Hello July

Woo hoo summer has arrived so here are some photos of recent summer fun.

• A day spent on our friends' barge two weekends ago. This was my one and only shot before my camera battery died.
• Courgette salad - low GI and a perfect way to use one of Aldi's super 6 this week. Yay to super frugal healthy food. 
• Pots in bloom outside our front door.
• FUSE festival from last weekend. My camera stayed in the car whilst I had fun. 
• The first fuchsia in our pallet planter. 
• Blue skies.
• Strawberry cake. Almost too pretty to eat. Yay to post gym treats.
• Waiting for the first sunflowers to open.
• Strawberry picking. Worth it for the smell alone.

Sending you brief words but lots of love. Have a great week xo

Having Fun at Lunar Festival

Lunar is a small but fabulous festival that's steadily growing in popularity and caters for all age groups. Last Saturday, our second visit to Lunar Festival at Umberslade Farm Park, Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire didn't disappoint (read my 2014 review here).Think seriously good music and tons of fun too. 

The site was beautifully festooned. Come, take a look...

First stop: ska aerobics. Had to practise my classic ska moves. That's essential on a Saturday morning, right? Can you find me next to Wally? (in the pale green tunic sans bobble hat).  

Next, some music. Daisy Vaughan at The Bimble Inn was a delight. !8 years of wisdom stirred into songs of love written from her Suffolk caravan whilst cooking soup. 

This girl has wisdom beyond her years and she sang in Spanish as well as English.  

Jane Weaver wrapped a sci-fi spell around the main stage with her space rock sound. I loved her sonic tunic (fantastic detail on the back not seen here).

Syd Arthur (influences: Syd Barrett and Arthur Lee) breathed fresh air into progressive folk rock. Jaunty hat too.

There were bubbles to chase, workshops to sample and a touch of fairground charm.

Beautiful people enjoying happy times.

Back at the Bimble Inn we watched Mark Radcliffe and his band Galleon Blast. The crowd lapped up the rum-soaked songs. 

Wilko Johnson (Dr. Feelgood founder) was our next stop at the main stage. All ages were wowed by the incredible vitality and musical virtuosity from a man who was given 10 months to live when diagnosed with pancreatic cancer back in 2013. He chose touring over chemotherapy and outlived his prognosis. A remarkable spirit and talent he's since had radical surgery that's cured his cancer. His performance was victorious. 

Getting a photo that wasn't blurred was difficult given his energetic moves. 

Musical appetites appeased, hungrily we headed off for the Bhangra Bus for our vegetarian thali. Night time brought new vibrancy and Lunar became a dazzling citadel as people gathered to stoke their souls. 

Headliners Public Sector Broadcasting kept us entertained to the end with their original visual material of old public information films accompanied by up-tempo music. Given Lunar's name the material from their latest album, The Race For Space, was the perfect soundtrack for this festival. 

It all went too quickly. We love the atmosphere at this festival - a micro Glastonbury on our doorstep. We'll be back to sample more next year. 

The Second Sunday of Advent

Hello. How are you? Hopefully well and rested after the weekend or, if you've been busy, at least feeling more organised. It seems to have been cold all weekend. Saturday saw a frosty start that lasted well into midmorning. I've been meaning to cut down the verbena in our little garden, which have been looking rather dull, but I'm glad I haven't got round to it yet as they looked amazing under the frost. It brought out their lilac hue magically. Our weekend has been fairly calm. On Saturday Hubs fitted 3 black pendant lights in our kitchen. The idea is to improve the lighting and general ambiance of the dining area in preparation for Christmas. He did a brilliant job and I was very patient. Next it's my turn - painting! Can't have scandi pendant lights without white walls now, can you? And a grey wall, obvs. Today, has been the kind of Sunday I would have dreamed of a few years ago when my life revolved around work. With no pressing housework or school work to be done we just took it slow. Late breakfast, church, a visit to Packwood House (my favourite local National Trust property) and home to light candles. I took a few photos.

The house, gardens and cafe were quieter than usual and it was lovely to roam around, even if it was cold. The winter landscape looked beautifully bare today highlighted by the low sun and long shadows.

Only the ground floor of the house was open but there were Christmas trees in nearly every room. They all had wonderful natural, quirky or handmade decorations. It's definitely inspired me to have a bauble-free Christmas tree. 

I haven't made any mince pies yet so made sure I chose one in the cafe at the end of our visit. Yes, those are teabags hanging from the tree!

Our home felt a bit bare after all the sparkle of Packwood but lighting the second candle of my advent tealights was the first thing I did on our return. It's all about making the most of the light at this time of year.

Thank you for reading, commenting and following here this week. Have a great week xo

The First Sunday of Advent

Goodbye autumn, hello winter... December, you're almost here ♥

This first weekend of Advent has been about resting and gently easing ourselves into this new season. 

I started the weekend on Friday meeting friends for a drink and then volunteering for our local Arts organisation. As photographer, I was lucky enough to be on the front row for Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin. Amazing music to chill out to and the perfect antidote to the retail frenzy that's seized the internet and even my little city. 

Bah! Black Friday!

Sunlight, hyacinths, stollen bites, lighting the first of my 4 Advent candles (just 4 tea lights in a row), walking into town for coffee, spying pretty pink cyclamen in hanging baskets and lights reflecting in water have been my simple pleasures. Welcome this season of waiting.

Have a great week ♥ ♥ ♥