Suzy' s Blog

My Friends and other animals

Talking of animals,which I wasn't , but which seem to occupy most of my time , so I always seem to be talking about them or to them ... (No mention of horse meat I promise!) I seem to have an extra pet, or should that be an uninvited house guest, in the form of a mouse.  Now I know for a lot of people, this would be a terrifying prospect. My Mum, for instance, would have run for the hills by now, but I am made of sterner stuff. After all, I have my weapon of mass destruction. Ok she looks harmless enough now, sleeping on her cushion, but Bonbon, my persian cat is a force to be reckoned with especially where intruders are concerned, (I am slightly concerned as to how the mouse got past the cat in the first place, but, I'll not judge!!).....Well as they appear to be now friends hmmm... I thought A little cartoon of the new friendship might be appropriate 

Now that February is well underway, (I've already had my birthday and Valentines day has been and gone) I was rather surprised to get a Christmas card yesterday. Early or late?, I'm not quite sure, but it seems a shame not to display it, so It now has pride of place on the fireplace in all its festive glory.(maybe I should reinstate the tree and have my own early yuletide)....Funny thing is , the same thing happened last year, same card from the same person.  Need to have a word, I think...

Most of you who know me will know that I am an avid reader and often have two or three books on the go at any one time , I'm also often heard to say " never judge a book by the cover " Well with that in mind here is something found in a bookstore recently ...

I guess, bearing in mind that spring is just around the corner, I should seriously consider coming out of hibernation.  I have spent almost every evening cocooned in my cottage, log fire blazing layer upon layer of clothing on (no onesies though, I draw the line at that!) with a good book ( Maybe the one above , although my Mum is reading it at the moment , I did explain it's not about me )  and the animals curled at my feet, well, on the sofas, to be more precise...But, not for much longer!....I shall soon be up and at 'em!...Gardening, spring cleaning, tidying, toiling away long into the evening, full of energy and enthusiasm, Oh Yes!!...In the meantime, however as the temperature drops again and the swirling fog is like something out of Sherlock Holmes movie, I think I'll definitely be staying by the fire for the time being....Maybe a onesie isn't such a bad idea after all, pink spotted one or a tiger look    I think!..

For now I think log fires and a G and T is the best bet ...

I'll finish with a nod to my more frugal side, (it doesn't show itself very often I have to admit) I've been very tempted to cheer up these long winter days with a spot of retail therapy, but as I've been on a strict shopping diet since Christmas, I have to constantly remind myself of an inspiring phrase by Calvin Coolidge, U.S President 1923 to 1929...He advised, 'There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important as living within your means'......Hmmm! Something I definitely have trouble with!...

Bye for now x

Suzy's Blog

February

Well, happy February everyone, a much maligned time of the year, but, as it's my birthday month, and we have Valentines day also, I've learned to love it...
I am, as I type enjoying my favourite activity, (or should that be inactivity!) of the week....Sunday papers and breakfast in bed. Even the dogs are chilled out and snoozing at the bottom of the bed, they know that there'll be no walks till 11 at the earliest..then its all

..bless!

 Now, back to the papers and before I can actually read any of them, I have to do the usual cull of the supplements. financial pages, far too worrying, consigned to the cat litter tray, health bit, too scary to read, straight in the bin, travel, not planning a holiday so that's gone, driving, well that has to be the most boring of all but makes good fire kindling, and so on...Which leaves me with, well, not a lot really, but it'll still take a couple of enjoyable few hours to get through what's left.  Anyway, something interesting that caught my eye today was in the property section. It seems that the place to have these days is one that has a connection to a famous person or event, then it can be adorned with an English Heritage plaque.  Having once lived in such a house I was quite miffed that I missed such a prestigious opportunity.  However, all is not lost, it appears that, having researched my current property and discovered that nothing of interest ever took place in my cottage,

 I can still have such a plaque, it would say something like..'.On this day in 1700 absolutely nothing happened here'....Sounds perfect to me!.

Well ....I generally throw in a blast from the past ....but today maybe a more recent one ...

Well rather than a Blast From The Past....maybe a pic outside my new venture with a friend ...a fab cafe and antiques and collectables shop ....so lots of blasts from the past I guess....

Oh well, enough of all this, best get walking, come on you two let's get going...


Happy Sunday everyone.
X

Suzy's Blog

Delia and other domestic ideas

I woke today to another snowy day and decided the only cure for it was breakfast in bed with the morning papers, followed by a long walk with the dogs..Have to say the former was considerably more enjoyable than the latter.  Attempting to walk two strong excitable dogs on ice and snow resulted in more manouvers than a contestant on Dancing on Ice.
On the plus side, though, spending more time than usual confined indoors has brought out my inner domestic goddess, (never thought I'd hear myself say that!)...I now have a (almost) gleaming house, and a kitchen full of my attempts at baking...Scones, pastries, cakes, you name it, I've made it!...Have to admit to a disaster with a panna cotta though, the finished item bore more than a passing resemblance to a breast implant, too much gelatin I think! (maybe I can patent it)!?

You get the idea......well sort of......

I did manage to get out of snow boots and that eskimo look for a moment .....although not for long brrrrr

Well , if I can get the car out today I'm doing a spot of antique hunting ( a favourite pastime) ,,,

And talking of Blasts from the Past .....and bringing back memories of glorious sunshine ( if you can remember such days) ...

Time to go, think I can smell something burning!...
Sue x

Suzy's Blog

New year blues
January 7th, one week into 2013, and not the best of starts to a new year, I have to say.  It's always very promising to begin with, super hyped at the stroke of midnight on Jan 1st, anything and I mean anything can be achieved, the gym, bring it on, a dry January, no problem, Oh and why not throw in a chocolate fast and full on detox for good measure!...I can do them all!.....Well that was the intention anyway!..So what went wrong, I hear you say, (after all, something always does!)...So far, so not particularly good, the chocolate fast failed along with the detox, the gym never really stood a chance, (especially after I dropped a log on my foot and bruised my toe), and the less said about 'dry January' the better....But, hey, better luck next year!
Thought I might sum up my blog with a cartoon each week , what do you think ?

But enough of these blues ...A Burlesque Show will brighten up any evening and I have some ideas to do just that ...

A little bit of Ooooh La la

But away from the fans , frills and stockings and all things burlesque ....

And as I haven't mentioned my antique hunting and selling , I thought this blast from the past might suffice

That's all for now

Sue x

Suzy's Blog

Tinsel and Turkey

Having survived Christmas,

Well not quite Christmas , but this was Christmas Eve at home , glass of wine and a log fire

 I'm now in the recovery period, and whilst I wouldn't go so far as to use the word 'fast', I am certainly trying to resist the last of the trifle, chocolates and mince pies....(sooooo hard!)
All in all Christmas with my parents wasn't too bad, apart from Dad losing his hearing aid battery and trying to train the cat to sit, (he's more a dog person, my Dad!)...We even managed a boxing day walk around Matlock, although we missed seeing the raft race, because I got the time wrong!...
Talking of walks, I enjoyed a lovely refreshing day out at Chatsworth today with the dogs, they loved getting wet and muddy.

With the fantastic Chatsworth House in the background and the equally beautiful Bru with me

And from one Blast From The Past to another , if you see what I mean !

Looking forward to new year now. A nice relaxing quiet one for me this year, I think.
A happy, prosperous and healthy 2013 to everyone...
Sue x

Suzy's Blog

Christmas panic and bathroom disasters....

Well, Christmas and the big holiday is almost here and I'm trying desperately not to panic.  It's all turning out to be last minute again, just like last year and, come to think of it, the year before that, and all previous years.  In my defence, I have to say this time it's not all my fault, the blame definitely lies with a bathroom....It all started several weeks ago when I rather rashly insisted my parents stay with me for Christmas, despite the guest bathroom being short of a few essentials, (namely a loo, washbasin and shower).  Not to worry, I thought, full of optimism, I'll soon get it fixed, and in less than a week...course I will!!.....And guess what, I did!, I'm not saying it was without problems, the plumber shouting down for a bucket and towels was a low point, not to mention the expense, ouch!! and probably the most serious of all, running out of time for my hair appointment, (a do it yourself fringe cut is not a good look for Christmas!).
Any way here I am, a couple of days left to sort my self out, relax and, best of all, ENJOY!...Crikey, I'm even starting to look forward to it, especially starting on the bubbly at 10 am on Christmas day, which somehow seems perfectly normal!, (Christmas does have its good points)...

Talking of Christmas !

And every girl needs a little black dress at Christmas .....so with that in mind a little Christmas present ....

And of course a little Christmas past ........

Have a wonderful time everyone...
X

Suzy's Blog

Hi from a chilly Derbyshire,
Well it's all log fires and snow showers here, very seasonal and festive, Christmassy even!, There I've mentioned it, the dreaded word, CHRISTMAS!!..I'm trying desperately to ignore it all, in the vain hope it might pass me by, (I know, bah humbug and all that!) If only for the sake of my bank balance. After all, it's only just recovered from last year, but no, here we go again...
It sort of all started last weekend with the ' Victorian Christmas Shopping' event.  A festive experience of shop assistants in full Victorian costumes handing out complimentary glasses of mulled wine and mince pies, (I have to admit to a fondness for both!)
all very nice, but if it were a true victorian Christmas, then it would be an apple or an orange and very little else.
Anyway, enough of all this, I'm sure, come next week I'll be in the thick of it and (hopefully) enjoying every festive minute, even the dreaded supermarket shop!..(well maybe that's a step too far!)..
Talking of steps, needless to say I'm hoping for shoes in every colour from Mr Santa, (baby!) or failing that a few diamonds might be nice! Ummm! (Whoever said girls were difficult to buy for clearly had no idea and was probably male!)
Hoping to meet up with a few rather neglected girlfriends soon, I'm desperate to catch up on all the gossip. Rumour has it that my newly single friend has found luuurv, (the real thing this time apparently)....Poor bloke, unknown to him she's already arranged for us all to meet, and at his place naturally! (a house she's yet to visit herself but of course has already googled!)...I almost feel sorry for him!..
Well to come back to the beginning, I feel quite pleased with myself, in true country wench style, I foraged in the woods for some logs for the fire, (well kindling actually), laid them nicely on the hearth to dry and guess what!....the dog thought I'd brought the woods home for him and wee'd on them!..Great!!
Talking of dogs ....on a visit to the beautiful Felley Priory, A fave haunt of mine I met the most gorgeous male ....all four legs and fur and a wet nose ! What more could a girl ask for .....apart from the fact he is soooo Grumpy....Well you can't have everything ....Meet Mr Grumps

See I said he was beautiful !!
And whilst I was there I managed a quick snap ,

And I know you enjoy a Blast From The Past so here goes ....

Taken in Sweden , thank goodness for warm studios ( occasionally )
OK , well bye for now and happy Christmas shopping


Sue x