March 2017

March has been a quiet month, nothing unsual happening. Spring has definitely arrived with glorious displays of blossom and new growth.

Blackthorn blossom

Willow buds

Andrew has finished decorating the hall and the carpet has been ordered. I'm not a big carpet fan and have a dislike of shopping for them, every carpet store is a sea of beige interspersed with highly patterned 1950's pub carpets. However I had an idea for our stairs and hall which I'm hoping works - watch out for the April post!

It has been the month where plans have solidified and we realised there is a possibility that 2017 will see the move to France. We think we have finally narrowed down our search area and I've become much taken with Uzerche. We've also realised that our language skills are pitiful and have both signed up for on line teaching with Rosetta Stone. I seem to have been persuaded to take the more advanced course ( although fortunately this can take French from a lowly level) and I've completed the assessment which gave me a headache. I did lose marks for confusing a brioche with a pain au lait - probably a guilloting offence. Andrew has decided on a different course but he's well into the swing of it.

La plume de ma tante!

We've also been dog sitting Milton for a couple of weeks. He settled into life at Nelson House quite well, quickly learning the house rules particularly where food was involved. He's a bit of a hedonist - enjoying warm, sunny spots.

So stressed!

Too hot for big dogs!

Me & mini-me

And no that isn't the new carpet - just new paintwork.

Apart from some snagging the inside of the house is finished so we're moving outside for the final couple of projects, which start next week.

February 2017

February has been a month of unexpected pleasures.

A surprise parcel from an old friend revealed a quantity of vintage bed linen (how well she knows me!) beautifully laundered. Two pillowcases were put to use straight away.

Vintage pillowcases

An article in Elle Decoration led to the purchase of a splendid new cookery book - Low & Slow by Louise Franc - full of gorgeous comfort food.

So we had an indulgent night - I made 'Roasted pumpkin risotto with browned butter, sage, orange & pine nuts' with a scattering of pancetta for Andrew.

Roasted pumpkin risotto

 He was in charge of dessert and went for the super decadent 'Dulche de leche & chocolate peanut butter pudding'.

Dulce de leche & chocolate peanut butter pudding

 It's a cook book I can certainly recommend.

We spent a weekend in my mother's loft, clearing and sorting. On the floor between the rafters was this roll of photographic images from the early 1960's.

There were some classic period shots - old cars and teddy boys at the beach. It's quite fragile but Andrew managed to recover a couple of photographs for me. My father who was an engineer at the time, larking about at work, he's the one grinning on top of the cone!

Larking about!

And one of me on the back of a motorbike with a now unknown friend. I still have the same chubby knees but not as camera phobic as I am now!

I'm hoping March brings similar treats.