BOO!!! Happy Halloween!

Hello everyone! Oh I love this time of the year! The crackle of leaves under foot, the musky smell of Autumn. Darker evenings spent next to a roaring fire. And of course Halloween!

Sourced from the internet.

When I was a child in Canada, every year we would go from house to house trick or treating. Neighbours would happily fill our sacks, pillowcases and bags full to brimming with goodies, cookies, sweets, apples, etc.

 

 

 Sourced from the internet.   Yummy, how I would love to sink my teeth into these!

We would all dress up in fancy dress. It was so exciting as a child being out in the dark, when you would normally be tucked up inside, telling each other spooky stories and frightening each other! Isn't it a wonderful, but a rather strange human trait, that some of us actually enjoy being a little bit scared, but of course in a safe not really scary way! I know I enjoy a good spooky movie or ghost story!

So I thought that perhaps as it is Halloween (tomorrow!).............

Come with me everybody lets all settle down by the campfire. We will toast marshmallows while I tell you a ghost story to chill your hearts.......

                                         Image sourced from the internet.

There was a  man at the side of the road hitch hiking on a very dark and stormy night. The night was cold and wet and no cars went by. The wind was howling loudly blocking out any other sounds.

The storm was so strong, and the fog as thick as pea soup,  that he could hardly see more than a couple of feet ahead of him.

                                           Image found on the internet.

Suddenly, he saw the very dim head lights of a car coming towards him. He could not even hear the engine so strong was the howling gale. The car which was going very slowly, probably due to the low visibility, slowed down and stopped. The man without thinking about it, got in the passenger seat, closed the door and turned to thank the driver, but to his surprise realized that there was nobody behind the wheel!

  By the time the man had realised his fate the car which had been going very slowly began to gather a bit more speed as it headed down a slight hill, and due to his fear and shock he felt unable to get out. The man looks at the road and can just make out a curve coming his way. Scared and knowing the surrounding area has very steep drops,  he starts to pray and begs for his life. However, just before the car hits the curve, a hand appears through the window and turns the wheel.

The man, paralyzed in terror, and unable to gather his thoughts together, watches the hand appear each time the car approaches a curve. Sweat was pouring from him and finally gathering together his courage, he scrambles out of the car risking sure death if he jumps out and over the edge of the cliff. Luckily though he finds firm ground beneath his feet and he runs all the way to the nearest town where sees an old eerie pub.

                                         Sourced from the internet.

Wet and in shock, he goes into the pub, asks for two shots of whiskey and starts telling everybody about the horrible experience he just went through. A silence enveloped everyone when they realized that the man was crying hysterically and that he wasn't at all drunk.  He was clearly badly shaken up by his experience.

About a half hour later, a few other men walked into the pub and one said to the other, "Jim theres that lunatic that got in the car while we were pushing it!"

authour unknown

Sorry! I couldn't help myself you know!

Here is are a few clips from The Wizard of Oz. Ding dong the witch is dead! While I was watching this video, I thought, gosh its ages since I watched that film. Perhaps I will this weekend!






May I introduce you to some one very special? Drum roll here!.......

Today  Pumpkin is making his debut. He has been growing in our veggie patch for quite some time. He is a handsome chappy, round and very orange!

Here he is with his Halloween costume on, looking rather inviting I think!

    You can just see Bertie's nose going in for a bit of investigation. Hmmmm?

            Pumpkin posing for the camera with the Owl tree watching over!


Please don't let him know that he will soon be........

Pumpkin soup!!!

 

This is not mine! Found this image on the internet, I haven't made my soup yet! Making it fresh tomorrow. Hopefully it will look as good as this! Oh, I would love some bowls like these!


I thought you may also like to meet a little witchypoo that I have designed and sewn sat on her own pumpkin. I wonder what she is waitng for? Maybe the number 33 broomstick to take her the the halloween celebrations!

Now these Christmas stockings I have been working on busily all week have absolutely nothing to do with Halloween, but just my two latest projects which I am sewing for my two daughter's little girls Sophie and Alissa. I promised Vikki that I would put the photos on here so that she could see how I am progressing! Both wanted pinks, but  next I am going to do some more stockings in traditional  reds and greens!

                        This one is Alissa's. A fairy was requested!

         This is Sophie's. The princess and the pea was requested!
Sorry about the rather tatty state Vikki! They will look much better when they are made up and ironed!

If you enjoy taking part in bloglands goings on then  pop over to Miz Mollye and Shezadoozy, she is hosting a wonderful giveaway which can't be missed! I really love Mollye's wonderful writing and slant on life!

I have also been given this wonderful award from Sharon at My Passport to Style
Thank you so much Sharon, this is so sweet of you! :)!!! You have brought a smile to my face with your kindness!

Tracey of Tracey's - crafty scraps has very kindly given me an award too. I am thrilled to bits and taken aback that she too thinks my blog is good enough! It amazes me how people come here every week and read my ramblings! Thank you so much Tracey, I will post this again on Friday, as I think most people have been here by now.

The award says .."This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated."

Now back to Halloween! I hope that you all have a very Happy Halloween full of magic and spookiness!
I shall be eating pumpkin (shhhh!!!) soup, reading a good ghost story and watching a scary film!   I don't need to dress up for Halloween! Hee hee!

                                   Image from the internet.

BOO!!! Lots of love, Suzie. xxx :) Notice big red sore nose has gone now! I hope everyone else who has had a bad cold are now much better! xxx

Party time!!! Show us your Cath!

Well, here it is, the Cath Kidston party! Go to Lissy lou's blog to see who is taking part.
http://lissylouandthe2littleboys.blogspot.com

I have visited many blogs lately which have shown the latest Cath Kidston book 'Sew', and people who have bought it saying how good it is.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, after drooling over said book each time I saw it, I looked at it on Amazon, thinking I will just have a little look. It doesn't mean that I will buy it I convinced myself!  So, I read a couple of reviews, and ummmed and awhhed. Was just about to leave it, when I noticed that not only did it include patterns for many lovely makes, but it also included all you need to make a very pretty handbag! Gosh, I thought, this is a bargain which can't be ignored. What strong resolve I have! NOT!!!

I had the book for about a week before I got stuck in and made the bag. I decided to line it with red gingham and put a button I had covered on to the front. Having never made a bag before, I was really chuffed! I got the big giddy girl syndrome!

 

 

 

When Lissy Lou suggested this party, I got to thinking about why I and so many others love Cath Kidston so much. What is it that makes us fill up with excitement when we see her fabrics, colours, homeware, etc? What is the secret ingredient that beckons?

Is it that we are reminded of cosy times, perhaps of childhood, Enid Blyton and Ladybird books and nostalgic imaginings? With bright fresh and whimsical florals, polka dots and stripes, can it be awakening something within us that makes us feel warm and safe. I feel that Cath kidston conjures up feelings and images of baking in a country kitchen, vintage homes, fresh bread and being surrounded by gorgeous colour and pattern. It is a feel good thing!

 

I love the cheerfulness and also quirkiness of  the overall look of mixing florals together with polka dots, stripes and cute patterns, quite often in soft pinks, blues and splashes of red, with fresh greens. I think it is hard to explain the feeling that it all gives me, but I am sure anyone reading this, with the same love of anything vintage will know what feeling I refer to. It actually gives me a buzz of sorts! I just love it!

If I woke up one morning and found myself surrounded by all things Cath Kidston or the like, I would think I had died and gone to heaven!

It doesn't surprise me at all that I like Cath Kidston so much, as I do some Laura Ashley........................

 

Monsoon....................

 

and Bridgewater too,

 

After all I do so love all those old Doris Day films which give such a rosey cosy picture of home!

Love the film Don't eat the daisys!!!

I would like one of these!

I would also love :

 And look at this gorgeous pin tin!!!

Just look at these knitted cupcakes I found on the internet for more inspiration!

Now here are a few of my own Cath Kidston and CK inspired goodies that are dotted about my home!

A Ck carrier bag bag, one to actually want out instead of hiding it away under the stairs!

The dotty jug is Laura Ashley, as is the enamel cake stand, the heart I made and the little cup is Ck!

I love mixing florals with checks, Here is what I have on my bed at the moment! Rosebud and pink gingham pillow, with a sequin edged top pillow, floral duvet and patchwork bedspread in green gingham and pink florals with tiny splashes of red.

A spotty dotty holdall hanging next to my much adored monsoon handbag.

A bright red polka dot enamel tin from Primark (!) sits on a lovely vintage linen embroidered tray cloth, which in turn lays on a Laura Ashley tea towel (too nice to be used as a tea towel) with Laura Ashley daisy coasters bought in a sale!

I love this little enamel bucket, it is so cute! I have a few enamel buckets now, for some reason!

This peg bag makes hanging out the laundry so much nicer. It is bright and cheerful and I love it!

Finally! Here are a few of some lovely squares made up out of a mix of CK and Laura Ashley fabrics, all ready and waiting to be made up into a patchwork creation of some sort!

Well everybody, I hope you enjoyed my CK party. I am off out now, into blogland to go to all the other wonderful parties going on out there today! Can't wait!

So until next week, enjoy the parties and have a fabulous weekend!

Lots of love and hugs Suzie. :) xxx

Brown paper packages tied up with string from Lissy Lou! Happy Birthday Ro!!!

Hello everyone! I know I keep saying it, but thank you so much for all your lovely comments, I really do appreciate the time taken by all of you lovlies to leave them! It still amazes me that people come here every week and read my gibberings!

Latest update! I have just recieved this lovely award from Michela at Little Secrets from my garden! Thank you so much Michela, how kind you are! Go and look at her blog, it is lovely as she is too!

 The Splash Award is given to "alluring, amusing, inspiring, bewitching, and impressive blogs"

The rules are:
1. Post the award on your blog
2. Nominate up to 9 blogs
3. Let your nominees know they've won!
4. Link back to the person who gave it to you!
I'd like to pass the award on to the following fab blogs:

Mary poppins
The Linen Shelf
Vanilla Ivy
Blueberry heart
Little Eve
Florence and Mary
Created by Kylie
Tracey's- crafty scraps


Henhouse
KC's Court
Miz mollye  - shezadoozy


Ok thats eleven! Really want everyone to have one, so come on everyone, pick it up and take it!



 Talking about thanks. A huge thank you to Lissy Lou ( and the two little boys). I recently won her giveaway, and it arrived this week! So, so exciting to get a parcel through the post. As I gazed at the parcel in my hands I thought of Lissy carefully packing  and wrapping. Lissy going and posting it. I imagine her local post office. I imagine her day, her life, how the world is for her.  This parcel that already , before I have even opened it, has connected me to this lovely thoughtful lady in another part of the country whom I have never met in person.  May I tell you it cheered my heart!  Do you know what? On the brown paper parcel, Lissy had written...Brown paper packages tied up with string! Isn't that lovely? I thought to myself, isn't this just so special.  Wonderful! Go and visit her, she is lovely!

Inside I found these lovely little framed prints ( And yes I do agree Lissy Lou, they would look lovely painted white!).....

And this charming pot bear candle snuffler, which unbeknown to Lissy is just so right, as I had a similar one that belonged to my Dad, which got broken, so It reminds me of him!.......

These lovely incense sticks, complete with tiny holder, which are gorgeous.......

A very lovely and very handy (for me!) needlecase in red (love red! still haven't got over looking down at my new red shoes when I was a child! Bumping into lamp posts!!  Red still makes me happy!),  thank you Lissy Lou for placing two lovely pins in it too!!!......

A bookmark. Now Lissy, how did you know that I had just started reading a very thick book. Just the ticket!.....

Some Emma Bridgewater tissues! How timely! I have had a stinking cold all week, I don't know what I have, but it is not nice. This is the second week! I have been poorly, and so there is only two tissues left to photograph! I held these back, so I could show both sides! What a martyr!!!

So Lissy Lou, thank you so much, I loved your parcel and goodies. You have warmed my heart with your kindness!


I don't know about all of you, but I do enjoy receiving gifts, I do! But, I so, so, so love giving even more!   Especially hand made gifts! Obviously, I hope that my home made goodies don't look like something made in Blue Peter! One thing for sure though is that each stitch I make is filled with love, care and thoughts for the person who will receive it. I am saddened by the commercialism and materialisticness of Christmas these days and more and more I am of the mind that handmade gifts should make a serious comeback!

                     Found this on the internet, so funny I thought!

We seem to live in a world where it is how much money something costs rather than the thought that has gone into it. Down with materialism, thats what I say! Now where did I put my sandwich board and soap box!!!

One of the many many films which I enjoy to watch is Little women.

 I love all the versions of it including the latest one with Susan Sarandon. I had the book when I was a child, and a couple of years ago I was taken by my husband George to see it at the Grand Theatre. Our poor son Tom came along too, and pulled faces all the way through, but secretly I think he liked it!!!

What a heart warming tale full of selfless giving and simple living. It reflects a time when people were happy to receive a hand embroidered hankerchief and appreciated the love and care which went into the making of it too. A world where people gave their time and care to each other, and there wasn't a price tag on everything! Oh, I do realise that it is a rose coloured spectacled view of the good old days, but if only it were just a little bit more like?! Perhaps I have been watching too many old movies. But I love them!

                       It's a Wonderful Life! What a wonderful thought!

 Years ago, there was a program on the telly called Crackerjack. I watched it when we were in this country. One of the prizes, perhaps the main prize even, was a Crackerjack pencil and the booby prize was a cabbage!

 Can you see the boy on the left holding a cabbage!!! I jest you not!

Can you imagine children's reactions these days to getting such a prize!! (What the....!)  I used to dream about winning a Crackerjack pencil!!! I can but dream!

Well with Christmas sneaking up on us, I find myself yet again dreaming of not only a white Christmas, but one with some good old fashioned values. One where we can all get excited about the small things as if we had never seen them before! A jolly cosy Christmas by the fire admiring our hand sewn hankerchiefs, tea cosys, tray cloths and goodies.  Personally if I got hand embroidered goodies at Crimbo I would be in heaven!

Handmade....it really does touch my heart!

I am very excited about next weeks post! It will be on thursday the 22nd, and its the Cath Kidston party! Come and join the fun, click the picture below for more details at Lissy Lou's blog! As Lissy says It can be CK inspired and you don't need to have the real Mccoy!

Click here to find out about the CK party at Lissy Lou's

 
As I sit here looking out of the window my Owl tree is rapidly snowing leaves!  I will go to the front door and take a snap!

Before I go!  I have posted on a thursday this week, because I want to say happy birthday to a friend, who I know will read this, but is having difficulty posting a comment at the moment!

So......HAPPY BIRTHDAY RO!!!!    Hope you have a wonderful day!

                                            SO true hey Ro!!!!



Until next time all of you, I wish you all many blessings and love!

Suzie. xxx :0) With a poorly red sore nose!