Mozart's Girl

The view from my window in February...

2012-02-06T16:42:00.000Z

These pictures were taken yesterday morning...after the first snow of the season...

it wasn't too deep...in fact, by the time I took these at around 8am it was already starting to thaw...

Paul & Alice went up into the hills, where it was very thick still, with the drifts that our little dog loves so much!

The church clock is still not mended, so the hands stand permanently at 12 o'clock...it shouldn't be too long now, I hope. The snow is almost all gone here already...in fact, it's raining this afternoon. But it was beautiful while it lasted. My favourite time was late on Saturday night. I looked out of the front window at about 11pm...

Magic! I believe that however old you are, you never lose that little thrill at the sight of fresh snowfall...even if the novelty is lost shortly afterwards, when real life has to go on!

But still....for a little while....there's nothing like it...

It's hard to believe that by the end of the week I'll be basking in the heat of Australia....!

Hope that you had a great weekend xx

A weekend by the sea...

2012-02-02T20:14:00.000Z

We like to go away somewhere around the time of our wedding anniversary...which is also Paul's birthday. Alice has to come too...or it wouldn't be a celebration, would it?! Last January we were in beautiful West Wittering, Sussex...with it's miles of sandy beach. This year was a bit more pebbly...but equally lovely. We chose Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast. I've been a few times before as my Mum is from that county and many holidays were spent near here when I was a child. We rented a tiny 1-bedroomed cottage almost on the beach so that we could just get up and get out there in the morning. But first...a spooky little video of part of our journey there!

If you live in the UK, or even know it quite well, you'll know the nightmare that is the M25! If not, then I should tell you that it's a notorious motorway that runs in a ring around the whole of London. We have been stuck for 3 hours on this road...going absolutely nowhere...and most people who've driven on it have a horror story of some kind - so you can see why this was such a bizarre experience! It was a bit like being in one of those movies where everyone else is dead & the main characters only slowly realise that something's wrong....!

So, a good start.

Aldeburgh beach is almost completely shingle, which didn't go down terribly well with Alice (hard on the paws!) She managed ok though...

This is her & Paul early on Saturday morning...ooh it was chilly! A good excuse for lots of stops for hot tea & toasted crumpets! Award winning fish & chips went down very well later on too!

Aldeburgh is very famous for being the home of the late composer Benjamin Britten and his partner, the singer Peter Pears. On the beach stands a (to me) gorgeous sculptural tribute to Britten by the renowned artist Maggie Hambling. I'm surprised that this artwork is so controversial...it's often vandalised & covered in graffiti and has aroused strong passions in many of the locals...

this is the view looking towards the sea....

and the other way...We thought it was beautiful!

Loved our stay. I really feel drawn to this part of Britain - perhaps it's in my genes?!

On the way home we took a detour to another place I remember well, Orford...Paul had never been...

Bleak day, but a wonderful East Anglian church...

Famous restaurant...all fish, freshly caught on the two boats they own...( we were there in the morning, so didn't eat!)

and we took a walk down to the working quay, where Paul bought his favourite freshly smoked kippers (& one for my Dad, who loves them too) from Pinney's Smokehouse

before coming back and taking a stroll in the grounds of what is left of Orford Castle. The village was completely deserted - like the M25, it felt like it was ours for the day! One of the joys of travelling out of season...

Thank you so much for your sweet thoughts and comments after my last post. My voice came back the next day, but the cough remains...it's taking ages to disappear! Still, I feel much better and ready to face the new month...which is set to get better & better for me. Next week, I'm off to spend the rest of February in the summery heat of Australia when I visit my beloved Esther and her children! Paul & Alice will be staying here in the cold...how I will miss them! But I'm SO excited too!! It's impossible to imagine on this minus temperature night that in a few days I will be warmer than I can dream of!

I'll share it all with you.

A quick hello from my sickbed!

2012-01-26T16:59:00.000Z

I hardly ever get ill...but I'm not too good at the moment and I resent it SO much! I've still been walking Alice (I'm not that bad...& she gets very energetic when she doesn't have a walk!)...but I've found that every step feels as though my legs are made from lead! I've done a little bit of work too, but thankfully this is a relatively 'light' week on the baking front...so I've been able to rest quite a lot, which is really all that I need - together with some paracetamol and plenty of fluids. I'll be back to normal tomorrow...but I made this little video for you yesterday evening...

As you can see, I'm being well looked after by my furry nurse...and Paul is being lovely too, bringing me tea & hot toast at regular intervals!

I'll be back very soon...sending much love, but no kisses this time - I don't want to transfer those germs!! xo

Traces of Spring...

2012-01-23T15:36:00.000Z

As you'll hear, I took this little video over a week ago...and the weather hasn't changed much since then. It's not warm, of course...but neither is it anything like recent Januarys have been. Last year, we'd already had a LOT of snow before Christmas, and while that was gone and didn't return....it wasn't as mild as has been so far in 2012.

I'm used to having the wonderful, heavy fragrance of these white hyacinths greet me when I come downstairs in the morning, of course...but it's still a shock to find the carpet of snowdrops under the laburnum in the churchyard this early...and these have been in full bloom since late December!

I found these wild primroses on a grassy bank on my walk with Alice today...

and this beautiful sunny face...never usually before February! But here it is...

We met some friends for a gorgeous frosty walk on Sunday...

I don't know if you can just make out the hot air balloon, hanging up there in the blue over the trees? I couldn't go up in one myself, but the view must have been truly glorious!

As we crossed from one field to another, we had to pass the little village church...the bellringers were just getting ready for the 'proper' peal...but I managed to catch a little of the warm-up session for you...

On mornings like this one, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else but here!

The Farmer's Market is tomorrow...I'm hoping that the weather will hold and there'll be plenty of customers. The forecast says it will be wet and windy - so cross your fingers for me?!

Have a wonderful week xoxo

War Horse....& the Meaning of Life

2012-01-13T17:18:00.000Z

When I know that a movie is going to affect me deeply, I have a special way of dealing with it. Unless I can watch it with Esther (which isn't often) I sneak off quite alone, without telling anyone where I'm going. I buy a ticket for the very first screening, and sit in my favourite seat (aisle, front row). I buy a coffee and nothing else. I take off my shoes and curl my legs up underneath me. And I watch it from the very beginning until the last credit has rolled from the screen. Then I hug it to me for as long as I can, until real life breaks the spell.

So it was this morning, when I went to the first showing of Steven Spielberg's War Horse. I don't usually write movie reviews...Esther does it so much better than me on her fabulous blog Half Sweet, Half Salty...and this won't be a review either. I've read some very disappointed critics on the subject of this film...and I'm sure that I will continue to do so. Personally, I never let a critic decide what I watch - I always like to make my own mind up because, in the end - to me - my opinion is the only one that counts after all!

So I can only tell you what it meant to me. And I knew from the moment I saw the trailer for this film that it was going to be one of 'those' movies. If you know me, or follow this blog, you'll know that history is one of my 'things'...and WW1 in particular. I'm currently researching and writing a novel set during that conflict so I know a lot about it...but it's a period that has affected me for as long as I can remember. I saw the stageplay, War Horse and loved it so much. When I heard that it was being made into a film, I was worried at first until I read that Spielberg would be directing. Because I knew that he would get it.And he does.

On the surface, it's a fairly simple tale of a boy & his horse. But it's so much more than that. It's about kindness and patience, courage and loyalty. And love. The triumph of love.

There's a scene, quite late on, where Joey (the horse) is quite alone in a torn and shattered landscape...except that there's a tank slowly and relentlessly lumbering towards him. Looking through the animal's eyes (as we are invited to do) I saw the almost laughable absurdity of humans. This huge hunk of metal, that was invented solely to kill & maim looked absolutely ridiculous. And yet so terrifying.

Anyone who has loved an animal cannot fail to be moved by this film, I don't think. What is it about horses? I'm fairly nervous around them in real life. But there's a primeval connection between them and us that makes them (along with dogs, perhaps) the most poignant of subjects. And this film is no exception...their strength and courage is perfectly contrasted with their utter vulnerability. The fate of Joey is solely in the hands of those who take ownership of him throughout the film. And he must just do the best he can.

Put all that together with the gorgeous lushness of the English countryside, the waste and tragedy of so many young men's lives, a sweeping and evocative score by the ever-brilliant John Williams and some fabulous performances (Jeremy Irvine & Emily Watson are stand-outs but all are wonderful) and you have, what is for me, a near perfect movie.

Some say that I look too deeply into things. It's a fairytale, after all...(adapted from a children's book by the amazing Michael Morpurgo) Perhaps that's true. All I can tell you is that I cried buckets and I still feel 'hungover' four hours after the credits rolled. And, like every wonderful movie that I've ever seen, a part of War Horse will stay with me forever.

Have a great weekend! xo

The view from my window in January...

2012-01-07T12:39:00.000Z

Happy New Year! I know that 2012 is almost a week old already....but it took me a while to decide on a new blogging project for the year to come. Last year, of course, was my garden. And while I'll still be showing you plenty there, I thought that it would be interesting to share another aspect of home life and how it changes through the months and seasons. Finally I settled on the view from our window...because it's a view that I love, looking right out into the churchyard...and I know that you'll love it too!

I'll try and take the pictures at the same time of day every month, too...to provide the best contrast. And so you will see what I see at 8am,....

looking East...which at this time of year means sunrise...

still plenty of green, but bare and skeletal trees. The limes that form the 'avenue' along the church wall were heavily pollarded at the end of November & so resemble gnarly totem poles right now...but I know that before long the new growth will be softening their stark outline and the birds will be nesting in the boxes that are on the side of this particular tree...

Ok - so that's January! And from the first picture you can see that this morning is bright, clear & sunny...and so mild too. Paul has just inspected & treated the bees for varroa mite with the help of a friend from the local beekeepers association. I'm pleased to report that they are happy & healthy and working hard in their cosy hive...it's quite a responsibilty to have all these thousands of living creatures to see safely through the year, and I'm so glad that all is well.

There's no doubt that, despite the brightness of today, this first month of the year can be a difficult one to get through in many ways. It's so long, for a start. And with all the excitement, colour & glitz of Christmas over, the New Year's resolutions made (& broken...) and the working days back to normal...Spring and all it brings can seem a very long way off. I'm taking advantage of the good weather and taking long walks every morning with Alice to get our dose of Vitamin D, and to lift the spirits and start to shift the couple of pounds I can feel have crept on over the festivities!

Early last week, I was so thrilled to get to the brow of the hill to find a gorgeous rainbow decorating the view...

and it looks as though it ended right over our town! Well, that's what I like to think anyway....in January, you just have to think positively!

I hope that the New Year brings you everything you wish for...I am so looking forward to sharing it all with you! xo

On the last day of the year...my garden in December

2011-12-31T13:14:00.000Z

Last year at this time, the garden had been covered in a thick layer of snow and ice for over a week....how different this December has been!

Gorgeous Christmas roses...I love hellebores!

But I didn't expect to have real roses left, as well...I'll be pruning in a few weeks!

Green leaves and life everywhere...euphorbia..

strawberry plants!

Even the hydrangeas are beginning to show their new green growth...

and the evergreens are not the only colour in the garden - but appreciated all the same!

Strange but glorious to have this reprieve from the bite of Winter...which I have no doubt will arrive soon.

The happiest of New Years to you...2012 will be full of excitement and magic, I'm sure. Enjoy the celebrations, as we will. See you next year...and thanks so much for reading! xo

Christmas Past...

2011-12-29T23:04:00.000Z

All was calm, all was bright...mostly! This was our Christmas table at the farm, in one of my favourite rooms (it's also one of the oldest...1600's)...we arrived on Christmas Eve, laden with food & presents and added our parcels to the pile that already threatened to engulf the tree..

In the morning, I crept into the room that my youngest sister & her husband were sharing with my youngest nephew, Will - he's 3 1/2 which is the perfect age for magic! He was also too young to wake up very early...a real bonus as we all got to sleep in until 8am! It was so wonderful to watch him opening his stocking...and sneaking a crafty chocolate coin or two which he insisted were his breakfast!
The day progressed in a scramble of wrapping paper & odd food eaten at inappropriate times...I was in charge of cooking the dinner and had half an hour of pure peace when everyone went out to walk various dogs and I was left at home with a roaring fire...

& pans of spiced red cabbage and butternut squash barley risotto gently bubbling away. We never have a turkey at Christmas (or, indeed, ever!) so nothing was tied up in the oven for hours. This year it was a rib of beef...just an hour of roasting, alongside the potatoes & parsnips, a few steamed brussels sprouts and all was ready...Mum lit the candles...

and we all sat down to eat (after pulling the crackers and wearing the obligatory paper crowns of course...!) I can't remember my cracker joke, but my favourite joke of the holiday was this one:Q- What cheese can you hide a horse in? A: Mascarpone! You really have to say it out loud. I loved it!
We stayed up far too late eating far too many chocolates, dates & candied fruits while watching the Downton Abbey Christmas special (very lovely & satisfying is all I will say in case you haven't seen it yet) and eventually went to bed very full but very happy.

Boxing Day was another late-ish start...Paul had brough locally smoked kippers for everyone's breakfast (except mine - I had porridge!) which taste delicious but make the house smell of fish for hours. Dad's way around this is to cook them on the barbecue - genius! Luckily it was a mild day...and so, with William's help, the barbecue was lit and the kippers grilled...

and it was the perfect meal.

Paul & Alice and I left in the late afternoon after watching 'The Sound of Music' for the millionth time...and it was all over again. Or almost.

For me, the thing to do at Christmas is nothing out of the ordinary. I love to spend those few days in a loving bubble of family, tradition and comfort. My favourite memories are always very simple things...the endless rounds of tea-making, the frenzied unwrapping and cries of 'oh thanks so much!!' and, above all, the shared tasks...the peeling, the chopping, the tasting, the washing up...

surrounded by some of those that I love most in the world.

Who could ask for more than that?

I hope that you had a magical time too...and the New Year beckons, with all it's excitement and potential...but I'm going to hold on to the last few days of 2011 for as long as I can!

With love xo

O Christmas Tree....& other stories

2011-12-20T19:05:00.000Z

This is a Christmas Bilby! One of the many tree decorations that I've been sent over the years from Australia. I always admire those trees that are decorated elegantly & stylishly...little white lights, bows, co-ordinating baubles...but I could never, ever have one myself! I love the chaos and colour of an 'everything but the kitchen sink tree'!

A tropical fish, chosen by my nephew Alfie hangs alongside...

the bright little New England cardinal from dear friend Susan!
Christmas trees seem to be a little like sunsets - photographs never quite do justice to their beauty! But I'll try...

I picked both of these up on trips to Salzburg...the little wax St Nicholas was found over 22 years ago, on my first journey there...

I have to mix coloured lights in with the white...and tiny mirrors & crystals help to spread the beauty around...

Alice always seems to make an appearance (courtesy of Cath Kidston!)

So there's our little, messy, happy tree! I'm also thrilled that I managed to make my own door wreath this year...

I dried my own orange slices - there are cranberries there too, and ivy from our garden...

and another present from Sue & Joe, a mobile from the Boston Art Museum, hangs over the stairwell. I'll light candles and add some holly & flowers around the house towards the end of the week. But it's a start!

A few days ago, I went with a friend to help to choose her wedding dress. Of course, it's all a big surprise so I can't post any details. But it was the first time I've ever been in a real wedding dress shop! Both my own dresses were bought 'off the peg', so I never had a reason to. I must admit, that there's something magical about these places! I defy any woman not to feel a little bit fairytale when surrounded by hundreds of gorgeous princess dresses in tulle, satin & net. I was desperate to try one on...it reminded me of the episode of 'Friends' when the three girls sit around their apartment dressed as brides because it makes them feel so beautiful! I didn't actually try one on...but I was a little bit starry eyed all the same!

I hope your run up to Christmas is going well...I am quite snowed under. Looking forward to the calm and peace of Christmas Eve, when the madness will end and the magic can begin! Only 5 more sleeps....! xoxo

Memories of Martha's....& What It's Like

2011-12-09T17:12:00.002Z

As many of you will know, we recently went away for a week to celebrate our first proper American Thanksgiving with our darling friends Susan & Joe in their gorgeous home on the little island of Martha's Vineyard. Most of you will already know and love much about Susan Branch, who is an amazing author and artist. If you don't already follow her blog, then I'd urge you to hurry straight there (don't pass GO, don't collect £200....!) Just click HERE for the magic to unfold (but finish reading first, please...you'll be gone a LONG time when you start reading her posts!)

There isn't much that I can add to what she's already written about our time there...so I thought I'd just treat you to some images of our visit....in no particular order and fairly random...but all radiating, I hope, the peaceful, fun, glowing, food-filled, hilarious, restful, joyful days we spent in the company of these generous and wonderful people...

It was very hard to leave, and I'm sure that you can see why! We are already planning our next meeting - the four of us may have been separated at birth, we think!

So, the next few weeks will be filled with more joy and celebration...I'm so looking forwad to the holidays and to posting about our version of them! Lots of happiness to come, but first a little poignancy. I was so touched by your comments on my last post, about the anniversary of my beloved Mozart's death. He and his music mean so much to me...are a huge part of my life...and I am happy that you listened to and enjoyed the piece so much, whether it was new to you or not. I decided that music is a brilliant way to convey my emotions to you, when they are particularly powerful. So in that spirit, here is more!

You will all know what my sister Esther means to me...and it's so very hard to be apart always but particularly at this time of year when everyone is making plans to be together over the Christmas holiday. It's her birthday this weekend too...so especially difficult. This piece of music - from a singer I adore - sums it all up for me (it's also very beautiful in it's own right)...

I'm sure that it will resonate with every one of you in some way, and I really hope you enjoy it.

I'm dedicating it to Esther this weekend....with all my love, always...

220 years...

2011-12-05T16:33:00.001Z

Always a melancholy day for me....my beloved Wolfie died in the early hours of 5th December, when the night is at it's darkest....aged only 35 and far, far too young to leave the world. As I grow older, he grows ever younger and the reality of what we lost becomes harder to bear.

This is my very favourite version of the 'Laudate Dominum' from his Vesperae Solennes di Confessore, sung here by the amazing Dame Kiri. Try listening to it in a very quiet room, with your eyes closed. To me, it is the very essence of spirituality, calm and beauty. It's just one of the reasons (there are over 600 others) that I love him so very much and it's my gift to you today....

"When the angels sing for God, they sing Bach. But when they sing for themselves, they sing Mozart....and God eavesdrops"

Caught out by the Season - My Garden in November...

2011-12-01T14:15:00.001Z

It's December! Already....! How is that possible? And I realised yesterday that I hadn't yet posted my November garden photographs. So here they are - they were taken on November 30th, so they technically qualify (I hope!)

Everything is really settling down for Winter now (although it's still unseasonably warm. This time last year we'd already had lots of snow!)

This is my hosta dormitory! I tidy the pots and then cosy them up underneath the 'bird tree' where they are sheltered from the worst of the frost...

And talking of birds - they are eating so much at the moment. I'm filling up the feeders daily...

I love to watch the different finches, the bluetits & robins. Last week we were on Martha's Vineyard...hungry birds there too! And wonderful to see cardinals (which don't exist here....) the beautiful crimson boys and the fawn girls-less showy but still sporting a gorgeously coloured crest. I miss them!

I must get out there and tidy up the day lily bed!

The winter jasmine is beginning to bloom along the old garden wall...and can you just see the black ivy berries?

There are still remnants of roses...I'll wait until January to prune them properly, but I've cut the bushes down a little in the meantime to avoid 'wind rock' which can destabilise them...

The bees are hibernating too...although on warmer days they are still very active. We are feeding them with heavy sugar syrup to help them make it through the months to come. As I was trimming the roses, I put my ear to the hive - I could hear the sweet, low hum of thousands of bees drowsing inside...

The strawberry plants look quite lovely still....yellow & green and blushed with pink...

I've recently planted about 70 bulbs for Spring - miniature daffodils and crocuses. I love to think of them all snuggled down below this rich, dark earth. A warming reminder that the New Year will bring colour and beauty with it...

but brighten things up until then, there are miniature hardy cyclamen here too...

It all looks a bit shabby around the edges - but still plenty of interest there I think. The olive tree is full of new leaves...and the herbs are still going strong. The frosts will take their toll, but I know the garden will survive and recover it's beauty soon.

Happy December - it's going to be a fabulous month! xo

This day...

2011-11-13T16:14:00.000Z

I've come to realise that I was a strange child in many ways. One was my absolute fascination with war memorials and gravestones - I would spend hours wandering through churchyards, looking at the inscriptions and wondering. And I could never pass a war memorial without stopping and reading the names. I still can't - in fact I make a point of seeking them out wherever we visit. There are thought to be only 41 Thankful Villages in England & Wales. This is the name given to those places that lost no men in the carnage of WW1. Thankful indeed. The truth is that 1 in 6 families in the UK lost a loved one in the Great War. For some, the toll was far higher. Julia Souls of Great Rissington in Gloucestershire lost five sons...and there are many other terrible stories of unimaginable tragedy like that.Beloved brothers, husbands, fiances, friends....gone forever.

It was as a result of our nation's need to mourn the appalling losses suffered between 1914-1918 that public war memorials were erected in almost every city, town, village and hamlet in the land. A place to visit and see a beloved name inscribed to honour their sacrifice, and their brief time in this world. Most servicemen in that war were buried where they fell, and so there was an overwhelming need for something close to home to mark their passing.There is a huge campaign in the UK at the moment to try and raise awareness of the plight of many of these historic monuments. Due to the high prices paid for scrap metals, many of the bronze and brass plaques and sculptures (and I've read that it could be 100 a week) are being prised off, stolen and sold, to be melted down and lost forever. To those who desecrate these memorials...that came about as a result of so much loss and grief and distress...and those who buy the metal (undoubtably realising where it's come from) I say shame on you.

They are everywhere...in the halls of most older schools, at roadsides, in theatres and at long-established factories...

This is one of 8 enormous plaques at London's Waterloo station to mark the employees of the rail company who died in WW1. Hundreds and thousands of people rush past on their way to the trains every day...I hope that sometimes they stop for a minute to look....

This one, on the memorial that stands on the hill where I walk Alice most days, is quite unusual. It commemorates men lost in the Boer War in South Africa between 1899-1902. Public memorials were extremely rare before the Great War when, due to conscription, the country was united in grief.

These stand in a Garden of Remembrance - something else that became common after 1918. A quiet, flower-filled place of calm and solace for the bereaved - and those who came afterwards.

We have two in our country town...this one stands in the churchyard. It is in quite bad repair now, it's stone eroded by time and the weather (the fate of many memorials) The other is in our Market Square, within a little Garden of Remembrance...with brass plaques containing the names of all from our parish who died in both World Wars. This morning, after the Remembrance Parade and the two minutes silence, poppy wreaths and little wooden crosses were laid there - as they are every year...

The little crosses often have handwritten messages to family members lost in conflict - current or long, long past. A testament to the need, the longing that people feel to remember, to think about and honour the sacrifice made by so very many young men and women in their desire to serve their country.

Whenever I pass one, I try and take a moment to read the inscriptions....the James' and Alberts and Cyrils and Walters and Freds...the brothers, the sons, the husbands the lovers. They are just names to us now. But once they were people - young men who laughed and sang and shouted and loved life and felt fear and pain and made mistakes just like all of us today.

We owe it to them, to all of them, to remember. xoxo

The many faces of Autumn...

2011-11-10T22:37:00.000Z

Oh my goodness...this time of year is SO beautiful! And it changes a little everyday....this was yesterday's walk...our area is particularly known for it's beech trees and this is why we love them so...

the woods were a cathedral of gold and red...leaves spiralling down all around us...beauty, beauty, beauty. We didn't want to leave (Alice because of the squirrel-chasing opportunities, it must be said!)

A big change from earlier this week, on the same walk...

when I could hear people whistling to their dogs all around me, but could only see the blurred outlines of objects that are usually so familiar...
It's been unseasonally warm, which probably accounts for the fog - I quite like it, as long as it's only sometimes!
I spotted lots of funghi on our walks this week...but I'm not confident at all about identifying it, so I'm just content to admire from afar...

One thing that I can recognise and take home is the wild juniper berries...the strong smell of gin permeates the hill as I pick...but it's spiky work!

The clear, crisp, bright days are the best for me. Alice loves them too...very alert to all the woodland sounds...she stands in the classic fox terrier position with a front & a back leg off the ground, ready to pounce (sadly, that's as far as she goes - all style & no substance, our girl!)

and then it's home to coffee for me, breakfast for her...and up to my writing room in the eaves where this is my current view...

the holly tree is full of bright berries, and if you look very carefully you may just see the hundreds of screaming starlings who flock to crowd onto the crenellations of the church tower every afternoon just now...they seem to spend a long time, quarrelling and jostling to get a prime spot...and then, suddenly, I look up - and they're gone in an instant. Swirling through the sky in a perfect formation of black specks, giving me a last show until tomorrow!
How I love this season!
I hope that your week is going beautifully too! xox

Ghoulies & ghosties...& warm Autumn days!

2011-10-31T15:38:00.001Z

Of course, we live in the PERFECT setting for Hallowe'en....

even though I've never felt remotely scared living with a graveyard as my front garden...I can see why some might be SPOOKED by it....

and there was a certain eerieness the other morning in the mist....
But, as you probably know, the UK doesn't really do Hallowe'en....there's the odd decorated house....

( I love the dead fruitbat hanging from the upstairs windowbox!) but they're few and far between (although I know it's getting more and more popular here) We have a really long way to go to make it the amazingly decorated ghoulfest that is the US celebration!
I have a little dedicated Hallowe'en front window...with the lovely cards I've been sent, and some other creepy bits (the glow-in-the-dark skeletons will go up in a while, and I'll light the candles after dark....)

I've had lots of little faces peeking in at this window over the weekend! they especially love the glittery ghost

(thanks Morwenna!! X) But even though I always have a bowl of candy ready for the young trick-or-treaters, we never get more than a couple visiting...perhaps because they find walking round a graveyard just too scary?! Paul always laughs at me, as I get so disappointed!! Still...if they come tonight - I'll be ready!

I just had to share this wonderful walk with you too - and bring some sunshine to this spooky post! Friday & Saturday were like a golden, mellow, sunny dream. Alice & I never wanted to leave the hills...

the gorse was vibrant yellow...

and the berries so red against the blue of the sky...

cobwebs lay like beaded gossamer on the bushes...

and the sun shone through the trees like summer...

I made you a little video too (no wind crackles in this one - there was barely a breath of wind)

I love my shadow at the end...looks a little eerie, doesn't it? Which is where we came in.....have a Happy Hallowe'en, everyone...

BOO! xx

Birthdays & quieter days...

2011-10-27T23:23:00.000+01:00

So, my birthday dawned clear and sunny....a beautiful, blue-skied day. Very different to the weather when I was actually born...apparently, I entered the world in the middle of a thunderstorm (perhaps that's why I've always loved them?)
Paul brought me hot tea, a bundle of cards....and a scruffy little dog to curl up beside me while I opened them! I finished work mid-morning and caught the train to London. After a few stops, my parents plus youngest sister Lucy & her son William joined me and we had a lovely journey - so much more exciting seen through the eyes of a curious 3 year old boy! He 'helped' me to open the cards & presents they gave me...including one he'd made, completely covered in blue glitter!

A taxi took us to lunch at one of my very favourite restaurants, Nopi , and we had a fabulous meal. I can't quite believe how much we ate...even Dad, who usually has the appetite of a small bird! It was wonderful to all be together - William was beautifully behaved and especially loved it when I took him downstairs to watch the chefs busy at work in the open-plan kitchen...all the stirring, chopping, dressing plates...his eyes were like saucers!

he got a little bit tired towards the end and hugged his special blue bear - but soon perked up when the desserts arrived, including mine which had a lit candle so he could sing 'Happy Birthday dear Ray-Ray' loudly!

my Mum & Dad sang too...!
Afterwards, they all went back to catch the train home...and I mooched about, window shopping, until it was time to meet Paul at the London Coliseum, home of English National Opera. My present from my parents was a ticket to see my beloved's creation 'The Marriage of Figaro'. I first saw it live at the Vienna State Opera house on my 21st birthday...over half my life ago! And I've seen it many times since, in lots of different settings with a variety of amazing singers....but one thing, of course, remains the same. The sublime music never changes, and never fails to transport me to a level of perfect, perfect happiness. We had one of the arias at our wedding (as it was a civil ceremony, nothing religious was allowed) and at that point in the opera last week, Paul took my hand and squeezed it so hard! He is a romantic at heart (thank goodness!) It was utter bliss, and I couldn't have wished for a better present - perhaps Wolfie had a hand in the schedule too, as there are only 10 performances of this production...and one of them happened to be on the right night! We caught an earlier train than expected (I had the music in my head all evening...) and I finished the day by opening the rest of the cards and gifts that had arrived in that morning's post, after I'd left for the train. I was overwhelmed by the kind messages and presents I received...so touching, it made me feel really special...and filled both front windowsills!

The rest of the week passed as normal. Paul went away for a few days on a 'boys trip' to Spain and France to watch the Rugby World Cup final (on a big screen at Bayonne Rugby Club!) and to eat & drink a lot! I had plenty to do...and it's quite lovely to have some selfish time alone now & then (I wouldn't like it too often, though!) My car broke down, so I was a little stranded (although I got round it with the help of Mum, who lent me hers for some urgent work I needed to do over the weekend at my kitchen unit) It meant that I couldn't take Alice on our usual walk to the hills - I had to find somewhere that was reachable on foot from home. This is quite hard in our town, if you want to avoid the roads...but I suddenly thought of the perfect place, so I clipped on her lead and we headed for...

the canal! This is the Grand Union Canal, and the towpath is a very quiet and peaceful place...

except for the ducks, moorhens and swans....Alice doesn't quite know what to make of them and gives them a wide berth!

The canal basin is home to many narrowboats - some visiting and some on fixed moorings. Lots of them are beautifully painted in the colourful old style...I love to see the smoke come through the little tin chimneys and wonder who lives behind the crocheted cotton lace at the windows (or are they portholes??)

The locks are wonderful too...it must have been a sight when they still used horses to tow the boats. I saw one, once...long ago. Time was a different thing then...people thought nothing of spending half a day to get somewhere, because they had no choice. It may be easier, but I'm not sure we are always better off with our rushing haste to get there now! Standing in this peaceful place, hearing the swish of the willow leaves...I was happy to slow down for a while - it seemed like the only thing to do!

We walked for a long way....and when we got home...

Alice needed a good rest (alongside her new toy bunny - a lovely present sent by her schnauzer friends, Fanny & Betti!)
I just had a cup of tea!

I hope that you're having a wonderful week...do you have plans for Hallowe'en?

October walks and water...

2011-10-18T21:17:00.000+01:00

I thought that you might like to see how the world looked on our walk this morning...the changing landscape, colours, sounds and temperatures are what get Alice and I out there every day (actually, she'd be out there whatever...but those things certainly help me!)

It's been cold and windy but clear and bright these past few days...perfect October weather. I feel energised by the cooler air, and Alice loves to run into the wind with her ears flapping and good smells in her nose...

The weather has changed so much from earlier in the month, when it was weirdly hot. Paul and a good friend of ours, Brian, have recently bought a (very) small yacht...

Paul was brought up by the sea, in Devon....and has been sailing since he was very young. He passed his navigation exams years ago, used to have a share in another boat and loves to be on the ocean...so when this sweet craft came up for sale, they couldn't resist!
A couple of weekends ago on a Sunday when temperatures were over 80f, we all went down to move the boat from it's old home in a marina to it's new mooring in a little harbour in West Sussex. Well, the boys actually moved her...Alice and Brian's wife and I watched for a bit...talked a lot...walked around the town...waited and waited...ate ice cream...and sat looking at the gorgeous views...

this part of the harbour is known as the Millpond - it lived up to it's name that day!
Oh...and one of us went swimming...

well it was very hot - especially if you are wearing a fur coat...!

Thanks so much for all the lovely, touching and supportive comments on my last post...it's good to know that you get it. I somehow knew you would! xo

Tomorrow is my birthday...and I have a delightful day planned - I'll share it with you soon.

My October garden...& a cosy afternoon

2011-10-09T12:00:00.000+01:00

I haven't posted in a while...first, as you know, I had the wonderful visit of my sister & her children to enjoy. And then, a week ago, they left again. I always need a little time to recover afterwards...this will sound dramatic, but it's a little mourning period for me. If you don't have people you love so much, living so far away...it's a little hard to explain. All I can say is that there's an emptiness, an ache...and when you are apart, however good and full life is, in the back of your mind and in your heart there's always something missing. It gets to the stage where it's almost easier not to see them, because I start to miss them before they've even arrived....and it gets harder every time. But there's nothing to be done - it's a fact of our lives - and I count myself so lucky to have the closeness and love that transcends the miles. C'est la vie!

And now it's October - can you believe it? My most favourite of months, and already a week old...
It's a difficult time in the garden, I find. Messy and fading....too early to really clear up, too late for most of the beauty....but there are still pockets of gorgeous colour here and there...

and there's something so beautiful about the plants setting seed ....getting ready for their hibernation but making plans for Spring too!

The last of the mini-harvest is gathered...

the odd strawberry still ripening (I'm leaving them for the birds, though...although on some sunny days I can't resist pinching one!)
and I am so proud of my tomatoes this year...all grown totally outdoors! I made this bowlful into a fragrant soup yesterday...

There's no denying though that winter is on the way....the greens are fading into browns and the leaves are dying off, ready for the big sleep...

Some afternoons are warm enough, still, to sit outside and enjoy the last golden moments. But not today. I have some work to do...and Paul has to go to the office. But later, I will be sitting here...

in my very favourite chair....and trying to catch up on the huge pile of magazines that have accumulated over the summer (I buy a new one and it goes on the stack!)

with some beloved Mozart in the background...as always....and this little companion somewhere near...

tired after her long run with her 'dad' this morning. The perfect, cosy, Sunday afternoon...in my world, anyway!
It's good to be back - I've missed you! Have a great week xoxo

Waiting for Esther....Part Two

2011-09-20T09:06:00.000+01:00

This is what I've been waiting months to see....& it finally came true last Friday! Life has been a whirlwind since then...trying to fill every moment with memories that will have to last a long time until we're together again...

But I'll begin where I left off!

The view from the windows doesn't need changing one bit....but you saw the 'Before' pictures...the attic room in disarray....a lot of this was due to all the books that we have, many of which I'd forgotten about as they were all piled up or in boxes. So we asked the carpenter who made our built in bookshelf downstairs to work his magic again...

and we now have these in both alcoves of the room...MUCH better! The other problem was various pictures and photographs, in frames, that just rested up against things. I got the hammer out and...

voila! The hand & footprints of my niece & older nephews....a wonderful painting my niece created aged 6...and (bottom right) a photo of the cake my master baker grandfather made for his own wedding in 1934 (4 tiers!)...special records of precious lives...
So, with a bit of juggling and putting boxes back in the loft space, the floor was clear. Next was a decent bedside table and lamp...

I bought the books for Esther...she loves history and stories that bring events to life...
All that was left was to vacuum, dust and then fit beds for 4 into the room...a tight squeeze but...

with the help of two foldaways and a double sofabed...there's a cosy & comfortable place for my darlings to sleep!
We drove back from the airport to the farm at 6.30am...the small country lanes were still quiet....but Granny & Grandpa were up and dressed and eagerly awaiting our arrival! The kettle went on and a huge breakfast of toasted crumpets, croissants, milk and bananas (which are hideously expensive in Australia - they grow their own, and bad weather has seriously sffected the crops, driving prices way up. The children couldn't believe that here they are one of the cheapest fruit....and you can guess the rest!!) We couldn't believe how wonderfully these jet-lagged children behaved...sunny & still full of energy. They fell in love straight away with William, their 3 year old cousin, who was only 8 weeks old the last time they met. He was to be seen holding hands with one or the other of them all weekend and chatting away happily!

A trip to London on Sunday...the Natural History Museum...DINOSAURS!...a picnic on the steps outside later...riding on trains...and in black cabs...horseriding...a family football game (boys against girls - 4-4, so no arguments!)...Esther & I to the movies (blissful)...Uncle Paul taking Kip (7 1/2) to his first soccer game...and that's just the first 3 days!

Yesterday, Esther brought them all to our house...they will stay here for a few days early next week. Alice coped brilliantly with this sudden influx of noisy small people...the children have grown up with dogs so know how to treat her properly!
They rushed up to the room they remembered from their last visit...and suddenly, the makeover was complete...

Scout started drawing...

Kip started reading...

and Alfie started bouncing! Alice looked on...bemused....

And the adventures continue! See you soon and I hope you're having a wonderful week xoxo

Waiting for Esther....Part One

2011-09-12T16:45:00.000+01:00

As those of you who read this blog regularly will know....my darling sister Esther and her 3 children are arriving early on Friday morning, for a short visit from their home in Eastern Australia. To say I'm excited is a complete understatement!
They will mostly be staying at my parents' farm...it's much bigger than here with plenty of room for the children to let off steam...(my niece is 9, my nephews 7 1/2 & 4) and I can stay there too along with our youngest sister, Lucy & her little boy. All of us together again (the first time in over 3 years) Sheer bliss.
But halfway through their 2 weeks, the 4 of them will stay here for a few nights....it's so convenient to be able to walk to pllavces & not use the car...the park is here....the Roald Dahl museum...the Coffee Tree....the churchyard... the cinema (very important!) and our beautiful new theatre too. It'll be so much fun! In anticipation, we have been transforming our (one and only) spare room at the top of the house.

Today, I'm going to show you the 'before' pictures. As Esther reads the blog, and I want her to have a surprise, I'll wait until they're on the way before I post the 'after's!!

Our attic room is a beautiful one...overlooking the churchyard and the treetops! It's where I do my writing, too. But a little while ago we had the roofspace above properly insulated - which meant that everything that had been stored up there had to come down into the room. Cue chaos. I didn't really want to show these pictures, as I was so ashamed! But I feel better now that it's so different....so here goes....

Ok, that's enough of that....

Back soon!! happy Monday xo

Whispers from the Past...& my September Garden

2011-09-06T19:34:00.000+01:00

If you read this blog regularly, you may have picked up on the fact that I have a passion for history....
I think this is because I feel that the way we live now is influenced & entwined so much with the way people lived then. I love to imagine how life must have been for the ordinary person in different times...and searching for little clues and insights into those times is something I try to do whenever I can.
The electricity company has recently been doing some maintenance in the little cobbled street I walk down every day...they've dug a large hole...and as I passed it I suddenly began to see fragments of glass and patterned china everywhere! Nothing whole - I hoped so much for an intact bottle! - but I just couldn't leave these gorgeous pieces where they lay, to be covered up and lost for another hundred years...

I think, from the shape, that this was from a large cup or mug...

and this was probably a plate but I just adore it's bright blue pattern...still so clear after all this time! It's been raining today...so I'll be back in the morning to see what other treasures have been uncovered!

After a grey August and then a hot & sunny start to September, we seem to have settled into an early Autumn this week. High winds and heavy showers have tumbled my poor garden into the new season before it's quite ready I think...

the hydrangeas are fading fast...although I think they are especially beautiful when they are like this - living watercolours....

the ivy hedge is glossy & gorgeous...alive with wasps, hoverflies and, of course, our bees!

'The Girls' as I call them are still incredibly busy...we inspected the hive on Sunday evening. Paul wears the outfit & does the hard work while I sit on the bench and write down his comments (it's quite important to keep a record each time you inspect, to note changes in the colony and how much honey is being produced) We think there will be around 20lbs to harvest this year...we're erring on the side of caution as we want to leave plenty for The Girls to survive on over the winter. Paul is going to inspect next time with a member of our local Beekeeper's Association, who will check the hive and advise him. He's still a novice and there is just so much to learn - absolutely fascinating.

My nasturtiums have trailed everywhere...making a verdant carpet studded with jewel-like blooms of deepest orange, red and yellow...

the colours of Autumn...like the blueberry bushes...

but there are still pockets of summer colour around - these primula, for example...

Of course, it's also harvest time. I am quite pathetically proud of my sad little sweetcorn...the first I have ever grown and, sadly, a testament to how right my Dad was when he said they would need more sunlight than is possible in our garden...

but I still love them!! Much more successful are the tomatoes...

and best of all the runner beans...we've eaten many already, lightly cooked minutes after picking, and absolutely delicious. They'll be giving us lots more wonderful meals in the next weeks - and I'll probably give some away too...

Slowly but surely, the season is turning..... there's a chill in the air at night and first thing in the morning now, and the twilight descends much earlier. But I don't mind a bit - all is as it should be. And Esther arrives next week, with my niece and older nephews!! But that's another story....

Happy September and I wish you a wonderful week xoxo

The edge of the world...

2011-08-31T18:02:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post today...so busy with work, but I wanted to show you this little video I took with Alice earlier. I hope you enjoy it (for some reason, I sound like the Queen...:-) I don't THINK I do normally....?

Happy Wednesday xoxo

Back to my roots...

2011-08-24T13:05:00.001+01:00

Some of my happiest childhood memories involve visits to the East Anglian county of Suffolk. My mum was born & brought up in a market town on the Suffolk/Norfolk border, and my grandfather (like my great-grandfather Walter & my great-great grandfather Robert) owned the bakery/restaurant in the marketplace. By the time we were born, Grandma & Grandad had moved to a wondeful former Captain's house on the coast...we girls loved visiting so much, even though it was a long journey cross country in those days (and we were usually horribly carsick!)

Even though my grandparents are both long gone, the county still draws me back...so beautiful and, in contrast to where we live, so unspoilt and empty. Last weekend, we had a break there with my parents - and Alice, of course! We rented an ancient cottage in the medieval heritage town of Lavenham...

Alice wasted no time in making herself at home! We were blessed in that the weather was absolutely perfect from the moment we arrived...and so we could enjoy everything to the full. On Saturday morning, Paul & I took our little dog for a wonderful country walk in the fields overlooking the town...

listening to skylarks and picking crabapples, damsons and wild cobnuts as we went...

Then it was time to wander the streets of this historic place....jewels were around every corner...

ancient beams held every roof up...somehow!

the gardens were so gorgeous & humming with bees in the morning sun...

Pink is a very traditional colour for Suffolk cottages...

I think that if you own a house here you must feel very conscious of the fact that you are looking after it for a short time...and preserving the history for the years and generations to come. I feel this a little with our own home, but the fact that many of these places were 600 years old was awe inspiring. I think that this was one of my favourite places...

I loved the huge and abundant hanging baskets, the intricacy of the herringbone bricks and these fellows who had obviously been guarding the front door for more years than they could remember...

When I walked up our sloping street (Shilling Street) to the market square to buy fresh bread for breakfast early in the morning, I happened upon this secret garden behind the little door that had been left open...

Now if they hadn't wanted me to peek in, they shouldn't have enticed me like this should they?? I couldn't resist..

Isn't it darling? I heard them getting ready to come out for breakfast...so I beat a hasty retreat! My cousin Mike lives in nearby Bury St Edmunds - another historic place - and we visited his fabulous new restaurant (also a nightclub & live music venue) The LP on Saturday lunchtime where we joined Mike & his sister Emma for a gorgeous meal ...salads, breads, smoked salmon and amazing pizzas cooked in the restaurant's huge wood-fired oven. Dad adores his niece & nephew and it was so great to see him bloom in their company (we love them too!)
Afterwards, we all took a walk in the nearby Abbey Gardens...the site of an ancient ruined Abbey built in the 11th century (or thereabouts!) and, again, wonderful gardens and the church of St Mary...

Perfect afternoon. Much of East Anglia has links with the USA...not least because so many brave young American servicemen were stationed here during WW2, and inevitably lost their lives on bombing raids when their planes took off from the many airfields and bases around here bound for the occupied territories of Europe. There is much commemoration of their sacrifice and still so many traces of their time here, helping to defend our nation from the evil of nazism...

there are stones like this everywhere...and in Lavenham, a special and now famous reminder. The huge and ancient hotel in the centre of town, The Swan , was somewhere that the servicemen loved to spend their free hours. The main bar there is known as The Airmen's Bar because preserved on one wall are the signatures and messages left by the boys who drank there - their hometowns, their units and usually the date too. Young men so far from home and facing death every day. I love to look at the names...wonder and think about them. Did Chuck survive the war and get back to Arkansas? I'll never know. But I do know that they are remembered with gratitude, alway,s and honoured in this place and countless others.

Elsewhere in the bar, and left by those same airmen are cap badges and other memorabilia...

and many veterans and their families still make the journey back here to remember that time and the friends left behind...they add their signatures to the wall (I couldn't photograph it because it was just too dark!) The ghosts from 70 years ago still laugh & drink here, I'm certain of that...
As we meandered our way back home on Sunday, we stopped in the village of Clare...my Grandad lived here for a few years as a young boy after his mother died of tuberculosis at just 23 during WW1...and it's another gem of Suffolk beauty.
We took Alice for a walk and found the old railway station...disused for over 40 years...but still preserved and now used as a visitor centre...

the grassy path is where the traintracks once lay...and you can clearly see the old platform on the left as well as the station itself. A wonderful walk and the history of the place with it's trails and traces of the past - OUR past- was a fitting end to our nostalgic weekend. I love Suffolk - I'm sure that you can see why!

Hoping that your week is a great one so far. Thank you so much, too, for all the comments on my previous post. The farm is heaven...and I'm so happy to share a little of it with you.

xoxo

Walking up the glade...

2011-08-15T19:54:00.000+01:00

The weekend has gone again...but we had a wonderful one. I hope you did too? On Saturday, Paul & I drove over to buy a few bits & pieces to finish the makeover of our attic room. My beloved sister, Esther, & her children are arriving a month today for a visit...I can barely contain the excitement which bubbles in my stomach - I feel like I used to the night before my birthday as a child! They are mainly staying at the farm with Mum & Dad but will be spending a few nights here too...and they'll be in the attic room so it has to be perfect! I have a post waiting until it's finished...I took 'before' pictures...so as soon as I have the 'afters' you can see it!
I spent yesterday afternoon at the farm, as Paul had to work & Alice was exhausted after her long morning run. My youngest sister, Lucy & her partner David were there too, along with my youngest nephew Will. William is only 3, but he is absolutely golf mad and frighteningly good at it! It doesn't interest me at all usually...but it's amazing to watch this little blond boy spending (literally) hours whacking golf balls around. He hits them perfectly every time and knows all the right names for the various clubs! Lucy can't bear golf either, so all the enthusiasm is coming from him...and he has plenty of it!
It was a beautiful afternoon, so I left them all to it and took a walk in the mellow golden sunshine - I thought you might like to come along?

I left my tea mug on the fence post so I wouldn't forget it...

In the 1930's, the farm was owned by a famous gardener called Percy Cane...and he planted what we now call The Glade. It's really a wide, grassy promenade bordering the Home Paddock....edged with many beautiful species of tree...maples, azaleas, rhododendrons, magnolias, lilacs...

Certain areas are purposely left wild...Dad is a great naturalist and this is a beautiful way to encourage the wildlife to share the space. It's a riot of bluebells here in Spring...but as you can see right now it's mainly grasses and the heady pink of the Rose Bay Willowherb...which is rapidly turning into what we call Old Man's Beard (you can see why!) All along the edges of the glade are little burial spots....here lie all the cats & dogs that have died in the 30 years we've owned the farm...even the ones who lived with us girls after we left home. They all come back to rest here, in this calm & peaceful shady place...I love to think of them as I walk...

Most lived long and happy lives...Sasha, Ruby, Winnie, my darling Poppet, sweet Sadie, feisty little Widget, Papagena....but some went far too soon...Buster, Ben, Teazel, Myrtle, Suki and Esther's beloved Staffy Funky...all lie under the trees where they used to love to play & run. I can almost see their little ghosts around me...

Near the top are Dad's hosta beds....huge and magnificent. He doesn't have the trouble with slugs & snails that I do here in town...due, we think, to the hedghogs & badgers that live in these woods...

At the very end of the glade is a pond, built after we moved here and now taken over by huge bullrushes...it's a wonderful place to stop and take a few breaths and admire the scenery...

Although it's only August, the hedgerows and trees are full of fruit & nuts already...

rowan berries...

hazelnuts...

walnuts...

acorns..

apples..and my favourites..

the glorious purple blue damsons.

Lucy & I managed to prise William away from his clubs for a while and we went off on a picking spree for my preserves this week...

we came back after only a short time with quite an impressive haul!

I've already extracted the juice from the damsons to make jelly...and I plan to make Victoria Plum Jam and Apple Thyme Jelly too later.

We are so lucky to have grown up in such a place, and to be able to share it now with our children. I can't wait until Esther's three are running around on the wide lawns and laughing with their little cousin...not long now!

Have a happy week xo

After the rain....my August garden

2011-08-12T14:55:00.001+01:00

We have had so much rain lately...much needed...and the plants, bees, birds and trees have been so happy! There's definitely the first touch of Autumn in the air now. My family subscribes to the old farming seasons rather than the modern ones...this means that August, September & October are Autumn, November, December & January are Winter and so on. It definitely makes sense to me. By this time of year, everything is calming down...the big push of growth & production is over and we settle into the time of ripening and harvest. I love the garden right now.....

Sweetcorn is almost ready..

the scarlet runner beans and thyme are running riot in the vegetable plot...

blueberries are still there to be picked by the handful & stirred into my morning yoghurt...and after a rain shower everything is especially glorious I think...

the hydrangea is so vivid...

and new to the garden this year is the echinacea which the bees adore..

they are still so busy and producing much honey...I can't wait until we harvest it!

I took these two pictures at twilight...it's such a wonderful time of the evening I think...can you just see Alice watching me from the deck?

She was rather hot and bothered last week in all the heat...it made her very lethargic

so I took her to see Tanya, her lovely groomer...and here she is now, a little shorn but so much happier!

We've just returned from a delivery...and a walk was fitted in too. It's overcast today, but warm and a little humid. I'm just finishing some baking for tomorrow morning's orders before I hop on a train to London to meet some friends for dinner. You will have heard, no doubt, about the awful riots & looting that took place in parts of the capital (and other cities) earlier this week. It was a terrible time...one that made me ashamed, angry and so sad. But happily things seem to have returned to normal, more or less. Let's hope it was a moment of madness that won't be repeated. 'Our' part of London, thankfully,wasn't affected...and I'm looking forward to a fabulous evening.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with good things.

xoxo

A gorgeous mornings walk...

2011-08-04T13:00:00.001+01:00

Two little videos in this short but beautiful post. I took them on Tuesday, which was a sultry, hot day....Alice has been clipped since then, so this is the last record of her as a woolly little lamb! We walk this woodland path on our way to the monument on top of the hill...

and this is the view when we get there...although it doesn't always look like this! You are supposed to be able to see across 7 counties from this spot...I wouldn't be at all surprised!

I love it in every season and all weathers. You can probably understand why.

Yesterday was even hotter...and today is very warm but rainy, which is wonderful for the flowers and plants - I can almost see them reaching up to embrace the droplets. The bees, too, are very busy. Paul has had to add another 'super' (the name for the box-like structure which holds the frames the honey is made on) as they are producing so much!

This is summer's swansong...and that makes the days even more precious. Enjoy! xo

Summer days, drifting away....

2011-08-02T13:35:00.000+01:00

Oh, it was a beautiful weekend! I love London in Summer.... buzzing with life and happiness.
We walked, on Saturday, from Marylebone to Chelsea...through Hyde Park, over the Serpentine Bridge, past the Albert Memorial (the greatest hymn to personal grief that I know) and the Royal Albert Hall...down Exhibition Road past the Science Museum & the Victoria and Albert (one of my very favourites...)
It was hot and sunny so we walked on the shady side of each street, so as not to overheat....but it was wonderful watching everyone enjoying the parks and green spaces so much. We popped into an antique bookshop on the King's Road...so expensive, but as I was leafing through a 1930's encyclopedia of dogbreeds (of course, I headed straight for the Fox Terrier section!!) I found this picture:

Anyone who follows me on Twitter will know that this is the exact picture I use for my profile!! It was so amazing to find it, and to find out who the lady is...a young 1930's starlet called Miss Jean Mayhew, and the picture was obviously a publicity stunt for her as she's posing with that year's champion fox terrier...not her dog at all! I was tempted to buy the book just for the picture...but Paul talked some sense into me!

On Sunday, after an early long walk with Alice in Regent's Park (we walk a lot in the city!) before the day warmed up too much, I went to meet another of my blogfriends for the first time. I knew it was her the minute I saw her, despite never seeing a photograph...there was just a connection, somehow!
Helen has the beautiful site Like it or Lump it (one of my favourite blog titles ever!) and makes fantastic cakes in her spare time for friends and family. Her Chanel bag cake is one of my recent favourites!
We decided to take a wander around the Sunday morning Farmer's Market....

We loved the brightly coloured carrots and the little vivid green round courgettes...

but most stunning were the sheaves of amazingly scented lavender, piled high on the wooden tables and attracting every honeybee within range...

and the huge and gorgeous happy sunflowers...only £2 for 5 stems!! How could we resist?

I bought 10 flowers...so heavy, but so worth it....and Helen bought 5 as well as a big bunch of the heady lavender (she is dying to make lavender shortbread - I'll look forward to the post!!)

A wonderful meeting and morning. So many new friends through BlogWorld & Twitter...I feel so fortunate, it's like a whole new part of life has opened up to me suddenly!

Paul & I packed our bags after a leisurely lunch, and made our way back to the station through the hazy, golden streets. A fabulous relaxing couple of days. Perfect.

We arrived home rather sleepy after all that walking....some of us more tired than most...

I hope it's a good week where you are...very hot here today...Alice's bath of cool water is waiting for her on the deck. Have a wonderful day xo

A short walk in the country...

2011-07-22T10:00:00.000+01:00

Every Thursday, I deliver desserts to a local pub...it's located in a small, picturesque village a few miles from our town, full of thatched cottages and beautiful gardens. I usually take Alice with me, and after the delivery we go for a walk in the fields behind the village church. Yesterday, it was a little drizzly...but I think it was all the more beautiful for that. I stood at the edge of the meadow above...dark clouds rolled overhead...a different kind of very English summer beauty....

the hedgerows are already heavy with apples...

Alice loved it...she felt invigorated by the cooler air, I think. At one point she was leaping and bounding over the long grass like a (very) small deer!

But then it was time to stop for a snack...

I love our Thursday walks together...there's never anyone else around and it feels a million miles away from the cars and noise and busyness of the real world.

Just a little melancholy story to finish. A week ago, I left the house on my normal delivery run to The Coffee Tree at 7.30am to find a little crowd of people in the churchyard by the wall. There is a huge, very ancient, twisted beech tree there...one of my very favourite things. In the night, one of the massive branches had broken off and crashed to the ground...

Such a terrible sight. There is disputed ownership of the churchyard trees - some think they belong to the church, others to the local council. This means that they aren't really maintained properly...as appears to be the case here. The branch isn't diseased...it seems to have been the sheer weight of the wood that has caused it to pull away from the main trunk. It now lies there...slowly dying and drying up...because again no one is taking responsibility for it's removal. A sad day for the churchyard and the ancient, silent beauty.

The only good thing is that the tree is so very huge that it hasn't (amazingly) been diminished by the loss. And the little children and baby squirrels are adoring the low branches to play amongst...

Have a wonderful weekend...the chill and rain are due to leave us and we're set for warmth and sunshine again! We'll make the most of it....enjoy! xoxo

The word is abundance....my July garden...

2011-07-18T14:50:00.000+01:00

Not many words this month....not many are needed. There is so much beauty....colour....life...

See what I mean?

the scarlet runner beans are almost ready...

the corn is starting to form cobs (so exciting - I've never grown it before!)

blueberries ripening...

Paul's favourite day lily explodes into a new flower every morning...

everything is bending & bowing under the weight of flowers & fruit...

Pots need watering most days...but today it's rained heavily. Luckily I took these pictures earlier...and this one last week when it was so hot...

Alice loves a bath on the deck...she puts both her front legs in and her whole head goes under...it's such a funny sight!
Of course...there's one very important difference in the garden this month - the bee hive! I hope you can see this little film I took. The bees are so happy and active. Paul and our friend Helen inspected the hive last Thursday and there's so much honey already. We estimate that we'll be able to harvest at least 40lbs by the end of August! It's wonderful to watch them busily zooming back and forth - so intent on their mission to bring lots of pollen back to their queen. I have become quite addicted already...popping down to take a look and hear the gentle hum whenever I can. Once the initial 'what's that?' excitement was over, Alice seemed to sense that this was something to be left alone....we're so looking forward to keeping watch and taking care of the swarm through the seasons...

Hoping that July is beautiful for you, so far...can you believe that we're deep in Summer already?

xoxo

A Wondrous Weekend...

2011-07-14T14:16:00.000+01:00

Last weekend was filled with the most fun & joy I could possibly experience without Paul being there! In fact, I'm only now coming back to earth..

You may remember that a year ago, I took a week long residential food writing course at Totleigh Barton in Devon, run by the Arvon Foundation . The course changed my life in many ways...it gave me the confidence to realise that I could write, and it introduced me to some wonderful new friends who all love food, cooking and writing about it as much as I do! The course was such a special experience that one of us suggested having a reunion weekend...and so, after much juggling of dates and busy schedules and e-mails back & forth, almost everyone who attended the original course met back in Devon last Friday for a weekend of food, talk,food, ping pong, food... & much laughter!

I booked the most beautiful place to stay...Silverton Park Stables, which is owned by the Landmark Trust...an amazing organisation which buys historic buildings (often in terrible, delapidated states) & restores them to their true beauty before renting them out so that everyone can enjoy their magic. I've long wanted to stay in one...and it was every bit as wonderful as I'd hoped.

After stacking the car with as much food, drink and kitchenalia as I could cram in, I headed down the motorway...through torrential rain & the odd hold-up...before arriving at Tiverton Parkway station to pick the lovely Judy up (she'd flown in from Dublin that morning...the efforts that everyone made to be there is testament to how much the reunion meant to all of us!) before winding down the narrow, flower-edged Devon lanes to Silverton.

Barbara was there before us, so we three had the delight of exploring the building first...like unwrapping a huge present with extra surprises in between every layer of wrapping paper!

It really had been the huge stable block to a long-gone stately home...so there was an equine theme to much of the decoration...and it's now been transformed into a beautiful, cosy, luxurious place for 14 people to stay in absolute comfort...

The living areas were so gorgeous that I was a little overcome for a while....

Bedrooms were a mixture of singles, twins, doubles...I shared the huge and elegant room above with my lovely friend Emma...

the stables are set in parkland...laden apple & pear trees were the first things we saw after arriving...and the views from all the rooms were tranquil and green...shutters were fitted to most of the windows (we couldn't help imagining what a fabulous place to spend Christmas or another wintry break...)

I loved the Cecil Aldin coaching pictures in our bathroom...he is one of my favourite artists, especially his wonderful drawings of dogs...

The 3 men on the trip shared this converted tackroom...with so many original features...just lovely!

As we were all obsessive foodies, cooking and eating was a major activity...and the kitchen was very important. Luckily, it was just as perfect as the rest of the house! I loved the view from the window...washing up was a pleasure!

Mealtimes were very special...Holly's birthday was on Friday, so we had a huge chocolate cake and champagne to toast her...

and Huxley, the 8 month old very cute Sprolly, kept us all entertained by luring us to chase him around the courtyard after our shoes, which he'd 'borrowed'! We really didn't have any planned activities...the weekend was all about being together and relaxing...but if you'd like to read more about the food, you can find lots more on my other blog, Baking Brownies for Mozart .
On Sunday, the farmer made hay in the meadow outside our bedroom window...

which sent the scent of mown grass and flowers wafting through the huge open windows...
An idyllic few days...so hard to say our goodbyes as we all went back to our busy lives...

I stripped the beautiful brass bed on Monday morning...

and felt quite sad to leave although it was good to see Paul & Alice. We all had such a good time that we're already planning next year's reunion reunion!

I will remember those few golden days always...filled with sunshine, food, wine, laughter and friendship. Just a few of my very favourite things...

xoxo

Two Men of Influence...

2011-07-05T16:41:00.000+01:00

Last Thursday I fulfilled a long-held ambition and took a trip to the home of David Austin and his wonderful rose empire in the Midlands....it lived up to all expectations! Above you see the Alhambra Garden...one of several that were designed to showcase the absolute magnificence and fragrance of the wonderful roses developed and grown by this far-sighted man. His ambition was to return to the old English heavily-scented blowsy heavy-headed traditional flowers from the neat & tidy standards and buttoned up bushes favoured in the 1950's, 60's & 70's...he's succeeded!

It was a beautiful but not-too hot day....peacocks strutted everywhere and I took a peek at the Austin's magnificent farmhouse...

the new William & Catherine rose was on display...a beautiful creamy white...

It was so lovely to be able to see the different types in situ...as they should be seen (& smelt!) Huge swathes and banks of rambling, tumbling beauty. It made me wish that our garden was ten times the size so I could fit more of these delights in. There really isn't much room left! But I think I've identified a couple of spots for two more....

As part of the afternoon, I had a wonderful cream tea in a marquee on the lawns...served on rose patterned china

with a vase of yellow beauties (The Pilgrim, a sensational climber) in the centre of the table..

A beautiful way to spend an afternoon, if you love gardens as I do. I came home clutching the latest catalogue...dreaming and planning!

Our county was for many years the home of celebrated author Roald Dahl. I even met him once! When I was about 10, Esther & I took part in a village fancy dress competition. Our Mum made our costumes using lots of crepe paper and ingenuity! I was a milkmaid and my sister a daisy...and to our great surprise,(and luckily for our relationship) we won joint first prize! The great Dahl was the judge and presented us with a signed copy of his book Fantastic Mr Fox...which we still have....

There is a children's gallery dedicated to his creations in my town and on most mornings I hear the chatter of schoolchildren walking in 'crocodile' formation through the churchyard on their excited way to visit!

Last Saturday, the town held the annual Roald Dahl Festival....happily the day was a beautiful one as the children so look forward to it, and everyone goes to so much trouble...

The parade starts from the churchyard...so we have lots of excited children getting into fantastic costumes from early morning, eager to be off!

and at 11am, a procession of BFGs, Matildas,Giant Peaches, Charlies and Georges make their way into town accompanied by stiltwalkers & many other amazing characters and creatures.

Dahl died about 20 years ago now...his grave is a huge draw to visitors, who leave chocolate bars on it in tribute to the creator of The Chocolate Factory....and his books continue to give huge pleasure to each new generation of children and encourage them to read.

July has begun...I can hardly believe that we are more than halfway through the year already! I hope that your week has started well...it's raining softly as I write and the cooling air is filled with birdsong and the smell of wet grass from the freshly mown churchyard...it's a little piece of bliss xo

Secret Gardens 2011

2011-06-20T12:54:00.001+01:00

Yesterday dawned bright & clear...not too warm, but the perfect day for our Secret Gardens event! 18 gardens around the Old Town opened ...and we raised over £1000 in total to be divided between 2 local charities (they change each year).

Everything was ready, really...as you know, I adopt a 'little & often' approach to the gardening, which in such a small space keeps it under control. So we only had to do a few last minute cosmetic touches. Paul scrubbed the deck, while I went around checking that Alice hadn't left any - ahem - little surprises in the undergrowth!

This is the view from the back of the house...isn't the church clocktower wonderful? You can just see Paul scrubbing that deck...& Alice reclining on the bench (supervising..)

And the garden was all ready...

the space above is one we have recently cleared for Paul's exciting new hobby...in a week or so's time, there will be a beehive in this spot! He has taken many courses (ongoing, because you never stop learning about bees) and a few weeks ago we bought the hive, complete with tenants, and all the equipment. The hive is, at present, in a village a few miles away...he went to inspect it on Saturday and was thrilled to find a new queen in residence, with plenty of eggs and bee grubs and even some honey already! They are almost ready to be moved...so this is a sight I shall be seeing a lot of in days and years to come...

my own personal astronaut...sorry...beekeeper!
Anyway, back to the garden!
I decorated the entrance passageway with some flags designed by the very wonderful Susan Branch , which are so apt for this occasion..

Our next door neighbours (both sides) were open as well, so there was plenty to see along our side of the square! This is the view everyone saw as they approached our gate...

and then the first visitors arrived - about 2.15 - and kept arriving all afternoon!

quite a strange feeling to have so many people we don't know (plus lots we DO) 'invading'! But it's great fun...we are both around to answer questions...lots of these, mainly about the mirrors we have on the back wall! I was asked many times how often I have to clean them...my answer was 'once a year, the day before we open for Secret Gardens!!' This raised a big laugh!
Where was Alice you might wonder? Well, with all the different people in and out, plus the gate being open, it really isn't safe for her to be loose...also a bit distressing for her. So, with the house locked up (and blinds/curtains drawn too for safety) we made a feature of her...

She was quite safe inside, but proved a huge hit...especially with visiting children! She must have felt a bit bewildered...but it was much better this way.
The stream of visitors tailed off at around 5.30pm, and we could close the gates and relax. One set of neighbours invited us for wonderful peach champagne cocktails...and then another neighbour, who is also one of our best friends, was having a barbecue. So we walked around there and had a wonderful, relaxing evening of food, wine and laughter before collapsing into bed at 10pm! A wonderful day.

I hope you can see the video I posted... the first time I have tried it, so if it works there will be more!

I hope you had a fantastic weekend...one last thing before I go....I was walking to The Coffee Tree this morning, when I saw this sweet sight. It is Paul's car roof by the way...it is made of cloth, so must have been a wonderfully warm spot, like a hammock for the dear kitty!

Happy day to you xoxo

June in the Garden....

2011-06-13T12:47:00.000+01:00

On Sunday, weather permitting, we open our garden to the public as part of the Secret Gardens event which raises money for local charities...yesterday it rained ALL day...and it was cold! So I'm taking every spare minute this week to deadhead, weed, sweep and generally make sure that it's all fit to be seen! 18 gardens around the Old Town are opening this year...we had a rest last Summer, which gave us a chance to go & see everyone else's wonders...and gave people a chance to miss us a little (always a good plan...)

Alice will stay in the house for that afternoon...but this week she's 'helping' me, of course...

I fear the beautiful blue of the ceanothus and the lupins will have faded and almost gone by Sunday...

but there's plenty of colour still to keep it interesting! We may have the beehive in situ by then too...I'm growing lots of blue flowers as they are among the favourites of honeybees...

the clematis is almost over the back wall...it's a late-flowering one, but is early as almost everything is this year due to the warm Spring we had...

I hope we have sunshine to show off the vivid colours of the geraniums, roses, hydrangeas (which are just emerging) and the sweet little 'Banana Split' nasturtiums..
Lots of edible plants coming along too...

runner beans...

corn...

blueberries and strawberries ripening as the sun gains strength...

I hope there will be some flowers on the tangle of sweetpeas that my dear friend, Sandy, sent me...

I'll be sitting in this chair on the day, ready to greet the visitors and answer any questions they may have about the garden and plants (that's the bit I really enjoy!)
As I was pottering this morning, this little chap landed to bask awhile in the warm sunshine..

and Alice was entranced...

I had to supervise carefully until he finally took flight again!

This is one of the best months for the garden, I think...everything is reaching it's peak...fragrance and colour are at their height, before the long days start to drain their energy and they begin to set seed and turn blowsy...
I'll take some pictures on Sunday to share with you...I wish you could all come and visit too!

Enjoy all that the week has to offer...xo

Perfect picture....

2011-06-06T09:23:00.000+01:00

Last week was a difficult one for us all again as my Dad's health continues to cause concern. He went to hospital after another scare - thankfully, he was home again quickly and his medication is being adjusted to hopefully give him more peace of mind and comfort.

In the middle of all the stress and worry, my youngest sister took this wonderful photograph of Dad and my youngest nephew while they were out on a walk in the woods. I wanted to share it with you...it touched me so much.

Spend some time - real time - with those you love this week. I've been guilty so many times of taking it for granted that those dearest to me will always be around when I am less busy....I'm trying to change. Nothing, in the end, is more important.

Cool and rainy today - the garden is singing! I'll be posting my June garden very shortly...

Have a great day xoxo

Summer Flowers & Sweet Visitors

2011-05-31T14:06:00.000+01:00

You know how quite small things can make you feel disproportionately happy all of a sudden? I'm sure it's not just me that feels that way...and it's usually nature (or Mozart!) that does it. The swallows and swifts who have now returned from their African winter and wheel overhead, screaming joyously as they flicker and swoop....the first blooming of the crimson peony I planted 2 years ago...

the beauty of the little robins egg I found, sadly cold and abandoned under the euphorbia...

I've moved it under the day lily in our big, iron urn...I know it's purpose has gone, but it looks so pretty..

The first flowers, so heavily scented and lush, from my rose bushes (the darker one is Gertrude Jekyll...I don't know the name of the other one, but it's gorgeous too)

we have now had a few days of rain, and the garden is just bursting into early summer glory...I'll post my June garden soon...but here's a peek, taken late last week...

On Sunday, I had the pleasure of meeting one of my blog followers (and one whose blog I follow) for the first time! It was wonderful to welcome Guillaume, whose blog Vraie Fiction I have enjoyed for a long time, and his sweet wife for tea and scones! Quite a surreal experience, because we knew much about each other already...but had never before exchanged a word or heard each other's voice! You can read about the encounter from his side on his blog ( a lovely tribute,I was very touched!) but for me it was a lovely experience and I hope to meet more friends like this through the years!

And then, this morning, walking back from The Coffee Tree, my heart leapt as I spotted something unusual out of the corner of my eye in the churchyard. I couldn't believe it at first, but it was this little fellow...

a gorgeous hedgehog! I don't think that I've ever seen a real, healthy wild one...they are usually sick or squashed on the road when you see them this close. I wanted to make sure that this one was safe from harm before I went inside. I took this photo and also a small video of him, for posterity...and then drew back to watch him. His little nose was snuffing the air as he bumbled along...his eyes weren't too good as they are usually nocturnal foragers and I knew he should be asleep! Sure enough, he found a cosy, sheltered spot under the corner of the gravestone you see him near. I watched for a few minutes after he disappeared to make sure that he was no longer visible to possible predators...and then I returned to the house, with a huge smile on my face! Beautiful flowers and unexpected visitors...the week has begun well! I hope that you had a lovely weekend - a holiday for so many of us - and that your week will be full of magical surprises too...they are everywhere if you look!

xoxo

More from The Lakes..

2011-05-24T16:37:00.000+01:00

This was my lunch last Tuesday...well, this and the best twice-cooked cheese souffle I've ever tasted! We always try and have a few special meals while we're away...and this was one of our favourite places last year, so we decided to revisit!

Th Drunken Duck Inn at Barngates near Ambleside...high in the hills.. usuallywith stunning views over the town below although last week it was too misty..so this is the stunning view inside the inn!.

See the dried hops hanging from the beams?

Luckily, most of the rest of the trip was drier...so we were able to take advantage of the amazing countryside...

We stopped for a picnic beside Yew Tree Tarn (above) and Alice went for her first proper swim! She loves water...but has never done more than paddle before. This time, we heard a surprised yelp as her paws came off the ground and she headed out in the fresh water! When I called her, she executed a perfect turn and swam slowly back before rushing out of the tarn & shaking her wet fur all over our sandwiches!

As well as Beatrix, the Lake District is famous for being the home of William Wordsworth. The home he shared first with his sister Dorothy & later with his wife Mary and their children is Dove Cottage, on the outskirts of Grasmere. We didn't go in as it was SO busy, but I took some pictures of the outside..and garden...

In Grasmere itself is the ancient church where he and his family are now buried..

a beautiful and peaceful resting place!

Another of our very favourite walks is around a small lake called Rydal Water...about 6 miles...perfect for a fine morning..

Wordworth also lived at Rydal when Dove Cottage grew too small for his expanding family..

The garden here was so beautiful too...the house is called Rydal Mount.
Part of this walk is along what was known as the Coffin Route. As there was no church at some of the smaller hamlets, they would carry the coffins along the path so that they could be buried properly in Grasmere churchyard. Although there were flat stones all along the route to lay the burden down and rest...

the distance they travelled was around 5 miles, over quite steep and rocky terrain. As we walked, it made me really think about how easy our lives are now in so many ways. Imagine anyone doing this now?

White Moss Tarn is man made and was originally used probably for washing fleeces before market. If you know Wordsworth's poem 'The Leech Gatherer' (which I studied at High School!)...then this is the place that the poet encountered his subject! It's very beautiful and peaceful...full of birds and yellow irises.

We had such a wonderful time in Cumbria and look forward to going back soon....I'll leave you with some gorgeous pictures taken at Coniston, of the fell they call The Old Man of Coniston (a popular hill to hike!) and a last look at serene Lake Windermere too...

I hope you're having a wonderful week so far...I'm just back from my day on the Farmer's Market, so it's time for a coffee and a cuddle with Alice...xo

What Beatrix saw...

2011-05-20T20:13:00.000+01:00

For the past few days, we've been having a break in the wonderful Lake District, in Cumbria. You may remember that we visited there last year too...my first introduction to what is some of the most incredibly breathtaking countryside I've ever seen...

We rented a little dog-friendly cottage in Windermere village again...the perfect base for exploring the Southern lakes region. The weather wasn't as wonderful as last year - the North West is rainy country, which is part of what keeps it so green and lush - and we weren't there for as long. But we made the most of it and the sunny days we DID have. I'll show you more in my next post...but for this first one, I wanted to share the blissful experience of Hill Top - which was Beatrix Potter's home before she married, and which she kept to receive guests and write her timeless books in later years...

I didn't take pictures in the house itself - this is forbidden, and I wanted to respect that. Besides...you may want to visit yourself one day! All I can say about the interior is that if you love Beatrix, it will be just as you imagine. A jewelled, burnished treasure of a place...with secrets and special corners everywhere. There is no electricity (this was her choice) and how I would love to see it at night...glowing with candlelight and magic. Everything in the house belonged to her...except some of the curtains & rugs, which have been perfectly replaced. She had a true artist's eye for things of beauty...antiques, wondeful paintings (many by her younger brother, Bertram, who seems to have been almost talented as she was) Charm and love flow through the heavy old doors and envelop you as you rest on the wide, ancient window seats and peer through the 17th century glass at the hills and gardens below. Because the entry tickets are timed, the little cottage is never too full...and yesterday I found myself alone in her bedroom for long moments. Carved four poster bed, muted ancient patchwork quilt, original William Morris wallpaper and bed hangings wonderfully embroidered by the lady herself. I sat, and breathed, and tried to remember everything before I was disturbed and the spell was broken...

The garden mirrors the house in it's charm & carefully considered beauty. As you walk up the long slate path from the road towards the house, the first thing you notice is the birdsong, the fragrance of flowers...and then the vivid colours and the gentle flock of Herdwick sheep in the little meadow that runs alongside the garden. Nearing the cottage, mellow woodsmoke from the log fire that burns all day in the range in the hallway is there too...but enough, enough. Let me show you...

the view across the valley (from the front gate)...

at the gate, towards the house...

first sight of the sheep...

a better view...

Nearly at the house now...

the kitchen garden...

was this the inspiration for Mr McGregor's garden, I wondered...
and then, at last...

there it is!

I found a wonderful 18thC jug on the mantelpiece of her bedroom fireplace. Primrose yellow and full bellied...it had handpainted flowers and, in the centre, a little poem inscribed. So beautiful, so Beatrix & so Hill Top...I felt tears fill my eyes - and I had to share it, so found the little notebook & pen I always carry and wrote it down. I will leave it with you until next time...have a wonderful evening xoxo

Let the wealthy and great
Roll in splendor and state,
I envy them not I declare it:
I eat my own lamb, my own chickens and ham
I shear my own fleece and I wear it.
I have lawns, I have bowers
I have fruits, I have flowers
The lark is my morning alarmer.
So you jolly boys now
Here's God bless the plough
Long life and success to the farmer!

My May Garden....& Giveaway Result!

2011-05-09T20:07:00.001+01:00

As you can see...we have beautiful weather here today and a certain someone is enjoying the sunshine very much! We'd just come back from our walk when I took this, so she was feeling lovely & mellow...!

The garden is now starting to 'fill out' & look really gorgeous at last...I am having to keep on top of the weeds, especially as we had quite heavy and much needed rainfall yesterday...

Paul's favourite hostas are in their glory. We used to be plagued by snails and slugs eating their way through the leaves of these...but I refuse to use slug pellets in case Alice or the birds ingest some...so they take their chances and as they get more mature, they don't seem to be affected. Keeping them potted helps...as does keeping them away from the hedges or anywhere that snails might lurk...

the late-flowering clematis will be a while yet...but it's creeping beautifully up the old wall...in front you can see the hollyhock, which has blood-red flowers...soon.

The roses are almost out..

the wild geraniums ARE out...

so are the columbines..

the herb garden is running away now...catmint (in the foreground) will soon have it's mauve flowers on show...

the day lilies won't be long...more buds every day...and the beautiful white allium are just beginning to pop too..

My lovely friend Sandy sent me some sweetpea seeds.....which are doing very well now too! Can't wait to see the fragile fragrant flowers all over the tangled foliage...

New to the garden this year are some irises....3 different kinds...the first one just flowered...

and I can't stop looking at it! This time next month, it will almost be time to open our garden to the public!! More on that in June....but for now, the results of my Great British Giveaway!! Lots of names this time...

all carefully written out and put into a favourite and seasonal Emma Bridgewater bluebell mug...

and then I picked one out....and the name was....

SHANNON!! Well done to you sweetie...if you'll e-mail your postal address to me (MozartsGirl1756@gmail.com) I'll get the parcel off to you asap. Thanks so much to all who entered...I would love you all to win, every time! But I loved reading your comments anyway...and there will be another giveaway before long! I can't resist them!!

Happy week to you xoxox

An unusual pastime....

2011-05-04T16:17:00.000+01:00

Thanks so much to everyone for your good wishes and thoughts for my Dad following my last post...thankfully, he was able to come home fairly soon and is feeling much better. We're all so relieved and counting our blessings...and the weather has turned lovely & warm again as if in celebration!

Last night I went to my Life Drawing class....I'm the model! I know that a few of my Twitter friends were a little taken aback to find this out a few weeks ago...so I thought I'd post & tell you a little more about it.

I've been sitting for the class for 14 years....and I really love it....but at first, I must admit, I was terrified! I got involved through a friend who worked in the same bar...we were chatting over a staff dinner and she told me about her art class and how irritated she got because they couldn't find life models, so she was having to pose instead of draw. I said (in one of those casual smalltalk ways...) that I've never understood people having a problem with taking their clothes off for art - as long as it IS art!! After all, many of the greatest artistic creations are based on the naked human form. I did believe all this - but it was just a conversation, or so I thought! A few days later, the lady who owns the studio rang me and said that my friend had told her that I might be interested in modelling for the Life Class!! I was so shocked...but I really couldn't think of good excuse and agreed to do it.

That first evening was horrendously embarrassing (for me!) I later found out that they had no idea that I'd never modelled before - & I assumed that they knew - so it was all very matter of fact. I turned up, with my robe and slippers and was shown to a little cubicle screened with a curtain. You can see it in the centre of the picture above. As I removed my clothes, I tried to quell my rising panic. I stepped out in my robe, determined to tell them that I was sorry, but I couldn't go through with it and would have to go home...

but when I looked around at the calm, kind, studious faces....fixed not on me at all, but their easels and other materials...fixing their paper, sharpening pencils and quietly chatting...I suddenly felt ashamed. How egotistical to think that these artists would be thinking of anything other than their work. To them, I was nothing more than a living, breathing bowl of fruit (maybe a few more curves!) and I was simply there as a way for them to practise and perfect their skills. So I took a deep breath, said 'Good Evening' and sat for my very first class. Many of those people are still there today...and have become friends on those Tuesdays. During the break (the class is 2 hours...1 hour, then a 15 minute coffee break before the final 45 minutes) I love to walk around and look at what others see when they study me! It can be quite revealing. For instance...everyone, since I was quite young, has always told me how much I resemble my mother. And I can see that I do! But I once looked at a beautiful pastel of my face that someone had done...and it was my father who smiled out at me! It was definitely me - but I saw my Dad's features there - and it was wonderful and amazing to me to see that side of myself.

Of course, some nights it isn't easy...the posing get more difficult as I get older, I seem to stiffen up much quicker these days! Strangely, I prefer standing to sitting down most times. But, I can tell you, EVERY position, however comfortable to begin with, starts to hurt after holding it for an hour. The head is really heavy! The hips & knees groan & creak at taking too much load on one side...I wouldn't give it up, though!

One thing I never am is cold ! Summer or Winter, there's always a huge fire burning in the wood stove...

and it throws out a terrific amount of heat (thankfully!) I take the chance to go through many things in my head while I'm sitting there, so still. Sometimes I replay whole Mozart concertos...or plot my novel...or plan new recipes....or run through things I wish I'd said in arguments! Once or twice ( and not for a few years now!) I've fallen asleep - to much hilarity!
Anyway, it adds richness and depth to my life....another layer of experience if you like. I hope that no one is offended by this post....I know that it's not something everyone would think is a seemly pastime. But I think that, without the long history of life models, much of the world's greatest works of art wouldn't exist! And in that spirit, I'm posting one of the drawings from last night's class. With the artist's permission, I hasten to add! I thought it was beautifully done, and felt proud of my part in it's creation!

Hoping your week is wonderful. Don't forget to enter my Giveaway - I'll add any comments on this post from different readers into the draw, which will take place on Sunday!

xoxo

Bluebells & a Best of British Giveaway...

2011-05-01T12:55:00.000+01:00

It's MAY! Alice was 3 yesterday...I can't believe that time passes so quickly, but there it is! She had a wonderful day...a new bone...a long walk with Paul...a stretch out in the sun...and lots of cuddles in the evening. Dog heaven!
Walking with her is always a lovely experience but, now the bluebell woods are in full bloom, it's almost too beautiful to imagine...

You may get a little bit of it's beauty from these photos...but I wish I could lead you through the sun-dappled beech woods...listening to the birds and the cuckoo which is now here for the Summer...it's bliss.

It has been a good week to be British...the Royal Wedding on Friday was a wonderful, happy event that united us all and showed the world that when we do pomp & tradition we are never outshone! I wanted to celebrate with you - and what better way than with a giveaway?

I wanted a Best of British theme...and as so many of us love Emma Bridgewater & Cath Kidston ....I choe a couple of things from them that I hope you'll love!

First...this gorgeous Limited Edition Royal Wedding Teatowel...

which I loved so much that I bought one for myself too! And next, I found these little treasures...

sweet little pearl buttons from Cath Kidston. So many of you are brilliantly creative that I thought you'd find a good use for these...if not as buttons then maybe in some jewellery project? I can think of lots of ways to use them (and I don't even sew!!)

To be entered into the draw for these, just leave me a comment on this post...anything you like! And I'll pick a name next Sunday 8th...hopefully it will be a lovely Mother's Day surprise for one of my Aussie, NZ, Canadian or American followers....or perhaps just a cheerup for a Brit feeling a little flat after all the celebrations! Whatever, I hope you'll enter....

It's been a hard end to the week here...my darling Dad was rushed to hospital again yesterday morning. Some of you may remember that last April a similar thing happened. His heart is not wonderful and it was another major scare. But he came through last time, and it looks as though he will this time too...but it takes it's toll on all of us in different ways and leaves us all shocked and shaken up. We're visiting him this afternoon, and hopefully he'll be back at the farm very soon - where he belongs and always wants to be. We all love him so very much and can't bear to imagine life without him in it...so each time his mortality is exposed, it's a little more difficult. If love could make him well, he'd live forever!

Hoping you're having a wonderful weekend.....xoxo

Anzac Day.

2011-04-25T19:29:00.000+01:00

This morning at 4am, Paul & I heaved ourselves out of bed in our London flat....threw on some clothes and put Alice's lead on. We walked through the deserted and still dark streets...over Oxford Street, through Mayfair to Park Lane and finally Hyde Park Corner....where we stood from 5am with hundreds of Australians and New Zealanders (mainly) and took part in the annual ceremony held at the Australian & New Zealand War Memorials there to commemorate the sacrifice of the ANZACS...the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps in the two World Wars and other conflicts since, including Vietnam and, of course, Afghanistan & Iraq.

Why did we do it? Neither of us is from that part of the world after all. We both have strong links with Australia, as we have close family living there (and in fact Esther is now an Australian citizen too) But I don't think that's it - well, not in my case anyway.

The word Anzac is particularly synonymous with the ill-fated First World War campaign fought in Gallipoli, Turkey. So many, so very many young lives lost. A few years ago I found out that my great-great uncle was part of the hell there...landing at Suvla Bay in August 1915. He survived Turkey (miraculously) and went on to fight on France's Western Front...but the war ultimately killed him, although he didn't die in battle. He took his own life shortly after the Armistice by throwing himself in front of a London train. His existence was unknown even to my Mother, he was never talked about by her family at all (probably as a result of his suicide)... until we discovered him quite by chance in the records of the War Graves Commission and I made it my mission to uncover more about his short and painful life. What demons drove him to that terrible end? What sights did he see, what horrors did he experience that made his life a nightmare and ultimately unbearable for him? I'm now writing a novel, based on him...we don't know enough facts about this brave, forgotten man so it must be classed as fiction.

He wasn't an Anzac. He was an Englishman. But he would have known and befriended and fought alongside many of them. And they all went through it together.

The song above may help to explain a little more (I love June Tabor's voice and the fact that she sings a cappella especially). It sends a shiver up my spine whenever I hear it...

This may seem to be a depressing post...war, and the thought of the suffering and loss caused by it, always is. But, for me, it's important to face it and remember and thank those who gave their lives in conflict.

So the reason I went to Hyde Park Corner, and stood in the dawn light, and bowed my head in silence this morning was to pay my tribute to all of them...and especially to my great-great uncle, Cyril Arthur Took. It's taken a good few years, but we've found him and he won't now be forgotten again.

xoxo

Quiet History....

2011-04-20T22:29:00.000+01:00

I hope you'll forgive me for yet more churchyard photos...I just can't keep away in this amazingly unseasonal weather. It's more like Summer than Spring...it was about 79f /26c today...and has been sunny and warm for days. My daily walk to The Coffee Tree (you can see what I deliver there at my food blog, Baking Brownies for Mozart ) is so gorgeous that I have to share it with you!

One of my favourite ancient streets is at the back of our County Museum here...Pebble Lane (although it's more a cobbled one)

the tree hanging over the high wall is a beautiful old pear...no one picks the fruit in Autumn and they drop to the cobbles below for the pigeons, mice ....and sometimes me! to enjoy...just under the tree is a black iron water pump that no longer works but used to supply this area with fresh water long ago...I love to imagine the women gathering there with buckets to fill, catching up on the gossip in the sunshine...

the other side of the lane is mainly taken up with the building that was for many years a school. It was turned into offices and now stands empty & somewhat neglected...a sad ending that I keep hoping will transform into something wonderful. It's a large place though, and after years of lack of care it will need a lot of money to bring it back. There are still echoes of it's past life if you stop to look...

these deep grooves in the brick are everywhere down the lane. Do you know what they are? I didn't for a long time, and always wondered until I spoke to a neighbour who knows about these things. They are the marks left by the Victorian & Edwardian schoolchildren who sharpened their slate pencils by rubbing them against the wall. Isn't that wonderful? It gives me a little thrill as I pass...real history, right there as we bustle past going about our busy modern lives.
So it's on to the coffee shop and then back the same way, until I reach the church gate...

and know that I'm nearly home for my morning break with Alice and a cup of good coffee before our walk....but first a stop to admire and sniff the lilacs...

will I ever have enough of this short journey, these lilacs, these serene gravestones? Somehow, I doubt it...

With love this Wednesday xoxo

The Cuckoo

2011-04-18T12:14:00.000+01:00

My Mum & Dad heard the first cuckoo of Spring yesterday in the woods, while walking their dogs. Mum sent me an excited text straight away, as they always listen for it...and this year it was especially early. In fact, everything is early here it seems...the garden is a few weeks ahead of schedule and the warm sunshine is making it burst into life at such an amazing rate that I can hardly keep up! Every spare moment is spent pulling the weeds that seem to appear in seconds...and I'm having to water every other day (just the pots & new seedlings) as we haven't had rain for a few weeks and all is dry.

Cuckoos, as you know, lay their eggs in other bird's nests. When the giant cuckoo baby emerges, he isn't happy until he has kicked the other occupants out of his adopted home and he can be alone to be pampered by the poor parents who must wonder what they've bred and where the other eggs went! It's a good subject for today...as this is quite a difficult post for me to write. I so hope that you'll understand when I tell you that we are, once again, an only dog household. I took Charlie to his new - and final - home yesterday and, as you can imagine, I'm feeling sad today. Maybe melancholy is a better description. And I'm not sad on Charlie's behalf at all...his new family are wonderful, warm people who've always had wire fox terriers and lost their last (much loved) boy 9 weeks ago. They were in tears of happiness when they saw Charlie! He's now living as the only dog, on a large farm with it's own wood and acres to play in. He's sleeping on their bed at night, and eating chicken that's been especially cooked for him at dinnertime. I'm glad that Alice wasn't with me when I met them as she may have decided to go with him on hearing all that! My last view of him was such a happy one...after a long cuddle and a good drink of water, he bounced off with them for their first walk...and he didn't look back at all. I know he'll be more than fine.

The truth we've had to face is that Alice wants & needs to be an only dog. In the 6 weeks we had Charlie, she was never really happy...and she made his life very difficult. However much attention we lavished on her, she couldn't take the fact that, as she saw it, our love was divided. And she made it very plain that he wasn't welcome. We've had far too many nasty fights...and I mean real ones where blood was involved. They were all started by Alice, and Charlie did his best to avoid them...but if he was cornered he fought back. And he was much bigger & stronger than her. She has a big puncture wound on her head, a scar on her shoulder....we couldn't allow it to continue for either of their sakes. We took advice and decided that we had to put our own feelings aside and think of both dogs. We'd never been able to walk them together, which was time consuming and annoying. Fights would start over the smallest thing (never food, funnily enough!) and neither of them really relaxed. So a couple of weeks ago we decided that we should get in touch with the lady who found him for us and see if there was a better home for him. Amazingly, and so happily, there was!

We'll never regret having him for those weeks, despite the difficulties and stress. He's shown us that, even with the easiest and nicest natured dog, it's not the right thing for Alice to have another dog permanently in the house. And if we hadn't taken him in, he never would have found what I believe are his true family..as they weren't ready for him when we first got him. So I like to think that we took care of him for them.

This morning, I took Alice for our walk on the hill. All was calm & quiet. She's happy and content again knowing that she has pride of place in our hearts. Number one. Our little cuckoo!

I hope that you have a wonderful Monday xo

Lions & Lilacs...

2011-04-15T13:38:00.000+01:00

It's flowers, flowers, flowers at the moment...everywhere I look. One of the most beautiful Spring sights (and scents!) in the churchyard is the huge lilac trees which grow on both sides of the square...

They are very old and bent but produce such amazing flowers each year...some white...

and the others the traditional...well...lilac!

I wish that I could post the fragrance that follows you as you walk around the square. I throw open our bedroom windows to let in Nature's air freshener! Wonderful...
Earlier in the week, I had a lovely day's outing to Woburn Safari Park just over the county border in Bedfordshire. I met my youngest sister, Lucy, and my 3 year old nephew William plus my two cousins, Emma & Mike and Emma's beautiful teenage girls Beth & Amy. We hadn't all seen each other for a couple of years so decided to meet halfway between our homes and have a day out and a picnic as well. Although we chose the coldest day for many weeks, it was a fabulous time. William's eyes grew wider and wider as we slowly drove around the park and he spotted rhinos, elephants, giraffes, MONKEY'S (his capitals!!) tigers...and these beautiful animals...

to see a pride of lions so close (they were very calm, didn't even glance at the cars!) was very special. After eating our picnic in freezing winds, sheltering as best we could, we decided to finish the afternoon by going into the aviary where exotic birds fly freely and sit on your hands, heads & shoulders to feed on the nectar that you take in for them in little pots. A huge success with all of us! There is something so magical about a bird landing on your arm...it's like a little miracle to be able to see them up close. My special favourites were the Rainbow Lorikeets...

these are one of the most common birds in the skies around Esther's home in Australia and the sight & sound of them took me there in an instant. Gorgeous things. We had a great time catching up, chatting & laughing...it reminded us all not to leave it so long next time!

Even my daily dog walking is suffused with flowers right now...I had to share more pictures with you!

the wild violets are still there in their thousands...I took this on the hill this morning...

the colour is so vivid, it fills up my heart somehow!

New this week, though, are the beautiful yellow cowslips (or are these oxslips? I never know the difference!) Such an English flower I think. They used to be so common a few hundred years ago that people would pick them by the bucketload to make wine each Spring. Then, when I was young, they had died out so much that they became a protected species...I remember occasionally seeing one and being so excited! I'm happy to say that they seem to be coming back now...at least, I saw lots and lots of them this morning! And I still get excited....x

The coconut-scented bright yellow gorse is now blooming everywhere too....bees must congregate in drunken pleasure after gorging on all the pollen that's around right now.

It's as though the countryside has woken up suddenly. There's almost too much to look at...but I'm trying to take it all in!
Today is soft and warm again...the sun is out as the dogs stretch on the deck luxuriously. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, whatever you do! xoxo

A day to celebrate...

2011-04-07T16:41:00.000+01:00

Today is my parent's 49th wedding anniversary. I saw them both yesterday and they have decided to have a quiet day...after all, next year will be a big Golden celebration! Mum told me that the day they married was not only very cold, dull & windy....but that there were no daffodils out yet. Well, as you can see....almost half a century later things are very different! In fact, our daffodils are now almost over for the year...

our garden was an absolutely joyous place to be this morning...I knew that you'd like to share it with me....I wish that I could have shared the birdsong, the warmth and the softness of the air too...

the churchyard, of course, was also at it's most beautiful...

I could barely bring myself to go back to the kitchen....although in the end I had to. But I stayed out just a little longer...

drinking in the beauty...

And as I looked into the faces of these beautiful tulips (Paul & I planted them in the churchyard ourselves!) I thought of my parents, marrying in that chilly East Anglian church all those years ago...twenty years younger than I am now...so in love and full of hope and joy for the future and all their plans and dreams. How wonderful to think that, for them, the dreams have come true...and the new, exciting love they felt then has mellowed and deepened so much over time that we can't now think of one without the other. Happy Anniversary to them and Happy Thursday to you! I hope your day is worth celebrating too.... xoxo

Here Comes the Bride...my April Garden

2011-04-03T20:09:00.000+01:00

I always think that this beautiful cherry tree at the bottom of the garden looks like a bride! Only foamy & beautiful for a short time, but so glorious while it lasts. And the perfect illustration of my April garden...where things are really bursting into life at a pace now.

the blueberry bushes are sprouting pale green leaves and flower buds...I have a few plants to ensure cross-pollination and therefore plenty of berries!

One of the young peony bushes...planted a couple of years ago and yet to flower...but I've found that a secret to successful gardening is patience!

To the left of the path, my old stone ' butler's sink' is starting to fill with marjoram again...and other herbs are in the raised bed behind. There's still room for plenty of plants, so I'm weeding religiously to keep the spaces clear.

And to the right of the path, my vegetable bed stands tilled, fed, and ready for the new season's seeds...as soon as the threat of frost is over later in the month!

I've decided to line the path with thyme as well as lavender this year, for added colour & scent...it's one of my favourite herbs and there are so many varieties!

Hostas are one of our very favourite plants...and we are known for our pots full of their huge and beautiful leaves! Pots help to keep the slugs under control I find (a terrible problem in town gardens!)

The rose bushes are well under way...

Charlie helped me to check them this morning!

And just as I was about to head inside for a cup of coffee, I spotted this cute little visitor on a lavender bush!

Happiest of April's to you...I can't wait for things to really progress in the garden... now, what was I saying about patience??

xo

NOT an April Fool!

2011-04-01T16:47:00.000+01:00

Happy April! How wonderful to be able to say that...because it means that at last Spring is really here! Today is soft & warm...a chilly wind, but I don't mind that in the least! I've been busy planting & weeding & forking the flowerbeds...pictures of my April garden will be posted shortly!

But today, as it's April Fool's Day, I thought I'd make you smile!

I spent this morning in Oxford - or more accurately in Headington, on the outskirts. Paul had a hospital appointment and as he wasn't allowed to drive afterwards I was his chauffeuse! The appointment was about 2 hours, so I walked into town from there and suddenly remembered that in the 1980's there was a man who had a big battle with Oxford City Council's planning department because he decided to have a great white shark dive through his roof! A fibreglass replica, obviously...but lifesize! Eventually, he won the fight...and attracted hordes of sightseers (my much younger self included) come to gawp at the 'Shark in the Roof'! I wondered if it was still there...and it is!! In fact, it now has a preservation order on it (isn't it funny how time turns everything around eventually?) I'm sorry the picture is a bit dark, but you get the idea. It is amazingly lifelike...the tiles and beams are even arranged around the 'entry hole' so it looks as though sharky really has crashed in from the sky!

I'm not sure it would appeal to me at our house...but I have to say that it's quite fantastic and it was wonderful to see it again! I remember that there used to be a cinema opposite that showed arthouse movies..on top of that building was a huge pair of crossed legs, clad in red stripy stockings & black t-bar shoes! So the street was definitely a quirky feature. Sadly, the cinema is long gone and the old buildings there have been demolished and replaced with a new & very boring office block!

Happy new month to you...so many good things to look forward to. I hope you are having a fabulous day xoxo

Progress...

2011-03-31T12:20:00.000+01:00

This will be my last 'dog' post for a while...I promise! But I wanted to show you these pictures. Above you can see that Charlie is relaxing into his new home fairly well! He looks like a woolly lamb here I think! Such a handsome boy!

As you know, it hasn't been easy introducing a 'brother' to Alice. She's still very possessive - not over possessions or food, thank goodness. But over us, and our attention (which she has had more or less exclusively ever since she was 8 weeks old! Not surprising then...) We are combatting this by bombarding her with love...showing her that life isn't worse with Charlie in it! That it may even be better! She's taking some convincing, but we are, 3 weeks on, making progress. For example, I can now prepare their food and feed them in the same room (separate areas...but I think that's sensible for most dogs anyway, just in case!) This is a big step, because previously Alice would 'warn' Charlie off & give lots of 'alarm barks' when I was getting it ready. This meant feeding Charlie outside, which wasn't ideal. But fingers crossed, it's ok now.

And then, this morning, I came into the sitting room to find this scene....

and had to share it with you! Ok, they are at different ends...but they are sharing the same sofa!! Alice is the little doughnut shaped curl at the top of the picture.

It's going to take more, much more, time and patience. But I know we'll get there eventually and there'll come a time when she can't remember a time without him!

Happy Thursday, I hope you're having a lovely day xoxo

Sweet Violets...

2011-03-29T17:33:00.000+01:00

As promised...those gorgeous wild violets. I love them so much - stunning colour and a wonderful smell too, so delicate...

Patches of them were literally everywhere I looked..

I hope you can see some of them here...glowing in the scrubby grass of the hillside. Such an unexpected surprise. Beauty is everywhere if you look!

Happy Tuesday xoxo

A Spring walk with Alice

2011-03-28T09:26:00.000+01:00

This lovely wood sorrel was just one of the delights that I found on my beautiful walk with Alice yesterday. We've been blessed with the most gorgeous warm sunny weather over the past few days - although rain is forecast for later in the week. We spent a lot of the past weekend in the garden, making the most of the good conditions and making some changes out there! But I still found time to walk my little girl.

We've made the discovery that Charlie doesn't seem to have ever taken a proper walk before (we think he was just left to roam his previous garden) which means that not only does he not know how to walk on the lead but he also freaks when he sees another dog while outside - unfortunately, this also includes Alice! We are teaching him, but it takes a while with a 5 year old dog. So it's separate walks for the time being. They are getting on fine inside though - a few little jealous grumbles from Alice occasionally, but almost there. I think that, despite herself, she does like to have another dog around!

Anyway....back to that walk. I did take some pictures of the amazing wild violets we saw...they were everywhere in great purple clumps. But for some reason, they are taking an age to download. So I'll just post what I have, and hope to update later.

No leaves on the trees just yet...but the buds are all there. It was sunny, believe it or not - but very hazy too...

I love this chalky path through the trees...so does Alice!

I can see the golf course way down the hill...it's where my Mum plays, and sometimes if she's down there we wave! She can spot the little white blob that is Alice from there!

We cut through the wood on the way back for a change of scene...the carpet of green made up for the lack of leaves on the trees!

Can you see the big striped bumble bee in the centre? His wings were vibrating which makes him a little difficult to spot straight away...I saw many of these yesterday (in the garden too) I think they're the kind that make nests in little holes. The buzzing was very loud from this fat and furry chap!

It was a beautiful walk. When we got home, Paul and Charlie had been for a good long training outing too...so both dogs were tired and happy and we could get on with our day.

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend too....xoxo

Charlie & new beginnings ...

2011-03-16T20:21:00.000Z

I'm sorry that I haven't posted for a few days..we are computerless right now & so i'm using my phone to update this! It's an amazing gadget but takes so long to type with the itty bitty key board! Still, here I am..and here at last is our Charlie!
.It's been a rough ride at times..Alice has been an only dog for 3 years & is struggling terribly with jealousy
..Charlie is 5 years old & isn't about to take her snarling lying down! There have been moments this week whem i'd have happily sold the house to have Cesar Millan drop round to help!! But it's very slowly getting better.

He'll be comin' round the mountain...

2011-03-09T07:44:00.000Z

Paul is home later this morning. He's been away on his annual skiing break in Saalbach, Austria. Every year, he and 3 friends (all boys!) get away to the mountains for a few days of quality skiing and relaxation...they've stayed in the same hotel for about 20 years, so know it all very well.

While Paul is an excellent skier...whizzing down the black runs in his sleek outfit & Raybans...I just don't get it! I've been 3 times - once with him, twice with school (!) and have drawn the conclusion that while I love the snow and the sunshine, I'll leave the sliding down mountains on flat bits of fibreglass to my beloved husband! It, frankly, terrifies me!

As you can see , they need some more snowfall in Saalbach! But the blue skies don't bode well for that...

Beautiful though! I can't wait for him to be home...all tanned and healthy! He'll be able to meet our new addition for the first time too. I can proudly announce that our little Alice has a new brother...Charlie came to live with us on Sunday! He's another wire fox, almost 5 years old...

But that's for my next post! Until then...Happy Wednesday. I hope you have wonderful day xoxox

My March Garden..

2011-03-06T16:38:00.000Z

Things are really moving in the garden now...the brilliant green spikes in the back of the bed here are Paul's beloved day lilies. The change from last month is incredible..

I think it's a result of lots of rain combined with a good few days (including today) of sunshine. While the temperatures aren't really what I'd call warm yet (hovering around 8c) and the wind is bitter, the days are so much longer now...and when the sun does shine, there's some power in it...

The hydrangeas won't be long now..

And the roses that I pruned so assiduously a few weeks ago are springing into life - a few weeks ago they looked like a lot of dry brown twigs!

The 'bird tree' (I don't know what it is!) is sprouting emerald foliage, which the blackbirds, robins and bluetits love to perch in..

soon little button heart that hangs there will be completely hidden....

I've been weeding every fine day...soon it will be time to sweep the path and plant some new perennials - once the threat of frost is past...

But for now it's still a bit chilly to be out there too much!

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend! xoxo