walk

Happy May Day everyone! Such a lovely time of year. One past traditional May Day event I love is that people would get up before sunrise in order to gather flowers and greenery to decorate their houses and villages, in the belief that the vegetation spirits would bring good fortune. 
I have some apple blossom and lilac which I'm hoping will do the trick.



We went on such a beautiful walk the other day, the weather was just perfect.
Down old farm tracks, over wooden stiles, across fields, though pretty villages, into cool musty churches. Hawthorn bushes in flower, lining the way and swathes of wild garlic. We stopped by this lovely stone wall, where the grass was covered in primroses, dandelions and forget-me -nots. It was a buzz with bees and hoverflies. 

I love a nice walk, to slow everything down, to forget about those 'to do' lists and just enjoy the moment. Taking time to notice all the little details of the day. 

Do you have any favourite walks near to where you live? 

into the country

I'm sat in my living room writing this post with a mug of peppermint tea, I can hear the rain on the window pains and I'm wondering if this is the end of the summer. It's been feeling very autumnal here recently. So it's even nicer looking back at these very summery photos of a weekend away last month. We were staying in a rambling old farmhouse near Ludlow. It's one of my favourite places to get away to...I love the countryside, so being surrounded by green fields, roses, willow trees, veg patches, old farm buildings and the sound of summer birds singing away..I'm one very happy girl.

 

My boyfriend Pete, looking quite at home by the veg patch



One of the things I love about going way is waking up and having a relaxed breakfast, all made for you, instead of rushing to try and catch my bus to work...



Look at this amazing weeping willow tree, so beautiful, I felt like I was in a Tim Walker photoshoot!

This was the room we were staying in, full of freshly cut flowers from the garden, vintage books, cosy blankets and pretty wallpaper. The bathroom even had a roll top bath, which was so nice to have a soak in after a long walk through the coutryside. 

 

endless summer

It feels like a good old fashioned summer, the days are long and warm, time passes slowly, spent outside in the garden picking herbs and flowers for the house or on long walks in the countryside watching the swifts and swallows gathering high in the sky, circling rooftops. Weekends away visiting new places. All these bring inspiration for making cards with vintage snippets or sewing lengths of stripy bunting for a garden party. 

What's been making your summer?

escape to the coast

We've been back from Cornwall for a couple of weeks now and it's really nice looking back at these photos.

We stayed in a lovely little cottage just a few minutes from the sea. The weather was completely gorgeous! We walked along the coastal path which was dotted with honeysuckle and wild flowers, down to secret coves and beaches.

Luckily there were a few local pubs on route to stop for a pint, crab sandwiches and mackerel pate on toast. Yum...

 

This was one of our favourite beaches called 'cow beach' we spent a lot of time here skimming stones, the sea was so calm. 

We carried on walking to a pretty little fishing village called Durgan and up to Trebah Gardens. which had it's own secluded beach. It was like being in the south of France.

The next day we took a small passenger ferry to Helford Village and walked along Frenchman's Creek, which was so beautiful. You start out in the village then walk through the cool, damp, fern covered woods to a wild flower meadow which was alive with butterflies, birds and bees. There was a small art gallery and tea shop too, where we stopped for local apple juice and lemon cake, just perfect.. Then back along the creek to get the ferry back across the estuary.

I can't wait to go back already!

late afternoon

A late afternoon walk when the sun is low and golden, across the meadow full of buttercups, cow parsley and old oak trees, off to the pub for a drink.