Sunday 30 March 2014

Sailing away with a daffodil gnome

There's been more than a breath of spring about the place over the last few days.  Firstly, a daffodil gnome arrived, something I won in Katie's recent giveaway.


She didn't have far to travel to get here, just a few miles from Cirencester, where she was created by the talented Svenna of Stitch and Purl.  We all think she's lovely, and she looks just right down amongst the (many) daisies in what I laughingly call the lawn.  A bit later she went for a sail.


The boat is courtesy of the middle boy, who had a Beavers sleepover last night.  He had a happy day of games and walks and sailing boats in the stream.  He was thrilled to win "Joint Best Sailor".  Today he was more than a little tired though.  The biggest boy made sure not to miss an opportunity to tip him over the edge.

After lunch we went for a walk up to Painswick Beacon.  Some of the shorter legs were tired from a lot of early running, but it was nice to get out and feel the sun on our skin.




I found lots of oak apples, something I hadn't seen for ages.  It was a new thing to show the boys, and explain how they are caused by gall wasps.  We could see the holes where the wasps had left the apple.


Towards the end of the walk we found a tree to climb.  I boosted the littlest boy up, then the other two climbed up by standing on my back.  I've put my hoody in the wash.




At the edge of the picturesque beacon is this quarry.  It's completely out of place, but I suppose all of that beautiful Cotswold stone has to come from somewhere.  It was deserted on a Sunday, and had the feel of a setting for an Alex Rider book (a bit like a James Bond for children if you're not familiar with it).  The stones look like pebbles from here, but they were five to six feet tall.


The last picture I took was of this tangle of nature, above an old stone wall.  It fascinated me to see how all of the different plants were mingling and struggling for survival and dominance.  I'm not sure what the main tree is, beech maybe, and then in front of it there's yew, as well as ivies and a rhodedendron.  Hanging down are lots of bare stems - brambles probably.  It must be a jungle in high summer.  Nature, full throttle.


Here in the UK it was Mother's Day today.  Each of the little people made me a card, and the middle boy made me a coconut mouse while he was on his Beaver's sleepover.



The littlest boy was especially sweet, saying "Happy Mother's Day" to me throughout the day and asking me tonight when we were doing some colouring together before bed whether I'd had a good day.  Well yes, I do believe I have.

Before I go, I want to say a huge thank you for all of your lovely comments on my last post.  You have all been so kind and encouraging, I've been quite overwhelmed.  Thank you.

28 comments:

  1. Happy Mother's Day to you, CJ! Your walk looks lovely, I'm glad your weather has been good and you've been able to get out. My son loves to climb trees too and he's *fast*- I'll look up and find him halfway up a tree before I realize he's started climbing. I think I gave birth to a monkey. Your gnome is very pretty and I love that she was put on a sailboat, very cute. I hope you have a good week.

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  2. Looks like a great walk for Mother's Day. Matt used to love climbing trees. I recall sitting talking to a friend at the park several years ago when another mum interrupted us to ask "should those boys be quite that high?" Needless to say that in the couple of minutes we'd not been concentrating on them, they'd scaled a huge tree. Boys!!!
    I'm visiting my sister, near Pershore, this week so not too far away from you I think. X

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  3. What a perfect day for you - out with the boys in nature and I LOVED the photo of them all 3 in the tree together. I've got a photo of my 6 grandkids in a tree together that I adore. I'm in Ohio with my Amy and girls. I'm enjoying it. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  4. Aw Happy Mother's Day! There area you live in looks so beautiful!

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  5. Happy Mother's Day! It sounds like your boys made sure you had a wonderful day. That little gnome is just adorable and does look perfect surrounded by daisies. I'm still looking for a tree like the ones you find around where I live. So magical:) Glad you had a good day, CJ:)

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  6. Happy Mother's Day!!! Looks like a lovely way to spend it out in the countryside - it's so picturesque over there and reminds me of the scenery in the "All Creatures Great and Small" series I used to watch growing up. Happy Blogoversary too :-) Mel x

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  7. It's a bit late, but happy Mother's Day. It sounds like you had a very pleasant day with your boys.

    That climbing tree is just perfect. I think if I was there, even I would give it a go.

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  8. Such a lovely post CJ. What a perfect day out for three energetic boys - gorgeous photo's.
    I think your little coconut mouse is just the cutest thing and sweet of your littlest one to keep wishing you Happy Mothers Day all day long ! They grow up too quick don't they ?
    Have a lovely week CJ,
    Kate x

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  9. Lovely photos as usual CJ .. that daffodil gnome is so cute.as is you coconut mouse :o) Have a good week :o) x

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  10. It looks like you had a wonderful day. That tree looks just the thing for three boys to climb, I remember tree climbing from my own childhood, it's a pity that many children don't get to play these sort of games any more.

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  11. Hey CJ,
    My boys would have loved that walk, especially looking into the quarry. I am often the crane and hoist in their climbing adventures. Their Dad never seems to be around for it....
    And I think daisies beat a neatly clipped lawn any day.
    Leanne xx

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  12. So glad that your whole family loves the little gnome! She looks so lovely in the daisies. Interesting that you call the galls "oak apples". That is a good term for them. We have a ton of them in the woods near us. They have been easy to see all winter with the leaves down, and I have been meaning to do a Reconnecting With Nature post about them, but always seemed to have my hands busy with two dogs and a little babe when I think about it! They are cool to see.

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  13. looks like a lovely mother's day walk! glad you have a good day x

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  14. We found a tree full of galls this week too, perhaps the wasps had a good year last year?

    Your 'lawn' is perfect as far as I am concerned it is most likely a haven for nature and not a barren monoculture of grass as so many seem to think is perfection.

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  15. I love the gnome! She is gorgeous :) Hope you had a lovely day yesterday :-)

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  16. It's a lovely walk. Wow, it's so much fun to play on the tree. It's remind me to my childhood. I love the white daisies.

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  17. The daffodil gnome is wonderful and I love her little boat, too. The walk, with those views, looks fantastic. I'm glad you had a lovely day.

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  18. That's a great post title! I'm not keen on gnomes but could make an exception for that one.
    Terrific views from the top of that Beacon. Flighty xx

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  19. Hey lady! I read your post earlier but was unable to write a comment as I was at the doc! So glad that you all got out for an awesome romp around! Your setting is one that I dream about! With all of the old stone walls and the endless sea of land! And a very Happy Mother's day to you as well! You my friend are a great mom! Pushing those boys up in trees and teaching them about the great outdoors! Bravo to you! Loved your little guys boat! And that gnome is so cute! Hey and we have clover in our yard as I don't believe in using chemicals...makes it prettier I think to have bits of happy popping up anyway! Blessed week to you friend! Nicole xoxo

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  20. Hello lovely. Firstly have you changed your photo, or am I just really slow in seeing just how gorgeous you are!!!! Beautiful! It looks like your fairy has found the perfect spot, how cute is she! What a lovely way to spend a day it looks as if the boys had to walk quite some distance, good on them and that tree climbing, oh how that brings back memories. Beautiful cards for mothers day too, aren't we blessed to have children, it truly is a gift. I hope you have a wonderful Easter CJ and that you enjoy some time with your boys. I will pop in on my return. Can I just say thank you for all your lovely support that you have given me over the last months, it really has been so special and I so appreciate it, thank you!! Sending you much love and happy Easter wishes xoxo

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  21. I can see your fairy is going to pop up now and again on your travels :-) Well done on helping your boys to tree climb, I'm afraid that my son would have to help me up now as I can't lift him off the ground (he's a foot taller than me!). Have a great week my friend xx

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  22. The mouse looks wonderful and your cards too! I forgot to say I love your new header, I am always attracted to colour glass.Sarah x

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  23. What a lovely day! Picture number 4 is very impressive!

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  24. Love the cards, love the coconut mouse but most of all I love that shot of your boys climbing the tree. It just made me so happy. What a wonderful childhood they must be having. x

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  25. I wonder, did you collect any oak galls? Crushed and soaked they make a great dye for wool and such ... you could have so much fun!

    Looks like you had the best kind of Mother's Day :)

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  26. I love the little coconut mouse, so sweet! It's nice to get out for a walk in this spring weather isn't it?

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  27. That wee gnome is adorable, and looks so sweet in among the pretty daisies. I love daisies so much. Sounds like you had a lovely Mothers Day...how cute is that coconut mouse?!
    Marianne x

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