Not even a mouse....

Well... not a whole one.
After deciding it was high time I started to inject some Christmas sparkle into this week, with time running out, I decorated the tree with a little help from the tabby terror who insisted on placing the decorations elsewhere.. ie.. on the ground!
With the tree finally decorated and remaining upright.. despite the attempts of Sir Edmund Hilary aka Pickles the cat... to climb it and usurp the Christmas fairy .. I stood back.. and began to feel ever so slightly Christmassy. I always think of one of my favourite films at this time of year.. The Grinch who Stole Christmas.. when his tiny heart starts to flicker and twitch into life.. so did my Christmas spirit after decorating the tree.

All that remains to be done is a date with the Sellotape and wrapping paper, some pressies to wrap, aided by a few glasses of Sloe gin.. home made of course. Kirstie would be proud!
Pickles has already placed his gift to us under the tree.. discovered this morning .. not gift wrapped but perfectly placed amongst the gifts already there. One half chewed mouse! Nice!
Not one I can take back after Christmas to exchange for a whole one!
On that rather gruesome note.. may I wish you all.. a truly happy and peaceful Christmas with lots of happy days to come in 2012.
See you on the other side!
Michele xx

Ode to the Movember Moustache..

Today Mr Custard will ceremoniously shave off his moustache as promised to the children of his primary school. I must say that I have grown rather fond of this hairy creature growing upon his top lip and will lament the passing of this hirsute exercise.

In reverence to his participation in the Movember charity fund raising... he has written a poem...

Ode to the Moustache

The hair that blossoms on the lip,

Is rarely cool and never hip.

So shave it off and get a grip;

You know you look an utter drip.

It’s growing for a noble cause,

But do not linger for applause;

You’d look less daft in grandma’s drawers;

Some “L’Oreal tinted” Santa Clause!

So shave it off! Do it today!

Don’t defer it; don’t delay.

The execution must not stay;

The balder lip is the modern way.

November it is almost past;

Advent it is here at last.

No need to ponder or to fast;

Just have a shave - you look an ass!

Can you spot the difference between Jason King and Mr Custard?

A healthy distraction...

While the house matter continues to rumble on with no news as yet.. I have been finding a healthy distraction with gathering my stock for the next Vintage & Handmade Christmas Fair which is taking place this weekend at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall.

So if you have an hour or two to spare.. put on your skates...

Or saddle up your horse...

... and make your way to the lovely little Cotswold town of Chipping Sodbury to join the happy shoppers at the fair.. there are over 48 stalls offering a fabulous cornucopia of vintage goods.
We look forward to welcoming old friends and new.. Hope to see you there!

Prolonging the agony...

Hello all..

For those of you who so kindly crossed your digits for me last Friday.. Please please uncross them now before you do yourself some permanent damage! I am afraid to say that the agony continues and it will probably be another week before I know the outcome of all my prayers and wishes... and all of your wonderful goodwill.

For those of you who had an inkling as to what the good luck was needed for.. Yes .. indeed.. it involves a few thousand bricks, some doors and a lot of history... x 2. We are still desperately trying to sell our house in a market that is sitting still and waiting for the economic gloom to lift.. but last week we had a glimmer of hope and maybe.. just maybe.. we have found someone who loves our house as much as we have. Meanwhile.. my dream house sits in a village waiting patiently for the day we get an offer!

For now.. I will leave you with a picture of a house..Not THE house ... but one I would be very happy to live in!

Fingers Crossed for Friday ....

It's a fingers crossed day here today.. I'll tell you why later.

*** Thank you so much for all of your crossed digits today .. Unfortunately it is going to be a little while before I learn if your fingers and goodwill have worked their magic. Please uncross your fingers now before you all get cramp. I will keep you posted. Some things are worth waiting for !

Lest we Forget ...

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.
~~~~

Remembering my maternal grandfather, Georges Henri Lobert, who died as a political prisoner in Camp Mittelbau- Dora 1945.

Lest we forget

Will it snow..?

These snowmen hope so!
Christmas has arrived early at Milly & Dottie's Emporium and the shelves are decked with all manner of glittery things .. so if you like to do your festive shopping early.. come along to the Christmas Grotto and see our lovely selection of vintage festive finery.

No smoke without ...

Just lit the first fire of the season.. feeling toasty, cosy and just a little bit festive.
Happy Bonfire night..

We are off to the Fair....

Today is a list ticking day... lots to do and as usual leaving it all until the 11th hour..
Just to let you know I will be off to the Vintage Bazaar in Frome tomorrow with my usual family of furry friends and more.. Do come along.. It promises to be a fabulous fair !!!

Liberty & Co.

When I was a child, back in the swinging sixties, we lived not a million miles from the great metropolis that is the city of London. Each year my mother would take me on a pilgrimage to the mecca that was otherwise known as Hamleys.. which was always such a thrill and still holds vivid memories for me. Another of our haunts along Regent Street was the iconic store .. Liberty & Co.
' Liberty opened to the public on May 15th 1875, when the founder, Arthur Lasenby Liberty, purchased the lease on a half-shop in Regent Street to which he gave the grand name 'East India House'.

This beautiful store is still as faithful today to my memories from the 60's and has little changed. The 'Arts & Crafts' bones of the building have weathered well and catered for, thousands.. millions of visitors over the decades. A recent visit to the store was reassuring, in that the essence of the business has kept to it's ethos of showcasing eclectic design and craftsmanship from Britain and beyond.

I could never have dreamed as a child that one day my own creations would be on sale in my favourite store.. but I am delighted to say.. that Cowboys & Custard are now proud to supply Liberty & Co. with my greeting cards.

Thank you so much to all of you for your lovely supportive comments.. They are very much appreciated!