A perfect Day

Last week (before I caught the worse summer cold ever) I had such a lovely day with my daughter in law Anita and Granddaughter Jessica Lilly. I took them to Headcorn for lunch in one of my favourite little places, a little teashop that has an enchanting walled garden, shaded with vines and flowers where so many birds come and visit and wait for your crumbs, I thought Jessica would love the birds and she did. Although Anita has travelled the world she had never been to Headcorn, isn't is strange how that happens, you live in a county all your life yet there are some places you never visit. It was such a hot day as we browsed the little shops we decided to cool down with some tea at a lovely hotel not far away, The Chilston Park Hotel, Lenham, Kent. I have there many times and know it always has a lovely breeze that comes off the lake. It used to be owned by Judith Miller of Miller's Antiques fame, it was stuffed full of antiques then, not so much now but still beautiful. We had forgotten our picnic rug so asked at reception if they had one, another member of staff overhearing our request said she had one in her own car and would get it and bring it to us, this she did, such nice, thoughtful service always impresses me and makes you want to go back to a place. We spent a lovely couple of hours sitting on the lawn by the lake, if you are ever in that area do visit you will love it! Here are a few pics of the hotel and day.

The Chilston Park Hotel, Lenham, Kent

No fire was lit that day thank goodness!

Moi and my Pickelilly

Anita and Jessica

Jessica contemplating her next move!

Jessica and Mummy


Hope your week is going well, hugs, B xxxxx

Sex and the City and a pair of earrings!

I have been looking for a pair of bright green Jade earrings for ages, love the colour of the bright green jade but everything I found was either too small or too expensive! Browsing on Ebay I came across just the thing, a pair of Kenneth Jay Lane earrings, faux jade, only I will know! They looked familiar, I was sure I had seen something similar but couldn't place where, well I was watching the first Sex and the City film (again) I am a huge fan, and there was Charlotte in a very similar pair only a different colour and I remember commenting on them at the first time of watching. They arrived, gawd they are BIG! Could I wear them at my age? I put them on and LOVED them, my daughter approved so they must look ok. They just lift my spirits with that gorgeous pop of jade green. Don't tell anyone but I have ordered another pair  the same as Charlotte's only in Turquoise. No necklace needed, they are the star!

Charlotte wearing the Coral Kenneth Jay Lane earrings

Moi in the Jade rectangular style

The Turqpoise Kenneth Jay Lane earrings I have ordered

Keeping my eyes out for a Jade ring something like this

Flashback Friday-Medieval Workplace

I was sitting at my desk at work yesterday, the Hall was silent, a beautiful English (hot) Summer's day, and my mind was wandering back to the time that this wonderful medieval building was the village workhouse (an institute for the poor of the village) It has hardly changed since those days, the village high street boasts medieval houses that have stood for centuries so later I walked down and took some photos and realised how lucky I am to live in such a stunning county as Kent, for me there is nowhere more serene or beautiful than England on a Summer's Day and nowhere I would rather be. The photos are of The Cloth Hall now and then and the high street and interior of the Hall.

The Cloth Hall, Headcorn, Kent when it was occupied as the village workhouse

Victorian workhouse children outside The Cloth Hall

The Church Walk alongside The Cloth Hall

The Graveyard next to The Cloth Hall

A Kentish Cottage nexxt to The Cloth Hall

Headcorn high street

Medieval House that line the high street

Interior beams at The Cloth Hall

Vintage hats

View down the high street from The Cloth Hall

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View of the churchyard from The Cloth Hall


Do hope you all have a wonderful weekend, enjoy the sunshine, hugs, B xxxxx

Picklelilly in Bluebells

I don't think there is anything that is so evocative of an English Spring as a wood full of beautiful Bluebells and even better with my gorgeous little Granddaughter Picklelilly (Jessica Lilly). Her Mummy plonked her down in the middle of the flowers and I think she thought the same as the look on her face is priceless! I just wanted to share them with you. Have a wonderful week, hugs, B xxx

Flashback Friday-Will it be Nil Poi for Great Britain?

The Eurovision Song Contest is on 26th May, it used to be a big thing in our house, but since we never come anywhere near to winning anymore due to the outrageous political voting it has lost some of it's appeal. I used to love Terry Wogan's irreverent commentation which was really very funny and got funnier as the evening wore on. Do your remember out first win in 1967? Puppet on a String by Sandie Shaw, I remember it like it was yesterday, she was so cool in her bare feet, I never liked the song but it was a great feeling to have won and the excitement as the points came in was great! So to this year, again we don't have a chance of winning but I really like the song, Englebert Humperdinck is the singer and at 76 years young does a great job, well I will run the marathon next year if he does win lol! Here are Sandie Shaw and Englebert, the young and the old, hope they bring back good memories!

Crystal and Stone

I really love receiving my parcels of stones and crystals that come through the post, you never know exactly what they will look like in the flesh. I was thrilled with some new ones that came so I have made a couple of new designs with them, the sparkle of the crystal is so wonderful that you cannot really capture it in a photograph, but I tried! If you are interested in any of them please contact me at barbaralowe700@hotmail.com  Of course if you wanted something special in your own colours let me know I love doing custom work.

Beautiful large grey crystals with pale pink fasceted treardrop crystals and pearls

Large Aqua Crystals with pale pink fasceted teardrop crystals

Huge Jasper beads with Amazonite

Natural grey Aquamarine with Mystic Topaz crystal and pale pink fasceted teardrop crystals

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, big hugs, Bea xxx

Kent Village Vintage

On Saturday I had a stall at a little vintage fair that my workmates at The Cloth Hall Antiques, Headcorn, Kent, arranged, and it will be held every second Saturday in the month. It was very Miss Marple held in a little Methodist Church Hall complete with ladies of the church making tea and supplying home made cakes, and I had a great view of the churchyard behind the church. It was particularly satisfying for me as a few very stylish ladies bought some of my hand made jewellery and I have to say it looked fabulous on them. We had a surprise visit from The Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Brian Mortimer complete with Chain of Office and bodyguard as this huge chain he told me was 24ct gold!! I had a good look and it is most impressive! If you are ever in the Headcorn area do come and see us, either in The Cloth Hall or at the fair.

In case you were wondering about the glasses, they have my prescription lenses in and I had an awful twitch in my left eye, didn't want everyone to think I was winking at them!

The Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Brian Mortimer

My mad workmates Lyn and Gail

This is The Cloth Hall, Headcorn, which has hardly changed from when this was a Victorian workhouse for the poor of the village

Rye

The second birthday this month was my brother's, won't tell you how old let's say a bit older than 21!!! He lives in Rye, East Sussex which is a stunning ancient town and very beautiful. I took him to lunch at The George Hotel, afterwards we went for a stoll up to The Citadel, it's like you have stepped back in time and is centered around the church of St Mary's. Cobbled streets, timbered buildings and just a timeless atmosphere. I spied a beautiful croc handbag in one of the little boutiques there, hint hint, and while I took some photos he bought it for me! It's great having an older brother!! Here are a couple of photos I took, it was a very overcast day so no blue skies but still stunning!

 

Being one!

Last Saturday my Granddaughter Jessica celebrated her first birthday. The last year has flown by so fast and as one gets older time seems to speed up. When you are so young a year is a lifetime, do you remember how slow the year went, waiting for holidays, your birthday and especially Christmas, oh the excitement! My son Piers and his wife Anita gave her a wonderful 1st birthday party, Jessica was spoiled rotten and had so many wonderful gifts, she has a wardrobe that any fashionister would envy, Piers made some fabulous food and Anita had such a cute cake made for her. I don't think I have ever known such a social baby as Jessica, she just laps up the company of others and is happy, smiling and contented always. My two children were very similar, they came everywhere with us and would happily sit in a posh restaurant for hours at a time as long as they had some lovely food! Anyway, here are a couple of photographs, it was hard to get a good photo of Jessica as she was too busy enjoying herself!

Jessica takes a sugar bumble bee from her Mummy, this is the first time she had tasted sugar!

My daughter Sophie with Jessica