Friday 12 August 2011

Paths, walls, and catty kisses

I'm doing what I can for now to combat the dominance of heavy furniture and knotty pine in this cottage. The big compromise for me was to move into a house with half the light my heart desires, and the challenge will be to maximise what there is, and to soften the look throughout.



Pale is more interesting to me, with light reflecting back and forth from old mirrors. There is much yet to be done.







Up very early this morning, wondering where the cats were. Lottie was in her usual place, on my bed - that cat doesn't like to be parted from me for long. But Millie? Scooter and Hamish?



I looked out of my bedroom window. Scooter was on the wall, lurking under the honeysuckle; Hamish came hurtling over from two neighbours' walls with the practised ease of a former city cat who had had yard walls on which to exercise.

Millie appeared from another direction, and the three of them trooped indoors. Human at window might signify breakfast time.

Later I rescued the Daily Frog, flopping about in a bemused way in the utility room. Today's DF was brown; yesterday's was green. I'll be glad when the frog novelty wears off.

Our walk this morning took us past the little war memorial and under the trees. A flat route to accommodate Tosca's wonky legs.




And of course there had to be a little sit down at the far end. Tosca has taught Flossie that walks don't have to involve charging about the whole time.



Although charging about is preferable....



We passed the memorial bench of a lady who features in the title deeds of my cottage. I must find out more about her.



Elderberries are ripening everywhere; later I must make some jelly.



And there are sloes. Perhaps my Christmas gifts this year could involve gin?

So much grows in the stone walls here.









Home, to be greeted affectionately.




Or just looked at thoughtfully. Never mind all that kissing; just serve the breakfast!


After breakfast, back to bed for some little people.


Apart from the Daily Frog, it's a lovely life.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

We painted our pine dresser with good quality matt paint (an off-white colour) and have never regretted it! We left the 'worktop' bit pine and that is varnished with polyurethane for practicality, as the dresser is used constantly. Lynda

knutty knitter said...

I still have a jar or so of last seasons jelly. The very first blossoms are beginning to come out here although we are promised another wintry blast this weekend (just because we want to work outside!).

It looks idyllic where you are despite the daily frog :)

viv in nz

Rose H (UK) said...

What a lovely start to the day Rachel! Beautiful companions and gorgeous countryside - I even like the idea of the Daily Frog! (I have three this year in the pond, but don't see them on a daily basis!)
Your home will come together, Rome wasn't built in a day....love all the mirrors and the way they bounce the light around.
How interesting to find the memorial bench, I wonder what you will discover about her - she/they must have been loved to have the bench. Looking forward to knowing too :o)
Have a great weekend.
Rose H

Arthur Ransome said...

Thanks for such a lovely look around your new home. A real vicarious thrill. It's marvellous to see so much growing on walls. The poor things that try it here are usually poisoned promptly by the council or pulled out by my neighbour who finds nature threatening, it seems.

Anonymous said...

I can foresee a goodly deal of painting in your future, but, for the rest, thank you, you've just wrapped my coffee break in a warm, fuzzy glow. A lovely life indeed. OllieV

annie hoff said...

It looks lovely, it really does. You've masses of scope there and the country side looks so pretty. I'm also in the process of dealing with knotty orange pine furniture - mainly 1980's Ikea stuff. Sanding down and painting seems to be the solution - but requires considerable effort!

Anonymous said...

Lottie looks so lovely! All those Sloes and Elderberries, better get gathering soon or they'll be gone.

I think I'd be tempted to paint the pine too.

the veg artist said...

What a lovely start to the day - an amble along your own "slow lane".

flwrjane said...

What a beautiful: Collection of mirrors, area in which to love, potential garden...

I'm so glad we've moved here.

xo jane

jabblog said...

Delightful - apart from the DF and the painting ahead of you. Everyone seems to have settled in beautifully:-)

judy in ky said...

I love your mix of scenery photos and animal photos. What a nice life you are settling into.

Danielle P. said...

Lovely!

Rachelle said...

Nice mirror collection!

Jinksy said...

At last! Can you tell me the name of that bright blue flower? I have it in my patio-jungle garden, but have never been able to find out what it's called, despite wading through flower picture-books-cum-encyclopaedias till I'm blue in the face! LOL

Gwen Buchanan said...

wow I can't believe how fast you have gotten yourself back into the whole swing of things... it is like you never even moved... you really never missed a beat in amongst all the topsy turvy.... I need some lessons!!

Noelle the dreamer said...

Rachel,
May the Lord forgive me...I am so envious!
Thank you however for sharing with all of us! Even MacIntosh the Corgi and Maira the Cat looked at all the photos!
May I inquire about the War Memorial? A link perhaps to identify it?
Blessings,
Signed: Me, drooling...

Susan said...

oh the wood people will gasp ( Prince being one of them) but can you paint that darn knotty pine - not only brighter, lighter but would look almost like built-ins - I loves me a built in.

Everything else looks heavenly. I agree with the fuschia culling, a relative I think of the bleedin bleeding heart - a plant I loathe or at least they look related. Carry on Team - much love xoxo les Gang

Frances said...

What a beautiful area you now have to explore..thank you for taking me too! Lovely to see you settling in to your new home, and the cats seem to have taken to it with no problems too!

John said...

Okay, that did it. Now I want to move to Somerset.

So much for the cats needing time to adjust to their new home. They seem as happy as you.

Anonymous said...

Your mirrors look good in their new home! You could paint the wardrobes and paper the panels - or put fabric on them .... sort of French style. I can't believe how far on your elderberries are - we still have flowers on the elders trees here! Poor frogs - I hope the cats tire of them soon! Have a good weekend, love Anne x

rachel said...

NO NO NO NO...... If I have to do that tedious painting of furniture again, I will do it to furniture that I actually like and want! 'Nuff said. EBay, here we come!

bowstreetflowers said...

When you see Mr. McGregor and you find Peter's blue jacket, please take photos!
Shelley

Rattling On said...

Everything and everywhere looks lovely. So glad it's all turning out to be just what you wanted.
I remember making sloe gin years ago, can't stand gin myself but it looks pretty!

Kitty said...

I won't tell you about the horrid knotty pine dresser I painted and now it's lovely then!
Wow, it looks so lovely where you are now - and how much further forward the elderberries and sloes are. I'm awaiting elderberries to make a syrup, it's a brilliant cold remedy, has staved off nasty winter bugs for me before, so I'm making more. With rosehips too. Gorgeous catty kisses. I'm enchanted.

Anonymous said...

OK, I won't suggest painting! But how lovely to see everyone settled, even Hamish. Clearly no buttering of paws needed.

Jan x

mrspao said...

So glad to hear that you have moved to such a lovely cottage. I was smiling at the photos of the doggy and catty kisses :)

Pam said...

Isn't fashion funny? And annoying? We have pine furniture in our bedroom, which I really liked when we bought it (to replace old-fashioned white stuff...). Now, however... I hate being a slave to fashion, and I'm not really. But I am a bit!

Like you and all your commenters.

Eventually, someone will be scraping the paint off all that pine.

However - your life does indeed look lovely.

Planet Penny said...

I won't mention painting either, but it's either that or ebay chez PP. I'v been eyeing up the sloes round here too. Not quite ready yet but bursting with fruit, hope no one else has earmarked my special bush!

Marcheline said...

Egads... so much beauty to be commented on!

Suffice it to say that "the Daily Frog" made me choke on my coffee with laughter. Damn near ruined my keyboard. HAHAhahahahaHAhahhhh!

Oh, and yes - please do research that lady who owned your house, and let us know who she was! I'm a sucker for that kind of thing.

Lyn said...

Just catching up with blogs, good luck with the pine, the mirrors look great as to the growing walls!
The cat kisses are cute too.
xxx

Related Posts with Thumbnails