easter time

I picked these spring flowers yesterday, I thought it was time I dragged myself into a little bit of Easter decorating. I also ate the chocolates from inside my Easter egg, but don't tell anyone......

This year it's some blooms from around the garden. I love the red Tulips and the pink blossom. A green vintage doily found out on jolly jaunt around Bristol this week where I almost walked my poor little feet off..... some painted wooden eggs, a little wooden bunny and the little brooch made from this months Mollie Makes free gift.

What do you think of the chalk paint?!......it's very white isn't it....... I did promise a little chalk paint post. But I'm not sure how much there is so much to say. This is what the table looked like before. I chose chalk paint because the original wood had a layer of varnish. Chalk paint is supposed to be able to be applied to anything, without any preparation to the surface.

I think the chalk paint went on well to the table. Probably helped by the mainly smooth surface. It's quite forgiving, covering old chipped paint and damage quite easily. It's quite thick and you need to paint fast. I painted in sections, one plank at a time, and you need to finish with the brush strokes going the same way. It dries fast and does feel very chalky!

To get a smooth finish I gave the table a very light sand, painted a second coat and then finished by polishing with a soft wax. The wax gives the chalk paint a sheen and makes it feel more like normal paint. You could distress the paint with more sanding at this point, but I think this will happen naturally. I don't think it's that durable, and I don't think I would be in a hurry to use it again. It's probably great for picture frames, smaller, harder to paint objects.....and definitely not for very porous, large, fiddly objects, like benches!

I ran out of paint after one coat for the bench. What I need to do is give it a good sand down and just use some normal paint. But you know, life moves on and sometimes these things come back around another day.....

Other things call, like a sunny moment up on the common. This was quite heavenly. I dropped down into the grass, just to take it all in. Sitting down amongst the wild flowers.

It's so lovely up here. I've been carrying little dog around, but now she walks a little bit here and there. Her leg is mending.

What a sweet heart. We need to come up here. It kind of puts everything into perspective.

......when everything's a bit difficult back at the ranch.....Wild orchids and Cowslips, natures bounty.

More sunny spring days please...... 

I like.....

I like kind,

I like honest, funny, real, genuine.

I like inspiration!

I like brave, 

I like warmth,

I like welcome.

I like creative, artistic, modern,

I like pre-loved,

I like home, journey, travel,

I like endeavor

and I like care.

I like daring, safely......!

I like heart and I like soul,

I like moving and stretching.

I like gentle and strong,

I like reading and seeking,

I like watching and growing,

being and seeing.

I like colour,

I like encourage,

I like motivate.

I like friend,

I like lover.

I like smiles,

I like opening.

I like forgiving,

I like green,

I like trees, sunshine and stars.

I like creative folks,

blue sky and flowers,

I like handmade, homespun and thrift.

I like mother earth wearing it's big beautiful breathing flowery dress on the common!

Welcome July!

is there anywhere you go daily and watch things grow?

have a good week,

Heather
X

poppylicious

aren't the poppies gorgeous at the moment? I think this is a poppy, it's certainly from the poppy family and was definitely worth jumping out the car for! divine!

I saw these on my drive to the common, where I walk my little dog.

Rodborough common

I go here everyday at the moment and I'm really loving it. It's my escape. Time to breathe out and think, or actually just to be walking, feeling expansive and taking in the view. I love a view.....

each day I am greeted by a different personality, some days it's bright and breezy, and some days dark and moody. But it's always good....

The view of the town below and the rolling countryside is lovely. I'm a surburn girl from the surburbs of London. I grew up in the land of three bedroom semis, parks and shopping centres. I do love a nice park as well! It was very flat and I couldn't have imagined living anywhere else.

I found my way here 10 years ago after visiting a friend who I had met while travelling around india. When you are up on the common it feels as though you could be in so many different places or countries. I think that's one of the reasons I like it so much. The town is colourful and vibey, with lots of creative happenings.....

I don't think i'd ever worn a pair of wellies until I moved here! Not as a grown up anyway......

There's a lot of wet welly wearing here at the moment.

I love this patch of pink flowers, I seem to notice it every day. I've just discovered it's wild thyme, it really does smell of thyme. So now i have a new life skill, I can identify wild thyme! I'll probably leave it to the cows though.....

we have our favoutite places though. I love this thicket of trees leading down to a bench where you can take in the view of the river severn winding its way up through Gloucestershire, with a wave over to the Forest of Dean and Wales beyond.   

check out this heart tree. Isn't it fantastic? It's an impossible tree. Empty and leaning, but still standing and its huge base is shaped like a heart. It feels special this tree.... Like a special druid place where offerings of  flowers should be left.

I,m still trying to identify which kind of tree it is by looking at the leaves. I think it could be some kind of elm, but i'm not sure.

the meadow grasses are growing, and i'm enjoying watching the wild flowers emerging. It feels as though the earth is wearing a big, beautiful, breathing flowery dress. 

nature wears it best don't you think.......

many days now through the summer we meet the cows, as they are allowed to roam here through the summer months. most times we just wander by, sometimes they act a bit erratic and we dart by quite quickly. I know not to get between the young cows and their mother!

they are so beautiful....just happy letting the world go by.

so easy.

I love this dramatic picture taken one evening. I've just started going up there in the evening as well. The sun is different. I love the light glimmering over the river in the distance. The landscape is different. The river feels timeless and pre-historic. I feel lost in time...I can imagine long boats and vikings sailing up the river to the different settlements along the way....it's amazing.

back home we go, where soft blankets await our return. I hope you are managing to enjoy the great out-doors too. 

Heather