D Day

So the day has arrived. The 24h of May, a date that we have focused on for so long is here. It is quite unbelievable that we leave Sweden today and don't return. 

Since leaving our house Wednesday we have been staying with my brother and his partner. Really nice to all be together. And nice too to be in a home which is still furnished, and even nicer perhaps to have shared a bottle or two of wine over a lovely evening meal. Lots of chatter and laughter too !

But today is about gathering things into our hand luggage bags before we set off for Stockholm mid morning.  Another day of goodbyes. You would think that by now they get easier.  But I think this one is going to be just as tough !!

And it was gone !

Everything we own left us on the back of a very loaded lorry this morning.  It feels odd that our home, everything we own, is now somewhere in Sweden ....tonight on a ferry back to England !

Yet, on Saturday we take delivery again and then the complete reverse takes place. Right now I'm feeling pretty exhausted. But I guess by Saturday I shall be recharged again. And ready to start all over again??  Oh the joys of moving house .... Have a great Wednesday.  Lilly x 

Ps. Love this pic -

 Lilac is in full flower here right now. It's one of my spring time favorites - beautiful and such a wonderful scent too - just lovely. 

Empty Spaces

We woke to a very different scene this morning. Rooms empty apart from a few boxes and a piece of furniture left here and there.  Now the rooms look so lifeless and bare and even echo as you walk through them. Such a contrast to just a few days ago when they were still warm, cosy, sunlit rooms filled with my lovely things.  

I now feel both a sense of excitement and sadness. Excitement at the expectation of starting another chapter in our lives,  but a sadness too at the thought of leaving so many things behind that are really special to us.  

Now I have to try and focus on the tasks in hand,  rather than to dwell on these thoughts too much. So, with cleaning clothes at the ready .....kitchen cupboards here I come!

Enjoy Tuesday and I hope you like the sunny garden scenes.  For me, a welcome diversion from the sight of brown cardboard boxes back at home !  Lilly x 

Lorry load of 'home'

So our last weekend here is behind us and at 8am this morning the movers from

England arrived and have already begun loading our home into their lorry.  

Strange ??  Yes very. It is all so very real now ....!

Happy Monday everyone. Have a great day.   

Lilly 

Outside Living

 

Seems like summer is here at last. Spring never really happened this year, but its really quite strange how a few days of warmth and sunshine make winter memories, and the absence of a real spring fade fast !!  We have been enjoying the fine weather, eating outside, grilling and cycling rather than using the car. Wonderful.  So inspired by the gorgeous weather I have posted some beautiful outdoor living scenes - they are just so pretty. I cant wait to get going with styling  my outdoor living space back in England.  

Enjoy your weekend and gardens everyone. Lilly x 

 

 

 

Images Lantlig and Shabby

Inside Inspiration

I just love reading interiors magazines and books as they are such a useful source to any one interested in beautiful homes.  More recently I have started reading homes and interiors blogs too. I find I am able to gather inspiration for my own home and its a great way to fire my imagination too.  It's so useful to absorb others opinions, design ideas and styling tips which I can then introduce into my own interior.  

My styling is very much a reflection of what I see and read about from such sources.  I just love buzz I get from incorporating a concept I haveI seen on the page/screen into my own home. 

Today I have shared with you some wonderful pics.   I hope they get your 'inferiors' juices  flowing??

They did mine!!  Have a great day.  Lilly x 

Source Lantlig & Shabby 

Memories

There is so much I shall miss when we leave Sweden next week. Of course family are top of that list, but the beautiful scenery and our lovely home will also stay fixed in my memory as the things I loved most about being here. Ten days remaining until we fly home .....and my emotions are in turmoil !

Girl Time

My children are both still home from school today, so my daughter and I thought we would spend some 'girl time' together and enjoy some retail therapy! My son now almost, 14 prefers to leave us alone on such occasions and I can't say I blame him!!

So, after a morning coffee and a delicious slice of chocolate cheesecake we had a great time trying on some fun summer clothes, shoes and hats. We chose some bright nail varnishes and found some really cute hair accessories too. It was such a great way to indulge in some time with my daughter, just the two of us, as I'm pretty sure that over the coming weeks there just won't be any time for such luxuries.

Have a great weekend everyone and enjoy your Friday evening too ( just has to be the best one of the week) !

 Lilly x

Party Pinks

This weekend we will be having a little leaving party. Just a small occasion with my brothers family to celebrate our happy times here together. It is going to be a really tough one as it will be the last weekend we can spend with our two adorable nephews - James 6 and Edward (Teddy) just 3. We have seen James grow up and been here through Teddies first years. It is going to be really difficult for us all to say our goodbyes.

Yet to have a party is a way to add to our list of good times. So, yesterday I began preparing by dressing the patio area a little, grocery shopping and buying rose wines, and real lemonade for the kids - even a fun pink one too!

The wooden wine box was a freebie from Systembolaget (Swedish off-license) - I just love it. I actually have several, used for among other things, magazine storage, and one is used under the kitchen sink to store my kitchen cleaners - but the list is endless. Why not ask your local off-license if they have any going, as they look so chic I think ?!

Have a fantastic Thursday everyone !! Lilly x

Sunny Spring Days

The last few days have been just lovely here, sunny and comfortably warm. This has meant everything in the garden has suddenly woken up and a splash of colour begins to return to the landscape, which for so long has been scorched brown with the cold. And as you can imagine it is so welcome after what turned out to be an incredibly long winter!  

So just to treasure these beautiful spring moments, I couldn't resist taking a few snaps to share with you - I hope you like them?   How is the spring shaping up where you are ?  

 Have a great Tuesday evening.  Lilly x x

Time for Tea

Today has been a really busy day and I feel that the weekend will continue in the same way. I have been packing, clearing cupboards, throwing unwanted things in the charity box and many other tedious jobs, that I won't bore you with now. We still have a very long list to get through over the next two days, so I don't think this weekend will be a particularly relaxing one !! 

  Anyway, I thought I would take a break this afternoon with a cup of tea, so I could check in and wish you all a really great weekend.
Lets hope you manage to do some relaxing ?!!

Oh.......I do hope you like the roses I bought today. They look so pretty arranged in a sweet country style vase I found in Erikshjälpen second-hand yesterday, for just £1 ...... the afternoon tea snap is taken from my favourite magazine Country Living (June issue ) - I just had to share it with you .... as it is just sooo yummy !! Enjoy the rest of your day, Lilly x

Shabby Chic

This really distressed, but super shabby chic display cabinet,  or vitrinskåp as they are called here, is a recent acquisition of mine. I actually swapped it with a dear friend for a vintage chandelier that I could no longer accommodate.  The cupboard which had been stored needed a good clean, but thankfully no re- painting was needed.  Then, to add to its distressed look I sanded some areas with wire wool. It now looks really great, and I'm soooo happy with it.   I can't wait to find a suitable place for it in the cottage. I will show you when we get back. 

Well, today being the first of May is a public holiday here in Sweden. So as we are all home and the sun is shinning we may head out for a picnic lunch. somewhere - lovely !!
Have a super Wednesday everyone!  Lilly x

Stanley Brown

Just had to share with you this little chap who will be joining us shortly after we return to England. Stanley is a pure breed Norfolk Terrier. Quite apt as its the county we are from. Norfolks are small, gentle and affectionate little dogs, but lively. So he will need lots of long walks in the countryside. But that's fine with us. We are now shopping for all he needs, from Cath Kidston of course !!! Hope you adore him as much as we do ??