A Bit Late for Early Purple Orchids!

I can't believe how the time flies sometimes. It's now six weeks since my last post and there's quite a bit to catch up on. I hope you're well and enjoying the sunny weather.

Rather than a really long post, I'm going to try to write short posts over the next week or so ......if I can get my act together that is!

These photos are from back in early May. My Uncle Brian came to visit for the day and we went for a walk on the Common. Uncle spotted and identified these Early Purple Orchids. Chris and I had seen them and I thought they were some kind of orchid but we weren't sure.

They were growing everywhere on the Common....

...sometimes alongside pretty yellow cowslips...

Here's Spencer enjoying a good old roll amongst them.......

The crazy dog loves to roll on top of his ball...you can just see it on the left hand side....does your dog do that?

The Latin name for the Early Purple Orchid is Orchis Mascula derived from the Latin Masculus meaning male or virile. This is possibly because the shape of the two tubers resemble certain male private parts (made this 50 year old giggle like a schoolgirl!). 

Apparently the tubers are sometimes called Adam and Eve's root and witches used them to make magical love potions :)

I'll be back soon...I promise!!

Maggie xx

A Family Reunion for Spencer

It's been an exciting week for Spencer.

Our friend, Alan, the owner of Spencer's mum, Evie, and his brother, Bear, had arranged a doggy family reunion on the Common.

Spencer has met up with Evie and Bear several times but this reunion was going to be extra special as Spencer's dad, Freddie, and sister, Betsy, would be there too. Their owners have relocated but were visiting family and friends in the area so it was the perfect opportunity for a get together.

We all met up on the Common. We also took our neighbour's little Jackapoo, Ozzie..... you may remember him from previous posts.

There was much excitement when everyone met....

Bear and Evie taking stock of the situation....

Spencer and Ozzie having a game....

They all got on so well....

They all had such fun running around together.....

And were joined by a doggy pal who joined in on the fun until his owner retrieved him...

Sometimes we could only tell then apart by the colour of their collars!

Chris giving Evie some fuss...

We took Spencer home for a nap after all the excitement and then all joined up again at Alan and Linda's for a delicious lunch and to reminisce and swap stories about our doggy friends.

Thank you for popping by.

Maggie xx

Bedside Cupboard Makeover

Happy Easter! I hope you're having a lovely Easter holiday!

I've been busy decorating. I started in the spare bedroom. I've gone for a blue and white colour scheme. I found some lovely curtains and bedding with lovely big blue roses. I wanted something fresh that would suit our cottage bedroom. I will hopefully take some photos and show you in a later post. 

At the moment my son George is home from Uni and is staying in the spare bedroom. He can't use his own bedroom as all the stuff that was in the spare room, I emptied out for decorating and put in his room! He doesn't seem to mind. He told me he likes the minimalist look of just a bed and white walls!

I had a couple of pine bedside cupboards which I've had for years. They were unfinished pine when I bought them but I'd never got round to vanishing or painting them. I decided that they were perfect for the spare bedroom but could do with a bit of sprucing up. I've seen lots of furniture that has been painted and distressed so I thought I'd have a go. Here's one of the bedside cupboards as it was....

I removed the knobs from the drawers. Then washed and sanded it...

I used an old candle to put a bit of wax in the places I wanted to distress...

Then painted 3 coats of white emulsion.....

First coat....

Second coat....

Third coat.....

I then sanded the corners and edges that I wanted to look distressed...I tried wire wool, then sand paper but in the end found it easier to use my little electric palm sander....

Then added these lovely ceramic knobs that I have been collecting for a job like this!

I'm pretty pleased with the result. It was quite easy and not too time consuming.  I think it helped that I could leave it in the spare room and just come back to it when I wanted. Sorry it's not a brilliant photo.....it's acting as a stand for George's TV at the moment!

I'm now decorating the bathroom. I've really got the decorating bug! There's been lots of woodwork to paint and I've had to do 4 coats in some areas. It's coming along though and we put new curtains up yesterday and they look so pretty. Today I must tackle painting the door!

Have a lovely Easter Monday!

Maggie xx