Peonies

Can you tell which are real and which are paper?

Grow your own

I was away for a couple of weeks recently. By the end I was really looking forward to getting home and seeing how my vegetable garden was faring.

We have purple sprouting broccoli, brussel sprouts, courgettes, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, spring onions, garlic, strawberries, peas, carrots, beetroot, sweet corn, herbs, lettuce. I think that's it.

I have been inspired by displays I have seen at WW2 events, where we were all told to grow our own.

Last night we used the first of the purple sprouting broccoli to make this, only we used toasted pine nuts instead of the cheese.

Clovelly

It's been donkey's years since I visited Clovelly. I can confirm, it's still picture postcard pretty.

The man of the house who is from the NE said 'It's just like Staithes only more expensive'. Spoken like a true Yorkshireman :)

From a historical point of view, Clovelly had Charles Kingsley, author of The Water Babies and Staithes had Captain James Cook, the famous explorer.

My favourite illustration from The Water Babies, by Jessie Wilcox Smith.

Misako Mimoko

I've posted about this lady's work before, but thought I would see what she is up to now.

I love the smiley face on that kite, it is so friendly.

She doesn't seem to be doing her dolls at the moment. This little fella is a slice of cheese. Funny!

A little trip out, sprinkled with fairy dust!

What a hoot! We drove through a village called Fairy Cross and ended up in a gnome sanctuary. This lady started it for her children 34 years ago. It is now a little family business. How cute, both the sanctuary and the lady.

Home away from home

Wherever I am, I seem to have a compulsive urge to make it look as nice as possible. I find myself arranging things, and if I can't make it look nice, I tidy, put things away, so at least it's neat.

So here I am at my Mum's and somehow I seem to have taken over the place. The African heads are hers, from Nigeria. Do you remember the lady from the auction? Well, I got her. The style of painting is so loose and confident the artist makes it look almost as though she wasn't even fully trying. That's skill for you.

Happy Midsummer

Nobody does Midsummer like the Scandinavians.

It is a great excuse to eat sandwich cake, wear flowers in your hair, dance and drink.

This website has some great pictures. 

Whatever you are doing, enjoy!