Cake day

It's Friday. A little respite before the next commissions. It's sunny and warm so have already planted the hostas, sweet peas and white delphiniums. From a bare and somewhat depressing garden, we now have the beginnings of something really rather lovely. Box and lavender controls what I hope will be a mad spilling over of all my favourite plants. Honeysuckle climbs next to an old fashioned rambler although methinks it will be next summer that the roses come into their own. We have hydrangeas and lambs tongues and all manner of scented herbs. A large seed parcel is arriving in the next day or so for the last minute summer flowers and I've ordered the white lavender which I've always coveted but have never had before. I've made a very crude bench in a hidden sunny spot. Three piles of bricks and a piece of of wood leftover from the kitchen bench. It suits its purpose beautifully and I'm really rather pleased to have made something lovely and useful out of nothing.

We have the beginnings of our lettuce and peas, broad beans and tomatoes climbing towards the sun - what a happy day when the first harvest comes.

This post was meant to be about cake, but I am somewhat distracted by the joy that 50 foot of greenery can bring.

I hope you make the most of the sunshine this weekend. Now that my family has gone back to New Zealand, we have a weekend of lovely lunches, dinners and drinks with friends that we haven't seen. 

Plus its the Dulwich Festival- I'll be heading to Julian Stairs studio and Hannah James for the artist open days, as well as enjoying the fete on Goose Green. We might be able to squeeze in an antique shop or too in Hastings on Saturday or swing by Sissinghurst.

Happy days...

One for the weekend...

This weekend I'm going to...

Read the beautiful new book from Lena Corwin.

 

Visit Monks House before it closes down for the year. Beyond excited about this one. 

After a romp through the South Downs, we'll eat (or drink) here.

Then on Sunday, we'll go to visit our new 'son', who is just three weeks old, but will look a little like the above when he comes home.

And last, but definitely not least, I'll be making sure everything is ready to go on this as we launch on Tuesday.

Home, family, food and nature - does it get any better?

A myriad of ideas to finish the week with......

He's finally made it. A cabinet for many occasions - kitchen, bathroom, office. Antique pine which we have painted in our favourite Farrow & Ball ( oh to create a paint range.... ) Black. He's available in the shop now...

On to more serious pursuits

Sitting on a bench being idle.....

 There is something extraordinarily restorative in sitting on a bench doing nothing. In summer, a g & t and nothing on your mind. Now that we head into Autumn, a cup of tea and a four legged friend catching some afternoon sun. 

The above is a (terrible) shot of my garden in NZ. A resting spot between furious gardening episodes, or a place for cake with my mum, or a drink and chat with friends. At best though, sitting, doing nothing with my aged pussycat wrapping herself around my legs and two doggies lying in the sun. These are happy days.

Snapping to it, I wondered why I had planted rhubarb amongst the lavender and perennials...... 

Nature knows best

Who was it that said - if all else fails you, turn to nature to be your colour guide? Mother Nature is a very smart lady. She would never put things together that didn't work. As the season is changing, look how the flowers are drained of colour, autumn fruits are ripening and the bleached seed-heads, all work together to create beautiful, restful palettes. 

 The above pictures are from our last visit to Kelmscott. A simply magical afternoon.

One for the weekend...

Bell tent - check!

Lunch and supplies at Bills enroute - check!

Lily ( hoorah for campsites that take dogs.... ) check!

New book candy - check!

Happiness weekend - check! East Sussex, here we come......

How to be idle - something for the weekend!

It is going to be mighty nippy this weekend. However, a rest on a well selected park bench maybe just what you need! A haven in the middle of the city, a park bench gives you the freedom to sit as long as you like and read, eat, smoke, sleep or merely let your brain wander as you watch passers by. You can be alone, with your baby, a book or your friends. A little solitude, a little respite or a little company - all for free.

Wrap up warm and find somewhere with a view near you this weekend.

Image from here

How to be idle - something for the weekend!

The wind in ones hair. Freedom and giggles. On a boat, a cliff or the preferred mode of transport in our family - the pushbike. The exhilaration - the stream of air that caresses a happy face as you free-wheel it down the hill.

It's going to be another windy weekend. Climb a cliff and take in the view, pedal furiously up a hill so you can fly down it, or take to the beach and walk into the wind.

Joyous!

Out - Marylebone Farmers Market

Last of the Autumn bounty and hopefully some sunshine. A delightful way to spend a Sunday morning. Red onions, apples, nuts and pork will be on the list. The first casserole and an apple crumble. Cooking from scratch, from the season, from local and dedicated artisans. Children baking, and making crumble on a Sunday afternoon. It just feels right.

It's the biggest farmers market in London and has a fantastic variety of growers, butchers and bakers.
You can find it here: