Posy

March Photos ~ Day 17

I can't believe that this is the last day of March and these will be my last March photos. As far as I'm concerned I've saved the best photograph till last.  Can you guess what it might be...?!

Yes, it's Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, my childhood home, and my most favourite view in the whole, wide world. My lovely mother and I had a morning there last Saturday.  She told me that my pre-school was in the building on the left, something I never knew, and again I wondered if my love of cottages and the English countryside is because of my childhood surroundings which have seeped into my subconscious.

I stood at the top of the cobbled hill, oohing and arhing as if it was the first time I had ever gazed at the wonderful view.  The market town of Shaftesbury is small and fairly ordinary but walk behind the Town Hall and this is the view you see; it just takes my breath away every time my eyes alight on it. I recently watched a programme on TV about Britain's favourite view and was dismayed to realise that this wasn't included. "Don't you think this is the best view you've ever seen?" I asked my mother breathlessly as she caught up with me. "Well, it's nice but I'm not sure if I would say it's the best I've ever seen," she replied.  I just shook my head and sighed even louder.

We then went to Sophie Perks Ward and I sighed some more at all the lovely Green Gate lovelies.

 

I'm doing plenty of sighing today too as I'm fighting a horrid virus which has left me feeling achy and weak; I had to come home early from school.  We have a birthday tomorrow - Alice will be 13 (much to her excitement) which means all my children are teenagers...teenagers..now that is something worth sighing about!

March Photos ~ Day 16

My weekend reading. I'm so excited and pleased for Amanda. It's raining, blowing a gale and I'm going to settle down and enjoy...

Happy Saturday!

March Photos ~ Day 15

This was the scene last Wednesday lunch time in a corner of our staff room. My lovely friend Lisa (who I used to go to Honiton Lace making classes about 26 years ago when we were 18; lost contact with for too many years and then met up again when she started working at my school) and I reserve 2 seats together...well reserve might be the polite word for proclaiming in a loud voice to the entire room that we were going to be 'Happy Hookers this lunch time and need 2 seats together - everyone is welcome to join us!'

And what fun we had, me crocheting my hearts and she crocheting a bag. We spread our books, wool and enthusiasm all over the room. Oh I had forgotten the absolute joy of crafting with others; the camaraderie, the support, the common goals.  I realised that for years I have crafted alone or being the only one to craft in a room, and I have really missed the encouragement, the gentle chatter, the all important discussions on whether one should use blue or green wool, and the slow wander around the room to do the weekly 'catch-up' with fellow crafters to see their progress with whatever they maybe making.

Yes, I really miss that. And with this in mind, Lisa and I will be moving from the school staff room to the warmth of my real fire and the soft cushions of my sitting-room, hopefully on a regular basis. My wish is that others may like to join us one day.  Oh, the possibilities!

Thank you for all your encouraging comments about teenagers yesterday. It's great to know I'm not alone. x

March Photos ~ Day 14 ~ Easter Weekend

Salisbury, Wiltshire.

The point of my March photos were just that, pictures and very few words.  Mmm.. I can't say that has really happened, it takes a lot to quieten me - those who know me know, that if there is a silence then I fill it; but if I want to sum up my experience last weekend it's in these words. Chains of Gold.

I have been having a difficult time with Tom over the last few weeks. We've been trying to teach our nearly 18 year old, first born, independence but when I see things done that are not how we've taught him; have to walk over several feet of discarded clothes and papers on his bedroom floor; watch him miss the school bus because he is not organized enough; have to search daily for lost items; etc it has been causing me a lot of pain and anguish. He is meant to be leaving home for university in a few months and..well..I'm sure you know what I mean.

On Friday, I took my place, in the quire of Salisbury Cathedral, for the Liturgy of Good Friday.  The Cathedral was quiet, dimly lit and as I knelt there my mind slowly began to quieten for the first time in days and I lifted up my eldest child in prayer. And it was then that I felt my burden slowly being lifted and an overwhelming feeling of not being alone and being able to share my worries with God.  Of course I've always known that but it was allowing the silence, the stillness, to permeate into my very being that made God feel so close.

Of course, those wonderful surroundings help and heavenly sound of the voices praising God.  The whole experience reminded me of a very old book I found 15 years ago in a charity shop (where else!) by a man called JR Miller D.D. It is called The Touch of Christ and is a series of essays. One has never left my mind and it's called Chains of Gold, which is about a line from a Tennyson poem about prayer'..the whole round world is every way, bound by gold chains about the feet of God.' His meaning is that by our intercessions for our loved ones we are ever winding new chains about them which are also wound about God himself.

'Men make rope out of many fine threads.  One thread alone will not bear much stress; but a thousand threads twisted together make a mighty cable which will hold the ship against the storm. So home prayers may seem weak threads as they are breathed out from trembling lips; but thousands of them make a mighty cable that binds the child to the throne of God. Every prayer makes the cable stronger and binds with chains of gold fast to the feet of God.'

So I left Salisbury with a new sense of the importance of stillness of mind and unceasing prayer; and am grateful for that moment of enforced quiet which led to such clarity.

March Photos ~ Day 13

Wow! 116 comments, I never knew so many people actually read my blog! I am so touched that I went out yesterday and bought 2 more packets (different pattern to the others) so I have 5 packets of flowery cloths to giveaway.  I'm so sorry that I can't stretch to 111 more and to all of you who asked, I found them in Sainsburys. Instead of putting names in a hat I decided to ask each of the children (and Anth to pick 2) to pick a number from 1 to 116.

And the winners are...Tatania, Linda Joan, Emma, Jane & Nanette.  I will be in email contact with you soon to get your postal addresses.  I'm writing this at 11.16pm - it's been a very busy 2 days since getting back from Salisbury (photos to follow soon - wonderful time had by all) and my lateness in posting tonight is all down to the fact that I spent over an hour stringing up fairy lights in our kitchen! Can anyone tell me why, when I have so much to do (gigantic pile of ironing, huge casserole, searching on-line for a fridge-freezer, yes we are still fridge-less) laundry, responding to your comments/emails) I decide I have to string up fairy lights right now for over an hour!? Well if truth be known, it was probably nearer 2 hours.  And after all that weaving in and out of the plate racks I'm not sure if they look good.  I might let you decide on that one.  So here I am at this late hour posting on the blog!  Do you like the photo? It's my booty from just one charity shop in Salisbury. They all have a violets theme. I love the word violets don't you?  Sweet Violets, Wood Violets and Devon Violets....I nearly called the blog Devon Violets and now can't remember why I didn't.  Anyway, my bed is calling..thank you for all your kind wishes and all those 116 comments...116...I just can't believe it!

March Photos ~ Day 12

As I recently have been the recipient of some lovely gifts I thought that you all deserved a little something as well.  So I'm doing 3 Easter Giveaways with..now don't laugh...some cleaning cloths!  Yes, cleaning cloths, but not ordinary, bog standard, boring cloths; no I wouldn't do that to you or me.  No. As it's the season for a little spring cleaning what could be better than to clean your home with pretty, flowery cloths.

So, if you would like to go into the Flowery Cloth Giveaway, please leave a comment, and on Monday I will put all your names into a hat and will draw out 3 lucky winners.

We are off to Salisbury in an hour to spend our Easter celebration with my mother and Robin.  We will be going to all of the services at the cathedral culminating on Easter Sunday with a 5am service to greet the sunrise and a champagne breakfast with the Bishop.  I'm hoping I get just as moved by the whole experience as last time I attended a service - though the children are hoping that I don't but it's angelic sound of the choir that sends me!  I'm told that each service is quite beautiful so here's hoping.  We are even squeezing in a trip to Shaftesbury which I'm really looking forward to. So, we'll be back on Monday with some wonderful photographs, I hope. 

I wish you all a peaceful and joyful Easter.

March Photos ~ Day 11

Today has been scattered with gifts.

First a sweet bunch of handpicked primroses from a child in my class.  So welcome and so perfect in their simpleness.

And the second was waiting for me when I arrived  home.  A parcel from Kathy all the way from Tunbridge, Vermont.

So welcome and so perfect in the thoughtfulness of the contents; crochet hooks and a wonderful vintage teaspoon holder in which to keep them in (a brilliant idea as mine have been rattling around in a tin.) A sweet embroidery and Maple Candy (oh the bliss) which have already been consumed by Alice and myself! Thank you, Kathy, I am thrilled and very touched.

I took some photos of the primroses in the fleeting late afternoon sun. Hope you enjoy them as much as I will, but before I leave you with the Spring goodness can I apologise for not being able to answer all your lovely comments over the last few days.  I just can't keep up with things at the moment and I hope you understand.  Now, are you ready for a pretty sight...here goes..

March Photos ~ Day 10

Yesterday was a bad day for lots of reasons.  Bad migraine, self-absorbed children, broken fridge freezer, rainy weather, messy house, and a sick cat.  I gave in and went to bed for the afternoon and did little else for the day. So I was hoping today would be better and by break time at school, it was!  All thanks to this little chap.

I was sitting in the staff room sipping my tea when out of the corner of my eye I spied this gorgeous little robin brooch pinned onto someone's coat that was casually thrown over a chair. I leaped to my feet.

"Ooh, whose coat is that?  Aw, that is so sweet, I could make that myself. I love it - look! Whose coat is it?  Does anyone know who this belongs to?"

No one could tell me so I sat with the coat on my knee, studying how the cute little robin was made. He had been embroidered with wool on a tiny piece of blanket or felt. Whenever anyone entered the room I would say, "Is this your coat? Is this your coat?" It gave me a huge lift as I suddenly became inspired to make one myself. Oh the possibilities! I just love discovering things that encourage my creativity. Does anyone else feel like that?

"I could explode with excitement!" I exclaimed into my tea.

The little robin belonged to a lady that was helping in my class and as I didn't have my camera with me, she kindly lent me the brooch over night so I could photograph it and share it with you.  It was bought at the Christmas Market at Totnes (I went but didn't see any brooches.. damn!) Oh but the love, I just adore this cheery little chap - I've got it so bad!  The funny thing was that at lunch time when I entered the staff room everyone did a double take at the sight of the brooch suddenly appearing on my shirt!  I assured them that I had the owner's permission and I hadn't just taken it. Oh let's have some Robin love...

Here he is in my corner..

Here he is on my new buttons...

Oh, and here he is just looking cute.

How will I be able to give him back tomorrow...oh dear...I'm off to stare at him for the rest of the evening before he flies away.

March Photos ~ Day 9

I had to go to Totnes again today, (oh the joy!) with Lucy. As it was absolutely pouring with rain there were less people about, which meant I could take unobstructed photographs.

Then we went to my favourite tea rooms a few doors away.

I'm sure people must have wondered why this woman was taking photos of her toasted teacake, but they serve it under on a silver-domed dish. Lovely. It was then I realised what my 'perfect' job would be. Being a 'Tea Room Critic', which would mean travelling all over the country and then writing 'The Good Tea Room Guide.'  Lucy and I discussed this over a second cup of tea (made with loose leaves and brewed in a silver tea pot, naturally) and then it was time to go back out into the wet street.

March Photos ~ Day 8

Today was Friday and that meant a visit to Totnes market and the lovely Amanda.

Recognise the bag?

Every week Amanda's stall is a different theme and always brimming with wonderful treasures...and guess what...she's a wonderful treasure too!