Thursday, March 29, 2012

Current Events: The Great Petrol Shortage

Post by Happy Homemaker UK


I've never seen anything like this before




With talks of a possible fuel tanker strike,
people are queuing at gas stations to fill up their cars

This petrol station has completely run out of gas




Yikes! Life continues to be an adventure here :)

You can read more in the Telegraph newspaper here

The 'New' Post Of The Month Club

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK


Surprise!

Not only did I move (locally),
but Post Of The Month Club has moved to Australia!

Needing to spend less time on the computer,
I decided my beloved POTMC needed a new home





Should I say 'serendipitously', 
when I asked Felicity of Gifts of Serendipity if she'd like to be the new hostess,
she had just been thinking what a wonderful concept the monthly linky party was

So meant to be!

Her lovely, gracious outlook on life will provide the perfect nest for
Post Of The Month Club to grow

I just know you will love it there

Plus, I think the club should live on the beach :)


Beach in Felicity's town of Noosa, Australia


Felicity hosts an online book club,
Word Of The Week to enhance your 'smartability' (my word),
and shares other wonderful delights throughout the week

She is one of those positive people you just want to rub up against
You must run over to say hello if you don't know her already :)




Isn't she adorable?

Please pop over to link up your best post of the month,
starting March 31st

It is such a great way to introduce your blog
and connect with amazing bloggers in a matter of minutes

Thank you so much for linking up over the last 9 months to Post Of The Month Club
It has been a real treat to get to know so many of you through it

I'll see you at Gifts Of Serendipity for POTM Club :)

And a big thank you to Felicity :)

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Spring Lambs

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

In England, the 'lambing season' is synonymous with Spring




The countryside is dotted with sheep and their newborn lambs right now

I never met Mary, but their fleece IS as white as snow




Since last spring, I added 'see lamb being born' 
to my long list of 'Must Do's' in England

and I was able to check it off my list 
when I saw this little cherub being born a few weeks ago


This cutie is only minutes old


* Sigh *  I love Spring in England :)

Thank you to Prestwick Farm

- photos by me -


***

And here's a sneak peek of my next post...



PAINT COLOR



NEW COLOR FOR A FAMILY ROOM












For a while, dark walls were all the rage.  Furniture looked amazing against them, as did artwork.


They were dramatic and fun.  A whole room could be dramatic - or just one wall. 


 I noticed lately, that there are less and less 'accent' walls, 


and that dark walls are giving way to lighter, fresher colors.


Sometimes how we feel is reflected in the smallest of ways.  Like paint color.  


Things have been a little tough - economy has been down - we want change, 


we want something new and fresh and we want our burdens to be lighter


Could that be why things are lightening up around the house?

Read more »

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Spellbound By Spring

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Spring is here!
I've been waiting a year to make a trip to the royal Savill Garden in Windsor
Enjoy its deliciousness...




Spring Magnolia (many Champion varieties) 


The daffodil is the Welsh national flower
and may have been brought to Britain by the Romans


In The Valley Gardens


Daffodils as far as the eye can see

I love the crocuses planted with daffodils


...I wandered lonely as a Cloud

That floats on high o'er Vales and Hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd

A host of dancing Daffodils;

Along the Lake, beneath the trees,
Ten thousand dancing in the breeze... 

-William Wordsworth


Delightful winding paths


There is nothing like a warm clear day in England

Happy Spring to you!

- all photos by me -


Poem: here
History: '100 Flowers and How They Got Their Name' by Diana Wells
Garden: Savill Garden and The Valley Gardens
Another daffodil post here

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

We're The Flintstones

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Heeelllloooo! I'm back :)
How I've missed our conversations this month!
I feel we have so much to catch up on...

We've moved 
and not without at few stories to pack up along the way...




I must admit to being a little nervous about our second English move

Our initial move to this country was bizarre
with movers living in the back of their truck,
asking to use our loo and shower
and needing us to buy them cigarettes as their moving truck was too big
to maneuver through the streets to the local store (and too far to walk)




Thank goodness I knew to have tea warm and ready when the movers arrived this time,
for where else but England would movers want to start their day with tea
just 30 minutes into their work day?

But let me tell you, it was complicated :)
Some wanted milk, some wanted sugar
- lumped sugar, not granulated sugar -
and biscuits
(thanks to a good friend who delivered lumps and cookies to solve my predicament)


'Kitty Boy' loved playing in the paper


Aside from not having the proper ingredients for tea, 
I woke up that morning to the dilemma of no power steering in my car,
thus making corners and roundabouts impossible to complete

So while I was in the middle of the move,
I had to negotiate the garage to see me

They don't have the part in, but guess what, I'm coming in anyway
because I don't know what else to do.
I'm about to move to Wits End Lane!

So Mr Nice Car Guy got out his duct tape to repair the hole in my 
power steering hose
Definitely not MOT approved, but it worked like a charm;
I was grateful and on my way - yea!

After teary eyed goodbyes with neighbors,
I was off to my new village in a duct taped car
and opened the front door to see...

 { as harps played }
American goodies (Oreos, M&Ms, Tootsie Rolls), champagne,
a lawn bowling game, and a giant bouquet of flowers from my new landlord
to welcome us to our new home

Like an episode from The Price Is Right,
I then knew I had picked the right door (house).
I thought I was going to faint with delight!


Our street


As we unpacked over the last 2 weeks,
our friendly new neighbors have dropped by (one has chickens & Shetland ponies)
 and someone mysteriously left her famous Lemon Drizzle Cake at our front door
Can you believe our luck?!

We are completely settled in
and we LOVE our new house, neighbors, and setting

Just the other day
my son was followed by a friendly pheasant while riding his bike,
and my husband had to use a torch (flashlight) to find is way to the train station 
because there are no street lights in this semi-rural area


Houses in this area are covered in 'flint stones'


Yep, we're going to love it here

We're bringing the 'Yee-Haw' to Surrey :)

- all photos by moi -

Monday, March 19, 2012

HELPING MARIA


BUT FIRST... RELAX







Feeling rejuvenated after a mini vacation in La Jolla, California


breakfast at Cody's = *amazing*

Read more »

Friday, March 16, 2012

OVER THE BED


A FOCAL POINT







The bed is the natural focal point of a bedroom


it should draw the eye


beautify the room


and invite...







because who really wants an 'uninviting' bedroom?

Read more »

Friday, March 2, 2012

BEDSIDE


NO MATCHING SETS PLEASE!!!







If you've ever wanted your bedroom to look like a display in a furniture store


then please, ignore my heading above. 


Go right ahead and buy the matching bedside tables that match the bed


that matches the dresser that goes with the highboy that looks like the armoire ...


everything in the exact same sheen, the exact same finish, the exact same look....

Read more »