Clover Yard

Change

I've noticed I haven't been posting very often of late.  I think it's because things are changing again.  I always thought I was good with change but I'm not so sure anymore.  The job at the museum didn't really work out.  I was finding working every second Saturday quite a strain and I just didn't feel like it really suited me.  So, after much thought, I've decided to return to floristry and will be lending a hand a few mornings a week at a small greengrocers & florists.  It will be so nice to get back to a more creative job but I'm a little nervous of being the new girl again.

I've been doing a lot of pottering and wandering alone to help rid me of this "flat" feeling I have.  As they say, when one door closes, another opens.

Another crochet blanket for the house has lifted my spirits.  They seem to grow on trees round here.  This one's a bit more toned down but you know, I think I prefer the wild mish mash of colours in the first one.

There's change in the air too.  The farmers nearby have been working tirelessly to bring in the harvest.  The other night we were lulled to sleep by the distant whirring of the combines.  What a lovely sight it is to see those neat packages of golden straw stacked in the fields or lined up like slices of swiss roll.

Looks like we're in for a bumper crop of apples this year.

I will show you more of my very own "magic apple tree" another time.

Must go and iron my pinny for my new start tomorrow.  No rest for the wicked eh!

Lazy Sunday

I think I may have started a collection.  It was bound to happen sometime.  For a while I thought it might be fabric, or china teacups - perhaps even enamel teapots but lately I am being drawn to children's books.  The ones I remember as a child.  The good thing is at least I know it's something that will be used and loved.  Already, little boy is showing great delight in Paddington's antics at the Tower of London, and listening intently to the adventures of Smoke and Fluff the naughty kittens.  And it's all such old fashioned proper English - words that just aren't used anymore, at least not in normal conversation.

I think I prefer this version of Portobello Road!

Sunday took us out and about to House of Pitmuies.  It's one of my favourite houses and gardens.  We maybe didn't see the garden quite at its best but there were some lovely dahlias in rich berry shades which mixed nicely with bright yellows and deep purples.  I do like a dahlia, you kind of get lost in their petals.

 

I've seen so many butterflies over the past couple of days - it has been lovely watching them flit and flutter from flower to flower, catching the warmth of the sunshine after all the rain we've been having.

We loved this living thatch on the gardener's building.  Looked kind of comical.

How nice for someone to roll out the green carpet for us...

 I really must stop snooping, but a window to another window is irresistable.

After this, we drove on a bit further to Trumperton Forge tearoom, which I must say is one of the best named tearooms ever.  Go on - say it 3 times without smiling!

We settled down to hot chocolate, tea and home made meringues with some feathered friends for company...

and had the pleasure of gazing out onto beautiful fields of gold.

My kind of Sunday.

Have I gone too far this time?

 

The Crochet Blanket.  Kind of up there with Marmite - you either love it or hate it.  Many a time have I hummed and ho'd over them in charity shops and at car boot sales and decided that they're just too high on the granny-o-meter.  Until this week when I gave in to a little crocheted knee rug.  Aside from the rather garish colours you've just got to admire the workmanship. 

Mr Clover Yard seems to be tolerating it quite well.  I might just grow to love it.

Chasing rainbows

Little boy and I studied the sky this morning and agreed that we should head north to the blue patch over Stonehaven - home of Auntie J who claims it is always sunny there.  I'm beginning to believe her.  Little boy was supposed to have a morning at nursery but we decided there were far more important adventures to be had.

We stopped off en route at the new Castleton Farm Shop & Cafe - a lovely light-filled space full of delicious local produce and the most amazing tomato and tarragon soup and butterfly cakes.

With essential tools at the ready, we headed for the harbour and little boy enthusiastically began to dig.

Perhaps I shouldn't have told him if he kept going he would reach Australia.  Needless to say, I had one tired little boy on my hands tonight.

I've received a "You Make My Day" award!  And what a lovely one it is.  It doesn't get much better when someone tells you that you've made their day.  I so appreciate this Heidi.  You are too kind!

I'd like to pass it on to all my sidebar favourites and this is by no means a cop out.  I read an awful lot more blogs than those listed but I have to say these are my very favourites from when I began blogging and the inspiration for me to begin Clover Yard.  They don't only make my day but have completely transformed the past 10 months for me! 

No (r) way!

My husband has just called from the Grand Hotel in Oslo where he's on a business trip.  It's not like him to be moved by such things but he excitedly told me he'd been upgraded to a suite that has a sauna in the bathroom, a balcony overlooking the city, and L'Occitane toiletries (he's been instructed not to wash and to bring them home with him).  I've just looked up the website and they have a ladies floor.  Yes, a whole floor of sumptiousness completely dedicated to the needs of us females.  I read it and wept.  And then I put the bin out.

Hmmph.

Catching up

Thank goodness I'm back.  Have been having some problems posting of late but it looks like it's all resolved.  Where to begin with my antics over the past fortnight.

Well, as it was hubby's birthday, there was plenty of this...

..courtesy of Nigella Lawson's "How to be a Domestic Goddess" (her almond cake with a Clover Yard twist!). 

And then there was the village gala day where a friend and I rescued some beautiful vintage china from the back of a truck.  I was horrified to see people lining up to hurl things at rows of old plates and cups - 5 goes for £1 - and wished there was a RSPCVC (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Vintage China) to come along and bundle them off in a secure van!  There was nothing for it other than to dash over at the end and salvage what was left.  The chaps on the stall were dumfounded when we offered to pay for any items left intact!  Sadly some of the prettier plates were broken, but I did manage to save these...

There was a wedding too and husband and I had a whirlwind trip to Usk in Wales.  Being the mad blogging wife that I am, I bored him to tears dragging him round the village taking pictures of windows with net curtains...

When in Wales.

Of recent months, there has been far too much of the above (I can't even type it for drooling), which resulted in the use of the following around the widest part, and quite shocking results...

so, there will be a little more of this going on...

I couldn't find a postcard with "eat less and let out a couple of inches".

There was a heart-warming moment with the discovery of this beautiful image on a greetings card.  Twilight Tenderness by Florence Harrison.  I have a lump in my throat just posting about it.

The discovery of a new magazine (8 out of 10 cats prefer it), with gobsmackingly amazing pictures.  I needed to floss my eyes after these...

Finally, note to self on idea for future post.  Last night I watched (under the blanket with little boy) "You've Got Mail" although I much prefer the title "The Shop Around the Corner".  I kept pausing to check what was on the shelves in the bookshop and in Meg Ryan's apartment for that matter!  Anyway, gave me a idea to do a post on one of my favourite things - pretty shop windows.  Maybe I'll save it for Christmas ;)