The Run Up....

I hope you had time to enjoy your weekend....reaching mid-December always seems to me to be a turning point in the preparations for Christmas. It can no longer be left for another day...things need to be achieved now for stress-free days later on...

But before I get on to all of that, I'll just show you hubby's handy work that's been achieved at the shop since last time...
Before:

The yucky window niches have now been cleaned, sealed and re-lined in MDF ready for me to paint.

After:

We took delivery of this old glazed draper's counter that I bought from Sue...

(Work to be done on it yet, before I can use it)

And between us, hubby and I built new shelves in two of the alcoves, which I shall start painting later in the week...(Both the shelves and the walls will be painted in Farrow & Ball's 'Old White')

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I did abandon my post at the shop for a while on Sunday to do some vintage shopping for stock...

It was a successful foray and some of my finds included this adorable wooden weather house...I'm reliably informed that snow is on the way this week! ;-))

Gorgeous retro florals in the guise of tablecloths and pinnies...

Faded roses adorn this lovely old china jug and bowl...

And I found pictures-a-plenty...including these beauties below.

I also found a treasure for myself - Why is it that at this time of year it feels such a guilty pleasure to treat yourself to something? Or is it just me?...

I bought myself this gorgeous hand painted glass dressing table box, which was fresh from France. The panels are trimmed with metal edged silk ribbons and have rosettes at each corner.

All lovingly made by hand many years ago...and I justify my purchase as I know that I'm unlikely to ever see one like it again...so I'm afraid I couldn't resist...you know how I love Frenchy boudoir items...a Christmas gift to myself! Naughty! ;-))

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Its been hard this year to juggle Christmas preparations alongside revamping the shop...We still don't have our Christmas tree up at home yet; but then we've always waited until the girls have broken up from school before doing so. My middle daughter is home from uni now, but my youngest doesn't finish school until Friday...the tree will have to wait until next weekend...

I did take a peek inside my dolls house and noticed that Peggy and Polly have started to get festive in their living room...;-))

Their tree, they tell me, cost 20p from a car boot sale, complete with real glass baubles! What a thrifty Christmas deal that was! Isn't it cute?

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Hubby took a day off today to go fishing with a friend and they were lucky to catch a large fish each (rainbow trout) - these will be heading off to the smokers tomorrow, to be cured in time for Christmas.

And I've been able to cross another thing off my 'to do' list today...I don't like to think of Christmas as being an extra set of chores that have to be done, but there is a good feeling to be had when something else can be checked off...

Today it was the turn of the mince pies.

Mmmm...Such a lovely Christmassy smell...

And also today, a surprise bouquet of flowers arrived for me from an old friend who I used to work with on the craft fair circuit. She is now a florist, and, amongst other places, sells her hand-tied bouquets and dried flower arrangements at Green Park Station Market, Bath, on Saturdays...so if ever you are in the area, do drop by and say hello to her and tell her I sent you!

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Hope you're enjoying the run up to Christmas and can enjoy a few moments now and then to do something just for you...it's good to stop for a minute or two when life is so hectic.

Take care,

Niki x