tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77794699271494992382024-03-12T17:07:41.940-07:00elizabethllauraa little blog about everything niceelizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-44480602644911693742020-10-20T08:09:00.003-07:002020-10-20T08:09:18.830-07:00kew a new favourite place...<p><span style="font-family: courier;">Just like old times, Mel and I found ourselves footloose and fancy free on a Thursday so we made last minute plans to visit Kew Gardens. Ian bought me membership for our first wedding anniversary so what better way to spend our day together than outside enjoying the last rays of sunshine, surrounded by nature. Strangely this was my first visit to the floral institute (for someone as obsessed with gardens and flowers as me I find this hard to believe!), and I was completely taken by the grounds. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">We met on the far side by the river and meandered around the quiet grounds catching up on each others news. Mel had a blessed day off from boarding school dramas and was quite glad to have an adult conversation once again (oh how I miss those days, despite the unrelenting tiredness I felt!). In between laughs and a bit of gossip we dipped and dived into the various glass houses. The palm house was sweaty but beautiful, the water lily house like a Monet painting and the temperate house like the balmy forests of a far away land. We both got a bit snap happy and vowed to return again together to explore all the many other ares we didn't even get to. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4FCtlwcIWuUkepcjbTa_YRR6onM2XilplPmDquq7sNVVanbg10QkopI3GBu8xS_lRQ8bJTS2myvdjuKES9Z1G9WFiO_m8mVeNPRFl4k2ZPMF4Q7vFg8sZSPkQn3NdIc4-wb0IlKUiNY/s640/IMG_3363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4FCtlwcIWuUkepcjbTa_YRR6onM2XilplPmDquq7sNVVanbg10QkopI3GBu8xS_lRQ8bJTS2myvdjuKES9Z1G9WFiO_m8mVeNPRFl4k2ZPMF4Q7vFg8sZSPkQn3NdIc4-wb0IlKUiNY/w480-h640/IMG_3363.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTrE_bcvEDS_vRnyC5Kp1kjtFRfkx-r49vx6P54h12ecev0oPjMqKehqmwEZfKDPx6d3RyWIchyphenhyphenHXonb3aIaEV5ANkYvyR2KmwM-a37NQyYf-eWplm9aYb5ST3f_-NK1ifiNwZFG-19g/s640/IMG_3364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKE8o3vy6_UieY9Xki8_N65nXCmui612KdV-4WaYXMVUnq8uVSJVwJIDP8HoWUNw2LSOINYP8Kx537S864gufntaizPdbgyRsdcuQQj1Hsk6L968f3sykwwD0r_RuHee5HI-YJu93QWjU/s640/IMG_3376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKE8o3vy6_UieY9Xki8_N65nXCmui612KdV-4WaYXMVUnq8uVSJVwJIDP8HoWUNw2LSOINYP8Kx537S864gufntaizPdbgyRsdcuQQj1Hsk6L968f3sykwwD0r_RuHee5HI-YJu93QWjU/w480-h640/IMG_3376.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></p>Ian has a day off coming up so I think we'll go over and take a walk along the oak-lined avenue before warming up over pots of tea and freshly baked cake. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">L. </span></p>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-83689479869767601332020-10-05T09:57:00.004-07:002020-10-05T10:02:38.524-07:00girls in cambridge<p><span style="font-family: courier;">Last Sunday I found myself in cold, autumnal Cambridge. It's not a city I am overly familiar with and so after some drinks a few weeks ago myself and two friends decided to do a last minute stay in the university town. And aren't I glad I took them up on the offer! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">We stayed at The University Arms Hotel, a hotel that I actually know very well because my now old company designed its interiors. But, it was so nice to visit and not in a work capacity. With Covid still the hot topic, the experience was a little different (mask wearing was compulsory and there were neither cushions nor anything tactile in the rooms because of contamination nerves..) however, it was still a gorgeous little stay. We arrived in time for baked goods and hot cups of tea at Fitzbillies before picking up bikes and scooting through the streets to Kettle's Yard. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDUm3fJNFBsAdEMY0OElBNaPxSp5hu2LWI2z4owMkC__RSpp7r55CKNc_EyFB0Pc2cKCfUhCfLB_yybdFc38Dl_vsfKooyCf83qoKQ3cdXXCDA6tRdc_NZeUJCvkMrupjKggdiFQyoN0/s2048/IMG_3039.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDUm3fJNFBsAdEMY0OElBNaPxSp5hu2LWI2z4owMkC__RSpp7r55CKNc_EyFB0Pc2cKCfUhCfLB_yybdFc38Dl_vsfKooyCf83qoKQ3cdXXCDA6tRdc_NZeUJCvkMrupjKggdiFQyoN0/w480-h640/IMG_3039.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-ddx5sLG3grCttFfUn6HVKkbA2MYibJlqFrXaXH0H2MKl2f1gudiZDRrKSBVGVT_CwgmsXKYWJgDdeiNQ7W4rh1jaztTK98GlSF0knnUwKXTK0fMNRHfw_34rjLbU5a0RIthcCxSpSo/s1600/d396f05c-29e0-4361-a135-5e42e255fed7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-ddx5sLG3grCttFfUn6HVKkbA2MYibJlqFrXaXH0H2MKl2f1gudiZDRrKSBVGVT_CwgmsXKYWJgDdeiNQ7W4rh1jaztTK98GlSF0knnUwKXTK0fMNRHfw_34rjLbU5a0RIthcCxSpSo/w480-h640/d396f05c-29e0-4361-a135-5e42e255fed7.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVzcCAFBTILPNFuylVgAg5Ji44DXFHVuaEvnupbhaRTW6nR0z3kcZTm91sdvuhhrC7GeBh7fto8bHJyz5IXAm6c-ISPqzNMnVb4a5wdorXiHbT8Ag4mUDvA5foJZj-2orK05i-VrCMAM/s2048/IMG_3035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVzcCAFBTILPNFuylVgAg5Ji44DXFHVuaEvnupbhaRTW6nR0z3kcZTm91sdvuhhrC7GeBh7fto8bHJyz5IXAm6c-ISPqzNMnVb4a5wdorXiHbT8Ag4mUDvA5foJZj-2orK05i-VrCMAM/w480-h640/IMG_3035.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbNa1mklSqNJnyqLAjG8__YECYTLhyphenhyphendeZqYIreGfABHwvpznclMDNb1bNKm_ZLCJgS_Jgy9bkbiwjbmFoNRjv9MSpjnG9-GkfLSB47G_91nezyABQssPNzcDw3FarmnQjofzOaxRheOA/s1334/D7573B2F-4A2E-4EB4-B370-E0F6339CCCAE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbNa1mklSqNJnyqLAjG8__YECYTLhyphenhyphendeZqYIreGfABHwvpznclMDNb1bNKm_ZLCJgS_Jgy9bkbiwjbmFoNRjv9MSpjnG9-GkfLSB47G_91nezyABQssPNzcDw3FarmnQjofzOaxRheOA/w360-h640/D7573B2F-4A2E-4EB4-B370-E0F6339CCCAE.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: courier;">Kettle's Yard is my idea of absolute heaven. It was the home of Jim and Helen Ede, art enthusiasts and firm believers that art should be accessible to all. During the 1950s and 60s the Ede's opened up their home to art scholars at Cambridge, allowing them to drop into their home for tea and drinks and enjoy their vast Modern British art collection. Students could even borrow a piece of artwork to keep in their dorms - I can't help but feel this was a risky move but perhaps that is just a reflection on my university days... </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv_B3kMhUGQDgUupkKfu0ncCOsiJE-uJXGv_ypx7W61ck2qNEQFpk-ZRto4cVr-pkKa7c98PJDEhez8ooVfWPx8amM0Z45tEt6nhjpEA-u-vIPmzG_-u6LiDSq6flhxrrkGA3PiXMlV4/s2048/IMG_3028.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv_B3kMhUGQDgUupkKfu0ncCOsiJE-uJXGv_ypx7W61ck2qNEQFpk-ZRto4cVr-pkKa7c98PJDEhez8ooVfWPx8amM0Z45tEt6nhjpEA-u-vIPmzG_-u6LiDSq6flhxrrkGA3PiXMlV4/w640-h480/IMG_3028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTE76d1T7uxvd7bvPqw1RZQjb-YmhnpBDooc3US5HF-l9MYyzvu3gm5iM8RSKZHHCqaAqTZQXzsZdjVzbhIifKdHW2XTlixEaUS2s95XTFGrS48meUbaoFifsIRkonRZEhW4Gsddayj7w/s1600/72db03aa-11ee-44ad-83b9-05594654deac.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTE76d1T7uxvd7bvPqw1RZQjb-YmhnpBDooc3US5HF-l9MYyzvu3gm5iM8RSKZHHCqaAqTZQXzsZdjVzbhIifKdHW2XTlixEaUS2s95XTFGrS48meUbaoFifsIRkonRZEhW4Gsddayj7w/w480-h640/72db03aa-11ee-44ad-83b9-05594654deac.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: courier; text-align: left;">Anyway, the house is brimming with Ben Nicholson's, Winifred Nicholson's (they were married), Henri Guadier-Brzeska's, Brancusi's, David Jones'... the list is endless and I just couldn't contain myself. The way the home is curated is a style I like to think I have been honing for years. As a child I loved creating little vignettes in my room - some shells on a table, a painting resting on my bookcase etc. At Kettle's Yard, pebbles lie casually next to sculptures, a vase of dahlia's next to a maquette or simply a painting leaning against a window pane. It was such an inspiring home to walk around; if I could have moved in that day I would have! </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgbPSiCDKjULXz3yvnxYpomBIWddep_YF5sHoU4XP6bXuwRy9-KF8I38v20xfvSRSqBtTW9xA2Frfv-etgudgh0RDVMr2EfmiwEEc9uVze2x8y5GQW-fRPwH48OjKoVFlErDoUtbbQms/s1334/9C224BD5-9FB5-4024-850E-1459CF3F908F.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgbPSiCDKjULXz3yvnxYpomBIWddep_YF5sHoU4XP6bXuwRy9-KF8I38v20xfvSRSqBtTW9xA2Frfv-etgudgh0RDVMr2EfmiwEEc9uVze2x8y5GQW-fRPwH48OjKoVFlErDoUtbbQms/w360-h640/9C224BD5-9FB5-4024-850E-1459CF3F908F.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5kqNYNPhNhA_OJtReqjI5ctkPfdgEkmlmdHTMHPKY9kUEuRmKckzeajMxqraKLfIABKZijL1RCEJch62TbpKMvL4Jsx4puva_VvCu4QYS12_Z6nUA5pzx0c8HP4DRyCxtjxkC2OP7oA/s1024/f429e55c-e678-4772-a2c2-b4f8284e0769.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5kqNYNPhNhA_OJtReqjI5ctkPfdgEkmlmdHTMHPKY9kUEuRmKckzeajMxqraKLfIABKZijL1RCEJch62TbpKMvL4Jsx4puva_VvCu4QYS12_Z6nUA5pzx0c8HP4DRyCxtjxkC2OP7oA/w480-h640/f429e55c-e678-4772-a2c2-b4f8284e0769.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKzDh23GN9p5VPWfiwp6YXLmoF0E8XQEWdFAxVJTjDDrFQKCbtK8kTx7rft4WRnH_EQU2nvFfmixA78p23HlxVAu9REbNUqadBglqS6yailMS8frcOtuu-weAvUyxyqmHX3KXHZzDj6A/s1334/A052D867-84B6-4C1B-8418-0A875FB18D36.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKzDh23GN9p5VPWfiwp6YXLmoF0E8XQEWdFAxVJTjDDrFQKCbtK8kTx7rft4WRnH_EQU2nvFfmixA78p23HlxVAu9REbNUqadBglqS6yailMS8frcOtuu-weAvUyxyqmHX3KXHZzDj6A/w360-h640/A052D867-84B6-4C1B-8418-0A875FB18D36.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MaJNEIDkQ4Jd_ro5Y46dBQSMzKhufGS6gCcklrrFaPXOZoo64qKUcSRpjjDCly0bju3OEL57td1QBuiO2E1kxPCBqTiNAXYu10Avv-8N399U2R_Gr6XZUjPQbcT99Wa1e4zzX4_md64/s2048/IMG_3026.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MaJNEIDkQ4Jd_ro5Y46dBQSMzKhufGS6gCcklrrFaPXOZoo64qKUcSRpjjDCly0bju3OEL57td1QBuiO2E1kxPCBqTiNAXYu10Avv-8N399U2R_Gr6XZUjPQbcT99Wa1e4zzX4_md64/w480-h640/IMG_3026.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssrvwFlsE8By6qet7_epoeN2Az8XUKG211dTVbk5iJVtouEl5I4iUTEg2xqzNnzNmHN_f-wvYgAmnEDJgC_BLZj1xMPkqtsQJIw6hQk1yWFrlHcA8M2f0nQig7x1wD1nCaCuFTFWfr24/s2048/IMG_3027.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssrvwFlsE8By6qet7_epoeN2Az8XUKG211dTVbk5iJVtouEl5I4iUTEg2xqzNnzNmHN_f-wvYgAmnEDJgC_BLZj1xMPkqtsQJIw6hQk1yWFrlHcA8M2f0nQig7x1wD1nCaCuFTFWfr24/w480-h640/IMG_3027.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">Finally tearing ourselves away from the home (the girls loved it too but I think I was being especially gushy) we hopped on our bikes once more and headed back to the hotel to catch up on the weekend papers, enjoy baths and get ready for dinner. After months of lockdown and not really going out for dinner, it felt so lovely to get dressed up, enjoy a glass of bubbly and enjoy a proper meal out. We started with fresh bread with plenty of salty butter before enjoying seared lamb with autumn ratatouille and buttery mashed potatoes, panfried sole with leafy greens and the ultimate spag bol. Pudding was a haze of strawberries and cream, ices and a cheese board (Ellen was still grazing on it come the 10pm curfew and very nearly took up the waiter's kind offer of having it boxed up so she could carry on enjoying it in her room!).</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVnhUskC7yTe1DVo1DYe7ZpbWt6vNCYCGX4jfbCry0aKAtkIgQFboe8QqjASW7SOo0jpJbQd1-NOkfqho819i-sl6WTGF2ZSAJzF6YjjBxXZ2KB2Q77KE1oYnXSyp9dKnAyLb0hZiKg4/s2048/IMG_3032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVnhUskC7yTe1DVo1DYe7ZpbWt6vNCYCGX4jfbCry0aKAtkIgQFboe8QqjASW7SOo0jpJbQd1-NOkfqho819i-sl6WTGF2ZSAJzF6YjjBxXZ2KB2Q77KE1oYnXSyp9dKnAyLb0hZiKg4/w480-h640/IMG_3032.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxSGEn1PHLz9K5JwCle_l4LIEGJ6Z1xi0xfcOI-RQUMHSMslBMDzdd2Zsh4Y1M6gqwcMZ10HU-5PL03Ks9Bh4ok0XkuQnMEUspWv_qSQbQWiFM1_5GqnNoMvbBvrpOVQLkyUFTz-g2V0/s1334/96521A18-176F-4853-A04A-32A4AA7D2FFF.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxSGEn1PHLz9K5JwCle_l4LIEGJ6Z1xi0xfcOI-RQUMHSMslBMDzdd2Zsh4Y1M6gqwcMZ10HU-5PL03Ks9Bh4ok0XkuQnMEUspWv_qSQbQWiFM1_5GqnNoMvbBvrpOVQLkyUFTz-g2V0/w360-h640/96521A18-176F-4853-A04A-32A4AA7D2FFF.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">Monday morning came by in the blink of an eye. After a hearty breakfast we took a quick spin into town to visit a second hand book shop before enjoying one last baked treat at Fitzbillies and heading back to the smoke on the train. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKQ1BY0BM7vdyTSib7YghFiSJVErG_KIaBLYiTdKzfPLc2rfCcJfMEIBA7-Db8g-bmhERRqwZDu6K7PrqSadJVHRExE2DdRfUqZKdnGbnDERuCkmaeyvUmf8etsk2Fj-g5t9Hj19s0pk/s2048/IMG_3033.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKQ1BY0BM7vdyTSib7YghFiSJVErG_KIaBLYiTdKzfPLc2rfCcJfMEIBA7-Db8g-bmhERRqwZDu6K7PrqSadJVHRExE2DdRfUqZKdnGbnDERuCkmaeyvUmf8etsk2Fj-g5t9Hj19s0pk/w480-h640/IMG_3033.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJeF2wPGErLwG66V5Wug4eVfsTsT9R-u8J-bZiOTxQQsDVd_8EeViuigGdGZlToJZrYOm5AWh-61akxMlykrDCH_ldeJ0DsGpHqvk3jGc4qs8ZOlOkzm5gtRuRB2vyPpeWiBg7m1iCSo/s2048/IMG_3034.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJeF2wPGErLwG66V5Wug4eVfsTsT9R-u8J-bZiOTxQQsDVd_8EeViuigGdGZlToJZrYOm5AWh-61akxMlykrDCH_ldeJ0DsGpHqvk3jGc4qs8ZOlOkzm5gtRuRB2vyPpeWiBg7m1iCSo/w480-h640/IMG_3034.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">After a stressful few months, it was such a treat to enjoy a staycation with girlfriends and really kickback and relax. I spied so many places I wanted to go back to (the wine merchant looked amazing!) so I think I'll have to book myself and Ian in to University Arms once more in the spring. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">L. </span></p>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-70759387878928923482020-09-24T03:47:00.003-07:002020-09-24T03:47:40.610-07:00changes<span style="font-family: courier;">Change is in the air. We've experienced the last few days of a truly beautiful Indian Summer and are now heading into cooler autumn. The harvest at home is finally in (a huge sigh of relief all round) and the country is waiting with baited breath news of new restrictions and how our lives will change for the future. </span><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Change is also in the air for me. I found myself redundant at the beginning of the month but as I am not one to wallow I am in the process of setting up my own business. I'll still be heavily involved in the interior design world and am excited to take on my next adventure. If I have any interior designer friends or readers... please do get in touch! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">As it is with everyone, this year has not been how we thought it would end up being however, I feel excited and energised. I guess it's like that new school year feeling you used to get as a child! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycSKk67kBgBZZpsExIXZeCUQS6DzHKTaeHWFOWMOyjV5ok_zmonSmRdApf5wcE8KtViX3xnLwMYyLyBj5vfZMEFSaNDrSgcMuLnOR9kb65r5CVr8wnO1COAEqlzEbT7F3vCnrp1kMAzY/s2048/IMG_2827-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycSKk67kBgBZZpsExIXZeCUQS6DzHKTaeHWFOWMOyjV5ok_zmonSmRdApf5wcE8KtViX3xnLwMYyLyBj5vfZMEFSaNDrSgcMuLnOR9kb65r5CVr8wnO1COAEqlzEbT7F3vCnrp1kMAzY/w480-h640/IMG_2827-2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">L. </span></div>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-30925439906271814242020-08-18T03:47:00.006-07:002020-08-21T05:28:38.384-07:00august in the garden<p><span style="font-family: courier;">I've really got into my stride this year with the garden. Thankfully, Ian and I came back to London after a few weeks away to a garden bursting with life and produce. Despite batteries going in our sprinkler system, our friends had saved the day with regular visits with the watering can. Thank you!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">It's amazing to see how much we've been able to do in pots on a really rather tiny patio area. Most things have been grown from seed (all of the vegetables and cosmos) and just a few plants have been bought. I've learnt from mistakes made last year; the courgette has been given its own large pot to grow in, with plenty of space around it and ventilation and the results seem to be good so far. I'm still getting a lot of male flowers but there are some female ones finally coming through bearing fruit. The tomatoes are much better than last year and I think the recent heatwave is to thank for that. I've read that some people have experienced tough skins with their crops but mine seem to have escaped this and are ripening nicely.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7ete6DiJ2VYHxYfqeRL3LVijza45qM-4dPyThu0izoNOZEOq-vTKtibc8K459xwW9SITQcR5t8N9hgkX_mrZacQeS56zK2fLVeydqtpkZJJ09re0d15vDt8oLcx7H34IZB8UXkKO91c/s2016/IMG_2951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7ete6DiJ2VYHxYfqeRL3LVijza45qM-4dPyThu0izoNOZEOq-vTKtibc8K459xwW9SITQcR5t8N9hgkX_mrZacQeS56zK2fLVeydqtpkZJJ09re0d15vDt8oLcx7H34IZB8UXkKO91c/w600-h800/IMG_2951.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kV4lPZEiM8gHTha1ZSeTkb3iYWS932DOqTqziRnlbGX3vru3HmokrUybm6dUCqzlJWKzQkfyGEbDVDK4HxriFclh5uOGNhYM1mDSw9Or8pt2fEino76ENoOXg-FYZuKiWhNAYCHD9ZY/s1280/CC004194-9FAB-419B-80DF-FED149918452.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kV4lPZEiM8gHTha1ZSeTkb3iYWS932DOqTqziRnlbGX3vru3HmokrUybm6dUCqzlJWKzQkfyGEbDVDK4HxriFclh5uOGNhYM1mDSw9Or8pt2fEino76ENoOXg-FYZuKiWhNAYCHD9ZY/w450-h800/CC004194-9FAB-419B-80DF-FED149918452.JPG" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQ4D-hzJZUQ9xIlmPHS0s97J2-RlFDSrDm_NvAORJF-8U2Ijm4B_0wIZu9CRAYfLxVcPJBSHBdsx1ETPyq3jUJd3pqehkZu1obM0qjuFXjQMO7fSDGa16doD6fIyd4Br-yNKu1Kej6JI/s1920/06B36AF8-2A9F-4DE7-93E3-D5669FFDDE30.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQ4D-hzJZUQ9xIlmPHS0s97J2-RlFDSrDm_NvAORJF-8U2Ijm4B_0wIZu9CRAYfLxVcPJBSHBdsx1ETPyq3jUJd3pqehkZu1obM0qjuFXjQMO7fSDGa16doD6fIyd4Br-yNKu1Kej6JI/w450-h800/06B36AF8-2A9F-4DE7-93E3-D5669FFDDE30.JPG" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQQTBTtsXaXkGcRimQcoQDmt6QJNCg2b1Arc3O_O8s0VWcr83a9vDBOALDNoxh6DWvfMxBTyN6garZj7qRDi8UiPPUeOyBcpg83yo2cJiM2qIQybK0LRqv1XPPJTHGljtQoqgnBePax4/s2016/IMG_2954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQQTBTtsXaXkGcRimQcoQDmt6QJNCg2b1Arc3O_O8s0VWcr83a9vDBOALDNoxh6DWvfMxBTyN6garZj7qRDi8UiPPUeOyBcpg83yo2cJiM2qIQybK0LRqv1XPPJTHGljtQoqgnBePax4/w480-h640/IMG_2954.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DhhM-DmCIf7ax4zjJitOvRkDwNcEFM_Md5f7jCpKXmpYBOhLLtEf5bHulwAvUbrWtwPiuVNEP-vPoFzAHGwlrEnEh-5o3whMbH0e5K11W1HT0uqGQmK0qonfztSC0178vu8SF3gJJuQ/s1280/323EDB0B-049A-47E5-952D-87B60C96E92F.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DhhM-DmCIf7ax4zjJitOvRkDwNcEFM_Md5f7jCpKXmpYBOhLLtEf5bHulwAvUbrWtwPiuVNEP-vPoFzAHGwlrEnEh-5o3whMbH0e5K11W1HT0uqGQmK0qonfztSC0178vu8SF3gJJuQ/s640/323EDB0B-049A-47E5-952D-87B60C96E92F.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;">^^ Everything is bunched up because of the sprinkler system but now it's all back to normal - though I rather liked the jungle effect! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: courier; text-align: left;">My first foray into cucumbers has been exciting. The fruits are spiky and despite a few early bitter fruits, the rest are sweet and tasty. They are very very odd in shape (I'm not sure if that's down to me or growing conditions) but who cares once they're chopped up into a salad! They have grown like billy-oh so i've spent a lot of time with Ian tying them up canes and supporting the heavier branches with twine. Currently I have a bit of a glut so I'm making fresh raita to go with tonight's curry. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: courier; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B2j-tUnGzAqktcCKFEphKHXaM-3PMfsuY9AZ_I6Cs4oLfcW3A87KV_1GE_O_hwGh5FKiHQosggsER_xzZ3HVgwgLh5DBCucX3fgQQx_qj3RxwnckzLheyn0DZKmgzj01g7UHFWa_0-U/s1280/A2C2A1E2-611E-40A1-9D28-85F77C1C9C59.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B2j-tUnGzAqktcCKFEphKHXaM-3PMfsuY9AZ_I6Cs4oLfcW3A87KV_1GE_O_hwGh5FKiHQosggsER_xzZ3HVgwgLh5DBCucX3fgQQx_qj3RxwnckzLheyn0DZKmgzj01g7UHFWa_0-U/w450-h800/A2C2A1E2-611E-40A1-9D28-85F77C1C9C59.JPG" width="450" /></a></div></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">The beans were late in and are producing but we haven't been able to taste test them just yet. I'm hoping in the next few days or so if we get some sunnier weather. Next to the beans is an abundance of basil. Truly, it is a jungle which wafts fragrant air in the evenings, making the patio a very nice place to sit in during the evenings. I find it extraordinary that just two plants grown from seed have been able to produce this much basil. I'm giving it to friends whenever I have the opportunity and will be making pesto later this week.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsl-j9lQYbuo2JxV9FHs6-LPjOImhnE3IpSH4b77LH3FoeALlow8cCtza3gRQ4HKkdoIdvbvdYiqtGLO0A5G3NPHCFoTD4sJjWQ2GMVOkvVytuue3gzrQVvA4HKFwogmFHh52LqkayUos/s1632/IMG_3122.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsl-j9lQYbuo2JxV9FHs6-LPjOImhnE3IpSH4b77LH3FoeALlow8cCtza3gRQ4HKkdoIdvbvdYiqtGLO0A5G3NPHCFoTD4sJjWQ2GMVOkvVytuue3gzrQVvA4HKFwogmFHh52LqkayUos/s640/IMG_3122.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;">^^ Can you spot that bush of basil?! </span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52WoP3mzZA96JvpNnm0qxnmuhNQ2z4s-HbEQp_5nrrQ_9PHtExzDI0i5uf_c1i7Nx-uRyxUNm9yo8On8zdw3JDmZXo-pyX7mczgeggRj7AItBtNPD7CowxVv76ASCbZBTOEVpZSSKzNU/s1632/IMG_3121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52WoP3mzZA96JvpNnm0qxnmuhNQ2z4s-HbEQp_5nrrQ_9PHtExzDI0i5uf_c1i7Nx-uRyxUNm9yo8On8zdw3JDmZXo-pyX7mczgeggRj7AItBtNPD7CowxVv76ASCbZBTOEVpZSSKzNU/s640/IMG_3121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: courier;"><p>A shishito pepper is ready to pick as are a few Redbor kale leaves - the beginnings of a simple stir fry I think! </p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">Finally, the plants are all growing well and my cosmos as just beginning to flower. The packet said mixed cosmos but so far they only seem to be white. Regardless, they are very pretty and are growing quick enough for me to be able to pick them and enjoy them without taking too many away from the bees and butterflies. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJI7o-LMUvF-k67-8bNxqFEvXZoAW1qKsykHXWZVBaZvtmWMMAcF4QeJtVPOQhfrKLBsVE31xPcSBXwBihGGXBi5W0HD0cCGCv7gnF49AKlaKBVkWmh05qGstPFOnLX7-_aEWHJW2svds/s2016/IMG_2949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJI7o-LMUvF-k67-8bNxqFEvXZoAW1qKsykHXWZVBaZvtmWMMAcF4QeJtVPOQhfrKLBsVE31xPcSBXwBihGGXBi5W0HD0cCGCv7gnF49AKlaKBVkWmh05qGstPFOnLX7-_aEWHJW2svds/w600-h800/IMG_2949.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZ9EoEcHxfL7thBfZdy56JeglQiq0_rjlgqyHaLFEmX9CzhW2HbKiU6HTqh2DIQbOc-uC8jGfugGLraqonIDd-2OwN8bbloutzsd6fsTuPWTITQnX6kIZ1kbUCoNxHkYNZj1NS1YLw6U/s2016/IMG_2952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZ9EoEcHxfL7thBfZdy56JeglQiq0_rjlgqyHaLFEmX9CzhW2HbKiU6HTqh2DIQbOc-uC8jGfugGLraqonIDd-2OwN8bbloutzsd6fsTuPWTITQnX6kIZ1kbUCoNxHkYNZj1NS1YLw6U/w600-h800/IMG_2952.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkQbPHRKZ95qqLhNWAJTGQSfPHSGsb2HncAh2r4d1yjTCmwT_Lh3himnfv3VhkYSL2mUTdMWtdZ-ICsUy1cCS-QFnRmCSqmVD60xwpoW94AlJUQ-ZvzbqtEyl_8okETG-YByk-TcZIlA/s2016/IMG_2953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkQbPHRKZ95qqLhNWAJTGQSfPHSGsb2HncAh2r4d1yjTCmwT_Lh3himnfv3VhkYSL2mUTdMWtdZ-ICsUy1cCS-QFnRmCSqmVD60xwpoW94AlJUQ-ZvzbqtEyl_8okETG-YByk-TcZIlA/w600-h800/IMG_2953.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">I'll be sad once the garden goes over when we head into autumn but at least then I'll be able to start planning next year's harvest! My plans are big! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">L. </span></p>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-40299635500745789632020-08-11T03:41:00.006-07:002020-08-11T06:44:16.539-07:00hidcote manor<p><span style="font-family: courier;">I feel somewhat reluctant to share this garden with you. It has been my most favourite place for many years and often one does not feel like sharing one's favourite place in order to protect it from being engulfed by the masses. But, seeing as my readership is very small, I don't think this will have too adverse an effect!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">Hidcote Manor is perched high up in the Cotswolds above Chipping Campden with views out across to Warwickshire in one direction, Oxfordshire in another and back home towards Worcestershire in the other. My first memory of visiting Hidcote was when I was very little. Mum, my brother and I explored the gardens, raced up the grassy, hornbeam-lined avenue and dipped our fingers into the cool water fountain. My brother leapt across the Ha-ha, almost giving my mum and her friend a heart attack as we didn't know if there were spikes in its bottom but thankfully he emerged safe and unharmed. After, we picked raspberries in the next door PYO farm. Since that visit we have gone back every summer; I adore it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">This summer I pre-booked some tickets (as this is the new norm now) and Mum, Ian and I headed over in the searing heat for this year's visit. Though a little wilder than previous years (the gardeners were all furloughed), it is still as magical and beautiful. My interest in gardens has grown tenfold in recent years and now I often wonder whether I missed my vocation as a gardener. Perhaps one day I can give it a go, once I've learnt a few more plant names. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNIWsQIn9TsOYeIVmsy7PKiAk5zpggvVk2eNauaZpnqh_IUO9f25lmLAQHiZB8HBd05Os8yqj1uJUcFeMJYff7iV-Rk4uzfo4ftxrnjG5ASUfO3hgRTJGBEzhAjSYkMniCrDDpwwjLW0/s640/IMG_2914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNIWsQIn9TsOYeIVmsy7PKiAk5zpggvVk2eNauaZpnqh_IUO9f25lmLAQHiZB8HBd05Os8yqj1uJUcFeMJYff7iV-Rk4uzfo4ftxrnjG5ASUfO3hgRTJGBEzhAjSYkMniCrDDpwwjLW0/w600-h800/IMG_2914.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0VFidRR5NyPryJsIsk7ZXwDxRlY9_6zQcZ-H200e2rFy3fngXUU4LuTYIn3Nd5pPeBp1gYAw6Usq1-cvKYeI9lUdTGCkO0VRqjyN6MYhUSCeUVexhputVbh72rVi4GPErKXN6a6jOFI/s640/IMG_2915.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0VFidRR5NyPryJsIsk7ZXwDxRlY9_6zQcZ-H200e2rFy3fngXUU4LuTYIn3Nd5pPeBp1gYAw6Usq1-cvKYeI9lUdTGCkO0VRqjyN6MYhUSCeUVexhputVbh72rVi4GPErKXN6a6jOFI/w600-h800/IMG_2915.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6bCoD06dkN7Pce4mEg74IeYZqfOfFKLGxHeUdchraS0BG30VKl_qIAGYcpuxY0p0L5J4qBPiECwuQqAw_xkFabxo1UCXJDNmiJdtXL-xoekRuocscm1yxsRrl5ahhdO8yDSCDTBgH4g/s640/IMG_2917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6bCoD06dkN7Pce4mEg74IeYZqfOfFKLGxHeUdchraS0BG30VKl_qIAGYcpuxY0p0L5J4qBPiECwuQqAw_xkFabxo1UCXJDNmiJdtXL-xoekRuocscm1yxsRrl5ahhdO8yDSCDTBgH4g/w600-h800/IMG_2917.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimujxwIqzKZjZYHy7xWLUVBJXfBnDn6OFBnYi_2UadTO3Tm34qTKhhSgi-vnQTy2qeoaVmdMMIXpjvk-ATQ0AmN261TGqwu1KmkAB5jrMDdXgtmhWQX07Lh-AQTKOLr0Q6by5lpR2c0IQ/s640/IMG_2919.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimujxwIqzKZjZYHy7xWLUVBJXfBnDn6OFBnYi_2UadTO3Tm34qTKhhSgi-vnQTy2qeoaVmdMMIXpjvk-ATQ0AmN261TGqwu1KmkAB5jrMDdXgtmhWQX07Lh-AQTKOLr0Q6by5lpR2c0IQ/w600-h800/IMG_2919.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHdqSkZfSBBarNf5gomQSWtAP2q6zeKR6s7baKUaKHODktMsujB1lC-FaCgTcBhRCxza5aauyw7pyGxqCuFIFLXxQi4BUZZ5W_Ib7s5pGFZpWPdEeRccl-mPe7fBbCMUQIXee8fAMY4g/s640/IMG_2920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHdqSkZfSBBarNf5gomQSWtAP2q6zeKR6s7baKUaKHODktMsujB1lC-FaCgTcBhRCxza5aauyw7pyGxqCuFIFLXxQi4BUZZ5W_Ib7s5pGFZpWPdEeRccl-mPe7fBbCMUQIXee8fAMY4g/w600-h800/IMG_2920.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;">^^ Beautiful dahlias smiling up at us</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUZ7qMvcGNe7sG4v7ccTRSItg6AC0es6p8b4MlkRmEMAoGOjSztYTK1cofotde52lxjvOO1ppOZFHuF3iln7hM34JYnbx6rk2kUSjQ1QvZ7PObm3krErmZW8NDZLsD3opMvgCnCAcNN8/s640/IMG_2921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUZ7qMvcGNe7sG4v7ccTRSItg6AC0es6p8b4MlkRmEMAoGOjSztYTK1cofotde52lxjvOO1ppOZFHuF3iln7hM34JYnbx6rk2kUSjQ1QvZ7PObm3krErmZW8NDZLsD3opMvgCnCAcNN8/w600-h800/IMG_2921.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Does anyone know what this is? Mum wasn't sure but they were like big clouds of bubblegum in the softest pink. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7L_LbTeogo2pFgQr-MHySRjqawpBn4w43XYLCOxPWg8xBX0fa2Q7rLNenmcUolIZ5vl8F_1CCwCbgCAXRzp3ALbHQCrNBaItEHWVUAqYOWy_52HrE-DzZlHzy5J8i5MMV2NXYahkMog/s640/IMG_2922.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7L_LbTeogo2pFgQr-MHySRjqawpBn4w43XYLCOxPWg8xBX0fa2Q7rLNenmcUolIZ5vl8F_1CCwCbgCAXRzp3ALbHQCrNBaItEHWVUAqYOWy_52HrE-DzZlHzy5J8i5MMV2NXYahkMog/w600-h800/IMG_2922.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-Qt7SMasDYc3RgTGjM_JerdTsoVfbwyjYYhyphenhyphenL7LtPPlYW01lrUrpYQ5GAa5tX6vf-IcF0bg8KweYwUk7mlzHWi3SyC_3Kcy5EeUrQHkh6QBjzOkJ4dP_ZwkT8uEcK6MibC5zw092icc/s640/IMG_2926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-Qt7SMasDYc3RgTGjM_JerdTsoVfbwyjYYhyphenhyphenL7LtPPlYW01lrUrpYQ5GAa5tX6vf-IcF0bg8KweYwUk7mlzHWi3SyC_3Kcy5EeUrQHkh6QBjzOkJ4dP_ZwkT8uEcK6MibC5zw092icc/w600-h800/IMG_2926.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgxSV1fXf31Ih9YpqOE-WSfztkKNpNPsz-bzlfK5_IWJ8kA7HP2SiB7vCTSJHo4m74IEHykwbv3TTmzOyO20TyaH9q0PBv_FktH1ET6-61GnofyjYWEHA_xqNTa6U-vtAiTHiT6IU5ts/s640/IMG_2932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgxSV1fXf31Ih9YpqOE-WSfztkKNpNPsz-bzlfK5_IWJ8kA7HP2SiB7vCTSJHo4m74IEHykwbv3TTmzOyO20TyaH9q0PBv_FktH1ET6-61GnofyjYWEHA_xqNTa6U-vtAiTHiT6IU5ts/w600-h800/IMG_2932.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Sunning ourselves in the heatwave!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03kVsYgL0YsddGOcFPgp3hmaI36q4yeHfXfeOlyY12DVph7bW9EzPkyH4uknlmwOwXwwhNVn63nLepMIpNvKwkxMJ4Yq3sFIk_esr3Gf1z0r87insqGH_JpnnvHxtFHiAXayLbsZ1aYA/s640/IMG_2933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03kVsYgL0YsddGOcFPgp3hmaI36q4yeHfXfeOlyY12DVph7bW9EzPkyH4uknlmwOwXwwhNVn63nLepMIpNvKwkxMJ4Yq3sFIk_esr3Gf1z0r87insqGH_JpnnvHxtFHiAXayLbsZ1aYA/w600-h800/IMG_2933.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclf8aLVNrp4qHnbtGZ8uGuGSIXGdPdHKOF3KBwEJiXRP2hptiKLfpb9LAMWPpKtXIkktYIgBQabuFHTYXba8wMH9ENRwg19-Ml4sCrcFr67qCmVomdNKEQnf1FoeYWWpSixTH-aracW0/s640/IMG_2934.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclf8aLVNrp4qHnbtGZ8uGuGSIXGdPdHKOF3KBwEJiXRP2hptiKLfpb9LAMWPpKtXIkktYIgBQabuFHTYXba8wMH9ENRwg19-Ml4sCrcFr67qCmVomdNKEQnf1FoeYWWpSixTH-aracW0/w600-h800/IMG_2934.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0N11jzosHxMgOjzBT_MpyAxJ7-06-SQOJVDKYK0JNw4CIU6nU5K6uMKOxn4WQeHmW5My479w8PNcqIZojwJ5IQpzzes3lVDu3wNfqlj3G84jNzHZN7VWydsdLRqB0Tr9mRi_tvByyfo/s640/IMG_2935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0N11jzosHxMgOjzBT_MpyAxJ7-06-SQOJVDKYK0JNw4CIU6nU5K6uMKOxn4WQeHmW5My479w8PNcqIZojwJ5IQpzzes3lVDu3wNfqlj3G84jNzHZN7VWydsdLRqB0Tr9mRi_tvByyfo/w600-h800/IMG_2935.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;">^^ These phlox flowers were everywhere in all kinds of colours; lilac, as above, whites and hot pinks. We have some at home called Laura, which is very apt for Mum.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCtLzOSvAlnAe7gSVFwBqDTu0KzNptQ6F8FpgvUgDhLYOtdteC2rYGuYEgLHCEwTNhE1hi7TC_1XW6xMu7zseJuuPIs8fEnXI5IYCgJYFF4IPCv8HtMGhryaZgA1Dp7umg2so6jVwLCQ/s640/IMG_2938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCtLzOSvAlnAe7gSVFwBqDTu0KzNptQ6F8FpgvUgDhLYOtdteC2rYGuYEgLHCEwTNhE1hi7TC_1XW6xMu7zseJuuPIs8fEnXI5IYCgJYFF4IPCv8HtMGhryaZgA1Dp7umg2so6jVwLCQ/w600-h800/IMG_2938.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqnyxIQQj_hwfcqsTa2EBbPd58yA4hG12qNNILlPP-7fnui4leanDgviyJ8CZL4KzX44n6nvxLr1VIa35gPBII034UWiW9YCq2v_saIYImQLxQEeCjN2M4LX21HIvyD_PVIWs5Cud_Eg/s640/IMG_2940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqnyxIQQj_hwfcqsTa2EBbPd58yA4hG12qNNILlPP-7fnui4leanDgviyJ8CZL4KzX44n6nvxLr1VIa35gPBII034UWiW9YCq2v_saIYImQLxQEeCjN2M4LX21HIvyD_PVIWs5Cud_Eg/w640-h480/IMG_2940.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNPZRwYfR-27k3C7ZW-UkmzBx_GzF-eyNFgAX7sGn8dG5azxuQzvXPcDdo86yv02p3iGP8dzjWw-IqJTCpwhyd2Ax9x08c4Z4xInYvar6IRqNBkdP0KIey4iavyUHam04_1ldRhn8UiU/s640/IMG_2942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNPZRwYfR-27k3C7ZW-UkmzBx_GzF-eyNFgAX7sGn8dG5azxuQzvXPcDdo86yv02p3iGP8dzjWw-IqJTCpwhyd2Ax9x08c4Z4xInYvar6IRqNBkdP0KIey4iavyUHam04_1ldRhn8UiU/w600-h800/IMG_2942.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: courier;">^^ This beautiful rambling plant was growing on the facade of the house - is it a clematis? The flowers were huge and trumpet like in both purple and cream. We had never seen it before so if you recognise it, please let me know! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Another successful visit, despite the strange circumstances! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;">L. </span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><p><br /></p>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-61584700862362666972020-08-11T02:43:00.006-07:002020-08-11T02:43:50.887-07:00time in the country<font face="courier">With a potentially long stretch of furlough ahead of me, we decided to head back to my parents for a stint in the countryside. We packed up the car with tomato plants and the lettuces and headed off for some time away from the hot city and crowded parks. Ian is still working so set up camp at home and I spent time cooking and enjoying having more space and lots of garden to play with. We explored new walking routes and even walked the majority of the Malvern Hills and climbed Bredon Hill. We even tried wild swimming in the River Avon on one particularly hot evening. It was all pretty idyllic.</font><div><font face="courier"><br /></font></div><div><font face="courier"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceazoD1e1U40YpyLoPqw_OP3iJ-_j7YBoRhpD0OUEkHob_1wj41Yn4xwgI11p-4lLUDNe5tlI0Plo6hQyEjaWsxu7KkffNHlmJfy5TlGkiGPazcmObeKjtgZ-kNMOhD6WvtU-fpiH3W0/s2016/IMG_2827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceazoD1e1U40YpyLoPqw_OP3iJ-_j7YBoRhpD0OUEkHob_1wj41Yn4xwgI11p-4lLUDNe5tlI0Plo6hQyEjaWsxu7KkffNHlmJfy5TlGkiGPazcmObeKjtgZ-kNMOhD6WvtU-fpiH3W0/w600-h800/IMG_2827.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmY-mk_zVFyhRGSZ-O1vFfjoR-a53gAaerv8JjMdzLoKRU70W6m1M84b7NpsDqNrHlQYPkEpemCemZDZ4PL-lW4ppUm-PtW1aG1YQ2UcwpjL2wDJiDK9gQtdg2hyphenhyphenhPJm1m80883eUXM_A/s1024/516ca598-1bd1-4b2d-a6d9-18e6f15f457c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmY-mk_zVFyhRGSZ-O1vFfjoR-a53gAaerv8JjMdzLoKRU70W6m1M84b7NpsDqNrHlQYPkEpemCemZDZ4PL-lW4ppUm-PtW1aG1YQ2UcwpjL2wDJiDK9gQtdg2hyphenhyphenhPJm1m80883eUXM_A/w600-h800/516ca598-1bd1-4b2d-a6d9-18e6f15f457c.JPG" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhSqhr0eyjXdjEafrXNvyF7KbAxsV490dYB2A0loouduV804sqZYNlVfEeVK9vvxGFy9zvw6Smlj0F1sJr8JIO-9APparMZr5VJmKoOPAybx0gDvbR2iDawgdkyJ2zGms9u1DElIQKB0/s1024/77033a30-ae65-4dc3-816d-72ba69babf0e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhSqhr0eyjXdjEafrXNvyF7KbAxsV490dYB2A0loouduV804sqZYNlVfEeVK9vvxGFy9zvw6Smlj0F1sJr8JIO-9APparMZr5VJmKoOPAybx0gDvbR2iDawgdkyJ2zGms9u1DElIQKB0/s640/77033a30-ae65-4dc3-816d-72ba69babf0e.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRxWKu_0ABlqrOz9na13XSGZHvERBLbGhNLAYHMfROQDy3oN0Onic2OrO5VN0xIIM4yeYX0Eoo-JZNG8CU80pPUglWZeGH5gZo9JP6mVrJghSdrOuvO8rgEKdjNYNi_hXOyJ_XHSWg98/s1024/c38aad6c-5042-4036-b240-cf3a723a9d70.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRxWKu_0ABlqrOz9na13XSGZHvERBLbGhNLAYHMfROQDy3oN0Onic2OrO5VN0xIIM4yeYX0Eoo-JZNG8CU80pPUglWZeGH5gZo9JP6mVrJghSdrOuvO8rgEKdjNYNi_hXOyJ_XHSWg98/s640/c38aad6c-5042-4036-b240-cf3a723a9d70.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpSSR0ja9gjoVkI2G2qs64ix9CB27DXtjxXQFa5p1OQxZzJgpc46AY0BmwHMbzkwop_29DLNSxLTzOnceV4LbuORm3zP_vYVZvSQQxbQrQorlBUZut64h0RRyukUnvwsmjyiCzOKGPxk/s2016/IMG_2837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpSSR0ja9gjoVkI2G2qs64ix9CB27DXtjxXQFa5p1OQxZzJgpc46AY0BmwHMbzkwop_29DLNSxLTzOnceV4LbuORm3zP_vYVZvSQQxbQrQorlBUZut64h0RRyukUnvwsmjyiCzOKGPxk/w600-h800/IMG_2837.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqirPojbFYp15wLW7jnJsuShTCENW1uJfq5YUwOKGqWefIcPOai1NBVpqJhhiSbFQpEn_RWOZ4_twc5IGS1Fek5bnCmyd3P0AQsmVw-tm0jnRpyDyWdDUcfh8e4KYxi4jbrOcNldvNAAU/s1024/d52541ed-6722-4742-b34b-e4f1fb1af642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqirPojbFYp15wLW7jnJsuShTCENW1uJfq5YUwOKGqWefIcPOai1NBVpqJhhiSbFQpEn_RWOZ4_twc5IGS1Fek5bnCmyd3P0AQsmVw-tm0jnRpyDyWdDUcfh8e4KYxi4jbrOcNldvNAAU/w640-h480/d52541ed-6722-4742-b34b-e4f1fb1af642.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> </font><div><font face="courier"><br /></font></div><div><font face="courier">A good thing to have come from this global pandemic has been the confirmation that we want to move out of London in the near-ish future and return to the countryside. I think we've both realised that we're country mice - though London will always hold a very special place in our hearts. </font></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><font face="courier">L. </font></div><div><div><br /></div></div></div>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-9980986850823373192020-06-11T02:37:00.000-07:002020-06-11T02:37:01.294-07:00gardening in june<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And just like that it's June and we're halfway into the year. Now seems like a good point to update you with the garden. After a scorching May with no rain at all, the plants have grown plenty and the vegetable garden is beginning to take shape. Thankfully, we are now experiencing some cooler weather and hopefully a week of rain which will really help both my little garden patch in London and Dad's whole farm at home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Let's start with the tomatoes and cucumbers. These are doing really well, though the cucumbers have fallen victim to snails however, Ian and I managed to overcome this with various repellents including sheep wool pellets which expand when wet and create a rough surface for the snails to slide over and egg shells. Unfortunately this didn't seem to repel them enough so we then built this rather large box around the plants, which has a copper strip around the parameter (which supposedly gives off a static shock when they get near) and we covered it in some leftover mosquito netting. I've now taken the netting off as they were growing so quickly and I didn't want to stunt them. So far, this concoction seems to be working... touch wood! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The tomato have been very happy and are growing very quickly. They are just beginning to produce some flowers so I am hopeful for an abundant crop later in the summer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The cucumber plants are also flowering and are producing embryonic fruit which means they are female. These will need to be pollinated to set fruit so I am hoping all the bees flying around have been doing this! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My next planter is looking a bit like a war zone and this is due to the pesky snails again. I think they enjoy living in the woven willow and despite all my efforts for picking them off and surrounding the plants with defence systems, they still manage to come out of the wood work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In both of these pots (an old fromage fraiche pot and an old milk carton, both complete with copper tap!), I have my runner beans, which were so successful last year. They have taken a very long time to germinate but are finally making a show. The one on the right has been nibbled somewhat but I am confident that now I have the milk carton protecting it, the rest of the plant with push through. I will get rid of the egg shells soon so I don't encourage any vermin (though the shells have all been thoroughly washed). At the front of the beans are some more lettuces which just started germinating this week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Under the netting is some redbor kale that I bought in seed form from Sarah Raven. These are slowly growing and did fall victim to the snails but I am hopeful that they are now safe and sound under their netting. They seem to be slow growers but are surely making progress. The basil is now flourishing and will hopefully fill up that space up to the overflowing thyme next to it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In the plastic pots, from left to right, there are: a sunflower, mixed cosmos, a courgette plant (the other one is in a much larger pot growing on nicely) and a geranium I managed to propagate. I'd like to replace all the plastic pots with terracotta ones soon but when I went to the garden centre last week the selection of pots was very limited. That will be my task throughout the rest of summer, to replace the plastic pots with nicer terracotta ones. Once everything starts to flower, I think think this section will bring a lovely flourish of colour. We have ample amounts of mint so alongside fresh mint tea, we will also be making mojitos!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My ladder was built by Ian two years ago and is a great way to make the most of vertical height. At the moment is is mostly filled with remainder tomato plants which I am hoping to bring home to my parents', whenever that may be. I've also got some sweet peas which need larger pots and caning and my spring onion trough, of which there are both white and purple varieties. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Last of the vegetables are these butterhead lettuces which have taken on a red/purple shade, though I am assured they are green butterheads! These have done amazingly well on my kitchen window sill which benefits from strong sunlight for much of the day. We've already started eating them and I will continue to sow them throughout the season to make the most of them. I'd recommend lettuces to anyone trying to start small, or even easier cut and come again leaves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I would like more flowers in the garden and I am sure I will get there but at the moment I am a little limited with not having a car in London (and me needing to buy more pots and compost!). Ideally I'd like to buy a few large pots and fill them with various flowers. I saw a story on Gardener's World the other week where they visited a woman's garden which was solely made up of pots and it was spectacular! I also joined an online lecture with Aaron Bertelsen, head gardener at Great Dixter, who discussed how to grow vegetables and flowers in pots. Both situations were on small patios so I know it's possible with a bit of planning and dedication. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Anyway, now I am rambling so I will leave it there. How is your garden growing?</span></div>
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elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-67131197075743648952020-06-03T02:34:00.000-07:002020-06-03T02:34:47.316-07:00a walk into town<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We've become quite ambitious with our walking during lockdown. Without a car - an our desire to walk further than our usual loop around the common - we have decided to wear comfortable shoes, slather on the suncream and enjoy a good 4 hour walk most weekends. We've covered Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park and so our eyes were set on something a little different this weekend. We decided to walk into Mayfair, to explore the area before it got busy again. When else would we see empty streets other than on Christmas Day?! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">So, on Sunday morning we had a good breakfast and set off for Green Park. Meandering along the river side, we crossed into Chelsea and drooled over the houses along Cheyne Walk and spied into the back of Chelsea Physic Garden (which coincidentally is firmly on my list of gardens to visit once lockdown is over). The weather couldn't have been more perfect with crystal blue skies humming above our heads and relatively few people along the roads to dodge. The Royal Hospital looked perfectly preened with a few residents ambling around the grounds like something from Georgian Britain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Heading up Pimlico Road we took a quick stop to ogle to antiques and interior shop window displays. I love the Pimlico Road - as someone who works in the interiors world, this street is mecca, lined with all the big names and dreamy window displays. Colefax & Fowler have taken gardening expert, Alexander Hoyle, under their wing this year and he regularly updates the doorway display. The woven baskets overflowing with lupins, foxgloves and rambling roses; a heavenly vision that I would love to recreate in my own patio. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gpknYhEBmymeTFjdAjSs3knLFSms9jnvSUPeWNmVSY7bWD8vW3IoR4I6oderL6IBU2Qt-zdVuesbZRF75e6e9FaV3ulMyBCEkEJ0myREX2N3mr9_IwKYbaDPTHA1SJBiXwANTCqNPyc/s1600/aacc9b49-0d5a-4565-98dd-93663a6541eb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gpknYhEBmymeTFjdAjSs3knLFSms9jnvSUPeWNmVSY7bWD8vW3IoR4I6oderL6IBU2Qt-zdVuesbZRF75e6e9FaV3ulMyBCEkEJ0myREX2N3mr9_IwKYbaDPTHA1SJBiXwANTCqNPyc/s640/aacc9b49-0d5a-4565-98dd-93663a6541eb.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">From here we cut across Belgravia and mused about what its residents do aside from robbing banks to afford the white fronted villas and townhouses. Before we knew it we were rounding the Royal Mews, gave a quick wave to the ponies and took the opportunity to take a snap of Buck Pal whilst the crowds were relatively quiet - there were more people there than I thought there would be but it was still manageable and not too overwhelming. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And one shot looking down The Mall. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQL9iuaV7yMPjB0s1wzRg3gyMErUUdNRutQH-Xegtk8ozxJzz0X4kU6UUQhQygl-SnKv0c_KGyI4OEqImstH-hIGTTRG-bPvsmCBsYidhFm3tLbSZF3W0e27gGv_i1H4TNyVJwTwuATQA/s1600/c72a9ffc-afab-4e83-affa-83818a5419a3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQL9iuaV7yMPjB0s1wzRg3gyMErUUdNRutQH-Xegtk8ozxJzz0X4kU6UUQhQygl-SnKv0c_KGyI4OEqImstH-hIGTTRG-bPvsmCBsYidhFm3tLbSZF3W0e27gGv_i1H4TNyVJwTwuATQA/s640/c72a9ffc-afab-4e83-affa-83818a5419a3.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">By this point I was getting rather peckish and we were in need of a break. We decided that since we had walked all this way, a Tesco sarnie wouldn't cut it so Fortnum it would have to be! We wound our way up Pall Mall and towards Piccadilly, enjoying the empty streets where it was possible to stand in the road for a picture or two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Picking up sausage rolls from F&M we found a spot in the dabbled shade of Green Park which was being visited by a v chic ice cream van. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Restored, it was time to make the journey home and rather than do the exact reverse of our inbound journey we decided to cut across Belgravia, across Eaton Gate and to Sloane Square before walking up the King's Road and hitting Cheyne Walk once again (I just can't get enough of those houses!!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">For anyone looking for something to do on a Sunday morning, I'd really recommend walking into town. Of course the glorious weather helped as whilst I write this, it seems the sun has disappeared, but I reckon even on a cloudy day this would still be a fantastic walk and it feels very special and rare to be able to enjoy London this quiet. </span></div>
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elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-57660279728095445072020-05-18T03:07:00.001-07:002020-05-18T03:07:32.545-07:00food for thought <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I've grown up loving cooking and food. Weekends were spent sitting at the kitchen table happily drawing and painting away whilst mum whipped up a weekend cake, a succulent beef joint or an oozing fruit crumble. We'd join forces with fairy cakes and I remember so well how much I enjoyed teaspooning the batter into cake cases and then watching on triumphantly as they came out the oven golden and fresh, waiting to be decorated with coloured icing and sprinkles. My childhood memories of being in the kitchen are mostly of baking and yet today I would say that <i>cooking</i> is actually my forte and baking less so. Part of me thinks this is because I loathe maths and baking requires an accurate eye and ability to be patient. I much prefer to toss ingredients together and hope for the best than measure out dry and wet ingredients but alas, baking rather requires this dedication. And so cooking is my real love and something I can find hours of my time doing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">At university I discovered my true cooking colours and made great friends in fellow foodies and cooks. A few weeks ago a bunch of us had an evening drinks Zoom party (such is life now that we find ourselves Zooming to catch up) and we all eagerly discussed the foods we are cooking and the challengingly bakes we're setting aside for the weekends and the restaurants we're looking to visit once lockdown is lifted and normality can return. Now I find myself furloughed (or is it "on furlough" or "in furlough"?) I have even more time to dedicate to exploring food and the joy it brings me. I've been going through recipe books, magazines and newspapers and bookmarking all that I want to try. These include a poached chicken with spring greens from Margot Henderson, semolina and orange syrup cake from Yotam Ottolenghi, sausage and fennel stuffed tomoatoes, Korean style lamb chops with sweet potato, rosemary focaccia... the list goes on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I've also enjoyed reading articles and comment pieces about food. <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/orasay-food-delivery-review-marina-oloughlin-orders-in-86q659w0f" target="_blank">Marina O'Loughlin 'critiqued' Orasay</a> a few weekends ago having experienced the Notting Hill restaurant at home in her garden via delivery. Her writing smacked of flavour and I felt a complete sense of excitement as she described sipping on Campari fizzes whilst waiting for the doorbell to ring. I've yet to order from a restaurant during lockdown but this comment piece certainly inspires me to do so. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/duncan-campbell-elaborate-meals-coronavirus" target="_blank">Duncan Campbell</a> also wrote about the joy of food and cooking this week and has seemingly spent hours making fresh pasta and sourdough (I actually draw the line at sourdough, there's something very boring about that to me). I love the idea of spending much of the day crafting a multi-course dinner and long for the moment I too can have friends over; pressing chilled fizz bottles into the hands of friends who can serve up drinks and nibbles whilst other, more kitchen-blessed pals, can assist with the last few foodie items. My god that first dinner party is going to be a riot; it might last two days and I suspect we will all need the day off after festivities are over. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Finally, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/apr/24/summer-fun-will-still-be-out-there-maybe-even-the-odd-restaurant-but-will-your-night-out-kill-you-grace-dent" target="_blank">Grace Dent</a> wrote a nostalgic piece about Pizza Express and how she misses it - not necessarily the sub-standard pizza and dough bites you order, but the inevitable last-minute decision to soak up Friday night's wine with friends. Reading this made me yearn for the time when we can meet up again, chat nonsense and laugh at each others silly stories. I cannot wait for that day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">But whilst we wait for that time to come, I'll continue here baking and cooking my way through Coronavirus, a new recipe a week. There's something very soothing about it and provides a constant stream of photo sharing between myself and my mum. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Friday night pizzas and negronis. This seems to be becoming a regular event!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A VE Day afternoon tea, complete with smoked salmon sandwiches, ham and piccalilli sandwiches, homemade scones and biscuits. Very English!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Perhaps one of my best creations yet - poached chicken with hand-podded broad beans (this took bloody ages!), leeks and a fresh herb salsa. Served simply with new potatoes and a glass of white wine. A real Sunday evening treat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My birthday carrot and pecan cake, pre cream cheese icing. This was a Paul Hollywood recipe and was absolutely delicious! I shall be making this again!</span></div>
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elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-54029316940055834032020-04-24T02:06:00.002-07:002020-04-24T02:06:56.889-07:00garden update <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">With this glorious spring weather we've been experiencing, my little London garden is growing from strength to strength. Every day something else seems to have grown another inch so I thought I'd give you an update. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Let's start with my two vegetable planters. Back in November I filled them with spring bulbs. I actually planted them the day after my wonderful university friend very suddenly died. For some reason, I decided that planting spring bulbs would prove soothing so on a very bleak and sad Saturday, I filled the two planted with crocuses, daffodils and tulips.Every time a new bulb has flowered I've been reminded of Joe and they have brought me so much joy. First came the crocuses in a peppery purple haze, then came elegant and tall daffs and now finally, my sunny yellow tulips are coming into full bloom. I love how they open up each day and show off their creamy stripe before closing up again as the temperature dips over night. Rather clever, I think. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">When the tulips have gone over I will allow the straggly green bits to die down into the soil and I'll give the beds a top up of compost and manure. With any luck, the bulbs will flourish again next year. Once the beds are ready I think I'll be able to transplant some of my seedlings into them. They have been dutifully growing on the sidelines in various pots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I know what you're saying... why on earth have you planted carrots in such a shallow tray?! Well, dear reader, I think mostly because I wasn't concentrating and I was just so pleased to be reusing a Charlie Bingham container. But don't worry, I have plans to transplant them into a much deeper pot when they are bigger and stronger. I watched a similar situation on Gardener's World the other day so I hope I can transplant these guys without disturbing them too much. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The courgettes were only planted the other day so hopefully we'll see some growth soon. I have stacks of tomato plants, of which I will only need two, so once this lockdown is lifted please let me know if you'd like a healthy little tom plant! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This is my second attempt at lettuces as my first batch became very leggy so I have higher hopes for these. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The spring onions were transplanted at the weekend too and seem to have adapted well. I'm hoping they'll now spend a happy summer getting bigger and sweeter. There's a mixture of purple and white ones in here so colourful salads are on the way!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The two cucumber plants have also been moved to bigger pots and this one seems to be the healthier of the two. I realise this looks like someone has been nibbling the right leaf but it's actually just fine, just curling over away from the camera. Realistically I'll only need one plant for the two of us so hopefully I'll have another spare plant needing a new home at the end of lockdown too! Get your orders</span> <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">in now!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The basil is homegrown but admittedly the parsley is not. This was a shop bought plant that I hope to keep alive for a while yet. Just like cut and come again leaves, this seems to have a good life-cycle. The two pots on either side have some sweet pea seeds in them. A few are just poking up their heads now - the sunny weather should encourage them to come out more over the next week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I fear all this beautiful weather in April will mean a wet May and whilst a decent rain shower or two would be helpful, I really hope it doesn't last too long. My birthday is in May and it seems to have rained on every birthday I've ever had but maybe this year will be the exception?! ( I say this every year and yet it continues to rain on the 12th). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Hoping you are all keeping well, healthy and happy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">L. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-88190466543046484122020-04-07T01:21:00.001-07:002020-04-07T01:21:34.290-07:00homemade cards & morning walks<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Somewhat pleasingly, the weeks are galloping by as usual. I was so worried they'd drag but work has been steady and busy meaning my working week flashes by in a blur of emails and calls. I'm trying to bullet point the week with consistent events, or habits, in order to a) remind me what the day is and b) keep the week moving forward. So, on Wednesdays we have a regular coffee and cake break with our friends Tim and Jo via FaceTime, Fridays is Takeaway Friday (and also Champagne Fridays, because why not) and Saturdays are baking days. In between I am doing home workout videos with Ian which are both hilariously fun and horribly hard. Last week I ended up lying on the kitchen floor whimpering after the 45 minute session. Things can only improve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We've also been experimenting with what time to go out for our lockdown walk. Our closest park gets very busy during the day and later in the evening so we've decided to go first thing in the morning instead. This morning we'd hit the road by 7am and it was so much better. The parakeets were out in force, dipping and diving amongst the trees and the only other people out were the very keen runners and those walking dogs. We were back in time for cups of tea and breakfast before starting the workday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">^^ The horse chestnuts near us are just coming into leaf now. Give this another week and the roads should be shaded by a green canopy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">^^ I love this cherry blossom, the flowers look so juicy and delicious to me, especially against the very bright blue sky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This week I've also been getting back into crafting. As a child I would spend hours painting, drawing and making things. But now, as an adult, I find I have very little creative inspiration in me and rarely find myself getting the paints out, despite having a plentiful supply of them at home. However, this week I did and I decided to paint little Easter cards to send to family and friends. I'm starting small but maybe in a few more weeks I'll have graduated to my school age industrial level of painting and making.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I wonder how long this lock-down will last? However long it may be, I have no doubt I have enough things to keep me occupied with for a while yet. So long as I can carry on walking outside each day. So please, don't flout the rules and ruin it for the rest of us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">L. </span>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-91444876672405459992020-03-29T06:57:00.001-07:002020-03-29T06:57:20.577-07:00working from home<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I've completed my first full week of working from home. Of course it's been very different from being in the office each day but I've managed to stay busy and have tried to form a routine. I am luxuriating in the small lie in I'm now able to have because of not having a commute but am still sticking to my rule of logging on at 8.30am. I feel lucky to have a lovely desk set up in our sunny sitting room and whilst it is truly freezing in the mornings (old Victorian house with single glazing does not make for a cosy sitting room!), I am finding by the afternoon it warms up as the sun streams through the shutters. And gosh, am I glad to have sunlight. I can't help but think this situation would be 5000 times worse were it grey and raining outside. So at least the weather gods are on our side. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This week I planted more seeds, including tomato and carrots. Hopefully with the warming sun and some water they will start sprouting soon. My spring onions, cucumber and lettuces are shooting up well and my bulbs are still providing blooms. I've ordered some more seeds from Sarah Raven, which I hope will arrive some time next week but I am sure they will be delayed. These include some spinach and kale but also sunny cosmos which my mum grew so brilliantly last year and who has inspired me to grow my own this year. So all in all, I'm finding solace and comfort in the patio and hope to have plenty of plant friends in the coming months. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: courier new, courier, monospace;">Food wise, we have been very mindful of what we're consuming as I don't want to get into a situation where we don't have any left. Our evening meals haven't changed that much, albeit I am having to be even more creative with recipes. But it is lunchtimes that are proving trickier than first thought. Whilst Ian and I always bring our lunch into work normally, we often top up our options with a few snacks and goodies bought from the local supermarkets near our offices. I tend to cook up batches of lentils or quinoa with roasted veg for my lunches but of course that has had to change due to the national shortage of beans and pulses. This week I've been enjoying German rye bread with hummus and pickled beetroot. Perh</span><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;">aps a little bland but it's kept me full. I think this week, I'm going to have to swap this up for cheese and soup. Worst things have happened. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: courier new, courier, monospace;">I've managed to bake another lemon drizzle cake this weekend, which we look forward to enjoying each afternoon with a cup of tea. And the rule of "when it's gone, it's gone" is certainly gospel right now. I simply don't have the eggs to bake more than one cake a week - or sugar actually! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">^^ This is the lemon drizzle recipe that I used today. I found it on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rosannafalconer/" target="_blank">Rosanna Falconer's Instagram</a> and my cake seems to have come out well! It's also left me with enough butter, eggs and sugar to make another one later this week</span>. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">^^ My tulips from last weekend hanging in there for a few more days. I daren't touch them as I think all the petals would instantly fall! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: courier new, courier, monospace;">This coming week I plan to cook sticky pork with rice and vegetables, spicy red lentil and coconut soup and perhaps omelettes. What are you planning on rustling up? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: courier new, courier, monospace;">L. </span>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-86623270932109669302020-03-22T05:03:00.000-07:002020-03-22T05:03:48.362-07:00hello again<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Hello again. What a time we find ourselves in. I hope you're all staying safe...in your houses. Please don't be an idiot and go out and about unnecessarily, it's just not worth the risk of spreading Covid-19 around. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I thought now was the perfect time to restart the blog again, after all, I have infinite time on my hands now. I am still working 9-5 Monday to Friday with my job (my thoughts are with those who have been made redundant because of this but I hope things will pick up for you again soon), and whilst I am not going anywhere or visiting places and people (other than going to get food and walking a safe distance away from the general public), I thought I'd document how I am coping with Ian in our London flat. We're very lucky to have a nice ground-floor flat with a patio, which I will be throwing more energy into than usual. Plus we have lots of art supplies here and I even have my oboe so who knows, perhaps I will start up on that again (sorry neighbors, in advance!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I am trying to keep things as normal as possible, especially when it comes to cooking. I have despaired, along with the rest of the country, at the selfishness of those stockpiling and leaving the supermarket shelves bare and empty. However, we have found shopping small and local is best. Our corner shops and green grocers are still delivering as are the butchers. Now has never been a better time to support British farmers, as they alongside our NHS, teachers and other key workers, are what will keep this country running. So, today on the menu I am making a <a href="https://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/home/recipes/recipe_directory/b/butternut-squashlentilandchestnutroast.html" target="_blank">butternut squash, green lentil and chestnut bake</a> which I discovered in the brilliant Waitrose magazine the other month. I'll let you know how it goes! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Just because you're cooped up in the house doesn't mean you can't make things nice. Lay the table at meal times, buy flowers or pick them from the garden and do that spring clean you've been meaning to do for months!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Keep washing your hands! And buy some good hand cream- I currently look like a washing woman as my knuckles are red and raw, but I'm hoping that will improve with time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">L. </span>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-46543835740009326482019-08-27T02:06:00.000-07:002019-08-27T02:10:11.936-07:00a kitchen garden<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Perhaps one of the only things I've managed to juggle alongside preparing for our wedding was keeping on top of my fledging kitchen garden. We're lucky to have a small patio at our London flat and the farmer's daughter in me was keen to really give vegetable gardening a go this year. Back in January I invested in two lovely woven wicker vegetable planters and prepared the soil before deciding what I'd like to grow. We're trying to reduce our plastic consumption so alongside signing up to our local milkman (who is a bit hit and miss with deliveries..) I thought growing some of our own vegetables would be a nice and easy way to support the cause. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We've started small this year as there is only so much I can do in our small space so this year we have grown spring onions, cherry tomatoes, courgettes, runner beans, carrots and herbs. My lettuces were all picked out by birds, which is a shame as we eat lettuce like it's going out of style. Everything has been grown from seed, which has proved a little stressful at times as I have been so desperate for them to germinate and it takes a while for some of them to do this - the runner beans took WEEKS for this to happen and I was so worried they wouldn't come through. However, with a lot of love, determination and will power, this is what it looked like in June.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">After lovely sunshine in June and early July, this is what the plants looked like just before we left London for our wedding. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And thankfully, we had friends to stay in the flat whilst we were away so we came back to an abundance of runner bean flowers and the courgettes overflowing. Ian had also set up an elaborate sprinkler system which seems to have saved the day this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Our runner beans are probably the hero of the year. Our courgettes are huge but only seem to produce baby courgettes and tend to rot at the ends very quickly. So I think next year we need to give them a lot more space and perhaps keep them away from a raised tub. I'm not sure they like their little homes. The carrots are coming along nicely, having thinned them out a few weeks ago. I'm looking forward to eating those later on when they're fat and sweet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">My little tomatoes are in desperate need of sun. There's plenty of little green tomatoes on there but we need some sun if I am to have anything red. I've never made green tomato chutney before and in all honesty, I'd rather eat red tomatoes in a salad or puttanesca pasta! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The garden has brought me so much joy and I'm already thinking about how we can do things differently next year and that I should have thought ahead for growing autumn and winter vegetables. But I suppose this is only the first year and surely we'll only go from strength to strength?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">If you're looking for me, you're likely to find me crouched over the planters tidying things up and wistfully hoping everything comes to fruition. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">L. </span>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-69823080390412226472019-08-18T02:37:00.000-07:002019-08-18T02:37:08.708-07:00whitstable<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hello again, it's been a while. It turns out weddings take up a lot of your time and most weekends are spent frantically making decorations, doing admin and writing lists. It doesn't leave a lot of time for doing nice things, like visiting markets or trying out new restaurants, so my apologies for leaving you in the lurch for a little while. It was all worth it though! Four weeks ago yesterday I married my best friend, surrounded by family and friends. It was the best day and we just wish we could do it all again. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now that the wedding and honeymoon whirlwind has left us behind, we've been able to get back to normal - the first time in many months! And yesterday, to celebrate four weeks of marriage, we went to Whitstable to spend the day by the sea. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm not very well acquainted with the east of England having grown up in the west and more towards Wales however, from London we're only a short train journey away from exploring a new area. I'm a water baby and love the sea so after a friend told me about her weekend in Whitstable I bought us a day return ticket. Pulling up just before 10am we made a bee-line for coffee and cakes. The local bakery served us very well with fat bread pudding and apple doughnuts whilst Garage Coffee armed us with the perfect morning fuel. The weather was a little unsettled to begin with so we whiled away the time taking a good walk along the beach, chatting away about moving to the country and perhaps a holiday home by the sea might be a nice idea too! I loved all the beach huts dotting the beach - I'd have loved one as a teenager, I think I would have spent hours painting it and making curtains for the windows and finding knick-knacks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">With the skies clearing and the sun peeping through we stopped off at The Old Neptune for a local beer on the beach. I'm currently watching Poldark and I couldn't help but let my imagination run away with me and imagine what this seaside town was like in the 18th century, with its very busy fishing and oyster business. Anyway, I digress.. On our walk we had spotted where we'd go for lunch and oysters were on the cards. It would have been rude not to when the beaches are covered in discarded oyster shells! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I've only had oysters once before now. This is how it panned out...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The pro ^^</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Not so pro ^^</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Despite appearances, I actually really enjoyed them. But they must be joined by red wine vinegar and shallots and a quick glug of tabasco! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We rewarded ourselves with fresh lobster and chips, which was deliciously sweet and a real treat! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Whitstable is such a pretty spot which I wasn't expecting since you do go past a lot of very industrial areas on the train out from London Victoria. But we were pleasantly surprised and have vowed to return to Whitstable again soon. Perhaps a nice crisp winter's day where a longer walk is on the cards followed by a cosy lunch in a pub. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">L. </span></div>
elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-55183647571355503762019-04-28T06:17:00.005-07:002019-04-28T06:21:37.566-07:00glorious gloria<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Sarah and I finally made it to Gloria, after trying to get a table a month ago! Having learnt from our previous experience, we got to Gloria as soon as our day at work had finished and got our names down for a table. I wouldn't normally do this for a London restaurant, however, we both had been so excited to try it out and see whether the buzz was worth it. With our names down, we had an hour and a half to kill so found out way to the nearest cocktail bar for some pre-dinner drinks. Bone Daddies had our name on it and we made the most of their happy hour whilst munching of freshly grilled patron peppers, doused in big, juicy sea salt flakes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Receiving our text message to say our table at Gloria was ready we hot footed it across the streets of Shoreditch and quickly found ourselves sinking into a corner banquette with views across the restaurant floor. For me, the interiors have been a reason to visit. My company did the interiors for the original restaurant in Paris a few years ago, as well as two other spaces from the Big Mamma Group, so I was keen to see how Gloria would measure up, without the help of MBDS. It's really beautiful, with lovely upholstered seating, marble-topped tables, moody lighting and fresh planting everywhere. Little details like the hand-painted plates and serving platters fool you into thinking you're in Positano and the buzzy, Italian ambience makes for a fantastic evening with friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We ordered drinks and sharing plates for a starter; focaccia and oil; burrata bresaola and fennel salumi. After a slight mix up with our drinks order we were brought some complimentary prosecco (!) and we settled in for our Friday feast. Wedding diet was certainly off the cards for the night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">For our mains we ordered big bowls of steaming pasta. Tartuffo for Sarah- frilly ribbons of pasta bathing in rich truffle sauce with extra truffle shaved on top and Black Mamba for me - a cuttle fish ink spaghetti with candied tomatoes and tender chunks of cuttle fish to mop up the sauce. The portions are hearty, which we loved, as so often you order pasta and you get a measly amount when all you really want is a steamy bowl of the stuff that won't leave you hungry for more. We both agreed that whilst the pasta was delicious (it really was; al dente and interesting flavor wise), we preferred Trullo or Padella. Gloria, on the other hand, has a fantastic ambience that's perfect for celebratory birthdays or just an evening with friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Despite my bulging tummy, we ordered pudding to share. We'd seen portions of lemon meringue pie being delivered to neighboring tables and we knew we needed a bite of the action! The pie is enormous; a huge, billowing pile of soft, whipped Italian meringue, caramelised on the sides and sitting on a crisp biscuit base with a tangy lemon curd blanket. If you come to Gloria, please order this even if you're fit to bursting! Our waiter was charming and brought us complimentary shots of limoncello to finish off our evening. Saluti! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A perfect start to our weekend, I'm so glad we peservered in getting a table. It's worth the trek across to Shoreditch and the wait for your table to be ready. Bring friends, Gloria is perfect for large groups - and don't forget to leave space for the pie!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">L. </span>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-67747681653891708852019-04-12T07:14:00.000-07:002019-04-14T03:13:56.311-07:00april showers<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Oh dear. It's April and the blog has taken yet another back burner. I really enjoy having this little online creative outlet but I often wonder whether it's worth keeping it going. I started it as a way to keep up with writing whilst working at a girls' boarding school and it has grown with me; moving to London and starting work, visiting restaurants, parks and cities with the occasional recipe thrown in for good measure. With work getting busier and my life settling down (I'm getting married in July and I literally spend most weekends at home, pottering around, cleaning, cooking and organising wedmin), I struggle to find interesting content that you (whoever you are!) would like. Often I think when we move out of London and into the countryside my blog with have a new lease of life, working as a place to document my life in the country. But that is a while off yet so I'm going to try my hardest to write more often than every two months! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Since my last entry I have enjoyed a trip to Devon with The American, Mum and Dad. A nearly distant memory now, it was a glorious long weekend right on the coast. We walked the coastline, made the most of the hotel spa, read books in the drawing room and dined in style. We've had a few trips home too, usually with a few wedmin tasks to tick off, and have even found the time to enjoy a few things in London. The Dior exhibition at the V&A was sheer heaven. I left googling the price of Dior dresses but swiftly put that to the back of my mind once I'd seen they average about £1,500. A girl can dream. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The Wine Shop in Balham is now my favourite spot for relaxed drinks having visited twice in the last month; once for a wine tasting with the gang and a second time for a cool bottle of fizz with pals before a spontaneous supper. We have all booked for another wine tasting in May to belatedly celebrate mine and Sam's birthdays. Sarah, Mel and I tried to get to Gloria at the end of March but were told there was a 2 hour wait for a table so we skipped over to Pizza East instead and ordered up a smorgasbord of goodies instead. Sarah and I are trying again at the end of this month. Wish us luck! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Anyway, I thought I'd share some snaps of my recent potterings, including a recent trip to Sotheby's to see the interiors sale (heaven, I now want a bath tub with striped linen shower curtain. Yes, I know, terribly impractical...). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Here's hoping I find the time to do and write about some more interesting things before June! I promise to be better. Promise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">L. </span>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-50974015848313472742019-02-14T03:26:00.003-08:002019-02-14T03:26:54.920-08:00the good egg<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Hello there, it's been a while. I've found myself hibernating a little since Christmas. I survived January, which seemed like the longest month ever, spending my time beavering away at work, enjoying barre and yoga classes and eating all the vegetables I could find. It seems, January was a bit of a detox month following the excesses of Christmas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And now we are half way through February and the ground is getting warmer and the days longer so what better thing to do than start exploring London restaurant's again with Sarah, my long-term food assistant. She needs no persuading when it comes to trying out a new restaurant, we used to do it all the time when we worked together way back in the beginning! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.thegoodegg.co/" target="_blank">The Good Egg</a> is not a new restaurant but one we had both not been to. I saw it on Instagram and sent Sarah a picture saying we needed to go and before we knew it we'd booked a table at the Soho joint (there is another one in Finsbury Park, but that is a bit too far away for this SW London-dweller).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">With it being Friday night we started with cocktails. I went for The Good Egg's spin on the classic negroni and Sarah opted for the bush fizz. We ordered some garlic-butter flat breads and pumpkin hummus to start before digging into the main event: burnt aubergine, labneh and zoug with tahini on a fluffy pitta bread with fiery pickles and slaw; grilled octopus and fennel with preserved lemon yoghurt also served on fluffy pitta with pickles and slaw. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A feast for the eyes! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">She's back! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Evenings like this remind me of London's excitement and whilst I may be constantly looking for that elusive Georgian rectory in the countryside, I know deep down London has my heart for a few more years. Next on my list is Gloria, Lina Stores and Viet Town in Wandsworth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Must stop thinking of food now, I'm dribbling at my desk...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">L. </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-9737147512356046802018-12-28T10:35:00.000-08:002018-12-28T10:35:01.298-08:00the in-between days<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2019!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">L. </span>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-23222161965097691092018-10-21T07:58:00.000-07:002018-10-21T08:01:10.476-07:00a great deal of fun<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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!</span><span style="font-family: "gill sans mt" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-73282392829225704312018-08-31T07:51:00.004-07:002018-09-02T02:16:56.838-07:00wilderness <br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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!). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: center;">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).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Take be back to the fields, why don't you! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">L. </span> </div>
elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-2225825426842890352018-08-13T02:52:00.000-07:002018-08-13T02:52:07.893-07:00the cotswolds or provence?<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">L. </span>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-49777887447998230332018-07-18T02:48:00.001-07:002018-07-18T02:48:20.453-07:00in amongst the confetti<span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;">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”).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">L. </span></div>
<br />elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-4013240251742003472018-07-16T07:15:00.001-07:002018-07-16T07:15:24.681-07:00cherry picking <br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">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!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">L. </span>elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779469927149499238.post-16803873216906359962018-07-10T06:37:00.001-07:002018-07-13T12:01:33.594-07:00old westminster winery<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We
arrived in Westminster to searing heat so naturally our first port of call
after our 4 hour drive was to Old Westminster Winery, located a stone’s throw
away from our home. I had already sussed the place out on Instagram so
knew what to expect – The American on the other hand was blown away by what
quiet Westminster now had to offer, all these years after he left his hometown.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Nestled
amongst the vines we found the tasting rooms and each tried a flight of wine
before settling on a bottle. Our flights each contained one white, three roses
and a red. The white was fruity yet refreshing (our favourite), the roses a
curious take on French roses we are used to (very dark, and almost tasted like
a crisp red) and the red was as expected; oaky and smooth. Seeing as the
weather was reaching 32 degrees we decided a chilled bottle of the white would
best quench our thirst. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We
settled on the comfy sofas outside, perfect for taking in the views and indulged
in a little people watching. Everyone from dating couples to a hen party was
there, enjoying a Saturday afternoon in the sun. We mulled over our plans for
the week ahead which would include another visit with friends later on! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-4Zu0mWA6vqrsma7a9mQLzHszoUQMn-6VDmCazm9xrP5NenfiMeyWw0b7yr6N_MNY8s3QpmmkT_hSBvjko1unUKkOGK8mzNgmV15z4dmnF0f3skjmFsGZIUV3ZVCH2oRHbwZvpqBhs4/s1600/IMG_0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-4Zu0mWA6vqrsma7a9mQLzHszoUQMn-6VDmCazm9xrP5NenfiMeyWw0b7yr6N_MNY8s3QpmmkT_hSBvjko1unUKkOGK8mzNgmV15z4dmnF0f3skjmFsGZIUV3ZVCH2oRHbwZvpqBhs4/s640/IMG_0504.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">With the
temperatures seemingly rising by the second we made a beeline for home but not
before a quick photo shoot amongst the vines – it would have been rude not to!
Apparently they plant roses at the end of each row as a way of telling whether
the vines are healthy or not. The roses will wither and die if the vines are
struggling – news to me so I was pleased to see the roses coping just fine in
the sun. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKAkR2xv3Yu8c4vBlruVa4LEV79v0XvAG7EYQMlyYQnELp3Obw_h_JiAxOmJVovBOoBiirpOUXD9p8gmx4em8myOAAvZjssKVnny1U849C0hxcTWXqK68NX8ZhPnnh3X2hZhJ9dCla4Q/s1600/IMG_0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKAkR2xv3Yu8c4vBlruVa4LEV79v0XvAG7EYQMlyYQnELp3Obw_h_JiAxOmJVovBOoBiirpOUXD9p8gmx4em8myOAAvZjssKVnny1U849C0hxcTWXqK68NX8ZhPnnh3X2hZhJ9dCla4Q/s640/IMG_0509.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Later in
the week we returned with friends, only by now the weather had turned so we
stayed in the barn and enjoyed a long overdue catch-up and the same fruity
white (plus a few more bottles..). Old Westminster Winery, you were one of the
highlights of our trip and we will be making a beeline for you again on our
return! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">L. </span><span style="font-family: "gill sans mt" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />elizabethllaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719146474415017842noreply@blogger.com0