The things I miss most...

Many of you already know that 'Tall Husband' & I decided to put the house on the market just before Christmas...as we need to financially downsize to make life a little more confortable. Sadly my little website is just not enough to keep the wolf from the door so 11 weeks ago I took the decision to go back to work full time.

I have been self employed for 22 years and the decision to return to work was not an easy one... thankfully though I am doing a job I love and that makes it all a little easier.

I'm not going to dwell on it, or winge about it, as there are thousands of people much worse off than me and mine. There are lots of things I miss though now I am not at home... here are just a few of them......

• Being at home with my lovely 'Tall Husband' during the day
• Walking the dog on a fresh morning along the river bank near my home.
• Being creative in my cosy workshop.
• Reading & replying to all my lovely Blogging friends.
• Collecting the eggs from my four Sussex chickens.
• My home during the daylight hours.
• Listening to the quiet of the countryside & the bird song in my garden.
• Not being able to wear sloppy & comfortable clothes (I now have to be really smart)
• Fresh air.
• Friends dropping by to say hello.
• Healthy unrushed lunches with 'Tall Husband' cuddled next to the AGA.
• My old life......
  
  Never mind though... we are still happy and healthy and nothing is for ever.
  
  This Easter week-end has been one to treasure, four whole days off with nothing to do other than the things I want to do.
  
  Friday son & daughter in law elect came to stay & fix the date for the wedding.... can't get much more exciting than that can it ?
  
  Saturday morning yours truly and fellow village fundraisers cooked a Brunch in the Parish Hall for villagers whilst the children wandered around the church next to the river collecting treasure hunt clues which lead them to......
  

We had so much fun with the 'wrigglers & squirmers' treasure hunt that I decided to have one of my own for any unsuspecting visitors...... the following pics are a taster...
Patriotic goose eggs hiding in the herb pot...
And finally... my girls and boy waiting for their final handful of corn before retiring.

Today, Sunday, a long awaited trip to the 'Flea' at Shepton. The sun was shining & the stalls were just too tempting. Met Lizzie on her scrummy plot too... her display always looks so beautiful I could live under one of her tables and never come out. Lovely Tall Husband bought me a vintage corsage in lieu of an Easter Egg too. Do you knowI think I must be one of the very few women who doesnot particularly like chocolate..... WOW I CAN HEAR YOUR CRIES OF HORROR FROM HERE IN SUNNY SOMERSET !

Thanks to you all for your kind comments and support.... situation update is:-
The house hasn't sold yet, but there are a few interested parties, we've even had a couple of offers too so things can only get better. For those of you who didn't know the house was for sale, or might like to take a look please click on the attached link -http://www.roderickthomas.co.uk/Property/Residential/for-sale/Wells---Castle-Cary/-/914

Happy thoughts and blessings to you all for a Happy Easter, knowing you are out there makes life tolerable.

And finally a picture to remind us what Easter is really all about !

Much love & stay safe. Frances

A Final Festive Round Up

Where has Christmas gone... I didn't find the time to leave a Blog over the hols... so here is just a little taster of the 'Tanner's christmas.

I know they are growing lads... but do they ever stop eating?

This year, as we've done for the past 3 years my friend Pippa & I taught an all day Christmas workshop in our village hall for charity. This year the charity was www.robinhoodministries.com

This is a charity which my daughter-in-law elect has been working with in Romania. Kirstie is studying to do television production & took the offered opportunity to travel to Romania and film a documentary about the plight of the Romanians... 'll let you know if it gets 'Air Time'.

This year with 14 eager students we made a frothy net & flower wreath, a covered notebook & a feathery corsage... it was great fun to have a whole day just crafting, with a small break at lunchtime for home made soup & mince pies... and we made £130 for the charity.

Phillip & I managed a quiet stroll around a surprisingly tranquil Wells on Christmas Eve... no present shopping, no food shopping... just enjoying the festive buzz prior to the BIG DAY.

That's me coyly peeping into the photo on the right...(my husband has just very unkindly pointed out that I don't normally do 'coy')

Nothing left to buy so everyone is heading home.

The snow filled garden opposite the Swan Hotel in Wells took on a decidedly Narnia feel in the afternoon sunlight with the majestic Cathedral in the background.

Mince pies were the order of the day for this flock of seagulls at the Bishops Palace Moat... several walkers along the waters edge threw them some very seasonal snacks.

Just had to share a few family pics with you too...

This is our son Adam & his fiance on Christmas morning. He's valiantly pretending to like the socks that Grandma had given him.

Last Christmas day he proposed to Kirstie in exactly the spot you see them now.


Not to be out-manoeuvred in the attention stakes.. guess who?

Nellie wasn't at all happy with her Christmas dog snack stocking, although I had told her we were cutting down this year, so she shredded every piece of discarded wrapping paper she could find .... she got away with it though because she's so cute.

Well the decorations are down and stored for next year... I wonder what it will bring!

New Year wishes from me to you all for a happy, healthy & family filled 2009.

Love Frances x

Bea & Evie Ribbon Flower Workshop

Saturday was a 'Me Day' as I set off for a long awaited workshop with the talented Tina Guitini at her inspirational vintage shop 'Bea & Evie' http://www.bea-evie.com/ on Catherine Hill in Frome.
The shop, although tiny, is packed full of vintage things that no sane person could happily live without... velvet flowers, ribbons, jewellery, buttons, buckles, vintage clothes & of course Tina's stunning hats - all hand made, adapted and adorned with style.

Four eager students waited with tongues hanging out as Tina taught us how to make several different designs of ribbon flowers. Her workroom with large central table, at the back of the shop, held dozens of spools of shaded wired ribbons and tools, also thankfully a very comprehensive worksheet.
It was great fun & I for one couldn't believe how much we'd achieved and made on the seven hour course... everyone was so engrossed we had to be forced to stop for lunch.... especially when Tina took delivery of a new box of velvet flowers.

Unfortunately I had to leave at 5pm as I had foolishly arranged a dinner party for 8 that evening and it was a real wrench to drag myself away whilst the other girls were still busily folding tacking crimping and embellishing.

Tina kindly made one of my rose creations into a simple corsage for me, which I wore in the evening, it was very much admired.


To clear our heads the following morning, and to get away from the incessant noise of the dishwasher, P and I took Nellie the dog for a long walk to the nearby National Trust Butleigh woods. Although wet and very muddy it was lovely to see the Autumnal colours and enjoy the fresh air.


Whilst leaning on the stile enjoying the views 4 beautiful goats wandered over to have a look at Nellie... aren't they cute.



This is the sad bit......
Sadly, today the 'FOR SALE' board went up on our cottage. It has not been an easy decision for us because this is the home of our dreams which we thought we would live in forever.... it's taken us 5 years to restore it and it is so hard to have to part with it now.

We have decided we must downsize financially as our business is also property restoration and the current housing climate is not good..... I console myself, between the tears, with the knowledge that 'Home is where the heart is' and thankfully I have Phillip whatever the future throws at us.
http://www.jackson-stops.co.uk/cgi-bin/properties/summary_details.pl?propID=32557

Please take a look at our cottage.... and pass it on to anyone you think may like a slice of heaven in the country.
Bye for now
Frances

LAST OF THE SUMMER ROSES

This Sunday morning found me sitting on the bench in the front garden surveying the borders. With the village church bells ringing and the oh so rare sun shining it was a little bit of heaven. All was well with the world... especially as I was nursing a cuppa and stroking the dog at the same time... bliss.

I couldn't resist picking the last of the Summer roses to display in the kitchen, especially as our son and his fiance were coming to lunch.

A tiny basket of blooms sits on top of a ferret box which double as a side table... doesn't everyone have a ferret box in the sitting room?

The lunch was late to the table, as always, because the moment I started arranging the blooms I couldn't stop... I recently acquired this curvaceous French mademoiselle & I absolutely adore her, my garden room is her home at the moment but no doubt she will become giddy before I eventually decide on her final position.

Unfortunately her neck finial was missing so I adapted a £1 banister finial to fit, it still needs a coat of paint but I think it will finish her off nicely.

She does have a husband... a handsome vintage Stockman mannequin with bulging biceps and magnificent muscles..but alas they have fallen out and I think there is no chance of a reconciliation. If anyone is interested in him please contact me and I will try to set up a date!!

Finally a view from by back door through the cross passage hallway to the front door and the garden path beyond... please note the disdainful over the shoulder look from Nellie as I obviously disturbed a sunny snooze. Several years ago I was told by a traveller that our house was a 'fairy house' because the rising front path leads directly through the house to rising ground behind and eventually to a wood at the bottom of the orchard.... 'you will always be losing things', she told me, ' because the fairies are very mischievous creatures and will always be hiding things from you' !!!

Anyway must sign off now as I can't find my car keys and I need to find them before the post office closes.

Hope the sun continues to shine on you and the people you love. Bye for now Frances

Where has all the sunshine gone?

It's another grey day here in Somerset - but for once it isn't raining. The poor old garden has taken a bit of a battering but there are still areas of colour which remind me that it is Summer, it is August & the sun will come back!Our little village is set next to the river Bru & with all the rain lately it almost burst it's banks. Thankfully, although we are only a few hundred yards away from the river, we are on rising ground so hopefully safe.Last w/e Phillip &, I along with some friends, spent a wet 3 days at a music festival near Banbury... camping! Does anyone know of the Fairport Convention festival in Cropredy? It has been going for many years and it is like a mini Glastonbury but staged in a beautiful little village on a canal. Approx 20,000 people attend from Thursday night until Saturday and it is widely accepted as being one of the friendliest safest music festivals in the country. Last year, which was our first, Phillip & I were not very well prepared for camping.... we borrowed a tiny 2 man tent which looked like a bubble, Phillip is 6' 5" and couldn't stand up in it. Not only that but his feet stuck out of the end when we went to bed, thankfully the weather was glorious so it seemed hilarious at the time. This year we invested in a much larger tent.. and although it rained for most of the time it was at least dry under canvas.It was good to return home though to dry out, pick up the dog, bond again with the chickens, & wander from room to room...(just because we could)I'll leave you with a few pics of my recycled bits & pieces in the garden... just to lift the spirits.

An old brown kettle rescued when our ancient village hall was refurbished makes a lovely container.

Old baskets are painted white and planted with trailing lobelia & pansy.I love this old door which leads to my summer studio, it's much too cold to use in the winter though.

A red painted mangle outside one of the stables is the perfect spot to display these colourful geraniums.

I change the design of this heart shaped wreath every season, I will be adding these to my website within the next day or so.

In my garden green & gay
All my troubles fade away,
Sweet contentment here I find
Joyous heart & peace of mind.

Bye for now... Frances

Art In The Garden

On their way to pastures new.

The two orphaned lambs have now gone back to the farmer, and I must admit I'm not missing them as much as I thought I would, or perhaps it's being released from the regime of bottle feeding that I'm not missing!

With the lambs gone Phillip & I did eventually get away for a few days in Dorset, which was a much needed break. We took the dog and did lots of walking, visited Lyme Regis and blitzed the charity shops - things seem to be so much more expensive on the coast - I suppose it's because of the tourists..... of which I'm one I suppose.

We returned mid week though as Phillip had appointments and I was hosting 26 artists from Somerton Arts Group who came for a day painting scenes in the garden. What a great bunch of people, they even brought a picnic lunch and invited us to join them. They had a visiting tutor who wandered around giving them hints & guidance. I was amazed at the scenes they painted which varied from our 4 Sussex hens and their new cockerel consort 'Luther', to an old mangle displaying some bright red geraniums, and a brilliant sketch of our old barn door surrounded by my bits & pieces of garden paraphenalia. As a thank you for letting them use the garden and outbuildings as subjects for their paintings the tutor Kate, gave us a beautiful sketch of our dog Nellie, which is so lifelike it made me cry.....
As soon as they'd gone we loaded the car up with essentials - you know the sort of thing - wine, books, dog chews, sewing box and more wine then we drove back to Dorset for a few more days. The weather was crazy, it was so windy we couldn't venture out to the cliff path so I did the only sensible thing - I stayed indoors and made this little lady.

Many thanks to all of you who have bought things from my very new website, and all the messages of encouragement. Thanks also to Niki at Nostalgia for allowing me to LINK with her wonderful site. If anyone else would like to exchange links please let me know.

Bye for now from a very wet Somerset.

Frances x

Our Village Open Gardens

It's been a month since my first blog and life has been wonderful, busy and hectic. First & foremost the two lambs I am rearing on the bottle are thriving and will soon be able to go back to the flock... Nellie (Golden Retriever) is looking forward to their departure very much.

Nellie dog howls whenever I get near the lambs, this is her with the smaller of the two.

Nellie is sitting next to my chair at the mo with a splodge of strawberry jam on her head, she tells me someone put it there, but I'm not so sure... We had a village Open Gardens event on Sunday 15th and our garden was open for Cream Teas.. the dog just followed anyone with a plate.. hence the jam on the head.

The front view of our 16c cottage. A traveller told me it was a perfect 'fairy' house as the front path leads through the house to rising land behind, we can see Glastonbury Tor from the land around us, & when Glastonbury festival is in full swing we can hear the bass beat in our meadow.

12 Gardens opened to the public & the sun shone and everyone was so lovely and happy. I chair the village fundraisers and this event took us ages to set-up. It was worth it though as we had about 300 visitors and raised loads of cash for the play area and a set of hand bells for the church.
Rumour has it that Madonna's mother in law visited our garden, perhaps it was her who splodged the dogs head with jam from her cream tea!!

My litfle stall was tucked away in the corner of the garden.

A view down the drive with the bunting & vintage Motorcycles.

The event had quite a few craft stalls selling paintings, wooden toys, jewellery & of course I had a space selling my vintage bits & bobs... but the stars of the day were the two lambs & the chickens who really knew how to manipulate the crowds... again much to the dogs disdain.

This is one of our four chickens, we have 2 Light Sussex & 2 Silver Sussex. We are new to chickens and one of the SS has become broody... does anyone know what to do when this happens?

Under our newly built open fronted garage we had a static display of Vintage Motorcycles, there must have been at least 25, they were members of the Somerset & Dorset Royal Enfield Vintage Motorcycle Club, what a great bunch of people.

Phillip and I are off for a few days away to the Dorset coast on Friday, can't wait to trawl the junk shops and car boot sales for vintage goodies.
We also intend to eat lots of sea food and drink lots of wine whilst sitting on the balcony of the caravan which has uninterrupted views of the beach and sea.

Bye for now. Take care, Frances x