~back in time~

as we walked flynt this morning it seemed we were surrounded by dark clouds and a chill wind had drifted across the forest~not long after we arrived home and made warm drinks it became very dark and poured with rain~

it did not last and now the clear blue sky has returned but the sun no longer really warms

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i realised i forgot to tell you about my bag~my bum bag to be exact

here it is being modelled by yours truly before one of our walks across the forest...

generally i use my corduroy/patchwork shoulder bag but for a few weeks now, because of the pain in my neck, shoulders and back i have found that the bag hanging over my shoulder caused more pain.

i was thinking about it one evening (what does that tell you about my life that i sit thinking about bags?) and suddenly remembered my younger festival days, the days when the price of festival tickets were in double figures and sleeping in a tent was fun (sorry i have been spoilt by the luxurious house on wheels that swampy has built me and i love the huge, comfortable bed in 'pretty pagan')

*i am rambling*

back then i had a nice little patterned fabric bum bag that held my essentials and strapped comfortably around my waist, one would be perfect for me now~funnily enough i encountered another bb lover while at vanfest and i think the image must have stayed in my mind for it to pop up in such a random fashion.
leslie and her little dog louis camped near us for the week in her camper she had been living in for some time (and what a cosy little house it was and i have to say she had the most lovely dreadlocks~most envious)

*am i rambling again? i think i am...*

anyway a quick search online i found and ordered the bb and it arrived two days later.
of course it meant i had to move things from my big bag into the bb~this i did earlier today...

*the little blue 'stanley' purse actully holds my migraine tablets, some anadin extra and a solitary diclofenac sodium
*burts bee's lip balm...actually make that three burts bee's (i am a bit of a lip balm addict)~the original with peppermint oil, honey and a 'replenishing' one with pomegranate oil i discovered while in new york and could not pass it by!
*a tin of trillium organics lavender and geranium shea butter~another find from new york
*a pack of cherry honey ricola 'swiss herb drops'
*tisserand 'de-stress'oil~previously seen on my bedside table
*my blackberry

~unseen items are a solitary dog poop bag, my purse in the shape of an owl and a small bottle of majmua attar oil (thank you luna~if you read this!)

i have to say i feel quite liberated on my walks now with my hands free~although i have to say my hands have been in pockets this past few days and i forget my gloves.

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i also forgot to show you some tins i bought for the kitchen...

we are finally, almost, finished with getting our little house up together and how we like it. its taken over two years and we have only one floor to lay and two rooms to paint.
i have been trying to introduce some splashes of color and so when i saw these tins i thought they would be perfect for our kitchen~the top one holds my tea lights, the middle one my finn crisp (they are very moreish and perfect for snacking on)the large one will be for the 'naughty' biscuits~such as shortcake and jaffa cakes.

i also put out my samhuinn decorations...

...oh and rose hip syrup is the plan for tomorrow~there are so many where we walk that i am sure the birds will not mind me taking a bagful to make this lovely winter syrup.

hope you are all having a lovely weekend

~a week~

its been a lovely week here in the forest~chilly with lots of blue sky and sunshine and heavy frosts. just perfect for me.

too cold to go out in my pyjamas i took this through the window!

i have been busy in the evenings, working to finish the scarf i am crocheting from the shadow tweed
all being well i shall put the finishing touches to it today.

i have also been slowly putting things out to celebrate samhuinn

these were given to us from my mum who bought them in the village~today i will put out the rest of my collection.

we put up some shelves this week~the box has a twin that sits next to it, they both hold my crochet projects.
the other shelf has evolved into cody's shelf~his kong and bear i brought him from new york and the box that holds his collar and other little items. the fluffy bear was a gift my sister had bought him while in california a few days before we lost him.

our room does not look as bare as the photo hints at.
the shelves sit in a alcove to one side of the fireplace and the wall is a chalky grey while the fireplace wall is a warm sage green.
i have lots of plants and blankets and candles which makes the room feel very cosy~i wish i could convey this in photos...i guess there is a project for me!

to celebrate the ever increasing cold and the long dark nights i have been burning candles that bring the scent of cinnamon, cloves and oranges into the house in green and blue glass holders to they send out lovely jewel like lights...

...and yule came early with the sampling of this swedish festive drink

it tasted of burdock and was very enjoyable~so i shall be buying a few more to put away in my yule cupboard

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i have been going for walks twice a day with swampy and flynt.
i am in a bit of a catch 22 situation~my m.e and fibromyalgia gives me constant exhaustion and pain but my diabetes and high cholesterol means i need to have some exercise.
so off i go each day~luckily we live in a truly beautiful place and the forest is on our doorstep.
its easy to ignore aches and pains when there is so much to see and appreciate

the pigs are still out for pannage and we met this lovely one when heading out for one of our walks~busy eating all the acorns under the oak. on our way back he/she had moved on in search of more food or to find its bed for the night among drifts of leaves and bracken.



sorry, fuzzy again as i forgot the camera~i always see exciting things when i forget it~