Taking the air this (early) morning and peering into the pond. It looks clearer today after an extended effort last night with the fishing net. Every sweep of the net brought out the light-blocking weed and Newts galore. The fully developed ones are a bit gung-ho, living life on the edge and trying to leap from the net instead of waiting patiently for my assistance!! Continue reading

Here is another cushion with an embroidered front panel. Sent from my iPhone Continue reading

Here's one of the cushions. An embroidered panel of three chickens with a small checked gingham fabric for the cover. I really enjoyed this stitching and now have to make sure CountryDog doesn't get to chew on it! Sent from my iPhone Continue reading

Well they say time flies when you have fun so that's my excuse. I've been doing all sorts of creative things and been so involved in them that this little blog had been sorely neglected. But I'm back and will post some photos so you can see what I've been so immersed in, more later... Continue reading

One week on and it all looks very lovely. But will it ever be drinkable?! I chose the hottest day of the year for this sticky job - straining, filtering and bottling the Elderflower Champagne. I think I was rather over- generous with the Elderflowers at the start as the concoction is very richly coloured and not the pale and transparent delight that I expected. However, it is bubbling away merrily and I have the thick glass, stoppered bottles that you can see. Will there be explosions? Watch this space! Sent from my iPhone Continue reading

I was enjoying a little piece of quiet in the garden, stitching to hand, and CountryDog's cat has come to disturb me. She's Ginger and oh so feisty and definitely not to be ignored. She's already swiped at me a few times so my best (and safest) option is to stopwhat I'mdoing and pay her some attention. If she stays still long enough I'll capture a photo and post it... Continue reading

Saturday and it's a hot summer's day. We are about 10 minutes drive from the river but today had some business in the south of the County and so decided to take CountryDog for a new walk by the river there. We parked in a shady spot and after a short walk down a lane found ourselves in an old-fashioned meadow. Scabious,Mallow and Ox-Eye Daisies amidst lush grasses and then the occasional orchid. Overhead two Red Kites were soaring and calling. We reached the river bank and headed south. CD was eager to leap in and we were relieved to... Continue reading

After supper in the garden last night - again, I know I'm pushing it- I took breakfast out there too! The sun was starting to creep over the trees (it was only 6am) and the birds were deafening. Pigeons close by were almost shouting each other down, whilst the Doves were gently purring in the background. Very soothing. A short and sweet interlude. Continue reading

It was such a beautiful day here yesterday. We were able to grant ourselves the wish that is always on our list - to have supper in the garden. There is something special about making several trips up and down the garden, transporting the cutlery and dishes and then the best part of all - something delicious to eat. There was further cause for excitement as we pulled the first carrots and picked the first peas from the vegetable patch. CountryDog was hugely interested as he adores peas and pea pods and last week was caught in the act of... Continue reading

Here is CountryDog's recipe for Elderflower Champagne. Dissolve 1kg of sugar in 2 litres of hot water. I used a sterilised bucket. Add the zest and juice from 4 fat, juicy lemons. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add 2 tablespoons of wine vinegar. Top up to 6 litres with cold water. Add about 50 open Elderflower heads. I stripped most of the florets from the stalks but didn't worry too much if some got through. Then, a really good old stir, a couple of pinches of dried yeast just in case the natural yeasts are feeling a tad lazy,... Continue reading

Ok-sounds weird, I know! It was probably something to do with all the sunshine and yesterday being the longest day. I stopped off on the way home and bought extra lemons and some sugar. Oh, and a bucket!!! Then, in the still lovely sunny evening, a little expedition set forth. Country Dog, CDGirl and CDBoy. We picked Elderflowers till we were dusted with pollen like so many bees. The time was right-I've been watching the flowersopen over the last week or so and they seemed at their creamy beautiful best. Back home it was down to sterilising the bucket and... Continue reading

It's a back to work Monday and so a tempting out of the house breakfast was needed. I created a fresh fruit salad from banana, mango, melon and blueberries, added fromage frais with some cinnamon, and then a few cereal flakes. Then- breakfast bliss - I added four, perfect, rosy red strawberries straight from the garden. Bliss because I got to them before slugs, snails and the birds! Why no photo? - 'cos I've eaten them!!!! Continue reading

What a busy weekend. We wallpapered two walls in the lounge - tricksy paper needing careful matching, so it took us a couple of afternoons. Andthat was before CountryDogBoy blew all the lights! I got up early this morning for another attempt at homemade pasta. This time I put chopped chives in the pasta dough and made two different fillings. One was tuna in a pesto sauce with sage and spring onions; the other, smoked salmon and Camembert. Wow! Much, much later we got to taste them. Pretty yummy especially when served with salad and a pasta topping of walnuts... Continue reading

And here are the same flowers on the now-painted rustic table that we rescued from the borders! Sent from my iPhone Continue reading

It sits beautifully on the kitchen windowsill. Sent from my iPhone Continue reading

Well - I've had a series of strange days where I've not been able to access myblog or anyone else's. Not sure why and I hope all is now resolved. If so, looking forward to writing again... Continue reading

Sent from my iPhone Continue reading

Sent from my iPhone Continue reading

Sent from my iPhone Continue reading

How could I have forgotten this old coal scuttle? Another find, tucked away in the border! Wasn't it just made for planting and giving pleasure? Sent from my iPhone Continue reading

I just adore our wildlife pond and think it's at it's very best in the early morning and late afternoon. Something about the angle of light. Damselflies are frequent visitors and it's full of Water Boatmen and Diving Beetles. So far,the Newts have left their companions in peace - although the tadpoles seemed very short-lived. Sent from my iPhone Continue reading