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| yarn bombing! |
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| beach hair |
We took the puppy and headed to West Wales for a bit. Oh how he loved it. Galloping across beaches, trying to decide whether or not he liked the sea, enjoying the feel of the wind in his tail and being with his pack all day every day. They were good times for a small dog. The boys discovered surfing which they absolutely loved.
We whizzed round entertaining them with this and that. Lovely, but I would have liked to sit around in the cottage we rented for a while. There was a table by the window in the kitchen that looked right out over a little river. Opposite there was a vegetable garden. I should have liked to sit there and write for a bit. Sometimes there's a different energy when you sit in a different chair.
I can see the attraction of a writing retreat. Although I would miss the children and the puppy. But imagine how many hours, how much I would get done. It's all pie in the sky of course, just something that floated across my mind. Really, I'm very happy zipping about in boats and climbing hills and watching surfing and trying to keep a grip of Bertie.
His scruffy, fluffy hair is growing like mad and his eyes are disappearing. He needs a trim, but it turns out that dog groomers are very sought after round here. I was tempted to try a quick snip myself this afternoon while he was dozing but I decided that he'd probably end up with just one done and look ridiculous. I'm adding it to the giant list of Things To Do Next Week, which officially doesn't start until Tuesday.
We got to grips with the garden today. Everyone pitched in, except the littlest boy who laid on the sofa and read a book. I pointed out that we might be getting more done because of it - no arguments over the cushiest jobs, no fights breaking out over trowels or the good secateurs. Anyway, I'm happy that some sort of order is being imposed. It was fairly horrible after a week away. I managed to stop the biggest boy pulling out the basil. 'Is this a weed?' with hand poised above it. He decided it smelled of pizza, which made me think I might make one tomorrow. I have homegrown onions, garlic, tomatoes and basil. All I need now is a cow.
Unusually for an August bank holiday the weather is set fair. I'd quite like to be back by the sea, but I shall make the most of it all anyway. If it's a day off for you too, enjoy. CJ xx
Basil does smell like pizza! I made pizzas last night with fresh basil on them and everyone came looking for the pizza before some of them even knew I was making it. Your dog is so, so cute. I love his face and the way he looks with his tongue out. I know what you mean about wanting to spend time in the cottage. I always wish I could just sit around in any place where we stay, just relaxing and hanging out. The time is always so packed, with trips all over, and when we are at "home," I have a million things to do. I always say that SOMEDAY, I'm going to a resort, where I can just sit there and not have to cook, clean, do laundry, keep things organized...on my so-called "vacation." Hmmph. :)
ReplyDeleteYour vacation looked like it was spectacular! And I think Bertie is a natural adventurer.. takes after you and the boys. Your cottage looked so cozy! Your fur kid is very adorable. I'm glad you got some good weather back. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteBertie is certainly one of the gang isn't he. I'm glad that you all had such a lovely time and that cottage looks like a real find. Enjoy the bank holiday. xx
ReplyDeleteHe is impossibly cute, and a good time was had by all from the looks of things! Oh I do miss being beside the seaside, even though it's only ten minutes away, it's not the same as living across the road from a lovely beach.
ReplyDeleteI have a writers retreat, a summerhouse in the midst of the garden, but it's so lovely sitting in there, so peaceful, I end up meditating and daydreaming instead!
Hope the rest of your Bank Holiday weekend was as good.
Edwina
www.lifeatemsplace.blogspot.co.uk
I love the photo of Bertie following the boys with their surfboards into the sea. He does look such a lovely dog. I'm glad you had a good time in Wales, great photos. You're right about chairs; I regularly sit in different places to write. Have a lovely bank holiday day – sun is shining here :-) x
ReplyDeleteA most enjoyable post and lovely pictures, I especially like the one of Bertie where just his nose and one paw-pad is visible apart from his hair. Good to see that you all enjoyed yourselves.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week. xx
Love the seaside photos CJ. A bit of everything - foggy, sun, rocky beaches, boat filled harbors, plant filled hillsides - it all looks enchanting. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable pup, and my how your boys have grown!
ReplyDeleteI encourage you to attend a writer's retreat, CJ. I went on a 3 day one last year at a monastery and am applying to go again this year. There is nothing like being able to wake and write without distraction, stroll ancient paths and ruminate about story lines, exercise or sleep between fits of productivity. Admittedly, I went without having a great story started--most of what I wrote on the retreat (though it seemed good at the time) will end up being discarded when I return to that story.
In the meantime, the retreat gave me a greater sense of my own writer's life, my determination to keep at it, and really helped ground me after so many years doing for the littles and Husband. I found that I slept a lot out of sheer exhaustion and a bit of overwhelm...all part of the process of getting my writer's legs I suppose! Best of all, our facilitator was so encouraging and had a great creative energy that was so inspiring. I learned so much from the other participants and the whole experience.
Anyways, if it's at all possible, I hope you look into a retreat and try it out :) Jill
Bertie looks to be in his element. Have to echo the comment above about your human boys getting to be so big. Surfers now, too (hope Father Christmas hasn't noticed). Maybe you'll find a table and chair by a window closer to home to which you can regularly retreat. I discovered the reference library in town hits the writing spot.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely holiday you've had! The photos are fabulous, love the colours in Wales very much. I think there is a national shortage of dog groomers! You are right about some chairs being good for writing. I am particularly productive in my sewing room chair, it faces the garden and is full of light. Hope the weather was good all day in England. It wasn't here but we don't get the Bank Holiday so not much of a problem, just a soggy bottom making squeaky noises on my Swiss ball 'chair' in the office. Have a lovely week. x
ReplyDeleteLittle Brown Dog just gets more adorable as he gets older. It is worth getting his name on the waiting list to get in to see the groomer. I made the mistake of waiting too long before taking Fergus to his first groomer's appointment when he was a puppy, and to this day he's petrified of going. I was told he would have been less afraid if he had been going from an earlier age. Lovely photos! It looks like you had a wonderful holiday in Wales.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful collection of photos :)
ReplyDeleteAaaaw your puppy is gorgeous :) our wee pup is now 15 months old, still wee (she's a dachshund) but is calming down, and has stopped taking my wool for one thing. Lovely to see your holiday snaps
ReplyDeleteJillxo
Gorgeous photos of the boys and their dog. It sounds a beautiful place. Was that St Davids? I loved it there. Interesting about the writing chair. I don't like to be in a different one and always gravitate to the same place (kitchen table) to write xx
ReplyDeleteIt looks like little brown dog... and the rest of you, had a lovely time at the seaside. Xx
ReplyDeleteThese photos are fantastic CJ! I can feel the fun and the wind and the excitement. Good days and memories for sure. I understand about that "spot" that would've been nice to sit in for a bit. I remember when we had the week at the River there was so much cooking and going to and from the water and cleaning boys and gear. I snuck a few moments on the deck to knit where I could keep an eye on the boys but it was never quite long enough ...
ReplyDeleteStill friends and family that made it up there that summer remember it fondly. :)
I loved the pictures of Bertie on the beach, he is going to be a sea dog just like Tavi. Your holiday cottage looks wonderful too. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place to get away to, Clair! The furry baby seems quite natural for seaside romping. Your boys as well! Are you close to the coast?
ReplyDeleteI am trying so hard to remember a book I read about a woman who went to Upstate New York to an old cottage owned by her family in the middle of nowhere. She spent a year there working on her writing, but the actual subject of the book she wrote was about fending for herself, alone and on her own. I will look for it through old blog posts. It enlightened me and for so long I wanted to be that adventurous, independent woman. I'm still trying, and perhaps I've made some progress with my solitary stays at the lake cottage. Was very afraid and intimidated to be their on my own. This has been a summer of liberation and overcoming demons that never really existed.
I enjoy your pictures, you are very good!
Until next time...
Jane x
Oh he is so cute! And what a beautiful place to live near! I hear you on the writing. Writing nourishes my heart xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful cottage ... and little Bertie looks right at home. Sounds like a wonderful time.x
ReplyDelete"The boys discovered surfing which they absolutely loved." (!!) Please tell me more via email if you have a minute! I'd love to hear all about this! Your coastline is breathtaking. It reminds me a bit of the Pacific Northwest with its moody beauty.
ReplyDeleteYour trip looks wonderful, well minus no time to sit by the window and write.
ReplyDeleteBertie and I have similar beach hair, it has to be said. Isn't a big garden sort out wonderfully therapeutic though? I'm sorry you didn't get much time to ponder and write but your holiday sounded absolutely lovely. X
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