Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Little Bo Peep - found some sheep!

What cuties!

Husband and I were out driving on Sunday when we came across about 5 ewes and their lambs.

They were terribly cute and remarkably friendly to us human folk and allowed me to get out of the car to get up close the them.

Nearly makes one turn vegetarian!



Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Loving Lisianthus

I have a few favourite flowers - white oriental lillies, peoni roses, fresias - but always on show at our big room out the back of the post office are Lisianthus.

I don't have any one particular colour that I have a preference for - I just love their look - they remind me of roses but more delicate, well to me anyway.

I popped a small posy of them on my latest clearance sale find - I think the colours are just perfectly suited to one another.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Afternoon delights

Yesterday afternoon - well actually - the whole day - I didn't really go to work - I had some time out - much needed RnR!!

So I spent the day having cups of tea with friends around town and in the afternoon sunlight enjoyed two coffees underneath this gorgeous grape vine with my great friend Fiona.

Things are warming up all over the state at the moment and its no different in the Snowies, so being able to relish shade under such a wonderful space really made my afternoon.

But today I am back at the helm - on my own the the week as husband has gone to Adelaide for work - O what mischief will I get up too!!

Happy Tuesday!


Friday, January 13, 2012

My Affair with Kev Mc Continues.....

and the episode that I am watching today features a house that is currently for sale for 795,000 pounds!!

Built around 400 years ago, the home is now for sale after a massive restoration project which featured in K Mac's series 4 which I am currently working my way through.

Hillcot Barn is situated within a designated 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' away from the village and is surrounded by open fields in a wonderful secluded setting in the heart of this renowned unspoilt valley. There are superb open views in all directions with the immediate approach being through an old orchard.

It goes without saying that if I could win lotto I would be in a heartbeat moving to the UK to purchase some Grand Designs history - I really should buy a ticket though!





Puppy Parking!!

Ha!

How cute is this idea.

Husband and I have a puppy water station (freshly filled water bowl) outside the post office which is utilised by most of the towns pooches BUT we do have an awful lot of people that think it is OK to bring their beloved four legged friend into the post office.

Now this isn't really a problem except that one of our jackies, Charlie, is really not a fan of other doggies coming onto his turf.

So I have come across these images today and I think I have a job for husband to do over the weekend!




Thursday, January 12, 2012

Florence Broadhurst - simply devine

Today I have come face to face, for what I believe the be the first time, of the works of Australian designer & decorator, the late Florence Broadhurst.

Her patterns are self described as “vigorous designs for modern living” signified by large, bold, contrasting-coloured prints, inspired by elements of nature such as birds, horses, art deco geometrics, flowing foliage and floral motifs.

Her designs are simply devine and I am now searching all over the internet for them and at the moment her designs are being featured by Kate Spade's entire 2012 collection.

Her death (murder)  in 1977 is still shrouded in mystery and makes for interesting reading.


Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Mirror Mirror

You have just got to love a LARGE OVERSIZED mirror.

They add a certain amount of drama to any room - be it a lounge, bathroom, laundry space, the areas in which you can use a mirror are limitless -  as well as being brilliant light reflectors making rooms appear larger and brighter.

A few weeks ago we found a huge mirror in Freedom and that's where it still is - confines in our current living space are at times very frustrating.

I think we will have a very large oversized mirror take pride of place in the house once it is built (o a girl can only dream) and I think it will look very affective in a formal dining/lounge space.






Friday, January 6, 2012

Building v Buying

Husband & I have already built and sold our first home that was located in the Melbourne suburb of Point Cook but I have always had my heart set on buying an old country homestead and renovating......but that all changed this morning when I came across PAAL.

PAAL is a kit home company that designs homestead style homes that will have all of the modern elements that I want without having to spend a fortune in an existing old home to make it livable.

We were recently talking to a local resident who is quite keen for us to purchase his home which is known as the "Old Parsonage" which was built in the mid 1800's but needs alot of work to bring it up to a standard of being comfortable although it is just a stunning home with heaps of established trees and gardens around it.

So PAAL has given us both food for thought - and I know that in my heart I can get a garden to grow with us and see it flourish over time.

So here is the Kit Home that I currently think will do just fine - The Camden.



Thursday, January 5, 2012

Glamping - have you tried it??

Over the last few days Husband & I have been "Glamping" down the road from our town to the tiny hamlet of Dalgety which lies on the banks of the Snowy River.

So what is "Glamping"?

Well according to the Urban Dictionary, Glamping is
Glamorous camping. Satisfying your craving for the outdoors and your penchant for a good meal, nice glass of wine, and a comfortable bed.
No stinky sleeping bags on the hard ground and freeze dried food for me. If its not a Glamping trip, count me out.
So how do I define Glamping??

Well on the recent trip to Dalgety you would have seen us sleeping on our spare Queen Size bed mattress accompanied by Egyptian Cotton Sheets, topped by a luxurious down quilt with fluffy pillows all held within the confines of our brand new Black Wolf 6 man tent (it is seriously huge for two people and three Jack Russell's).

Outside we had a marquee for sitting in our two three person couches, a huge fold out table for eating, washing up, mixing a drink or two or a game of poker.

The BBQ was big enough to feed 17 adults (which we did every night) - two HUGE eskies that did require us to use ice and we did declare that this really would be classed as camping!!

We had the best time - and it all came down to the fact that there were No sleeping bags in sight, No air bed that deflates through the night, No hard lumpy rock ridden ground to sleep on - WE WERE IN CAMPING HEAVEN!!!

So I am now considering writing a small book for other Glampers to make sure that they have all the necessary tools to make camping GLAM!!





Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Another Grand Design Favourite for Sale

Everyone that loves Grand Designs will remember "Stilwater" - the house that was built over the water.

The home is one of my five favourites that have featured in the 8 series of Kevin McClouds much loved and adored program.

So once again I need to find around 1.5 million pounds to buy my little piece of Grand Designs history!!