A Trip to Porthleven.

The sun shone bright and I was off! A day escaping the confines of the sewing room which, love it though I do, can be too much of a good thing when you spend an endless amount of hours in it as I do. My dear friend Looby Lou, sweet baby Ellenor and I got into the car and headed for the coast - Porthleven to be precise - where the cliffs were covered in bright yellow gorse, the breeze heavily scented with the delicious smell of coconut buns.

The sea glistened and sparkled with hues of jade and turquoise.

We strolled along the sands and I managed to get soaked as I took my eyes off
the waves for a moment!

Baby Nell sang and chatted in equal measures.

Porthleven's pretty harbour provides a safe (ish) haven when stormy seas thrash about.

A myriad boats lay waiting for high tide.

The beach we walked along is the other side of this church. This is one of several churches in Cornwall that lie either very close to or actually on the sands.

It seems odd today to think how very hot the sun was, no coats or jackets were needed and even the breeze was warm.

Just so

very

lovely.

Bye for now x

A Ducky Tale.

It's pouring here today and so I thought I would share yesterday's adventure with you. Not my adventure you understand; no, it is spring and so the ducks are on their annual breakout of the pen, thinking in their rather dimwitted way that I would not notice them waddling noisily past the kitchen window, quacking with a particular style I now know after so much time together means it's Colditz Time!

Oh heck, she's seen us. RUN!

The Drake's Progress.

(Oh, humour me, for heaven's sake! I thought it was funny!)

She looks a bit cross. Let's head this way (and trample over the tulips we planted into the grass under the apple and plum tree to cast a scarlet studded carpet. No longer likely it seems)

Quick! She's getting close!

Forgot that was a dead end. S'pose we'd better go back. Nearly time for supper isn't it?

Biscuit: Is she still looking?

Mustang: Yup!

I know - look cute! She won't be able to resist (cos she really is that gullible!)

Er, I'm a bit stuck. Any chance of a lift?

My gorgeous Biscuit. I do love that girl.

Hope you're having a good day x

Playing.

Oops, I got sidetracked! I should be working... you know, finishing the orders and posting, but I have just lost nearly an hour messing about on this.

So much more fun than I thought it would be, but now I really am getting back to making some of these... (oh, look who's in the centre of it all. She gets in on everything, that one!).

Toodle Pip! x

Sailing Adventures.

The sun blazed on Saturday and we took the chance to take Mermaid, our lovely boat, out for the first time this year. We packed towels for the beach, food and drinks, and headed off up Penryn River from Ponsharden Quay.

Past tree lined shores and part hidden houses in search of a quiet beach for an hour or two's peace away from it all.

Elias and Dave steering us out into the harbour.

We rowed along choosing which particular cove we would stop at.

Eventually we stopped and moored up to a quay. Lucy and I headed straight for the sands while Isabella spent the entire time in the water, freezing though it was. Dave and Elias snorkled, but saw nothing more than a tiny fish or two. No river monsters today!

It was hot on the soft sands.

Mermaid's sail looks so pretty against the blue of the sea.

And here's another pretty girl. There was something so magical about pootling along until we found a beach. Just perfect.

The camera makes it look so hazy, but actually the haze was only far out to sea.

Finally we set off for home, most of the food eaten and a tide to catch.

The breeze was girlish and coy, so once more we abandoned sail and set to with the oars. Mermaid is quite a wide boat which means two can comfortably row with ease. we took it in turns as everyone loves rowing.

A few of the riverside houses for you to peruse: do you fancy a curved ended house overlooking the waters?

Or are one of these grandiose places more your style?

This thatched house had its own little harbour.

We drifted along with the water sparkling and a gentle breeze rustling the sail.

This beautiful boat was heading off to Mylor for the Oyster Celebration...yum.

There is something so pretty about the way red sails catch the light.

Isabella became transfixed by the water and almost fell asleep leaning over the side to gaze.

Such a perfect day.

How was yours? x

Sleepy Time.

A short post today as yet again I have Isabella poorly with an ear infection. This seems to be something which a few of our children our prone to, my own hearing a little dull (to say the least) as a result apparently of childhood problems which have left them badly scarred. Funny what you find out about yourself when you are years older as I have little memory of having any problems other than a summer of throat infections.

So, another trip to the doctor, another day of working around a tired but otherwise ok soul - and that's just me! Oh those four hour stints of shrieking child in the dead of night when all your body cries out for is sleep and the ability to pour the next dose of medicine down the throat of said child in the hope, generally fairly vain, of easing her pain.

Take note: these night-time stints get harder to cope with the older you get. There you go - Pip's Tip for all those considering when to have children and I speak from the vast experience of having tried the ages 19, 23, 25, 34 and 42 to enable me to give a considered approach to the subject. Actually, I can honestly say each age has it's advantages and disadvantages, but today I am in sleepy mode, envious of the cat who is snuggled up on our quilt just to rub my nose in it...hah, perhaps I'll shove him outdoors just to make me feel better.

Still, the sun is shining, the first tulips are out and beautiful in their scarlet skirts, and things are fine really, better than fine now my little Isabella is over the worst. I might just curl up with her...just for a moment...snooze...

Have fun x

The Weekend.

Such a beautiful weekend with warm sun which turned to icy chill later on, a chill which suggested the campfire would be lit by Davey.

We had spent most of the weekend gardening and the smell of the fire was perfect as twilight spread its dusky glow over the garden. A new bed is now in place where previously a far too thin ribbon of ground has annoyed me everytime I saw it. We dug out masses of earth from the chicken run and spread it over this new patch and the woodland bed in the hope that this rich soil would help the rest of the impoverished garden.

The Merryweather damson is breaking into flower now and is the main feature of the woodland bed. This is a difficult patch as it is fairly shady and very dry thanks to the sandy Cornish soil which is lovely to dig as it is so light, but doesn't hold onto moisture. Hopefully the rich chicken poo soil will help!

Sunday was less sunny and by the afternoon was actually quite cold. We moved back into the kitchen where Dave and I sliced up Seville orange peel and finally got around to making our marmalade; aren't we lucky to have freezers to enable us to make things when we have time, not when seasons dictate? Having said that, I do prefer the feeling of following the seasons and at least it is not too late in the year as to make me feel I should be making chutney!

Isabella also 'helped' with the washing up...hmmm. Not sure that child ever wears anything other than pyjamas.

So, a productive weekend with all my favourite things: gardening, cooking

and a little bit of laughing to finish it all off.

Back to work now, but I can think of this to keep me warm in my chilly sewing room.

How was your weekend? x