More candles

After a few hours the wax will be dry, and you can gently remove the candles from the moulds. If I use ramekins I like to leave them in, as they make quite nice little lantern.

Advent

It's almost advent now, I'm enjoying a cup of Christmas tea and lighting all my red candles. As I'm still not well, I think I'll stay indoors to avoid the freezing air getting to my lungs and making me cough even more.

Wishing you all a happy weekend!

Making candles

This is something that I've done almost every Christmas since I was a very little girl, and it's a lovely thing to do this time of year! It makes a perfect present, and as I only use old candles instead of buying wax, it is both cheap and eco friendly. I collect all the stubs from used candles all through the year, and by the time I get to Christmas I've got quite a collection!

You'll need some wick and possibly some wick sustainers, to keep the wick from floating up when you pour the wax in. And you'll also need some moulds, and for this you can use just about anything; tea cups, tins, ramekins, yogurt pots etc.
Put the stubs into tin cans (I use the ones you buy tinned tomatoes in) and the cans in a pan with a bit of water in it. Put it on medium heat on the stove. As the stubs start melting, use a fork to take out the little bits of wick that will start floating around. When it's all melted pour it into the moulds. Make sure that the wick doesn't float up when you pour the wax in, and use a little stick (matchsticks are good for this) to tie the wick around, to stop it from sinking into the candle.

Christmas inspiration

I love Country Living and Country Homes and Interiors magazines. They always inspire me, and make me wish that we lived in a little cottage in the country side, with an open fire, a big kitchen and garden. One day....

As for now, here are some of the lovely photos in their Christmas issues.

Finally Friday!

The sun is shining, it's freezing cold and it's Friday! I'm having a lovely morning with the radio on, a hot cup of tea, surrounded by all our Christmas things that have been taken out of their box. This weekend looks like a good one! We've got mince pies and mulled wine, planning on seeing Harry Potter (Husband is singing on the movie soundtrack!) and also taking some photos for my London guide, which I am working on these days!

Hope you all have good days!

Almost time now..

The weather is getting colder, the days are short but beautiful and clear. I'm ill these days, and was lying in bed today looking out on the beautiful sunshine on the trees outside the bedroom window. And on Sunday it's time to start taking out the Christmas boxes... It's almost time for Christmas!

Saturday Morning Love

Saturday morning, breakfast and coffee in bed and Saturday Live on Radio 4. Bliss...

Treasures, treasures..

I start work late on a Thursday, and that gives me time for a long breakfast, some quality time with my radio and possibly also a little trip round the shops nearby. Just around the corner from us is a street full of charity shops, and I swing by every now and again to check if there are any new treasures. And today I was very, very lucky. I found this set of 4 dinner plates and a sauce boat and stand from Wedgwood. All of it for only £5! The mark on the bottom of the plates suggests that these are from ca 1940, and they hardly show any wear at all. Made my day!

In the fog

Freezing fog has been hanging over us the last few days, and as much as I love the frost covered grass and icy windows, I do not like driving on icy country roads in a country where no one has heard of winter tyres.. Whenever I bring this topic up in conversation I always get an answer similar to this: 'Oh, so in Norway you actually change your car tyres in winter?'...

Despite the terror of driving in this weather, I do love the cold. Drinking lots and lots of tea, lighting candles and watching something nice. We light a lot of candles, because they are nice to look at, but also to provide us with much needed warmth in a house that has single- glazed windows. Sitting in the living room you can feel the draft, and it's not nice. That's another area where I think the Brits could pick up a few tips from us Norwegians.. But I'm not complaining, as long as I have tea and a wool blanket!

Hope you're all having a good week!

Christmas inspiration

I got this in the mail the other day, from Åshild at prydelig.no. It's full of inspiration! And in an inspired moment I sat down and tried her idea of covering books in fabric. It's so simple and so much fun!

And this is how it turned out:

And whilst I was at it I also made a few pretty lavender bags, to put in my lingerie drawer..
I found these at the Country Living Christmas market on Friday. Aren't they cute? They're little badges, so I wear them on my jacket these days.

Sunday afternoon tea

Most Sundays we drive up to a farm close to us to buy our weekly supply of fruit, vegetables and meat. It is astonishingly cheap, and most importantly most of it is locally sourced, grown on farms nearby. It is also a great opportunity for a little Sunday treat: homemade scones and clotted cream. Yum. Particularly on days like today (cold, grey and very wet) it's nice to light a candle and have a little treat.

I bought this yesterday, it's Elderflower Cordial from Belvoir, and it's SO good! If you haven't come across Belvoir's heavenly drinks I can tell you that they are just that. Heavenly. Organic, and without any preservatives. Mix a little bit of this with some sparkling water and you have a very refreshing drink!

London guide?

If anyone is interested, I would be happy to make a little London guide, with shops, markets, cafés and restaurant that I like and think are worth visiting. I know how easy it is, when on holiday in a big city, to fall into the tourist traps and miss out on lovely things that are hidden behind the big shopping streets!

Any interest?

I love being by the sea

Husband had a concert yesterday in Snape, near Aldeburgh. I drove him up, and then spent the day exploring new things on my own.

Aldeburgh is a little town by the sea, where the composer Benjamin Britten lived and worked with his partner Peter Pierce. It is not difficult to imagine where Britten got ideas for his operas... It is a little fishing town, with lots of pretty little houses, sheds on the pebble beach selling fresh fish, and an amazingly beautiful skyline. I miss the sea. I miss it so much.

Finally Friday!

The weather is depressing today... Grey, wet and cold. But I've been to the Country Living Christmas Fair today, and I got lots of nice ideas for Christmas presents and decorations! We've got Creme Brulée for desert tonight, and also a bottle of mulled wine.. Looking forward to a busy, but hopefully also a little relaxing weekend.

Happy weekend to you all!

Sunday peace

Hope you've all had lovely weekends! I'm enjoying the last bit of weekend with a glass of wine, candles and a roast chicken that will soon be coming out of the oven..

Happiness is....

... going to the British Library, looking at all the old books, smelling them, and thinking of all the knowledge that exists within the building.

... seeing the sun set over the tower at St. Pancras.

... a stranger smiling to you in the street or on the tube.

... being stopped by a stranger in the street that tells you that she loves what you're wearing.

... wearing pretty shoes and socks.

... jumping in a big pile of leaves.

... seeing the reflection of the sky in a puddle.

... freezing cold weather.

... having to wrap up in scarves and hats.

... drinking a nice cup of tea and reading about love.

... reading old diaries.

... making something new out of something old.

... making a present for someone, and thinking of them whilst making it.

... getting a letter in the mail from someone you miss.

... looking at old photos.

What is happiness to you?

Saturday project

I got some fabric in the post the other day, and I loved this one so much that I had to make something for myself. It was just screaming 'Skirt!' at me when I opened the packet. And skirt it was. Took me about half an hour to make, so easy. It only needs a zip at the back, and then it's ready to wear!

Those who look for treasures...

When in Scotland we always visit Steptoe's, an antique 'shop'/farm full of treasures for sale, just up the coast from Dundee and in the middle of nowhere. It's a big farm with two big barns full of a lot of things, and you can find almost anything there, if you have a few hours to spare and the patience to go through all the things. I was amazed and so happy to find this when we were there a couple of weeks ago. This used to sit on our piano at Christmas when I was growing up, and I'm pretty sure it did the same when my mum was growing up. Just seeing the front page brings up so many memories of childhood Christmases. And now it sits on our piano! Also the perfect way to teach Husband the Norwegian Christmas carols he doesn't already know...

I know it's early, but....

I really couldn't help myself. I have to say that I'm not a big fan of Starbucks, I prefer supporting small independent businesses rather than large American companies, but Christmas at Starbucks is great. I know it's a bit early for Christmas yet, but I love Christmas so much and so excited for the day when I can get my Christmas box out and decorate the house in red...

Finally Friday!

This week felt so long, and it's so nice that we've made it to the weekend! Hurrah!

I'm looking forward to Bonfire night tonight, drinking mulled wine and watching the fireworks.

Hope you all have nice plans for the weekend, I'm planning on drinking lots of tea and reading, all wrapped up under a blanket.

Things that make me happy today:

-this toilet paper, with lots of little snowmen on it:

And if you've never seen The Snowman, it's quite a big deal over here at Christmas, you can watch some of it here. It is fantastic!

- having breakfast in bed, listening to the radio.

-looking forward to the Christmas market I'm going to next Friday!

-practising songs for the Christmas play with all the kids. So much fun.

-eating some more of the wonderful homemade pasta I made.

-drinking lovely Chai tea.

-all the amazing colours on the trees outside. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!