✴ winkworth arboretum...

...on a cold, wet sunday afternoon.

Starting with a very welcome pit stop for hot soup and cheese toasties in the cafe and deciding that the rain was probably not going to stop any time soon, we braved the cold and drizzle of the great outdoors.

Suitably attired in wellies and waterproofs it was evident that it really wouldn't take too long for the littlest member of the group to end up with soggy and mud splashed trousers after a good session of puddle jumping. 

Despite picking probably the worst afternoon to visit this idyllic National Trust spot, everything still looked beautiful and spring like. Patches of daffodils and snowdrops carpeted the mulchy earth and raindrops clung to budding branches like crystals, catching small rays of light through the dark ominous clouds above. Delicate pale green lichen hung from branches looking like clusters of seaweed washed up and left behind by the salty sea. So pretty. 

After a bit of wandering and a lot of pondering over a damp and just slightly bit confusing map we eventually came across an old, weather worn boathouse. Believed to have been built around the turn of the century, the National Trust have kept it quite untouched and rustic inside with a few oars nestled in the rafters, a slightly crumbling wooden canoe on the floor and fish trophies on the walls. A couple of comfy whicker settees and chairs have been placed by the open doors leading to the small balcony over looking the lake and on a side table, an old chess set, perhaps to while away the long tedious wait for a bite { I don't really get fishing...}. The perfect place to hide out from the rain with a hot flask of tea....um...if only we'd been so prepared..!

A walk in the woods on a rain soaked day which holds such romantic captivation for lovelorn couples can be tantamount to trauma with a toddler in tow. For many reasons; 

one, a small person will positively insist on holding the map/umbrella/camera... in fact anything other than your hand... two, a small person is incapable of walking along a designated path choosing instead the most muddiest embankments, deepest puddles and steepest verges and any other route with a slight element of danger, along which to tread... three, at some point, and maybe even more than once, a small person is guaranteed to 'step out' of a wellie boot and will therefore require carrying the rest of the way back to the car while bemoaning the "wet sock..." they are now sporting.

Happy weekend.

✴ wintry tones :: golden brown

{vintage finds::dewy mornings::mince pies with the mamas::baking gingerbread::sleeping pusscats::

displaying treasures::nightlight hooking::richmond park::dead leaf bundles}

This post should probably be called silence is golden because after a traumatic tearaway toddler  afternoon, the little lady of the house finally relented to a long overdue nap...phew...

I'm packing for a little Cornish getaway. I'm hoping that todays bright blue sky and golden afternoon colours continue into next week. I'm imagining blustery beach combing days, afternoon teas and cosy, toasty evenings spent curled up hooking by a log burner...bliss.

I've packed all the unfinished projects, I wonder how many will still be unfinished on our return...?

Have a wonderful wintry weekend. Wrap up warm. x

✴ seed heads

Autumnal walks on bright crisp days collecting seed heads. Always amazed at the beauty in the dead and dying flora at this time of year. 

I think these spidery seed heads just look so beautiful in their dark skeletal form simply placed in a pressed glass vase on an off white vintage doily and rare October sunlight casting delicate shadows. So pretty, so simple.

I'm so in awe of the beautiful prints by Angie Lewin, of seed heads, feathers, grasses and other natural forms. Love the fabric from St Jude's. I'm dreaming of cushion covers and framed prints in a bright new kitchen destined for next year....

 Always inspired at this time of year for it's design inspirations, colours, textures and influences.

✴ out of season

There is something enchanting and a little bit magical about a British seaside on a grey blustery day, out of season.

Ghostly, with remnants of Victorian architecture, dilapidated and rusting from the harsh salty sea. It saddens my heart to see the deterioration and loud, tacky intrusion of the rides and the games arcades.

Why is no money invested into the restoration of these British treasures?

Once, amazingly grand and beautifully ornate.  Now, run down and slowly crumbling into the sea. 

 Promenade :: Pavillion :: Esplanade 

Candy Floss :: Peppermint Rock :: Fish & Chips

{Sunday in Southsea}

✴ she says...

It's turning chilly, she says.... Not so. Today was glorious. Oh, bank holiday weekend weather, how I doubted you.

At Wisley today, because, well, we thought the weather would be rubbish and didn't plan anything spectacular. Hooray for RHS membership and only a hop skip and a jump away to the gardens of loveliness!!

There was much walking running after an energetic toddler, quack quacks and dribbly chin ice-cream eating, yum. Hello Summer!

I was just in love with this gathering of purple alliums outside the glasshouse. Just shrubbery last time we visited, and now look! I love their fuzzy pompom-ness!

I love that Wisley changes every time I visit.

✴ following patterns

The weekend was warm and bright and bathed in a soft golden light so perfect for walking out.

I've been on a bit of fabric and haberdashery bender, so to speak. So I seemed to notice patterns and textures everywhere.

It all looked so beautiful and defined in the spring light, man made architecture and natural flora alike.

I love finding inspiration in the great outdoors!

Pattern spotting at Painshill Park

Fascinating flora at RHS Wisley

✴ freezing

On Esher Common.

Bbbrrrrrrrr!

✴ peepo

The past few days have been a breath taking cold white blanket of beauty and a reminder of Christmases past, of sleighing, snowball fights and building the best snowman.

Looking through the bedroom shutters in the morning, it's the sort of day where hopping back under the duvet and watching a good film with a large mug of tea, a couple of chocolate biscuits and cuddling a hot water bottle while wearing thick woolly socks and two pairs of pyjama's (darn those 1930's house draughts!) is by far the best way to spend the day and avoid those totally unprepared travel operators ( I mean, really? It's Britain not the Bahamas, is it that much of a shock??!) and slippy ungritted paths.

Alas though, it would seem an almost one year old has a whole other idea of how to spend the day.

However this does include endless chuckling games of peepo with a magician style shout out of 'Ta Da' at the reveal, and who would have thought it was Miss Ella hiding behind that mucky bib??

It is a good way to spend a day indoors if you ask me!

Ta Da!

✴ on the first day...

Today was a bright, brand spanking, new day and we took ourselves off for a frosty winters walk in Painshill Park .

The last few days of the old year were grey, gloomy and drizzly. This day, the very first of this sparkling new year was bright and beautiful with a warm winter sun and clear blue skies over frost bitten rivers and sugar dusted hills.

We wandered through this park like being in a fairytale land passing victorian follies, gothic towers, giant cedar trees and a turkish tent high on a hill with a breathtaking view.

A large flock of geese pecked at the grass along the footpath because the lakes were frozen and no place for a swim or a sleep.

Hidden in between the trees we could just about make out various shapes of old ruined buildings and a surprising and seemingly out of place well tended vineyard!
Other than the squabbling quacking and hissing of the geese and ducks at each other and the occasional chirp of the birds in the trees the only other sound to break the peace was the gentle whirr and slushing of a water wheel.

Miss Ella for once, didn't try hard to pull off her mittens and hood because it was cold...very cold! Bbbrrrr...!