Five Happy Things In May

1. Spending a very sunshiny Sunday in the beautiful village of Tilford
2. Raising money for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice with my good friend by walking 10 miles
3. Going to watch the new Jungle Book film and being utterly spellbound
4. Finally cracking on in the garden and getting it looking presentable
5. Reading and finishing crosswords in the shepherds hut with Grandad and Mia 

Signs Of Springtime

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade."

- Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

March is my favourite month by far (not just because it's birthday month - honest!) but because it's when if we're lucky, we get our first solid signs of splendid springtime! The snowdrops are now giving way to daffodils, crocuses and irises, the grass starts looking a fresher shade of green, and the birds are chattering away more in the garden. Throw into the mix a chance of more sunshine, fluffy lambs and easter bunnies and no wonder it's such a lovely month to find ourselves in! I have taken time on my lunch breaks to wander around my little town of Farnham (Surrey) and appreciate how very pretty and quintessentially English it is, as I feel I take it for granted! It's full of character properties like these little cottages and their charming wonky doors, sited just next to Saint Andrews Church, where I often perch on the benches to get some fresh air, it's a very pretty churchyard with some wonderfully detailed victorian graves (I find such things interesting...maybe not to everyones taste!)

Whilst walking in the woods this week I spotted my first bumblebee of the year sunning himself on this comfy looking moss (I have been corrected on Twitter to say it's actually a SHE Queen bee looking for a nest site - but to me, all bumbles are boys and that's just the way I see them, stubborn!) This was my most cheering sight as if they are braving it to be out and about, I should be too! I cleared the two large raised beds in my garden so they will be ready for my first lot of seeds very soon, can't wait to get growing! We visited The Packhouse for lunch and I found the green shepherds hut sitting outside, I liked the addition of the stained glass window very much.

It felt so good to be out working in the garden again, and my neighbours chickens were chattering away to each other, such a happy sound, it's a proper suburban homestead over here, I'm telling you! I love how Hilda's popping her head up in the photo like 'OH HEY!' hehe!

Mollie has been loving the longer woodland walks with beautiful Bader who loves nothing more than water and playing ball, it's those simple things in life - THOSE EYES!! Mollie had a well needed haircut this week so she went from a scruffy old sheep to a gleaming, Crufts standard Cairn again! She really doesn't like any fuss or brushing, but that winter coat had to go, she only ignored me for a few hours after ;).

Hope you've been having a good weekend, It's pretty mizzly and misty here today but fingers crossed it'll be back to springtime sunshine this week! Thanks for reading,

Katie

Birtley House Sculpture Exhibition 2013

My family and I visit the Birtley House  sculpture exhibition every year, as it's a place very close to our hearts. The house and grounds there are utterly beautiful, and the sculptures always compliment it perfectly. They now have the most amazing kitchen garden, as well as an orchard, and as pictures below, one the most beautiful wisteria I've seen in a long time! Caroline and Simon are two of the nicest people you could possibly meet, and I'm so glad this event has gained momentum over the last few years!

We picked a super saturday to visit, the sun was shining and the birds were singing, lots of people enjoying the afternoon teas too! Here are my particular selection of favourites, my Grandad has the brochure so I will add credits to the artists ASAP. The willow egg was my favourite, I spent ages trying to figure out how it was woven together, such clean shapes need a more experienced, skilled approach than my recent efforts, but maybe one day!

I'm thrilled to hear the exhibition raised £2,883.88 for the community foundation for Surrey, so many of the statues had the red dots on already, I'm sure it was a great event for the artists too!
If you live near Surrey I highly recommend you visit the Wood Fair in the autumn, we had a great time last year! 

Thanks for reading, happy weekend!

Katie

Painshill Park

Painshill Park was created between 1738 and 1773 by Charles Hamilton, a painter, plantsman and brilliantly gifted and imaginative designer, he dedicated his creative genius to the layout and composition of a unique landscape garden.



He acquired the land in 1738, which over the years built up to over 250 acres. Painshill was created as a romantic landscape to stimulate the senses and emotions of the visitors, as Hamilton was heavily involved with the picturesque movement. The gardens were divided into two parts; the ornamental pleasure grounds to the south, with the lake as the central feature, and an adjoining crescent of open parkland to the north in a free and natural style.

We visited the park today, and thoroughly enjoyed walking between each of the themed garden features, such as the Gothic tower, Chinese bridge and crystal grotto.









The brick-built Grotto is built with limestone, lined with calcite, gypsum, quartz and other minerals. It was constructed by grotto maker Joseph lane with a design by Hamilton himself. The dark mysterious tunnel full of light-catching crystals leads to a large open chamber with water cascading from two alcoves in the lake. They have been restoring the grotto since 1988. The roof of the main chamber was damaged during the second world war when the lead was taken to finance a VE day party by the nearby army garrisoned at the house. A major archaeological dig in the 80s revealed the exciting range of crystals used in the original construction, and all the original water features.

In 1987 English Heritage offered a grant towards the restoration, and the work and preservation has continued ever since. I found this a beautiful, unique space, and It's the first grotto I have experienced. A really special little place.





















We also joined in with a spot of 'pond-dipping', I was lucky enough to catch a pond snail and a froglet, such fun!







A highly recommended day out (apart from the tearoom....don't ask! Send in Country house Rescue to sort that out!)

Hope that was enjoyable, fancy building a grotto sometime?? Let me know.

Katie