A MOTLEY COLLECTION !!! ..........

There's not much happening in my neck of the woods at the moment .....

For the past six weeks, I've been going to the chiropractor as I've got a trapped nerve in my neck ..... getting old is not fun !!!

Apart from manipulating, cracking my bones and generally attacking me from all sides, he uses the above instrument of torture .... it's like having someone attack your neck with a hammer and chisel !!! ..... and, I pay for the privilege !!!

The leaves are finally fluttering off of the trees ..... look at the state of the front of our house ..... and that's just the beginning. I am no Hyacinth Bouquet { for overseas readers, she was a snobby character in a sitcom who was obsessed with everything being ' just so ' !! } but we do end up with tons and tons of leaves in the garden, but then I guess everyone does !

We had a frost this morning BUT .....

....look at my St Swithun rose ..... it starts flowering in early May when it is covered in hundreds of beautiful, fragrant, old English blooms but goes on and on ..... I took this photograph this morning and there are still many buds to open.

My thoughts are now turning to Christmas .....

I always by at least one new Christmas ornament every year ...... the above is this years.

I just saw the above on Pinterest ..... fig, apricot and pistachio Christmas cake ..... I've left it too late for this Christmas ... it needs to be made at least 3 months ahead !! Maybe next year !!!

Have you started to think about Christmas yet ?

XXXX

image 1: via facebook, image 2: via waistcoats kinesiology, image 3: via winchell chiropractice, images 4,5,6 & 7: via me, image 8: via crush cul de sac, image 9: via the flower studio shop, image 10: via sainsbury, image 11: via home, image 12: via present and correct

BY INVITATION ..... AUTUMN FASHION ..... OUR ' TAKE EVERYWHERE, CAN'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT ' !! .....

Our By Invitation subject this month is all about Autumn fashion and the one thing that we take everywhere and can't leave home without .....

I'm not really a jewellery lover but, I do love silver bangles and, in particular, silver cuffs.

The above are my favourites ..... two silver cuffs from Afghanistan and .....

..... my silver cross which, I think, was a Bible hinge and you'll never guess where it came from ? I bought it when I was about 18 from the shop called Chelsea Girl { now called River Island } at the end of the 1960's and, I wear it and the bracelets everyday when I go out. The cross cost me £1.99 !!!! It's solid silver and, I've seen them for sale for over £100 !!  Over 40 years of wearing it, pretty much, everyday. I think that I have got my money's worth, don't you ? ..... Good old Chelsea Girl !!

I do vary the bracelets from time to time . My husband bought me most of them including the one above ..... I then saw it on a catwalk image on Pinterest !!!! ..... my bracelet is famous !!!! ... ish !!

I guess that I'm cheating a bit as, I do wear them in Spring, Summer and Winter too but, they are really the only things that I take everywhere !!

" Jewelry takes people's minds off your wrinkles "

{ Sarah Phillips }

If you would like to see what other people can't do without this Autumn, pop over to Marsha where you'll find all the links.

image 1: via daniel pardini, images 2 & 3: via envers du decor, image 4: via margadirube, images 5, 6 & 7: via me

BY INVITATION ……. AUTUMN NECESSITY …..

Our By Invitation task this month is to share our thoughts on a piece of clothing that we know will serve us in good 

stead this Autumn.

Here is mine ….. 

It's my All Saints Nia coat.

 Autumn/Winter is my time, fashion wise. I LOVE coats, jackets and boots so, I'm in my element as soon as Autumn sets in and set in it has !! There's not much to say about my coat apart from how much I love it  …… shallow, I know, but there you are. I love the handkerchief hem and all of that pleating. Alexander McQueen had a similar one in his collection but was a great deal more expensive and I like mine more !!!!

….. and, finally, last years picture of me in my pork pie hat that always comes out at this time of year !!

For more Autumn fashion inspiration, please visit Marsha to be transported to all of the By Invitation contributors.

HAPPY AUTUMN

image 1: via barbara hulaniki design, images 2, 6 & 8: via what if winter is not a place outside, images 3, 4 & 5: via google, image 7: via me !

TO AUTUMN ..........

Autumn is in full swing, here in the UK.........

time for hot baths ..........

Candlelight ..........

Cosy beds ..........

Comfort food ..........

..... and for digging out your thermals..... oops,

..... thermals !!!!

Enjoy this season of mists and mellow fruitfulness and the joy that it brings.

image 1: via inspired designs, image 2 & 3: via visualize.Us,  image 4: via we heart it, image 5: via brown dress with white dots, image 6: via chateau de moissac, image 7, 8, 9: via heart of glass, image 10: via the paper mulberry, image 11: via tumblr, image 12 & 14: via pinterest, image 13: via zsa zsa Bellagio,  

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN..................

It's that time of year again.......... .......... when we get ready for those cheeky little trick or treaters and have scrummy treats ready on the hall table ..........
.......... and wonderful Halloween dinners for family and friends ..........

.......... with wonderful things to eat and drink ..........

.......... and decorate our houses..... inside and out ..........

.......... and dress the children in original outfits, that are either fun....or embarrassing .........

.......... and dress ourselves up in our own Halloween outfits ..........

.......... and have terrific parties ..........

.......... and drink scary wine ..........

.......... and eat scary food ..........

.......... and scary cupcakes ..........but .......... I'm just lulling you all into a false sense of security because ..........

.......... it's really all about scary stuff, things that are hiding in corners ..........

.......... or under the stairs ..........

.......... or in darkened rooms ..........

.......... on buses ..........

.......... in your bedroom ..........

.......... in corridors ..........

.......... on your eyeball !!!!!!!!!! ..........

.......... and they want your blood ..........

.......... Shreiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick..........

Don't forget to look behind you.

Have fun everybody.

Jackie