Visiting the Past

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a little girl I lived in the past in my head. I wanted to live in a castle with a moat, use a longbow and ride in tournaments. Whenever we visited somewhere, usually with our mum and dad's trusty National Trust card, I was completely transported, off on an adventure in another world.

Little Moreton Hall isn't all that far from us but I've not been back for years and thought we'd take the boys for an explore. It really is astonishing and shouldn't still be standing up. There are sloping floors, wonky walls, twisty staircases and hidden hidey holes. I love it.

NT activities are brilliant for kids and our two spent absolutely ages writing stories with quills. Outside the knot garden and moat are great to explore and I think there'll be another visit with a picnic, on a warm sunny day, sometime soon.

Heralding Spring

I've always wanted to wear flowers in my hair, but never really had the chance. I was a bridesmaid in my 30s and a circlet headband wasn't quite the done thing.

So, discovering this beautiful idea from www.decoratersnotebook.wordpress.com that I came across via Laura and Lou was a bit of a childhood dream come true. 

Making a spring or primavera crown is so easy and a chance to indulge in your feminine side if you like. In medieval times young women wore crowns of May blossom in their hair to mark the changing of the seasons and I really enjoyed marking that in a little way.

When the showers stopped today I for foraged in the garden for ivy, narcissi, primroses and primulas and spent a lovely time making and snapping. Now my teeny blooms are on the kitchen table to enjoy. Happy days x

Shop Local - #theyearinbooks

It might be shrouded in fog today but my little town is still looking beautiful. 

It's battled hard through these tough times and doing great,thanks to some really positive people who live and work here and fight for it. (I'm at the cool hairdresser's this morning - I'm not cool at all but they're lovely - and how fab are these tables!) Now we've got more ace independent shops than you can shake a stick at, including what I think is the best bookshop in the world.

Although I've been hopeless about blogging about it, I've been joining in with Laura's http://circleofpinetrees.com/category/the-year-in-books/ marvellous project #theyearinbooks 

I don't get into town as often these days to physically choose a book in the shop, but they do have a great ordering service and I can collect when I pop in. If, rarely, they can't get what I want I came across this ace alternative to Amazon, recommended to me on twitter. 

Through Hive Books http://www.hive.co.uk/books/books/01/ you can still get a great discount but also choose to support your local bookshop who get a donation from the sale. What a great idea! And of course your local bookshop pays tax too! I'll be buying all my online books this way. Maybe worth a look? 

(Please be aware this is a genuine post about my passion for supporting local shops and businesses. I've not been sponsored to say this x)