Favourite Things on a Rainy Day

Today I have a day off....I've done the washing...hoovered.....posted a parcel.....bought dog bones and wild bird food.....made some lunch....done a bit of sewing.....opened the door to take The Lodger out..then closed it again..Its horrible out there!!!!!


Now I'm bored.......I bore very quickly....I used to annoy my Mum no end telling her I was bored...now I annoy myself......

I was having a conversation last week about how little we really needed to have around us and how much unnecessary stuff we cart about....now I have moved a lot and have tried to reduce my possessions to a very few things....but as I dusted this morning I thought what would I really miss....well all my photos and boxes of memories..that goes without saying.....but I really couldn't part with this....a sketch of my Dad, drawn by a fellow solider in WW2.....probably when they were bored waiting for the command to GO GO GO maybe on DDay......


..I couldn't send this to the dump even though its all broken and re-mended....the only mark on it is an incised 'D' but its probably one of the oldest bits of china I have and it belonged to a remarkable old lady who owned a wool shop...it was given to me when she died by my sister-in-law who knew I loved blue and white transfer ware.....I love its imperfections and the memories it holds.....

I see this picture last thing at night and first thing in the morning...each time I look at it its as if I see it for the first time....I adore it...Of course its only a print but I did see the original at the National Gallery when 'Vermeer and The Dutch School' exhibition was on a few years ago and my heart was immediately captured.....the gallery was darkly lit and this little fellow shone out....Everyone seemed to be drawn to its beauty and simplicity......it makes me humble that a tiny goldfinch that lived a short life, painted by a master 350 years ago could hold us in raptures.....

The Goldfinch by Fabritius.....Holland...1654....

This is a papier mache fire screen, I bought it many years ago at a car boot sale....I walked past it a few times and even though it was the last thing I needed I went back and bought it...I am somehow drawn to these black pieces ... I could look at this for hours......

It is painted incredible well but it is the addition of fine slithers of mother of pearl that makes it come alive, all the parts like the boat on the water, the trees,the gravestones and of course the Church windows, shown as the moonlight reflections and highlight the scene....you could imagine the people at evensong the candlelight glowing out into the darkness....its just wonderful.

Lastly on my never getting rid of list is my big pine kitchen table......its Victorian and came from a house my parents once owned (they unfortunately had to leave the huge pine built in dresser!!!) its nice but its the memories of all those family meals..the laughter and the arguments,..the birthdays, Easters, Christmas's...the breakfast, lunches and dinners....the painting, homework and sewing all done at it..the games of cards, monopoly and scrabble fought over on it....its big, its chunky....its had repairs.....but however small a place I live it..its coming with me!!!!

What couldn't you live without?