Wandering, finding and foraging

It has been a typical English April day, alternating sunshine and rain, with a bit of hail thrown in to keep things chilly.
I awoke to bright sunshine and this tempted me to spend the day exploring the local countryside. However, by the time I was ready to leave the house, it was pouring with rain.
Undeterred, I ventured out and by the time I found a nicely situated byway, the rain had stopped and all was calm and cool.

The path went slowly up beside some woods to a ridge, wandered along the top and then dipped down again to the valley. I walked slowly, looking around me and listening to the sounds of a spring day. There were birds everywhere. I saw and heard: Blue Tits, Great Tits, Woodpecker, Thrushes, a Chaffinch and Blackbirds, a quick swoop by of a Jay, the 'kee kee' of a Buzzard and my first Lark's song this year.
The landscape is still that of early spring from a distance but looking closer, I found many trees, leaves and flowers are just beginning to come out.

 

 

Wiltshire feels an old land, perhaps because some of the first people in England lived here. I'm always looking under fallen trees, in Mole hills and by Badger's sets in the hope of finding an ancient treasure.

Today I found this heavy and rusty horse shoe, dug up by a badger. I wonder how old it is?

 

 

 

 

Further down the bridleway, a rabbit had disturbed the earth beneath the hedge and this little flint caught my eye. I can never really tell if my findings are Stone Age tools, or just  pieces of chipped flint. I would so love to find an arrow head. Imagine holding something that was last touched by another human being thousands of years ago?

 

 

On my way home I stopped to pick an armful of Wild Garlic. It's just at its best and I wanted to make some Pesto.

 

 

 

 It is probably one of my favourite 'foods for free' and I love the fact that it seems to arrive so suddenly. Its garlicky smell and lush green leaves mark the true start to Spring for me.

There are various recipes for the Pesto on the internet. I tend to alter them according to what I have in my store-cupboard...

 

 

Wild Garlic and Parsley

 

Pine nuts and Cashew nuts



 

Cheddar and Parmesan cheese

Lemon juice

Quite a bit of Olive oil

All whizzed up together

There! Enough for me and two little gifts to take to my Brother and Mother tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

I have enjoyed myself today.

It feels as if I have had the best of country living

 









Easter Bonnets- the joy of finding that perfect hat

David and I were spending a leisurely day exploring the market town of Devizes. He has a nose for the interesting, so I wasn't surprised when he beckoned and said: " Let's have a look down this little alleyway"
I followed him and gasped in delight! It was as if we had stepped back in time...

Hidden in amongst the more modern houses is St Johns Alley and this perfect Elizabethan building is home to this most amazing hat shop.
Inside is a treasure trove of colour and texture and hats, hats, hats!. I have never seen so many beautiful hats in one place.
The proprietor, Joan Pressley, told us that the shop was established in 1987 and from the number of elegant ladies we saw shopping there, it is still thriving.
 She very kindly let me look around and even allowed me a glimpse into the back room where all the hat trimming and altering was done.

 

The shop sells and hires designer hats for all occasions and also offers a bespoke trimming service where you can have your favourite hat remade to match your outfit for that special celebration.
The whole shop was a lit up with jewelled colours. there were traditional styles, elegant little creations and some which looked quite bonkers to me!

I'm so glad we found Joan Pressley's unique shop. Now I can wait and hope that I will have a chance to officiate as a Celebrant at an extremely fabulous wedding where it will be imperative that I have to treat myself to a beautiful hat to suit!

Here is the link to the shop. If you are ever in Devizes... be tempted!

http://www.devizeshats.co.uk/joanpressley/Home.html

Wishing everybody a

 

Happy Easter

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm celebrating : Easter Week, Spring Equinox...and the end of Winter!

In the South West of England Spring comes early. We may have cold days, rainy days and blustery days ahead but looking around me I can see that the unstoppable forward force of Spring is in motion.
The first butterflies and Ladybirds have ventured out and the birds are daily revving up towards their full-blown Spring morning chorus.

 

In the past country people would use Pussy Willows in place of palms on Palm Sunday, so I have decorated a wreath to go on my door. The full blown, fuzzy, pollen tufted blossoms are yet to arrive but it still looks pretty, with a mixture of different trees' catkins adding some extra colour.

Have a happy week everybody!

Creating Romantic Weddings- what a wonderful job I have !

As some of you will know, I have just started a career as an Independent Celebrant. I can now write and perform all sorts of ceremonies but today I'm thinking of spring and summer weddings. After all, it's the 1st of March and spring will soon be bursting upon us in all its glory.

I've just written a post in my celebrant website and thought I would share it with you. I have come up with a wonderful idea of how I can create spontaneous and wildly romantic wedding ceremonies for couples who want to break away from the expense and fuss of the 'wedding culture' that has taken over these ceremonies today. 
I'm always happy to travel, so if you are feeling romantically inspired, or know a couple that are... give me a call!

From: http://www.janearnold.co.uk/   


The is no doubt about it, Spring is on its way!
Does your romantic heart long for a wedding with just the two of you, having a picnic on a sunny day and celebrating your love simply and spontaneously?

It may seem an impossible dream...
There are so many obstacles in your way, not in the least the English weather.
But it can be done!
I mastermind the ultimate in spontaneous 'Pop Up' weddings.
Phone me or email me and I will tell you all about this wonderfully romantic option.

Jane Arnold   
Mobile  07706 617 838
Email  jane.arnold@uksoc.com

A life that is useful and beautiful

A family funeral in the Yorkshire Dales seemed a long journey at this time of year. Yet I felt I wanted to be there.
I coped with a long, dark drive one evening and was so glad to have overcome winter hibernation stagnation and ventured forth. Meeting up with distant family connections and seeing cousins from my childhood was moving and, despite the sadness of the event, cheering too.
The following day I headed towards Northumberland via a rather long detour through the Lake District.

I took a wonderful, single-track road which winds its way from Ambleside to Boot. It was quite an exciting drive, scarily steep, full of hair-pin bends and beautiful empty hillsides. It was a day of alternating sunshine and showers, so the light was wonderful, bringing out the colours of bracken andgrass. All the way, I kept getting tantalising glimpses of snowy peaks.

It was only when I reached the end of the pass that I checked the map and realised I'd been tempted way off my supposed route and would be hours late reaching my friends.

Luckily they both have a relaxed view of the world, they know me well and have sanguine temperaments. When I finally arrived, full of apologies, they smiled and said that they'd been hoping I'd found something interesting to explore upon my way.

I've known Martin since my first year at University and Madeleine for nearly as long. I consider then two of my dearest friends. I love their home, a fortified 15th century farmhouse, it fits them as a snail does its shell, it is filled with their personalities and interests. Even the wood burning stove feels part of the family!

As for their beloved Dorothy, a more noble dog I have yet to meet. She has stolen my heart.

There is also Holtby an enchanting quicksilver kitten, who was too fast and to full of life for me to capture the spirit of her in a photograph.
I love visiting them, their life is no fairy-tale but one grounded by hard work, commitment to their beliefs and the strength of their relationship. Even on cold, stormy days their home brings me comfort and peace.

 I have to be honest though and say that they are hardier than I am, so huge fires are lit for my comfort throughout my stay.
I enjoy catching up on their plans and projects. Madeleine is a Bee Keeper and is passionate about tending her bees in a natural way, often using skills learnt from the past. She made this skep, I love it and the bees are happier in an organic shape. Although the bees are sleeping we still went to greet them and tell them of my visit.

Madeleine also has a pantry... I have to admit I'm envious, I've always longed for somewhere to keep stores and supplies. For them however, it is a necessity, as they may be cut off by bad weather for days.

Martin has learnt the skill of making dry stone walls and is continuously re-building and repairing. It's immensely hard physical work but also needs a sensitivity to shape and pattern.

He is also in charge of the fuel supply. Isn't this wood pile a thing of beauty?

They are both great walkers but kindly allow me to go on more gentle potters with them. I love the winter landscape's beauty. Form and colour stand out in simplicity.

 

 

This visit we walked to the nearby willows and collected withies for garden projects.  Madeleine is planning to make hurdles and supports for the garden and I picked some slimmer branches to make a wreath base. The day was still and calm, the only sounds coming from our work and the slight rustle of branches and grass. I could have stepped back in time a hundred years.

 

 

 I feel sad saying farewell to my good friends. We live too far apart to visit often. Yet I always leave them feeling refreshed and re-inspired to leap back into my life with renewed enthusiasm and optimism. Thank you both.