Dogs and Chickens

Another dog on wheels has recently joined my collection, this little chap was found at Brackley Antiques Cellar and I couldn't resist him.

This is my lovely Josh proudly modeling his red rosette he won in the summer. We entered him in his first ever dog show which was held in the local park for charity. We were so happy when he won first prize in his category. My dog on wheels now wears it and looks very smart.

This week my lovely girl and I had our traditional half term trip to london. This was the view outside St Pauls along with lots of TV cameras.

We popped in to VV Rouleaux and bought some ribbon. This is to hang some pretty glass chandelier droplets I have been saving for Christmas and also to hang some lovely old rusted French keys.

Of course we had to visit Cath Kidston and I stocked up on some of the christmas goodies.I really like the bird design featured on the wrapping paper and cards.

Some of you know that in the early summer this pretty pair moved in. It wasn't long before it became obvious that Eliza on the left was not a she but a he. Thankfully after a stressful few weeks of wondering when the neighbours would start complaining we managed to re-home him to a friend of a friend in the countryside. We were sad to see him go but really had no choice and hopefully he will enjoy his new home where he can make as much noise as he likes.

Last week we decided the time had come to find some friends for Sasha and these two lovely girls have now started to settle in with us. There has been a bit of bickering but they are starting to accept each other. We finally have our first eggs which is exciting. Sasha still isn't laying which is a bit strange as she is definitely old enough but we will just have to be patient.

Neither have names yet but this one is a Columbian Blacktail made famous by Waitrose as their egg laying breed.

The black and gold one is a Rhode Rock.

Finally I am not too sure what Sasha is but I have been told that when she does start laying they will be blue eggs.

This morning we made pumpkin soup adapted from the BBC Good Food Guide recipe and it was rather scrummy. We had bought a couple of pumpkins to make Halloween lanterns and really didn't want to waste the flesh.I tried to tempt the chickens with the seeds but they were unimpressed.

Happy Halloween for tomorrow.

They Are Like Buses !

As the saying goes, none come along and then suddenly there are two or three !

If you read my last post you will know about my lucky find a couple of weeks ago.I have wanted one of these dogs on wheels for ages and haven't managed to find one despite constantly looking. I was really happy when I finally found my terrier on wheels. Anyway, yesterday I was out with Mr C and we visited an antiques centre that we haven't been to for a long time and lo and behold I spotted another one ! He is a little the worse for wear with a missing wheel but I really don't care. Of course he had to come home with me and join his new friend and all for the princely sum of £10 !

Last night was World Book Night and I popped in to an event at my local Waterstones. I came away with these free books which was an added bonus particularly as I wanted to read Toast having loved the TV dramatisation over Christmas.

last weekend I was in London with my lovely girl for our half term treat. We stopped off here and treated ourselves to scrummy chocolates and admired the vintage tins and lovely displays.

We visited the National Gallery and took these photos outside over looking Trafalgar Square.

This amazing ship in a bottle was really high up on a plinth looking out towards Nelson's Column.

In the evening we managed to get tickets to see Legally Blonde the musical with Denise Van Outen. This was great fun and we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. This was the view as we walked back towards our hotel.

The prints below are part of two sets of four I bought at The london Transport Museum. I really like vintage travel posters and these copies of old Underground posters advertising Kew Gardens are lovely.

This week I found the Grindley Peach Petal tea pot in a charity shop. The old Enid Blytons were found for me by a lovely day who spotted them somewhere and thought I would like them.

Mr C found these two 1937 Coronation glasses in a local charity shop. Very apt considering how high profile 'The King's Speech' is at the moment.

I also found this complete Royal Albert tea set in a charity shop. The pink and grey is really pretty and typically 1950s. I have no idea of the pattern name so if anyone can tell me that would be great.

We are now on a countdown to the 4th Northampton Vintage Fair, it is less than two weeks away. I found some very battered old ladybird books in a charity shop last week and Mr C has been hard at work taking them apart and making strings of colourful bunting to decorate the hall for the fair. I have seen this idea on a few different blogs but I think I saw it first on the lovely Joshy and Belle blog at Christmas where some lovely christmasy bunting had been made from robin illustrations.

The three little pigs has to be one of my favourites, after Cinderella of course !

Meet The New Resident At The Corner House

Anyone who knows me well will know how much I have wanted one of these little chaps. I have endlessly watched them on ebay and never felt able to justify the high prices. I knew that one day I would find one when I was least expecting it. That's exactly what happened a few days ago. I was dashing past a second hand shop when out of the corner of my eye through the window I spotted him standing on the counter. I ran in heart racing, thinking he was on the counter because someone was paying for him. Unbelievably he was on the counter because he had just been brought in for sale ! I knew it was my lucky day when the owner agreed to let me have him for a very reasonable price.

Josh isn't too sure what to make of him and has given him a good sniff.

My lovely girl is very fond of him too which is a bit of a surprise as I thought she would probably groan when I walked through the door with him.

This little fella also arrived this week and has moved in to the old W.I. cabinet with some friends.

I have a a few days off now this week and Mr C and I found these pretty Lloyd Loom style shelves today. They are a little dusty and I found the old photo of the couple wedged down the back. There is also a matching chair and linen basket, I am planning on re-covering the chair in some vintage fabric. I will have to decide whether to sell the little shelves or find a space somewhere for them. I already have a similar set in a faded sea green, and I love them.

Mr C and my lovely girl had a day out together in London earlier in the week and Mr C returned with some lovely pieces of Liberty fabric for me. I am not sure how they will be used yet but I love the dark pink roses print.

I am off for a couple of days now with my lovely girl on our usual half term jaunt. So far the week has been dominated by AS mock revision and preparations for the Northampton Vintage Fair in March. We have also found a wonderful new venue in the pretty market town of Olney and have booked another two dates for further fairs. It will be nice to have some time to relax before things get really busy for all of us. I am sure I will be back with some photos of our trip to share.