Being back home over Christmas and the new year reminded me of the magic of having a range in the kitchen. I grew up in a home with an oil-fired range and the hum of it, the heat of it and its big, solid presence make me long that for our home too. Back before we… Continue reading The Magic Of An Aga (and how to keep it running smoothly)
Reading through this blog, you’d be forgiven for thinking we have a big, sprawling house. In fact it is pretty compact. The rooms aren’t huge by any means but we try to make good use of them. The children’s bedrooms double as their playrooms, the kitchen table doubles as their desk for homework, the dog… Continue reading A [Craft] Room of One’s Own
For as long as I can remember The Bavarian and I have been talking about adding a library or at least a library wall to our home. Long before we ever had a home of our own or even shared a flat, a library was one thing we agreed on that had to be part… Continue reading Planning Our Dream Library Wall
So the new year is here! Happy 2018! While Christmas kind of snuck up on me and seemed to be upon me too soon, our holiday in Ireland over Chistmas and New Year gave me a great chance to recharge and make some plans for our home for this year. In making my list of… Continue reading Reviving our Laundry Room with Laura Ashley
Clove-studded oranges and gold-sprayed foliage, red candles and wire ribbon, spiced beef, chocolate coins and The Snowman on the telly. Those are my little Christmassy things. Not memories as such. Not traditions either. More like short scenes or photos in my mind. They are things that immediately bring the Christmases of my childhood to mind.… Continue reading Those Little Christmassy Things
December is usually a hectic month but this year seems to have been an entirely hectic year. December hasn’t been the crazy whirlwind of other years but rather a continuation of the rush, bustle and busy-ness of the previous months. In an effort not to have Christmas arrive upon us with nothing done, no prelude,… Continue reading Christmas, Cocoa and Calming Down
By now you probably know that style-wise I’m a bit old fashioned. The sleek modern look is not one you’ll find in my home. Here and there perhaps as a radio, a phone or a lantern. For the most part though, my style is eclectic with a touch of nostalgia. When it comes to Christmas,… Continue reading Decorative Dried Orange Slices
December is rushing past or, more accurately, I am letting December pass me by in a blur of meetings, appointments and planning sessions, almost all of which are entirely unrelated to Christmas. Advent, as I have mentioned here on this blog often, is a time of year I love. The anticipation, preparation and the weekly… Continue reading The December Rush
Thirteen or fourteen years ago a good friend of mine, my first friend in Germany, gave me a gift of an Advent calender. I still have it. I was about to type that it is a firm favourite among my Christmas decorations but that wouldn’t be true. Advent is not Christmas. Advent is the lead… Continue reading An Alternative Advent Calendar
€100 doesn’t sound like much but it can make a hell of a difference if you spend it wisely. We’ve – ok I’ve – just done up our bedroom for less than that and it is like a different room altogether. Whereas before it was mismatched and dated, it is now bright and airy and,… Continue reading A Master Bedroom Makeover On A Small Budget
