Chalk board lettering

Have you ever wondered how you can get that perfect looking chalk board lettering?

I am totally into chalk board paint and love the look when the paint is applied directly to the wall.   Getting the lettering to look like signage can seem complicated.  Melaine from another of my favourite blogs has made it really easy.  You can find her DIY directions here.

I wish I had a large enough wall space in my kitchen so I could do this.  My husband built us a table that really resembles this table from Pottery Barn {although ours was fashioned after a vintage harvest table in a friend's home} and I'm really liking the lighting idea.  Now if only I had the wall!

{Pottery Barn image: here } 

What about you -- what do you think of chalkboard walls?

Village Life Dreaming

Today I'm taking you on a little trip to England.

I love Country Living - UK edition.  

I've said it before but it's a magazine that celebrates traditional arts and crafts as part of everyday life and shares wonderful stories of village life.  I can really see myself living in a village.  Taking a trip into the village with bake shops, cheese shops, flowers shops, tea shops . . . you get the idea.  And, once again, while I don't really foresee such an adventure in my life {but you never know} for now I'm dreaming of village life and living it vicariously through my lovely friends Cindy and Peter.  Let's take a little trip shall we?

What is it that takes you to England?

"England is my better half's home.  That is where we (eventually) went for our honeymoon!  Once I was there I fell in love with all the history, quaintness, beautiful walks and of course the sea.  All of it is what keeps us going back.  We have travelled from Dover right across to Lands End, all around Cornwall, up to Bath and Yorkshire.  We have, of course, been to London and surrounding area many times."

Do you have a favourite area?

"I think my favourite area is Yorkshire and of course I love the Isle of Wight.  When we go now we even run into people in the High Street shops and its like we live there.  I just love that.  All of Peter's relatives are there and we have made some good friends so it has become like a second home."

How often do you go?  For how long do you go?

"We have been four of the last five years and would like to go every second year if possible.  My hope and dream is to live there for five months and do as much travel as we can and see much more of England.  We usually go for three weeks to a month each time."

What are your favourite things to do while you are there?

"My favourite things are sitting by the seaside, searching out tea rooms, going on country walks.  You know in Country Living UK, how they showcase small villages?  Well, that is really cool how each village is really like that.  They have these cool little shops, their own pub and so on.  I remember when Peter and I went to England in 1973, there were no big box stores.  It was all little shops like the butcher, a green grocer, the fish shop.  But that is all changing of course because the younger generation want the big box stores.  But having said that, village life is still alive and well."

Nothing beats traditional fish'n chips!

Lovely gardens

"One of my most favourite memories was from our trip about five years ago on a beautiful sunny day, we visited the Minack Theatre in Cornwall.  We saw a Shakespeare play while sitting on the side of a cliff.  We watched the tide come in below, dolphins playing in the sea.  I often think about how grateful I am to have been able to see and do so many wonderful things."

Thank you Cindy and Peter for sharing.  Some day, maybe, perhaps.

Here's to village life - real and imagined.  

{all photos:  Cindy Napierala}

Sharing

Ok, you know how you have things you covet.  Things you just don't want to share.  Well, this is one of those.  But, I just love this blog so much, it seemed selfish.  I've never been to France.  This blog is, for me, as close as I'm going to get to living in the French Countryside.  I live vicariously through the lovely photos and writings of Sharon Santoni of 

MY FRENCH COUNTRY HOME.  

If you've ever wanted to go but it's not on your immediate radar, then enjoy.  If you are lucky enough to go, Sharon rents a lovely cottage.  

Have a lovely french country kind of day.

Hmm . . .

Does this mean I have to put my flip flops away?

{photo via pinterest:  seasonal-love.tumblr.com}

In the Autumn Garden

Autumn is my favourite season. I adore it more than any other.  

The autumn sun begins to envelope all in its glow ~ October's wood smoke and a feast of the gardens bounty call us together to share time with those around us and give thanks ~ The labour of the summer gardens begins to fade and thoughts of a new, refreshed soul take flight.  This year, Autumn appears to be in a hurry . . .

~

Most of these now lay on the earths floor, responsible for that unmistaken, incredible fragrance that only autumn can provide ~ 

The seed pods of the Amur Maple rattle gently in the brisk autumn breeze ~

The beauty of autumn grasses ~

Vacancies at the Inn ~

"Autumn is the eternal corrective.  It is ripeness and color and a time of

maturity; but it is also breadth, and depth, and distance.  

What man can stand with autumn on a hilltop and fail to see 

the span of his world and the meaning of the rolling hills

that reach to the far horizon?"

             ~ Hal Borlund

Finding grateful

September flew by in what seems like a hurry didn't it?

There is still so much to be done and the last few weeks have been insanely full.

Bee stuff, garden stuff, market stuff, shop stuff and oh ya, house stuff ~ which means part of my house if missing, gone, removed.  The big renovation has begun ~ And for it all, I am very grateful.

Thank you for checking in, staying in touch, visiting.  

Have a lovely Thanksgiving weekend.

I'll be back next week. 

"This is your blessing bowl.  Everyday, hold it in your hand, 

count your blessings and fill it to overflowing . . ."

{Blessing Bowl & tag Susan Felix Pottery}