Blue Monday: Monday Blues?

The  Bluebells are out!  Not quite in full glory yet, but still worth a walk around Ashridge Estate to take in the sight and scent of them.

Of course other evidence of Spring is also around...

Lambs feeding.

Tractor left in the field?  Perhaps he had gone for a tea break?

More Bluebells...

In another week, they should be in full display and the blue should show up even more...we will hopefully go at the end of this week to see how they have changed.

Percy enjoyed his walk as well.

A few remaining Daffodils.

The different textures of bark and moss always interest me.

Of course we also had lunch at the Cafe.   

Blue Monday

It has been several years since I have taken part in this and thought it would fun to try and join in again.

You can find out more about  'Blue Monday' blog party here.

My contribution for today is:

A glimpse of blue sky, complete with blue pegs and blue washing line!  It was a good thing I took the photo in the morning because by early afternoon the weather was terrible. Grey dark, wet and windy and it is the same here today.

My book for the year also has a blue cover!

Finally a third contribution:

My Mum and Dad have had this picture hanging up in their home for as long as I can remember so when I saw this small print by Vernon Ward in a charity shop yesterday morning , I couldn't resist.

'Safe Anchorage Mousehole' complete with blue sea.

Blue Monday - Bags & Books

The week seems to just fly by and it is Monday again and time for another Blue Monday hosted by Sally at Smiling Sally.

Today I have a couple of things to show you. First off is this lovely blue bag that I bought last week from a charity shop for under £2.00. It is brand new complete with label and metal ‘D’ tag. Having ‘Googled’ the company I discover Dents was established in 1777 in Worcester, England.
It is going to be a very useful bag as it has a lovely little zipped pocket inside and is also has a lining with a drawstring.

Second is this lovely little book by Alison Uttley. A lovely little sweet story and beautifully illustrated.

Plenty of blues in these pictures.

Blue Monday

Yesterday was such a beautiful day and in celebration of such a glorious blue sky I took some photographs to make a mosaic for Blue Monday today. For more Blue Monday posts pop over to Sally at Smiling Sally who hosts Blue Monday.

After a rather wet weekend it looks like the blue sky might be trying to make an appearance this morning. However, looking out my window as I right this, I can see the clouds moving rather quickly in the sky trying to obliterate the blue and I think they are going to achieve their aim. What a shame, I had such hopes for the day and have lots of washing I wanted to get done and out on the line. Anyway despite the weather it is Blue Monday today and I have a few more blue treasures to share. For more Blue posts pop over to Sally at Smiling Sally who hosts Blue Mondays.


I would like to share with you today a selection of items from New Zealand and gifts from my Mum & Dad.

The two Wedgewood dishes were sent to me last year for my birthday, and the little bag in the middle was another birthday present from my Mum & Dad given to me years ago. Can't remember when now, but I think I was in my early twenties.

Underneath those I have my Paua shells. Mark & I bought the two shells during one of our visits to NZ and the lovely coaster in the middle was a gift from my older son when he came back from NZ last summer.

Blue Monday

A lovely day here today and I have found the perfect picture for my Blue Monday post hosted by Sally at Smiling Sally.

Opononi is a lovely quiet place in the heart of Hokianga on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. I have visited as a young child with my parents, as a teenager, again in my late teens/early twenties with my boyfriend - whoops boyfriends and again with my husband.

We took this picture in 2005 when we last visited New Zealand. We bought a lovely big icecream each and sat on the beach and enjoyed looking at this gorgeous view before going for a lovely long walk along the beach.

Opononi was made famous druing the summer of 1955 - 56 when a dolphin named 'Opo the Friendly Dolphin' played with the locals and tourists which visited the area in their thousands just to get a glimpse, The New Zealand Government even passed a law to protect it, but sadly in 1956 it was found washed up dead on rocks, the cause of death still causing controversy nearly a half a century later. A statue in Opononi commemorates Opo's visit. I always remember feeling tremendously sad as a child when we stood at the statue and read the story.

Blue Monday & The Week Ahead

It's going to be really is a Blue Monday for me today. I just can't seem to motivate myself. It is raining and dull and I always find it much more difficult to do things when it is like this. I start something, get easily distracted and then sit around on the computer so thought I might as well write a post on my blog. So lets join Sally at Smiling Sally for a Blue Monday. If you haven't read yesterdays post, be sure to do so as there are lots of blues on there!

I have always liked apples, my favourite being New Zealand Braeburn and Gala apples. Combine this with my favourite colour and what do you get? - A blue apple! This lovely blue apple was sent to me in March for my birthday by Mum & Dad and they got it soooo right - I love it!

It is Okra glass and is signed and dated on the bottom. Of course I then had to look up Okra glass on the internet as I had no idea what it is, except something rather special.

Thank you Mum & Dad (if only you had a computer and could read my blog!)

My Week Ahead

1. Try and be a bit more organised for the rest of the week! Try and focus on the must do's and get them done instead of procrastinating.

2. Tomorrow - work, banking, library visit and some craftiness. I have just written a short list of some projects I would like to sew.

3. Find somewhere to store the photo boxes piled four high in my kitchen that are STILL there after too many weeks to mention in writing.

Something to get excited about....

Our older son has finally become interested in looking at some Universities. He is due to start in September next year. Plymouth is on his list so we will hopefully be visiting there in June on one of the open days. Plus we might be able to have a look around the area and go and see the house I have had my eye on for some time which is about 18 miles away.

Blue Monday

No blue sky today unfortunately, it is just a hazy white kind of sky, one that doesn't know quite what it is going to do. I have a busy day today and have to go into London soon for a physiotherapy appointment, so only a little Blue Monday post for 'Blue Monday' hosted by Sally at Smiling Sally.

This pretty little vase was bought from a beautiful craft shop on the West Coast of the South Island New Zealand in 1998. I think it is probably a scent vase as the little top pulls out. This is displayed in a wall display cabinet that is set in the wall between the lounge and the hallway.

The little dolphin below I have had since I was a child. I think my Nan & Pop gave it to me, but I can't remember, it may have been given to me by my Mum & Dad when we went to a glass blowing place. All I remember is having it 'forever'. It is also displayed in the same unit.

Blue Monday

I woke this morning to a grey dull light drizzly day. It hasn't changed much. So what better way to turn the Monday Blues into something a bit more cheerful with 'Blue Monday' hosted by Sally at Smiling Sally.

My favourite colour has always been blue since a small child, although I also like purple a lot. I especially like the colour of a beautiful clear blue sky. Not always seen in the UK - it is always slightly hazy in the summer, better in the winter. The sky is different in NZ, I know that sounds strange but I think the atmosphere is just that much clearer. Most people don't know what I mean but when I was talking to another New Zealander who works at the residential home near us, it was something she also mentioned. Anyway I think that is one of the things I miss the most, being able to see for miles on a lovely clear blue day.

So for my Blue Monday post today I thought I'd share some of the special blue items in my kitchen.

First up are two vases. The one on the left I found in a local charity shop about two years ago now. I could hardly leave it there could I? The vase on the right we bought in Holland when we first went in 1996 I think it was.

I've always dreamed of having a large farmhouse kitchen with a large dresser. Of course whether this dream will ever become reality who knows, but I can still have my dream. On that dresser will be my collection of blue plates. I don't have that many and haven't bought any for years, but these few were again purchased in charity shops, usually for under £1.00. They currently are kept on our plate rail that runs the length of our hallway, with these four being above the kitchen door of course.

Last I have a couple of pottery mugs my husband & I bought in Kerikeri, New Zealand when we were there in 2005.

I hope you have enjoyed my 'Blue Monday'.

Blue Monday

It's going to be another lovely day today and this is my second Blue Monday 'Blue Monday' hosted by Sally at Smiling Sally.

Today I am going to show you a couple of my rings. I'm not a real fan for wearing rings, not because I don't like them - I do - but because as a clarinettist I find they get in the way when I am playing. I do have a couple of special rings though. One my husband bought for me on our 10th Wedding Anniversary. It was a real surprise and is beautiful and I treasure it. It has 10 stones to represent each year, 4 sapphires (heres my blue!) and 6 diamonds.

The second ring is this delightful ring that I inherited. I have no idea how old it is, or even who it belonged to, but I do know that it is a perfect fit and I LOVE it.

Of course my Blue Monday can't be complete without a blue teapot. I'm not sure whether I will ever use this one, although that is usually the criteria of my teapot collection, that I can use the teapot. I certainly won't let my family loose on it!

This was an ebay find and this is what the description said:

This is a superbly decoarted and most unusal blue and white Willow pattern tea kettle which bears the impressed mark for the Copeland factory to the base and dates to around 1881. It also has an unusual embossed design of wheat sheaves to the handle, measure around 6.25" high and is in excellent condition free from chips, cracks, crazing or restoration.

I really like it AND it has the the little holes inside to stop the water coming out too fast!

Well that is it for today, although if you read yesterday's post you will see that I finished my round blue crochet cushion which has joined the other blue cushions on my bed. Now it is time for a cup of tea before I get on with the rest of the day and all it entails. Don't forget to visit Sallys blog to view the treasures of other Blue Monday participants!