our nature table

this is our new autumn nature table we have just set up. For past seasons the nature table has been situated on top of a low bookcase, but I came to realise it was too inaccessible, especially for little Adrien and this, I thought, defeated the object of it. This way requires a little more work to maintain but we are all very happy with it.

I am a little late compared to most of you out there, but I just purchased my copy of A Year of Mornings. Apart from it being a beautiful and wonderful book, it has really got me thinking about whether we are morning, evening or night people. I am most definitely an evening person, which after some serious reflection, quite comfortably coincides with my love of autumn/winter. For me they both represent a letting go of pressures, demands and expectations. A sense of cosying down under soft candlelight, cuddling under warm quilts and blankets, enjoying warm tea, soups and delicious pies and surrounded by my books, knitting, sewing or music. Everything is calm, warm, serene. Nothing needs to be achieved except relaxation and peace.

hello again

I am back. That was an unplanned break. Sick children and a full schedule has been keeping me busy. Decided to crank it all down a notch today, we all stayed at home, listened to music, played 'dog shows' (don't even ask) and I even got to do some cooking. Pumpkin soup and a sun-dried tomato, goat cheese and onion tart. It was delicious.

I am starting to think about Christmas coming and a little one's birthday and wondering how I am going to do things this year. I really want to scale things back with the gifts, toys etc., and have a more thoughtful and less materialistic holidays. I am just not sure how to get the balance right between what I want my children to have/experience to what they want and expect. The last thing I want is two unhappy faces on their special days. I just always remember when I was a little girl the big sack of toys left from Santa and all the excitement that went with that, but at the same time I don't like the idea of that for my boys. I know that will probably sound very contradictory and maybe a little selfish on my part. I am still trying to figure this one out.

time for cake

Baking my first fruit cake.



Now autumn is upon us I have been in the mood for lots of baking. This is probably why I like this season so much, time to spend cosy days baking, sipping hot chocolate, jazz music in the background and maybe a little knitting? I have not picked up the needles since the hats I made last year, but with the cooler days I much prefer to cosy down on the sofa with some knitting than sitting at my sewing machine in a cold corner of the dining room.

hello autumn

hello autumn, my most very favourite month.

this is also time for new beginings, fresh ideas and challenges.

I will be starting an OU course shortly, just a short 10 week one to start with, but I would love to go on to do a degree, something that has always been a dream of mine. Its just the time aspect that worries me, being able to fit it all into family life, and hoping I don't take on too much.

I read a great post yesterday over at Bluebirdbaby, it was just what I needed to read right now; over the last few months I have been getting stressed basically over things that I have no or little control over - so I am going to make a big effort to step back from many things, take more time for me and let things happen the way they are meant to.

30 days of happiness:: cornerview - conkers!!

Things have been pretty conker-mad around here lately. We now have a huge box full of them, which I quite know what to do with, any suggestions?

The subject for this week's cornerview is 'from my car window'. Well I don't have a car, so you could say this is from the window of my world: gorgeous autumn days, and lots & lots of conkers!

30 days of happiness

:: Time to get away at last to the beach

:: Watching the boys swimming, exploring, having fun

:: Swimming in the sea for the first time in years (it was so good)

:: Eating ice creams by the harbour

:: Burying in the sand

:: Spending precious moments in time that I shall never forget.

30 days of happiness:: back to reality

I am back from a little holiday in Dorset, happy, tired and thankful for the break.Feeling very tired, I did something rare for myself, but something I think I should do more often: in the 1 1/2 hours I have to myself in the day when both boys are at school and nursery, I sat back with a cup of tea and watched this movie. A rare treat I immensely enjoyed.