A random bunch of photos

I've been growing what you could probably call a greenhouse of plants in my living room. Tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, beans, herbs, gooseberries, chilli and even attempting to grow a cucumber (although it's nearly dead).

My little gooseberry plants have gone from looking like this:

To these big fruiting beasts!

I am also in the process of skinning this teeny tiny Goldcrest, and you'd think turning little things into taxidermy wouldn't be so difficult. But the smaller they are the more difficult it becomes.

And then here are three pretty unrelated photos.

Me and little Oscar Zissou.

"I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead; 
I lift my lids and all is born again. 
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

The stars go waltzing out in blue and red, 
And arbitrary blackness gallops in: 
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed 
And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane. 
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

God topples from the sky, hell’s fires fade: 
Exit seraphim and Satan’s men: 
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I fancied you’d return the way you said, 
But I grow old and I forget your name. 
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

I should have loved a thunderbird instead; 
At least when spring comes they roar back again. 
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead. 
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

”

—	Mad Girl’s Love Song, Sylvia Plath

The only part of the Royal Wedding I enjoyed the most was..

...the cake. I mean look at it. I wouldn't even want to eat that. I'd preserve it forever and just look at it now and again.

To be honest it probably tasted like ass, all these wedding cakes with 60 layers of icing and dry fruit cake in the middle are usually vomit inducing and not worth the effort. But oh well, it's pretty to look at.

Osterley Park

Thankfully I live very near to Osterley Park being a West Kensington-er, I'd never been there before and we took the random decision to go on Monday morning and I'm really glad we did. It's an incredible and beautiful place. It felt a lot smaller on the inside than it looked outside which was odd, I suppose most of the space is taken up be secret corridors for the maids and butlers.

Baby number 2

I'm sorry I've not blogged in a while, I've not been well lately and I just couldn't be bothered.
Last night I picked up (yet another) bunny, a little Lionhead. He's about 2 months old and I've decided to call him Oscar!
That's enough bunnies for me now. I'm happy with my little two, hopefully they will get along well and wont fight.

Too much love for Zara

I think I probably go on Zara nearly every day now, I just love EVERYTHING on there. If I were a millionaire I really probably would buy everything on there. Anyway, here is what I bought from there recently...

Velveteen blazer £19.99 (on sale!)

Linen t-shirt £15.99

Pleated cotton trousers £9.99 (on sale!)

College sweatshirt £19.99

Ribbed socks £2.99 (also on sale!)

Things that I am lusting after

I probably spend an unhealthy amount of time doing what I like to call "imaginary shopping" on the internet (putting nice things in the basket then closing the website when you realise you aren't a millionaire). Here are some things that I am currently lusting after:

Petit Coco planter, because I don't have a garden and no chance of ever getting an allotment. So I feel the need to surround myself with potted plants.

 

Cardigan with elbow patches and Open work cardigan from Zara. Just 'cus it's Winter and I'm cold.

Personal Library kit from Fred flare. I have no real need for it, I've just always wanted to work in a library and I like stationary.

Teas from around the world mini set. They come in tiny tins! squee!

Red and White Bakers twine. I've been looking for this stuff for ages. I bought some on ebay a while ago but it soon ran out. A huge spool of the stuff would please my little crafting heart.

Record Player. I wanted a record player for Christmas, then changed my mind and wanted an Ipod speaker instead, which I got. But I still want a record player.. One day, one day!

Bunny love!

You'll have to forgive my absence from the blogging World but I've been too busy with a small grey ball of fur.
This is my baby bunny Helga, She's nearly 3 months old now and is pretty much the sweetest little thing that loves parsley with a passion.

Curiosities on ebay

I figured since I spend so much time trawling through strange things on ebay I'd share some of it with you. If you bought all this you'd probably have yourself your very own curio cabinet!

A vintage chemist bottle, you can find loads of these on ebay for not very much. Although they tend to be pretty sought after.

Vintage chemist bottle with label

I have an odd love for microscopes, they tend to sell for a lot of money on ebay and are very sought after!

antique portable microscope with slides

Beautifully coloured and well cut rock and mineral specimens always look good in specimen cabinets. 

This particular specimen is Titanium Aura 

Titanium Aura cluster specimen

Collections made by entomologists (hobby or not)  tend to sell for hundreds, they can also be a pain in the ass to take care of. You should always keep insect specimens away from sunlight to avoid loss of colour. Good care and conservation of an insect collection can keep it around for years to come.

British & European Moths 80 Specimens

Preserved (or "pickled") specimens tend to be quite rare on ebay. Always avoid buying Taxidermy & Preserved specimens from foreign countries as most of it is illegal to import.

Preserved amel cornsnake in a jar

You can find many strange curiosities preserved in Lucite on ebay, most of it is legal to buy.

Comparative hearts in lucite

Whole skeletons are silly expensive and very fragile, but worth splashing out if you are serious about it and want to keep it forever.

Real toad skeleton

Real Human skulls are obviously, very, very expensive. They also creep me out (yes, even I get creeped out).

Dissected real Human Skull

You can sometimes find dried flowers, or fake flowers in little domes on ebay. This particular one is a sweet little brooch. 

dried flowers in dome brooch

I was going to share lots of other goodies with you all but to be honest, I want them for myself!