Just when you think...

...you can start focussing on non-necessary, fun projects in your house, reality always seems to come back to remind you that it's just not going to happen.

I should know this by now as I've been through it enough. And yet, the optimist in my still holds out hope that one day we'll be able to replace the absolutely wretchedly ugly doors leading to our front hall and garage. Words cannot describe the state of these doors, but let me try. Hollow Core. Beige. Scuffed. Dirty. Broken glass replaced with plywood. Getting the picture? It is one of the intentions I hold closest to my heart to replace these doors, except it's not all that easy as we need to replace them with antique doors to go with the rest of the house, and this not only means hunting around for the right doors, it also means having the budget to purchase once they are located.

And that budget keeps getting diverted elsewhere. In the current case, to the upstairs shower room.

It looks all nice and innocent in the photo doesn't it? Well let me show you a different angle then.... You see where there looks like there should be a shower? Yes, there's the problem.

We left on holidays having a shower. We came back to a big leak coming through the downstairs ceiling. Wait, let me dig up that photo as well....Ah, here it is. Lovely isn't it.

The thing is, the leak isn't new apparently. It's years old. More years than we've owned the house. So another big old thank you to the old owner who thought it ingenious to trim the inside of the shower stall not with waterproof tiling, but with wood. A small note to anyone contemplating this small act of folly: DON'T DO IT!

Because this is what you end up with.... A big rotten hole in your floorboards and in your ceiling. And walls that are rotten and covered in mold (you can't see that here, we got a small peek this morning when the contractor removed the tiles). Oh, and sick children.

So we're at it again. Remodeling. But this time out of necessity rather than desire. On the bright side, I'll have a nice new shower and bathroom in the end. On the downside, I have to live with those horrid doors a while longer.....

Chez Hamish

A wee update on our friendly hedgie...

We have been taking care of Hamish for just under 2 weeks now and he's doing rather well. So well in fact that it's time to let him take care of himself.

None of us is too pleased about this as it means hoping for the best for him. I think we've done well by him and he's gone from a mere 220g to over 700g in this time. He's been deflead, deticked and dewormed. Oh, and he has a lovely new house in the garden where he's been under house arrest for the past 2 days in order for him to have time to hopefully adopt it as his own.

Tonight, however, I think it's time to open the door and let him go with the hope of course, that he'll come back safe and sound and make our garden his home.

Our oldest was in tears about it as our second looked on quite forelorn. I had to fight back some tears as well, I'll admit. Even though I know he's better off "in the wild", I worry that something will happen to him or that we won't see him again. It's been such an experience taking care of a hedgehog. Knowing they are a protected species makes it even more special.

So here's to you, Hamish! Wishing you all the best!

So long ago

...it seems. As we pull out our wolly jumpers and tug on our socks and wellies, it seems unimageable that just a month ago we were sweltering in the heat and wishing for a summer shower to cool things down. Just goes to prove once again, be careful what you wish for!

Can Hardly Believe It...

...but our wee man is 4 today. And as ever our little knight in shining armour!


and Hamish's too!

We've Adopted!

Since we've returned from our holidays, we've noticed a bit of new wildlife has moved into our neighbourhood (garden to more precise and woodpile to be even more precise). Some of it is not really appreciated (like the rat the kids have been watching run back and forth outside and whose days are numbered) but some of it is much more fun, like the hedgehog!

Unfortunately something's up with little hedgie. We spotted him/her foraging around the garden around noontime today which isn't a good sign for a nocturnal animal. Well they're just so cute and I learned my lesson after watching mama duck loose all 8 of her ducklings a couple of years ago so I decided I couldn't just stand by and watch.

A couple of googles later and I was on the phone with a very nice woman from the Hedgehog Sanctuary who has since convinced me to bring hedgie inside. So he/she is now living in a box in my garage, well out of danger from our Scottie who would like nothing better than to taste fresh hedgehog meat. Our little hedgehog's box is complete with hot water bottle, old fleece sweatshirt, doggie nuggets, apple slice and water. We've been told to inspect him/her for any signs of injury or maggots (yes, maggots are a big danger to hedgehogs I've since learned), loose stools and/or coughing.

So the garage has been transformed into Hedgehog Hospice for the next couple of days until either there are no signs of any of the above or we bring him/her to the Sanctuary for better keeping. In the meantime, the kids are thoroughly enjoying their newly adopted pet. I just hope their father is as impressed!

Hot Off the Presses

Getting back into work after a long holiday is never easy. Especially when the kids are still on holidays and you're just not ready for all the relaxation to be over.

Well over they are, at least around here, but there is some good news. We've just finished up the latest issue of Modern Handmade Child magazine (online and free!) packed with great information, cool styles and fabulous decorating ideas. Tons of stuff for back-to-school and autumn fun!

Just to entice you a bit more, I thought I'd post a few of the inside pages here for you to peek at. If you like what you see, come and check out the rest of the magazine!

Augustine!

When I first read about this little Augustine, I had to rush to see with my own eyes. You see, as you can probably imagine, I don't come across the name Augustine very often outside of our own house, but I'm always happy to see it. It's a name that just cries elegance and sophistication to me and I love love love it!

I'm so happy to see that this wee doll wears her name well. Isn't she adorable? You can see more about Augustine by clicking here.

Oh, and if you'd like to see my own sophisticated and elegant Augustine, here is a photo for you when she was 4. She has always had a certain sense of style as you can see. The elegance and sophistication? Well, a mother can hope....