Grateful. A Post about Beautiful Things.

It's been a massive few weeks at the Picket Fence House. Spring has well and truly sprung and with it, life has sped up. We've been having a lot of fun in the garden (so fragrant and full of Spring time potential), We have finished a few projects around the house and we have had a mega exciting visitor (More about that later) 

This is my front garden and the arbour Mr Picket Fence welded for me. It has a beautiful climbing rose called La marque growing up it. This year I've planted a Wisteria along side. Looking forward to the show next Spring. Mr Picket Fence told me I couldn't have a Wisteria here as the one I have by the side of the house needs so much maintenance. Lets tell him it self seeded :) I hear they sometimes do that ?

 We have casement windows, I love opening them to let the fragrance of my Roses and the Lilac in the front garden waft in. We are in a coastal area and the roses get black spot. I don't spray because I worry about the chemicals. I hence grow roses with a little black spot... a happy compromise.

This is my Lilac, the first year it has flowered properly. It is a very old variety with a heavenly fragrance. I am going to let it grow rampant. (Like the wisteria !)

 The children's first organic vegetables are ready to be picked :)

And we have a brand new little visitor, called Lucky, living in the kitchen until she is big enough to join the other hen's in the Hen's On Holiday Caravan. We adopted her from a friend, she thinks she's a person not a chicken.

 Mr Picket Fence finally hung My enamel Rowntree's sign in the kitchen. I love him even more today. As you do when husbands do wonderful things, also when they pretend not to notice you planted more Wisteria ;)

 I painted the base of our Oak dining table white. I'm pleased with this, I'm going to cover the seat cushions on the dining room chairs with various cheery oil-cloth fabrics and have mis-matched seating. I'd really like some bench seats here. One day I will make this happen :) I love the communal feeling of a bench seat.

 Token pretty picture, no rhyme or reason just pretty (sorry)

Oh and FINALLY I  painted my circa 1800's front door. I bought this off EBay and it was way too big for the door jamb so I needed to get the hole made bigger. A big job, a worthwhile job.  A job I've been waiting ages to complete. Now my hall is full of light.

This is the back side of.....

 This,
My Antique advertising Window. I've finally had it put in. I am so happy with the way it looks and I think Mr Picket Fence is glad there's nothing else stuffed behind his cupboard. I have many things like this squirrelled away. I am indeed the queen of cupboard stuffing :)

Finally, this is even bigger news. The Picket Fence Fancy family had a visit from the amazingly talented photographer Tim Coulson . This guy blows me away. Completely. He photographs Families, Weddings and People in ordinary life. He and his wife Keshia rank highly in my beautiful people list. We will be on Tim's blog early in November. I'll tell you when, but in the mean time check his blog Tim Coulson Photographer Of The People out  and like his Face book page  to be keep updated with his beautiful work. He took the photo of me above ( shock horror you actually can put a face to "Ava")  and this gorgeous shot below of Mr Picket Fence buying a Milkshake for Baby Picket Fence in a local cafe. I'll show you all of the photo's when he does, and you can really meet the Picket Fence Family. Oh and you should definitely have him visit you. That's a given :)

I am so grateful for all of the above things happening. Flowers, chickens ,antique doors and windows. I am grateful for photographers who do beautiful work and who are lovely to be around. I am also very very grateful to my new and old Picket Fence Followers for dropping by. Your gorgeous emails and comments, your love of colour and family, your joy in vintage treasure, and your friendship are so appreciated . If I haven't gotten back to you yet, I will soon. I'm ticking many things off my list this week. Thank-you emails are one of them. Stay tuned  xx

Shared with Sarah's A Beach Cottage
And Maxabella Loves