Remembering a Vintage Fair

Today around the White Cottage it's cold, rainy, foggy and i think i am coming down with the cold so to cheer me up I want to share and remember last week when I went for a wander around to the shopping district not far from the cottage I love it as it is a stones throw away from the CBD and I can just pop in for a quick cuppa and scone I can browse all things beautiful, homewares from times gone by or admire and make a mental list for birthdays and Christmas presents.

When I was having my coffee and scone my mind wandered to Paris or Europe it was probably a combination of my imagination, the sound of French Jazz music and my eyes going into overdrive looking at the French and vintage homewares. I am a keen vintage collector I much prefer something from times gone by I wonder about the story of the piece and it never ceases to amaze me that they can still look so beautiful after a lifetime.

On my shopping expedition I found a milk glass bottle from the 1950's when milk was home delivered fresh daily although i was no where near being born in those days the home delivering  tradition only finished not long ago I remember we would leave the money on the front porch and our milk and the newspaper would magically appear every morning. I just had to have it and maybe it is my imagination but the little munchkin and myself think the milk taste super delish.

Oh I think another cuppa is calling my name.....

What are your vintage love and finds.

The Funny moments in lfe

I bumped into my neighbour outside the white cottage, she was walking her Jack Russell we struck up our usual conversation of the daily hustle and bustle, let me tell you about my neighbours Tom and Dawn they live in the property across the road from us they have 9 acres and 4 horses, my neighbours are 85ish years old, I commented to Dawn that I had started to write on this blog and I had mentioned her horses in one of my posts she smiled but did not seem too fazed by it. I thought the least she could do was to ask what is a blog? what are you talking about dear?  that sort of thing and then I would rant on about the internet and so on BUT instead I was told by Dawn "oh that's nice you mentioned the horses on your blog, we also have a webpage talking about the horses you can follow us on Facebook if you want" WHAT!!!!!! It just goes to show you, you can never be too old to learn new things and as for me I now have Dawn to help me troubleshoot my internet problems.

Have a great Saturday. What are you up to today?.

Stefano's Trattoria

Mangia Mangia that was tonight's theme, we went to the Italian soccer club where they not only take soccer serious but on friday nights is all about Football (as they call it) Ribs Cannolies and Woodfired pizzas. We decided to make a night of it we were joined by four other couples and 11 children. The food was flowing the children were running around playing hide and seek, for an instant moment I felt I was Italian we had the coach acting as the Trattoria Maestro calling our order number in Bingo style threatening the customers if they didn't eat those cannolies quickly he would do the job for us and then we had Stefano the singing chef I think the secret ingredient to his food was his off key opera singing very loud and comical. The highlight of the night was when cafe aficionado and our friend filippo got behind the coffee machine and made the perfect coffee, our kids fell asleep as soon as we got into the car as for me i am having a Nigella Lawson moment I am eating a left over Cannoli as I type.

I hope your Friday night was as delightful as ours.

My Community

 Tom's Horses

I went for a walk the other day and saw this community mural painted by some local children. The mural depicted why I love it here although we are only a short drive(8k)  into the CBD we have a sense of rural living, we are surrounded by bushland and wildlife the people are so helpful and friendly. I love these guys, these are Tom's horses (our neighbour) most morning the children go around to say hello and give them carrots.
 

Around white cottage

 Display  Cabinet

I have had this piece of furniture for the last 14 years, it has been in storage for most of that time so i was so excited when we moved to our house so we could use all our furniture I forgot to take a before picture but it was a dark wood, I painted it with white paint to suit the rest of the house and i really love it, it is a talking piece when friends come over and it holds our wonderful wedding crystal

Magazine Crate

I bought this boring crate and gave it a once over with a brush and white paint to give it some personality, I love this type of crate because we use them around the house for toys, magazines and all general things they are wonderful.

Our Coffee Table & Kitchen Stools

Our Coffee Table & Kitchen Stools, I forgot to take a before picture I found them when I was wandering through a second hand store they were timber colour so I painted them white to match the rest of the furniture in the house. I painted them with wash and wear paint so when the kids are eating or doing their craft i can just wipe it off and be ready for the next time. 

 I am working on other project at the moment, including some lovely children's desks for my boys bedrooms.

Our Kitchen Pantry

Our Kitchen Pantry - it's January the first month of the year so what better opportunity to de-clutter and get organised for the year ahead. I love cooking, baking and of late experimenting with homemade jams, preserves and all things yummy. 

I found these labels at a handmade market they are so handy and I really love the vintage look of them with the chalkboard writing.