Tuesday 27 May 2014

Little Nest

I found this little nest just lying on the pavement when I was out for a walk.  It is so perfect and looks really cosy.  Must have taken ages to make.

There was a tree on one side and a large hedge on the other - I didn't know where it belonged.  Fortunately there were no little eggs in it.  Does anyone know what kind of bird would have built this?


Love, Liz

Sunday 25 May 2014

Caerlaverock Castle

Hubby and I treated ourselves to membership of Historic Scotland, so we are determined that when we go away anywhere for the day, we will visit a nearby historic property.


We went to Dumfries on Saturday and then visited Caerlaverock Castle just south the town on the River Nith off the Solway Firth.  It really is a beautiful and imposing medieval castle which you can read all about here.  It was owned and built by the Maxwell family.



It has a moat around it and the gatehouse range is extremely imposing.  Inside are the usual spiral staircases and impressive stonework.  Being in the border country meant that the castle saw a lot of activity during the wars between Scotland and England. 


I really liked this decorated facade which is called the Nithsdale Lodgings, built in 1634 by Robert First Earl of Nithsdale - to impress, rather than for defence.


On Saturday when we visited, all that could be heard was the calls of swallows as they soared and swooped around us - such beautiful birds, although they were too fast for me to get a photo!


If you are ever in the area, then a visit to Caerlaverock Castle is well worth while.


Love, Liz

Thursday 22 May 2014

Vintage Grindley China Plate

Lucky me - another great find!



I came across this very pretty vintage plate in a local charity shop.  It was under £1 - so how could I refuse?!


Love the backstamp - Creampetal by Grindley, England.


Lovely coloured flowers and pretty edging make it just right for my collection.


Love, Liz

Thursday 15 May 2014

New Knitted Tea Cosy

I've recently finished knitting this tea cosy.


The colours are a bit more subdued that I usually use, but I like it!



Looks good with my favourite mug.

Love, Liz

Tuesday 13 May 2014

Pretty Embroidered Cloth

I found this lovely embroidered tray cloth in a charity shop recently.  To be honest, I found it a few weeks ago, but somehow, it always ended up at the bottom of the ironing pile!  Now, how did that happen?!



Beautiful sewn - the colours are still so bright.


I'm finding it more and more difficult to find pretty things at charity shops, perhaps people are a bit more careful what they give away these days!


 Love, Liz

Friday 9 May 2014

Pretty Welsh Souvenir Plate

Found this lovely little Welsh souvenir plate in a charity shop yesterday.  My first find for ages!


The edging is just so pretty and delicate.



Its by the Lord Nelson Pottery.


I love the picture of the Welsh ladies sitting drinking tea in traditional costume.


Talking about Wales - I love the new BBC TV series Hinterland - dark, but fabulous!

Love, Liz

Monday 5 May 2014

Greenock Has Been Wiped Off the Map!

I picked up a brochure yesterday - it is called Welcome to Scotland.  However, I was shocked to discover that on the main map of central and southern Scotland - Greenock is not there!


The port of Greenock will welcome at least forty cruise ships this year bringing over 100,000 passengers and crew from all around the world.  Many will probably pick up this booklet at some point on their visit to Scotland, good luck to them if they try to find the port which welcomed them!  Greenock has truly disappeared off the map!


Port Glasgow which is home to the beautiful Newark Castle is missing too!


This is the year of Homecoming Scotland, which will attract many descendents of the Scottish Diaspora back to their ancestral homeland, anyone picking up this booklet will have a problem with the map if they try to find the place that thousands of families sailed from to start new lives overseas!


Ok - here's my map - here's where to find Greenock and Port Glasgow where you are sure of a wonderful welcome!
Love, Liz

Thursday 1 May 2014

Vintage Queen Anne

This unusual shaped dish is in the Queen Ann pattern by Royal Winton.



Can I share a secret ... there's something I really don't like about this dish.



I bought it for a few pounds about 25 years ago when I got my first Welsh dresser and for a while it took pride of place on it.  But ... eventually it ended up in a drawer because I grew to dislike it.  I have another plate in the same pattern which I like a lot!  Very strange, because this one has all the right ingredients to be something that I should love - vintage, lovely sort of cross stitch pattern, floral, beautiful colours - and yet ....!


Do you have anything that you don't really like but don't know why?

Love, Liz