A Day in the Kitchen

 I have been picking runner beans ever day for weeks.  We never get tired of them,they are so sweet and tender. The arbour in the garden seems to have been a really good place for them.  They are growing in abundance.

 I love to see their lovely bright green colour clustered together on a pretty plate. I love my vintage china,even with its little chip here and there,and the crazing on the bottom.
I am sharing my vintage plates with Vintage Thingie Thursday at Coloradolady today

When they are fresh and crisp,I push them through my little been slicer to shred them

I then julienne some carrots,drizzle over some runny honey and place them on a low flame with the lid on until just tender but still with a little crunch. mmmmm lovely. Keep your eye on them to make sure they don't burn.  I use a non stick saucepan with a thick base.

I sometimes, shred them the same way but add a can of chopped tomatoes and a little crushed garlic instead. 

This is delish too.

Don't they look nice grouped together with other fresh fruit and veg.

I never put tomatoes into the refrigerator,they lose their sweetness.

I am also visiting The Charm of Home, Home Sweet Home

and My Romantic Home, Show and Tell Friday

It was raining all day today,so it was a good time to get into the kitchen for a cook up

I made plum jam,

Lasagne,ready for the oven

A couple of little cottage pies. I didn't bother to mash the potatoes, just sliced them over the top.

We love pears and they are plentiful at the moment

I made chips the no fat way.  Parboil some potatoes until still quite firm,

drain and let dry,or wrap to dry in a tea towel to dry.

Slice into chips ,place onto the tray lined with baking paper,

Spray with spray oil and bake in a hot oven until crisp.  Sprinkle with sea salt.

Lasagne out of the oven

Meat pies

I like to leave the edges rustic looking, not to tissy.

I hope you are having a nice week

x jeanetteann

I am joining 

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

A Childhood Treasure

 Do you still have books from your childhood?


I loved my books and read all of the time.


My favourite book was Black Beauty and all Beatrix Potter and books by the Bronte' Sisters
Unfortunately they were all donated to the children's hospital when I migrated to Australia in the early 60's with my brothers and parents.


I did manage however to smuggle this little gem of 1947 into my suitcase as it got missed when the box of goodies to the hospital was packed and sent.


My brothers and I were only aloud to read it after our bath time, so that it remained in good condition.
Here are a few pages from this little book.

My children also used it and even signed their names in the front.


I am always on the hunt for the replacement books I once treasured.


 I've yet to find Black Beauty though. It was all the more special because I received it for Christmas from my Grandparents. They had also signed it in the front. I think somewhere some child would still have it and I often think it would be much loved as I loved it.


I always like to see a name in the front of old books,it makes them more special.


Join me this week when I visit my usual blog parties and maybe some new one's


Show off your Cottage Monday at House in the Roses
Vintage Thingie Thursday Colorado Lady
Show and Tell Friday My Romantic Home
Knick of Time Tuesday
Faded Charm
A Delightsome Life


:0) Jeanetteann

Let there be light

 I thought that this week,I would gather together some of my mirrors which were charity shop buys a while ago.  They have been on my to do list for ages.  I wanted to lighten everything up a bit,as our home is Edwardian and can be quite dark.  
This is great in Summer because it stays cool, but sometimes LET THERE BE LIGHT

So the white spray paint came out, and before I show you the end result I might just tell you about

how inspired I get when I visit Sandy and her daughter Janae at  For the Love of White blog and Not so  Shabby Chic.

 Sandy and Janae have been making fabric flowers and decorating cushions and such with them.
Well my daughter  and myself had a crafting day together and made so much and enjoyed ourselves.  
We tied roses to all sorts of things including my plain lamp below

 Then we fiddled and fiddled and decided this the nicer look

Now to reveal more,  The mirror and cherub for the bathroom

 The sitting room, to go with the lamp

The cushion like Sandy's,only my daughter has claimed this one, so we have to make another for my sitting room and this chest in the hallway 

The crochet cloth under the cushion is a curtain which my Grandma did for the home I grew up in in England. They were right through our house,but this is the only one I have.

I made this ruffled tablecloth from a bed valance  and sheet. 

after seeing quite a few  on  blogs and pinterest

 It was so simple to do.  The only thing a bit of a pain, was I had to order the valance from the USA as we don't have them here.  It was only $45 for a king size, but I had to pay $35 for postage.


I cut the silky middle out of it and cut down a new sheet I bought at Vinnies for $8 for the middle after cutting it to the size of the table and attaching it to the frill.


I think it was worth it though, as it was such a beautiful look, and I'll have it forever.


It is actually cream to match the curtains but looks paler on the photo.

These are lamps around our home. I want to, maybe, fiddle with sometime in the future.  These large fringed ones were charity shop finds, $39.95 for the two

This gold one was in a box of mixed goodies, I bought at auction for $20

 This one a charity shop find $15

These two were cream shades I bought new 30yrs ago and got them hand painted with roses. The bases were $15 a pair. They are on our bedside cupboards

Well enough from me, I must go over and check out my bloggerette friends and see what you have all been up to.  Join me this week for my usual blog parties


Show off Your Cottage Monday House in the Roses
Meg and Mums
Mod Vintage Life
White Wednesday at Faded Charm
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Ivy and Elephants
Vintage Thingie Thursday at Colorado Lady
Common Ground
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home


xx jeanetteann

A very productive week

 I have been practicing my crochet for weeks now and today completed this cotton bag
It is available for sale in my etsy shop for $35

 I made the cushion first because I wanted to change my sitting room cushions to a lighter look
They were burgundy floral and quite dark. I wanted to lighten things up a bit.

With  Valentines day, I thought hearts,so this little bridal favour I made from bits and pieces from my stash, available from my etsy too.


What could be nicer than a heart shaped cake.

 Remember the fondant roses I made a few posts ago,


Well this is the finished cake.  I have to practice lots more, but I didn't mind the finish,
and Jessica loved it.

I am joining these parties this week
Show off your Cottage Monday at House in the Roses
 Home and garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life
Open house party, at No Minimalist Here
Show and tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound
Happy Valentines xx Jeanetteann

Pink china and glass

This is my china cabinet which holds my collection of pink glass
It is getting extremely full and untidy.   Time for a sort out

Other collections keep finding their way in there too, like pink china and other little bits and pieces

Soooo, out came everything and it all got a good wash and polish


The French wine glasses went back in first,along with the matching liqueur glasses.

Depression cups and saucers

Bubble glass bowls and a favourite pair of crystal salt and pepper shakers

My treasured compote/stemmed fruit bowl and a little dish which was the first piece of pink glass I owned other than the French glasses. 

Candle holders,a gift from dear friends

 A bedside water set,which includes tray,lidded jug and glass

Now I think it is much nicer, what do you think?

 Art Deco vase and liqueur set

Water jug

Now to the pink patterned china

 I can't resist buying any of these English patterns in this colour way,when I see it.


They are mostly the Charles Dickens series, Churchill and Country Life, patterns

 I so like these Grindley set of jugs, which I use regularly 

Parties I am joining this week.
House in the Roses , Show off your Cottage Monday
A Delightsome Life , Home and Garden Thursday
Coloradolady , Vintage Thingie Thursday
My Romantic Home , Show and Tell Friday
How Sweet the Sound, Pink Saturday


Giving encouragement to others is a most welcome gift,
for she results of it are lifted spirits,
 increased self-worth, and a hopeful future.
Florence Littauer


xx Happy Week,  jeanetteann