the end of summer

Bye Bye Summer.

Hello meals around the bonfire in the dark. 

We listened to the owls, watched the toads by the pool, gazed at the stars and talked long into the night. It's sad summer is going but so exciting to be embracing a new season. Hello Autumn and all that you will bring us.

hello spring

I'm not sure where the time goes - needless to say things have been busy around here. Something to do with 2 wonderful families and 3 generations to celebrate Mother's Day. Jess picked  some daisies and celandines for me - much better than shop bought flowers any day...

Inside my battle with the spring cleaning continues. Outside the garden is exploding with new growth. I just want to get out there and enjoy it. The propagator is clean and ready...  this weekend we are sowing the seeds of our autumn harvest. Can't wait! Happy Spring everyone!

spring cleaning

I don't normally submit to the urge to spring clean but this year Jago is leading the way. This afternoon he decided it was time his scooter had a scrub, and his cars were put away tidily(!) I feel I should join in at some point... perhaps.... Maybe when I've stopped looking through this and drooling...

candlemas

Our plans to go to the Light Spiral at the local Steiner School were cut short by the brief snowfall that we weren't forcast... We stayed at home and cooked our supper on the fire by candle light. Outside our ice lantern sparkled and glowed in the cold...

wassail!

 

On old twelfth night we wassail. Gathering in the orchard we watch the Wassail Queen with her garland of ivy bless the apple trees for the coming season. We sang wassails, we chanted, we wished the trees well. 

(Apples are very important in this neck of the woods.)

Sitting around the fire, talking and drinking late into the night we didn't feel the January chill in the air...

frost

At last the weather has turned cold. Clear and frosty, the day was perfect to get out and about and breathe....

remember, remember...

...the fifth of November, Gun powder, treason & plot!

Dressed warmly in woolly hats and mittens we gasped at the beauty of the fireworks. The whole village came out to celebrate with music and dancing and the moon watched on. Walking with lanterns to this annual ritual we feel ready for the winter.

cosy

Walking through my garden at dusk and noticing the lit windows I felt the new season had finally arrived. The clocks have changed, Samhain / Halloween are over, bonfire night is soon and soup is constantly on the menu. There is something magical about going out of the dark into a welcoming home, I love this season...

blowing away cobwebs

The first gale of the season. The sea boils with foam, the wind whistles and the gulls scream. Spray coats everything with saltiness. The energy of this storm is reviving.

Jess and Jago collect handfuls of treasure - gull feathers, driftwood and pebbles.

Once home, our ears still ring with the roar of the Atlantic. As I light the fire, outside the storm brings slanted heavy rain. We pull blankets around us and feel at peace.

sunshine & rainbows

In between the showers we glimpsed rainbows - the colours shimmering brightly and briefly.

Jago, dancing in puddles shouting his new rainbow word, then suddenly heartbroken when it fades away. Jess reassuring and motherly - she's old enough to know that one will find you when the time is right. 

I try to imagine seeing a rainbow for the very first time, discovering that that beautiful thing has a name. 

Autumn

There's a hint of autumn around here. Finding conkers in the park, trying to be inventive with the huge and glorious apple glut, welcoming the sight of blackberries and watching the hazy sun rise in morning mist. Realising that while making Apple and Blackberry Butter that it smells like autumn. I'm mindful that I should grasp at every last bit of summer before it disappears for another year. Yet I know I welcome the change, I love the change of the seasons and that the autumn preparations for winter is just another part of my handmade year.  Jago just loves the fact he has new playthings. Just wait til our new toy turns up.....

first snow

 Our first real snow (a light tempting sprinkling) has finally been followed by a fair amount of the lovely stuff. The perfect excuse to try out that sledge then head for home for hot chocolate, marshmallows in front of the fire. I'm loving winter.