I started this blog just over a year ago, intending to focus on my progress towards redundancy and self-employments. Over the year I have been seriously distracted by gardens and cats and baking and now I actually am self-employed I think I need to focus on the sewing and craft side of my life. However, I have loved writing about the gardens I visit and the marmalade I make and the cute things our two cats do, so I have decided to keep two blogs!
My sewing and crafting 'work' blog and website:
Deerey Me!
and
My garden, cats, baking diary:
Deere Diary
I am sorry to have to redirect you, but there is a link on both blogs to the older posts here. I hope you enjoy the new formats!
Tuesday 28 May 2013
Sunday 26 May 2013
the Courts garden at Holt
There's a bright golden haze on the meadow...! Yes, I love a sunny day so yesterday Mark and I headed off to Holt to the National Trust's The Courts. It is such a beautiful place - just the right balance between formal gardens with manicured lawns, ponds and channels of water, strangely shaped hedges etc and wild areas of buttercups and Queen Anne's Lace.
The vegetable and fruit garden is particularly fine; allium and violas snuggling between the rows of veg and blossoming fruit trees. I have long coveted a rhubarb forcer like this one (will add it to my Christmas list).
It was such a lovely day, there were more visitors than I have seen there before - including several extended families picnicking in the less formal areas, and this little fella exploring the gardens and rushing up to anyone who would make a fuss of him...
...what a garden to play in!
It was so hot and sunny, I had to do my English rose act in a wide-brimmed hat.
For a little shade, this tree was perfect.
Even when we left the gardens, plants in the village were competing...this clematis montana seems set on world domination!
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| the Courts at Holt |
The vegetable and fruit garden is particularly fine; allium and violas snuggling between the rows of veg and blossoming fruit trees. I have long coveted a rhubarb forcer like this one (will add it to my Christmas list).
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| rhubarb forcer |
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| the Courts at Holt |
It was such a lovely day, there were more visitors than I have seen there before - including several extended families picnicking in the less formal areas, and this little fella exploring the gardens and rushing up to anyone who would make a fuss of him...
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| little black cat |
It was so hot and sunny, I had to do my English rose act in a wide-brimmed hat.
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| reflections of an English rose |
For a little shade, this tree was perfect.
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| beautiful tree at the Courts, Holt |
Even when we left the gardens, plants in the village were competing...this clematis montana seems set on world domination!
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| clematis montana on a mission |
Friday 24 May 2013
a little piece of art deco gorgeousness
Queen of teapot temptation, Scrapiana, had the most wonderful art deco teapot in her Etsy shop and I just couldn't resist!
The removable shiny thermal cover is pure genius.
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| art deco gorgeousness in a teapot |
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| art deco teapot and cover |
The removable shiny thermal cover is pure genius.
Sunday 19 May 2013
the American Museum at Claverton
As threatened, here are a few photos I took today at the American Museum. I am always tempted by the lovely tussie mussies, but resisted today as I still have a nice vase of tulips.
Mark and I never can resist dressing up at museums and stately homes...have you seen this darn varmint?
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| the American Museum in Britain, Claverton |
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| beautiful views from the American Museum |
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| Spring flowers at the American Museum |
Mark and I never can resist dressing up at museums and stately homes...have you seen this darn varmint?
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| public enemy number 9 1/2 |
To round off a lovely day I made my first ever tarte tatin - not hugely pretty, but jolly tasty!
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| my first ever tarte tatin |
all dressed in white
This year we managed to get to Lacock in the few weeks when it is entirely dressed in white. The terrible Winter has meant everything is a little later this year, but oh so worth the wait!
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| Lacock Abbey in May |
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| Lacock Abbey |
The orchard had hints of fairyland about it.
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| Lacock Abbey orchard |
It wasn't all white - the walled garden was a mass of colour!
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| Lacock colour |
The hot house had some very exotic species...
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| cat in the greenhouse |
And Mark showed off his croquet skills.
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| anyone for croquet? |
We also went inside the house. Mark rather took to being a country gentleman, while I seemed more at home as a rosy cheeked scullery maid!
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| Lacock Abbey |
Now this is where I could see myself taking afternoon tea (but instead we went to St John's Hunting Lodge for warm cinnamon lumbs and Margaret's tea).
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| tea in the withdrawing room |
Back outside there was a display of falconry....such beautiful birds.
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| falconry |
Today we are heading to the American Museum, so brace yourself for even more photos!
Saturday 18 May 2013
too warm for gloves?
Well most of the time it really is rather too warm for gloves, but they have other uses...!
There are lots of other creatures I want to try, but this one is for a baby, so no odd bits of woolly manes or button eyes; entirely chewable (and washable!).
In the garden the gales have decimated the blossom on the cherry tree, but that gives the apple trees and choisya their chance to shine. I don't think I am the only one appreciating them either...bzzzzzz.
Lovely walks with George along the canal too.
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| glove dog |
In the garden the gales have decimated the blossom on the cherry tree, but that gives the apple trees and choisya their chance to shine. I don't think I am the only one appreciating them either...bzzzzzz.
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| bees in the apple blossom |
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| a Bath garden in May |
Sunday 12 May 2013
faces from the past
My stepmother gave me a bundle of old photos my dad had kept; fond memories and faces of family members some of whom I never even met. I love the way these photos capture the times in which they were taken.
My mum still mentions the parties she had on her family's house boat - telling me they never got too drunk because they lined their stomachs with milk! My mum is the one on the left laughing and my dad is standing (in the rather unnecessary seafaring outfit).
My dad smoking a pipe (my mum made him give up smoking before she would marry him), a family friend and my grandmother looking as I have never seen her before!
Then there is my generation capturing the 1960s and 1970s.
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| my dad, aged 3 |
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| my great aunt Betty, grandmother, grandfather (my dad in his arms) and great aunt Helen |
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| my dad |
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| family picnic at Burnham on Sea |
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| my great grandmother |
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| my great grandmother, great great grandmother, grandmother and my dad |
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| boat party |
My dad smoking a pipe (my mum made him give up smoking before she would marry him), a family friend and my grandmother looking as I have never seen her before!
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| Christmas 1951 |
My dad used to tell me stories about growing up with his twin sisters and the tricks her played on them.
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| dad with his sisters and my grandmother |
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| on the beach |
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| my mum |
Then there is my generation capturing the 1960s and 1970s.
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| my sisters and cousin |
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| me! |
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| my sisters and me at my birthday party |
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| me...butter wouldn't melt! |
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