Spring is in the air

Well it is nearly 4 am here and I can't sleep.....I can't believe today is the last day of winter for another year... We have been having crisp, cool nights and the most glorious warm, sunny days this last week.... I have been spending my days sitting on my front verandah and working on loads of tiny little charms for orders.... I was so lucky this week to receive this absolutely gorgeous book from a dear customer Randi.... I swapped some of my goodies charms, needle case and journal for this amazing book... I can't read it but the photography is just so spectacular... To be honest I think it is the nicest book I have ever seen and I am sure it will be much inspiration if and when we start work on the courthouse..... The other photo is of my garden last Spring so hopefully it will look like that again soon.... Anyway I am going to make myself a cup of tea I think and do a little more work....

I wish I could turn my mind OFF

Dearest friends
Well the last couple of weeks my mind feels like it is on fast forward... The thoughts of renovating again and the thought of my dream of having a big open plan kitchen and lounge room fills my head... Now I am starting to get Christmas orders from wonderful shops and I think wow this year is just flying on by... My hubby has been away for the last week so we really haven't had a chance to sit and ponder over whether we will go ahead with this dream or be content with what we have... Had a wonderful weekend of mowing, weeding, shopping with the kids and then Kirstie had 3 friends over Saturday night which ended in a very fun popcorn fight, I really didn't want them to go home I laughed so much.... I think every day with my kids I realise how fast it is all going and I must say I think with every day I enjoy them a little bit more... Being a mum is the most blessed thing I will ever do......

more photos of the old courthouse

These are early photos of the courthouse.... We bought it a couple of years ago now... We worked on the front garden and built a new fence and paved a path from old bricks before tenants moved in... The room you see here was originally going to be my shop but too many council regulations to deal with so we decided to rent it out... If we go ahead with moving there this will become a kitchen and open plan living area... It is quiet a large area...

Our old courthouse

Well it is funny you know how all of a sudden you start thinking about change... Wanting change and disruption in your life... Some of you would know that we own (or the bank owns it really - smile) an old building that was originally our little towns courthouse and police station... It is right next door to our house with a 1/2 an acre of land between them... It is being rented out at the moment... Over the last couple of weeks I have been thinking of doing some extra things to the house we are in and then I thought why not renovate the courthouse as it is much bigger and then we could rent this house or even sell it eventually if we had too... Oh but ALL that work (and money) - could I deal with that again.... Negatives about the courthouse is it really needs to be restumped, reroofed and painted externally which are all jobs that we would need to get tradesmen to do... Inside we would move the kitchen and the bathroom so as you can imagine the $$$$$ signs would add up and up and do we really need the extra space... I have a 14 year old and a nearly 11 year old. Recently I have noticed we are having more gatherings of younger people staying in our house and it is pretty cramped not unbearable but cramped ... I grew up in a 3 bedroom house with 5 kids and there were always extras so am I being silly to want this... We really want to do a European vacation at the end of Kirstie's schooling (3 years time) as well so is it better to stay with what we have and enjoy it or take on another adventure... Would love to hear your thoughts my friends... As you know with me I have already got a plan of the new layout for the other house, how I would paint it and so on..... Anyway need to get a charm order finished today so best get started... Take care Cathy

So very beautiful

Dear friends
I just needed to share with you this gorgeous doll... My dear friend Christe (Deerfield Farmhouse) made it especially for me for my daughter Kirstie... She is much prettier and more delicate in real life then a photo can show... The attention to detail is exquisite... Kirstie called her Emma as she reminded her of Emma the movie based on the Jane Austin novel... Kirstie actually got a set of 5 Jane Austin novels for her birthday... as you all know she loves to read.....

I've been tagged

I am not really into these kinds of things as I really think all the blogs are wonderful... So this will be the only Tag I follow through on Ok my friends....
Kirstie Penton - my beautiful little girl that writes beautiful little blogs about her life
Christine Crocker- my dear, dear friend and creator of the most beautiful vintage dolls and creations.
Katie Estvold - a friend that inspires me every day with her beautiful creations, her love of her family and her amazing writing skills...
Angela Osment- dear friend, truly talented gardener, mother and sweet person....
Cheryl Dack - talented designer of the sweetest crafts...
I thank you to all the other beautiful blogs out there that inspire me each day....

Kirstie's 14th Birthday

my little girl

Just wanted to share my happy little girl... Today she got her braces off which she had on for 18 months.... She turns 14 this Sunday, I can't believe where that time has gone.... She teaches me so much more about life then I ever could imagine... I am soooooooo blessed.......

my lovely bedroom

Well another cool, windy day here.... Have had a friend over this morning which doesn't happen a lot so it was a nice change for the morning... I was just standing looking through my little French doors into my bedroom and I would so like to make this room my kitchen... It is in the eastern corner of the house where all the beautiful morning sunshine drifts in... and right beside my lounge room... It has been a dream of mine for many years now but it is hard to know whether it is worth all the cost and inconvenience... My darlin husband just rolls his eyes at me..... What idea has she got this time.... Anyway my dear Kirstie gets her braces off tomorrow so she is so very, very excited..... Will send you some photos of her later this week as it is her 14th birthday on Sunday... Take care........

Little collages

Well nearly 10 pm Friday night here and I have been just going through a lot of my photos files and cleaning them out so thought I would share another little collage with you... I love the contrast of this little old sewing machine drawer that has bits of different coloured paint on it... Lovely glitter and pretty roses.... a close up of my sweet little petticoat... A beautiful paper cone made by my dear friend Christine Crocker with a lovely photo of my dad when he was a little man.... old buttons and a beautiful detailed timber frame.... All things that I love.....