For our English Rose!

I thought that you would like to see our garden in June especially as when you were here in January it was covered in snow !

Our beautiful climbing rose which is a David Austin rose called "Gertrude Jekyll"
is in full bloom and the best it has ever been. Do you recognise your cookery basket from about 18 years ago which I unearthed from the loft recently- it looks much better filled with flowers, doesn't it!

The goldfinch are still using the bird feeder and now I keep finding thistle seedlings
underneath it... and the pansies are the ones that I planted just before you arrived last November so the garden would have a bit of colour but we had the snow instead which was much more fun... and so far the slugs and snails haven't done too much damage to our hostas...

I made them myself!!

I bought these fabrics from one of the many wonderful fabric shops in the Montemartre district of Paris ...

The skirt was made from NewLook pattern 6565 and the dress from NewLook pattern 6778 ...

the dress was quite difficult to get a good fit around the neckline but the skirt was really easy and I might make another one ... Stella McCartney should be really worried!!!!!

The Magic of the English Lake District

Delicate wild violets...

pretty waterfalls...

The facade of Lowther castle ...

Little Salkeld Mill which is still a working flour mill - we always stock up on flour for bread making...it has a brilliant cafe serving home made organic lunches and delicious cake...

We had a wonderful week in the English Lake District and I always feel as though it is my spiritual home. My grandmother was born in Penrith and she always talked about it with much affection. The picture above is of my very favourite lake- Ullswater ...

there are always plenty of sheep..

and dry stone walls typify the beautiful scenery..

the loneliness of the fells especially Fusedale...

the tranquil Lake Derwentwater ...

Birthday fairy cake for Mabel !

Made this cake for my grandaughter's 4th Birthday tomorrow- hope that she likes it...

memories of Paris!

Enjoyed the busy Montmartre district...

and just had to see "Mona Lisa"at the Louvre and battle with the
crowds to get a photo...

drooled over the beautiful pastries in the Boulangeries!

srolled over the River Seine...

sometimes it is possible to escape the hustle and bustle...

enjoyed the atmosphere at the pavement cafes...

and the romance of the Sacre Coeur

Loved the majestic Notre Dame

and the pavement artists in Montmartre...

and had to go right to the top of the Eiffel Tower with the thousands of tourists...


Had a wonderful four day break in Paris and found it really beautiful and interesting ... we travelled on the metro , spent hours marvelling at the works of Art in the Louvre and Musee D'Orsay, enjoyed delicious meals at cosy French bistros, strolled along the banks of the Seine,
loved the French wine, pastries and baguettes,
Hope to return again some day...

Beautiful English manor house on the Brockhampton Estate...

On a warm and sunny October day I visited Brockhampton Estate in Herefordshire and was amazed at the beautiful and romantic timber framed manor house which dates back to the late 14th century. It was picture perfect and still had roses rambling round the door in full bloom... It is surrounded by a lovely cottage garden and a large damson orchard and to walk amongst it all was like being transported back in time to a more tranquil era...

September sunshine...

A few late blackberries- I have picked about 5 kg from the hedgerows this year

brightly coloured Hawthorn berries

a corn field after the harvest...

Enjoyed a lovely walk in late afternoon sunshine across my local fields - a little oasis amongst an urban sprawl... It has been an "Indian Summer" for the last week and long may it last...