an ode to a bed...

The time has come to buy a new bed and I am really reluctant to do so! This bed was the first thing I bought with my wages from my first proper job, as I had always dreamed of owing a 'bedknobs and broomsticks' type iron bed. We could just replace the mattress, but what you can't see hidden behind the pillows, is where we had to saw the head bit in half so that we could fit it up the tight spiral staircase in our first house together, a tiny Cotswold cottage, that literally had one room, on top of the other, with a beautiful beamed bedroom tucked into the eaves. The bed now squeaks and bows so much that I'm sure it will collapse as it's just held together with a few bits of wooden doweling pushed into the hollow bars. 

It's not even that comfortable and after spending many long nights of sitting in bed in the small hours nursing a baby, having to get the pillows just right for that optimum position propped up between the bars. I am not really looking forward to doing that again and I don't think my back will take it either! 

I'm not sure why I'm so sentimental about a bed, or why I think it justifies a whole blog post? Can I blame pregnancy hormones? So today, I am going to order a very sensible divan bed, with large practical storage drawers in the base and a nice new firm mattress. Then all I need to do is find some big pillows and new bed linen so I can create a beautiful bedroom like those I have been pinning religiously over on Pinterest.

This bed will retire to the garage, as I'm not quite ready to say goodbye just yet! 

nesting...

With baby number three on the way, I am beginning to nest and attempt to get things done (mainly by writing long lists and giving the Mr. lots of instructions!)

We still need to buy a few things, it's amazing how prepared you are with baby number one, but by number three I have only just started to think about tiny clothes that need to be pulled out of the attic and a pushchair that needs to be found (hopefully not rusty) in the garage. 

I have found some gorgeous baby things this week that I'm lusting after...

This gorgeous quilt for Poet by Maggie and Sparrow oh how I wish I could quilt! 

A beautiful pregnancy pic that has me thinking about having some pics taken, if I do I'm going to ask my friend Penny of McKinley-Rogers who is the most amazing photographer. 

and this handmade West Country willow moses basket, sustainably made and woven locally using traditional weaving skills. 

alien invaders...

I always put bulbs in pots around the house at this time of year, it lifts those January blues away, don't you think? This pot has English bluebells in, much smaller and daintier than the more upright Spanish bluebells more often sold in garden centres. Buy the English bulbs for daffodils and bluebells if you have the choice as non-native varieties threaten our bluebell woodlands with cross pollination from 'alien invaders!'

this makes me very happy...

My photograph is the double page lead photo in an article in this months 'The Countryman' magazine. How amazing, I'm over the moon! You can see the original picture here on flickr the magazine isn't available online so you'll have to buy one to read the cover story by Simon King. 

crumpets and conversation...

Every year a migration happens, eight girls flock together for a retreat in a secret cottage deep in the Cotswold countryside. One flies in from California, another from just ten miles away, for a weekend filled with conversation and crumpets. 

I didn't think I would make it this year, what with all the blood pressure drama of last week and trying to rest. But living so near to the cottage I was able to make day visits and literally plonk myself from one sofa to another! 

Thank you Susannah, Jo, Sas, Meg, Lisa, Leonie and Penny, I can't wait until next year! 

Winter light...

I think I love instagram as much as film photography *sharp intake of breath* did I say that out loud? I thought it would be a passing phase, but I'm still smitten. 

p.s. thank you for your lovely comments and tweets on my last blog post... my blood pressure still hasn't improved after a weekend on medication, so tomorrow I am off to have acupuncture as it's meant to be effective and I'll try anything right now! 

scary bananas...

the bump is huge, the baby is now bigger than a banana, and cause of much amusement to the little man, whose favourite game is to play 'listen to the baby' by resting his head on my stomach! 

I've had a horribly emotional day as my blood pressure has continued to rise to scary heights and I have spent more time being monitored in hospital, literally sat in a chair, having a blood pressure check every half an hour! I have to let go of my hope to birth in a small midwife led hospital and accept that things are out of my control, which is horrible. Also I am now on medication to get the blood pressure down and already suffering the side effects I was warned about. It also means a lot more scans, checks and seeing a consultant in a large hospital rather than my local midwife.

This has really caught me off guard, having had two previous pregnancies with no problems at all and it's still relatively early as I'm not quite in the third trimester. What was even worse today, was listening (whilst pretending not to, in that hospital waiting room type of way) to the other women in the room being admitted to hospital with pre-eclampsia, having not only high blood pressure, but other symptoms too and faced with the possibility of being there for weeks. They were told things like they would be given steroid injections to develop the baby's lungs on, in preparation for the likelihood that they might be born early! It's put the fear into me let me tell you, I can't think of anything worse than being away from my family.

I still planned to work for ten weeks too, I have so much to do there and at home in preparation, but I can't worry or be stressed for fear it raises my blood pressure even more!