19.5.21

Wisteria, Wildflowers and Weeds

I went out for a few hours today. The wisteria at Shugborough Hall was calling and it didn't disappoint. We enjoyed our picnic of onion bhaji baguettes and savoured the midweek quiet of a National Trust property. The mansion wasn't open but we were very happy walking in the vast grounds. As well as wisteria there were bluebells, cow parsley, forget-me-nots, alliums, azaleas, late daffodils, tulips and green alkanet

To be honest, I had to look up the name of this plant. I thought it was a weed and many would agree but it looked stunning in the walled garden's borders amongst forget-me-nots and mountain cornflowers. 

Most of the grass at Shugborough was left unmown and just tidied up at the edges. The buttercups and dandelions looked beautiful in the long grass especially in the sunshine. Parts of my city's public spaces are being left unmown. I like these little steps towards rewilding. Do you like the naturalised look? When is a weed not a weed? 

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19.2.17

Snowdrop Scavenging







I blinked and six weeks passed. 

It's good to be back: to my blog, to nature and my beloved DSLR.  You could miss moments like these - but with a desire to solicit snowdrops, sunshine and shuffle in my Christmas wellies, I found what I was looking for.  As I walked, I felt my vitamin D levels being restored, along with some balance and plans for spring and beyond. No need for excessive scavenging: it's all simply in front of me if only I open my eyes.

I hope you're well friends. There may be more posts this week as it's half-term here xo




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22.7.15

A 'bottom-of-the-list' summer list

Apologies first to southern hemisphere readers and those who don't get much time off work in the school holidays. I know I'm blessed, spoilt and sound smugly annoying to have just started six weeks holiday. 

My boys are both having their own holidays without us this year and Tim and I have just had three days away in Swaledale, North Yorkshire. We also have two weeks at home together. But what do I do with the time in between when the family are either working or doing their own thing?

Most of my summers start off with good intentions along the lines of: get more organised, complete major decorating projects and, in a bottom-of-the-list type of way, make more time for myself. Ha! Like that's ever going to happen! 

It's no surprise then to hear that by the end of the school holidays I'm usually exhausted from trying to fit too much in and generally feel angsty that I can't keep on top of it all. 

This year I'm determined to look after myself. You know that nugget of advice that if you look after yourself then you're better placed to take care of others - well it's time to give it a try! I decided to make a list of things that I really want to do with my time. Not things that I think I should do. No. Things that'll make me feel happy as I anticipate them. Things that'll make me healthier because I'll feel more balanced not slimmer or clearer skinned. A few indulgences that wouldn't be in my usual budget but are a one-off reward to myself. 

Here's my 'bottom-of-the-list' summer list. It's in no particular order. I've tried to make my list fun, as specific as I can and impossible to finish. I'll still have domestic tasks to attend to, a kitchen that needs painting and I'd like to declutter more of our paperwork but these will not be my priority. 

This summer taking a few hours each day for myself will always be towards the top of my to-do list.

Minimalism is all about having the freedom to choose how you spend your time after all. 

My bottom-of-the-list summer list:

  • Try a flat white.
  • Finish reading books that got abandoned because of book club deadlines. How could I not finish The Goldfinch when I had less than 100 pages to go?
  • Read unread books on my bookshelf. I had quite a lot of books for my birthday (see photo). Which to read first? Any recommendations?
  • Read independent magazines. I bought The Simple Things for the first time for our trip away at the weekend and I would like to try others. Any suggestions?
  • Cook from recipe books not the internet. 
  • Have a summer pj day and catch up with films.
  • Eat fresh avocados because I love them and they're healthy.
  • Make homemade guacamole (avocados again I know).
  • Visit a cafe alone to write. 
  • Learn the basics of hand embroidery. 
  • Eat ice cream once a week.
  • Put edited photos in new photo albums.
  • Create a photo wall.  
  • Have an eyebrow and eyelash tint. 
  • Actually buy something from a farmer's market.
  • Give myself a weekly manicure.
  • Learn the words to a favourite song so I can sing along.
  • Take part in Susannah Conway's The August Break on Instagram. 
  • Go on a train journey to somewhere new.
  • Visit Turvey Abbey.
  • Eat a simple meal of bread, cheese and wine in the garden.

I could go on but I'll stop here. 

Do try writing a 'bottom-of-the-list' list. It's really fun. And of course you can do this in the southern hemisphere and in your time off work too. I'll update you on my progress along the way.

Go on indulge your imagination and your soul. 

What's on your 'bottom-of-the-list' list? Do your projects and interests always come bottom of the list? Please share.





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16.5.15

A Weekend in the Peak District


The Swallows Nest in Monyash, Derbyshire was our home last weekend. A chance to get away and explore the Peak District, a beautiful area of the UK, which is just an hours' drive from our home in Staffordshire. Weary from the rain we arrived to find our tiny luxury B & B the perfect bolthole.  





Vintage G-plan furniture (this painted drinks station plus a sideboard and mirror), a muted palette of coastal colours and the luxury of underfloor heating; at every turn this tiny space thrilled me.


A beautifully made bed is one of my favourite pleasures and I can tell you this one was just as comfortable as it looks. After a good night's rest and a magnificent cooked breakfast we set off in search of Bakewell pudding. It had to be done. The road to Bakewell took us on a twisty-turny drive with beautiful white limestone dry stone walls framing the dramatic landscape (this area is also called the White Peak District because of the colour of its stone). Bakewell is a small market town and very pretty. 

This pudding from this deli had the shortest pastry we've ever tasted.

We also bought a Derbyshire pasty to fuel our afternoon's walk through Lathkill Dale. We certainly needed the energy as it was much hillier than we'd anticipated. Lathkill Dale is just minutes away from where we stayed and one of the country's finest limestone valleys. Its sharp sides encase clear streams, mossy rocks, woodlands, grasslands and evidence of lead mining. It's part of the Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve and every climb gave us breathtaking views and every descent unveiled a new wonder. The sky, landscape and wild flowers were stunning.






We had directions for a route with instructions such as 'continue over the next 5 stiles'. Along the way we saw fields dotted with wild orchids and dandelions.



Down in the valley we saw banks of cowslips, bluebells, campion and wood anemones.

We finished our walk on the opposite side of the dale where sheep and a lone horse silhouetted the skyline. This reminded us of a scene from Poldark.




The village was very peaceful and luckily had a thriving pub just opposite the village green which we ate at both evenings. 




Our host Suzanne at the B & B was very relaxed and friendly delivering our breakfasts through the hatch from her adjoining barn (Swallow Barn) in pjs. How clever is that. A self-contained B & B with a serving hatch. There was plenty of chat about families, interior design and future plans. Oh, and here's Suzanne's chocolate cake that greeted us on arrival. My wasitline is just recovering a week later. 

I loved our bedroom window. 


We had plans to visit Chatsworth House on Sunday but were drawn back to Lathkill Dale instead. This time we drove to Over Haddon to start our walk and saw more of the river Lathkill. It's full of character with weirs and gorgeous crystal clear water. 

This dreamy house was nestled deep in the valley. Imagine living here. Further on we were mesmerised by large ripples in the water which led us to spot a trout which you may just be able to make out. 

These are my last views of Lathkill Dale. Add warm sunlight, birdsong and gentle gurgling water. Is it any wonder we were reluctant to leave. I'm so glad we chose a nature break instead of a city break.

Just to let you know this is not a sponsored post - we treated ourselves to these two wonderful days away. I hope you don't mind the photo overload. I couldn't whittle it down any further.



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