Grown

....from our garden.


One thing that will stay are the fruit trees.

Not an orchard by any stretch of the imagination, but I did plant them all - one pear and three apples.

This is an early variety but as for the name, well nice and sweet with a super shiny red coat will do me just fine.


I've spent the last half hour precariously balanced on top of an old and and very, very wobbly ladder tentatively testing, twisting and gently tugging to see if any were ready to fall into my hands.

Rather that then leave them for windfall.

These are far too nice to risk letting the woodlice nibble away on or gather up off the garden floor all battered and bruised with only half an apple left to eat once all the bad bits have been chopped off.

The rest of the family seem to agree too.


xXx

Rip it up

...and start again.

~ Project garden is underway ~

{those in the know will chuckle}

Out with the old and in with the new as they say.

I've been desperate to have a little chill out area in the garden for quite some time now. I guess the end of Summer isn't really the best time to start, but you never know in good old blighty - we still could have that Indian Summer yet plus that's incentive and inspiration for you.

You just never know when it's going to go ping.

Mine has kind of gone more like 'bam' rather then ping, but at least the vision is there now.

It's been hard work in as much of a physical way as it has on the old heart strings - pulling apart an established garden, but I think (hope) that this much needed chop back will make the garden thrive even more and be more of a delight to enjoy.

Fingers crossed (x)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lots of dead wood for a bonfire too.

Right, best get back to doing some more ripping out.

xXx

Autumn Mood

~ Florence and the Machine ~

This is my song for the Autumn - I absolutely love it.

{I love her style too}

Can't wait for the whole album to come out.

Happy Monday.

xXx

Sunshine and Showers

It's a constant dash 'in and out' kind of day today.

On a day when we're trying to get the garden organised before the crazy routines set in again, all this to-ing and fro-ing is honestly starting to wear me down.

So for the next hour (or so) or until the shower clouds disperse, you can find me - backside firmly planted - curled up on the sofa in the window (watching those blasted rain clouds) with a nice cup of herbal and a stack of old mags to keep me company.

Happy weekend.

xXx

Pause

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

xXx

Slowing down time

In these last Summer days, with so much to do, I'm going to be taking it a little bit easier this week or so.

Having fun and enjoying the children before all changes again in less then two weeks.

In their fast paced little worlds where one of them will be taking their first tentative footsteps into an adult world.

The way has been paved forward and I feel like I'm loosing hold of any strings that bound us together - mother and child - like our fingertips are touching, but our reach is just out, slipping away, for the next couple of years or so.....maybe more.

This has got to be one of the most difficult parts of parenting - letting go. Or gearing yourself up to let go.

So while I still have a firm grip - before my little lad is engulfed and the hormones kick in - this is me taking it easy and trying to slow down the pace, before it is fast tracked, completely lost, out of sight.

Happy holidays.

xXx

When in Holland

Have you noticed - this past week - the harvest has been coming in?

If you live in the countryside then I'm sure you have.

Or maybe it's just been down here as the weather has been dry.

We've been stuck behind countless tractors, combines and ploughs all either making their way to or just coming back from the fields all week.

And I can only imagine all the hours and hard work that have been put in to achieve this job.


Now most of the fields we walk or drive past - the very same fields only a couple of weeks ago - are either bare or dusty with the remains of corn stalks scattered all over them or just freshly turned and the first thing that hits your senses is the smell of fresh earth.

Not all the fields mind you. I wonder if this lone one still full of corn will be there by the end of the week.

Though that is in the countryside.

Down here on the coast, row upon row of cabbages have been planted all ready for the Winter.



Anyhow. We haven't really been to Holland, just down the road to Goodnestone where there are some really beautiful walks - amongst other things to see and do.


We located a walk and printed it off in the morning and within an hour (organisation with three kids needed first) we were walking through woods and fields, along country roads and over stiles.


Not a soul in sight, just the hum of a tractor in the distance going about its business and us, walking along, minding our own business, enjoying the view and picking the odd blackberry - plus a handful of sloes.

Chillenden windmill was our destination.

'Yes' we could of just jumped in the car and headed right over there and parked on the very doorstep. But where's the fun in that?

No we walked it - and a very lovely walk it was too.

We sat on the very top step of an old fashioned windmill, eating our lunch and taking in the view, watching the world go by.

Leisurely springs to mind - a leisurely lunch. Now that does sound good don't you think?




We did cheat on the way back though as the walked looped us out and then back in again rather then directly to the village.

But with a little one in tow taking turns to ride on our shoulders, drastic measures were needed.

Instead of using the map we followed the sign posts - only thee quarters of a mile - as the crow flies 'ish!'





So when in Holland, Rome or even just up the road in Kent - if you spot a windmill go make it your destination as it is a beautiful location to have spot of lunch.

Have a fabulous weekend.

xXx

Nifty little gadget

I'm pretty so, so when it comes to gadgets. It has to be time saving and money well spent in my books. I'm still debating whether the dishwasher falls into this category even now.....ten years on!

So when it came to the instant ice lolly maker I was initially 'yeah - that sounds great' but I had my reservations.


This isn't a gadget I've been given and asked to say nice things about by the way - I can't think of a time that has ever happened to be honest. Though I do know other bloggers do.

No - this is purely a gadget I purchased (with Mr B's heard earned money) to try and make the ice lolly argument a little easier in our household. And 'oh boy' we've had a few. If you're a regular reader then I'm sure you will remember.


Plus we like to make things around here - good old fashioned wholesome stuff - and I always kind of have in my head......if my grandmother could, if all these modern day appliances were available to her (in her day) to help make her life a little easier and take those nigglesome aches and pains out of her housewife/mothers body - then would she?

Like me I'd like to think yes.......on some things. Vacuum cleaner - absolutely, washing machine - with out a shadow of doubt. Dishwasher - still not sure!

Anyhow, in my defence, I have tried to make no churn ice cream - the kids didn't like it. I ended up eating the lot and that's no good for my little fat thighs.

Ice pops/lollies just took too long and pure old ice cream in the ice cream maker is OK, but the bowl is too darn big so like the lollies - I have to plan way in advance.


Now I know that this 'nifty little gadget' has a unit you have to freeze in advance, but compared to the ice cream maker bowl it is tiny in comparison and I can justify (in the Summer) keeping it in the freezer. Autumn and Winter will be a completely different matter.

And I have to say that even though we made these (instant) ice lollies back in June - I haven't been holding onto them since then, we did eat them immediately - and even though the unit was left in the freezer for all of July - weather related. Say no more! But so far - for August - it has been a huge success.


The kids get involved - which they love - plus it means they are far more likely to eat any concoctions we come up with and we make them from all natural ingredients.

In June it was strawberries and now August it's blackberries.

Gawd knows what it'll be in September if we have the Indian Summer we are all hoping for!

Apple puree............maybe.

Have a brilliant, beautiful day.

xXx

these were homemade strawberry ice lollies - many recipes can be found online - drizzled with white chocolate (once the lollies had set) and sprinkled with chocolate uummmmmmm, sprinkles before the white chocolate set.

Conclusion - deeeeeeeelicious!

Water Babes

Like all good parents we decided to leave the water sports to our water babes at the weekend.


Suited, but not booted they were perfectly dressed for the joyous water fest occasion.




Okay, so we all watched the boats bobbing about on the horizon from the comfort of the beach - a usual Sunday morning occurrence.

All shimmering together when ever the sun dared peek her face out from behind those leaden clouds making the colours almost pop in front of our eyes and with such tranquillity they almost seemed like they were delicately resting on the waves rather then racing.



To be honest I'm more of a spectator then participant when it comes to wide open spaces of water - especially under a pregnant cloud filled sky all ready to burst at any given moment.

You know the ones - the ones that make the breeze gently pick up encouraging the waves to rhythmically crash upon the shore.


Great stress busting for jumping, kicking, punching and even slamming though it can be said, just as nice to feel them smoothly rise and fall against your legs pushing you deliberately backwards and forwards.........backwards and forwards.




Here's to the start of another new week and the steady (enjoyable) plod of the Summer holidays.

Hope you're having fun?

xXx

Out and About

Out and about on an evening stroll.

As the sun dips below the horizon and the tide is almost out to its farthest point.

Seagulls swoop and call to one another as little ones race along the stretch of sand, stopping only now and again to investigate a rock pool.


Out and about on an evening stroll.

Forget the sun catchers - this is one of 'the best' times of day to be on the beach.


Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

xXx