Lazy Weekend Catch Up

Recently I had a wonderful art day with my son's girlfriend.  She suggested we start by both creating a painting, setting a 5 minute timer, then swapping paintings, adding something to the one in front of you, 5 minute timer, then swap again.  We carried on for some time until the paper was filled - right down to the wallpaper in the little cottage and the clouds on the salt lake forest cottage - see how this sparks the imagination?!! who knew you could have a salt lake by a forest... 

We also played around with sewing and I made a little blackbird.

My dried wreath is now finished. The hydrangea ran out, but a good friend cut some heads from her garden for me to finish the job.

Mollie found it resting on the bed and thought it was the perfect spot for a nap!..

I will add some greenery at Christmas time.

Here's a brief video of my windswept soggy allotment.  My Autumn raspberry canes arrived by post, but in poor condition - they weren't kidding when they said 'dry root' as they were bone dry, were in transit with no moisture for 5 days, but I am hopeful they will recover and sprout green in the Spring.

Plot 60 (link to 40 second video)

With UK temperatures plummeting and the first frosts arriving I have only been swimming once a week but have been on my rowing machine at home daily.  We have had walks out in the woods around here and I have had day trips to Brighton several times. 

This is my favourite shop to browse lately, they have an amazing hothouse display worthy of Kew Gardens!

I liked the map window art here

Gunns flower shop is in The Lanes 

This week it's hubby's birthday and official retirement.  Time to start planning some adventures!

Autumn Walk

 We took a 4 1/2 mile circular walk with friends from the allotments today.  The weather is unusual for November in the UK with temperatures reaching as warm as 58f in sunny Surrey.  Heavy rain yesterday meant the ground was very muddy.

We started at Outwood Windmill, which is just up the road from our home.

Past this pretty little house is the entrance to the woods.

The pathways were covered in beautiful golden leaves and the ditch alongside was running fresh rainwater, the sound of the running water made it magical.

The fields were full of grazing sheep.

It was Armistice Day today.  As we approached the village of Horne, we saw people coming from the church.  We had missed the service but were invited in to see the beautiful display of crocheted poppies above the aisle and a photo display of the local men who had lost their lives in the first World War... one soldier was called Christmas Day! He died with his brother in battle.

Outside, amongst the gravestones. there were ceramic poppies over the name of each soldier who gave his life, it made quite an impact.

We noticed the poppies held rainwater.

Our circular walk took us back to The Bell at Outwood for lunch.  I had potato and leak soup, hubby had sausages.

Surprising to see so many flowers mixed in with Autumn colours.

The Bell (linky)

We have been doing these walks monthly all year, this is one of my favourites.   

Back at the allotments my plot is full of horse manure and bedded down for Winter.

I'm waiting for delivery of some raspberry canes for planting and might dig some leeks up and replicate that lovely soup I had at the pub....