1 hour delay due to one of the planes emergency exit doors not shutting properly (no of course that didn't make me feel any worse about flying), 7 hours 30 minutes in the air, then landed to the most beautiful sunny day in Boston.
Autumn
My husbands birthday cake.
Some of you have asked for the recipe for my husbands tree birthday cake.Julie my friend made him this lovely tasty cake for his birthday, the tin it was made in is called a bundt tin which you can purchase from John lewis, it is quite expensive but the end result is very impressive, great for christmas coming up.
Daylesford Farmshop and Cafe, Gloucester.
Yesterday I mentioned Daylesford Organics as one of the places we visited on our birthday trip to Gloucester. Daylesford Farmshop and Cafe is near Kingham not far from The Old School B and B, to visit both places is a real treat.
A surprise birthday weekend.
My friend Julie, a brand new Mini and a barking dog called Lottie!
Let me introduce you to my friend Julie, we worked together many years ago and have remained friends, we have similar interests and have a bit of a passion going on for starting up a business, so if anyone out there has a spare barn in a good location and a money tree let us know please! She is also a fantastic cake maker and cook, more about that on monday.
Pumpkins
Firstly, I apologise for not sending out many blogs lately. I have been silly busy, and as some of you know I am self employed. Being self employed is a good thing but lunch hours, tea breaks and days off sick just don't exist, and if you are a bit of a maniac like me, occasionally you burn yourself out!
Graham Thomas
I have been appreciating roses in other peoples gardens over the last few days, they seem more special at this time of year, probably because I know that this is the last we will see of them until June 2013.This rose called Graham Thomas is a David Austin Rose, Graham Stuart Thomas OBE (3 April 1909 – 16 April 2003), was an English horticulturalist, artist, author, poet and garden designer.
Today's Smoothie
Two thing to do this weekend.
As we head into what I think are the four busiest months I think it's important to take more care of yourself. For some it's the back to school rush (thankfully for me those days are over), for others it's a time to clear up house and garden before the cold dark nights start to arrive, we rush around trying to pack the same into less daylight hours and generally wear ourselves out.
Last of the summer roses, and a bit of America.
I'm enjoying the last of my summer roses, these ones are called Heritage by David Austin. They have been very good this year, they flower twice, once at the begining of June and again at the end of August, I must have had about 300 blooms altogether, they obviously like lots of rain and not too much heat, which is exactly what our summer has consisted of this year, so I guess there is always a bright side to most things!
Three nice things today.
I have been doing more excercise lately as I have a trapped nerve in my back, my theory is that if I do more excersize every day and eat healthily, fruit veg etc, then I have tried to help myself. If that doesn't work I shall have to go to plan B, problem is I haven't worked out what plan B is yet and actually hope I don't have to.
Goodbye Olympics I've enjoyed watching you.
I confess I didn't know what to think about the U.K hosting the Olympics, we sometimes don't get things quite right, but congratulations to everyone involved it has been excellent, and if you have unexpectedly been like myself getting hooked on the media coverage, you may get more done when it is finished! I have had the T.V on most of the time when I have been home and have from time to time been sat on the edge of my seat shouting at the T.V!
Summer!
Yes the sun has appeared and it's lovely and warm, I am normally the first one out enjoying the sunshine, the first one to be out in the garden working away.This year from as early on as March I didn't really seem to get the gardening bug, maybe I knew what rubbish weather we were going to have in the U.K, maybe I am looking forward to October and my New England holiday, maybe it's because my favourite season is Autumn.
Two must have books.
I have two must have books to show you even if you don't intend to go to London or New York.They both have the same format and are both made from beautiful card stock paper. They are inspirational for design purposes and highly inspiring. I'm sure after looking at them you will want to go visit these two amazing cities. Don't expect the usual tourist places to visit, more like beautiful hidden gems.
Two book recommendations.
I came across a review of a store called Bailey's, it was by Mary Portas in the Saturday Telegraph, she gave it 9 out of 10 which is high praise indeed.I haven't been to the store but it is definitely on my to do list.
Docton Mill and other things.
The Barn Owl is getting clever, it leaps out of the Dovecott and flies off making it impossible for me to take pictures, unless of course he stands on top of the Dovecott in the pitch black (in these parts of Devon I mean pitch black, the sky is like a planatarium at night, very beautiful) hence the not great picture of him taken with a flash, but you get the gist!