The Last of the Snowdrops.

Much as I am so desperately pleased to see the gentle arrival of spring, I shall miss the sight of these brave little flowers by the front doorstep. I thought I would share them for probably the last time this year before the delicate petals fall and leave us till next.



These are the ones we bought from Coombe by the river. they will be planted soon into the ground by the courtyard where I hope they will gradually spread.



I'm afraid I didn't use my tripod and this combined with such billowy breezes means they are all a little out of focus. Less haste and all that, I guess.



Such deliciously blue skies behind with a pleasing scattering of pillow clouds. All so pretty, but very, very cold. I have barely warmed up all day and even sewed with mitts on this morning!



No complaining though because the sun is there, cold or not and that means spring is on its way to me.



So, it's almost time to say goodbye for now little snowdrops and thank you for cheering my winter days.



Hope the sun shines for you too x

Half Term Holidays.

The half term holidays are turning into the loveliest of breaks: lazy mornings with coffee and knitting, brunches of pancakes, maple syrup and crispy bacon and walks to favourite places such as Coombe which I have blogged about a time or two before. Such pretty houses nestling by the river's edge.



Banks filled with snowdrops glistening with droplets from the spring-fine showers, the type that barely register yet leave you covered with a shimmering coating.



Tiny orchards of gnarled trees and picturesque gateways such as these.



Laneside stalls where you least expect them, tucked away and almost hidden on barely used tracks.



The next one saw us purchase two pretty pots full of snowdrops for the princely sum of 75p per pot! If only there had been more.



All so lovely.



Then down the lane toward the river once more



to look at the boats moored along the banks



and watch the sprinkling of raindrops playing on the water as we took shelter under the twisted branches of Kea plum trees which dip into the river when the tide is high and scratch at your hair as you wander the pathway when the tide is low.



Once home we put the snowdrops on the ledge by the front door where we could smell their delicate perfume every time we come up the steps. I will plant them in the green once they have finished flowering - I love the fun of choosing where to place things and think these would be pretty under the hedge by the courtyard where they can spread to their hearts content and we can appreciate them as we sit wrapped up with mugs of tea in chilly hands.



The weather is slowly improving here with a real warmth in the air today. I am hoping the blue skies last as I need to work in the sewing room in a mo - yes, I am still running a business, just not so moved to chat about it at the moment. This of course is because I am working on designs and as ever am struggling with the actuality of getting things exactly as I want them, but there will be more on this soon as I am nearly there.



Later today I will take the children out into the garden and start the clearing away of winter debris to allow spring to burst forth. The children can collect the eggs, though if I don't get baking soon we will run out of bowls to put them in!



More walks are also planned though whether beaches, rivers or woodlands feature only time will tell.



Most likely a mix of all if we can manage it.



Bound to be more photos like these I imagine.



Somehow boats always pop up in my blogs don't they? Hard not to be taken by their beauty when you are pretty much surrounded by them.



Well, after that mammoth post I will leave you with a picture to make you smile: moving on from the headless model of yesteryear we now have the strangely positioned model of today. Pipany shows you the boucle jumper which despite unpromising beginnings is now being worn almost constantly. Warm enough to require little beneath (ooh, squire!!!), light enough to be comfy not bulky and just peachy with skirts or jeans. A success then. Shame about the model!



Have fun x

And then it snowed...

It took a little longer to reach our part of Cornwall, the soft south coast with its zone 10 climate - Dave likes to quote such things, bless him - but arrive it finally did. Snow enough to settle. Such a rarity here and so much fun to be had.



The garden was transfomed to a Christmas card prettiness with the ducks nestled in snow and the writing room taking on a cabin-like look, its summer bunting draping rather lamely and reminding me a new range is due.



Thin branches of winter flowering cherry hold frozen crystals which sparkel in the cool light.



The last of the rosehips from the delicate Ballerina rose stand out against the blanket of white.



Lemony, Maple, Biscuit and Mustang (oh dear, that name!) seem mildy impressed by the stange flooring, though not so impressed by the frozen pond which denies them their morning diving session.



Biscuit stood like this for ages, almost frozen in disbelief at what had taken place. She's such a pretty duck and much, much larger than the photograph shows. All our ducks are about 2-3 times as large as wild ducks, but I digress.


Back to the snow...



Somebody enjoyed it.



As did her sister, particularly while snowballing Daddy



Hmm.... bit Hannibal lecter in that hat.



And in case anyone thinks I never do any work, here's a pair of fingerless mittens I made myself and no, I am not punching the cat. It is very hard to take a photograph of one's own hand and not have a shaky picture!



Have a good Wednesday xx

Snowdrops.

A wet day. Dark...cold...wet. Did I mention that already? My tax return is finally filed and I feel strangely calm after so many fraught nights where my dreams were interspersed with forms and book-keeping and figures. As ever, the reality was not so bad as my over-fertile imagination allowed it to seem. At last I feel I can give myself over to all the new ideas buzzing round my head and not just jot ideas, draw quick sketches, putting it all on hold till the evil deed is done. I do loathe this about me, the way I can make things so much harder for myself from time to time. I recognise the pattern and yet there I am cursing my procrastinating self once more. Ah well, bit late to change now. Maybe some strange part of me needs this feeling of pending deadlines to activate efficency? I definitely prefer having plenty to do as I tend not to wast time thinking about the endless list and just do it instead. But there are limits you know, Pipany.



So, snowdrops are occupying my thoughts today. I have brought one of our very little but slowly increasing drift in to photograph. Not the easiest of tasks on so dark a day, but still. Such a simple flower.



So perfect in its simplicity.



Delicate, fragile, pure. Words such as these spring to mind, all with conntotations of something precious to be treasured, of something ephemeral which, of course, they are. Here one moment, gone the next to be replaced by star-like crocuses and bright dancing daffodils.



Today I am holding their delicate beauty in sight choosing to see it as a sign of the retreating Winter, the oncoming Spring.



Snowdrops. So perfect.



Have a lovely weekend xx

The week that was.

Already the primrose just in front of the kitchen has started to flower. Alongside tiny shoots of grey-green push through and the first of our small drift of snowdrops unfold in the cool light of this shady spot. Unfortunately these purest of flowers are not dressed here in their usual pristine array thanks to the ever-persistent rain which has splashed muddy streaks onto the delicate skirts. Still they are beautiful and it looks as though more will soon follow as long as the hen leaves them alone. She has been scratching around the herbaceous plants as they peep from under the dead winter foliage and I know I will regret it if we don't put her back in the pen again.



Other things to make me smile last week? A little girl busily trying on outfits from the dressing up cupboard. Apparently, it was Hallowe'en - don't the months fly by?



The daphne is coming into bud just outside the front door. It is one of my favourite plants - yes, I know I say that about hundreds of plants, but this really is. The perfume is so beautiful at a time of year that desperately needs something to lighten it and remind us that Spring is close at hand. The aeonium next to it survived the bitter frosts too, so that makes me smile more.



The quilt I made for Isabella has made frequent appearances throughout the house and I am obsessed with trying to get a photograph which shows the fabrics properly. No luck so far, but I shall keep trying. I think it will probably need lighter days before I succeed.



A little crafting with the children has taken place too. Lucy is making a calendar for her Daddy to have at school and it is almost finished now. As she works away, Isabella has been painting flowers...



and 'scissoring' which she has almost got the hang of. Doesn't everyone do scissoring in their PJs with the trousers inside out?



Lastly, as ever, the sea has as ever made me smile. I just could not live without it.



Beautiful isn't it?



Bye for now x