Friday flowers with a touch of teapots and cups.

Good morning, I checked the calendar twice and it really is Friday.

Unlike my last Friday flower I posted on a Thursday.

Today's post is inspired by this teapot.

I spotted it at my Mums house the other day.

You see, she has been decluttering like me.

This beauty was on the top of one of the boxes.

Sitting there looking very dejected.

Upon closer inspection, her poor spout is chipped and broken. But the rest of her is mighty fine.

If you were to pop over for a cuppa. I would most likely make a pot.

Sometimes an individual one just for you.

Sometimes the robur one for us to share.

Or sometimes, I would cheat and give you a tea  bag in a mug, the mug would always be white.

I probably wouldn't use this pot.

I am not sure it would pour without spilling.

Mum didn't really want to get rid of it.

It was her Mother's.

I said I would borrow it and have a play with the camera.

I may or may not have helped myself to a couple of those pink camellias on the way out.

So, what's the verdict.

Should this old pot stay or go?

I know what I think.

Yozo - yummy stationery

I was browsing around the Frankie Craft blog the other day and came across these pretties.

I followed the link to Yozo craft and stationery supplies.

via Australian Craft blog Frankie

I followed the link to Yozo craft and stationery supplies.

How cute is this?

Oh la la.

I know, it is gorgeous.

And very very pretty.

all via yozo craft & stationery supplies

Sorry if I have caused any upset to your bank balance.

Soothing and pretty... a break from the clutter

We are still up to our eyeballs in clutter today.

All 3 children's bedrooms have been cleaned and decluttered from top to toe.

The resulting excess has spilled out to the rest of the house and oh boy, total chaos!

These soothing and oh so easy on the eye pictures are just what I need.

A rest for my poor eyes and inspiration for neat and tidy.

We have been pricing and sorting the goodies from the kids rooms into boxes ready for a garage sale.

See the wire mesh on the stairs.

I think this is genius.

Simple, effective with a slight industrial edge.

 via here

This living room is light and simple.

Probably not something I would be able to keep this tidy. But it is inspiring.

Well, back to the mess. 

Hopefully I will have it tamed and packed away by the end of the morning.

Then look out kitchen cupboards You are in for a shock!

We might find time to squeeze in a trip to see the Smurf movie.

Anyone seen it yet?

Top ten table scapes

I must confess that until I started reading blogs, I had never heard of the term "tablescaping".

Sarah from A beach cottage introduced me to the term and I have loved them ever since.

Remodelista via Twig & Thistle

a beach cottage

Isn't this pretty.

Pale and pretty. I like the pop of red.

dreamy whites photos by KTMerry photography

Sigh,

I call this art.

dreamy whites

dreamy whites

dreamy whites

dreamy whites

home sweet home

Spanish blog, Home Sweet Home

I am more transfixed by the snow outside than the table. How pretty.

dusty lou

I fully intended no.10 to be a Moerkstyle tablescape on the table Mr M made for me.  but I have been decluttering and rearranging the children's bedrooms like a madwoman.

I am on fire.

Boy 1's room was done on Saturday,

Miss B yesterday and big boy is on my list for today.

The first two were great.

they joined in, made decisive decisions about what to keep and what to throw away.

And even let me rearrange the furniture.

I can't get Miss B out of her room she is loving it.

Back to the tablescapes.

Which do you prefer?

I am tossing up between the first one because it looks warm and fun and the dreamy whites blossom one because it is so pretty.

Linseed, oats & honey slice

Hi there.

 Now, I have to confess I am not much of a cook.

I like to bake,but I just am not really into a lot of cooking.

Something always goes wrong.

I miss or misread the measurements, or run out of a vital ingredient.

I often put the oven on the wrong setting or forget to add the butter.

Mind you, I do make a mean sponge.

That, my friends, I can do!

School holidays start today so yesterday I thought I should do a little baking.

I wanted something a little sweet and a little healthy, if you know what I mean.

So I decided to make linseed, honey and oat slice.

It ticks all the boxes for me at the moment.

It's easy peasey, melt and mix.

Here's the recipe.

.............................................

Linseed, oats and honey slice.

.................................

I cup of sultanas

1 cup of rolled oats

1 to 2 tablespoons of linseed

1/2 cup raw sugar

1/2 cup wholemeal self raising flour

1/2 cup coconut

155g butter

1 tablespoon honey

Now for a little trick a friend showed me.

Tear off some baking paper to line your 28 by 18cm slice tin.

Scrunch up the paper, then spread it out in the tin. This way it fits into the tin and you don't have to cut or fold. (See, I am a lazy cook)

Now mix the linseed, oat, sultanas and flour together with the sugar and coconut.

Throw it all in one big bowl.

Melt the butter and add the honey.

Add the melted mix to the dry ingredients and stir til combined. (excellent for working on those tuckshop arms)

Bake in a moderate oven for 15 to 20 mins.

It is cooked when it looks nice and golden.

It is hard to get it to cut neatly, it's probably best to cut it while still warm then let it cool in the pan.

Enjoy!

Bathroom shenanigans - mini makeover

Well, this old gal is a bit dated. And just to clarify, I am talking about the bathroom.

We bought this rug many years ago to complement the colours in the lovely leadlight windows Mr M's father made for us. The rug is very restricting colour wise and I always find it hard to buy towels.

It is all due for some renovation but right now we are saving up for other things.

So I felt a quick freshen up might lift it's spirit.

Money can't buy the patina on these taps ;)

I had been searching for ages for the right kind of rug. I wanted something earthy, not too fluffy and not too coloured.

I nearly hyperventilated when I found this one.

With a bit of foofing and rearranging.

Some daytime mood lighting...

It started to take shape.

With the softer colour scheme, this old picture of the children in the bath as babies looked a bit garish.

I just popped out the cardboard mat, and covered it with brown wrapping paper.

I ran the photos through the copier and hey presto, a softer look.

Much better!

Miss B. approved but wanted to know "where will she put her shower cap now?"

"Right on the tap where it usually goes", was my reply.

"It's nice to have pretty photos but we still have to be practical."

linking in here

Bright and happy...

via IDA lifestyle

Bright and happy colours perfect to begin the week with.

It is going to be a warm 26 degrees here today. It is almost a shock after the mild start to Spring.

What ever shall I wear?

Maybe the palette above should be my inspiration.

Do you find the change of seasons tricky?

Any wardrobe transitions you care to share?

I think I will go for the cotton jacket or the good old layered top.