Real Life Castle in the Snow Wedding

When my friend Elaine asked me to help her with her wedding 

(just 12 weeks before the big day), 

I must admit I was a little daunted, and wondered if we could pull it off! 

I have to say that it was one of my most favourite weddings I have ever attended as a guest or a stylist!

The reason for this? 

Elaine was a complete BrideNilla! 

Nothing, Nilch, Zero, bothered her... She didn't really care if the flowers weren't right, or they dyed her hair an odd colour - she just wanted to marry her man. That was the most important thing and everything else was incidental! 

(Luckily, he felt the same!)

The only thing that she was quite certain on was that she wanted snow - 

Not blizzards... just a smidgen, to make the castle looked beautiful.

I said I'd see what I could do ;-)

I said a little prayer and sure enough He made it beautiful! 

Just look!!! 

It was to be a weekend wedding, based at Woodhall Spa Manor 

with the ceremony just down the road at Tattershall Castle. 

It was kind of odd, being a guest AND a venue stylist... but once I had checked into my beautiful "Tiffany Suite" on the Friday morning, it seemed bearable!!! 

I pottered about The Manor all day - decorating the rooms and 

then went off to the castle to get everything ready there... 

The next morning, Richard was up early cooking us all a tremendous fry up (fried bread to die for!) and wonderful, wholesome, home baked bread 

from the deli in town - YUM! 

I needed this, as I'd been up until 1.30am, sewing Arlo the dog's tuxedo 

(We had to transform it from a halloween Dracula doggie suit to 

Perfectly Posh Pup wedding suit!). 

One of the silver satin chair sashes was sacrificed for the sake of pup fashion, Here's a picture of it waiting for him to wear it! 

Those gorgeous killer heels were Elaines in case you were wondering! 

Being the nosey type of guest that I am, I decided to pop into the bridal suite to see how Elaine was getting on... 

Hair and make up ladies Dena and Faye were there making everyone look gorgeous...

Dena was a bit of a dab hand with the camera too - 

look at these lovely photos she took when Elaine was getting ready..

Flowers by Shirley Dee Designs

Then we all had a blubbing moment when dad came into the room and said 

"Darling, you look beautiful", 

(Which she did in those killed silver heels and little fur frou frou shrug). 

Then it was time for Fred, their little vintage car,  to whisk them away to the ceremony at Tattershall Castle...

It had snowed... so it was cold...

The Tennyson Quintet played as all the gusts took their seats. 
Guests were encouraged to snuggle up, candles filled the giant fireplaces and cozy blankets were provided too! 

Part two of this lovely wedding will be coming as soon as I get the professional photographs... watch this space...

Man creche and dog hats! Must be Christmas!

Christmas is now officially on it's way in the Harrison household! 

On Sunday we decided to take a walk down to the local Christmas Market, and were pleasantly surprised. 

First stop was the Christmas Tree Festival at The Methodist Church, Sleaford. This is the 13th year of the festival and it has become a real Christmas tradition for us and a lot of others to visit it each year. There were 85 trees in total - all made by schools, groups, business's and individuals - anyone can enter a tree and it's completely free!!! 

Anniefloribunda's tree

I always enter one for Anniefloribunda now, but this year I entered one for Mr H too (who is a butcher, for those of you who don't know us). 

His tree was The Great British Breakfast Tree 
and made lots of people smile that day! 

There were some really great entries this year. 

Katy Katezart entered a tree made from a wooden pallet and there were gorgeous little miniatures from the local miniaturist club too.

Next stop was the craft fayre at St Denys Church Hall. I'd promised friends I would pop by and support them. Picked up a beautiful glass Christmas bauble from Beatty Mae Vintage and also got a pressie for baby Flo' who is due to arrive on December 10th!

Coming out onto the Market Square, we stopped to listen to the children from Alvey school singing a funny song about the stresses of Christmas shopping - wish I'd videoed it now :-( 

Standing watching the entertainment I got a bit chilly - so popped into The Greek Taverna and warmed up with a scrummy, hot chocolate (with brandy & squirty cream!) - well it is (almost) Christmas!

We missed the Morris Dancers this year much to Steve's disapointment but Loved the Round Table's novel idea of raising money with their "Man Creche" - one of these is needed on every high street!!! 

We walked the whole route of the Christmas Market and popped into EDS on Southgate for a gorgeous glass of Gluwein and hand made Stilton cookies where Arlo modelled his Christmas hat for us! 

Hope you are having as much fun in your run up to Christmas! 

Merry Christmas!! 

Preparing the house for Autumn

Well, the leaves are (slowly) turning brown on the trees outside and with the shift we've had in weather this week, I think we can safely say that Autumn has arrived!

Mr Harry Grimwood "testing" the winter furnishings

The summer sofa covers and curtains have been changed for the cozy winter ones and cotton throws packed away and in their place wool tartan blankets strewn over the sofas.
All of those lovely spring and summer woodland walks with Mr Harry Grimwood have been worth it, as we've collected a shed full of kindling. I now need to sort them into bundles and tie with string. The kindling will then come inside along with the recycled paper bricks and logs - all ready for those lovely autumn open fires :-)

our favourite wood in the Spring

Every year I look at the pile of recycled paper logs and think "I wish I'd made more" and every year I end up making loads in September and October. I dry them in the oven when I'm cooking tea! I make them with a really cool mould that I bought on line for just £14.99 - well worth the money as it has saved me a fortune in logs and coal. You an get one from here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PAPER-LOG-BRIQUETTE-MAKER-NEWSPAPER-RECYCLE-PRESS-ECO-FUEL-FIRE-BRICK-BLOCK-/330789490291 
These burn well for up to 2 hours on an open fire or in a woodburner and the great thing is knowing that they're made from rubbish post and flyers that come through the door (along with newspaper), so they are FREE !!!

 

Also time now to start making some of the (dare I saw it?) Christmas presents and decorations, so watch this blog for caramel vodka, christmas cookies and decorations to make over the next few weeks.

Top Dog Christmas Dickie Bow

 

 

 

 

 

Top Dog Dickie Bow Ties for dogs...whatever next

Mr Harry Grimwood and I have been to the woods. I thought we were going to collect kindling. He thought we were going to chase pheasants and snuffle.
So, collecting the kindling was left to me. I always feel so at home in the woods, whatever the season, I love the smells and sounds, (almost as much as Mr Grimwood!) and can walk for ages just breathing it all in.
When I young, I found a small copse, off Well Lane - I never saw anyone else there and used to believe that no one else knew about it. I used to lie down on the bluebells and look at the sky through the leaves. It's probably housing now - but I try not to think about that.

It was nippy today, there was a light Autumnal bite in the air and I was glad I'd got the wood burner going that morning, for our return. I spent the rest of the day sewing things for a Christmas Craft fair I'm doing in December

I've had a few orders for my "doggie dickies" and Harry has been kind enough to model them for me.

Seems odd not to be sitting in an office anymore - but since I've been off work, I've been keeping myself busy with my crafts. My "office" nowadays is the kitchen table and has a much more comfortable atmosphere! Plus chocolate cookies are close to hand :-)

Found a use for those buttons!

Spent another glorious day in the garden today, with Harry, boiling his brains in the midday sun. (at least I sat in the shade and had sunscreen on!).

Had fun making button flower brooches (to see how to make your own design go to my folksy page at http://www.folksy.com/shops/anniefloribunda) - Oh, and I made clay and paper beads, (and some other things that I am not quite sure what they are yet)!