Of Misty Mountains and Kendal Mint Cake

When the Ginge asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I half expected myself to suggest a long list of much coveted things such as this, this and this. When it actually came to it, however, my answer was somewhat different. What I truly wanted, perhaps needed, was some time with my boy in beautiful, quiet and simple surroundings. So, this weekend, the Ginge and I took ourselves off to the Lake District. It was nothing fancy, but then neither are we. We stayed in a restored miner's cottage near Coniston, spent our days walking in the mountains and our evenings cooking hearty food, playing with maps and revisiting our love of the Lord of the Rings. I took my birthday cards with me and made sure I had regular slices of my two delicious cakes; my friend Claire's famous lemon drizzle and a coffee and walnut battenberg, which we're pretending was made by the Ginge (he was actually too busy, so I made it instead so that he wouldn't feel bad). Its simplicity was just the restoration that my heart needed and we both feel invigorated by the balance of rest, exercise and fresh air. We missed out on the spring sunshine, which some of you have been enjoying, but weirdly I think we enjoyed the ethereal mist and our nipped pink cheeks just as much. We really must do this sort of thing more often. 

Recent Happenings and a Bit of Good News

It's at times like these that the little things, seem huge. The beautiful flowers from my parents, which lasted for weeks. Notes on pretty postcards, found tucked into the bed. The freshness of snow after two stuffy nights in A&E. Laughing our heads off when my Mum spilled a whole tin of paint on the bathroom floor. Cozy cups of coffee with my family squeezed around a little formica table. Our Valentine's cards sitting next to each other on the drawers beside the bed. The Ginge telling me that this is the most relaxed he has seen me in months and knowing that it's true. The messages and comments of concern and support that I have received from family, friends and from you lovely people who read my blog. It has actually been quite overwhelming and so very appreciated. Thank you so much! I have also had some really good news to celebrate - I got my first choice job for my first year of work and I couldn't be more thrilled. The long and short of it is that things are definitely on the up! It's a beautiful day outside; bright, milky sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. I've got that soaring feeling - I hope you have too. 

Pin up

A while ago, whilst visiting the Ginge's parents, we stumbled upon a little brown paper bag packed to bursting with the badges and patches he earned whilst a scout. Being a sucker for nostalgia, I set out to find a way of using them in the house. Their sheer brightness and variety of colour reminded me, for some reason, of  butterflies displayed in cases. I have therefore been looking to buy a entomology display case for several months, with nothing more to show for myself than a few sharp intakes of breath and some silent gawping stares at the price of the things.  Apparently, taxidermy is an expensive hobby. The grand plan was to put every single badge in one big white case and maybe that will still happen one day, but for now we will have to settle with the smaller version. I found this 'memories case' in John Lewis of all places and apart from it's size, it is exactly what I was looking for. I therefore spent a very happy Sunday afternoon pinning in some of the Ginge's most poignant badges; the first ever Gang Show he took part in, a badge from Andorra where he would one day work as a ski instructor, the Natural History Museum (no explanation needed for geeks like us), a mountain (his most favourite place to be), the scout crest, the Sandringham gates which are just down the road from where he grew up, his 'Sixer' patch and one commemorating the 75th anniversary of the cubs. It's a lovely mix of childhood memories and the things that make him who he is. It's no great work of art and would mean very little to most people, but I am very pleased with it and I smile every time I walk past it. The Ginge loves it too, which is just as well. 

P.S. Thank you so much for all the lovely well-wishes. I am feeling much better this week; all the more so for your wonderful kindness. 

A Bit of a Rest

Sorry that it has been all quiet on the western front for the past couple of weeks. I don't mind telling you that it has been a bit of a crazy time. The Ginge and I had planned lots of lovely things to do with our time off, following my exams and I was looking forward to telling you all about it. Unfortunately, our plans were slightly hampered when I managed to get myself taken to A&E having collapsed in the cinema. Nothing to worry about,  I am mostly annoyed that it happened during the brilliant 'The Artist' and relieved that it happened after I had finished my delicious peanut-butter ice cream and not before. It was weird being on the other side of healthcare though. I haven't been to hospital as a patient since I broke my arm, falling out of a bouncy-castle window at the age of nine. Being inside an ambulance, having blood taken and being a patient in a department in which I work all felt very unfamiliar to me, even though I know it all like the back of my hand. What was most incredible was how calm the Ginge managed to stay the whole night and how calm that kept me. It took me a good few days for the experience to sink-in fully and that is entirely because he made me feel so safe. How lucky his patients are to have him as their doctor and how lucky I am to have him as my boy. What happened, though unplanned, perhaps came just at the right time. It forced both of us to stop, rest and enjoy the simple joy of each other's company. My family came up too as they were of course concerned about me, but it turned out to be just the break they needed as well. I treated myself to a new haircut (I got my first proper fringe) and we even got on with some long-anticipated projects like sanding and re-painting an old cupboard for our bedroom. Mostly though, we just rested and re-prioritised, two things that were long overdue. No, I don't want it to happen again, but yes I am very grateful that it did. 

And the winner is . . .

It's time for celebrations all round at A Bushel & a Peck. I finished my exams today and, after yesterday's monster, felt that today went very well (phew)! I have also just drawn the winner of my giveaway, using the time-honoured method of pulling a name out of a hat. The winner is...da da da daaaa...Kellie from Dear Olive, a lovely blog I have now discovered with the most beautiful photographs! Thank you so much to all of you who entered and left such delightful comments - there were fifteen of you in total, all just as lovely as each other. As I said before, it has meant so much to me that you have shown an interest and been so darn gorgeous about it all, as per usual. I am very lucky indeed. I am wondering about selling sets of cards on Etsy, so if anybody is interested, do let me know. If Kellie could email me (naomicmeardon@gmail.com) with postage details, that would be ace! I'm off to celebrate my new found freedom, so I wish you all a wonderful weekend! Thank you again and lots of love to all. 

Tea Break

Just a quick break from my revision to thank everybody who has entered my giveaway so far and to remind those of you who haven't to do so before 12.00 midday tomorrow. It is extremely cheering that you have all liked the pictures as I wasn't at all sure what to expect when I first posted them. So far, favourites include 'The Bench' (it is in my garden, in the summer house my Dad built from scratch and the blanket was crocheted by my great grandmother), 'The Car' (a Morris Minor parked at the last point reachable by car, before a short walk to a perfect field for a picnic, overlooking Tellisford Weir in Wiltshire) and 'Icecream' (this is my personal favourite and was taken down a back alley on my favourite road in Sharrow, Sheffield). Enter the giveaway here. I had my first exam this morning. It was hard. Fingers crossed tomorrow is better. Nothing like a homemade chocolate chip cookie and a browse through beautiful blogs to make everything seem better. 

One Whole Year

This time last year, I started A Bushel & A Peck. I had been reading inspirational blogs like Wellies & Vogue and Junkaholique for some time and had toyed with the idea of making a go of it for myself, but had never quite plucked up the confidence to do so. In the end, it wasn't confidence. To be honest, it still isn't. In the end, it was fear that pushed me to blog. The fear of losing my creative, thoughtful side, of neglecting time spent doing things for myself. All the busy, stressful stuff was pushing that part of me into a dark corner, out of sight. So, I did it. I called myself 'A Bushel and A Peck' as a nod to the simpler side of life, which I have never experienced to greater extent than on a family holiday in New England, where they still use old fashioned measurements and it is still possible to buy a bushel and a peck of rosy red apples. I have been writing and photographing ever since and it has been wonderful. When I started this blog, it was primarily for me and partly a way to appease my poor friends who had heard hide nor hair of me for weeks. What I never expected was that people other than my nearest and dearest would find me, follow me or to be so plain lovely. I have been inspired, cheered-up, tickled-pink and teary-eyed because of so many people this year and I just want to say thank you. So, in true blog style, I will be doing a giveaway this week. 

I'll be perfectly frank with you, I am very nervous about this. I had some postcards printed of some of the photographs I have featured on A Bushel & A Peck, this year. I had a trial-run over Christmas by giving a set to some friends. They seemed to like them, though they probably have to. Anyway, I really want to do something to say thank you to my amazing followers, so I am giving away a double set (20 postcards). Here is how to enter:

1. You do not need to be an official follower - many people who read my blog are not and I want everybody to have a chance. 

2. To enter, simply comment on this post by saying which of the postcards images is your favourite. Only one entry per person. If you are unable to comment on blogger, email me on naomicmeardon@gmail.com.  

3. The giveaway will close at 12 midday on Friday 13th (unlucky for some, but maybe lucky for you). 

4. I will draw the winner as soon as I get home from my exam and will announce the result on my blog. 

5. The postcards will be sent over the weekend so that you recieve them early next week. They might still be in time for Christmas thank you letters. 

 

Good luck and thank you again for your wonderful support! 

I am so excited!