Roses and Huckleberries

What could be more lovely than roses and huckleberries? These huckleberries are wild, handpicked on the lower slopes of beautiful Mt. Adams. I got them at our local health food store.

The only thing sweeter than wild huckleberries are wild huckleberries that you've picked yourself. We haven't picked huckleberries for a few summers now but it's so much fun to go off on a hike through the woods with a pail in hand.

I've washed them and have them sitting out on the kitchen counter to nibble on. They're so good for you, just as powerful as the blueberry with its rich antioxidants. It is my goal this summer to enjoy each fruit and vegetable that comes into season. It's something I crave all winter long and so I want to be sure to embrace it while it lasts.

Aren't they beautiful?

AL FRESCO DINING..........

Well, it's finally here........... we're off on holiday, so I thought that you would like a picture of where we are going, so that you could all linger over it while I'm away !!!!!! To stop you being too envious, here are some lovely pictures of outside living for you to feast your eyes on and imagine me with my linguine al granchio and a chilled glass of pinot grigio , sitting high up on the terrace, the warm sunshine on my face......MMmmmmmmm

Come with me through the gates to see some beautiful ways to eat and drink outside...........

Look at this....... the most wonderful view and such a lovely seating area.


A stunning, slightly weathered look....... couldn't you see yourselves reading a book there or even having a few ZZZzzzzzz's.......... I nearly went off to sleep myself there for a moment !!!!!!!

Oh, I love this picture..... 50's retro with chandelier. Looks like she's gone to get a cuppa.......and they must be new shoes and they're rubbing a bit !!

If only we could all meet up and sit, eat, drink and chat here
....wouldn't we have the best time ?

........... or here.....

I had to include this one as I think that it's one of my favourite pictures....... you and I could sit there and change the world couldn't we ?

A little bit more upmarket now......... we could change the world there as well, I think......in an upmarket sort of way !!!!

How about this for a bit of decadence ?.......... champagne on your own private piece of beach( O.K. so I know it's water in the ice bucket but humour me !! ) ......James, peel me a grape !!!!!!!

Oh, if only...................

A little bit of romance.

................ and finally... dappled shade and half an hour, writing up your journal.

Well, that's it for a week, see you all on my return, when I shall make you all envious with tales from Italy.

Ciao.

Jackie.

GREY MATTER...........

I'm moving the tint up a tad to that hot, hot colour of ......... Grey !!!! This bathroom would be my perfect place to attend to my ablutions. I love it, love it, love it. It's not luxurious or spa like or unobtainable. It's just ME. This could be on the other side of the bathroom above. The only thing that I have got in these two pictures are the candlesticks and the mirror....oh well..it's a start.

That little jug is just right for some thick double cream to pour over the cake that would be sitting on that cake stand...... or is it a dish ? ....I'm not sure.


I do have a washstand similar to this, but mine is more cream than grey. I will do a post on some of my objects soon ....... when I take some photographs !!!


This concrete building is very harsh and doesn't have many redeeming qualities ( if you look hard enough you can see the one redeeming quality.... shutters...I think that I can see them there or are they just windows? ) but the owner has really brightened it up with some striking red geraniums.......... didn't cost much, but made the world of difference.......... oh dear...in the last couple of posts I have been going on about being thrifty a lot....You'll all think that I'm tight ( oh, that's an English word meaning not very free with money but it also means being the worse for wear 'cos you've drunk too much alcohol !!! I'm meaning it in the former connotation !!! )

I love this laundry /utility room as I love the first bathroom......... they would fit well together in a house, I think, don't you ?

Garlands or wreaths ( I don't like calling them wreaths because I always think of funerals ) are another one of my favourites. I have them above the beds in my house.
They look really good in front of a mirror as well, like this one.

MMmmmm....... lovely lanterns that look good inside and out.

What an ingenious way to keep a gate firmly closed. I wonder who thought to do this.It looks so good against that lovely grey wooden gate.

I just like this picture and it's grey.....and it's got a table, so it qualifies!!!.... actually, I think this picture would look good framed.... perhaps I'll do that ... or perhaps I won't !!!!! I'll let you know if I do.

I've just put these in because I love oysters, and they're grey !!!!..... an acquired taste, but, if you have never tried one give it a go...you only live once.....maybe not for long after you have eaten them!!!!! Just joking..........they are delicious.

Those oysters would fit right in on this gorgeous rustic table. ........ sorry, hope I haven't put anyone off now I've brought oysters into the equation !!!

These will make you feel better.......... forget all about those shellfish. I'll lay up another table with some more goodies that might be to your taste...........

There that's better.......pull up a chair, sit down and tuck in..... I'll just go and put the kettle on.

Jackie