PS I love it

Quite a while I ago, I mentioned how much I love to receive postcards and in fact how much I love postcards in general (I have boxes of vintage ones). Well, lately, I have been receiving some beautiful stamps. I bought some Moomin stuff from Etsy and I was as pleased as punch to see Moominpappa on the envelope when it made its way all the way from Finland.

I love the penguin's rather dubious expression on this English stamp...

And this whimsical one from Hong Kong is so sweetly entitled 'my rabbit and i'...

And if you can't rely on the Japanese for gorgeous stationery, well, who can you rely on?

Have a lovely weekend, friends.

PS Don't forget to watch Eurovision!!

Winter is here

Image from flickr

Winter is upon us. It has poured with rain today, there is a biting wind, the house is dark and grey clouds are scudding busily across the sky.

As always though, I have lots of lovely indoors things to keep me busy, not least of all taking a little break from the epic that is A Game of Thrones and indulging in a bit of girly vintage reading. I think I may have mentioned Carol Ann Pearce before. I read (and loved) We're in the Sixth a while ago and I've also rediscovered St Kelvern's Launches Out (the sequel) on my shelves. Lots of cosy fireside chats over tea and crumpets. Just my speed.

Being the very sensible gels that I'm sure the St Kelvern's quartet were, I'm certain that a little bit of bad weather wouldn't have put them off getting outside for some good, bracing fresh air...

But it does put me off!!

So, my question is, what do you do to keep a little bit physically active in the colder months?

Bug Watch

One thing about keeping chickens is that you do find yourself on bug-watch duty now and then. I just couldn't leave this lovely little guy within pecking range so I brought him inside, off the back steps (where Gladys, Joyce and Jean love to hangout), to have a little respite in a dried flower arrangement while our team of feathered marauders found amusements elsewhere.

Mini-Break to Beechworth

Mount Buffalo - We had lunch next to this lake, on the lower levels of the mountain

A few weeks ago, we took a little break in Beechworth, which is about three hours north-east of Melbourne. It was one of the most important towns in Victoria during the Gold Rush of the nineteenth century and there is still lots of lovely architectural evidence of those heydays to see around the town.

As well as partaking of those time-honoured mini-break traditions of eating too much, going to museums and spending too much time in little boutiquey shops, we also spent a lovely day walking on nearby Mount Buffalo. As you can see, we were blessed with beautiful weather.

Happy Days!

Big skies over Mount Buffalo

The view from the lookout nearest to the Mount Buffalo Chalet

Wildflowers in marshlands as we made our way down the mountain

On another day - the view at Woolshed Falls, literally five minutes from Beechworth

Winter is coming

I have been a fan of Game of Thrones since I started watching the mini-series (we are now eagerly awaiting season 3) but only recently I have started the first book in the five-part series that the tv show was taken from. So good. One of those books that truly takes you right into the scene that you're reading.

What book has done that for you?

Winter Colours

As winter begins to move amongst us, I like to brighten up the house with flowers. Luckily, I have a very sweet husband who brings home a lovely bunch quite regularly! The last two weeks have seen orchids and tulips, both with a crisp, cool beauty - I think - befitting the season.

The bathroom offers the best light...

...but the combination of purple tulips and our green walls in the living room was too much to resist!

Op Shop Find of the Week

Op-shop find of the week was undoubtedly this gorgeous Hornsea teapot. I have been collecting Hornsea in a very casual way for a little while now but this one has absolutely cemented my love for their big 70s patterns. Amazingly, I got it for only $5 and it looks as though it has hardly been used. It instantly made me think it should sit on the kitchen table in Jo, Chrissy and Robin's flat in Man about the House...