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!

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 

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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

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!

A week in Devon

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Brixham, Devon

Last month my husband and I spent a week in Devon. We both love the coast and often go to Cornwall but we thought it would be nice to see somewhere else for a change. We found a lovely cottage near the harbour in Brixham that also welcomed dogs. That is something very important for us when we book a holiday as we could not leave our dog behind. He loves the beaches too much!

On the Ferry

We were very lucky with the weather, apart from the odd rain shower. We took the ferry across to Torquay and had a stroll around the marina. Our dog was allowed on the ferry too. He was ever so good.














We drove to a little village called Cockington and my, how pretty it was! Such a typical English countryside village. We enjoyed a Devonshire cream tea in the cafe garden. I bought a horse shoe from a gift shop for the garden gate.

Cockington Village

We had a  lovely week away and enjoyed ourselves very much. We created some happy memories. My husband also surprised me with a night away at Jamaica Inn, just off the A30 in Cornwall! He thought, seeing as we were so close to the Cornwall border, he would treat us to a night's stay. You can read all about it in my next post!

Pressing Flowers

When I was a little girl I used to spend hours picking baskets of flowers from the hedgerows during walks in the countryside. I also loved to walk around the garden collecting as many different types of flowers that I could find. Afterwards I would press them between pages of a heavy book or in a flower press. 

Most often these flowers lay forgotten about until one day I would come across them. I would then make cards and pictures for family. 

As I got older, my love for flowers only grew. I love having a garden and house full of flowers. 

I was delighted to discover a pretty wooden flower press from Laura Ashley and promptly ordered myself one. I could not wait for it to arrive! 

It did arrive quickly, so I chose some little flowers to press. You place them between pieces of blotting paper and cardboard and leave the flowers in the press for about a week. Larger flowers will take longer. 

I have a few ideas about what I would like to make with my pressed flowers. I've seen such pretty arrangements that have made a lovely framed picture. 

Bathroom Makeover

I knew the bathroom needed working on as soon as I saw the avacado suite! It wasn't just about the colour either, the bath was in poor condition and was very deep and narrow. The pink and white patterned tiles were not to my taste and the room felt cold, dark and small. Unfortunately I do not have any before pictures of the bathroom!

We had several quotes to fit a new bathroom suite but all designers insisted it was not possible for us to tile the walls ourselves. Apparently it needed doing as soon as the old suite was taken out. We wanted to keep costs down so in the end bought a white suite from the DIY store and found a local plummer to fit it for us. 

It took 2 days in total and then we could get working on tiling. I say we but I mean my husband!

The work begins! I chose big cream tiles to make the room brighter

 I chose big cream tiles for the bathroom so the room would look nice and bright.

Keeping the décor natural meant that I could have a variety of colourful accsesories and change them as often as I wished. I have several sets of bath mats, towels and flannels. At the moment mauve is my favourite as it's soft and gentle looking and very Spring like.  

 

I picked some Cows Parsley but it did not last long in the bathroom. It looked really pretty though!

I think my husband did a fantastic job of the tiles, considering he had never done anything like this before.

The little jug is from B&Q! At only £4 I think it was a bargain.

The bathroom feels really nice now and it is so nice to unwind in the bath after a long busy day with a few candles lit.