Category: Photography
RIP Kiwi..
Bella and Charlie had a lesson in the fragility of life this week when one of their much loved dwarf hamsters, Kiwi died.
I think as a parent part of the reason you agree to pets is to open that door to the experience of the circle of life: To love something, be totally involved…and then to lose it…death is the bleakness lurking in the shadows..it’s the moment the clouds close over the sun..
They decorated the coffin, layered it with love..and Charlie wrote a poem..
We did a funeral service..I sang (probably not the highlight) but I’m hoping this experience will give them something to remember when something more serious inevitably happens. It makes you sadly realise how jaded you become as a adult – and how the innocence of childhood needs to be treasured: Little things do matter.
Laters, Kate x
The Underworld x
As the kitchen has been progressing, so has the cellar..the bookcases are finished and the faux fireplace/black-box-storage-facility now has fancy detailing..
(We bought these terracotta plaques nearly fifteen years ago on a very memorable trip to Sicily involving climbing volcanos, exploding boats and great friends)
They’ve been waiting all this time for the perfect place to shine…and now they will forever make me smile.
The carpentry on all the storage cupboards is also complete.
And the stairs are done – it just all needs a lick of paint now…and will be the next room to be decorated. Time to re-cap on the inspiration shots..and start buying paint samples.
Not long…
Laters, Kate x
The Quiz..
Our school quiz is a major fixture in the yearly calendar – it’s a good life in a bonker’s world, where winning the costume prize is the greatest accolade: It’s go large or go home…
So amongst the paint pots and drill bits the costumes were all handcrafted with love and terror and pinned, primed and pimped for the big night.
This year our theme was horror and freaks (who needs costumes some would say?)..
I was a killer-mer-maggot…carried by a zombie
Su was Freak girl carried by a scary friend..
The Husband was a head..being eaten by Hannibal Lecter..
We had Sweeney Todd complete with pies (how often as he been photo-bombed by Donald Trump?)
And we had a vampire baby with a taste for the heavy stuff..
I didn’t get a good pic of Sandeep – he was the body in the bodysnatcher’s sack..
And this is my best one of Steff..
It was interesting dealing with such characters..Hannibal was permanently hungry..
Death was having a love-in with David..
Even though David kept telling him to f-off…
And guess what..we won!!!
It was a huge hurrah for the mad and happily twisted..
Laters, Kate x
House update..
It’s becoming like Christmas here with something new every day…another major part of the build – the floor – is going down…
It’s ticking all the boxes…the choice had again been a step away from the norm as I’d asked them for as many knots/character/colour variations as possible..basically a posh design that feels rustic.
The transformation is taking a bit of getting used to – after staring at it (for what was probably hours) I gingerly tried to balance my way round the unfinished edge to get to the stairs. ‘It’s a floor!’ The builders said, ‘Walk on it!’
Except I can’t!..
(Don’t think it will stop the kids though…)
Laters, Kate x
It’s all black and white..
The good news is I’m off this morning to pick up our platform ladder from my sister…which means the serious renovation decoration is about to start.
The bad news is it’s all going to get done by paintbrush wielding me.
The good news is I like to get my hands dirty: No pain, no gain.
(All pictures Pinterest)
The bad news is…it tends to be more than just my hands..
Laters, Kate x
Backsplash Recap..
From hero to zero: After the joy of last week, all that’s now left of the kitchen is an empty room with a few pipes in the floor as it’s all been shipped to the spray painters. I committed to the final colour yesterday…nerve wracking! Particularly when you’ve had your heart set on one shade since the start…and then you’re told it’s not possible. Thank God I’m a great believer in fate..but it hasn’t stopped my heart from pounding.
But more decisions await: There was this post on splashbacks a while back and the final look still needs to be pinned down. Loving all things metallic at the moment so I’m thinking why not?
So much to choose from!
But budget does come into it..so I took myself off to bog standard B and Q to see what I could find that could be man-handled into something different…and was surprisingly successful. There’s this woven brass sheet, reminiscent of French Bergere sofas and chairs..
Laid over a stainless steel sheet it would compliment and pull in the stainless steel from the fridge/freezer..
Then there was this design..if the design itself had been bigger I would’ve snaffled it up there and then..
And then they had this..hammered copper rather than brass..again, not sure as it was only in the smaller size..and all the accents are brass..would pink work??
(All pics Pinterest)
I was sensible..there’s no rush – yet. So I walked away and will let it all cogitate and stew down…
Laters, Kate x
Kitchen Update x
Oh Joy aboundeth! I got home yesterday to see the antique French bookcase sitting in it’s new home for the first time! The builders have done a sublime job incorporating it into the new kitchen..one day it will hold all our crockery and glassware..one day..to say I love it is an understatement. It’s always a dodgy time when you imagine a concept – and you’re pretty sure it’s going to work..but you never know until it’s actually in place. The relief!
The plan is now for all the big units to disappear off to be spray painted whilst the room is decorated and the floor is laid…which has bought on a major paint crisis.
I thought I was blissfully sailing along, all paint decisions for the kitchen made.
Except the spray painters want an RAL number for the colour so they can mix up their own paint with additional hardeners. And I’ve chosen a boutique paint that no-one knows – Madison Grey by Abigail Ahern.
I’m running off now to the paint shop to see if they can help me – the last thing I want to do is to start looking at tester pots again…and of course it’s the big fascinator poker night piss-up party tonight. Always the way…
Laters, Kate x
Free to Roam..
The wander-lust is strong today. Despite spotting my first snowdrops on the way to school drop-off this morning, spring and summer still seem a long way off and the routine feels monotonous.
I just want to pack our bags and head off in a vintage jaguar with crinkled beige leather seats.
I don’t care if it’s a trip to the crisp, cold mountains.
But truth be told, I’d prefer somewhere with colour and sun.
Somewhere where life is simple.
(All pics Pinterest)
It’s probably to much builders dust and not enough vitamin D..
Laters, Kate x
Le Weekend..
The plan was to get out of the urban bubble and see the sea..so we leapt on a train and headed for a grey, blustery Brighton.
Charlie and his gloves: Is this style, laziness..or a deep understanding of recycling??
Not that the kids cared about the weather..the sea is the sea after all..
It was bracing enough to freeze cheeks and brighten eyes.
Then the boys went to see Arsenal play..Charlie’s first proper match..seventh heaven for him.
So the girls got out the power tools…and played..
The table is our reproduction mahogany dining table that has got damaged over the years. Rather than replace it, I wanted to know if we could sand off the varnish and paint the pedestal leg to transform it into a classic but more rustic/practical piece of furniture. Can mahogany be more like a farmhouse table, happy to take dings and knocks? Not be so ‘precious’ and permanently hidden under a tablecloth? The only way to know was to experiment…
I had my helper with me for a while..but then she got bored and went to clean out her hamsters.
Oh joy! Lesson for mummy: Never assume you’re child’s intelligence. Lesson for Bella…we all have to make mistakes..but please don’t repeat this one again!
(Particularly when due to the building works, this sink represents our kitchen sink. Arggghhhh!)
By the end we looked like 2 orange oompa lumpa’s, but thankfully the table looked fab – I already prefer it…though I have no idea what to do as the next stage….oil? Wax? I know I don’t want the shiny red again..I want to knock back the red if at all possible, but not entirely sure what to do?….any suggestions very gratefully received…
Laters, Kate x
An Update: House etc..
Yesterdays fascinator experiment went well..I was thinking of you Julie (hattitude) as we marshalled in the sinamay into shape! Could’ve done with your skill!!
No real finished ones to reveal yet..(the first official creative coffee is on Wednesday) but I think we’re a bit more prepared..
(It’s great stuff just to let loose and play with..I recommend it.)
On the house front, there’s no longer a broken neck risk checking out the cellar…we now have stairs!..
Upstairs…could that actually be a sink in the kitchen??!
To the unknowing eye, this all just looks like mismatched piles of wood..
To me, it’s the light at the end of the tunnel..(even knowing, once it’s made it’s coming out (sob!) to be painted (and so the floor can go down))..but this is pure progress. We may even have a working bin soon – the excitement, the luxury!
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 