Changing Light.

Friday late afternoon found me waiting on Customs House Quay for the return of Lucy after a one night school residential. Glorious sunshine had disappeared leaving a lowering sky in its wake, a light that turned sea to a leaden version of its erstewhile glittering self. I love both its costumes, the former for the cheery holiday feel a sparkling sea and jaunty wavelets impart, and the latter because in my heart I am a North coast girl prone to the pull of angry seas, crashing waves and dark, moodily brooding scenes. We don't get so many of those on this softer south coast, but this was such a day; ok, the crashing waves were noticeable in their absence, but the light was pure molten lead...just call me Heathcliffe.



The tide was exceptionally high and reached just below the quayside bringing the myriad boats closer than ever. I love to come into town and stop by one of the various places that lead to such views as these. Somehow shopping seems far more interesting when boats are just round the corner (or so Isabella thinks judging by the fact that we spend sooo long walking around the quays and so little time actually in the shops).



Water polo used to be played in this little inlet. Shame there wasn't time for a swift pint in the Chain Locker!



By contrast, a walk along another waterway took place in soft autumnal sunshine late on Saturday afternoon. We headed to Coombe, a favourite walk of ours which I have blogged about before. Here the famous Kea plums grow in ancient orchards bordering the banks of the river. We usually take the children here a bit earlier in the year to gather the fallen plums from the lanes, but somehow we missed it this year and found only the splattering purple marks embedded in the grit to mark their passing.

Such a beautiful place with old ramshackle sheds nestled under trees



pretty boats bobbing softly against the shore



A place of quiet and peace and beautiful houses peeked at through hidden gateways...oh, the garden of this one is just perfect with sloping lawns - not manicured, thank heavens (hate, hate, hate this, much prefering lawns with moss and clover, buttercups and dandelion making up the sward) - and hazel teepees covered in deliciously scented sweet peas. I could go on (and frequently do!), but suffice it to say I could move in tomorrow given so much as a nod.



there's the sloping lawn...



We trudged on up the lane past this piece of perfection



quick view of another piece of perfection (what do you mean, love is blind?)



I realise this post is rather long, so will call a halt for now and leave the orchards & bric-a-brac stall hidden under a tree for another day. We bought a few things including a little footstall which Isabella liked so much she sat upon the shore watching the sun slanting across the still waters while the river birds quietly sang their song in the distance. Very lovely.



Hope your weekend was good too x

A Day For....

Couldn't help snapping some more things that have pleased me today. First up, big brother Sam playing patiently with little sister Isabella. Very patient considering she was trying to fashion him a hat from her poor, bedraggled bunny.



Washing quilts and seeing them blowing on the line...



Awful pictures as the sun had moved behind the trees, yet the shade was bright. Hmm, that makes no sense does it?



One day I swear I'll take a decent picture of the quilts I made for the two littlest girls (said in the manner of one obsessed!)



A perfect blue sky



Dazzling daisies against murky pond



Still perfect even with a cotton-wool cloud or two scudding lazily across the canvas



A chilled out Tiger-Lily stretched out on the bench beneath the weigelia.



So, a day for playing and quilt-watching and cat-napping and for reading this wonderful post from one of my favourite blogs, Little Cottage Comforts by Pomona. Pop over if you haven't already and have a lovely read through her truly gorgeous blog.



And isn't it always a day for a kiss?
Bye for now x

Things to Please.

A few things that please me today.... A collection of Lucy's toys so beautifully arranged on the end of her bed this morning. What could be nicer than a Babbit having a chat with his friend, both snuggled up on Lucy's quilt - made by Mamma of course - and nestled against a heap of pretty cushions. So sweet.



Soft early morning sunlight all golden and warm through flower strewn curtains. This pleases me greatly.



The same autumnal sunlight on the Cornish Aromatic apples tree. Not too much longer to wait before Lucy and Isabella will be choosing one for tuck each day.



Pictures of children playing Pooh sticks...



and scrambling through leafy glades.



Busy boats bustling on an otherwise peaceful river. Beautiful reflections on water.



Thoughts of still more blackberrying, little hands and mouths stuffed full of fruits bursting with scrummy juice. Such a good year for it.



Other things that please? Well, we are still making all our own breads having started at the beginning of the summer holidays (a task that sometimes sees me kneading batches of dough at six am! Not sure how this will continue through the winter. The shelves are full of jams and jellies ranging from blackberry through to plum, mint and rowan. Wines are well underway and already all tasting delicious. Not so good is the fact that the house is still refusing to be tidy after the long summer break, but never mind. Plenty of time for that (she laughed hollowly).



Happy Tuesday and let me know what pleases you today x

A Friday's Musing.

The glorious summer/autumn weather continues and brushes everything with a golden light. So beautiful the mix of hot sun and chill air at either end of the day. The marigolds are still flowering madly on long stems perfect for cutting, the petals catching and holding the sun even in the shadier parts of the garden.



My pretty Lauren has caught the gathering & preserving bug, making bramble jam yesterday which filled the kitchen with rich perfume (and not a few wasps!).



A beautiful walk at the weekend with the children through woodland running deeply on the banks of a river creek uncovered a grove of mountain ash covered in bright berries which we gathered to make into rowan jelly. It is the first time I have come across these pretty trees growing wild in Cornwall, though I dare say there are other hidden spots, and I am most excited at the chance to make this particular jelly as I have never tasted it before. I don't imagine there will be more than one tiny jar from this haul as jellies bear far less juice than jams, but those jewel colours more than make up for it.



The haze on the river this morning created soft watercolours of the scene, erasing the edges of boats and trees, and merging the whole into one fluid painting. It is so very beautiful here and the brush of chill breeze as I stood at the water's edge was as refreshing as a cool drink on this already hot day.



I am off now to my sewing room where the orders are a-waiting: beach bags and cheery bunting will make a pleasing change from all things Christmassy!



And it is Friday...Hurrah!



Happy Friday to you x

Tranquil Waters.

When I took Isabella to her lovely nursery today the early morning light on the river was just beautiful. The tide was fully in and the calm water's silky surface gleamed with soft hues of jade and turquoise and milky green. penryn River has fields sloping down to the banks on one side with gnarled trees and houseboats, some picturesque, some less so, nestled close beneath. The other side has all the things associated with river industry: fishing boats anchor close to boatyards and a chandlers. Lucky Isabella gets to play with these wonderful views right outside the window.



This fishing boat was just arriving home and we stood watching as it hurried toward the quay. Isabella's little hand clutching mine fiercely as the waters wooshed away from the bow, the boat coming closer, closer till the fishermen threw the coiled rope and called a cheery hello to her bemused little face. So sweet and all the more so as she smiled back and waved.



On another note, take a look at what I found in our garden.



I really don't know what is going on. Despite virtually no real summer in Cornwall, plenty of rain and fairly strong winds, spring seems to be here. These two pictures show the damson blossom on my pretty Merryweather tree, a tree which fruited badly this year despite a frothy mass of gorgeous wedding blossom in the... well in the spring actually - the real spring that is.



I spotted around five clusters scattered on the branches while underneath was this carpet of forget-me-nots which are still going strong since late April. Most odd.



Well, I must be off to the sewing room and will leave another picture of the peaceful river.



Have a good day xx

The Berry and the Baking.

We're still living an appley life here with bowlfuls of them dotted all over the kitchen. Some look as though they have come straight from a child's drawing with that perfect pinky-red gleam and two neat leaves hugging close to the stalk; others are full of holes and bruises, the typical warwounds of the windfall apple. I love both as the first makes for perfect snacking, just begging to be bitten into and making me feel rather wicked step-motherish as I entice the children to 'try a bite or two'. The tattered and battered are also perfect in their way as they make great bases for jellies, particularly for fruits which are low on pectin. We have had them all in so many forms including this rather lovely (though I do say so myself) tarte tatin - don't you just love that golden crust on clotted cream? Cornish of course.



I also made a srt of streudel traybake thingy with blackberries thrown in for good measure. This was very popular with the children



as was Nigella's 'damp apple cake' -well, it was mine actually and although the 'damp' of the title didn't suggest anything too promising, I knew Nigella would come up trumps yet again. It was gorgeous and perfect for someone like me who loathes those really dry cakes that stick in the throat with their dusty crumbs. Even better, I stowed slices of the last two bakes away in the freezer ready for the impending return to packed lunches (something else I loathe...well, the making of, that is!)



We managed to pick over 6lbs of blackberries in one session and have made wine with these. For those who have never tried it, blackberry wine is like drinking autumn with a deep richness of colour and a round, full flavour that has that perfumed edge of burdgening hedgerows in warm, rosy sunshine. Just wonderful.



The picture below shows the weather we have been experiencing here. Hardly makes you think of August does it? The light has been so dark and even the usually calm waters of this local reservoir turned decidedly choppy in the blustery winds buffeting its shores.



Clearing areas of the garden has been another project this holiday, though one more usually undertaken later in the year. The poor summer has caused many of our plants to fail and the whole has a green woodland look which suggests summer is long behind, the reality being that it never actually came! By cutting back the herbaceous plants - the loosestrifes, ox-eye daisies, jacob's ladder and so forth - we are hopeful of a second showing particularly if we have an Indian summer like last year's. This dear chap was discovered under one of the logs around the campfire; I quickly placed its cover back to enable it to hide away once more.



Have a lovely Bank Holiday x