Change in the air

It's been in the air for a few days, small things like the odd golden leaf and the wind blowing warm but harder. Today even the birds noticed; the swifts are long gone and all afternoon the swallows and housemartins swooped around the house then took turns lining up on the wires, waiting for some unseen signal when they'll leave as one.

In the field I can see from the kitchen window, the tractor is back, mowing the last of the grass for winter hay. We drove to one of our favourite villages over the weekend and on the way home I noticed barns full of bales already safely gathered in and the first field of freshly ploughed, warm, brown earth.

Summer, well what bit we had, is on the slide and inside I can feel the excitement and anticipation building. At home the few recipe books, of this very reluctant cook, are out and plans for hearty suppers, warming casseroles and maybe a chutney or two being made. We're drawing the curtains earlier and earlier and my hunt for thermal linings for this house of huge windows has begun.

There's nothing I like more than preparing for winter and I try to do the odd thing every week from late summer onwards. I know huge snowfalls or ice storms are really unlikely to cut us off from the world but I love the feeling of cosying up our burrow and being ready to batten down the hatches just in case.

So imagine how chuffed I was when I spied this beautiful, beautiful eiderdown at the Collector's Market on Saturday, the perfect thing for my sitting room on chilly evenings. It's in such perfect nick I think it might be a newly made one in a vintage pattern, either that or it's been wrapped up in an attic for years. And it was an absolute bargain, I've seen one this beautiful go on ebay for more than £100 - this was mine for £12!

It makes me happy just to see it in our home. An eiderdown for autumn, I can't wait.

Rain, rain go away!

Can you believe this awful weather. Two summers on the trot with week after week of rain. It's got to the stage now where I'm grateful for a bit of drizzle instead of the deluge. At least the garden has been easy work but I can't really remember the last time we spent any proper time in it.

Sorry to moan, we're all in the same boat (and at this rate I'm going to need one to get to work) aren't we? It's been wet, wet, wet since Barney's birthday party two weeks ago and looks pretty much the same for Archie's this Saturday but we know how to have a good time indoors thank goodness.

Thank you for all the wonderful advice from everyone on my party trauma a few weeks ago, B had "a brillo party mummy" and I couldn't have done it without you all.

I can't tell you how so amazingly reassuring it felt to know that I'm not the only retro birthday girl out there who thinks that children can probably still find party games and making things as much fun as a professional disco and hired entertainers.

Ok cleaning the house (why did I bother?), countless shopping tips for glue, feathers, paint, party food etc, hours on ebay sourcing recyclable paper plates and cups, plus very late nights drawing dragons, making bunting and cutting out castles, swords and fleur-de-liys from all colours of card - very nearly turned me into a nervous wreck but one look at his glitter-covered, chocolate-smeared grin made it all worthwhile. Which is why we do it isn't it.

(That's the five minute ray of sunshine we managed!)

The day our biggest little chap arrived changed our world forever and if I can't make a bit of a special effort to make celebrating it fun and special and something he'll remember, well, I'm not sure I could have sat down and really enjoyed that much-needed glass of rose at the end of an exhausting, fun-filled day.

Everyone is different and I suppose each year will be different but our party at home with just a few friends and their lovely parents was such fun for everyone, so here's to many more. Brillo!

Busy, busy, busy

I'm not quite sure if I'm coming or going? I am so far behind visiting my lovely blogging friends, behind with my own and I'm sure I've just met myself coming in the front door. I'm sorry to be so out of touch at the moment with everyone, the school holidays, finishing my job and getting ready to start the new one, plus the big 5th birthday have left time for little else. Sorry not to be around much but come September I promise to be back in the old routine and fully back in the land of blog. Hope everyone is enjoying the summer, well splashing in the puddles at least.

This little pile of oldish and newish books have been keeping me company over the past few weeks. Reminders of books I had when I was girl and learnt so much from; and books new to me, full of wonderful discoveries like where the potato growing regions of Britain are and which breed of goose flies in first in the autumn. Essential stuff.

Last time we were just about to bob off to the local show, so I thought you might like to see some pictures from the most beautiful day of the summer. Mostly of the bovine variety I admit (the camera batteries gave out before we got anywhere else) but there are some beautiful boys and girls here.

Back soon with news of the birthday party and the very best leaving present ever!

High Days and Holidays

(The first posy of flowers from my garden - you can't believe how excited I was to pick these!)

Finally summer has arrived in the Moorlands in all it's glory. Waking to misty mornings where everything is still and expectant, the boys and I have lolled about the house until well after breakfast, played in the garden in pyjamas while the day gets going then shoved on shorts and sandals for an afternoon out in the woods and fields. No need to rush, no morning panics over forgotten book bags, missing pumps or unpolished shoes. Wonderful.

These are the days I remember best from my own school holidays, what seemed like endless weeks of sunshine, picnics and roly-polying down hills and I hope that's what my little Woodmice will enjoy too. Wet days (not too many please!) will bring trips to town for new shoes, a favourite treat of proper chocolate cake in a proper cafe, visits to the museum and the library and time at home building skyscrapers and city scenes from all the tins and packets in our kitchen cupboards (favourite game of the moment!)

Today we're off to the local agricultural show which is the highlight of my summer. Ours has everything from shire horses to fancy poultry, prize Victoria sponges and gardens on a plate to showjumping, champion cattle and monster tractors. The forecast looks perfect and I love to think of the stockmen from the villages high in the hills, up since dawn hosing down heifers, chalking up the feathered feet of shires horses and herding hot sheep into show pens all for the big day.

In the evening this is where I'll be. Sitting on my little bench while the heat of the day fades and the plants enjoy a drink, watching the farmer bring in the hay from the fields over the road and listening for our frog and the swallows twitter.

England in the summertime, there's no more perfect place to be.

Nice work if you can get it

Despite the dreary, awful, awful weather the skies finally cleared and I got to enjoy one of my favourite summer traditions yesterday even though I was working. I only discovered Open Garden days a couple of years ago but since then I've searched them out and been to as many round our way as I can get to and they're just the best fun for £3 quid I can think of!

Last weekend was our village's day to throw open the garden gates (these pictures are of Winster not my village btw. I forgot to take my camera - oops!). My lovely friend Helen and I had great plans to get around most of them but, typical for us, we got completely distracted by a chance to go up the church tower, have a go at ringing the bells (brilliant!), a delicious cream tea and then plant shopping. We don't hang about when we haven't got our pushchairs in tow! Such a special day.

Yesterday I was in the beautiful Peak District village of Winster, not far from Matlock, in the garden of one of the trustees of the charity I work for, handing out magazines and leaflets and generally promoting what we do. A's garden surrounds a wonderful old house with soaring views so it hardly felt like work at all. Not many garden pics but here's some of the village looking lovely all decked out in its summer finery.

More cream cakes followed (I think this is as much an Open Garden tradition as the plants - hurrah!) I even managed a bit of thrifting whilst I was on my break - a free hose reel. Ok not very exciting but Woody is about to break his neck on my snake of a hose by the back door so I am now very popular.

There's something so special about the sharing of gardens plants and knowledge. As a novice I really appreciate any help and advice and although I haven't got much to pass on myself yet it's lovely to share plants and disaster stories with my friends and family.

It was fascinating watching people coming and going yesterday and eaves-dropping on their plant passions. Everyone was very polite and even if there are things you wouldn't have yourself I love to see how other gardeners put colour and form together. I learnt such a lot and I've got plenty of ideas for my patch next year.

Finally it looks like the weather is perking up just as the holidays start, thank goodness. Hope everyone is basking in the sunshine.

I've got a couple of thank yous to make for two awards I've been kindly given. Thanks to Dolly Dollop who I really admire for being a breastfeeding mentor (what a brilliant thing to do) for this first one and to Schotzy in America, a prolific and very lyrical blogger with a passion for Scotland. Apologies for taking a while to post about these, life's been a bit chaotic recently and I got a bit behind myself. I've forgotten how many people I'm supposed to tag so I'm going to award both of these to these five bloggers who really make me smile! Thank you for brightening up my day!

Funky Monkey

Linen & Roses

Mollycupcakes

Periwinkle

Dragonfly

Isn't she lovely

This beautiful girl has come to live with me. She has been keeping Deb company for a while but the moment I saw her, I wanted ever so much for her to come here and now she has. Deb describes her as having the look of the young Princess Elizabeth and isn't she right. I've got plans to make her a proper home beneath my bevelled mirror which shamefully is still under my bed. Is that a vintage sin d'you think? Maybe I won't ever find a beautiful, shabby treasure ever again - I don't deserve it! Honestly I'll sort it out soon.

For the moment my bedside table is looking much prettier and the colours in the print pick up the colours of my first-ever attempt at a lampshade cover! Now this is bonkers but I feel almost giddy that it's turned out more or less ok. Well actually its a bit short on one side but I'm just concentrating on enjoying it (well apart from the fact I haven't got a long enough extension cable for it but yes, it's on the ever growing list too...)

And look what the postman delivered yesterday - the most fabulous Pay-it-Forward present from Jess who is the such a lovely and creative blogger. A sweet cushion in my very favourite print with pretty bobble trim that I've been admiring for ages, plus some lovely green polka dot fabric that I'm earmarking for a little bag for the bathroom.

Thank you so much Jess for making this for me and for remembering what I like, I'm very touched and ashamed at how forgetful I am because Jess was one of my PIF winners and I still owe her a pressie and my year is almost up! So keep your eyes on the letterbox Jess, there'll be something on it's way to you soon!

And someone else who needs to keep an eye on the letterbox is the delightful Anna of All Things Lovely who is the winner of my blog anniversary giveaway. Not quite sure if the crinoline ladies are quite the decorative touch you're looking for for the cafe Anna but hope you enjoy them!

Deja Vu and a giveaway

July is turning into a bit of a damp squib up here. This time last year we were coming home from a sodden (but beautiful) week in Cornwall and then I was almost washed away on the way home from work as the Sheffield Flood 2007 hit. Things don't look quite so bad yet and the garden is blissful thanks to all the water, but with sports day cancelled today and the holidays approaching I've got horrid visions of damp children, flattened flowers and a chilly old summer ahead.

So the only antidote until things cheer up is to escape to France - every night! I am addicted to the Tour de France. Not that I really know a thing about it or have any sort of grasp on the tactics but it is a glorious thing to watch on a dreary summer's night.

Woody has followed it religiously for years and patiently reminds me of the riders, teams, mountains, speed trial intricacies and technical details every year. The joy for me is the wonderful French TV footage that Sky screen; soaring aerial shots of chateaux, mountain villages with terracotta rooves, acres of rolling corn and lavender fields racing by and vast dark forests at the foot of glowering mountains. (If only I had some pictures, these floral ones are cheering me up no-end though!)

I'm not a great traveller - (I love the journey but feel so typically English and constantly embarrassed about having no clue what to say and not understanding the social niceties abroad) - but the Tour lets me experience France from afar for three weeks and makes me a little braver every year to pull myself together and go back.

It's also a year - around about now - that I started my blog and what a wonderful year it's been. I've made smashing online friendships, discovered the lure of vintage via ebay (ouch!) and learnt to appreciate and see the world around me with wider eyes. I can't express in a few sentences how much I appreciate all the wonderfully supportive, sweet and often really funny comments people have left. Thank you, sharing my little world with such lovely ladies has changed everything for me so much for the better and I will treasure every one.

So, by way of a proper thank you I've got a bit of something to give away.

Does anyone like crinoline ladies? This lovely pair of chair backs have been beautifully embroidered and if not used to decorate your arm chairs would make lovely panels for cushion covers or any craft project people, so much more talented than me, could produce.

One of them has a few tiny missing stitches on one of the hollyhocks but it's hardly noticeable (and I promise I'll give it a quick press too before I send it to the winner!). Everyone who leaves comment will have their name put in the hat to be drawn out by B next week. Thanks again and good luck!

And I've been meaning to pass on the fab, "You make my day" award onto some of my favourite blogs:

Anna at All Things Lovely - for one of the most entertaining blogs I read. I love her jolly style and and she's opening a cafe soon and will be the perfect hostess I'm sure.

Michele at Cowboys & Custard - a favourite of many, always fun and so creative and the leaver of some wonderfully special comments.

Pipany - the sewer of beautiful things, with the sort of home life I crave and all in wonderful Cornwall.

Dev at The Fairy Glade - great minds think alike I think and Dev's post always strike a special chord with me.

Cathy at Pink Green - the allotment queen with a very busy life who's beautiful posts really inspire me and my allotment dreams.