Floss is trying ~ very trying!

Over at Red Gingham, Sarah pointed us in the direction of an interesting post she discovered on the blog A Commonplace Life. It's a post that's clearly struck a chord with a huge number of readers - about how as bloggers we select the 'perfect' parts of our life to blog about, and how as readers we can be left with a sense of inadequacy compared to the percieved perfection of other bloggers.

I've certainly been in awe of a number of bloggers' homes and their crafting. Generally, though, I've sensed that they don't want to present a false impression - they just show pikkies of the nice stuff, which is fine by me.

What really threw me, however, was when I showed pictures of my indulgent little 'Country Living shoot' the other day and some people talked about how perfect things were and how their home will never look like that! Neither will mine, dear reader! That was a tiny corner of my patio, well-swept and well-cropped. This experience is what made Amy's post ring bells for me. My response has been to write the little 'Reality Check' to your left. I don't want to post about boring or unpleasant things, or downright laziness on the houskeeping front, but please realise they do exist! I'm just trying, like the rest of us.

j

Right, got that off my chest! Do you like the mantelpiece cloth I bought in Veti Relais today? I shall keep it until the season for fires is over, and will celebrate the arrival of late spring with bluebirds!This is the second piece of wool embroidery I've picked up recently. Ironing? But that's sooo 20th Century, daahling!

What I really love on it is the felted fringe.

Now, at Troc'relais, down the road, one of the ladies is a keen knitter. All summer she collects the balls of wool that come into the charity shop, and when winter approaches her blankets come into stock. That means now! You saw last year's multi-coloured single blanket yesterday, under the dog (seems ungrateful, doesn't it?). Today I bought this lap blanket for 2 euros 50. It's over the armchair near the computer, but I sense it may become a blogging blanket this winter...

I've seen this damaged potholder there for months, but a) I hadn't seen what Tif could do with pot holders then and b) it was damaged. I decided to go for it this time, and managed to pick up some mending equipment for it in the same shop...

Back at Veti Relais, they sell cotton crochet lace for 80c a metre. Ha! thought I. But in fact I have a project in hand right now which requires more lace, and more varied laces, than I am prepared to sacrifice, so I got a metre each of these two. I also met a friend from church, who will apparantly be working there for six months. I'll have to find out more...

Come on, needlewomen - is this kind of doiley knitted or crocheted? I really can't tell.

Finally, to business. My new, terrifying job teaching business English requires a smarter wardrobe than I currently own. Cardies not required. I was delighted to pick up three jackets which are acually quite 'Flossie', which fit, and are hopefully quite smart. Brown cord with a slightly Victorian feel:

Plum cord with ruffles:

Ruffled neck of same:

Beige linen-type country-style jacket.

I think they probably all belonged to one woman of the same size and taste as me!

And finally, we're keeping the home fires burning for Ben, who should arrive around midnight tonight. He says the red light district of Copenhagen is a lot less dramatic than you readers may have imagined!