Away with the fairies!

I am here - honest! Since moving into the cottage on the last day of June, we've had a very stressful time, I think just getting over having to move twice in 6 weeks and then attempting to settle into a smaller place. Lets just say things haven't been going so well with himself, but we're getting over the worst now (thank goodness) so expect to hear more from me very soon.

One other added complication is that our digital camera has gone bust, but hopefully we'll be getting a new one in the next week or so - I hope in time to catch some images of the most glorious Autumn leaves I have seen in a very very long time!

Bye Bye Darling Girl

Last Tuesday, as mentioned in my last post, PC took her last little journey. She was very very tired and, although it was an incredibly tough call to make (always hopeful that she would rally through and improve) she wasn't able to stand on her own and we knew the time had arrived. We'd hoped her little body (which wasn't much heavier than a bag of sugar at the end) would make it's own decision and that she would go in her sleep, but this wasn't to be. I held her in my arms throughout and felt I had done my duty by this feisty little treasure of ours who has been with us for 12 years - we found her in a scrap yard and took her home, the vet at the time thought she was anything between 4 and 8 years old. So our little girl could well have been 20!

She wasn't an angel by any means, but that was part of her appeal :-) She ruled to house with a very loud voice - so much so that Carter, when he arrived nearly 6 years ago, was too afraid to even look at her (and she was the size of his head!) and it was about 18 months before he was brave enough to sniff her... Irreplaceable!

But somehow, even though it's so sad, we are relieved for little PC and can stop worrying about her now. Carter's missing her and has become very clingy - difficult to do when you're a clingy golden retriever anyway ;-) Having a 6 stone dog trying to get on your lap in the constricted space of the caravan is funny to witness!

News on the home front:: we should be moving towards the end of next week. I have some more photos which I will upload in the next few days - and it was fabulous to see the old farm buildings all demolished and lovely golden gravel laid in their place: a ray of sunshine!

Thank you all for your lovely comments, I never think about who is reading my ramblings, but I very much appreciate your thoughts.

TTFN.

Temporarily out of action...

We have been homeless for nearly 4 weeks now, home has been a static caravan behind our local pub (not good!) hence the silence on the blog front, my apologies. I'm accessing it from work at the moment so, ssssh: don't tell :-)

Before all our possessions went into storage, I kept some to one side for our creative team to use for photoshoots for new product. A bit of an ego boost when you see your favourite items used in professional photography. Here's my favourite, showing my beloved grandmother's hand-stitched quilt (English pieced, using old dresses: some I just about remember her and my mother wearing: there's even a fabric or two from my sister's and my dresses too!).























We hope to be in the cottage (sorry, should call it farm as that's the official name) by the end of the month but it will only be the three of us: Himself, Carter and me. PC is failing with her kidney disease and we have made the very difficult decision to take her on her last journey this evening. We're very sad. More another day.

The Golden Legend by Ruskin

The day is done; and slowly from the scene
The stooping sun up-gathers his spent shafts.
And puts them back into his golden quiver.


Isn't that so beautiful? Nothing more to add today...

Hope Springs Eternal

Well, no blogging for a week - intentionally - as I was hoping to have news of the cottage to tell you about.

On Wednesday we were distraught as the owner of the property had set the price too high for our budget. As of last night, we have renegotiated and the Bella Casa is ours! A few week's wait will be worth it as it is such a beautiful setting. I know you don't live in scenery, but the old adage of 'location, location, location' really does apply. So many possibilities, so many plans, so many dreams. I hope I don't wake up - if this really is a dream.

And here is another beauty: the un-named tulip planted last Autumn (un-named because I threw away the label accidentally after planting!). Isn't she a charmer - you have to smile when you see this firework of colour.

Bella Casa

Isn’t she sweet? Definitely a she: curvy, inviting, work-in-progress…!

Fingers crossed, if all works out, this may be our new home. Set in the hills above the Otter Valley in East Devon, this traditional Devon cob cottage is a real gem – I think the local council have forgotten about her as she’s not listed (best to keep schtum, eh?).

Only two bedrooms, with most of the living space downstairs, there’s lots of potential – so much so that I can’t wait to get my itchy fingers stuck in. Carter loves it too as you can see.

The front and back views are a little topsy turvy as the view of the front door is now the back, and vice versa. I suppose originally the access would have been from the bottom of the valley, up the lane (which is now a bridleway) rather than from the top of the hill, off the tarmac road for 200 metres of dirt track. I’d love to find out the history of the place… but, first things first: let’s get it!

Yummy gorgeous - want one...

Isn't this sweet? Can I have one pretty pleeeeeease?

We looked at a cottage not far from our current home and the nearest neighbour is Combe Farm stud, who breed beautiful Arabs. Having owned one for nearly 10 years, which I had to sell before moving to Devon, I always feel a tad tearful when I see such beauty.

Arab horses run in my blood: my grandfather owned an Arab stallion which he rode during his duties in the Polish Cavalry in the 1930's - the only army who would tackle the german tanks on horseback! My mother has memories of being placed on the stallion's back at the age of 3 and being extremely frightened. I, however, seem to go the other way: if frightened by an animal I love them even more... Many a scar and bruise to show for this (fingers crossed no broken bones as yet).

I'm horseless at present, having promised Himself that I wouldn't get another until we have our own land... I did have my fingers crossed though, does that count?!

A Tuscan Proverb

Egg of an hour
Bread of a day
Wine of a year
Friend of a lifetime




Such a beautiful sentiment for a gorgeous morning. When your surroundings are as stunning as this, how can you not be uplifted and joyful to face the day?

Oh what a beautiful morning...

...oh what a beautiful day! Tra la la!!

Here's a short visual tour of our garden in the gorgeous Easter sunshine... I especially love the view from the house to the back, over an orchard where three young ladies usually graze, but they were camera shy today!

Beautiful Blossom

How beautiful nature is at this time of year - the promise of a wonderful spring... hopefully! The scent is glorious and heady.







Here is a glimpse of 'Beauty' planted last Autumn...


And of two types of tulips (I forget which, but will look at the labels later) - I can't wait for these to flower!

Anyone for tea?

Aren’t these glorious? So much fun, even though I rarely drink tea… I’m tempted to knit one. They are from a UK company called Re-Found Objects and can be found here. A great way to create the perfect colour scheme, with a touch of pizzazz in a cutesy sort of way. Am I going daft??

Another gorgeous cosy has been created by the inspirational Jane over at Yarnstorm – wonderful!



Perfect for sitting out on the lawn in the sunshine (of which we have much promised for this Easter weekend – yippee!) so kick back those shoes and chill out… have a lovely weekend everyone!

Two Generations :: 65 Years Apart!

Isn't this a wonderful sight?







Grandmother :: granddaughter :: 65 years apart :: what a wonderful, heartwarming sight!















The look of utter concentration, and I hope pleasure, on my darling niece's face is a pleasure to see. And what's even more lovely is that I taught her to knit only an hour or two prior to this photo!

Make's me feel all warm and ever so slightly tearful....

Dying Spring

Early morning walk, sadness over the daffodils ending, but amazement at the blossom on one of many trees in our garden. I'm sure it wasn't in bloom yesterday - yet this morning, beautiful! An early morning pre-sunrise over the house, a feint tinge of pink from the rising sun, which at this time of year is a huge orb of fluorescent orange-yellow-pink: how else do I describe it?! A chill in the air after yesterday's warmth (in the afternoon the temperature raised to 23 degrees C - astounding for early April) yet today's 6 degrees C in the morning is the norm - I'm not sure about global warming, I've never known English weather to be 'normal' - I still vivdly recall the summer of '76 with standpipes in the streets in London :: and the summer I learnt to ride :: ah, memories...

I Despair...

... at my own ineptitude at maintaining a logical sequence of musings - it has been a long three and a half months since my last post... forgive me father for I have sinned...But I'm back! I continually created posts whilst out walking Carter, experiencing the beautiful countryside which surrounds our home, but as soon as I return home, the musings aregone - like vapours on the wind.

However, I do despair at my lack of moral fibre to maintain a regular communication so I will turn over a new leaf (it IS New Year, isn't it?!?) and try again.

à bientôt...