the in-between days

How is it that we have got to the end of the year already? It barely seems that long ago that we were welcoming in 2018 and yet here we are, looking to 2019 - a very big year, in particular. You see, The American and I are getting married in the summer and therefore have some amount of organising to do! Whilst we've been hyper-efficient and organised all the big things, I'm sure there is plenty to do that we have yet to think about.

So before the onslaught truly begins I'm indulging in this in-between time; that often feels quite sacred as you barely leave the house, save to pick up some more milk or take the dog for a walk. Mum has a puzzle on the go which really has got us scratching our heads, and dad is pottering around the farm making sure all the animals are fed and watered as well as welcoming the occasional new calf into the fold. Work doesn't start for a few more days so I'm drinking in every quiet moment before heading back to London for NYE with pals and then them, BAM!, we're back to the daily grind. 

Here are a few pictures I've taken over the last few days, which should give a taste of our current state of being; slow moving and sated. 

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2019!



L.  

a great deal of fun

It’s amazing how much difference a three-day weekend makes. It’s seems like such a luxury to be able to wake up a little later on a Friday morning, leisurely drink a coffee and then set out for your day at your own pace. It was The American’s birthday back in September and my present to him was a night’s stay at The Rose in Deal, a sweet little hotel by the sea. After a recent renovation, I’d seen lots of snaps of it on Instagram and thought it would be perfect for a trip away. We never do weekend’s away like this so we were both very excited to hop on the train to Deal and head to the coast.

The weather was beautiful on Friday. Arriving to deep blue skies and even bluer seas, we dropped our bags off at the hotel and made a beeline for the pebble beach. With the tide far out we had a good stretch of the legs, picking up pretty stones along the way. We even came across a few crab legs left over from a gull’s lunch and an unopened oyster which was merrily tossed back into the blue.

Deal itself is a very small seaside town with pretty shop fronts, bustling cafes and lively bars at night. Having had a quick explore of the narrow streets and cobbled lanes, we headed back to our hotel to relax before enjoying dinner downstairs in the restaurant. I luxuriantly took a bath and read whilst The American listened to records conveniently provided by the hotel. Feeling refreshed and at ease we hopped down the stairs where we swiftly order a coupe of champagne for me and a bitter negroni for him. Whilst the hotel accommodation is very sweet and perfect for Instagram, it is the food which I personally think is the best part of The Rose. I chose the daily special which was a smoked haddock fish pie, made with creamy mashed potato which crisped perfectly on top. The American enjoyed a rabbit cassoulet which was rich and velvety. Our plans to head out for drinks after were somewhat thwarted as we both slipped into a sleepy food coma however this was welcomed as we headed to bed for a solid night’s sleep.

Saturday the weather was somewhat greyer. But never mind, we had one more meal to enjoy: mushrooms and goats cheese on toast for me and scotch woodcock for him (scrambled eggs with anchovies, who knew). After a hearty breakfast we explored the shops and Saturday market. I picked up a pretty lithograph by William Alison Martin from 1915 from the local antique shop and we stopped for coffees and a pastry. As the clouds started to gather overhead we enjoyed one last foodie splurge and enjoyed fish and chips on the beach – we couldn’t visit the seaside and not do that!

We rather enjoyed our weekend away and vowed to enjoy more. Next on my list is a weekend in York. Even the thought makes me giddy with excitement!

L. 

wilderness

At the beginning of the month I went to Wilderness, a festival in Oxfordshire that was made for people who don’t really “do” festivals. Don’t get me wrong, I am more than happy getting stuck into camping, getting muddy and spending all day roaming the fields however, the luxuries on offer combined with incredible food and a great and endless list of activities made me book tickets last November quicker than you could say “show me the tent”. And boy is Wilderness a luxurious festival to experience. Admittedly I don’t have much of a gauge for festival frolics (this was my first) but Wilderness has got to be one of the best in terms of all round entertainment, cleanliness and fun.

Sarah, Mel and I headed out west in the blazing sunshine on the Thursday and set up camp. We had pre-bought tickets to the opening night feast so after having a good amble around the main site and changing into something a little lighter we skipped into the banquet tent where we were joined by hundreds more to enjoy the tasty food prepared by Woodfire Canteen and Hidden Hut and ample booze to get us started for a long weekend. Entertainment abounds at Wilderness with performers giving impromptu skits halfway through proceedings to a fanfare of applause.

Waking up on the Friday morning we had various plans. Sarah was off to a talk in one of the tents whilst Mel and I wanted to dip our toes into the lake for some wild swimming. I’m an absolute water baby so was more than happy to jump and dive into the lake but Mel was a little more fearful so after a quick paddle enjoyed a sunbathe on the banks. Meeting back up with Sarah we decided to enjoy some of the delicious food on offer. Really, I’d describe Wilderness as a food and wellness festival that just so happens to play great music too. Honestly the food is incredible and you’re never short of inspiration for a different meal each time. We feasted on bao buns (someone help me, I am ADDICTED),tacos, crab rolls, Indian street food, Japanese bowl food and so much more (obviously not at the same time, I’m not that much of a savage!).

Friday night was spent down in the Valley, a hedonistic dance floor filled with happy people, strobe lighting and heavy beats. Admittedly we all found this quite intense and being the ageing 26 year olds we are we struggled to keep awake until 1.30am to see Groove Amada. But we battled through and enjoyed a good bop to the beats before calling it a night and ambling back to our tents.

By Saturday we were in need of a hearty breakfast so whilst Mel snoozed a little longer Sarah and I went in search of baked beans on toast and fried egg sandwiches. The sun over the weekend was relentless and the temperature at 30 all the time so with our sensible brains in gear we decided to take Saturday day easy, taking time to ourselves to watch the cricket (perhaps one of my fav parts!), enjoy more talks and comedy or even enjoy a little nap in the sun. The cricket was a real highlight for me, with the occasional (actually very frequent) streaker enjoy a liberating run across the pitch to break up the morning’s play. One of the most heart-warming aspects of Wilderness is the coming together of all ages and how genuinely happy everyone is. It’s so easy to feel bogged down by day to day drudgery and its easy to forget the pleasure in spending time surrounded by those who are happy and cheerful. We need more people like that!

 Anyway, I digress. Before boogieing down to Nile Roger and Chic we treated ourselves to two hours at the lake side spa, a gorgeous set up with wood fire-heated hot tubs and private access to the lake. We plunged into the hot tubs and sipped on champagne (I promise you, this was a real festival!) before jumping into the lake for a final refreshing dip. Time was ticking by and Nile was calling our names so we hot footed it back to our camp to bejewel ourselves before making a beeline for the Sipsmith Gin Palace, the perfect way to get into the disco spirit (pun intended hehehe).

The rest of the evening went by in a haze of dance moves, singing at the top of our lungs and lots of laughter. Amazing puppets roamed the fields amongst party goers, children and golden oldies. 

Wilderness proved to be an amazing festival and whilst fairly expensive in the end, I'd sign up for another in a heartbeat. Maybe one day when we all have a bit more dollar we could try glamping though I have to admit, I think that is cheating just a little bit too much.

Take be back to the fields, why don't you! 



L.    

the cotswolds or provence?

Waving goodbye to the confetti fields we headed the short journey to Broadway to catch some lunch at the cafe we always go to before driving the short journey on to Snowshill and the lavender fields. I first visited the lavender fields many years ago with mum and I remember how they suddenly came out of nowhere as soon as you get on top of the hills, sprawling out in front of us like a picture postcard of Provence. The intensity of the purple colour is like nothing else and you really do feel like you aren't in Middle England.

We pulled up in the dusty car park and bought our ticket to the fields. It's another tourist trap but thankfully the fields are big enough for you to find your own little patch away from the tourists posing away. We even spotted a wedding party making the most of the views and having their photographs taken in amongst the purple haze. 

The majority of the lavender is of the same variety (Hidcote lavender, I believe) but there is a section at the beginning of the fields that showcase all kinds of varieties, including beautiful white lavender, pinky tones and those with silvery leaves. I loved the white variety and thought I might give it a go next year in our little patio. The lavender is grown at Snowshill for cosmetic and homeopathic use, with the great distilling barn located next to the fields and open for you to have a nose around. 

I'm not sure I actually like the smell of lavender oil as I think it's a bit overwhelming but I love fields of lavender, with the scent gently wafting in the light breeze. We were so lucky with the weather as the lavender's purple hues stood out brilliantly against the deep blue of the sky. It's such a treat to have the lavender fields right on your doorstep and you'd be completely forgiven for thinking you'd hopped across the Channel and found yourself in the South of France. We'll be sure to go back again next year.



L. 

in amongst the confetti

A few weeks back we headed back home to visit my parents. Mum was working on the Saturday so The American and I headed to the Confetti Fields, a small plot of farmland a 10 minute drive away from home. Rather cleverly a farmer has tapped into a market; the wedding market for couples looking to keep thing sustainable and local and the Instagram market, for those keen to add another snap to their grid that’s sure to get attention. The Confetti Fields is a plot of prime flower growing land, growing only delphiniums in a spectrum of colours which are grown especially for wedding confetti. The fields reach peak bloom for one week of the year and during that week they are open to the general public, seeing teams of people travelling from all over to get a snap of the place. I’d seen the fields last summer and with Dad knowing all the farmers in the area, he’d also heard about this spectacle.

We drove down the winding farm track in the blazing sunshine, not quite sure of what to expect. It really is something that should be seen in person as I just don’t think I can do it justice through words. Nonetheless I will give it a try. The parameter of the field had been planted with different colours – deep purple, white, fuchsia, the palest of blues and a sweet strawberry ice cream tone too. Mixed together they are quite the picture and you can get a really good sense of what a mixed bag of confetti would look like. If you delve deep into the field you see the colours break down into blocks. Curiously they don’t smell much and despite the heat we saw very few bees, I guess it was too late in the season for them now, seeing as the delphiniums were just about to be harvested a week later.

Hard to choose but I think my favourite colour was the pale blue, it’s so delicate and has the slightest hint of blush running through it. Though I did also rather like it when a rogue delphinium of another colour had broken free – vive la résistance! We loved roaming the fields, despite the heaving crowds – honestly, I think every parent with anew born thought the confetti fields were the perfect place to have a free family photoshoot and the amount of people posing for Instagrams was actually laughable (myself included, though admittedly less pouty and more “here I am in a field of flowers having forgotten to brush my hair”).

Having picked up a full bunch of cut delphiniums for mum we climbed up high into the Cotswolds for lunch in Broadway before driving on to Snowshill to finish off our flower-filled day at the lavender farm.

More to follow…

L. 

cherry picking

One of my favourite places to visit in Maryland is Baugher’s, a fruit and vegetable farm in rural Westminster. It must be the farm girl in me but I can’t get enough of the place; from trawling through all the jars of interesting condiments to ordering pie and ice cream in the cute diner. This year we arrived in prime fruit picking season and we just knew we’d have to get a piece of the pie (pun intended). Sweet cherries were in seasons so we headed over early one morning before the searing heat got too searing.

We took the tractor and trailer out into the orchards which sprawl across the hills. It’s funny, even though a tractor is very much the norm for me I still got excited! Some things will never change. Arriving at our destination we were handed some old metal buckets and told we could climb the ladders to pick the ripest fruits. Each tree was heaving with deep plum-coloured cherries and it took all my will power not to nibble a few.

With a basket heavy with ripe fruit we escaped the heat and waited under the trees for our lift back to the farm shop. It’s safe to say the cherries did not last long- the perfect snack to enjoy in the rising temperatures!

L.