We all live in a yellow submarine

It is scarecrow festival time for many villages in England, a rather lovely tradition even though they don't actually scare any birds away, apart from this one offcourse! This is our very first time participating in our annual scarecrow festival as we just haven't managed in previous years. The theme this year is music, a theme wide open to endless possibilities.

 

 

I personally couldn't face the idea of making a person or a band for that matter, and although we toyed with playing on words with ideas such as The Rolling Stones, The Stone Roses and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, we opted for a song that most people would know and one people would instantly recognise, well that was the rational behind it anyway. The family all set out on Sunday afternoon to start building and as usual after the first 10 minutes, I was left to my own devices to do and complete the project. Don't you just love it when this happens?! At first I didn't really mind, but by yesterday afternoon I felt ready for it to be finished. Apart from making three massive paper mache dinosaur eggs for little E's 3rd birthday pass the parcel, I can't honestly remember when last I did this, but it always amazes me just how long the process takes. Unfortunately I couldn't find any long balloons, so I had to improvise a little.

The improvisation, as little J referred to it, ended up looking very much like a peanut, not quite what I had in mind. It called for a tea break (my solution to most things) and a serious rethink to see if I could come up with something in the shape of a peanut. To be honest there was the slight temptation to veer in the direction of Despicable Me, or Sting's I am an alien in New York, but instead I have stuck to my plan and the next course of action involved digging out some egg cartons (fortunately we seem to have no shortage of these, possibly because I am still hopeful that one day soon we will get some chickens). So a little building and reshaping took place and then a little painting, which again due to being ill prepared, or possibly just a little tight, I mixed some PVA with the kids paint to make it a little more waterproof (time will tell) and this is what we ended up with. It is times like this when I want to say the kids made it, but oh no, and yes you are all allowed to laugh, I did it. So yes for a couple of weeks we are living in a yellow submarine, or close to it anyway.

 

 

Last night when I went off to bed this was the beautiful sight that greeted me from our bedroom window.

 

Today was one of those lovely days where I got quite excited to hear the postman's van, don't you just love days like this?! I was expecting some lovelies and yes here they are. Some new Paris Cotton purchased in the sale at the Wool Warehouse and also a lovely book, which I could no longer resist, thanks to excellent review done by the very lovely Chrissie. If you haven't already read it, do pop over to read about this great book here.

 

 

 

Lastly joining in with Lou's Nature in the Home series and this week's theme is ROUND. I was going to do something from the veg patch, but a lovely lady dropped these off for me early this evening and and with its perfectly round seed head, I simply couldn't resist. 

 

 

 

On that note off to watch the final of the Apprentice, or well some of it anyway.

 

 

Warm Wishes

Hannapat

xoxo

Simply Simple

 

 

Joining in today with Lou's Nature in the Home series and this weeks theme is 'Simple'.

Oxford defines the word 'simple' as plain, basic, or uncomplicated in form, nature, or design; without much decoration or ornamentation, humble and unpretentious, you can read more here.

Hope you all enjoyed a good week, mine feels like it has been rather manic, but I am really looking forward to slowing down a little this weekend, which is looking more likely to happen on Sunday, as my doh (darling other half) is off to go and do a 30 mile fell race tomorrow, rather him than me!

A big welcome to my new followers, I am so thrilled that you have decided to stop by and hope you enjoy your visits here. For me blogging is all about writing what I do and sometimes think (that doesn't happen to often :-)), and not with the intention to get followers, but I have to say that it does feel rather special, so thank you to everyone reading this little blog of mine and for leaving comments and for stopping by, you are all very lovely!

Wishing you all a very happy weekend.

Warm wishes

Hannapat

xoxo

Red is the colour of a rising dawn

 

 

Red.
Red is a fading sunset on the horizon.
It’s a burst of flame;
A spray of the fire leaping towards us.
It’s the heat of the warm afternoon.
It’s the face of an angry teacher.
It can also be an embarrassed pupil.
It’s a flickering flame of a tiny candle.
It’s the spark able to spread the wildfire of love.
Red is the color of heat.
It’s full of passion.
It’s bold.
Red won’t tolerate injustice.
It’s hard and unfortunately stubborn.
Red will never give in.
Even when it needs to.
Red has the brawn of an ox,
The skill of a pride of lions,
And even the diligence of a colony of fire ants.
It does not back down or grow weary.
Red stands his ground firmly.
It’s charming and romantic.
Red is like a harvest of fresh raspberries:
Satisfyingly and deliciously juicy.
Red is optimistic.
Red is the color of a rising dawn that glides across the morning sky and through the misty white clouds.
It’s the hot July sun, beating down on your entire body, and filling you with warmth.
It’s the thorn that gets to prick your fingers when you choose to hold it.
But it’s also a precious rose, that will always smell sweeter and sweeter than before.
Red, by any other name, would still remain red.

 

 Poem by Sunny Summers

 

 

 

 

Joining in today with the theme 'Red' of  Lou's Nature in the Home series. I so enjoyed picking these flowers for this week's challenge as I have been eagerly waiting for this rose bush to come into bloom and it's finally happened. I love Roses, largely for their beauty but also for their fragrance as it really lifts my mind and soul. This rose, in particular, has an incredibly strong scent and one that I find heavenly intoxicating, to be honest having it in the house makes me feel quite giddy. There is something so special about being able to fill your home with flowers from your garden and I am really enjoying this little link in with Lou, as it really focuses the mind.

A very big welcome to my new followers, it is so lovely that you have decided to stop by and share my journey with me. I appreciate all your comments and love reading each and every one of them. You are all very kind, thank you!

Hope you are all having a good week so far and that some of you are enjoying the excitement that this year's Wimbledon is bringing, I know I certainly am when I have the time to sit down and watch that is! Just what I am off to do now as I recorded the Murray game, yes from yesterday, and hoping to finally watch this nerve-wracking final set.

Warm Wishes

Hannapat

xoxo

White

“White resonates, like a silence that can suddenly be understood.” Wassily Kandinsky

Joining in today with Lou's Nature in the home week 17 and this week's theme is 'white'. I chose Cosmoses and the beautiful Astrantia major.

 

Warm wishes

Hannapat

xoxo

 

Lady Lavender

 

 

 

Lady lavender you are my constant through Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring

Your flowers express your beauty so eloquently whilst your scent intoxicate my mind and soul

Not only do you invite the humble Mr Bumble for a drink, but you put a spring in my step every time I brush past you

 In late autumn your flowers infuse my home from washroom to kitchen whilst they lie drying

In winter my fingers carefully gather your heavenly scented flowers before gently filling little linen bags so I can preserve the essence of your scent in our drawers, cupboards and rooms 

Lady Lavender you give so much joy

 At night your scent infuse the bath so little ones can drift off into a sweet slumber with eyes tight

For us oldies a few sprinkles on a pillow to stop the toss and turning and a few drops of your essence mixed with some cream to stop the old muscles burning

When days get dark and long your presence embrace me and make me calm appreciating cosy moments in front of fires blazing enjoying lavender and syrup buns

 In spring its wonderful to see the green slowly return and witness how your palms slowly fill with a cascade of beautiful purple flowers

You are my constant Lady Lavender through Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring

I think it is fare to say that you are more precious to me than a bit of bling!

 

 

 

Joining in today with Lou for week 15 of the Nature in the Home series.

 

Happy Thursday

Hannapat

xoxo

Nature in the Home - a series (week 14)

I am ridiculously late for this week and in fact for the whole series of 'Nature in the Home', but having seen this wonderful link I simply can't resist any longer, so I am finally joining in with Lou  and this week the challenge is hedgerows.

For this I have made a posy of three hedgerows surrounding me, the wonderful and vibrant Gorse Hedgerow (get your gloves on!), mixed with the beautiful evergreen Laurel and some Privet. Hedges  add such value to wildlife by attracting a variety of animals and birds and by linking habitats together as well as offering passageways between other terrain. Its easy to forget that offer so much more than just demarcating and offering privacy.

 

I love this idea of embracing our home with something that signifies home to so many of our wildlife.

Warm wishes

Hannapat xoxo