Lavenderhouse

When stressed visit a lavender field

Perhaps you would like to listen to this music whilst we chat.

Saturday saw disgusting drizzly, driving rain that made us all grumpy.  The children were naughty and it really was all too much.  We are used to being outside for hours on end enjoying nature and the sunshine.  My family are not designed to be indoors near TVs or computers (blogging is the exception!).  During this mayhem my lovely friend Sarah texted me a blank text message.  Looney I thought!  Then I pressed view and she had sent me a gorgeous photograph of a lavender field.  As you can tell it looked so good that the above photograph is me standing in the very same field the next day - Sunday.  This photo was accidently snapped by Skyla as she pottered about with the camera.  When I downloaded the photographs I was really captivated by the contrast of the lavender and the aqua beads of my bracelet. 

The marvellous Lordington Lavender Farm have had two open weekends, inviting the public in to walk amongst the lavender, bees and butterflies.  The children gasped as we walked down the little hill from the farm carpark to see a beautiful purple field. 

I loved the individuality of this cheery yellow flower growing amonst all that purpleness!

Pasha took this lovely photograph of this butterfly.  She was most impressed to discover in a butterfly book this weekend that there is actually a butterfly called a two tailed Pasha. 

There were literally hundreds of bees and butterflies flitting about to be captured on film.

There were masses of ladybirds too, which the children loved picking up and then finding them on their clothes as they had all (unplanned) worn lavender blue or turquoise and were attracting nature.

Definitely the best place to be when stressed, is in the middle of a wonderful lavender field.  We all came home, via a run around in the park in Arundel too, feeling a lot better. 

I just have to say a big thank to three very special friends, Sarah, Nadia and Louise who have been really brilliant recently.  Thank you sooooooooooo much. 

I would also like to apologise too for being a bad blogger re: comments.  I started to write here about how I was failing to leave comments on some blogs - the truth is I am a dinosaur technologically sometimes and cant always work out how to leave a comment plus some people leaving comments on my blog have no link direct to their blog - bottom line THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LEAVING COMMENTS I DO TRULY REALLY APPRECIATE IT.  I surf blog land preferring to read blogs rather than depressing newspapers so I am often reading all about you all.  Have a great week!

I capture the castle photography

My mind is a whirl wind at the moment .... I am trying to focus on the fact that soon, very soon, my house will be part of the Art Trail for Worthing.  I thought I had very little done but last night I wrote a list and I was surprised to find that I had actually done quite alot - I am sure when I rewrite that list next week that I will be shocked to find actually how little I have completed!!

A major part of my work for Open House is to launch a photography business called 'I capture the Castle Photography'.  My intention is to charge a fee to visit people's homes.  I would work closely with them to discover and record the things that they love about their families and homes.  I will photograph them and then design a fantastic memory photobook for them to keep and cherish.   

Canvases would also be available.  For example, these photographs are really personal to us and make us smile and happy.  Other people may not get it - but these are our memories.  The photograph on the left is of a set of mixing/serving bowls that we use every day and love.  The second canvas is a pair of Pasha's flip flops that are so cheerful.  The background is a piece of artwork by Pasha. 

I have been busy making felt to turn in to pictures and corsages.  Hopefully that final stage will happen!

I want to stay and chat but have so much more to do ........... so lastly, we are in love with this funny song.

Happy Smile

Good morning!  It is a good job that blogging is a typing communication as currently I am hyperventilating at the combination of colours in these photographs.  Today is an extremely dull grey day here by the coast and it probably makes these beautiful colours seem even brighter.

I bought the left over beads from the school fair and we have been making keyrings for Open House here.  The children and I spent a lovely evening last night watching Nanny McPhee, threading beads and tickling playful kittens.

The weekend was summery .........  Friday saw the local Rainbow group receiving their badges and playing games on the beach.  My friend and I hid our wine until they had all gone and then some of the Mums enjoyed us for a glass before going home windswept and salty.  That sounds terrible doesn't it!  Saturday saw an influx of two more children staying here and we had a long day on the beach pottering about and BBQing.  (I could do a Which Report on disposable BBQs!)  Sunday we had some friends over and Sam bought me these gorgeous sunflowers.  They always make me so happy to look at. We relaxed on the beach enjoying the last of the gorgeous sunshine.

This hopefully will make you laugh if you are not already cheered up by all the bright colours.  Jasper and I decided it would be funny to put our email address on this duck and send it out to sea.  We found a message in a bottle at the weekend but it had only travelled about five beaches along from the pier so we chucked it back again.  Anyway, the tide was low and Jasper set about sending the duck off .....

So off he went in the crystal clear water ...........

He kept going, it involved chucking it out to sea now ........... but it just wasn't going anywhere.

So we still have it!  We will say goodbye to the duck when the sea is rough and just turning so hopefully the tide will take him out to sea.

Did he just wink?

A nice discovery

How exciting (for me anyway!) amongst all the Pinot Grigio sipping, late nights on the beach, burnt foot from standing on the hot pebbles where the BBQ had been (not a Pinot Grigio related incident I would just like to point out!) I discovered my power zoom/macro lens super dooper facitility on my camera - yeah!

So when some killjoy says to you that nature is sooooooo boring then just point out how brilliant and vibrant the colours are.  Summer flowers this year are truly stunning.

I just need to remember to keep watering them ....... Something I didn't think was going to be a problem when the sound of mediterranean thunder came rolling in the other night bringing a little refreshing rain and dark stormy clouds the next morning.  I sat on the beach contemplating that the REAL BRITISH SUMMER was here - boo hiss!!!!

Fortunately a few minutes later the sun came out. 

Saturday - today is grey and gloomy but we have five children here today and tonight.  I just think to myself we would have gone on the beach during a normal summer so just because it isn't that gorgeous fantastic sun we have been having that we musn't stay inside and hide.  Although the children did chill out this morning and watched a DVD first thing - strange choice though - Polar Express!

Sunshine

Peonies are positively my most favourite flower.  I just couldn't get the light right at homes so I photographed them on the beach - any excuse to get down there!  My Mum gives me a bunch every year.  I am sure the season does not usually last this long.  I have been so pleased watching them unfurl from tight buds to beautiful frothy flowers.

 

Life, although stressful for the same reasons as everyone else, is somehow very magical at the moment.  I checked my blog for one year ago and I had typed in capitals - tell the wind to stop blowing.  That would have meant cold trips to the paddling pool and beach, poppy petals being ripped from their stems and very bad hair days!

Instead we have been basking in summer holiday sunshine.  It is almost a sin for children to go to bed on time when the sun is out in strength.  The pebbles hold the heat when the sun has gone, keeping us down there even longer.  The children cleverly ask for one more swim before we leave the beach (usually @ 8.30 pm - don't tell their teachers!!!).  It is hard to refuse children such good exercise.  Apart from this Sunday morning the TV hasn't been watched by the children for weeks and we don't have computer games vying for their attention - their hair is bleached by the sun and wavy like they have already had their 6 weeks summer holiday.  

I have enjoyed doing a few watercolours on the beach - sorry that should be messing around with paint.  I cannot paint anything properly but I love the colours merging together, something I love about felting too.

Today, 20 of us met on the beach for a BBQ.  The sniff of suncream, the seasalt and sizzling BBQ sausages literally was heaven.  The twelve children played beautifully together.  I have a garden trug that I have constantly filled with plastic bowls and cups.  Just peeking in that trug makes me happy as it signifies happy gatherings. 

A large pile of sarongs gathered from different holidays teeters in my wardrobe.  I would not dare wear one on its own but have taken to wearing one like a little skirt over my cropped trousers.  I cannot resist the summery colours.  Somehow, summer and that holiday feeling increase ten fold when a sarong is involved.

This year I planted more lillies in the garden - I didn't know nature produced such vibrant colours - how mad is this yellow! The clashing of the purple and yellow are so uplifting in the hot sunshine.  I love watering the garden at the moment as the smell of the earth wafts up, mingling with the scent of lavender and rosemary.

 

Last week I helped on the school trip to Wakehurst Place, which was an absolute pleasure.  They hold the largest seed bank in the world.  One project the children had to do was make a picture using fruit and vegetables.  My daughter started to make the picture of the man anatomically correct - it had to be my daugther, didn't it! ....... off for more outside cooking tomorrow - I really encourage you to try it too as it involves no sweeping up or hoovering of crumbs (something I hate doing) .......  have fun!

Summer Loving

Isn't this just the most amazing poppy.  Friends have been very generous to me recently - some  letting me photograph their houses for projects that I have in mind, thoughtful emails - whether funny (Nadia) or informative with things that I might like (Greedy Nan - thank you - yes I do like it very much!) and friends like Katharine who have done us all a favour by recommending this fantastic book - A Little Love Song which is similar to I capture the castle - I have ordered it and cannot wait to read it. 

Yesterday my husband and I grabbed some time for ourselves in the current madness of life.  We drove through the countryside and had lunch in a quintessential English pub.   I love having my kids at home but there is something magical about having a grown up lunch with my mate, holding hands across the table and listening to bird song and summer roses perfuming the air. 

We had tea on the roof terrace again and remembered the marshmallows!   A BBQ really is complete with a googey stick of sweets.

The wind had picked up last night so we put the windbreak up from deckchair stripes and it really looked wonderful.  The nights are so light at the moment that we haven't had to light the lanterns yet - that brings a whole new atmosphere to the roof terrace.   We love to put cushions and rugs out and stare at the stars in the August (it was completely rained off last year so fingers crossed.)  Have a lovely day!

 

Midsummer Magic

About a hundred years ago (!) my husband and I got engaged on midsummer's day.  This weekend we went out for dinner in Brighton and then wandered round watching the eclectic mix of people who were either staggering around and/or just enjoying themselves.  There was lots of young love and passion about .... something to be celebrated.  

I am so aware that the best time of year for sitting in the garden or on the beach in the evening is right now!  I long for a brief blast of the hot sun that we had at half term.  I indulged in sangria on Friday evening and lots of ice ....

Andrew and I sorted out the pot plants on the roof terrace and the children tidied out their shed (their equivalent to a tree house).  Then we lazed, drank wine and had a BBQ.  A perfect end to a midsummer's day.   This was made even better by watching 'I capture the castle'.  The book is our current bookclub read.  I love it like so many of you out their in blogland.  It is a great romance, some of it is very funny and there are engaging characters in it such as their bohemian step mother who is extremely young - Topaz.

 At one point in the film the father is locked in with a typewriter and bare essentials of bedding and food and made to write 'just anything'.  I love the idea that even then, the idea of being 'unplugged' from the outside world could kick start our creativity (I realise the contraindiction in terms for me, as I am obviously tapping at the keyboard to blog this!). 

  

I have been felting this week and enjoyed making this bag amongst other pieces of felt.  Felting is definintely like bread making, some nice kneading involved.   Sarah and I made felt the other night as there was a complete lack of films to watch at the cinema.  It was very therapeutic and she is always very good company - fanx Sarah!

I need to rethink the handle on this but was desperate to finish the bag.  Felting is definitely a marmite textile.  You either love it or hate it.  I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!  I am going to hopefully run some workshops so if anyone is interested then please let me know - I am based near Brighton. 

Things to make you smile!

Do you have funny bizarre days?  You know things that make you giggle.  Last Friday the first thing I had to do at school was make green tissue paper bogeys to stick up the nose of a really large wicker and tissue paper head that had been made for the Children's Parade - where is that in the Guide Book of being a Mum! 

Today I was doing the shopping and I heard this loud noise and shriek from the other side of the shopping aisle.  Suddenly there was a landslide of frozen chickens and this poor lady was standing knee high in frozen birds.  I had to wedge the freezer door shut until a member of staff could come and help.  Both of us were giggling away. 

When I got home I went down on the beach to photograph this sunflower and write 'Happy Dad's Dad' in the sand for a Father's Day card.  I had a quick look around for a stick and found this one - it made me laugh - it had a bic pen lid on the end!  It was perfect for writing in the sand!

Don't you just love the gorgeous sparkling sea and the vivid yellow of the sunflower together.  Hope you manage to catch a few rays today and a sniff of fresh air.

 

Spencer is settling in well and making himself at home .....

Welcome to Spencer!

Did you have a wonderful weekend?  I did!  I missed my family greatly though and worried and fretted about leaving Rafferty home alone as we all went away this weekend.  We have a wonderful cat minder who came in and gave him a hug and fed him - her name is Christmas - how fantastic is that!  The children and my husband visited Grandparents and sat by burning logs in the garden until 2 am in the morning - OMG! = boy am I going to pay for that one.  I think I will need a cattle prod to get at least two of them up in the morning.  Fortunately Pasha is related to the blackbird family and is up at dawn!

I escaped to my friend's house, which is right on the beach but has an amazing garden too.  We sat on the terrace, drank wine, chatted and knitted for the whole weekend!!!!!!!!!   Yes - I finally learnt to knit care of the very talented Claudia. 

The garden was an absolute riot of colour, full of cottage garden flowers but dominated by splendind poppies.  I knitted in variations of red and marvelled and the brightness and beauty of gorgeous flowers around me. 

I have been gearing up for Open House and last week enjoyed making some mosaics.  As you know, the whole week came to a grinding halt with the death of our lovely kitten, Ferris.  I immediately went on the search for another kitten as I felt a new focus would definitely help the children deal with his loss.  I wish I had taken a photo of the list of names that everyone has been thinking up for our new kitten.  William was suggested - yes, so Willy could be shouted loudly outside the front door, or Bogey - yes, same reason but finally we have decided on Spencer for this perfect little chap.   I'm not sure how much Rafferty understands.  One minute his brother has gone and then next minute a mad little ball of ginger fluff has appeared  ...... as my husband says - I don't think they think about things the same way we do actually! 

The mosaic of life

I don't know where to start really.  Lucy at Attic 24 always describes my blog as a stream of consciousness.  Well, here goes .......  life has been particularly lovely recently.  The weather, my children, spring then the unexpected summer, flowers and the growing sense of things coming together. 

These flowers have been an absolute joy to be near and have been on the table where I had been making some mosaics for Open House this morning.  I was cutting tiles and sticking when the phone rang.  The man on the other end of the phone said he had bad news.  He told me that Ferris, our adventurous kitten, had been found and was dead. 

Ferris had not been missing but was on constant adventures.  All my neighbours knew him as he was quite happy walking in and out of their houses.  I warned my children that he would not last long as he had no fear whatsoever of roads, people, cars etc.  He would happily come and sit with us while we sat on the beach wall having a cup of tea or watching the children ride their bikes up and down the prom. 

So when these three little poppets get home from school I am going to have to tell them.  I am not looking forward to it at all. 

I used to work in the NHS and that place is a great reminder that there is always someone much worse off than  you, no matter how poo poo your day is.  I am just glad we had recently really taken stock of everything and had even lit a little celebration candle to celebrate both the kittens.  Click here if you want to read the story.

There you have it - I think life is like patchwork or a mosaic.  Somehow it all fits together, all the pieces make a whole.  Each bit is necessary - good or bad.  We will really miss Ferris.  We are just glad we had him for his short little life.  Go and hug your children, snog your partner and tickle your pets - remember to get that in the right order ....