Happy Lately

I haven't posted anything at all for over a week. And as is always the case, another lovely blogger articulated much better than me about erratic summer blogging (thank you Gillian).

I'll tell you another thing; I have been hiding. For years. Behind the pages of a book, prettier girlfriends, being the funny one, as an under-achiever, a very bad pa, being nice when I should have been a bitch, saying yes when I should have said no. And lots more besides.

And now Pops has started school. I can't hide behind him anymore. Oh no. Swirly whirly brain. Can you tell?

So a happy/lately post. To get me back in the swing of things. You know how it is.

My garden is still putting on a show. The Dahlias are finally in bloom. I thought it was never going to happen. But our gorgeous late summer has persuaded them to come hither. I adore Dahlias. One of my rose bushes is having a second flush of flowers. I never expected that either, but am very glad that they are. And I have hips! And this is my pollinator corner. Olly and I draw up chairs and watch them go about their business. It's absorbing. I love my garden. There are plans afoot for it. I am very excited!

During the summer holidays Olly and I kept a nature list of all the wildlife that we saw. It was quite a long list by the end. It went into his holiday diary that his new teacher gave him (me) to complete over the holidays. After a little research, I believe (but am happy to be corrected) that these are an oak bush cricket, rose chafer beetle and a small copper. One on the beach, one at Godrevy and one in our bathroom!!

 
I have gathered so very many blackberries and sloes. It is a bumper season for them. The sloes are in the freezer, waiting to be bashed into submission and then thrust into gin for Christmas festivities. I have made jam and many a crumble with the blackberries. Some of them are in the freezer too, because September brings the obligatory diet. For Christmas. So that I can eat loads and not burst at the seams. Literally.

We have been out and about in West Cornwall in Betty, soaking up the last of the summer. I love Betty. I'm not bothered that she is the other woman in my life. Not any more. Today we went to Godrevy to put some flowers down for Granny. It's been three years since my beloved mother in law passed away. We all miss her still. She was fabulous. It was a super evening, and we spent it eating hot dogs, playing Frisbee and watching two curious seals watching us watching them. Oh and there were a lot of biscuits....

There now. That wasn't so bad. I can still do this, even with Pops in school.

Onwards!

Big love to you all,

Leanne xxxxx

Happy

I've not done a Friday Happy for a couple of weeks.

I am feeling a bit tired at the moment. It's my own fault enitrely. I'm reading far too late in the night, and going full whack during the day. I've decided to take it a bit easier over the weekend, and then ramp it up again next week. We are off to France on Thursday, so lots of packing, shopping and cleaning to be done before then. I also want to visit a couple of local places of interest. Places I've been meaning to go for a while. I wonder if I'm cramming as much as possible into my final weeks with Pops at home full time?

Anyway, bumper happies!! Joining in with the rather gorgeous Gillian, who I met earlier this month. What a babe. What treat to meet her and her lovely family. Next time (because there will be a next time), I'd like to chat over a few beers and set the world to rights with her. She's that kind of a gal! And she wore a rather lovely necklace. I notice these things, you see......

Bristol

No sooner had I come home from Bestival, I was off again to Bristol. Probably not the best planning, but it was the only time I could go. And I miss my family a lot. We are a close knit bunch. It was the weekend of the annual balloon festival, and my sister's house is in the perfect place to watch them float by in the early morning. Olly was entranced by them. We went into central Bristol a few times, which is always great. There is a vibe to Bristol. It can be edgy sometimes, but it's a creative, vibrant hub, and I love it. Visiting Bristol has also sent me off into a spiral of thoughts and memories. I'm still trying to catch hold of them, and decipher what they mean.

Garden

The garden has been a mixed bag this summer. I have loved my sunflowers, thistles and Achillia. But the Dahlias are a poor show, and my greenhouse was infested with something that laid waste to everything. I did get some tomatoes and cucumbers, but in the end I admitted defeat. I have cleared it out, and given it a very good clean. Hopefully I will be able to start again with seed planting for Plot No 10. I am still picking blueberries, and the plums are ripening too. Everyone should have a blueberry plant. They are pretty and crop prolifically. Put it on your list, and go get yourself one next Spring.

New

I have bought three more cushions in an attempt to brighten up my horrid brown leather sofas. They were cheap as chips from IKEA and Asda. (Another reason for loving Bristol is the choice of retail options. I spent a couple of hours in John Lewis, just walking around with my mouth open..... but I digress). I have also bought a straw bag. I need another bag like a hole in the head, but it was in the sale. I love a sale. It gives me permission to treat myself - "Oh this? It was in the sale." I say that a lot to Marc. A sale justifies any purchase, however unnecessary, don't you think?

Read

I have been a proper little book worm of late. I stay up far later than I should, lying on my tummy with the pillows scrunched underneath me just so. I pull my bedside table closer to the bed, so that the lamp can shine down onto the page. I finished 'A Homemade Life' last night. I read about it on Isabelle's post for The Year In Books, and it sounded like my cup of tea. I would recommend it. She is a blogger, who has written a memoir/recipie book. Poignant and sad in places, but ultimately uplifting. My late submission for Laura's series is in the pile too - 'The Shock Of The Fall' by Nathan Filer. I shall be taking it with me to France.

Result

Last, but by no means least, Sam got his AS Level results!! He wrote them down on a piece of paper and passed them to me while I was on the telephone to a friend. I think that friend is now deaf. I can't begin to describe how proud I am of him. He has grown and changed so much this year. He has this amazing work ethic, both for his studies and his holiday job, and I have watched him with a quiet pride and great bursts of love. Yes he is a messy git, and I really wish he would get a hair cut. I hate that he has taken to eating pizza in his room late at night (I am woken by the waft of cheese and tomato regularly), and I hate his taste in music (I am a music Nazi, apparently). But, you know, sometimes all those years of pull your hair out parenting does feel worth it. This one of those times. And yes, I know that academic results aren't everything blah, blah, blah....but actually these are important to him and what he wants to do. So they are important to me.

That was the happy.

Right, I'm off for a date with my sister in law and a bottle of wine. Or two. See ya!

Leanne xx

Barbara's Garden

Barbara's garden is slap bang in the centre of St Ives, halfway up a cobbled hill and hidden behind high walls. If it wasn't for the sign, you'd probably walk straight past it's entrance. It is a secret haven amid the tightly packed streets and narrow houses. To take a walk around Barbara's garden is an experience not quickly forgotten. I have wandered here many, many times. There is always something new to look at. Depending on the time of year, the sculptures either blend in or stand out in the garden. The weather and even the time of day has it's own impact on them, creating light and shade in different places.

You are enticed to reach out and touch these tactile forms. I have to carry something or thrust hands in pockets, because you. are. not. allowed. It's a shame, but I understand. Almost. I don't think Barbara would mind. I think that she created her garden not just as a showcase, but as a place where senses can come alive. So I content myself with photography, and trying to take abstracts of the abstract. I can still get close and look at the shapes and colours. And I can run my hand hand along the plants as I walk around, and listen to them rustling in the gentle breeze, casting shadows in the sun.

I peer into her workshop and see her overalls hung in a line on pegs. I look at all the tools of her trade. I think how dusty it must have been. How physical the work. How satisfying to see something emerge from a block of stone or wood or slate. How it must have felt to see the result of your hard labour sit so peacefully among the plants. I sit in her sun room, and conjure up an image of this tiny formidable woman. Busy, always busy I think. I hope that she was able to stop and pause every now and again. I hope that she was able to just be in this beautiful space.

I am very fond of Barbara.

Leanne xx

Summer So Far

I don't know about you, but summer is off and running here. We have had hot sunshine. We have had rain too, but it has been welcome for the most part, if only to aid watering the garden. June has merged into July around here, and I've hardly come up for air. All this good weather has stretched my days into the evenings. The weather has made a social being of me. I have had friends around mid week for curry and chat. We have sat in the garden until late with family. There has been evening walks with Honey, so that she wouldn't get too hot.

The garden is in fine fettle. I wonder whether I should carry on with those fledgling garden posts? My garden has fledged! I feel as if I have recorded it's humble beginnings. Maybe I should move on to plot number 10. I have had an epiphany about it this week, and I'm very excited about it. It's always been about the flowers for me, and so my allotment will be about them too.

I would like to tell you about a few lovely things that have happened in the garden, however. I noticed only yesterday that there are Nigella growing in the raised beds. I completely forgot that I had sprinkled some seed earlier this year, and have been lamenting the fact. But then I spied their feathery foliage creeping upwards in between the dahlias and cosmos. And I'm so thrilled. I have ripening Blueberries. Last year they were frazzled by the heatwave we had. This year I have what can only be described as an abundant crop. It makes up for my decimated gooseberries and strawberries. They are almost ready to pick. Fancy that, blueberries for breakfast, picked by the front door! I had another surprise while I was rootling in amongst the blueberry bushes. I noticed what appeared to be weeds growing in the pots. On closer inspection I realised that they were actually verbena boriensis seedlings. This is such a bonus because only one of my established plants has grown back this year. So I have potted them, and they may be ready to plant out soon.

We have had more seagull drama. Sam brought home a baby seagull that he had found wandering the streets. I wasn't best pleased. I was all for taking him back to where he came from, in case the mother was still around. But Sam got location amnesia, and so I was forced to look after him for a couple of days. He escaped into the garden, and the nesting seagulls on our roof attacked him. Olly named him Ewan. He has named the three (three) babies on our roof too. They are wandering around in a rather haphazard manner, pausing every now and then for a little lie down. Their mum calls out to them indifferently every now and again. You can almost picture her reading a copy of Take A Break and smoking a fag, while paying lip service to her maternal duties. The other day I caught one of them staring at me through the Velux window in my bedroom. It's very off putting for a woman of my age, I can assure you. I am still scarred from looking up from my bed in my attic room while at University to see builders waving at me from above. I was rather unprepared clothes wise for that moment too....

We are starting to gear up for the summer holidays. I face it with a mixture of anticipation and dread. I have a list of things to do and places to go. I would really like to go to Bristol and see family and friends. But by myself. Marc has said that he'll take the boys camping. I think they'd probably enjoy it with just Dad. I do try and organise the fun more than they would like sometimes. Now that the houses over the road are finally nearing completion, we are hopeful that our house may seem more attractive than it has up until now. To be honest, I think that we are toppling over the move. Hey, we are nothing if not contrary at chez Paxton. We've had a few things happen that have pulled us up by the short and curlies, not least Marc's almost unemployment. And we have to admit defeat in finding something local that would cater to what we'd like to do. Living here is wonderful, but my goodness you have to pay through the nose for it. Travel thirty miles in either direction and it's achievable. But that isn't an option while Alfie is at senior school. Anyway watch this space. You never know what might happen. I certainly don't.

I have almost given up sugar for about a month now. I haven't cut out eating fruit, not when all of those lovely punnets of strawberries and nectarines are available. I have given up all refined sugar. That means no cake, no biscuits and definitely no liquorice allsorts. I have started to eat more protein and good fats. I have already noticed some benefits. I am no longer bloated. My pre-menstrual nonsense has eased, and my mood is stable. I am happy with that. I am still swimming, although that will take a hit during the holidays. I intend to offset it as much as possible by exercising at home. Although even as I type that I am laughing inside ;)))



So a little round up of stuff around here. My summer so far has been cool. I hope that your has too.

Leanne xx

I just want to thank you all for your loveliness on my why I write post. I love blogging. Everyone is so positive and can do. It's so good to belong such a positive gathering. And hello to new followers. You are most welcome. I am always awry with the etiquette of the blogger, so if I haven't visited your blog please give me a written telling off. I am rather away with the fairies at the moment. It's the lack of sugar that's done it....

Take A (rather self indulgent) Tour

Well hello to you. All well? 

I haven't posted since my what to wear dilemma last Saturday.

My evening out was great fun. In the end I thought 'sod it' and wore jeans, a smile and absolutely no make up. To be fair I never wear make up. I look like a man in drag when I do. It's my colouring. Or so I like to tell myself. Anyway as Linda sagely advised; we weren't there to check each other out. We met up to eat, drink and be merry. And perhaps be a tad shrewish....don't judge me. I blame the gin.

I rather feel as if I have neglected my blog this past couple of weeks. It's on my mind a lot, and I have sat at the computer in order to post. But I've been rather stumped. What to write. Not sure. I mean stuff has been going on round here. The usual. The mundane and humdrum. But also some gorgeous snippets too.

The main reason for lack of posting, is the weather. Glorious in West Cornwall. Wall to wall sunshine. And most of my time has been spent out of doors in one way or another. I've even been wearing shorts!! By the time i finally come in from outside, it's getting late and I'm just putting the house to bed, before wending up the apples and pears myself.

Anyway this is a post of pure self indulgence on my part. A little tour around the garden. I wanted to record what it looks like at the moment. It's looking lovely, and there is so much more lovely about to burst forth. The dahlias haven't even made an appearance, and the snapdragons are just gathering steam. So feel free to scroll through at a fast pace. I don't mind. Although I have tried to include an au natrel picture of the garden. Washing on the line is a constant here with three boys.

 

 

   

I actually love any garden tour post. I am always struck by how every garden it totally different. It's always inspirational for me to see how other people have designed and planted out their gardens. Mine is rather ad hoc and round the edges. It's not large. It's very suburban. I'd love acres and vistas and a wild flower meadow and a kitchen garden and a massive pond......

We are off camping this weekend. So have a lovely weekend everyone.

Leanne xx