The things you see whilst visiting a New England Country Store are amazing, all sorts of weird and wonderful things, some that you remember from when you were little.
Nice things on our travels today.
Canterbury Shaker Museum.
Today was once more like a summers day, so we set off for the Canterbury shaker Museum in Canterbury New Hampshire New England USA.The houses and paint colours are amazing, and the whole place exudes calm and tranquility, sadly no shakers live there now and only four shakers exist in Maine.
Beacon Hill Boston
The first two pictures are of the Back Bay Hotel in Boston that used to be the local police station, it is also home to some rather nice sculptures.Mr B was more than happy today shopping in the 'Life is Good' store in Newbury Street Boston, even on a saturday Newbury Street is a calm wide paved beautiful place to stroll along and take in all the sights.
Boston Massachusetts USA
Autumn
My husbands birthday cake.
Some of you have asked for the recipe for my husbands tree birthday cake.Julie my friend made him this lovely tasty cake for his birthday, the tin it was made in is called a bundt tin which you can purchase from John lewis, it is quite expensive but the end result is very impressive, great for christmas coming up.
My friend Julie, a brand new Mini and a barking dog called Lottie!
Let me introduce you to my friend Julie, we worked together many years ago and have remained friends, we have similar interests and have a bit of a passion going on for starting up a business, so if anyone out there has a spare barn in a good location and a money tree let us know please! She is also a fantastic cake maker and cook, more about that on monday.
Pumpkins
Firstly, I apologise for not sending out many blogs lately. I have been silly busy, and as some of you know I am self employed. Being self employed is a good thing but lunch hours, tea breaks and days off sick just don't exist, and if you are a bit of a maniac like me, occasionally you burn yourself out!
Last of the summer roses, and a bit of America.
I'm enjoying the last of my summer roses, these ones are called Heritage by David Austin. They have been very good this year, they flower twice, once at the begining of June and again at the end of August, I must have had about 300 blooms altogether, they obviously like lots of rain and not too much heat, which is exactly what our summer has consisted of this year, so I guess there is always a bright side to most things!
Three nice things today.
I have been doing more excercise lately as I have a trapped nerve in my back, my theory is that if I do more excersize every day and eat healthily, fruit veg etc, then I have tried to help myself. If that doesn't work I shall have to go to plan B, problem is I haven't worked out what plan B is yet and actually hope I don't have to.
Summer!
Yes the sun has appeared and it's lovely and warm, I am normally the first one out enjoying the sunshine, the first one to be out in the garden working away.This year from as early on as March I didn't really seem to get the gardening bug, maybe I knew what rubbish weather we were going to have in the U.K, maybe I am looking forward to October and my New England holiday, maybe it's because my favourite season is Autumn.
For sale a large amount of vintage watering cans!
It's nearly the weekend lets eat cake.
Are you a hoarder?
I'm not a hoarder, if I don't use something off it goes. Sometimes this has been a big mistake, but in this case I don't think it is.My lovely little old camera that had served me well for years has gone on a journey, I loved the feel of it, have to confess I missed it when my new complicated camera arrived, but I decided that when the time was right I would give it up, not much use just sitting in a drawer.
The conservatory is back to green.
Quilts
Over the years I have made many quilts. I was originally inspired by the New England Folk Art look, and 99% of my materials are American as I love all the earthy colours that you don't seem to get in English materials. The soft flannel material is my favourite, it's very cosy. My quilts are made to be used not to be put on show and not touched, my son's had them (and still do), when they were smaller they watched TV wrapped up in them, pulled them around them for comfort when they were ill, and they have taken them with them to their new homes.
This is definitely my kind of interior.
I found this house today whilst searching for a way to improve my house. It belonged to Nancy Fishelson, she is a restorer of houses, and is amazing at turning an old house, sympathetically, into a comfortable modern home. The house is a 1795 clapboard house on 20 acres in Woodbury, Connecticut, New England. This is the house in it's original form.
Have you ever been so tired?
About an hour ago I sat (ok I lay flat out) on the sofa, my intention was to write a spectacular blog with lots of nice things to please the senses, mainly the eye. In reality I fell asleep, it was one of those wonderful sleeps where you kind of know you are asleep and you dream all lovely things. I was warm (last night our heating broke) so that in itself was wonderful, but I was in the most amazing place relaxing. I'll try and show you my dream as best I can.
Cushions, how many do you have?
I am a self confessed cushion collector, in my opinion you just cant have enough! Every chair needs one, all beds need as many as you can possibly stack onto them, and the Sofa well, do you really need to sit on it? My favourites come from Lexington, H&M home, Shops in New England, Warren Kimble, Betsy Jarvis, The Country Carriage and me.