Fairytale feathers...

It is quite a crazy creation, don't you think? (Good crazy!) This blue beauty, our 'town bird'. 

Yes, going for a stroll around our little town without stumbling over a peacock or five is actually quite an unusual thing. They live in the grounds of Corsham Court, the local Estate house, but often venture out into the streets, stopping for a casual rest on the side of the road, on top of a wall or in someone's garden... 

Even as I write this, just after midnight, I can hear them calling, in that "tooting" voice I have become so accustomed to, yet still find so peculiar. How can these, the prettiest of birds, make that noise? Fairytale birds who, you would think, ought to have vocal cords like silk to match their spectacular costume?

But don't get me wrong... I love these fancy feathers and their unusual way of communicating with the world. And I love stumbling on them on an almost daily basis, sometimes even in my road. Nature's own painter's masterpiece. The world's very real fantasy bird.

All the best,

Helena 

Seasonal certainties...

If in seasonal doubt...

... I can recommend a visit to Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire (ca 30 min north of Bath)...

(For sharper images, please click on them.)

 ... because with colours like these...

... I think it is safe to say...

 .. that autumn is officially here!

***

With no new little decoration vignettes to offer, I will recycle yet another autumn display from last year, in the hope that my new readers may enjoy it as new and my old readers won't mind the repetition too much. So, with all my heart(s), here a celebration of the season in my own veggie ways...:

Wishing you a golden, sparkling and colourful week!
Helena

Horsey, horsey, don't you stop...

... just let your feet go clippety-clop...

The camp site we stayed on in Devon last week, was on a farm. There were horses, hay, rusty iron fencing, and all the other farm-y details one could ever need to, once again, bring out the camera...

As the sun was setting, everything seemed to turn golden, and even the ever-present and ever-annoying stingy nettles seemed almost attractive for a moment...

With these country-scented images, I wish you a golden Tuesday!

Rhododendron overdose...

Just by the camp site where we stayed last weekend, was a small river. Next to it a path, leading us into fairy tale country. Forests of rhododendron, the soothing sound of water flowing gently and only occasionally rushing a little faster as it tries to negotiate some larger stones.

Small man-made bridges and natural stepping stones, inviting young boys to test their balance and bravery. Man-made or fairy craft? Who am I to say...

And there he goes, my oldest offspring, his long, curly hair bouncing up and down as he explores the tempting 'secret' path. A second later, his younger brother will have caught up with him, after having shouted his name and begged him to wait for him to catch up. Eager not to miss out on whatever excitement may cross their path, the youngest child will try to keep up with his older, much adored but much faster, brother.

A moment later, a new game will have been invented, where words like 'rescue mission' and 'space ship' may play important roles. Unless it turns into a serious bug spotting operation, of course. Which it might very well do.

Exmoor National Park in Devon boasts extraordinary beauty and comes highly recommended for a visit!

Are you a happy camper...?

Confession time. I am certainly no snob when it comes to holiday accommodation, and I have slept in very basic, if not primitive, rooms in my life. Camping, however, is a whole different story. Not quite my cup of tea. Not even if it is an English cuppa', made over the camp fire in the most romantic of primitive living attempts.

Now, here comes 'however' number two. If you make me go to north Devon, offer to pack everything and also take care of food preparations, AND place me in one of the most beautiful camp sites in this country, who sell home-made coffee cake slices the size of the North American continent, then I may just be open for negotiation. Just.

As this camp site had a small shop cum café, it also boasted a small seating area in the garden. And if for nothing else, then I think it might have been worth coming here for that. Just look at these fabulous grassy roofs and ivy-clad poles - oooh, yes we like that, we like that a lot!

Last weekend was spent here, and more photos will follow in another blog entry, as the camera just would not stop snapping in this gorgeous area...

Peering into paradise...

Yes, the view may seem familiar to some of you, and peculiarly Swedish, you may say to yourselves. You would be right. This Swedish lady has brought her Swenglish offspring for a quick recharge of the Swedish batteries, a speedy refuelling of all that is Swedish...

The weather gods are on my side. The lake where my parents live has never looked more beautiful. Despite the early date, my boys have already dared dipping into the clear water, squeeling appropriately on encountering the modest temperature.

I will now take a few days to enjoy walking on Swedish soil and be back in my blogging chair towards the end of the week, or perhaps the beginning of next...

Wishing you all a lovely week and see you soon!

A handful...

...of white anemones will be my well-wishing greeting to you this Wednesday.

Oh, the joy of finding a white floor in the forest and discover they were not snowdrops, but anemones! The boys went wild and wanted to pick every single one. Childhood spring flower-picking memories, what joy to be able to pass them on to the next generation!

A walk in the park...

...exactly a year ago, offered these views and blooms. Needless to say, things are a bit behind in the bloom department this year. But the views are there, the 'lake' (Swedes: read 'pond' or 'puddle') is a watering hole in more ways than one, the pretty village of Westrop on the other side of the lake, with the house with the spectacular leafy entrance - still there, of course.
All this, just a few steps from the High Street of my little town.

Country living, just the way we like it. And we like it.

(The top left picture with the strangely shaped box (?), has the entrance to the property in the hole in the green, as seen in the picture just below that one.)

A spot of green nudity...

Mmm...












Five acres of green fabulousness, lovingly brought to life by the owners, Barbara and Ian Pollard, a k a The Naked Gardeners. 100 000 tulips (a few of them greeting us yesterday), UK's largest collection of roses (soon, soon in bloom), water features, wildlife and a garden so beautiful, so interesting, with so many rooms, stunning focal points and small still lifes I found myself nearly hyperventilating whilst photographing like a mad woman worried it - or I - would all disappear if I were not quick enough... Wow. Lots of wow.
Fancy a bit of horticultural wow, but live too far away? Try http://www.abbeyhousegardens.co.uk/ or see the book The Naked Gardeners. And yes, on certain days, expect to see Ian and Barbara in the most natural of costumes.
Wow.