Working up some muscle!

I don't know about anyone else but I seem to have got very lazy about keeping my brass and silver clean. It's funny really when I was working I, somehow, managed to do this little chore far more frequently than I have since I retired. I probably used caring for my mother as a reason (excuse more like)! So the other day when it was raining I decided to tackle a brass tray that sits on a ledge on my stairs. It took me an hour of hard rubbing to bring back the shine. My arm was aching but I was quite pleased with the result:

You might not be able to see all the detail of the patterns etched into this tray; and I do wish I knew more about it's origins! For example how old it is, and what the picture depicts. It looks oriental but this sort of design was often copied. I'll probably never know!

You know you're getting old when......

You buy one of these

Ok I give you all permission to have a giggle.......bought myself this a couple of days ago in an attempt to preserve my aging hips. I certainly do not like bending to use a normal dustpan and brush......I haven't used it yet so not even sure it will be helpful but time will tell!!!!

Security

Embee has been a busy bee today he fitted a security grill on our cellar window.

I have wanted this doing for a long time so I'm pleased the grill is finally in place.

Now I wonder what Embee will do tomorrow! I must make the most of him feeling energetic!

Fun Monday # 153 Do I have a favourite room !!!!

Some of you may not have been around at the beginning of Fun Monday back on 22nd January 2007. In fact it wasn't even called that on the first Monday when we all posted the view from our front doors. Who would have believed it would still be running all these years later. It was intended to be an easy show and tell and I think you would agree this has been achieved, even if we have re-visited quite a few topics.

Now for today's task that has been set by Janis who says:

...here is what I dreamed up! The big question is ....What is the favorite room in your home? Tell us why and show us a photo if you can.

I'm not sure I really have a favourite room, well actually that is not true but I'm not showing you a picture as it's my mothers bedroom and it wasn't fit to be photographed. This is a room that overlooks the back of the house, is quiet, and catches the afternoon and evening sun. Originally I planned to use this room as my retreat and a cosy sitting room in winter.

Our sitting room is where I tend to sit and watch TV during the evenings.


I did not tidy up so I apoligise for the room looking messy.

I also spend a lot of time in my dining room at the main computer, (you might have noticed I keep my laptop by my chair in the sitting room!)

No prizes for guessing that I enjoy playing Farmville, Cafe World, Fishville and Lexulous!!!!
When we downsize, I'm hoping to have a conservatory and that would definitely be my favourite room!

Anniversary Links
22/1/07
21/1/08
19/1/09

Archives:
2009: I'm so excited
2008: Fun Monday-51-My Bedside Drawers
2007: Who's the Birthday Girl!

Altered Images and a Spider

When I drew back the curtains in the sitting room this morning, the sun burst in and I noticed all the shadows and patterns being cast around the room. Here are a couple of the results.

No prizes for guessing who this is!

Outside the window in my mother's sitting room we have been watching this little guy spin a web to catch his prey. I cannot for the life of me understand how my window cleaner managed to avoid him/her yesterday! I don't know if you can actually see the markings in this photo but they are quite striking. (enlarging might help)

Enjoy your weekend.

Archives:
2008: What's your expressive number
2007: Package from outback

It's difficult setting up home!

Yesterday Embee was pruning the loganberry bush and tying up the new shoots for next year and look what he found......

.....we have a little Blackbird who spends a lot of time down near these bushes and now we understand why! He clearly thought a nest above where I feed the tortoises was the ideal spot. It never got finished, however, that didn't stop the blackbird taking the fruit whenever he got the chance. Very poor photo but this is the possible squatter, funny thing though, I don't recall seeing the female!

Archives:
2008: Fun Monday-81 Blogging Environment
2007: Nice Matters

Fun Monday # 126 A messy house!! + My 1,000th Post

It just so happens that this Fun Monday is also my 1,000th Post.


Gattina has challenged us to show her what we would call a messy place and put a picture of it in our post. She wants to compare, if she is messy ...she says:

It can be a room, your basement, the attic, a drawer or whatever, but it has to be messy!

This was easy for me as, I'm sad to say, I do have quite a messy house so my guess is Gattina's home will look like a palace compared to mine. It always used to be our cellars that were very untidy but we had a good turn out a few months back so I decided the garage is the place I'm going to show you today.
As you can see it's actually quite small; it hasn't been used for a car since we first moved in 23 years ago. It is top of the list for a good turn out once Embee retires from work which is likely to be around September time. I can just about get to my freezer and would you believe under all that rubbish there is an exercise bench and weights! Oh and a solid dining room table that once belonged to Embee's aunt and is looking for a good home!

Even worse than the garage is Embee's study but I can't even get in there to take a picture. He's going to be very busy when he does finally retire....or maybe he will change his mind and keep working!!

Archives:
2007: Open Letter