do a swap - we are lucky to have access to lots of wood and it is one less necessity we will have to pay for. Fab. Will get your email from Dawn.xx
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