Introducing my new blog: Tiny Tidy Cottage & Giveaway

Please click HERE to visit my NEW blog: TINY TIDY COTTAGE and to enter the giveaway.

Thank you

Apologies for the difficulties some of you experienced when clicking on the link. I typed in the wrong link...all rectified and working now!

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

And the winner is.......

Thank you to all of you who took part in the giveaway!

Well done to Wendz from 15 Coast Road who was picked out by the online random number generator.


Wendz, please email me with your address so that I may forward the book and little mystery gift to you. Should you have changed your mind about which book you would like to have, it's not a problem (I added another title to the list on the 23rd March) just let me know.

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

Sunday walk and pub lunch

Following on from my last post, in which I mentioned that we were going to have a NO WORK day on Sunday, that is exactly what we did. We had a long walk to a neighbouring village, had a meal in a lovely pub called the Strode Arms and then walked all the way back home again.


We walked past this lovely big Georgian house just before reaching Cranmore Village.







Cranmore Village (Where East Somerset Railway is located) .
There weren't any trains running. They will start up again from the 1st April. I look forward to seeing the steam trains go past our house again. The train doesn't run in the winter and I miss not seeing them go by.


Picture borrowed from Strode Arms website as I didn't get around to taking a picture of the outside.


Pub entrance


We arrived at 13.55 hours, just before they stopped serving food. We got there just in time.






You see the table at the far end nearest the fireplace? That is where we usually sit when we go there for a meal. Today however, it was too hot to be sitting by the fireplace so we sat in a different area.
I took pictures of the interior just as we left the pub. It usually is much busier than these pictures imply. It was close to closing time.


I had a traditional beef Sunday roast and a sticky toffee pudding (Very English!). They were both DELICIOUS!
Enland has come a LONG way since the 1970s! It had a poor reputation when it came to food/restaurants/pub meals as far as the continent was concerned. You can't say the same nowadays. There are many really good restaurants, pubs and a very diverse selection of foods throughout the UK.


All that walking gave me quite an appetite! Besides as I we were walking back home again, I'd be burning some of it off... :-)
I have never had a bad meal at this pub, they recently won a Best food pub award.

After lunch it was time to walk back home.



It's a shame that the skies were hazy, not so good for taking photos. I had hoped for striking blue skies. At least it didn't rain so I can't complain.






The trees still look very bare, I can't wait to see the trees covered in fresh bright green leaves again.




Thank you for your lovely comments on my previous post, having a break today did me the world of good!

A bientôt!

Isabelle X
P.S: Don't forget to enter my Spring Book Giveaway if you have not already done so!

Life is a game of "Snakes & Ladders"

Do you sometimes feel like your life is like a game of "snakes and ladders"?



Last weekend I did a post saying that I would be painting a dresser in my new workroom (unit). Well, that didn't happen as Miss P has been poorly and only returned to school today. Not Miss P's fault but now I am behind schedule on quite a few things.



The dresser is going to have to wait a bit longer whilst I devote some time to my new website. I have several more photos to take and am working on the wording of various categories, menus, products. As the website progresses, it raises new issues, ideas or obstacles I had not thought of. As I am a perfectionist, I want it to look just right so don't want to rush through it and at a later date regret not having been more thorough .

I have to prioritise but sometimes am divided between doing some sewing, preparing for "The Vintage Bazaar Fair" in Frome on 30Th April where I shall have a stall, working on my new website, continue unpacking at the unit, getting stock in, finding quiet time to just come up with new ideas and design them, keep up with blogging and so on....

I find it interesting to hear how other women manage to keep a happy balance between running their own business, keeping up with housework, making home cooked meals and spending enough quality time with their children (without relying on someone else to look after their child/children)

I admit to having sometimes recently felt like this:


However, I feel that once my new shop is finally up and running I will have a new regular & organised routine in place. This should help strike a right balance between my work and looking after my family.

I am going to work on the website tomorrow but on Sunday Alan and I have decided NO WORK!
We are going to enjoy some of that beautiful weather out there. I fancy going for a walk around the country lanes and hills nearby.

I will leave you with one of Miss P's omelette's. She absolutely loves making them and is very good at making them! Freshly made a couple of minutes ago.



I wish you all a really good weekend!

A bientôt!

Isabelle X
P.S: Don't forget to enter my Spring Book Giveaway if you have not already done so!

Spring GIVEAWAY Book and mystery gift!

It is the first day of Spring and what perfect excuse for a GIVEAWAY!

The giveaway comprises of ONE of the books shown below and a little mystery gift.

All you have to do is leave a comment on THIS blog post, stating which book you would like to have should you be the winner. There are 8 books to choose from.
If your name is selected, you will have an opportunity to choose a different book if you change your mind between now and then.

The giveaway is open to everyone, you do not have to have a blog. I will post worldwide.


Creative Walls: How to Display and Enjoy Your Treasured Collections by Geraldine James


The French Inspired Home by Carolyn Westbrook


Romantic Prairie Style by Fifi O'Neill (Added to list on 23rd March)


Modern Vintage Style by Emily Chalmers


Pale and Insteresting by Atlanta Barlett & Dave Coote


Romantic Style by Selina Lake and Sara Norrman


75 Birds, butterflies & beautiful beasties to knit and crochet


Baking Made Easy by Lorraine Pascale

Remember, if you do not have a blog, please leave your details (name & email address)

The draw will take place on Monday 28Th March at 19.00 hours GMT. I will be using an online random number generator.

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED, THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO ENTERED.

Good luck! :-)

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

and the WINNER is.....

Thank you to all of you who took part in the giveaway. I had a wonderful response. Tonight both Alan & Miss P helped out preparing for the draw. After all the names were written on pieces of paper, it was time to fold them up






Alan's Grandfather's bowler hat came out of it's box for the occasion.


Once all the pieces of paper were in, it was Miss P's job to mix them around


and pick one out


WELL DONE TO KAREN FROM SUSSEX WHO IS THE WINNER! Please email me your full address so that I may forward the goodies to you.

Miss P is beginning to feel a bit better, the draw was a welcome distraction for her. Thank you for your get well wishes which I passed on to Miss P.


A bientôt!

Isabelle X

Treasure box and giveaway extention

Thank you for all your wonderful blog Anniversary wishes. So many lovely things were said in your comments. Really appreciated!

Well, this week didn't quite go according to plan, hence the lack of posts. Miss P has a heavy cold with quite high temperatures on and off. I have also had people in and out of the house looking at the roof and others giving quotes for wallpapering our bedroom.


A few weeks ago, I spent well over an hour going through several wallpaper books in a interior designer shop in a nearby town. I finally narrowed it down to about six wallpapers that I liked. When the samples arrived in the post, it didn't take long to decide. The one pictured above is what I have chosen for our bedroom.

About 10 days ago this beautifully wrapped package arrived for me in the post. I bought it from Floss, I was lucky enough to visit her blog just as it had been listed for sale.

Lovely packaging Floss!


I'm so pleased with it!

Just a reminder that you can still enter my giveaway if you have not already done so. To enter the giveaway, comments need be left on the GIVEAWAY post please.

I have extended the time, comments can now be left up until 18.00 hours GMT tomorrow Thursday 04th March, as I will not be available during the day as previously planned. (As Miss P is unwell, I will be looking after her) This gives some of you an extra chance to have your name added to the list!

The draw will take place between 19.00 - 21 hours tomorrow evening (Thursday 4th March)

Back to nursing duties...

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

FIRST ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY!

It has already been one year since I began blogging and to celebrate this, I am having a....GIVEAWAY!

This is what one of you will win....



2 Quilt blocks

A vintage square tablecloth

A white heart shaped cushion cover and a little Laura Ashley bag

Vintage fat quaters, a Welsh Love spoon and a note book

Embroidery

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post, that's all!
One entry per individual to keep it fair for everyone taking part please. Thank you.

Anyone can enter the giveaway, you don't have to have a blog.

I will post worldwide.

I have REALLY enjoyed blogging, I have got so much more out of it than I ever expected. I have discovered so many lovely and inspiring blogs, have made friends with some lovely fellow bloggers and been in touch with some whom I have not met yet.
I had not expected it to be such a friendly community. It had not occured to me that it would be like that when I first started out. So... a BIG THANK YOU for following my blog, sending me emails, leaving comments and last but not least....for your friendship ;-)

ENTRIES WILL BE VALID UNTIL WEDNESDAY 3rd MARCH 2010 - 23.59 GMT.
THE DRAW WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE MORNING OF THURSDAY 4th MARCH 2010.

ATTIC UPDATE: The loss adjuster has had a look at it today and guess what..? It's not covered.... A roofer is coming to have a look at it on Monday, we'll be told more about the extent of it then.

A bientôt!

Isabelle X