Ceramic Painting

For Mothers Day, my Mum wanted to have a go at Ceramic Painting. I found a place near her in Kent called Kippy's, made a booking and on Saturday morning, off we went. I took some drawings as I didn't want to be stuck for ideas and boy was I glad I did as the selection of Bisque Ware was amazing - so hard to choose what I wanted to paint! I could decide if I wanted a Jug, a Bowl or a vase - but then was also a Teapot and a Gingerbread House - oh the decisions!

I opted for a small plate, my Mum went with a Mug and the Boy choose a Canister. Then it was time to paint. The very kind Lady who owns the Cafe went through the method and also gave me some carbon paper so I could trace my drawing onto the plate. There were hot mugs of tea, pretty colours and paint brushes - complete heaven!

I didn't take a picture of the front of my plate but I did take a shot of the back! On the front I went with flowers and two birds in shades of pinks, blues and greys.

The Boy painted a spotty design in Pinks and Blues for our kitchen - it's going to look so lovely in there! He even had enough time to paint a Truck which to be honest was probably more up his street!

My beautiful Mum painted Sunflowers on her Mug. Complete with teeny tiny Sunflowers on the handle and a large Sunflower in the bottom of the Mug. We spent about three and a half hours at Kippy's and I don't think I have ever seen the three of us concentrate so much. I'm so glad Mum choose to do this as it was a lot of fun and I am so looking forward to picking up our items!

Apple Season

I love Apples, but what I love more is visiting the Orchard, Perry Court Farm, near my Mum's house in the beautiful Stour Valley. I love September and October for the sheer abundance of Apples - knowing I can stock up on natures finest and put them to all sorts of uses. So far this year I have made lots of Apple based cakes such as the perennial favourite Apple and Cinnamon and Apple Muffins but I have also thrown Apple into other Muffins like a Gingerbread Muffin. We've also made lots of warming crumbles. But soon it will be the turn of Chutneys and Sauces so I can have the Apple goodness in the depth of Winter. 

They've been growing fruit and vegetables in a responsible way for three generations and they really do produce good food. None of this perfect fruit malarkey, just as it should be - all different shapes and sizes. I love this Orchard for their sheer variety of Apples. Our favourites so far have been Katy, Windsor and Lord Lambourne. They have a tasting table so you can try before you buy, selecting the tastiest Apple variety. They also do exceptionally reasonably priced Apple Juice, just perfect cold or warmed with some Orange zest and a Cinnamon Stick.

What I wasn't expecting on our last visit to the Orchard was these little fellows...They were quite happily sat in the Car Park and it was quite amusing seeing the Cars parked all over the place to avoid them! And boy were they noisy!

Rochester and Faversham

This weekend we went down to Kent. When we're visiting my Mum, I'm always keen to go to Rochester. As I've mentioned before, I love most things about Rochester. Top of my list goes to the Fabric Shop, Hometown. It is just the prettiest shop and I'm loving the new fabric covered letters they've put up. They also  had another window display in an empty shop which was also very pretty. I bought some Ric Rac and Jingle Bells for some Christmas making ideas that I've been mulling over. 

We headed to the Soap Shop as I wanted a Bath Bomb. You see, we don't have a Bath at home, just a Shower, so it's always a treat to have one at Mum's.  They had so many pretty ones to choose from and I went with a Lavender one - I just love the smell of Lavender.

We had wander down the High Street, popping in and out of shops. I love the antique shops in Rochester and one of them had a large selection of beautiful Vintage Clothing.

While we were there, it would have been rude not to have a look at the Kit Heath beads in Denis Green. A bead came home with me and now my bracelet is full.

We then headed to Faversham, just along the A2. Despite the amount of times we've been to Kent, we've never been to Faversham, but I'm glad we have now.

The street signs are the prettiest I have ever seen - the font is beautiful. I wish all street signs looked like this.

It really was very warm - just look at the colour of the sky, no Photoshop involved! It really was that blue.

We've been after more storage for our house for a while now and as we wandered around Faversham we found this little beauty outside on the shops - a complete bargain for £25. It's already up in our Dining Room and I plan on making Bunting for the bottom.

We also met up with Friends, who were also visiting parents in Kent for Pancakes at the American Diner - it was complete Pancake overload!

I do love weekends...

Dungeness

This past weekend we went to Kent to visit my Mum. On the Saturday morning we fancied some outside time so we headed to Dungeness. The weather was windy but bright, perfect weather for time at the Coast.

We've never been there before and nothing had prepared me for the unusual landscape - miles and miles of shingle. It really is quite unique.I love the amount of Flora there is and the Lighthouses. The many scattered dwellings are all so different to each other - some are hut like others are train cabins. There are seemingly random forgotten things, derelict things, rusty things. 

I love the fact that the Coast is actually growing here. The shingle gives a pinkish orange glow to everything. There aren't any boundaries and it almost seems desolate, but then you look again and realise it really isn't. There is so much beauty here. It really is an area of outstanding interest.

We really enjoyed our long walk at Dungeness, we took lots of Photos, got battered by the wind, talked lots, giggle quite a bit and enjoyed the surroundings. We will definitely be going back!

The American Diner

We were in Kent this weekend and we've always wanted to try The American Diner at Bybrook Barn. We were up nice and early on Saturday, so we went for Breakfast. Man, this place is the business. It was built in Elisabeth, New Jersey and then shipped to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where it was located on the River Road, along the bank of the Susquehanna River. It stayed there for 49 years.

The Diner is classic art deco design with round corners and curved surfaces.  The stools, the rang hood,  the tile walls, floor and blue stained glass roof are all original. I love the Seating Booths, the Juke Boxes on each table and the Open Pepsi Neon sign. The service is nice and friendly too.

So, for breakfast I had a Banana Pancake and my Husband had Hash Browns, Eggs and Bacon. Yum and Yum! I absolutely adore Pancakes and this one was so very very good! I loved that you watched your Breakfast being made.

Ok, so I am loving the decor, the menu and just the whole vibe of the place, so when it came to lunchtime on Sunday, this was the only option, so we headed back. And we were not disappointed! Cheese and Bacon Burgers for us both and boy they were yummy!

Our tummies might have been full, but I just had to have another Banana Pancake which we shared. Pancakes really are the things of dreams. I think this place is the place for Breakfast when we are in Kent!

Canterbury

Going to Canterbury is always a really lovely experience. I love the buildings and the glimpses of the Cathedral. There are so many amazing buildings, I seem to spend half my time looking up above the modern shop fronts. There's often live music being played on the streets which just adds a little something special.

Debenhams has kept the some rather wonderful shop signs. I do love the wonkyness of the Hosiers one. Oh how I wish shops were still had such names.

In the newer shopping area, Whitefriars, they have lots of archaeological diagrams / carvings on the pavement. They really are fascinating to look at. I must find out more about them...

Along with the usual shops, Canterbury is also home to some delightful independent shops, such as Chromos Art Shop.

Chromos Art Shop, From Flickr by Dubris

There is also the most wonderful Fabric Shop, The Sewing Shop - they always have completely fabulous window displays along with a really well chosen large selection of fabric. It very much has a boutique feel.  I was super pleased to pick up some orange velvet fabric and although I'm not sure what I am going to do with it, but it's just gorgeous!

Just look at the inside of this place! It's just adorable!

And finally there is the Bead Pot. It's lovely little bead shop with both supplies and handmade beaded goodies - I love how busy it is whenever I've been in there.

After lots of walking, shopping and admiring we needed fortification. We  stopped in the M&S Kitchen for refreshments. I had the most wickedly sinful Sticky Toffee Cake.

Yum!

Rochester

We often head for Kent of a weekend to visit my Mum. There are quite a few places in the Garden of England that we really like, but none more so than Rochester. It really does have everything I love about a town. A terrific high street with truly adorable speciality shops. Lots of history with the Castle, Guildhall, Cathedral, Corn Exchange, Eastgate House and Restoration House. I really like how all the buildings in the high street are unique. The Cathedral is wonderful and very peaceful. The Cloisters and the Crypt were my favourite places and it was very accessible for my Mum who is in a wheelchair.

They have some fab jewellers, one of which sells the most gorgeous Kit Heath Beachcomber range which I might *just* be receiving, humbly, for my upcoming birthday. Denis Green feels like an old school Jewellers with proper service. They fixed my Mum's old watch and put on a new strap pronto and they took lots of time helping us when we were looking at their Kit Heath range.

Looky! Beach hut goodness! Such yummy colours and beautiful designs. Kit Heath is a wonder. I just love that the beads are called Pebbles and each has a beachy themed name such a Pool, Drift, Beach Ball and Kiss Me Quick!

So many of the shops are beautiful, the window displays are stunning like this one at Kiss Kiss Heart.

They have some really great charity shops too - if you are ever in Rochester you need to visit the Demelza Boutique. It's a specialist vintage shop all in the good name of raising money for Demelza Houses which are Children's hospices to support children who are not expected to reach adulthood. Their window displays are also beautiful and we bought a wonderful cardigan for my Husband. He also tried on an old school RAF uniform but unfortunately it was too short in the arm. My he did look handsome in it though.

Last but not least, they have one of the nicest fabric shops ever, Hometown. LOVE! Every time we've been, there has been a different quilt in display.

The shop is so beautiful inside with so many yummy fabrics, trimmings, buttons, books and supplies. I generally spend an age in there and thank goodness they have a loyalty card. I wasn't brave enough to take some photos of the inside, plus it was super busy, but courtesy of Flickr, take a look inside;

Hometown Quilting, Rochester, a photo by azmiat on Flickr.

Hometown Quilting, Rochester, a photo by azmiat on Flickr.

P.s. if you visit you just must choose a cake from Lorenzo's! There Lemon Meringue Pie is divine!