There and back again

Hello! 
I'm still here. From one side of the earth to the other, packing, hotels, airports and planes, short term rentals, moving back into our house and unpacking ( a little), packing again to head off for Christmas I haven't had access to this space. But finally, I do. I hope that this should remain so now. So, if you feel like dropping by I'll be around again. Oh, and I went and got a-whole-nother year older (and wiser, of course) in that time too!


I will be posting a few belated posts. These will be the final few from our time in the UK. Then things will be a little more up-to-date. 


So back to Winter.....
                                                                                                                                                             


A morning run


I ran this morning with all my senses switched on. Soaking in them. I ran not for speed but completely for the journey.

Reaching out my hand to catch a leaf tumbling from the oak.

The only sound, other that my footfalls, is the wings of the birds as they take flight and I watch their dark shapes disappear into the fog. 

The rabbits hop off; their ears and tails quickly hiding in the hedges. A pheasant blusters away only a short distance off the ground from the side of the road.

The water drops falling from the trees in a jazz like rhythm.

And I came home to this: Warm and in love.

 These last few days blessed us with some more treats such as visits from Jack Frost.

The grass was deliciously crunchy underfoot.

And those leaves made crisp cracking sounds in our hands.

How fortunate we are to see these wonders, to explore in them and touch those small magical crystals that seem like part of a wonderland to children.

Wonder full: something for the senses

Something to hear, something to see, something to smell, something to taste, something to touch, or something to know....

Something to be thankful for.

Sunday morn

Things we're loving

Ooops! Presssed publish before it's time....


More coming!


.......


Revisiting places (like Sissinghurst) to see how they've changed and being impressed by the nearly 90kg!!! pumpkin.

The low Autumn sunshine and the beds of leaves.

Watching the leaves fall in showers on a morning run. It makes one feel quite Royal to have that sort of greeting as you make your way along.

The family of squirrels we see darting to and from the big tree as we get close to the stream.

The incredible tones and shapes of the toadstools in the garden and learning a little about them. (And then removing them so little hands don't find them when we're not looking)

This dinning room, it's view and the flowers our children picked that found their way in there.

Being able to watch and capture my children on their little journey with out them being aware of my presence.

This sweet girl's idea to build a nest ready for a bird that needs it.

And this boy's love of 'loop pants' so that he can carry his sword when ever he NEEDS to.

These symbols of a northern hemisphere winter, that usually seem so removed from our seasons, that are right outside our door.

And generous serves of warm rice pudding.

What are you loving?

Tea for two

'Just tea for two
And two for tea
Just me for you
And you for me...'

(Imagine it being sung by Doris Day, not me. She's sings it only slightly better. Ahem.)

A second Tiny tea leaves. I finished this one for my sweet niece whilst we were in France. A short while before I had sat with her Mama to choose the colour and buttons and she chose perfectly.

'Cause when we put it on her it just suited her little personality. Cheeky and happy and independent and loving. Cheeky chicken. We made the sleeves full length and despite (distant) measuring they are a bit long but they roll. And maybe it'll fit her next winter too.

In the meantime we managed to snap her and her cousin in the afternoon autumn sunshine in their matching cardi's. 

But best of all she'll be loved and snuggled and warm.

A spot to sit

So. Here we are in our final few days of this northern hemisphere journey. Another place to rest our heads. And another place to explore. This old Tudor style building has quite a history. In 1915 it, it's occupants and garden slipped about 150 feet down a cliff in a landslide by the sea, so they (whomever they may be?!?) pulled it back up in parts and transported it about 25 miles(40kms) inland to where it rests today. It is a magnificent house. With magnificent gardens.

And while we are lucky enough to spend our days here, we will share it with friends and family and make our own memories in this space.