School is back...

...and for most Scottish schoolkids, summer is over. It's back to routine here, and for the last week or so it feels like it has been raining on and off. The moment the sun comes out there are bees,butterflies and hoverflies covering the buddlia bushes. We have decided to plant a buddlia hedge all along one boundary fence next year. You can't have too many of these plants.

On a creative note, I have spent the last two days making up around 50 greetings cards for a friend who kindly took an order for me at her church. So I guess I have actually been doing something crafty at last. The sewing machine has been put up and down and up and down several times this last couple of months with good intention to produce something, but it never really happened. All I made was a tiny muslin privacy curtain for the shower room in our log cabin. Maybe now that life is back to routine, I will be able to get something done around here.

I said, MAYBE!

Oh, and I hit the one stone weight loss mark since I started my healthier lifestyle plan! (Still a long way to go though!)

Sightseeing

It seems a shame that we live in such a lovely place yet only really take time to appreciate the beauty when we have visitors and we take them to do some sightseeing.We recently visited this beautiful waterfall. These are called Rogie Falls.
It was very Lord of the Rings-ish at this spot.
We visited Loch Achulty. The water was crystal clear and the surrounding views breathtaking.

It always feels like a holiday for us too when we have visitors. It was such fun. This time it was my three lovely nieces. Such charming young ladies. Haven't laughed so much since, well - the last time we saw them. Not surprisingly, we haven't had much time to finish of decorating Naomi's room yet. Had yet another leak fixed yesterday! Hopefully that's all the hold ups for that room over with for the time being!

Photo pals

I don't take many photos for my blog these days. I have no need to. Both my husband and my daughter Naomi are keen photographers. It's so nice to see them having a hobby they can share, although I have to say there is the teensy weensiest bit of competition going on between them . It's kind of amusing. Don't forget to check out Naomi's blog while you are online.

Decorating Blues

I've been rather splattered with paint lately as I am in the process of decorating Naomi's bedroom. Alas, nothing ever seems to go quite as smoothly as one would hope. I lifted her old carpet today to discover that there is water coming in from the shower in the next room. Everything is now on hold while we try to locate and fix the problem.

This is a totally unrelated picture - I didn't think a damp patch on the floor made for great blog photos. This amazing looking moth caterpillar is chomping his way through my golden hop plant. But that's OK, because it is a rather energetic specimen - the hop that is. I am always having to chop it back because it strays all over the place.

Sour Milk

When we lived in Belize in Central America, we used to watch HGTV on cable. On one particular program, there was a feature with Martha Stewart using milk paint to create a set of shaker style steps for her kitchen. I was so impressed with the finish and the whole concept, that I researched milk paint and eventually bought some from South Africa.

The Original Milk Paint co. says...
Milk Paint is a traditional, long-lasting paint made from milk casein, clay, earth pigments and lime. It is a natural, non-toxic product that bonds with hard porous surfaces, such as sanded wood, by way of a naturally forming resin, called calcium caseinate.

The milk paint comes in powdered form and all you needed to do with this particular variety, was mix with water. This was about 6 or seven years ago, and I carefully stored my milk paint in a tin in a dry place. Funnily enough I stored it in a large KLIM powdered milk tin.
After all this time,(how does life get so busy?) I thought I would try out the paint on one of my auction bargains. I bought this little bathroom corner cupboard a while back for the vast sum of £1. Actually, I think I bought this and a couple of other things for £1! I sanded it back to the bare wood ready to recieve the milk paint.
I followed the instructions carefully and mixed and mixed untill it started to look creamy, and then let it sit for a while to thicken up.
It didn't seem to be thickening up much.
But I went ahead and started painting it on the wood to see what happened. Hmm, don't think it's supposed to be all lumpy and gritty! I had to clean off the cupboard. It seems my milk paint has gone off. I guess the heat in Belize is probably what did it as it has been stored cool and dry enough here. It was probably ruined within the first wee while of owning it. Guess I'll be using ordinary paint this time after all.
I'm not sure if the company is still in business any more, but if they were I think I think I would order more. I have another auction bargain - a hall table that would look gorgeous in this shaker grey/green.

Summer rain

After the beautiful summer sunshine which we have enjoyed for a couple of weeks, we are now back to typical British summer weather. Rain, rain and more rain. The lilys are beginning to go over now, and the poppy petals have all been washed off. I am sure the bees, like us, are longing for a little glimpse of the sun ...

...And talking of rain, there has been a little rain on my parade lately as I have been suffering with what the doctor thinks is a hiatus hernia. But there is a ray of sunshine in that, as I cannot eat as normal and so I am hoping that I will lose some weight. I have also (when the weather permits) been out for a daily walk to get some exercise. Hopefully things will improve as I get a bit fitter.

On the crafting side of things, I am in the middle of a batch of greeting cards, and then after I have cleared that away, the sewing machine is coming out to play. Oh, and my daughter wants her room decorated. Right, I am getting off this seat and going for a walk now. I'll be taking my umbrella!!!!

Summertime, and the livin' is easy...

It's been a most enjoyable time lately as we have been out and about, spending time with my brother and sister in-law and family who were up for their annual Highland holiday.

We've visited the park...

...had plenty fun and fresh air...

...been to see the Moscow State Circus - that was really cool!

...and meantime, the garden continues to bloom and flourish. Already we are collecting seed heads for next year from some flowers. These seed heads are from some pretty purple violas. Exquisite don't you think?
Remember the pot I painted back in this post? Well here it is planted up with Alyssum and Osteospernum.