What are you reading?

 

 

“A house without books is like a room without windows.”

Horace Mann

What are you reading?....................

I have always been an avid reader.  Although not so much in the last few years since having the boys.

I always have a pile of books by my bed though.  An assortment of novels, biographies, gardening, sewing and crochet (when it comes to sewing and crochet I'm doing more reading than actual "doing").  We went to the library last week and came home with piles of books for myself and the boys.  We have hardly been at all over the summer so there were lots of newbies in there.  Mr H and I also read alot to Tom and George.  There are books in their rooms and the playroom.  We always make sure Bell has a book on the go and see that she reads every night before lights out.  It definately has improved her reading and is a good way of settling down for the night.

Lately in the evenings when the kids are in bed I have been curling up with books and a cuppa and also stealing the odd afternoon when the boys are asleep or occupied with toys to read some more.  I think with the cooler months coming I'm craving some good reads.  I love my Irish Authors and anything set in England.  Light murder mystery, travel and funny books on modern day lives and parenting are always a go for me.  I've never been a fan of very violent, heavy or sad reads as I find it effects my mood.  I remember reading the Diary of Anne Frank at school and was upset for days after finishing it.  Are you the same?

I've just started a Nancy Mitford book Madame De Pompadour (first published in 1954).  And I will be hunting out a book on Nancy Mitford too as her family and background are as interesting if not more so than the stories she writes!

So - bookwise whats on your bedside table?  What are you loving right now?

Care to pass on any great recommendations?

Happy reading!

Things I'm Loving

Op shop finds - I have'nt found anything great for ages on one of my weekly treasure hunts.  Then I spied this in the window as I was walking out of one of our local op shops this week.  I had a look online to find out a bit more info and it was made in New Zealand by the Willow Company, very popular in the 1970's.  The lid has the ever popular "wood effect" ingrained into the plastic lid.  Brilliant!  I love it because the design on front reminds me of Orla Kiely's stem print which I love.

Found this little beauty in an Antique Store in town.  A Crown Lynn vase.  It has a tiny chip on the rim but at only $8 I'm not complaining.

I celebrated my Birthday yesterday on the 28th.  35 years young!  Got totally spoilt.  I had coffee in the morning with my boys, mum and my very lovely friend Leigh.  Mr H surprised me with a bunch of flowers (above) turned around and there he was!  Great surprise.  The rest of the day was business as usual, grocery shopping and parenting two tired and to be honest slightly naughty boys.  Below are some of the lovely gifts I received...........

Flowers from Leigh's garden.

Sunflowers from my sister's garden.

I love this - a gift from my mum.  A retro Casserole Pot made by Rorstrand of Sweden.

Love the sunshine yellow!

And look!  More Crown Lynn lovelies.  From Leigh, she knows me so well.  Mr H muttered the words I've been waiting to hear for ages............. "you are going to need a china cabinet". Yay!  I have been wanting one for ever to house all of my Crown Lynn and other retro goodies.  I have everything sitting on shelves at the moment and here on the East Coast we are prone to earthquakes and I am worried that the next big shake will send all of my crockery flying!

Crown Lynn "Fat Bottom" cups and matching saucers.  Great colour.

From my SIL Em - in preparation of my "Kitchen Garden".

From Mr H and the kids.  My favourite chocolate and this very pretty card.  Mr H wrote "Nearly" in front of the word "Wife".  Such a sweet card.

Once the kids were in bed this was me....chocolate, bubbles and a bit of blog reading.

Had a few lovely readers asking me about my teaset from the Bake on post.  It is a Port Meirion teaset in the "Crazy Daisy" design.  I spied this in Harrods one day when we lived in London.  Mr H caught the train back in a few days later and bought it for me for my Birthday.  The set included the Teapot which is a great big size.  Two cups and saucers, milk jug and sugar pot with lid.  It is probably my favourite set.


Thank you for all of your kind and supportive words about Charlie.  It really means alot. xo

Don't forget to enter the Baobaby Giveaway here.

And finally have a great weekend!  Not really a busy one for us here.  A playcentre kids morning at the Botanical gardens if the rain holds out.  I'm hoping for more rain though to water our VERY dry gardens.  My Birthday dinner out with Mr H.  And a bit of rearranging to do - I have been sorting out the boys room and moving things around in the Playroom.  I'm wanting to pinch a bit of space to set up my sewing machine.  Not to sure if it will work though..........watch this space!



"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is."

Joining in here

And with Scandi Coast Home.

Monday's child

Monday's Child

Monday's child is fair of face

Tuesday's child is full of grace

Wednesday's child is full of woe

Thursday's child has far to go

Friday's child is loving and giving

Saturday's child works hard for his living

And the child that is born on the Sabbath day, is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.

Which day was your child/children born on?  Mine were all thankfully born over the weekend. Albeit all atleast 10 days late.

We are loving this lovely old Hilda Boswell book.  I mentioned it in my Things I'm loving post on Friday.

It belonged to Mr H as a child and at the moment it is a favourite bedtime book of Tom's.

I don't seem to hear many classics, nursery rhymes or fairy tales that often anymore.  So it is great to have this wonderful book to read to our family.

The illustrations are just beautiful.

Below are a few of my favourites.

Things I'm loving

Oh dear - look at these beauties!  They have turned up in my favourite Retro store in town.  Even my sister n law spotted them and posted this photo on my Facebook - she knows me well.  It strangely coincides with me selling our ugly dining room chairs.  I'm currently looking for new ones.  Not sure if it will be these.  Is it fate I wonder?.................

We are loving this book that belonged to Mr H as a child.  Filled with magical poems and beautiful illustrations.

Mr H bought a chilly bin of Snapper home.  A gift from a work colleague.  We put the large one on the BBQ whole.  Stuffed with lemon slices and rubbed down with a wet herb rub.  Delicious!

 
The grapes are plentiful and with that come the birds.  Netting is currently being put along all the vines in the vineyard.  I love the look, reminds me of wedding veils.

We have cleared the vege patch.  I was planning on planting it towards the end of last year but it has just been so dry.  I did'nt want it all to die off while we were away over the holidays.  The weather has definately cooled down alot now so I'm going to get planting.  This patch will thrive through Autumn and Winter and at a time when vegetables are expensive.  We are surrounded by orchards and an abundance of commercial fruit and vege growers so we can purchase alot of what is'nt taken by the supermarkets this time of year.

Can you see them?  We are waiting patiently for our peaches to ripen.  Not long to go now.

With Tom at Kindy 3 mornings a week now, this little man is enjoying having the playroom all to himself.

Night skies like these..........

Have a wonderful weekend!

"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is."

Joining in here

Things I'm loving

Photo courtesy of Dear Molly.

Loving Tammi's - Dear Molly vintage inspired dresses.  All dresses are handmade using recycled and re-purposed vintage fabrics.  Visit Tammi's blog, shop and Facebook page for a peek at her gorgeous dresses. 

I've been enjoying alot of reading time this week - taking moments when I can.  I have just finished Maeve Binchy's final book "A week in Winter".  Best read when in a big comfy chair.  

I grabbed two of my favourite magazines while in town.  Also enjoyed with Whittaker's Peanut Butter chocolate.  So much for me cutting back on sugar.  It's addictive..........you have been warned!

Love it when this wee man draws on paper and NOT my walls and furniture.

Love that when the children are outside, our pup Charlie is always at their side.........

Loving EZCovers!  Thank you Meghan for mentioning this in last weeks "Things I'm Loving" post.  I clicked on the link and ordered up after we had finished Bell's stationery list.  I am not a fan of duraseal.  I usually do one good book and all the rest have bubbles and lines in them or don't end up closing properly.  The EZCovers come in various sizes and loads of different colours and prints.  They slip on and off (just like a books dust jacket) and best of all are re-usable.  I'm never durasealing again!

Check out the website here - there are also links to the UK and Australian sites too.  The covers took only a couple of days to arrive and Bell put them on all her books in just a few minutes.  Easy!

Have a great weekend!

"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is."

Joining in here.