Of Fields and Family

If you asked me 'what is the thing you miss most about being at home?', I'd probably jump to say 'my garden'. I have so many wonderful memories of family meals, summer birthday parties and other events that all happened out there, not to mention the hours of exploration and imaginary games it provided us with as children. It looked stunning this weekend, just like something from the Chelsea Flower Show. Yes, on first thought, I would definitely say 'my garden'. After that, however, a flood of other beloved ideas rushes into my head; the open fields, the cow-parsley-flanked lanes, the melee of different architecture set in Cotswold stone, the railway crossing, the river, the tithe barn. In short, everything that has been so familiar to and loved by me my whole life. This weekend, all I did was soak all of that up with my family and my boy. Heaven. On Saturday, we walked to our local Farm Shop, where we were rewarded for our efforts by delicious burgers and cooling, summery drinks. We picked wild Bath asparagus and spotted butterflies and some of this year's fledglings taking their first tentative flights. We spent the evening wandering through some of the back streets of bath. It was a perfect evening for it; the balmy air cooled by stone walls. We had drinks outside followed by a delicious dinner at Jika Jika. On Sunday, we had lunch in the garden (the Ginge fell asleep) and then spent the afternoon wandering again, this time around my little town. There was an open gardens event, so we got to be very nosey and look around some incredible gardens, which are only very occasionally open to the public. It's amazing that, even after living somewhere for so long, you can still see very different sides to a place, just by looking at it in a different way. Each garden was very individual, but all were full of character and charm, with picture-postcard views. We cooed over their choice of planting and happily sipped glasses of Pimms and homemade lemonade. We even made time to stop for a childhood classic - the cider ice lolly. If you have never tried one, I urge you to do so! I also urge you to visit Bradford on Avon and its surrounding area as it is perfectly lovely, in my very biased opinion. I don't know about you, but I cannot wait for the Jubilee Weekend - I hope you're all planning some exciting things to do, with lots of cake and bunting thrown in for good measure. Love to all!

Festivities

I know it's not really Christmas anymore, but I thought I'd share with you some of the highlights of the festive season. Laughing and crying at the beautiful wedding of Jay & Kimberley, Christmas peppermint and chocolate cupcake at Fancie, crisp strolls around my hometown: Bradford on Avon, singing folk carols in the pub with my Dad, Bath all dressed up for the season, the best sandwich in the world at Jika Jika, reminiscing over the memories invoked by our family tree decorations, dancing in the street with the Ginge to the music of Jazz-band elves, feeling ten years old again by making croissants from a can (finally they have brought these back to the UK), the perfect Christmas lunch (following a famous family incident, we have guinea fowl instead of turkey with 'hedgehog' potatoes, lots of veg and a big dollop of homemade bread sauce), Boxing Day Christmas with my second family, dressing up in my Christmas presents and feeling so pleased with myself that I actually managed (with difficulty) to have a nice photo taken. The Ginge and I had a separate Christmas, which I will post about separately (that will be the last, I promise). 

Home on the Range

Blimey, it's been ages! I have been computer-free for the past couple of weeks, whilst I took some lovely time to go on holiday. The Ginge and I spent a blissful week in Sussex - more to follow - and I am now at home with my family in sunny Wiltshire. I am so happy to be back with team Treacle, especially as I have hardly been able to spend any time at home this year. Life is very rose-tinted in the aftermath of my hand-in and I feel utterly spoiled by the simplest of things. I have been munching homegrown red currants, cooking tasty garden meals, getting my hair cut (for the first time in months, thank god), browsing through antique shops in Frome, lunching at the Glove Factory (wishing I could be an artist so that I could own a studio there), being silly with my sister, finding new places to drink coffee and moseying around the gorgeous Walcot and Broad Streets in Bath (more here). I love Sheffield, but it is wonderful to be at home. 

A Wiltshire Wedding

Last weekend, we celebrated the marriage of our wonderful friends; Sarah and Steve. A simple, country wedding, watched by a few generous handfuls of people; a joyful day, glowing with love. 

Photographs by my very talented sister, Eleanor. 

Hedgerows in Jam Jars, Fish and Chips in Parks

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I, along with my family, spent Good Friday preparing the beautiful West Barn in my beautiful home town, Bradford-on-Avon. We arrived at the barn, laden with bunch after bunch of stunning flowers, many picked from our garden and the surrounding hedgerows, even some little oak trees, grown by the Groom. By the time we had finished, the place was a bower of spring blooms; a cross between Shakespeare's 'Midsummer Night's Dream' and and old English country garden. 

By six o'clock, we were rather tired and hungry, so we retreated to a picnic bench outside, with fish and chips (very fitting for Good Friday) and a selection of (very) local ales and ciders.  

I grew up playing here...

...just being there makes me feel so happy and alive. 

After dinner, we finished sorting out the barn - Andy couldn't resist posing with the Chaucerian wall hangings- before heading home for a well-earned rest.

Everything looked wonderful on the day. 

You never know, if all else fails, we could all go into the wedding-planning business. I would very happily spend all of my time doing such wonderful, creative things, surrounded by my awesome family!