Fun and laughter

Well, dear souls, what a weekend. There has been sleep, a prerequisite of a Bank Holiday weekend when one is off,  chores, gardening, baking, sewing and so much more, packed into three days. Time with one's loved one's, good friends, food, much laughter, planning, doing and, of course, fun. My, oh my it has been fun and fulsome.

'Twas such a joy to have time off with the male guardian for two whole days together, to switch off from one's professional toil, just be and enjoy each other's company. Absolutely essential to spend time away from the working environment and recharge the batteries with loved ones. Time spent on those essentials in life such as a the company of  those near and dear, to walk in our glorious countryside, enjoy unfettered fun and laughter,  is so grounding and makes one appreciate the little things in life and gives perspective to those elements of life that can be tiresome over time. 
Such bliss .

On the third day, as someone famous once said, my dear seamstress friend and I spent time on a prototype garment; a most comfortable wide legged, bib and brace jumpsuit that really is the bee's knees. It is so very comfortable and can be dressed up or down as one desires. My dear friend is just so clever at adapting patterns and ideas into garments to make one's very own style walk off the drawing board to become the desired garment. No following the usual trends but setting of our own to our own hearts desire. As one gets older, one is more happy to buck the trend and not follow on as part of the flock but to enjoy exploring the range of possibilities that enthusiasm, passion and the right tools can allow. There is also the joy of learning another skill, so good for the little grey cells and one's wardrobe, a win win situation, do you not agree.

Blissful Bank Holiday weekend

Oh, the joy of a Bank Holiday weekend, that extra elicit day to be with one's loved ones, lay on an extra moment or two and revel in the delight of being at home. Oh, how I do love them. The male guardian has two of the three days away from his professional toil and enjoy them we shall. Little matters what we shall do for 'tis the very fact we have time off together that makes the day. 

The weather is cooler, with intermittent rain and sun, the fields have been scarified and the beginnings of the next season can be felt.., with September knocking at the backdoor as Summer lingeringly passes through the front. The sound of apples dropping as the breeze blows through the orchard has once more notified us of the imminent arrival of autumn. Not two days past was the cacophony cackle of a pheasant, sure signs of a year moving on. ''Tis a favourite time of year for me and I shall make the very most of it both in and out of our home.As we sit here in our bedchamber enjoying that first cup of English breakfast tea, all that can be heard is the wind in the trees, apples dropping, and the birds as they go about their daily rituals. A time to breathe and listen to the calming sounds of the countryside.

An unexpected delay in the works upon our little home is a short hiatus that will be absorbed in to the  programme but has not stopped it, thankfully. When one is keeper of an old home the unexpected is not quite so unexpected after all these years, the joy of preserving something that has stood the test of time. 

Stitched up and bound

Dear souls, another glorious day spent in the art of the seamstress with my two dear like minded friends. Such fun and laughter to be had midst the flurry of activity and the whirring of machines. The style of the item to be made was prechosen and patterns prepared; the material had been chosen some time earlier in the summer, in such  delightful colours, well selected for each maker. Today saw the fabric, cut, sewn, bound, pressed, interfaced and lo a garment began to appear.  Dear souls, such is the expertise and skill of our dear friend that the quality of said garments really is above and beyond that which one would have hitherto achieved. Two very satisfied people have only the finishing to undertake and yet another garment will be complete, each fitting their maker perfectly. The gimlet eye of our dear friend and tutor ensures no stitch is left unpicked if her high standards are not achieved thus ensuring the very best of quality. Once the finishing is complete and a final press undertaken, will said garment be complete, for 'tis the pressing that is so vital throughout the procedure. The joy of producing such a garment to be proud of is second only to the delight of being so skilfully tutored by our dear friend and colleague.

The Gardeners answer to the Swiss Army knife

Now, the Swiss Army knife is a much lauded piece of equipment for good reason. It is THE piece of equipment for those in the know when outward bound or indeed just outside. Over many years, the male guardian and I have utilised many a piece of garden machinery and lo, dear souls, we believe we have found our own gardeners equivalent to the Swiss Army knife. Now, we are all different and what suits one will not another so we fully understand if you do not agree. This little gem is a multitasker and oh, how it doth deliver; grass is strimmed, the brush is cut, the hedges trimmed, branches cut, both low down and on high. What an invaluable addition to one's armoury as a country dweller. The garden really is benefitting from this little gem, as there is nought so enjoyable than that which delivers or "does what is says on the tin". In times past we have used equipment that has come with all guns blazing only to fail as it quickly becomes apparent that it really is not as robust as advertised - most disappointing, is it not. As I gaze upon our small estate, I can see the evidence of what this Gardeners Swiss knife equivalent has  achieved with crisp yew hedges, grass/brush free banks, tidy orchard, etc, and am most satisfied to have finally found this solid little worker that is such a joy to use. It is one of those fundamental pieces of equipment, rather like a drone bee, that goes about its work without fanfare yet one returns to time and time again because it delivers. One can only hope you find your own Gardeners equivalent for it will revolutionise your gardening day.

Dawn and Dusk

Where, dear souls, is this year going? One blinks and finds oneself midway through August already? I really do not know quite where time has gone. 'Tis fair to say that dusk is creepy slowly earlier as each day passes; why, does not seem like yesterday that 'twas light til gone ten in the evening and yet, here we are, with darkness upon us at same time this very eve. Tempts fugit, dear souls, tempts fugit. 

As I sit to write this missive, the male guardian is at his professional toil and the rain, yes, rain can be heard drumming upon the external surfaces of our home. ''Tis much needed for the ground remains dry and plants are thirsty. The morrow is also said to bring more rain and touches of thunder, all adding to the feeling of moving on in the season. 

The planned works continues on our small estate with workmen booked for the last aspect of our home's upgrade before carpets can be laid, well in time for autumn. Work has commenced on trimming the yew hedges and generally keeping the garden tidy. 

The countryside around us has seen a mass of activity to gather the harvest which is now all safely stored. The sounds and smells of harvest time are quite the sweetest and so evocative of one's childhood spent helping on the farm. Oh, how I do love it.