NEARLY AUTUMN...

I can't believe it's nearly a month since I last posted on here! Where have those weeks gone to?!

I hope you are all keeping well...we've had some fabulous weather over the last 6 weeks...apparently it's been the longest spell of hot weather in England for SIX years!! I managed to keep my plants watered throughout all the sunshine! I bottle-watered them in the morning, then again at lunch time, then misted them with the hose in the evening...it was worth all the effort, as it looks lovely!

I follow quite a few Blogs, but can't seem to get them on my side bar...
If anybody knows how to do it, can you tell me please?! Thanks!

 

I've had some goodies delivered from the USA...I'm a self-confessed

Prim-aholic!! My house is Prim To The Brim!!!

 

Here are some pictures of what I've got...

These are all from Elaine, The Prim Queen of the USA!!

 

Three Wooden Barrels with Tiny Pegs in...

 

 

 

 

Early Pantry Tin...

 

 

 

Three Clothespin Dollies...

 

 

 

Salem Peg Dolly...

 

 

Wooden Teapot Breadboard...I just LOVE this!!!

 

 

Toy Tin Wheelbarrow...this is SO cute!!

 

 

Toy Tin Tub and Washboard, with Antique Cloth...

 

 

Clothes Pegs...hand carved from Twigs!!

 

 

Wooden Pantry Box with Label...

 

 

These are in my Stash Pile at Elaine's...

 

Pumpkin Stack...

 

 

 

 

Antique Pigeon Decoy...Dressed for Christmas...

 

 

 

Pumpkin Tin on the Right...

 

 

 

Pumpkin Tin with Card Seed Label...

 

 

Calliopsis Seed Tin...

 

 

 

These are from the USA, but not from Elaine...

 

Handmade and Signed Shaker Buttocks Basket...

 

 

Beautiful Buttocks Basket...LOVE it!!!

 

 

Jim Shore 'Peace in the Valley' Sheep...Love it!!

 

 

 

Rowe Pottery Pitcher...I love Rowe and Salt Glazed Pottery!

My collection is growing!!

 

 

 

Paper Mache Chicken...this is lovely!

 

 

Four Bears from Australia...

Made by the very talented Katy Nissen of Raggy Bears...

The first one was a Charity Sale...to help look after an abandoned Guinea Pig called Willow...

 

 

Well, that's it for now folks!

I hope you enjoyed the picture show!

Take care and have a great weekend!

Love Karen xx 

FAB WEATHER...

Well, here in England we've been having some absolutely glorious weather over the last few weeks! Great, BUT...now everyone's moaning about how HOT it is!! Poor old weather, it just can't win, can it?!

 

My garden is blooming and enjoying the sunshine...I have to bottle-water my plants in the morning, early afternoon and evening...then I mist them with the hose, twice every evening. Managed to keep them going so far! One day, I put out the thermometer and it hit 50*/121...phew!! I did nearly lose my pink Begonia that day, but gave her some TLC that evening and she is now fully recovered..!! I bought a couple of jugs from the charity shop and used some crocks I had indoors...put my plants in them to try and keep them a bit on the damp side!!

Here are some pictures of my garden now...

We've got a raised bed, which is where most of my plants and flowers are...we've also got a patio area, where the tables and chairs are...then there's a paved area for our Darcie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the pink Begonia...all recovered!

 

 

 

 

Lavender Grouping...I've added another 2 to here, as the middle one finished flowering...

 

 

 

My friend Eve brought me round a few flowers...I cut them short and had them in this little crock...

 

 

 

We had a little visitor the other day...who was perched on a Cosmos flower and gave me enough time to take a picture! I love this one!

 

 

 

I am now the very proud owner of THREE Sue Corlett pieces! I've got Mr Bunny and 2 Olde Time Santa's...they are absolutely fantastic and I'm going to keep them out all year round, after all, a Sue Corlett piece is for Life, not just for Christmas!!

 

 

 

 

What else...I'm waiting to start a new job with a Care Agency...it's Care in the Community. I passed all the training and got my Passport to Care badge...Just waiting for my CRB check to come back, then I'll be set to go...I'm quite looking forward to it, so will keep you posted...

 

 

Oh, BBQ weather for sure! We've had one every day for the last 11 days! It's so nice eating 'Al Fresco' and BBQ food is delicious...and healthy!

Strawberries have been a big favourite too...no sugar or cream, I use Weight Watchers Greek-style yogurts...they are wicked, try it!!

 

 

I did THE most amazing swap with my friend Sarah...I got a set of Apothecary Drawers and Sarah had some bits of mine that she's been after for ages! I've got the Drawers on my kitchen worktop and I just LOVE them! Thanks, Sarah!

Here they are...

 

 

 

 

Here are some close-ups...

 

 

My lovely friend Mary sent me these to hang on the Drawers...

Thanks Mary!

 

 

I've put 2 old Cheese Boxes from the USA on there...

All the Tins in the top one, plus the teeny Frying Pan and Shoofly are from Elaine at 6stringbluesman on ebay...jams are English!

 

 

This little Piggy is from Elaine...

 

 

And this little Piggy is from Mary!

The tiny framed packet is from Elaine...

 

 

And last but not least...these are my new faux flowers in the front hallway...

 

 

Well, that's about it for the moment...

Thanks for checking in and hope you are all keeping well...

Have a great day!

Love Karen xx

 

 

 



HAPPY 4th JULY!!

 

Just want to wish all my friends in the USA a very

Happy 4th July!!

Have a great day!

Love Karen xx

 

 

 



CHANGES...

Well, how things can change so much in a matter of weeks...

There have always been the nasty gossips at work, which is why I started to do nights to stay away from them...but it wasn't far enough!

Two carers had left recently due to the Witchy Gossip...

Then it was my turn...I was absolutely devastated and wasn't going to stay there to be anybody's scapegoat...

I gave my notice on 17th June and my last shift was on the 22nd...

Oh, yes...they were all 'surprised' when they knew it was my last shift...and the leader of the Gossip Gang actually tried to hug me. Well, I was adjusting my bra strap at the time, which was much more important!!

I was so sad to leave the residents and the three gals that I told actually cried, bless them...

There's something in the pipeline, so I guess Everything Happens For A Reason...as one door closes another one opens and all that!!

 

It was my birthday on Friday, which has got to be the worst one I've had in years...I actually let all the crap at work get to me and I was in bits...

Still today is another day!

 

 

I got a beautiful Whendi Meagher Bear, bought from my very dear friend Mary...I love Whendi's Bears and now own FOUR of them!

 

 

Here she is...she's called Princess Bear...

 

 

 

 

Here are my family cards...and one from Mary...the most important ones!

 

 

 

My lovely card from hubby...the words are beautiful!

 

 

 

Flowers from hubby...

 

 

 

From my daughter Zoé...

 

 

 

Dan got me a bottle of Bailey's and chocolates...started the celebrations early! Oops, look at the size of that glass...hic!

 

 

 

My Superb Santa arrived from America last week...what a fab guy he is!

He's from Sue Corlett and her work is fantastic...

 

 

 

 

I've been getting some plants for the garden...we've got a fruit stall in our little town centre and they sell great hanging baskets...already planted up!

 

Red Spider-leaf Begonia...

 

 

 

Trailing Fuschias...

 

 

Apricot Spider-leaf Begonia...

 

 

Pink Spider-leaf Begonia...

 

 

 Need to check this one!

 

 

Multi-tub from last year...

 

 

Lavendula...

 

 

Coreopsis...

 

 

Cosmos...with buds ready to flower...

 

 

Osteospermum...I'm going to plant these in a big tub...

 

 

 

 

Well, that's about it for now...

Thanks for checking in and I hope this finds you all keeping well...

Take care,

Love Karen xx