Despite the greyish mizzle which has rendered our little corner of the world ferociously wet and windy at a time we were hoping for clear, bright skies and sprinkles of snow, we are a happy house this week. We’ve been beginning the Christmas preparations and finishing some long-overdue DIY, including the decision of what to do with this piece of boat salvage which I stumbled across on ebay back in early Summer. I fell in love with the layers of peeling paint and the uniqueness of it. It’s a transom by the way; the end piece of an old navy boat which I bought very cheaply from someone selling bits and pieces of driftwood and maritime junk. It weighs about as much as a baby elephant, as my long-suffering husband did not hesitate to point out as he dragged it home for me.
Never ones for conventional interiors, we’ve opted to mount it here, in the kitchen, where in the two days it’s been up it’s drawn a range of reactions from ‘are you completely mad??” to ‘gorgeous!!’. The handy builder who helped us baton it to the wall insisted on taking a photo home to show his wife who could not believe that someone would choose to do something so daft. I suspect she is not alone in her view, but we think it’s rather cool….
I’ve also been busy making Harry’s nativity costume for his role as Joseph in the nursery nativity play next week; it’s amazing what you can do with a tea towel and a length of hessian… oh, and of course a Biblical staff made from a stick we borrowed from a friendly dog in the park. It promises to be a comical affair as well as a maternal tear-jerker; Mary towers over Joseph due to a recent growth spurt, and the inn-keeper at 2yrs old is already such a jovial and accommodating soul that I think it’s unlikely anyone will be turned away, regardless of the official plot line. The children have been learning songs about which they have been sworn to secrecy, so for some time now Harry will distractedly break into song at home and then, realising his error, rear back and exclaim ‘SHHHHH!!!!!!” to himself before glancing suspiciously at us to see if we were listening. It’s at moments like this I don’t want him to grow up at all, ever.
Whilst all the signs are promising, I’m desperately hoping that on the day he enjoys it somewhat more than last year, where the official photo reveals him to have been possibly the saddest teddy-bear in the chorus (tears still wet on his lashes; *gulp*)
Did I tell you that Harry’s big Christmas present is to be a pretend play hardware store-come-garage? Somewhere he can refuel his scooter, examine a stack of tyres, play with locks and keys and mull over buckets of tools and paints and generally do whatever it is that guys do when they manage to lose an entire afternoon doing man-things in places like this. Progress is slow, but I’ve at least managed to knock-up a mini paint range for the store, using little baked bean cans with adulterated labels:
I’ve also been making my grown-up Christmas cards to accompany Harry’s reindeer ones; I raided my collection of upholstery fabric samples, set to them with pinking shears and created these simple Christmas trees, decorated with buttons and bells;
And a few of these, made by threading old beads onto a piece of wire and twisting into a wreath shape before gluing in place. The joyeaux noel embroidered tags I ordered years ago from a regular school name tag supplier and have used for just about every christmas craft under the sun since.
And finally, today I have a day off work and Harry ensconced in nursery in final rehearsals and so will be turning my hand to my biggest culinary challenge yet; making dessert for the eighty octogenarians who will attend my mother-in-law’s birthday party tomorrow. It has to be something that can be safely transported for two hours in the car, will not inflame any known medical conditions, can be eaten with a plastic spoon and can be tackled by those with dentures. Ha!! No doubt Martha would take this in her stride with barely a moment’s pause, but after weeks of denial and prevarication I have decided on cake, jelly and trifle; it works for kids after all. I have torn a recipe for a divine-sounding White Forest Trifle from a magazine (leaving behind the footnote which alludes the 951 calories per serving this provides). Made from cherries in kirsch, mascarpone, custard and sponge, it sounds suitably decadent. And if it looks a bit chaotic when I’m done, we can blame that on the car journey and repent our sins later….
Have a great weekend.
violetannie63
Love the cards! Would steal your ideas except I have run out of time (and oomph) this year. They shall be put on the backburner for next year! Also love the boat piece – want!
Louise
Love the boat-it is reminiscent of a whale tale:-) How do you find these awesome things!? Lol
Kate
Hi Louise, you’re so right – doesn’t it just! And my foraging tip; whenever I have a few minutes alone with my iPad and a cup of tea I type ‘old, wooden’ into the ebay listings search and stipulate a local radius… 90% of what comes up is mundane and dull but once in a while there’s something completely random and magical like this. I’ve also found a pair of vintage wooden skis and poles that way, which will grace our hallway this Christmas as decoration. Oh, and a beautiful old wooden gramophone player with horn which I got for £15 and which I’m still working out where to position..
Bestof2sisters
Good grief Kate, you sure have been busy! It’s inspiring to see all your projects, we continue to share your links with our readers.
The boat looks FANTASTIC by the way. And driftwood on ebay? – how genius!
/Camilla
Kate
Thanks Camillla!
lovinghomemade
Love the boat on the wall, it looks brilliant. Am also really glad I don’t have a child in the same nativity as you do, couldn’t hope to keep up on a costume! Cards look great, still don’t know where you find the time!
Meryl
You are a great writer, and I often find myself chuckling at your posts while utterly inspired by your creativity. Keep ’em coming and thanks!
Gillian
The transom looks stunning. It’s the sort of idea that when you describe it to others they stare at you blankly, but when you see it you go “oh wow”. It shows off your fabulously high ceilings and coving and I love the muted, faded colours and peeling paint. The little paint pots are adorable, I want some just to put of a shelf and admire. Good luck to Harry in his Joseph role (great costume!) – this nativity lark is an emotional business for all concerned! x
Angie
Hello, Kate,
I always enjoy reading your texts, because they are sweet, poetical and fun!
But I have to tell you it is not “joyeaux” but “joyeux” which means “happy”, but maybe your friends won’t notice! ;)…
Kate
Alors, Angie! How embarrassing; of course you are right, and my French teacher would have been appalled. I think it is obviously time to retire the tags and/or stick to English! I am VERY grateful to you for pointing it out though, before I use anymore…
Barbara Backer-Gray
My gosh, I wish I had your energy! I love the cards, Harry looks adorable in his sad picture, and the transom looks absolutely fabulous.
alligatortoe
You are so creative and you always share such lovely projects and things on your blog – you really inspire me! I’ve nominated you for the Reader Appreciation Award, thank you for sharing part of your wonderful, creative self! 🙂
http://alligatortoe.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/reader-appreciation-award/
Miet
What an adorable picture of Harry! Also love the paint cans and your Christmas cards!
Jen - Ava Pot Pie
I love the little paint cans for the hardware store, did you leave the beans in? I also may or may not steal your Christmas card idea depending on if I get motivated :o)
Raven Corwin, aka Meggie
You are such an awesome Mum! Harry is a duck! Best wishes to him in his very important role. Love the transom, too.
Anonymous
Hi Kate ! I absolutely ADORE the boat piece !!! And it really looks awsome in your ( beautiful ) kitchen !
And the costume, the little cans and the chritmas cards are lovely too.
Once more, let me tell you how talented you are, and how much i love your blog.
Audrey
Alex @ northstory
” Mary towers over Joseph due to a recent growth spurt”. LOL!!!! I am sure he will be the cutest Joseph ever! Love the boat. I’d totally do that. I keep staring at your kitchen wishing I had that in my home already. Your cards are amazing and it’s not a surprise that I love them b/c I did something similar. Except I couldn’t for the life of me get good lighting on my freezer this week so I haven’t been able to blog about them. So I said to hell with this and make chocolate candy instead. Now I am going to the gym to repent my sins…
Jenna at Homeslice
You could write about anything under the sun and I would read it! Thanks for the laugh-
ripe red berries
I LOVE the transom – I would have bought it too! I LOVE all your projects. Your writing always makes me smile. Thank you! Your son is a lucky boy.
2ofUM
Love your cards! Absolutely beautiful!
Lady Moss
My favourite of all your posts! That little boy is too gorgeous for words and the boat end is to die for!!!
nrhatch
Love those cards . . . especially the tree. And the boat transom is way cool . . . even if it weighs as much as an elephant.
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Beth @ Remarkably Domestic
The boat piece on the wall is so wonderful. It reminds me of Peggotty’s cottage by the sea in David Copperfield; their wonderfully whimsical house made from a boat. So charming.