Outdoor Living

I hate January.  The dark; the penury; the Christmas pounds to shed, when the days are short, tempers shorter and the promise of warmth and sunshine are too far away to console.  Today London is grey with a haze of drizzle and I'm half-heartedly thinking about where I should go for a summer break but can't quite muster the enthusiasm to research it.  Instead I'm dreaming about it and gazing at beautiful pictures in impossibly gorgeous locations so I'm going to share them with you...happy dreaming...

Lunch?

I want to have my morning coffee and my evening glass of wine sitting here!

Reading magazines in the warmth of the sun - bliss...



This couldn't get much closer to heaven on earth



Gorgeous!

I have a thing about outdoor showers - I love them

Another one

Sitting in the shade of an olive tree after lunch



Breakfast and the promise of the day ahead



Relaxing watching the waves

What do you do to banish the January blues?

*Pictures courtesy of Compagne de Maison

Celebrations!

As any parent knows, there are certain birthdays that are milestones not just for their offspring but for their parents too; their first, fifth, going into double figures at ten, becoming a teenager at thirteen and so on.  This weekend saw one of those milestones for our family as our youngest was sixteen.  It's such a cliche but I spent most of the day reminiscing about the day that I had her, what I was doing, how I was feeling and especially the moments after she was born.  I know that every mother thinks their children are beautiful, but she really was...white skin and tiny tiny golden eyebrows and the biggest blue eyes.  Now as a sixteen-year old she has long tresses of auburn hair that curls at the ends (naturally); limbs as long and slim as a colt and a wit and approach to life that makes her a pleasure to be around (most of the time!!!).  We decided to mark the occasion by a visit to a smart restaurant and chose this as our venue.  It was everything we'd hoped it would be; smart enough to feel special but no snobbery involved; food to die for without being pretentiously played about with.  We began with cocktails in the bar - Whiskey Sour, Poporina  which was a combination of prosecco, violet liqueur (I'm now on the hunt for this - it was amazing!) and a lemon twist and a non-alcoholic drink featuring passion fruit and ginger ale.

 A chorizo and squid salad went down well with most of our party (I can't eat shellfish, so was the odd one out), followed by Fish and Chips with the crispiest batter I've ever heard, Shepherds Pie (complete with tomato ketchup) and Sausage and Mash.  Our sides included Sprouts with bacon and chestnuts and parmesan courgettes - mmmn mnnnn!!  Pudding was forced down by two of the party - Caramelised Pear Tart with Salted Caramel Ice-Cream and a selection of cheeses.  A truly memorable meal, and I hope a treasured milestone memory.

A rose for Rose

Lavender's Blue, dilly, dilly

As I'm obviously on a flowery roll (see Blog title page) I thought I'd do a post about one of my favourite flowers -Lavender.  Obviously I like (love) the smell of it, but it's more than that - I think it's something to do with it's associations in my mind - that is holidaying in France; Chateau gardens rimmed with fragrant bushes that brush against your legs as you walk past, releasing the dense oily fragrance; hot days lounging in a pool in Italy, the bees droning in the heat as they forage in the nearby lavender bushes.  It has an instant calming effect on me - I use it in the bath and put drops of essential oil on my pillow to help me sleep; line my dresser drawers with it and as of yesterday cook with it too!  I was drawn to a recipe in the summer to make Lavender cupcakes and in the spirit of research when I was on holiday in Norfolk I went here.  It was a disappointing visit unfortunately as I'd expected to see fields of lilac and a shop stuffed with everything Lavande!  Not to be, however I did pick up some lavender essence that I'd never encountered before.  I didn't ever get round to the cupcakes, but what I did do this week was make some lavender hot chocolate!  It was delicious; everything a proper hot choc should be - dense and creamy; comforting and reassuring with a hint of lavender in the aftertaste.  I used the essence (a tiny tiny droplet) as well as the buds but it would work equally well without the essence.
Here's what you do..

lavender hot chocolate

Since lavender is quite fragrant, adjust amount according to preference. For a creamier hot chocolate, a 1 to 1 ratio of dark to milk chocolate can be used. Makes 2 servings.
hot chocolate:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 3 ounces dark chocolate (70% cacao)
• 1 ounce milk chocolate
• 1/4 teaspoon lavender buds

whipped cream:

• 1/2 cup cold heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract or seeds from 1/4 of a whole vanilla bean pod
• 1/2 tablespoon granulated white sugar

For whipped cream, place cold cream, vanilla, and sugar into a cold mixing bowl (If you have essence this is the stage at which I'd add a tiny amount). Beat the mixture with a whisk or mixer until stiff peaks form. keep refrigerated until ready for use.
For hot chocolate, heat milk and lavender over medium heat, whisking occasionally until the milk begins to simmer. Remove from heat and let lavender steep for 5 minutes. Strain lavender and return milk to saucepan. Over medium heat, add chocolate and mix until chocolate is melted and incorporated. Whisk milk mixture for 10-20 seconds until frothy. Pour into mugs or bowls and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

How we live (1)

Provence - who wouldn't want to live here?

I am a complete home/interiors magazine junkie.  I would probably need some kind of rehab to help me overcome my obsession with these kind of magazines.  Confession 1:  when I cleared under my bed this weekend I found over twenty that spanned just the space of the last two months.  Confession 2: I am nosey. Yes, I am.  The best time of day to go for a walk if you like being nosey is dusk - it's not so dark that people have closed their curtains, but dark enough that they've put on their lights - oh joy, oh bliss - I can see their French chandelier; the Toile De Jouy wallpaper; the artfully arranged mantelpieces; carefully chosen soft furnishings and ornate candelabras; the soft muted palettes of neutrals on walls, the vibrant shout of a statement wall.  This is, as far as I'm concerned, the real reason to go for a walk at the end of the day!  We all dream of the place we'd like to live, whether it be city or lake, sea or river, village or mountain; I don't know anyone who hasn't refurbished their home with the proceeds of the lottery (imagined!) or bought a new home of their dreams.  I lean towards the soft creams, off-whites, browns and peaches with the odd splash of colour in my own home, and am totally obsessed with the French shabby-chic look.  It has grace and elegance with a sort of time-worn comfortableness about it - I'm definitely not into the show-home look.  I like comfort and homeliness combined with an effortless (which it never is!)appearance of chic.  So here are some of my 'lust-haves' of the moment...

Space, white light and a metal candleabra - heaven

Monastic 'whiteness'

Washed soft green armoire

Surely all dreams would come true if this was my bedroom!

Cool new way to display favourite pieces

Green glass and distressed wood - perfect marriage

A place to write my book

To showcase my treasures

and write my letters

Entertain in style

Curl up in comfort


All images taken from Campagne Decoration/Arts&Decoration & le journal de la Maison

Glimpses of the Weekend

I hope you've all had a great weekend full of good things!  I spent mine doing a whole mix of things: Saturday I had every intention of going to the gym but somehow by the time I woke, (late!) and got myself dressed, the village cafe was calling far more compellingly than the treadmill.  I spent a lovely hour or so wandering through the Village visting Reiss, Joseph, bought a fab pair of tailored black pin-stripe shorts in the Whistles Sale; then a leisurely coffee at my favourite people watching stop Maison St Cassien where I can quite happily eat my way through their entire delicious Lebanese menu, although this...

was what tempted me this time...Cinnamon Danish, warm and gooey - pretty much heaven on a plate!  The afternoon was spent catching up with a close friend and walking her mad dog all round Richmond Park - good 'headspace' - us South Londoners are just so lucky to have this amazing Royal Park on our doorstep.  On my way home I just happened to stop by L.K. Bennett where I picked up a gorgeous leather handbag in the sale in 'Bitter Chocolate Croc'  - who cares if we have to eat salad and baked beans for the rest of the month hey!

Love at first sight

The rest of the weekend passed with dinner (again in the village) with friends - sadly the meal was disappointing but the company made up for it.  Sunday I made it to the gym - Yay! Then I sorted and threw away loads of stuff from my utility room cupboard - so satisfying.  I hope you all had a fun weekend and are ready for the new week!

Vibrant tulips and assorted flowers - stall in Wimbledon Vilage

Early flowering daffs in Richmond Park

Deer grazing in Richmond Park

Best of the Rest

One of the best things about the internet is the access it allows to so many wonderful things - blogs included.  I follow several blogs myself and am always coming across new ones of note.  I'd love to be able to take amazing photographs, but not having the proper equipment or the spare time to go off and do a course I have to make do with my more amateurish attempts and enjoy the skills of others when I can!  Here are some photos that I love from a variety of locations and blogs.  Enjoy!

J'taime!!!!

Who wouldn't want a bathroom like this?

So, so, sooooo sweet

Now this is an entrance hall!

 All these images come from campagne et decoration

Source: spaceforinspiration.blogspot.com via Sharon on Pinterest

Isn't this just like the cottage in 'The Holiday'.  The perfect retreat!!!

Source: aperfectgray.com via Sharon on Pinterest

I love vintage cutlery and have amassed quite a collection myself

The Bigger Picture

One of my resolutions was to try a whole lot harder to incorporate some meditation into my days - I know I cope better with what life throws at me when I do this; I'm calmer, not so likely to worry about the small things and I definitely sleep better as a result.  I used to belong to a meditation group that was led by a wonderful Buddhist monk called Lama, but sadly he moved away and our group fragmented and we were left to our own devices; however one of the group sent me this (below) over the Christmas break.  Watching it is a meditation all on its own and using it just as a sound-board would make a great 10 minute meditation.

Another fab site on meditation has been set up by Andy Puddicombe called Get Some Headspace.  Andy is an ex-Buddhist monk so he really knows how it's done.  He sets out to demystify meditation and the assumption that there is always a religious connotation to it.  There are helpful hints and a 45 day course of which the first ten days are free.  Basically you get a guided meditation a day, complete with hints to help you overcome any obstacles, including 'monkey mind'!

The Great Bell Chant (The End of Suffering) from R Smittenaar on Vimeo.

Notes from a Northumbrian Farmhouse (1)

Has it really only been two days since I came back to work ... it doesn't feel like it!!!  The holidays seem a lifetime away already and the twelve hour work day way too familiar the way it greeted me like a long lost (reluctant!!!) friend.  When I was away, on several of my walks in the hills, I would pause and just listen.  Sometimes it was completely silent, more often the sound of a sheep bleating on the opposite fell would carry itself on the wind; or the stream would gurgle and splash it's way over the recumbent rocks; and I resolved that I would snapshot those sounds/memories to revisit when the treadmill of London seemed too much.  I'm there!  So here are those Northumberland memories to help ease the stress and strain of urban living - I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Lampshade in farmhouse!

Montage

The Village Well

Bizarrely this is a tree decorated in middle of nowhere! Really made me smile

This made me smile even more - the best bit of Northumberland - my beautiful neices and daughter

Lichen growing on a twig by the roadside

Forward Thinking



River of Dreams...

 I promised you a post about resolutions although I think it's probably fairer of me to describe them as dreams,hopes,desires and projects. Resolutions sounds just a bit regimental doesn't it?!  Anyway, after some thought, here they are:

• to blog/write more in a week
• to meditate for at least 20 minutes each day (my practice has slipped but I feel so much better when I incorporate it into my daily schedule)
• to laugh more often, for longer!
• not sweat the small stuff
• find joy in the small everyday things of life
• to drink more water (same as last year!!!)

So, what are your hopes, dreams, projects and desires?

A Clean Slate

Happy New Year to all my readers! I wish you all health and happiness wherever you may be. Obviously a new year brings resolutions which some people hate but personally I love the blank canvas. I havent quite firmed up my new year resolutions but when I do I'll be sure to post them...what are your resolutions? Finally but most importantly I'd like to thank all my readers who follow me - from the UK, Russia, America, Germany, France and even as far afield as Indonesia! Thank you so much for all your support during last year - I couldn't blog without you and appreciate your comments greatly. I know 2012 will bring many good and wonderful things,so here's to a brand new year - I'm looking forward to sharing it all with you - cheers!