round ours

Not much excitement happening round here lately, just everyday stuff. I'm addicted to these sweet clementines, we have presents to wrap for posting overseas in time for Christmas. But mostly I'm looking forward to the weekend, it's been a busy week at work.

Don't forget my little giveaway closes on Sunday (Did you notice I stupidly said the 31st, of course there isn't a 31st in November, so it will close on the 1st December). 

museo abc

A few weeks back we visited Madrid. We were only there for a few days and it wasn't until our last night that we read about this place, the museo abc with it's geometric facade. The following morning with just a few hours left before our flight home, we made a speedy hike across town to take it in, we didn't have time to visit properly - to venture inside and look round, which really we should since the museo abc is a museum of drawing and illustration. But then it's always nice to have a reason to go back for another visit.

NB - When we visited Madrid was in the midst of a rubbish collectors strike - I doubt there would normally be all this litter floating around.

making pom poms

I've been making a few pom poms, they're not perfect by any means but since I haven't made a pom pom since my childhood I'm quite happy with them for a start. I might still trim a bit more off here and there, but I want to make more - lots more. Not only is it a great way to relax and unwind I quite fancy having a load of them come Christmas, little white balls with a speck of colour here and there. 

Tip - I bought some fancy plastic rings, but turns out it's easier to just wind the wool round your fingers, as shown here.

I've also created a board of lovely pom poms on Pinterest, go take a look.

And don't forget to enter my little giveaway.

an autumnal giveaway

Welcome to my little autumnal giveaway. Since the nights are drawing in and the cold winter weather is slowly encasing us (at least here in the northern hemisphere) I thought a little cheer was in order. I want to say thank you to you lovely people who read this little blog of mine and follow along. Since the garden is full of fallen leaves nothing seemed more appropriate than this pretty Arbour Harbour cake plate designed by Elisabeth Dunker for House of Rym. I treated myself to the bowl in the same series which you might remember seeing here. What would you do - eat cake from it or stick it up on the wall to admire? 

To be in with a chance of winning you'll need to follow this blog (with Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin') and leave a comment here, for an extra chance of winning you can tweet about this little giveaway and leave another comment with the link to the tweet below. 

Giveaway closes on 31st November 2013, I'll pick a winner at random, so make sure I can contact you should you win!

(I'll do my very best to package this up well, but take no responsibility for breakages in the post)

I'm doubling up today by linking in with Lou and her nature in the home series.

NB - Sorry! There is no 31st this month! The giveaway will close on the 1st December.

This giveaway is now closed, I'll draw a winner over the next few days.

thoughts - mine and yours

I photographed these doilies earlier today. Isn't it frustrating the only time to take pictures, this time of year, is early in the day when the light is at it's best? It's annoying only having two days working from home a week when I can squeeze a little photography into my lunch break - and you see I didn't find time to press them! Of course there are weekends too but we're normally busy doing stuff that doesn't involve me faffing around with the likes of doilies and my camera! Sharing these few reminds me I must try and photograph some more of my collections of this and that, you'll find some I've shot in the past if you care to scroll through here. Part of the faffing around today was trying to photograph a small something I have to giveaway - a little autumnal thank you to those of you who keep popping back to this little space of mine, so do keep your eyes peeled for that coming up soon. 

This picture was an over from here, those two little berries - like eyes looking out remind me Christmas is coming and I'm not quite ready to think about that - are you? D's mum is forever asking what we are doing and I'm just not ready to commit! 

I had thought I might open a little online shop and sell a few cards and other things I've made, but after being on a payroll for a few years now the thought of getting involved with tax returns terrifies me. I always remember the thought of having to do it hanging over me like a cloud, for months on end. I'm sure if you make enough money it's worth paying someone else to do it for you, but I don't see that ever being the case here. Do you have any thoughts on that? Am I being silly? Is it really not a big deal, what do you think? Do you have any tips? Please do share.

lately

• spent time walking, exploring the streets 
• looking up at magnificent displays of plants tumbling down
• visited the grandest of galleries
• drunk our fair share of good coffee
• enjoyed tapas
• drank cocktails

• took in more art
• more coffee
• and enjoyed the geometry of this place

We visited Madrid, our first time to this beautiful city. 

Images from my instagram feed, I still enjoy hanging out there @nicekindofblue

nature in the home

D and I spent 3 days and nights in Madrid last week. We had a super time pootling about, checking out the galleries and sampling the food and drink. We didn't bring much back, we were travelling light (otherwise I'd have stuffed our bags full with ham, cheese and olives) instead our only souvenirs a few postcards and a solitary olive leaf plucked from the courtyard floor at Reina Sofia.

I'm joining Lou in her weekly series, nature in the home.

summer on film [2]

More of the out-of-date film we shot back in summer [here too]

NB. some of these were taken by D

nature in the home

One of our big old apple trees was caught up in last Monday's storm, which tore a large branch from the tree. Down with it came a huge ball of mistletoe. It's sad really, such a big old tree losing an arm and I'm already missing the sight of that big ball of mistletoe clinging on high up there. I've gathered lots up and bought it inside to decorate the house, a little early for Christmas maybe but I don't care. It's funny stuff, lurid yellowy green in colour with leaves looking pretty in pairs and not-quite-white yet berries. I thought it looked a little medusa-like in my lovely new Arbour Harbour bowl by Elisabeth Dunker, I ordered mine from here.

I'm joining Lou again with her weekly series, nature in the home.

fireworks

How was your weekend? Ours was pretty busy, sorting stuff out at home and in the garden. The whole of Sunday was spent making cider, we managed to press about 30 litres worth of apples! But Saturday night we did get out, we joined my parents to watch the fireworks in our local town. We had the most amazing view from their garden, the display was right over our heads, as we looked up our visual field was filled with a dazzling, glittering, jumping, spinning, and whirling shower of light, it really was incredible. I took a few pictures on my phone, but the rest of the time my eyes were fixed on the delights in the sky.

summer on film

It's nice to look back and remember the summer, especially now the clocks have turned back and we've entered November - no more denying we're heading for winter now. Looks like summer from years back when it's shot on out-of-date film using our LOMO, funny really to think it was only a few months ago we were holidaying in Sweden [more here and here, though not on film]

NB. some of these were taken by D