I know I have a brand new home in the country which I am delighted with... but I can still dream can't I? I have fallen in love with these Border Oak Homes since I first set eyes on them. They are full of character, old world charm and look so cosy and country cottage like too. Once we had our home built I said never again, there was so much organising and managing on it however if I won the lotto I want one of these!!! You really should check out their website, the finish of the homes are superb and as for the interiors, I just love them!!! So fingers crossed I win the lotto and then I will be contacting Border Oaks to come here to Ireland to build one of these perfect homes for me, overlooking the lake down the long lane. I even have my site picked! What are you dreaming of today???

{All Images from Border Oak Blog}

This is a long post, so perhaps grab a cuppa tea and take the time to read along with me. Here are a few photographs of homes that are similiar to the one myself and my boyfriend are building. Let me know what you think, I understand that they won't be to everyone's taste and I appreciate that. We went for a traditional Irish farmhouse style, storey and a half house. We felt that the typical dormer bungalows are somewhat out of keeping with our traditonal rural dwellings. I also decided not to go for a full two storey house as I felt it would dominate the skyline too much on our site and a lot of space goes to waste in the attic area. As our site is not very large we decided to attach the garage to the left hand side of the house, however it will look like an extra room on the house with two windows and the garge door will be to the rear. I don't like the dominating garage doors to the front facade of the building. We will also have a sun room to the right hand side of the house to make it look more symmetrical and make the most of the little sunshine we get here in Ireland. Here are a few houses which look very similiar to what ours should look like when complete.

This is quite similiar although we will have a stone porch with arch over the door and a single storey extension to each side.

This one is more like it than the last, although we will have a single storey extension to the right hand side also in the form of a sun room.  I am not that keen on the stone cladding in the image above. I am aware natural stone is expensive but I would rather use it than cladding, that is the reason I will have a natural stone porch and the rest of the house will be plastered.  

Again this house is similiar, however we will not have the garage door to the front elevation and the pitch will not be as high on the upstairs windows.

I hope you get an idea of what our home should look like now, I am aiming for a country cottage hall door in a green/blue colour with small pane of glass in the upper half. If you have any nice ideas, let me know!

My Goals for 2010
Remember a goal is a dream with a deadline!

No.1 Eat healthier so instead of biscuits with mugs of tea- replace with cream crackers, replace cake and sweets with fruit

{Seasoned Fork}

No.2 Keep positive, jot down positive thoughts and ideas in my notebook

{My own photo}

No.3 Complete my plant and bird identification booklets

{My own work}

No. 4 Study for my course

{My photo}

No.5 Keep in contact with my friends reguarly

{Poster print}

No.6 Continue with my craft projects- finish off any which are unfinished, keep practicing on my new sewing machine

{My own work}

No.7 Make more handmade projects

{HobbyCraft}

No.8 Buy some blank white cards to make greeting cards

{Confetti}

No.9 Continue taking photographs of my travels and my local area at home

{My own photo}

No.10 Spend more time outdoors

{A painting at home}

No. 11 Appreciate those I love

{Molla Space}

No. 12 Start a very big project (It's top secret though so I can't share with you all yet)

No. 13 Declutter my walk in wardrobe which I was meant to do ages ago and sort out all my clothes

{Paul Foreman Mind Map Inspiration}

No. 14 Start back with my To- Do Lists as they were very helpful

{boygirlparty}

No. 15 Keep applying for jobs and try and not get down about them

No. 16 Improve my cooking skills

{Neven Maguire}

No.17 Don't worry about little things as much

{Oxfam}

No.18 Grow vegetables

{Honest to Goodness Vegetable Garden}

No. 19 Organise my time better- i.e schedule for the week ahead

{MinModMax}

No. 20 And most importantly enjoy life :)

{Karen Tribett}

This is the roof light over my bed where I watch the clouds flutter by, the rain lash about the window pane and the stars shine in the night sky. I dream, imagine, think and get inspiration lying here on my bed. To ensure the birds won't go astray and fly my way I have attached the celtic design window sticker. Its like my window on life, my outlook on life as I think away about the unknown and whats gone before. I think of loved ones and those who have passed away, my life, my dreams, my future....