Capturing Memories

It is no secret that I like to take photographs. I take as many as 1500 - 2000 pictures a month with my iPhone camera. The best thing about my iPhone camera is that it is small, light weight and can easily fit in a pocket or bag. Even in the tiniest of bags I own. I transfer pictures on to my computer at the end of every month and organise them into files. It was whilst doing this that I noticed that many of my photographs were not in focus and appeared blurry.

So, here is a little treat to myself! I bought a camera with a zoom lens. The best thing about it is that it is light weight and not at all bulky. It will not fit in a pocket but it does fit in one of my larger bags for when I am out and about.

My camera

I have started to take more care when snapping away. I try to ensure that the image is in focus and pay more attention to what it is that I am trying to photograph.

Close up of a Daisy

I was fortunate enough to spend a few days away at the Welsh coast, so I enjoyed experimenting with compositions. I really like the photograph above of the sand

 

Pansy

 

Ripples on the Beach

On the Beach

 I came across a lone leaf whilst on the beach, so I tried to capture it in a photograph. I especially like the colours of the green seaweed.

Clouds Against Blue Skies

A Selection of Photographs

 I have had great fun with my camera so far and can not wait to learn more about photography!

How to style a Room on a Budget

It is amazing how you can transform a room in your home regardless of your budget. My friends and family will tell you that I love a bargain and I'm always keeping my eye open for sales and offers. I like to change my home décor with the seasons as I think this keeps my home looking fresh and appealing.

For example, during those long winter months when the nights draw in early I like my home to feel all snug and cosy. In the summer however I like my home to feel bright and airy. So where do I begin to achieve this?

Spring/Summer Display

In the Winter

Let's start with cushions. I simply love decorating the sofa with cushions much to the amusement of my husband. I think he thought I was slightly crazy when I asked him to store my autumn/winter cushions in the attic! Last Autumn I bought two lovely cushions from Wilkinsons for £6 each. They had a picture on of a stag and I fell in love with them instantly. For £6 I had the cushion cover and pad but you can buy just the cushion covers if you wanted to. Sometimes though I do find the cushion covers to be the same price as a filled one! It's best to shop around. I saw cushions very similar to the ones I had bought for double the price elsewhere!

My Winter Cushion Covers ( I have since got rid of the throw as I was not happy with it!)

I didn't like my cushions on the sofa as these were old, tatty and faded so I got rid of these. I went through a stage a couple of years ago where I wanted to display every piece of decor I owned! My dresser was so cluttered and took forever to dust! I now like displaying only a few pieces as its not only easier to keep clean but it looks tidy too. I knew I wanted new cushions for the Spring/Summer season so I shopped around until I saw exactly what I wanted. This year I've introduced soft mauve colours into my home. I keep the walls neutral so I can change the colour of my decor to suit my mood. At the moment I love the softness of pastel shades. I found a gorgeous floral pattern at Next and treated myself to one cushion. I only wanted one as I didn't want the sofa to look too busy. Instead I bought 4 more cushions in a shade that would compliment my pretty one. I got these from Next and Sainsburys.

Cushions for Spring/Summer

As I looked around my lounge I noticed I had lots of candles on display that were all different colours. I had cream, pink, blue and even green. I rounded up every one and then selected a few cream coloured candles to keep out. The rest went in a cupboard to be used in the winter. I didn't actually have any mauve coloured candles or holders so I made it my mission to find some. Sainsburys came up on top for selling exactly what I wanted. I could have got carried away and bought loads of candles and holders but the last thing I wanted to do was clutter up my dresser and sideboard again! So I carefully selected a few pieces.

Pretty Candle Holders

My curtains in the lounge are cream and go with everything so these stay up all year round. I have a few neutral coloured jugs and glass vases that I like to display flowers in. During the Spring/Summer months I like to display cream/white flowers such as roses and stock. Aldi sell lovely flowers at such great prices. I always pop a bunch in my trolley as part of my weekly shop. Supermarkets tend to reduce flowers to silly prices in an evening too. I once had 4 bunches of flowers that should have cost £19 and I paid just 75p! They last for 10 days too!

Flowers Make a Pretty Display

I also have a few ornaments that I like to change with the seasons. Just before Christmas last year Sainsburys had a sale on and I bought these lovely wooden deer ornaments. I knew I wouldn't want to display these after the winter so they are boxed up in the attic, along with a canvas picture of a stag in the snow. I found a lovely canvas picture to replace my winter one with in Home Bargains!

The Family of Deer

Spring/Summer Décor

It is so tempting to display everything! I have found though that I have more compliments about my home if it's less cluttered so I guess less really is more! 

I hope you have found these tips useful. I would love to hear about any tips you have for styling a room on a budget.   

Ever Changing Meadows

I love living right in the heart of the countryside. I feel so lucky that I can draw back the curtains in a morning and the first thing I see are acres of meadows.

Morning and evenings are my favourite time of day. I like to wake early and take a cup of tea outside and take in the views and breathe in the fresh air. 

I was looking back at the photographs I have taken over the last 17 months and realised I like to take pictures of the meadows. Here are some pictures taken across the four seasons.

In the Autumn/winter trees have lost their leaves, hay has been collected from the meadows to feed the livestock during the colder months. Tourists have returned home, animals hibernate until Spring

Sheep grazing in the meadows, their home for the Winter until the lambs are born in the Spring

The first frosts of the Winter

A frosty field on a cold crisp Winter morning

Spring emerging after a long winter

The ever-changing evening skies  

Summer days 

C

What Home Means

Home to me is a place that reflects upon who I am. It is full of my style and things that I like. It is a place were I can relax and unwind, be myself in. Where ever I go I always know that my home will be there waiting for me to return. It is mine. 

In my home and garden

The best thing about moving into a place that needed work doing to it meant that I could change things to my taste. I didn't have to put up with the brittle wallpaper, thread bare carpets, an old and battered kitchen, no garden. I could see passed all these things and know that I could create my dream home. 

I enjoy decorating my home with floral displays and pretty accessories

Okay, so I might not have the roses growing over the front door (yet!), I may not have the converted barn as a craft room, nor the sea view I yearn for but I do have everything else I want and could possibly need. Most importantly my home is filled with memories and loved ones. 

I like to collect mementos from days out, holidays and walks in the countryside. Wild flowers fill jugs and picture frames of my favourite places hang on the wall 

I feel so lucky that I have such a wonderful view to wake up to every morning. In the warmer months I enjoy a cup of tea on the patio overlooking the meadows. It is quiet and peaceful, only bird song can be heard. It is these simple pleasures that should not be taken for granted. 

A nesting box can be found hidden amongst the clematis in the garden 

The Month of June

For me, June is about saying goodbye to Spring for another year and welcoming Summer with open arms.

Summer skies 

The days are long and warm and it feels so nice to feel the sun on my face. I can have the doors and windows open wide, I can step into the garden without putting on an extra layer. I can enjoy leisurely strolls across the meadows.

The Meadow

It is also the time of year where the garden starts to bloom. Flowers emerge into a beautiful array of colour. 

Red Hot Pokers

Rose

Chives

Pansy

The first crops of home grown vegetables and salads are ripe for the picking. Nothing tastes better than those tender lettuce leaves in a salad. Dining outside underneath the patio table parasol just makes this month even more lovely. 

Sunny days

Pressing Flowers Part 2

A week ago I pressed some flowers in a press I purchased from Laura Ashley. You can read about it here. Well today I could not wait any longer so I had a look! Much to my delight the tiny flowers I had pressed between the sheets of blotting paper were perfectly pressed.

Getting ready to open the flower press. Isn't the press pretty?

Beautifully pressed flowers!

If you like flowers, I highly recommend treating yourself to this lovely flower press. It preserves flowers beautifully. I picked little flowers, petals and leaves to press and left them for a week. I would leave larger flowers a little longer.

As I write this post, we have been issued a weather warning for thunderstorms, expected later this afternoon. Perfect time to spend that time playing around with ideas on how to use these pressed flowers. As for now, I shall make the most of the nice weather and pick more flowers from the garden and meadow so I can press some more!

Furniture Makeover!

For a while now I have been in two minds whether or not to paint some wooden furniture. I have been looking at Pinterest and Instagram as a source of inspiration and often wondered if it really is that simple to give furniture a new lease of life.

The bookcase I wanted to paint

I had three particular items in mind. First one was a huge mirror hanging on the wall in the hallway. I loved the size of the mirror but I wasn't keen on the orange pine frame. Next was my dining room table and chairs. I couldn't help but think they may look nicer painted cream. The final item was a bookcase I found and bought in an antique shop for just £10. Like the mirror, this was also orange pine. I have nothing against orange pine but it didn't match with the rest of my light pine furniture. 

I decided to go for it! I bought some runs of Rust-Oleum chalk paint in white and cream. I wanted to paint the mirror white to match the walls in the hallway. I began with the mirror. 

I used masking tape to protect the mirror edges

As It was raining, my husband carried the mirror (it's very heavy!) into the garage for me and I began the makeover. I used masking tape to protect the mirror edges as I painted the frame. I cleaned the frame with sugar soap before painting. I applied two coats of paint before lightly sanding it and then finished it with the wax. I must admit I was pretty surprised at how easy and quick the whole process was! Why had I not done this before?! 

The finished mirror hanging in the hallway

I couldn't wait to get started on the table and chairs. I decided to paint the chairs and table legs cream but keep the table top pine. I had actually seen a table like this that I wanted to save up for! Again I was very happy with the results. 

My 'new' table and chairs

I painted the bookcase cream too and once again it surprised me how quick it was to paint the item. 

The bookcase afterwards

I am thrilled with the results! I certaintly have caught the painting bug. Next on my list is my dresser. Watch this space! 

Have you given furniture a new lease of life with chalk paint? I would love to see pictures if you have. 

Jamaica Inn, Cornwall

My husband surprised me with a night away at Jamaica Inn, Cornwall. We love to visit Cornwall and every time we travel to this beautiful English county we always stop for a break on the A30 at Jamaica Inn.

Jamaica Inn, Cornwall

I was thirteen years old when I first saw Jamaica Inn. I could not wait to get my hands on a copy of the novel by Daphne De Maurier. Rebecca became a firm favourite too! My husband will tell you I get so excited when I see Jamaica Inn in the distance from the A30. I love looking around the little gift shop and wondering if I'll see any ghosts that are supposed to haunt the inn. The building has so much history attached to it. It's not hard to imagine the ghosts of smugglers roaming around the place.

So much history at Jamaica Inn

Dogs are welcome at Jamaica Inn. They have 2 dog friendly rooms and even provide a basket and bowl. As our night away included breakfast I was a bit concerned that dogs were not allowed in the restaurant but I need not have worried as they have a special area for our canine friends.

We crossed the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall and arrived at Jamaica Inn early evening. We were made to feel very welcome and were shown to our room. To be honest I was expecting something cold, dark and gloomy looking with plenty of corners for ghosts to lay in waiting! I was very surprised to see a lovely bright room and exceptionally clean too!

Our room was lovely

We were hungry after our journey, so we made our way to the restaurant. I had a lovely salad, whilst my husband enjoyed the steak!

I did not see any ghosts or experience anything ghostly. I was listening out for noises but only could hear the soft patter of the rain falling outside. I am not sure whether to be disappointed or not! Our room was situated in the newer part of the building and from a little research the haunted rooms are located in the older part. I do not think I am brave enough to stay in one of these rooms!

Named after the character Joss in the novel Jamaica Inn

The following morning we woke up to the Inn being surrounded by fog. I loved it! To me, that is what Jamaica Inn is about, being surrounded by the moors of Bodmin and covered in a blanket of mist and fog. In the daylight that is! I may not have experienced any ghostly sightings myself but that does not mean to say that they are not there!

Breakfast was lovely and such a lot of choice. We could take our time too and enjoyed a pot of tea. I had a pot of peppermint tea. No visit to Jamaica Inn is ever complete with out a visit to the gift shop. My husband bought me a beautiful hard back copy of the novel Jamaica Inn. It is something I shall treasure for years to come.

In the restaurant you can have your picture taken with Mary Yellan 

We would love to return for another night's stay. My husband would like to stay in one of the older rooms but I think I would be happier in one of the newer ones!