goodbye december

And so year end.  Twelve garden moodboards.  Our garden has taken a battering from the almost relentless wind and rain.  The playhouse took flight in spectacular fashion on one particularly gusty morning, but has been rescued.  

The trees are skeletal, bare branches stripped of their leaves and bending obediently to the winds strength. The evergreen holly and ivy are virtually the only greenery in the garden.  Some of the bare tree branches are covered in beautiful mint and mustard coloured lichen.  Like little jackets providing warmth against the bitter cold.

December has been a month of two halves for me.  So busy in the run up to Christmas with fun filled festive activities, nativity plays, visiting Father Christmas, Christmas markets and visiting family and friends.  And now a time for rest.  I got a special festive treat this year.  Shingles. Not exactly what I wanted, as you might imagine.  But we had a great Christmas despite it.  

We spent Christmas Day at home, the five of us, taking things at our own pace, our own rhythm.  It was lovely.  My in laws spent Boxing Day with us and tomorrow we are going to my parents for dinner.  

I am feeling a lot better and hope to be well mended very soon. 

Linking up as always with Karin and Asa

merry christmas

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.  I'm off to bed.  I'm sure I just heard sleigh bells.

nature in the home: garlands

Linking up with Lou for her nature in the home series.  I am really late for this weeks theme of garlands but I think I might just have made it.

My garland couldn't be simpler, a string of popcorn.  Golden kernels popped in oil and strung on strong thread.  I used a large sharp needle but I intend to make more garlands with the little ones and will use blunt tapestry needles so they can have a go too.

I imagine it will be a lovely way to spend an afternoon, happily threading and chatting with a ready made snack within easy reach.  Providing we can avoid any puncture wounds.

The garland I made has been draped on our tree and is looking pretty against the red and green.  They make a lovely decoration for the mantel too.

As you probably know by now, I love birds.  I grew up watching my granny ensure that there was always food left out for them in winter.  Continuing this tradition, we will make more popcorn garlands for our feathered friends to hang from the branches of the birch trees in the garden.  A treat for hungry birds in the cold.

Seed cakes are another seasonal make and are a great way to help the birds through the cold frosty days.

Do you feed the birds?

lately

source

Just a quick hello after an impromptu blogging break.  There is no real reason for my lack of posts.  I have been busy with festive commitments and planning. Sometimes life takes over a little.

So this year I have opted for a very gentle Christmas.  I cheated a little and got ahead by sorting Father Christmas last month so have largely ignored the mad rush which seems to have taken hold lately.

We are keeping it simple this year.  Family, friends and good food, the things that have brought us much pleasure throughout the year.

We put our tree up last weekend and the little ones decorated it.  Amazingly I haven't rearranged a single bauble.

I am really looking forward to the school nativities next week.  The little fairy will be Mary in her playschool performance.  She is very excited.

I'm off now to find suitable attire for two shepherds.  Now where did I stash those new tea towels?

goodbye november

Late.  But better late than never.  Eleven months of garden moodboards.  Only one more to complete a year.

November has been busy.  Time has raced by.  The lack of daylight has meant more cosy days by the fire. We have spent many happy hours outdoors but are thankful to get back indoors to the warm.

The garden is slowing down, preparing for its long sleep over winter.  The lawn is littered with thousands of leaves.  Brown, yellow, orange and red.  A beautiful carpet on dry days.  Green features on the evergreens around the garden, a welcome reminder that spring and all its glorious colour is not too far away.

So for now, my moodboard for November.  A collection of leaves gathered in the garden.  A display of vibrant colour.  Sometimes decay can be quite beautiful.

Linking up as always with Karin and Asa.

golden light

Today was a gorgeous day, bright and breezy and oh so cold.  Perfect for wrapping up and having a play outdoors.  After lunch we drove to Smiths Strand, a lough shore beach close to where we live for some fresh air and an explore.

Mr F and I had a lot of fun regaling our little ones with stories of how we both visited this beach as children with our parents.  Independently of course.  We didn't meet until many years later.  It feels special to give our children the same experiences we had when we were little.

The light was beautiful turning all it touched golden.  The sun was low in the sky and already much of where we played was in shade but when the sun shone it was magical.  It has been so grey here lately we really appreciated this reprieve.

After a while we were sufficiently numb to call it a day and head home.  Back to relax by the fire.

Tonight I will be welcoming 'Mrs Christmas' back for the countdown to Christmas. The little ones can't wait. Wishing you all a cosy weekend.

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I love the colours in the pictures I took today.  The combination of blues, greys and yellows is one of my favourites.

nature in the home: autumn

Linking up with Lou for nature in the home.  An autumn posy gathered from the hedge in our garden, displayed in a old tin given to me by a family friend.  The foliage and berries are a pretty complement to the tin.

Apologies, as is usual for this season, grainy photographs on grey days.

lady luck

Have you ever experienced a run of exceptionally good luck.  I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I've been especially lucky.  I am delighted to have won not one, not two but three gorgeous blog giveaways.

So, in an effort to spread the luck and love I will be organising a little giveaway here soon.

In the meantime I just wanted to say a big thank you for my gorgeous gifts.  To Lou and Eloise for the gorgeous print and pouch.  Like many of you I really enjoy reading Lou's lovely blog and have admired Eloise's artwork forever. Her cloud print will be happily adorning my bedroom wall.

To Dawn for the postcards and calendar featuring her beautiful photographs. Dawn's blog at home with red features more of her stunning still life photography available in her shop.  Pop over to see her.  You won't regret it.

And to Jane for this perfect print.  Jane has designed a new range of wonderful art prints for her etsy shop littleteawagon.  I was delighted to receive this one.  The little boy reminds me of my own pair of boys.  I can't wait to get it framed and on the wall.

How lucky am I?

I have waited and waited for a bright day to take my own photos but general greyness meant I had to give up.  All photos link back to their original sources.

nature in the home: autumn

I've really missed Lou's nature in the home series and was delighted it returned again for autumn and winter. However, I have been a little distracted lately, so this is my first contribution this time around.

Leaves from the virginia creeper which weaves its way up and across the front of our house.  I love the heart shaped leaves and vibrant red colour.  The leaves are becoming sparse, blowing around our drive so I gathered a handful and brought them indoors.

I taped them to a door in the shape of a heart.  It makes me smile every time I go into the hall.  I'm so glad I rescued a few before they are all blown away.

Joining in with the lovely Lou for nature in the home.