Arrival of the Great Aunts

Not long now till Great Aunt Madge and Great Aunt Fannie arrive. Fannie will be all in black, no doubt, but Madge (a redhead) prefers finer feathers. This is their first visit to us, so we're making a special effort to make sure they feel welcome and that we have laid on everything they are likely to need. We know what the ladies like to eat and fortunately they're not faddy eaters and have small appetites. Dad says they will be happy pottering around the garden, so probably won't need much entertaining either. Apparently they don't like being out after dark, preferring to get to bed early. I think we'll all get along famously - specially if they lay as many eggs as we've been promised!

Etsy Front Page

Just sneaking in with a little bragging moment ....... hey, I'm allowed, it's my blog!

Mosaic Tuesday

1. Untitled

2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluefamily/2692005467/">in white

3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ktmo/3427007074/">glazed poppy pod ceramics

4. Untitled

Check out other people's mosaics on ArtMind's blog - it's always lots of fun to see what they have picked!

Unhinged

Well, what else are you going to do on a Bank Holiday Monday but paint your shed hinges and hang them on the line to dry?

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

It's a pretty daft hankering for someone who lives in almost the dead-centre of the country, but I just love to be by the sea. When I was a girl, we lived in counties quite close to the east coast in the UK and a day-trip to the seaside was bliss. Well, when I say 'bliss' we're talking the North Sea here. Like everyone else my age, I had one of those ruched cotton swimsuits which looked like floral bubble-wrap. On reflection, it did take on some of the same properties when wet and acted like a bouyancy aid, trapping air in all the little fabric bubbles. Not that anyone in their right mind would actually be swimming in the North Sea. The other essential swimming accoutrement in those days was a cardigan two sizes too small, boiled to near-extinction in the Baby Burco and squeezed through the mangle just for good measure. This felted garment was perfect for keeping the biting sand-laden east wind from scouring the skin off your skinny goosebumped limbs. Running around in the dunes warmed you up, and getting your legs stung and whipped by the marram grass got the blood circulating. Ah, happy days!

not me, but a brilliant photo of the swimsuit!

This picture doesn't quite convey my delight at a day at the seaside - I think I'd just had my ice-cream confiscated. The legend on the back says '1953 - Aberdeen' - not quite the French Riviera, but seemingly warm enough for sundresses, although my Uncle Dan seems to think brogues and Argyll socks are de rigeur beachwear. See how all the women in deckchairs have brought their knitting?

Tuesday faves

Week two of Mitsy's (ArtMind) fun game. This is a mosaic of some of my favourite photos from Flickr. I've worked out how to get a full size picture now - hooray! Please click on the picture to link to the photographers who took these magnificent photographs.

Daisy, daisy

Just a pair of bright little flowers for the weekend.