And here we are again, basking in imaginary sunshine and blinking in the rather twinkly light cast by the double act that is a new Prime Minister and his Liberal Democrat twinnie… It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day and it’s a brand spanking new BrocanteHome to find your way around and hopefully find yourself thoroughly inspired by all over again. In the meantime want to hear what has been floating my boat? * First up, in honour of the Playground Mummies bookclub choice of the month, Wuthering Heights, I hereby present what could have been Finn’s very own version of life as a Bronte sister complete with roars and screeches and the knocking over of furniture. Remember Kids, use your brain and you’ll make history! And if that isn’t a motto to live by then I don’t know what is… [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NKXNThJ610&w=445&h=364] Ooh and speaking of kid games be prepared to snaffle your babba’s Nintendo DS consoles the minute they close their eyes, because rumour has it that the makers of the obligatory (and rather fun!) Mama Cooksseries are in cahoots with Martha Stewart to bring a little bit of her magic to one more area of your life in which you didn’t kn0w you needed her and probably now won’t be able to live without. Yippee! I’m in the mood for a whole new addiction don’t you know… * Speaking of addictions, and because I am contractually obliged to report that as always I remain a lazy article of quite the highest order, might I just give a great big BrocanteHome cheer for the breakfasty joy that is the Belvita Milk and Cereal Breakfast Biscuit. This my Darlings is the day I have been waiting for all my life: finally someone has given me permission to eat biscuits for breakfast, and what’s more these are the kind of biscuits that have declared war on my bonkers blood sugar, without bloating my rather dramatic tummy and almost made me feel like a normal human being for most of the morning. Delish. * Next up: Barbara Streisand. Yes I am having a Barbara moment. I have been warbling Streisand tunes all over the place and tonight, now all the election hullaballub is over and I can finally tear my eyes away from the soap opera that was for a while the evening news, and the terribly un-Brocante-like fascination with Prison Break that I am almost ashamed to admit to, I intend to put together a little tray of scrumptious treats (stuffed vine leaves, tzatziki, bread and olives) and curl in an exhausted ball in front of The Way We Were. When life is good a little bit of Robert Redford is surely the cherry on top of the most divine of lemon icing, is he not? * Trying to teach myself to like local honey in the battle against early morning hayfever. Mixing it with shredded grapefruit and lemon and wanting to cry for the sweet bloody horrible taste of it. Rubbing vaseline up my nostrils. Drinking nettle tea. Overdosing on onions and still waking up with sticky eyes and a snotty nose. Bring on the drugs NOW or else show me an alternative that actually works and I’m all yours for life… * Making Finley laugh by smushing raspberries over my lips, topping the pretty red stain with balm and calling it lipgloss. Appalling him altogether by wearing far to much colour in celebration of the season and resisting his demands to go back upstairs and change into something black. (One cannot and should not take fashion advice from a six year old boy). Wanting to kiss him when he tells me he can’t wait for Richard to arrive because “he’s like you and me Mum, he just suits our house…” * And finally because I meant to post this a long time ago and quite forget but now must before Summer is upon us, a sonnet from Edna St. Vincent Millay that renders the Vintage Housekeepers heart glad… It came into her mind, seeing how the snow Was gone, and the brown grass exposed again, And clothes-pins, and an apron—long ago, In some white storm that sifted through the pane And sent her forth reluctantly at last To gather in, before the line gave way, Garments, board-stiff, that galloped on the blast Clashing like angel armies in a fray, And apron long ago in such a night Blown down and buried in the deepening drift, To lie till April thawed it back to sight, Forgotten, quaint and novel as a gift— It struck her, as she pulled and pried and tore, That here was spring, and the whole year to be lived through once more. Have a lovely week Housekeepers.
Create your own Brocante Life Book, plan Christmas, set up routines and rituals or live life the BrocanteHome way with my guided workbooks and planners.
One of the things I have become most aware of recently is how very willing I have been to exist in uncomfortable spaces, merely in order to maintain the status quo. To not upset the apple cart, nor to seem more erratic,…
"Things grow and grow. But each goes back to it’s root. Going back to the root is stillness. This means returning to what is. Returning to what is, means going back to the ordinary." Lao Zi. Other Things To Do At BrocanteHome…
Laundry Room Pot Pourri… Soak some old fashioned dolly peg’s in scented oil (or fabric softener!), then wipe and wrap with strips torn from a length of vintage fabric. Spray with linen spray or scented oil, and then display in a pretty…
Hey ho the perils of separation! All of a sudden financial independance has become a necessity because Darling Mark is off on a Mediterranean cruise with work for the next ten days and has all but emptied the coffers. He has also…
The hottest Ebay collectible right now? Yesterdays Paint By Numbers canvases. Amateur? Mais non! Quite frankly there is no such thing. Every single one, (from the really bad paintings of crying clowns to the floral still lifes that are occasional masterpieces) is…
So there I was. Sitting at a beautifully laid table in front of a bowl of home-made soup, with bread still warm from the oven and a jug full of real lemonade. There I was. Still wearing my “Domestic Goddess” apron, feeling…
Utterly fantastic! yes I agree re the biscuits,yummy arent they? I adore Wuthering heights it is one of my all time favourites and OMG Robert Redford in 'The way we were' be still my beating heart!
Oooh thank you Gena, I'm thrilled you like it and simply can't wait to snuggle up with Robert Redford later… P.S: Re the biscuits: I'm not sure about the cranberry ones, they don't seem quite as spoiling as the milk ones do they? who needs wholesome with your cuppa??
Oh golly! I can't believe how industrious you are! Its all I can do to just post daily. How yummy! Will dream of breakfast "biscuits" from now on and for the record, I have to tell you that I have a singularly handsome and single cousin who looks like Robert Redford but isn't nearly so snooty. He's a chef. Love that poem. Millay is lovely. My recent post Birth Music
Love your look Alison! Just so you know…I've loved Robert Redford my whole life but I will share him with you. And dear Edna's poem hit the spot today. Enjoy your spring day. Smile, Sally
It's lovely to have the polka dots back, everything looks and reads brilliantly, I can see I shall be sharing long cups of tea with you every day again now. I especially like your " statement of being " on what a Vintage housekeeper is and is not! Congratulations. Gill 🙂
Hi Alison, the new Brocante looks wonderful, so sunny and happy and just right. Thanks for taking the time to have a reshuffle and make a brand new blog. Jenny My recent post The Sullivans
Hi Alison, the new Brocante looks wonderful, so sunny and happy and just right. Thanks for taking the time to have a reshuffle and make a brand new blog.
I thought I would burst waiting to see what was 'lurking behind the scenes' – and now I know!!! And it's fantabuloso Mrs!!!!!! Well done, must have been hard work, but let me tell you, well worth it! Thank you xxx
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Hi Alison… loving it so far!
My recent post New York – Day 3
Oh I'm so glad Victoria, thank you so much for being one of my gorgeous testers. I do appreciate it.x
Utterly fantastic! yes I agree re the biscuits,yummy arent they? I adore Wuthering heights it is one of my all time favourites and OMG Robert Redford in 'The way we were' be still my beating heart!
Oooh thank you Gena, I'm thrilled you like it and simply can't wait to snuggle up with Robert Redford later…
P.S: Re the biscuits: I'm not sure about the cranberry ones, they don't seem quite as spoiling as the milk ones do they? who needs wholesome with your cuppa??
Oh golly! I can't believe how industrious you are! Its all I can do to just post daily. How yummy! Will dream of breakfast "biscuits" from now on and for the record, I have to tell you that I have a singularly handsome and single cousin who looks like Robert Redford but isn't nearly so snooty. He's a chef. Love that poem. Millay is lovely.
My recent post Birth Music
Love your look Alison! Just so you know…I've loved Robert Redford my whole life but I will share him with you. And dear Edna's poem hit the spot today. Enjoy your spring day. Smile, Sally
Lovely … and love Finn's quote!
My recent post Pastel Petit Four Tutorial
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!!!! congratulations , this is wonderful….
OOh loving the new incarnation of the delicious Brocante 🙂 Thank you!!
My recent post Lovely day
Hi Alison, glad you are posting again, I love the new site, it looks great. hugs JoAnn S
It's lovely to have the polka dots back, everything looks and reads brilliantly, I can see I shall be sharing long cups of tea with you every day again now. I especially like your " statement of being " on what a Vintage housekeeper is and is not! Congratulations. Gill 🙂
Hi Alison, the new Brocante looks wonderful, so sunny and happy and just right. Thanks for taking the time to have a reshuffle and make a brand new blog.
Jenny
My recent post The Sullivans
Hi Alison, the new Brocante looks wonderful, so sunny and happy and just right. Thanks for taking the time to have a reshuffle and make a brand new blog.
Alison,
You know I'll follow your blog, wherever it's at! 😉 Have a wonderful weekend!
Katherine
I thought I would burst waiting to see what was 'lurking behind the scenes' – and now I know!!! And it's fantabuloso Mrs!!!!!! Well done, must have been hard work, but let me tell you, well worth it! Thank you xxx
I absolutely love it! Thank you!! Glad to have you back.