Being Granny & A First Birthday

Being a Granny is the best present I could ever be gifted. This last year has seen changes to our family in the most amazing way possible, my Grandson brings such love and joy. 

We often all sit and observe him in wonder. 

Watching as he overcame the obstacles faced at birth, slowly awakening to this new and wonderful World and family that just love and adore him so much.

Lately he has gone from crawling to cruising and standing alone - those first steps taken, the confidence just needed! He's learning to communicate, sounds changing all the time, a new repertoire of first words being formed. He reserves certain nuances for different people, for Grandpa it's playing monsters, for me huge snuggly hugs you just don't want to end :-)

And so at weekend we celebrated this little man's First Birthday! With of course our family tradition of Henry Hedgehog cake, which his Mama wishes to continue (so sweet)!

Days like these are to be seized with both hands they really are a gift -
 I can hardly grasp, a year gone so fast!!

 This time the branch was hung with hearts - what our home is full of!

 There were sweet treats - of course!

 & here he is - this little man who has turned our World upside down - Sebby!

As a Mum I was chilled but I'm so much more chilled as a granny ;-)  Timing doesn't matter, the loose routine stays the same but we eat when hungry, go to bed when tired...embrace spontaneity, housework can always wait.

Thanks for reading this Granny's musings!
XX

Ilse Crawford At Ikea

I recently took a trip to Ikea with my Son and his girlfriend having recently moved into a new home together. I wanted to buy him a desk for his study. He chose the light cork desk from the Sinnerlig collection by Ilse Crawford. So tactile, it brings real warmth to the study. I did joke that maybe we buy a piece of wood and stick cork tiles on top.... but, mmmmm, definitely not quite the same effect as Ilse!!

I love the range,  the rawness and natural qualities of the materials used. The range consists of rugs, cushions, lighting, furniture and pottery. I particularly liked the dark cork desk top - if I were buying I would team with this chair to make the lighter areas really pop.  But,  I have my own desk,  with its own stories. 

This desk,  I've told him must go with him wherever in the World life takes him. This desk is to gathers the marks of the everyday - it's not to be precious about, the marks of different time periods, where all nighters have been pulled,  deadlines reached, coffee rings and stains,  a desk that shows the journey of time, the journey he's taken as he starts his Masters in mathematics and later his PhD. I'm one proud Mama!

Anyone been to Ikea recently? Did you see the Ilse Crawford range? Did you like? XX

Made Me Smile

This week I received three lovely, unexpected gifts! Small tokens of friendship & love to be treasured!

The first this gorgeous teacup and saucer, which I have loved using, being a BIG tea drinker. It has made me feel 'grown up' and sit down to really savour whichever tea I am drinking :-) rather than running round slurping as I go!!

This beautiful little bookmark from my Son. Lovely and bright amongst the pages of my book :-)

& lastly this cool bag, which is actually a shopping bag when you purchase clothing from Buffalo Exchange in America! I admired it at my friends and next minute it was on my shoulder - she was throwing it out!! Really like it, a perfect size for work, on the beach.....

Of course it doesn't have to be monetary gifts to make me smile.

But this week, these random gifts have :-)

What's made you smile?

XX

House Full Of Flowers

A pretty floral post to start the weekend!
A couple of weeks ago I returned home from work to flowers dotted about the place.
They have been brightening my day ever since and are still (mostly) blooming.
(Thankyou Mr.L X)

Not flowers I know, these two small cactus were favours from a friends wedding.
On instagram I posted the ice cream's my daughter and I were enjoying and someone said the pots would look cute with cactus in them - so I fished them out of the bin and voila!
I love instagram for that!

Wishing you a happy happy weekend!
Lets hope the sun keeps shining!
XX

This Boy....

Sebastian, 12 weeks old. How time flies. Enjoying every second of this beautiful boys life. 
So in love. Just had to share. Indulge me!!

These Baby Bundlers are fabulous for those night time nappy changes, 

no fiddly press studs when you're half asleep.

 It's Friday - Yay!
Happy Weekend!
XX

Extra Special Delivery

Sorry for my absence lately, it is due to this little whirligig!

Sebastian Edward

Sebastian decided he wanted to join the party early. 

He had a difficult start, but is a tough little cookie, like his beautiful Mama. 

His Mama & Papa had to deal with more than I and most people in the first few days of their precious baby's life.

But, he is home, looked at in awe and wonderment and filling our hearts with so much love. 

So, this weekend I am away in the Lake District & hope to catch up with my favourite blogs and start to put together some of my own!

Smile everyone - It's Friday - 
Happy weekend!
XX

Sebastian is wearing hat and bootees made by my Sons girlfriend - how cute are they?! X

Readjustment

I'm trying!

Readjustment - adjust, alter, adapt, re-acclimate, reconcile, regulate.

All  those things and more...I prefer "Roll with it". 

It takes time - the tidiness I can get used to - but the quiet.....

It's four weeks now since 'A' left for her new home & life, I see her lots, 

despite this I miss her lots too. & my boy.

Life is rolling on, Mr.L & I are embracing the changes and looking forward to all that life has to offer. We are trying new things, adopting new routine's, enjoying each other's company and talking about our dream's. We want to travel, see more of the World. 

We are ready for our next chapter. I hope it involves a cosy cottage too - & soon. 

It's not that I don't love this old house of mine, I do, I've preserved it, worked with its quirks, hopefully it will stand for another 350 years, but it's ready for a new family to grow and fill it with noise (not that we don't when we're all together). 

But it's a family house, too big for just 2 and a puppy! :-) My Son says "Why don't you just let me have it??" If only!

Family - it's definitely where the heart is.
XX

Declaration's of Love

I love to visit the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris passing over the Seine. 

A must visit, the hundreds of thousands of 'love locks' have to be seen!

Some are simple, with names or initials inscribed, some painstakingly 

hand decorated and beautifully painted.

The padlock is fastened to the bridge, or as you see below lamp posts & the key thrown into the Seine symbolising unbreakable love, aaaahhhh!

From Russia with love! :-)

Wishing unbreakable love to my Daughter 'A' as she buys her first home with her 
lovely boyfriend 'S'........
XX

Vintage French Postcards

You may remember I posted here about my trip to Paris and meeting Helene who has been selling vintage postcards along the Seine for many years.

 I knew I wanted to do something with them but wasn't sure what.....the postcards were sent to loved ones and are addressed & stamped. 

A beautiful memento - 'a reminder of the past, a keepsake.'

I meant to post this before Christmas.....

I had also bought some little silver doves and had some fabric buttons in my craft box - so here is what I did!

Beautiful - I hope they survive another 75 years!

XX

Christmas Wishes

Wishing all who drop by the most wonderful 

Christmas!

XX

Noticing

Feeling Bleh after going to bed with a headache which was so awful it stopped me sleeping.

Pounding this morning but once Mr.L had got some tablets, I picked up this afternoon.

Comforting Chocolate!

I am not good at sitting still and relaxing so ended up mooching round the house and noticing things that make me smile.

It made me mindful that this is what home is for, rest & relaxation.

Here's some of what I noticed.

Brightly coloured herbs & spices in my lovingly restored cupboard.

I paste invitations in the back...

Snoopy for Olly's doggy treats ;-)

Mr.L & I bought this for our first home - LOVE!

Pound shop Buddah bought for Daddy from the kids - I used to take them to the pound shop at Christmas and they would go in by themselves to buy family presents. 

Such fun to see what they had bought. Memories, *sigh*.

Little birdy from 'C' (aka best friend ever!) brightening up the hallway.

Love the juxtaposition of these books - my Son's old Lemony Snicket books 

and his current reads! (Note to self - buy him number 7)!

Crazy Wall in my Son's room, some of which we did together.

 If I stop to look I see something new every time!

Bedside & VODKA!! Teenagers! Abigail Ahern Letter A

Memories hung with simple twine & pegs in A's room.

This was my bookcase when I was a baby - now in A's room - 

decorated by her when she was 8 - really love this and hope she keeps it :-)

Baby present - still hung! After all these years.

 Fishes from a dear friend swimming in the bathroom!

Cosy bed with the patchwork made over hours and hours by my lovely Mama - 

We are lucky to have a few and I would never part with them.

Makes a Home...

& The World go round!

Wishing all a Happy Weekend!

XX