Clover Yard

A Retreat

Hello Blog, did you miss me?  Here's where I've been hiding for the past week...

A lovely seaside cottage in Cromarty on the Black Isle.  No phone, no internet, just the sound of waves lapping outside and this beautiful view to wake up to each morning...

Oh, and the most stinking dose of the flu I've ever had!  Oh well, can't have it all!  I have been feeling very sorry for myself as I'd be so longing for this family holiday and have spent the week being quite miserable. Not even the usual pleasures of tea drinking and cake eating could cheer me up although I did perk up a bit with a spot of shopping - I'll share my buys with you later.

It wasn't all bad.  One morning around 5.30am after no sleep, I wrapped myself up and went out for a walk along the beach and as I gazed out to sea I spotted 3 dolphins, gracefully rising out of the water.  They were so close I could hear them breathe through their blowholes.  Such a special moment, I kind of felt they had appeared just for me, to speed my recovery.

Back home now and earlier, as I finished unpacking, I could have sworn I heard the sea - it was so strange.  And little boy has just gone to bed saying how much he is missing our little cottage in Cromarty.  I think we will be back soon.

Bargains of the week

This morning I headed off to our village muir for the first car boot of the year.  I am a little inexperienced at these events and still haven't quite mastered the art of haggling.  I spotted this glass jug below just as I'd started going round and had a bit of banter with the seller who promised if it was still there when I went round the second time, he'd knock a pound off it.  So how come I ended up buying it for its original price...hmmm...duh.

But I love, love, love it!  It's quite unusual, with its frosted handle and scalloped rim and is very heavy.  If anyone has seen one like it and can tell me a bit more, I'd love to hear from you.  The seller said it may have been from the 1930's but I'm not so sure it's that old.

On my way home, I dropped into the charity shop and saw this adorable little wool house.  It's made up of sort of plastic cross stitch sheets that are sewn together with wool.  It probably once adorned a loo roll but it certainly won't be near one in my house.  I think Mr Clover Yard might just divorce me over that one.  It does look very sweet on my shelf in the spare room though.

These flowery teacups screamed at me from the window.  They came minus their saucers which I rarely find.  Odd that.  They are quite a squat little cup, so delicate with such a beautiful rose pattern, the shades of pink are really pretty.  I have quite a collection of these now and have yet to decide what to do with them.  My instinct is to fill them with little posies of roses or maybe candle wax.   

Hope you are having a lovely weekend blog friends. x 

Heroes and a precious thing

When I'm asked that morbid question of what would you save from your home if it went on fire (perish the thought), I always think of my little Peter Pan & Wendy book...

I was given this when I was around ten I think and it is just the most beautifully illustrated book by one of my favourite artists, Shirley Hughes.  I can spend ages poring over her highly detailed ink drawings.  She has such a talent for capturing the innocence of children with their little button noses and tangled hair.   

And of course, it's a collaboration with one of my favourite storytellers, J.M. Barrie.  I am very fortunate to live not very far (second star to the right in fact) from the place where J. M. Barrie was born and spent his formative years - Kirriemuir.  It's such a little house (and I mean little - only three rooms, fit for a fairy).  If you peek through the window below, you can see his first inspiration for the Wendy House; a stone built wash house where he would perform plays for his brothers and sisters. 

And the cosy kitchen where he would have chased his siblings round the kitchen table...

When J. M. Barrie was six, his eldest brother died tragically in a skating accident.  He was thirteen.  His mother was devastated and to compensate, James tried to replace his brother by behaving and often dressing like him.  But in his mother's eyes, David would remain a boy of thirteen forever and so the character of Peter Pan was born.  The boy who never grew up.

Such genius, and a great legacy to leave to the world, all perfectly packaged in my beautifully bound little book. 

Beading on a sunny afternoon

Wow, I've been sooo productive today.  Must be the sun, it has recharged me.  I've spent a very content afternoon beading at the table outside.  I wanted to make something summery and with these lovely glass beads, including some rose quartz, I came up with the following...

Now I just need an outfit to go with it! 

These below started off as necklaces but I thought they were a bit fussy so I finished them off as bracelets. The heart charm was actually from a pair of ear-rings but I found them a little heavy and borderline Pat Butcher (cockney soap character for my friends outwith the UK!), so, I thought I'd reuse and recycle!...

This one's my favourite...

The flower heads for my "photo shoot" are courtesy of our lovely Clematis growing at the front door.  I am trying to train it into a heart shape (aww) but I think it needs a bit of a haircut! 

Finally, to round off a lovely day, I potted up some window boxes...

I think I've earned that glass of wine now, don't you?  Have a lovely weekend all. x

Beautiful May

Ahh, May.  Isn't it the best month ever.  Time to get back into the garden and check if any brave little birdies have taken up residence in our bohemian birdhouse...

And to watch the progress of these strange red stalks pushing through the earth and unfurling their copper coloured leaves...

which in a couple of months should burst into these beautiful peony roses...

And after all the drudgery of Winter, how amazing it is to sit in the warmth of the sun under our old apple tree and watch the washing blowing on the line (am I the only one who gets satisfaction from this?)... 

Way above our heads the buds are opening and the first pink tinges of blossom appear...   

This beautiful quote sums it up for me...

All of you with little children...take them somehow into the country among green grass and yellow wheat - among trees - by hills and streams, if you wish their highest education, that of the heart and soul, to be completed. 
Richard Jefferies

I couldn't agree more.