Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Country Enchantment



Life In The Country
Series #6


Here we are again this week, heading into the country for some decorating inspiration and fun imagination!

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My Home Ideas

I have a busy week planned.
I am heading not far away from my Scottish house from last week, to my home in Yorkshire.




This is one of my larger houses, so as you can imagine I do need security.




My personal bodyguard Jack.  
Let me see..... Jack has been with me for over 24 years now.
Yes, I know he is so handsome. 
He is a devoted employee and does not take his eyes off me for a second.


Retreat

My home is near the sea, so I have incorporated some blue in my decor.


House to Home

You know me, there will always be pink as well.







Although the winter is coming, snow has not arrived yet and it is a beautiful day to take my bicycle out for a spin around town.


Retreat

Must first grab my boots, you never know if it will be muddy.







 Before I have a little afternoon nap, think I will head into kitchen to put away my staples I picked up at the market.






Sometimes, you just need a little afternoon rest.




My guests for the weekend are arriving.  
Look forward to greeting them.




And showing  them to their rooms.




Phoebe Howard




And as always, my blogging pals, you are more than welcome to visit with me.
Just give Jack 24 hours notice and you should be all set!





I am so enchanted by my sweet country home.


Classic Home


Diane

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I will be linking up with these parties

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Rednesday at It's A Very Cherry World
Pearls and Lace Thursday at Faith, Grace and Crafts 
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound


Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Life as a Landlady



One day I am not a Landlady and then shazam, the next day I am!
I have rented out my country house.




Back in September I started renting a condo in Stratford,  my son is finishing his last year in high school here.  
From our country house it was a two hour commute - one way.
Renting a place in Stratford for this time period made sense.


Wm. Shakespeare in the gardens along the Avon River in Stratford


I was going to keep the country house open for us to go home on weekends.  
However, those weekends never really happened.  We got too busy to head up there every weekend.
Or what was I going to do with the house during the winter?  Winter driving is not one of my forte.
The house was sitting empty day in and day out.


Pearl the Landlady - Will Ferrell's daughter


 So I thought I might as well rent it out.
Never been a Landlady before.
I put an ad on Kijiji.  I got 1025 hits in three days and tons of emails.
Felt a little overwhelmed with the response.


my country house

I did choose a tenant.  It was a fairly easy decision.
Very nice single mother raising three children.
So far so good.  She is the nicest lady, pays her rent on time.  Decorated the house nicely.
Her dad is an award winning gardener, so the gardens are looking good.


So what is next for me?

new home?


Not really sure which route I will take when my son graduates high school in June.
I am thinking of buying another house, and continue to rent out the country house.
I will again want to stay close to Sarnia.  I love the area.
I look at real estate listing, but don't take it too seriously now.  I will start looking in the spring.
I will, of course, blog of this new journey when it starts.


Cozy Canadian Cottage


Diane

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Monday, November 28, 2011

Country White Decor Inspiration



Country White Decorating Inspiration
Series #4

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One of best days of the week for me is my series of inspiration.
Country White Decor Inspiration for our homes,
along with inspirational quotes for our souls.
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This weeks quotes are from Oprah Winfrey
An angel on earth.



"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. 
If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."


Dreamy White


"Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother."


source unknow

"Breathe. Let go. 
And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."




"Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifests itself."




"I always knew I was destined for greatness."




"Turn your wounds into wisdom."




"I am a woman in process. I'm just trying like everybody else. I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it. Life is never dull."




"When I look into the future, it's so bright it burns my eyes."




"I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity."


Balham House



"Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher."

Christina Strutt


"The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams."


Dreamy White


Diane

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Anything Goes at Type A
White Wednesday at Faded Charm
What I Love Wednesday at lollipops
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home



Sunday, November 27, 2011

Head In The Clouds



The Hopeless Romantic




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For the most part, I am as dependable, reliable and respectable as they come.
Feet firmly on the ground.
Good health, happy family, debt free, realistic mortgage.

But sometimes, some days.....
I just want to have my head in the clouds!

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I love shabby chic.


flickr

flickr


I love the elegant romance of shabby chic design and concept.


Layla Palmer

Selina Lake


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Aren't bicycles just cool!


google image


pinterest


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I love a good romantic movie.



    North and South 




The BBC's production of Elizabeth Gaskell novel written in 1854.
 There is no other romantic movie or book quite like this one.
 If you have not seen it, don't bother to rent it, just go out and buy it.
  You will want to watch this movie time and again.




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It's okay to have a hero.




 Diana, Princess of Wales
Somethings in life are just sad.
 Diana breathed life into and changed the face of the British Royal Kingdom forever.




 She was just like us.  We all could connect with her.
 She alone brought the Royal Family into modernization.
She gave birth to an excellent King to be.  His reign will be a successful one.
All this and she never lived to see her accomplishments.
Somethings are just too sad.

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Everyone should have vintage in their decor.


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And polka dots


source unknown


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And Pink


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Selina Lake



Diane

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I will be joining Show Off Your Cottage Monday at The House In The Roses