Corners of my home this morning

Some pictures from my home today.  Snowdrops from the garden in a jam jar - I always feel strangely guilty  bringing these indoors but they are just too pretty to leave outside.

A canvas picture that littlest one painted over the summer which has finally made its way onto the wall.

Cosy blankets and cushions which never seem to stay where they belong in the living room.  I bought this owl from a little shop in Great Missenden at Christmas time.

And I will update you on the bathroom soon I assure you.  We are one coat of 'Rock Candy 1' to go on the bookcase!  It will be worth the wait I promise.

Budget bathroom makeover - the before shots

I cannot wait to show you what we've done with this room on a tiny budget.  Honestly, this little room was so horrific I had kind of blanked it out.  If I had to use one word to describe it's previous state it would have been 'unloved'.  We lived with it like this for about 3 years.

Noteworthy (in my opinion) are:

• the tiles that we started chipping off the wall when we first moved in and then abandoned due to lack of funds to replace
• the gap showing the delightful chipboard floor between the wall and where the lino stopped - used to be some rotten boxing there covering the pipes
• the mahogany loo seat....very 1980's
• the lack of bath panel - no idea why we thought we were better off without it.
• the placement of loo roll - how delightful.  No holder.  Am sure that floor was a pretty regular holding spot.

But wait.  It gets better!  View from the other side........

No shower attachment meant that we got to use a red food jug (on the cabinet) to rinse our hair when washing.  And we almost have a 'feature wall' of chipped tile.  Such a lovely view to ponder whilst having a soak.

So this weekend I promise I will update with progress.  What we have achieved on a budget of £500 and many weekends of hard work. The Queen of Clean has excelled himself this time.

Three Beautiful Things

1.  An origami cat - a birthday gift from Yoyo to the Eldest.  He wasn't overly grateful so I intervened and now it sits on my kitchen windowsill.  She put a lot of love into that kitty I tell you!

2.  Yoyo herself.  Because I am biased (and I'm told it is a parent's right to think their child is more beautiful than anyone else's)

3.  This new song from James Morrison (Queen and Clean & I are huge fans).  Will be released next week.

Sorry I am missing in action again.  I have lots to show you and must do better with more regular posting.

Anna x

Note to my children....

I was pondering today if you would remember this door on the under stairs cupboard when you are grown up.

The excitement of finding a pencil and a hard backed book to take that all important measure.

Each of you trying to be 'first' and jostling one another in the cramped space.

Your Dad usually acting as official 'measurer' and turning it into a ceremony of sorts.

The gasps and grins on your faces when we discover how much you've grown.

Because my lovelies, even on those most chaotic school run mornings when I have to run back into the house for your book bags and reach into this cupboard.....the site of your scrawled names there makes me smile.

I can feel your pride through those little pencil markings.

Three beautiful things

1.  Yoyo twirling in the garden to make her dress spin.  She eventually collapses onto the grass giggling.

2.  My long awaited flowers from my 'Princess Diana' (think that's what it was called) clematis finally appear. 

3.  First courgette of the year.  I have been lazy this year with vegetables and am just growing these and Tuscan Kale.  Not sure what to do with the Kale, think I was just growing it to be trendy, but assure you I will use every last courgette up.

New arrival

A most generous hand me down from my Aunty, her piano, arrived here last week.  It has found a permanent residence one side of the fireplace, right in the middle of our home. 

I used to play, but am a bit of a one trick pony at the moment playing Fur Elise and not much else.  Still to my non-piano playing family I think they are a little impressed (if not tired of hearing the same tune).

Everyone is interested though in this new arrival, from The Queen of Clean (trying to master Coldplay Clock's intro), to littlest one who likes to investigate the pedals.  Yoyo is most often found there lurking around the sharps and flats with a little tune I taught her. 

Oh and my Ercol chairs, we have still only sorted one of them out.  Did you really expect anything more?

Little Red Shelf

Another little Jumble treasure.  This one not so well received by The Queen of Clean.  I think it is cute and the sort of thing that Soulemama would have in her kids rooms (although she'd probably have a beautiful display of wooden kids toys/seasonal nature finds rather than my odd little assortment).  I like the size, the colour, the pointy ends on the top and base, I even like the little dinosaur sticker that was stuck in the middle.  The Queen of Clean on the other hand thinks it is simply awful.  He has accused me of using the word 'vintage' to describe anything fit for the skip.

I was a bit naughty and whipped littlest one into a frenzied state by showing it to him and suggesting he could keep his blackboard chalk on it.  Queen of Clean then had no option but to do the honours and get it on the wall.  Mean aren't I?  My littlest one asking you to do anything is too hard to resist.  The glimpse of blackboard you can see there spans the whole wall and it's great to have somewhere to rest the chalk nearby.  Yes that is the word 'fart' you can see scrawled on there.  What can I say, I am a  liberal parent and am willing to help sound out any word if it means a child is engaged in writing practice......

So here it is - my little red shelf for £1.  Yes another bargain scored at Saturday's sale.  I'm not even going to bother re-painting, I love the cheerful shade of red and it goes well in his room.  

What do you do when your taste clashes with your other half - do you resort to underhand strategy like me?  Or should I be more respectful that he's getting rather tired of the vintage vibe?