The Antidote

A Snowy Post

This was the view from my front door yesterday morning.  And today we are going to see this. I hope hope hope the trains are running!

The Last of the Season

On Friday we set of on an impromptu camping trip with the family.  The weather was warm and sunny and very Septemberish (in a good way) with a little nip in the evening, just enough to warrant a fire.

The campsite we visited had a great playground, but my two spent most of their time climbing trees. 

As you know, we are quite new to camping and this was our first out of season trip, the campsite was almost empty and we had so much space to ourselves.

It was a fairly low key weekend, the children spent lots of time with their grand parents and aunty.  We had some nice food and marshmallows and bottles of beer around the fire, we did however make time for a little boat trip.

 

We really wanted to do this trip when we visited North Norfolk in the summer, but ran out of time, so we made it our business to visit the seals at Blakney this trip.

Oh, it was so lovely.  Not only was it amazing to see the seals in the natural habitat like this, we were fortunate enough to visit at sunset (as the tides permitted) so the lighting and colours were beautiful.  I love how they lie on their sides whilst ignoring the boats.

So, our souls have been fed and our equipment stored.  Until lots of new camping adventures next year.

Let's go....

Fly a kite!

Before we camped in Norfolk a couple of weeks ago, I had no idea how splendid the beaches were along these shores.  Mile upon mile of soft golden sand with gentle waves rolling over.  I believe Norfolk to be one of our more overlooked seaside resorts.  It is no secret that England boasts stunning coastlines in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, to name but a few and my husband tells me that "up north" the beaches are magnificent.  These pictures were taken on Holkham beach, north Norfolk.  It is completely stunning, and I cannot wait to go back.  I feel like I have discovered a little secret.

And we did get it up..

..And it didn't take Oscar away with it!

This Week I Am..

Admiring my fuscia..

and my Freesia, which I grew from bulbs all by myself!

Grateful for my weekly greenhouse parcel from my lovely father-in-law.

Picking out red and pink smarties ONLY for fairy cake decorations.

Watching Ivy camouflage into our garden.

Paddling.

Crocheting with mostly grey (love grey)..

and wondering what on earth to do with this?! I though it would be a giant granny blanket, but it is sooo mishapen!

Planning summer adventures.

Frequenting the beach and being completely unable to wait for Friday when the Babies break up from school.

Sorry this post is a little picturey, I seem to be a bit snap happy at the moment x

 

 

Teacher Training

We LOVE teacher training days.

The Babies school always have them on a Friday and Monday at the end of June to make a long weekend.  They are like a little extra treat before the long summer holiday.  We have spent this morning at the beach.  We got straight out of bed breakfasted and then I packed up my trusty shopping trolley in which I always lug beach stuff and headed off out on foot.  We stopped for a new spade on the way and more sun cream and we had our own little spot by 9.30 am.

There was only to other groups of people there at that time, both from Ivy and Oscar's school so they had ready made playmates.  I truly have no idea who the young man is in this photo, but I love the way that fishing boat is peeking out behind the wharf.  The chap looked fairly pleased with me taking his (the boats) photo.  That wharf is an excellent spot for crabbing when there is a little more tide.

The Babies had a fab time paddling exploring catching crabs and sea snails.  Sand castles were made and long jump played.  We didn't take a full picnic as I planned to be home by lunchtime (we weren't) so we munched peaches and apples and snacked on crisps.  I love that we live close enough to the beach to walk there or pop there after school for an hour.

We are now sleepy and hungry and the babies have a salty sun kissed glow whilst I am looking rather red and crispy, if only I have accepted Ivy's offer of creaming instead of balking at her sandy little hands rubbing cream in!

We got Soul

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that we were about to embark on an adventure (hopefully many more than one), and here it is..

I must apologise that these are not the greatest photos, I think we all got a little over excited the other week when we erected it in the garden that we did not take many pictures.  I love it so much!  I know these are very popular right now, but for anyone who is not familiar, they are pretty much the old Boy Scout tent or as they are more often called, a Bell Tent.  One pole in the middle, two holding the door space open and lots of guy ropes pulling it out.  The living space is open and plentiful, and I love the idea that we will all be sleeping in the same space.  Ours is a Soulpad from here.

We put it up in the garden during half term (it completely filled our garden) and dutifully camped out for the night.  This was the week when I was poorly and had not originally planned to join my little family of campers, but I could not stop myself, I actually felt better in the morning - must have been the fresh air.

There I am!

At the risk of "Glamping" we fully intend to carpet it and take as much soft furnishing with us as possible.  I am more than happy to indulge in a little Glamping!

At this point, I really must link to this very inspiring lady, who also owns a Bell Tent, she has added a flickr group for other Bell tent owners to post their adventures.

So there we have it, many happy holidays to come.  I am already planning three weeks in the Tuscan hillsides (obviously have not yet planned how to pay for this!) and Cool Camping is my new bedside reading!

Best Laid Plans

I have had such fun over the last week or so with my new little stash.

I bought these whilst holidaying in Somerset last week.  The nearest town is Frome, a pretty little market town with some gorgeous shops, an ecclectic mix of vintage, craft and homemade shops with some lovely little treats thrown in for good measure.

Millie Moon is new (to me) although they have been there for nearly a year.  It is my dream shop.  Not only were there bolts of beautiful fabric, including some lush Liberty prints, but they also stock Oliver and S patterns, some lovely craft books and have a whole button table.  I could have spent all day in there!  Why are there not more shops like this?

I have no intentions of making these into a quilt just yet, I am having far too much fun planning it and browsing through my little quilt library!

And besides I must not start another quilt until the last one is finished! (Ha Ha - as if!).

                    

We're Back!

We have actually been back since Wednesday, but have been up to my eyes in washing and ironing and trying to get everything dry in this miserable weather.

We had the best time.  About 18 of us go to Frome in Somerset every Easter.  We rent a huge farmhouse and chill out for a week.  We catch up, drink nice wine and eat nice food shop in nice places and generally have a very nice time.  I also developed an addiction to Most Haunted, why have I never seen this before. 

This is my favourite holiday snap, my little Ivy giving my handsome husband a quick tutorial on how to scooter very fast down a high ramp.

Since we got back I have managed to squeeze into my laundry routine 17 Again(I am seeing the point in Zac Efron- is that wrong?) and a very long wet muddy walk in the woods.

I will be back over the weekend, I have lots to share, just not found enough time to blog this week x

Pooh Sticks

 

'That's funny,' said Pooh. 'I dropped it on the other side,' said Pooh, 'and it came out on this side! I wonder if it would do it again?' 

The House on Pooh Corner - A A Milne 

Happy Easter

Yay, we have wi fi here!

Just a short note today, have dragged myself away from a little spring sunshine, a cold glass of Prosecco and a lot of chocolate to share a few holiday pics, so here goes...

 

Easter crafting..

 

I love Oscar's "concentrating lips"

A bunny..

and a chick..

and who is this peaking over the wall?

The Easter Bunny

And the all important

Egg hunt

make sure you get them all

Anyway, enjoy the Easter break, more tomorrow when I show and tell my new favourite shop x