Monday, December 13, 2010

Cheeses are the reason for the season
On Saturday we had a mini-working-bee. We dusted and vacuumed, mopped and tidied, rearranged and tarted up. The reason for all this activity was of course our guests on Sunday.
The house ended up looking fabo. I've brought the daybed in from the verandah and put our persion rug down too. It's a bit mish mashy, but it works. Lately, I've been following instinct rather than magazine pictures.

Needless to say, we also had beautiful flowers to celebrate the occasion. Sorry about my terrible photos, they could all do with a bit of cropping and some colour correction.


My husband and I also whipped out and got ourselves an early Christmas present. This is our new little Yamaha Ipod dock. It's white and grey and sits quite unobtrusively on the kitchen bench. Looove having music again.

We had our lovely neighbours over in the afternoon for a lot of cheese and champagne.....and cherry-topped patty cakes.
We couldn't ask for better neighbours, they're tops!!

Although we consider our neighbours to be very special, our extra special guests were actually here earlier in the day.
A week ago or so I called Mrs Baby to see if she and Mr Baby would like to come and see our handy work. As coincidence would have it, Mrs Baby had only just posted me a Christmas card with a note saying they'd love to come and see the house.
It was so good to see them. Mrs Baby  follows this blog so she had seen a lot of photos already.  They were interested to see some of the original furniture in the new context.
They didn't stay long unfortunately, but we planned to have a lunch or something next Christmas, and we'll also have more work for them to see.
Now, a small confession, Euphemia is not the real name of our house. Euphemia was Mr Baby's mother, and she grew up in Scotland in a village called Motherwell, and that is in fact the name of our house.
This is the old copper sign at our front door.


This photo below is the Baby family. You can see Mr Baby standing in the centre, as the youngest of the family. That's Gwennie on the right hand side with the plaits, and that's Doris sitting on the left. Euphemia is on the right hand side of Mr Baby.  They all grew up, and some of them grew old, in our house - and it is our house now. It definitely feels like home.


This is Mr Baby yesterday when he visited. That's also Mrs Baby and me and my offspring. They will be the next children to grow up here.


And that is where our story will end, on-line anyway. We still have lots of work to do, but we'll plod along at the pace that money and time allows.
Thank you for reading my blog, and giving me your encouragement and advice. How wonderful are blogs! They are a window into someone else's life and they allow like-minded people to link up all over the world to share ideas and inspiration. I'm looking forward to resuming my role as the voyeur.
Thank you of course to Mr and Mrs Baby for giving us Motherwell. If she had gone on the open market,  competition would have been so fierce I'm not sure we would have ended up with her. We consider how lucky we are every day.
Now I'm off to prepare for the new year. I'm positive on January 1, I will awake to find myself a brand new person who eats well, exercises every day, doesn't drink, saves money and is well organised.  I may even find little blue birds circling my head, Snow White-style.
So from me and Motherwell, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

26 comments:

  1. As the owner of an old home myself, I see my family's life as a chapter in the history of the house. No doubt you will write a fabulous chapter in the history of "Motherwell". If you feel like reliving the renovation process from a distance, take a peak at my blog. Our renovation starts in full in 2011. Thanks for some very entertaining posts! Amber

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  2. Thanks for sharing your story. It's been a pleasure reading and learning about Motherwell. x

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  3. Are you taking a long blogging break or finishing up for good Madam?
    Thanks for sharing your journey. It helped me come to terms with leaving our old Qld'ner and passing her onto her next family to love and cherish her chequered history.
    Best wishes
    xx

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  4. Oh, I hope you aren't finished blogging? I love seeing your decorating and the treasures you find!

    L
    xx

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  5. Oh, is that it? It can't be! I've only just tagged along ... I do hope you keep it up ... I'm enjoying seeing what you're doing, but that's me being selfish.

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  6. Oh I'm so sad that you are giving up blogging, I have really enjoyed following your journey, Thanks so much for sharing. All the best for the future, you have turned your house into such a beautiful home and I know for sure you have inspired many others. Cheers Robyn

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  7. I do hope this is only a short "commercial" break and that you will be back soon. Merry Christmas to all.

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  8. Will miss your very entertaining writing style and catching up on the wonderful 'home' you are creating. Wishing you and yours a beautiful Christmas. If indeed you do awaken New Years Day to the chirp of bluebirds, I'd like to know your secret!
    Compliments of the season from all at 'RockWallaby'.

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  9. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and New Year. Thanks for sharing your story and especially tradie contacts - it has been very much appreciated. Now you can just sit back and enjoy your beautiful home. Best wishes ;-)

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  10. It has been a pleasure reading about your renovation journey. As the owner of another 104 year old Queenslander I know that your journey will continue as I hope your blogging does.

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  11. Oh no I love your blog and I check in every day. I love seeing the transformation of your beautiful home, seeing the little treasures you have uncovered at the house and the new little treasures you are putting back in.

    India

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  12. congratulations on all your hard work and artistic flair pulling it all together.So sorry that this is the end of our "coming along for the ride".
    I have been following from the first few postings, what a wonderful story,your family is now the next chapter in the history of this lovely home, well done....Enjoy !

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  13. NOOOOOOOOOOO.

    Please do not stop the blog.

    Just whip up a post about your garden, or making something from Retro Food!!!

    I was touched to see Mr B back in situ. Very sweet.

    I have loved this blog and your journey.

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  14. Oh, what sad news. I've thoroughly enjoyed your journey and ponderings.
    As a local, I relate to your adventures and have enjoyed your generosity in sharing info about all manner of things as you go.
    I must say I regularly ( okay, daily!) review your blog. I 'm hearing what you're saying, but wish there'd been some more chapters.
    Wendy C.
    Best wishes

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  15. thank you for such a wonderful peek into your journey! Best of luck as you move forward, while living with the wonderful flavor of the past!
    Hugs from California!
    Jenean Hoffman

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  16. Any chance we can twist your arm to keep blogging ??

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  17. Please pretty please!

    What will I do without my daily ritual? Each night as I kiss the kids and tuck them up in bed, I excitedly look towards my laptop, pour myself a glass of wine and sit down to listen to a friend speak about her adventures and escape to a world where things work even if they don't, to a place where each day brings a crumb of the past that merges with the present and where things are just because they are.

    When I heard that you were finishing your blog the sadness quickly turned to fear as I realised that my evenings of catching up with a fellow Brisbanite would soon return to the addicted days of Solitaire.

    Petition? Where do I sign?

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  18. am in denial. Am pretending you will keep blogging.

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  19. I have loved reading your blog! Thank you! Hope you don't leave!!!! Hope you are reconsidering! Many thanks! Tippy

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  20. eek! please don't go!! sorry anonymous - need to find my password! I have never commented - sorry - but have so enjoyed your wonderful story. perhaps now just a new chapter instead of an ending! Mary

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  21. Please don't stop! I've loved reading about your adventures unearthing Euphemia's treasures. You have been so generous in sharing her secrets with us all. Hope you reconsider. Merry Christmas.

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  22. i'm another admirer...enthralled me with the transformation you and your husband have made happen with your old girl. Please keep entertaining us!...I know it must be time-consuming...but maybe you could do just once a month with your recent highlights/finds/inspirations.

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  23. I just found your blog yesterday and had to read it from the beginning !!!! It is such a great story!!!! I love old homes too,we live in a house from 1898 that we are restoring ourselves and I am so inspired by your blog!!!!

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  24. Your blog takes me back to my childhood when we lived in a wonderful old Queenslander and I've so enjoyed reading about your renovations. You write so beautifully and obviously have an ever growing fan base. Your efforts will truly be missed.

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  25. I've only just stumbled across your blog and really enjoyed reading it from start to finish. It seems as though you have a much devoted fan base. Should they manage to talk you in to continuing, I look forward to reading more of your writing. If not, thank you very much for what you've already given. Happy 2011 regardless.

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