Summer Holiday - Day 17

We were exhausted from the trip on Day 16, but having looked at the weather forecast.....this is the only good day this week to take a trip when we'll be spending most of the day outside!

We took the train to London, couple of stops on the underground to Regents Park Tube, a short walk across Regents Park to London Zoo!

We were going to try and make lots of the put on chats, but after the first one, we decided that you could read the information and see much more if you gave those a miss.

We had to do the favourites.....you know about Little Lady's love of all things 'Melman' (from the film Madagascar), so we start with that.....

These fellas are a little more elusive, but if you look hard at the left hand edge of the otter slide, you will (hopefully!) see four little otters making their way up!

This chap was hilarious.....I think we were the entertainment in his eyes!

This gorgeous boy had just settled down for his afternoon nap.... 

Both my girls love these amazing creatures.....

Little Lady loved the colour on this...and she took the photo.....

This shell was big enough for her to get in to.....so she photographed this too! 

We aren't great spider lovers, The Hubs has to get rid of any round here.  He did take Little Lady through the open room of spiders....Mummy on the other hand  most certainly DID NOT go....the thought of one dropping off the ceiling into my hair....blergh!  No thanks!

But we got this mug shot for you to enjoy...think it needs a Ladyshave on those legs!

These were more to my liking, I can't tell you how small they are, but such a lovely vibrant colour....

We saw so much more, but I don't want to weigh you down with endless photos, just a small sample of our day.

Of course no day would be complete without a souvenir from the gift shop and a family mugshot.  So please let me introduce the newest addition to our family (having a whale (did you see what I did there?!) of a time) on the train home with her new family.....Rosie, the pink monkey!

I'll be back soon with some more summer doings very shortly, in the meantime, take care.

Love

Nora

xxxx

Sunset

Just had to share this lovely sunset..............

When I took the photos, I wasn't sure if you'd get the shafts of light, but you can make them out.

They reminded me of Clarice Cliff.

Over a few minutes, it gradually faded to this and then more yello, so I feel I caught it at it's best.

Gorgeous, isn't it?

I've had Tooth Fairy duties, Teenage Daughters Prom and a lot of making going on....so I will be back with some updates soon.

'Til then, byeee

Love

Nora

xxxx

My Deer Friend

A-G-E-S ago our fence was blown down in the wind and we didn't replace it because we realised we were getting visitors from the woodland behind.

Today the cat was staring at something so I grabbed the camera to see what he was spying on and look what I came face to face with..............

Isn't it wonderful?

I am the most fortunate person alive right now to have these beautiful creatures visiting my garden every day.

Hope you enjoyed it and wasn't as surprised as my Deer Friend and me!

See you soon,
Love,
Nora
xxxx

P.S.  We are not responsible for the rubbish!!

Going back to my Village for Knit & Natter

The first Monday in every month heralds Knit & Natter in the village where I grew up and my Mum still lives.

 

Tiddly Toes absolutely LOVES going and she often packs her case to stay the night with Nana!

 

We usually go the dual carriage way route, a bit dull, but quick.  Recently though, there has been some road works in Dorking,...so, not so quick!

 

I decided, as it was Bluebell time of year, to go the back roads across Leith Hill and through Coldharbour and this was the view as we rounded a corner on the back road to my home village.............

 

 

 

A stunning view right the way across to Ranmore.

 

A bit further along the road and we start to dip down into the woods, it is very damp down here as in the basin is a little tributary of the River Mole.

 

 

And right next to the river was this opening in the woods filled with Bluebells.....a gorgeous purple-blue carpet...........

 

The road then gets very windy and thin, full concentration required, so no photos...UNTIL....I get to my village!

 

The eagle-eyed might recognise this from last years Olympic Cycling Road Race as it went right through here.  But to me this is the thatched bus stop on The Green where I used to sit and wait for my school bus.......

 

See the Dovecote next to it...thatched too!  Idyllic.

 

We had a lovely time at Knit & Natter, I spent 2 hours of full on crochet time on my Granny Squares (with a little break for a cup of tea and Mums homemade Low Fat Muffins....mmmmm!)

 

And, yes, Tiddly Toes stayed the night....much to her Daddy's surprise when he got home and she wasn't there!

 

I feel the need for more Bluebells, so I may go and gather some photos for you....

 

Until the next time.....toodle-pip!

 

Nora

xxx

R & R

Hasn't the weather been just awful?

We did get a few rays of hope sunshine last weekend, but since then....it's not been great.

Today was dry but so windy....I managed to get some washing dry, but sit out? I don't think so! 

I have to say that I'm not a great outdoorsy person, I love to be wrapped up inside my home, even the garden is an adventure!

But I am beginning to feel like a caged animal....a little stir crazy from months of self-imposed enclosure to avoid, gales & rain.

I wondered if there was a solution that could up my daylight exposure and at least MAKE it seem like I was outdoors when I was in!

And there it was....staring me in the face.....the conservatory!

Ever since Tiddly Toes arrived and we had to turn our office back into a nursery, our conservatory became our office.  Then with the ever growing piles of toys it also doubled up as a playroom (with little room to actually play!)

Could it manage a third job too!?

YES!  Of course!

With FlyLady in mind, I set to..... clearing toys, tidying, throwing out 'stuff' and streamlining the necessities.....I won't show you a before shot - far too embarrassing!

But I managed to clear a spot next to the toys (which still need a bit more sorting) for a comfy chair......for sitting and watching the playing (yes there's room for that too!), for sitting and watching the wind blowing in the trees, for sitting and watching the deer in the garden, for sitting and reading a book or magazine..........

Just perfect for a spot of Rest & Relaxation *sigh*.

So to a quick review of the garden, deer and reading matter.

I have three BeAuTiFuL roses in my garden at the moment, this is a climber rambling its way up the trellis between us and next door....

This is a lovely stripey, highly scented and incredibly prickly bush rose..............

.....and this is my personal favourite....I've had it for about 17 years, it has moved house with us and is called Alexander......(my son who will be 21 in October!)

Want to see the deer?

She is VERY shy, she's new.  An older deer used to come into the garden but she became very dishevelled, sadly we haven't seen her for months now.  We have seen her baby....and now this new one..........

Sorry about the flash bouncing off the glass and the blue swing through her tummy....but unfortunately when you have to be quick and the subject isn't keen on posing...this is as good as it gets!  But I'm sure you get the idea.  We are privileged and thrilled to have her come to our garden to mow the lawn for us!

And as for reading...... I do love crafty mags.  I've gone off them a bit lately as they're not very inspiring.....nothing new that you either couldn't think of yourself OR find for free on the Internet.

SO..... I found myself buying a house-y magazine the other day!

But, oh!  What a mag!  Beautiful relaxing, calm homes and sprinkles of vintage and handmade.

It was the July edition of Country Homes and Interiors which is all very seaside-y.  Look.....

Who wouldn't want to stretch out on that welcoming shore-side day bed with a glass of something chilled........?

I've always loved verandas (something about being outside but inside).....look at this stunner.................

Pale, whitewashed, boutique style bedrooms.....oh, for a relaxing night here...............

and for the little ones a light, airy little room with wonderful touches of days gone by in the quilt and bunting....gorgeous little cushions on the bed........ and the bird flying overhead......

(and I've been searching book storage...if you go onto my Pinterest board for Craft, you'll see some of them...although I did find another today which I must add from Littleflowerbaby, amazingly made from a radiator clothes airer! Take a look!)

It hasn't inspired me to make any more projects than was already on my To-Do List (thankfully!), but it was dreamy to sink into the pages whilst sitting in a perfect Sitting Spot that I hadn't realised we had. What a treat.

I think I should start looking at other spaces in a whole new way and see what transpires.....what gems have you got hiding in an unexpected place?  Let me know if you find something.... 'new'.....

Nora xx