Hello!
I’d just like to say that I am very proud to be British right now. The streets are still lined with bunting and the Union Jack continues to fly from most of the gardens and windows in our neighborhood. I’m very glad that we have regained our beautiful flag from certain ugly and disgusting groups of people and would love to think that we could fly it proudly from our houses at any time of the year as the Americans do and not just when there is a football tournament on or it’s Jubilee time.
I’m a fan of stoicism so appreciated the way in which the Queen stood for the entire length of the river pageant. I thought her family were appropriate and I hope Prince Phillip gets better soon. I love camaraderie, joyfulness and fun. I love spirit, humour and irreverence. And I think the Brits have that in spades so it was great to have an entire weekend dedicated to celebrating all of these things.
I’d love to say a massive thank you to all of you who helped my first ever eBook reach number 1. It hit the top spot on Amazon in the Party Planning, Hobbies and Crafts and Special Occasions chart and also made number 1 on the Apple iBooks Food and Drink chart. I couldn’t believe it when I was told and have never experienced such a feeling. We put it all together in a very short space of time and this week I begin work on Easy Halloween which I hope you enjoy even more.
Yesterday evening, after the kids had gone to bed, Robert and I started to potter in the Living Room. We have decided to get the room that we want to relax in decorated and comfortable before we start on the other projects. First of all Robert rewired the TV so it is now in the correct corner of the room. We had previously given the walls their first coat of new paint and only have one more to do so we felt comfortable moving furniture about and seeing where things should go permanently.
This is what the top end of this room needs doing to it. I find that breaking jobs down in to bite sized pieces much more manageable than tackling the whole thing in one go and I am a big fan of lists. I have a notebook that goes everywhere with me and I cross stuff out as and when it gets done.
But even though there are certain makeover jobs to be done we still have to live here and I want the kids to feel comfortable and cosy. So last night, after a sudden burst of energy, I started to potter and unpack some more boxes.
I bought this mirror for a few quid several years ago in a charity shop and I don’t think I’ve ever hung it up. It shall go above this table just off centre on the right hand side.
The roses are from a rose bush right outside the back door that was here when we arrived. It’s a beautiful thing to inherit with a house and suddenly became even more beautiful when I pulled its label out from under the soil and read that it was a climber! I’ll transplant it in the Autumn.
Simple items that I love, candles and books.
More treasures from the charity shop in the shape of this drop-leaf table with barley twist legs. I think this cost ten pounds. I am undecided as to what I shall do with it by way of a makeover so I’ll wait until the rest of the room is complete and come back to it. I have a decorative process and I’ve learned to deviate from it at my peril.
If I have the room I always try to put a table behind a sofa, especially when the sofa has a low back such as this one. It’s lovely for larger coffee table style books but also great for glasses of wine, nibbles and chocolates at Christmas. It also means that you can forgo the end tables.
This window seat was here when we arrived and the cat has already shown a fondness for sitting and staring out of the window. I’ve never had a window seat before and am really happy to be able to go to town on making seating and curtains for it. Another cosy corner and one that overlooks the garden, which I think is why Boo loves it so.
Of course there will always be toys littering the floor and wet wipes to be found in stray corners for a while yet.
It’s a family home and needs to be able to take a good battering.
But it can still be a place of peace, calm and happiness in amongst the laughter, chaos and raised voices. It’s here and that is what counts.
I love you and thank you so much for reading today.
Cherry x
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We had created a window seat in our other house, where we resided for 31 years, but when we built this one, somehow there didn’t seem a place to fit one in, much to my sorrow.:( Perhaps we could work one in with a redo somehow, but haven’t given that great thought.
It’s so good that your approach is relaxed, permitting those precious children to feel that it is their home, too.:)
Hi Cherry,
I have a drop leaf barley twist leg table almost identical to the one shown in your post which I have already taken a paint brush too and turned white. I’d be happy to send you a photo of what it looks like? X
LOVE to see it. Can you post it on my Facebook page?? Cx
Hi Cherry,
I’ve uploaded the picture to Facebook but I can’t see it, so i’m not sure if you can either? X
LOVE LOVE LOVE the window seat!!
Wonderful room Cherry. I would love to play with your window seat. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do next. I too, have loved seeing all the bunting, decorations and flags. It has been so great to read and watch cheerful news for a change. I say ‘keep the flags up people!’
Cherry,
I remember when you bought the drop leaf table! I seem to remember that you bought it right BEFORE on of your moves!
My grandsons have that same little ride on roadster! Tucker once rode it in a neighborhood 4th of July parade with a flag on the back. He loves flags!
Everyone I know has been talking about the Jubilee…we love to follow all of the amazing and beautiful ceremonies you have in England. Everything was so beautiful.
Meredith
This post is so lovely. I hope to experience the joy you are experiencing with your new home and family soon. I hope you create many beautiful memories, as I’m sure you will.
Best wishes
SECONDED!! wholeheartedly…we need to get a respect for our country back, people only seem to be patriotic for the FOOTBALL, few people know when st georges day is, never mind celebrate it…
I loved the whole of the jubilee celebrations and it broke my heart to see the queen walk down the aisle in church without her prince by her side..
they put younger people to shame the way they stood in the bad weather to watch all the boats and vessels go past…and what a sense of humour she has,I love her smile. her eyes twinkle…
god save the queen!
and rule brittania!!
ps what a living space..wow..cannot wait..love Boo claiming her spot xxx
That first photo of your living room looks like one of those photos in a Homes magazine. They always seem to be so spacious and square with bay windows. What fun you’ll have tarting that one up. Weren’t the celebrations great ? does anyone else have that horrible anti climax feeling. I just wanted all that happiness to go on forever.
I’ve been enjoying watching the celebrations on TV. Love all the colour and views of historic London, the home of two lots of my ancestors before they came to Australia. My Grandpa was born in London.
Love that rose Cherry and looking forward to seeing and reading about the transformation of your Lounge room.
Happy days,
Betty
Watched the Coronation as a five year old and attended every Jubilee but have never seen the Queen so visibly moved as she was both at the concert where people started chanting Philip, Philip, Philip at Prince Charles request so he could hear everyone from his hospital bed and on the balcony when people sang God Save The Queen and gave a resounding three cheers after the soldiers did their gun salute. I think this country is fed up with lawlessness in the form of greedy bankers, politicians and vicious rioters and want to return to all the Queen has always stood for but we have failed to notice, Goodness, kindness, righteousness and stoical dignity. I bet she and the rest of the Royal family woke up very happy today to see how appreciated they actually are. This is a turning point in our nation. Let’s put the Great back in Great Britain just by the way we behave taking the Queen as our example. Love the room Cherry. Keep stoically serving your readers and you will reap good friends.
Love, love, love your home with its simple beauty! We loved and watched the Q’s Jubilee over here too on the Tv but it lacked the atmosphere, but it looked like a fabulous ocassion for all. I loved the way the Queen looked throughout the whole event!
I’m homesick now!
Lovely photos Cherry! I watched the Jubilee on TV (I live in Austria)and I loved every minute. England is a great country and I do miss the time when I lived there. xx
It’s been quite a weekend. I had to deal with 16 kids yesterday, as it was The Girls 6th birthday. But, I managed to get up some bunting and watch as much of the Queen as I could possibly fit in. Loved every single minute, and I am so proud of the Queen, Royal family and being British.
Love your room, what a fabulous space.Fun starts here with decorating and deciding.
x