Poppy and Miles in Shanghai

Happiness!  Miles is back in Shanghai, home with Poppy

after spending a month here, working on Cowslip Cottage.

It is still a work in progress,

but will become their home in the future.

I know that Miles enjoyed my food while he was home, 

but I also know that

 he is extremely happy to be eating food cooked by Poppy!

She is a marvellous cook.

Take your eyes off that beef, Boy!

*  *  *

Now that Miles is back in China

the nest is empty again.

I don't have any problem with that,

although 

I know many parents suffer dreadfully

from 'empty nest syndrome'.

All I have ever wanted for my children

is that they should be happy and healthy

so

now they are all happily married

and living their own lives,

I couldn't be happier.

I can indulge myself in all my hobbies and interests.

I have time to read, to sew, dabble with a variety of crafts,

visit the old churches and buildings, which I love so much

and,

I don't have to cook so many meals!

Yippeeeeeeeeeee!

This is what Max and I ate yesterday evening.

I made a large jug of custard, thick and unctuous

and we indulged in

wild plum and windfall apple crumble.

No starter, no main course,

just crumble and custard.

We were happy little piglets!

My worktable has become own again,

it is covered with fabrics

as I play around with making a patchwork quilt for young Merry.

fliss&max

Foraging

Yesterday evening, as I was walking Dobson, I spotted some plums

on the woodland floor.

I looked up and found half a dozen trees

laden with this glorious bounty.

I've been back today and picked a few.

Don't you just love the bloom on them?

These are destined to be made into a plum and apple crumble

one to eat now, the other for the freezer.

(the courgettes are from the vegetable garden)

I took a really long walk yesterday

heading off deep into the countryside.

The field hedgerows are filled with these beauties.

I shall return and pick some another day.

I walked through fields which I haven't visited for about four years,

not since my old dog began to find that particular walk a bit too far

for his old legs.

This time it was my old legs which protested.

I shall be sure to start doing that walk more often,

it was a really good work-out.

I couldn't resist calling in to the little churchyard

at

Dovecot Dell.

It may look a mess, but I was thrilled to see just how much hard work

has been done here.   

Someone has been working hard

to clear the brambles and masses of ivy.

It is a beautiful place with some very fancy stones for such a small churchyard.

Next time I shall take my specs so that I can read the inscriptions

and perhaps my gardening gloves to assist with the clearance.

The fancy stones are interesting, but the ones which touch me most deeply

are these tiny ones.

fliss&max

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