Out on a School night

Hello! Sorry for the Radio silence. Maria and I have been busy with house moves and new additions to the family. But hopefully we will be back in this space more frequently sharing with you little moments of inspiration and our continuing adventures in Dorset.

With the sun shining and longer evenings I've been more and more motivated to start focusing on more than just work. So here we are!!

Last Wednesday myself and a friend went to a gig at the Joiners to see Marika Hackman. It was a stunning evening and it was great to feel that little feeling of freedom and rebellion to be out during the week doing our own thing.

I haven't really heard much music from Marika Hackman before my friend suggested we should go, but from the first song I was sold by her effortlessly strong voice and dark folk tale lyrics.

Marika Hackman -


I love going to see live music and being introduced to new artists. Probably the most memorable part of the night was being introduced to the voice of Sophie Jamieson. Her unassuming shy stage presence did not prepare me for the strong melancholy voice that seemed to reach the saddest corners of my brain. You could have heard a pin drop the crowd were completely captured by her voice such a force from such a fragile frame. Her songs were broken by captivating guitar solos echoing the lyrics and transporting the audience to memories of their own love ones, of words unsaid, regrets and experiences too hard to revisit. I can't believe she has not released an album yet!

Sophie Jamieson - Dinah

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend!

 

Gem x

at the Dorset County Show

It was recommended to me that I should go to the Dorset County Show so this I did. I don't know why I've never been as it was just up my street. Even though I have lived in Dorset for 6 years it reminded me that I spend my time in the areas that I have grown to love, but don't really take the time to explore further than the radius of Hengistbury Head to Lulworth.

There was so much to see.....and eat! ....The cheeses.. cakes..pies...sweets!  It is a surprise I didn't roll home. I loved how you could have contact with the animals and talk to the owners and breeders. I had no idea what an assortment of different breeds of sheep and cows you could get. All were stunning in their own little way. I sank my hand into the coat of one sheep and lost it in it's thick fleece. My friend asked me what was my favourite animal there; My answer was initially the piglets, then no the goats, oh and the sheep not forgetting the amazing Bulls.

It was a shame that Maria got stuck in traffic on Saturday and didn't join us as I would have loved to have seen the look on the Little's faces, when they saw the rows of tractors and animals. So that would be my only tip! Come as early as you can to beat the traffic and leave later to avoid it going home. Maria and her family did go on the Sunday and absolutely loved it.  I did really well not coming home with enough animals for a small holding and enough cheese for a cheese cake factory. But I did buy myself a lovely cheese wedge door stop and a sheep skin rug to wiggle my toes in come winter.

This show will definitely become an end of summer tradition and break the fall of having to go back to work.

 Big kids making bees wax candles

 In its life time a bee only produces a teaspoon of honey! 

 Knees

 My dream car!! 

 Didn't bring enough cash for this lovely moon print 

So white and cuddly! 

Stunning - I think these are long horns could be wrong! 

Lets hope the farmer hasn't counted these piggies 

Just like in the film Amelie - I loved putting my hands into these sacks of grain and wheat

Love a goat especially when they look this snuggly 

Could make a great leek and bacon dish with these guys! 

Cheeky Sheep with his cider bucket 

Alpacas are amazing I can't get over their gentle nature and long eyelashes

Loved this inquisitive goat! They have so much personality

This made me laugh! poor uglies! Bet they taste ok! 

We would love to hear from you about your summer finds! 

Gem x

Sinking into the summer holidays

This time last week I was sitting through a school assembly feeling the bubbling anticipation of the summer holidays rumbling through the cross legged students waiting patiently for the call of the bell.

And it has come...... finally, those blissful days were; lists,meetings,targets, millions of questions, demands from little people, big people don't need to be met.

Just the call of the sea, open spaces, days with friends, throwing clay pots, summer picnics, family day trips, camping, holidays, long long summer evenings and still unplanned adventures await!

we stay awake and think of things...the happy things that summer brings Dr Seuss 

Hope your all enjoying this amazing not so British Summer! 

Gem x

...hanging with the boys

My oldest friends and me have all had boys. Honestly-there is not a girl in sight! Between us there are 7 boys under 7-one for every year-and, I know this sounds nauseating, but they all get on famously. I think I must still have some baby hormones floating around in me because lately just watching them play together makes me well up a little. They are just amazing.

A little while ago we took them out to the woods for a play. Boys being boys they found sticks and branches and hacked at things as they walked/ran along. They raced, scooted, fell over and had to change trousers, ate sandwiches with mucky hands, and tried to drag back trees that had fallen in the storms. They found dens built by previous visitors and hid out in them, and collected sticks, pine cones and stones to bring home. At times they felt brave and wondered off the path a little, but always within sight of their mamas. All in all it was a perfect afternoon. 

Man, I love the boys.

Maria x

Happy 2014 - Dreams and Resolutions



Happy New Year! I can't believe we have already said farewell to 2013 and 2014 is already galloping ahead of us. I am already looking forward to what this year has in store, but at the same time anxious and worried for the unknown, it's always a bit unsettling, but I also love the opportunity of a fresh start. I think I am becoming more of a worrier in my old age, and that is something I want to shake off this year. What I have realised last month is how much I have missed blogging, and have let work take over my mind and time. This year I really want to get back into sharing projects, memories and being proactive in being creative (especially during the winter months). I am always going to be snowed under with work, but if I don't spend time on my own ideas, they will never happen. And perhaps one day one of those small ideas could turn into something big. So I am even more eager to start fencing in just a little more time for all the things I love; Writing, reading, pottery, sewing, cooking but most of all being with my family and friends.

So here is my very simple New Years Resolutions;

1. Go to bed much earlier
2. Wake at 6.00 am and write for 40mins ( I've had an idea for a book for about 8 years now)
3. Say no when I want to (I'm rubbish at this)
4. Not to worry about work too much
5. See more friends and family - Dinner parties, walks, holidays
6. Plan and book adventures and weekends with friends & family (spontaneity in your 30's is rare)
7. Be creative - Blogging, sewing, writing, drawing, taking photos
8. Launch an etsy shop to sell Pottery and Prints
9. Go and see more live plays and dances
10. Only watch TV - for a certain programmes, read instead or watch old films
11. Rest more - Meditation / Time out
12. Keep blogging and being inspired!

 

 

 

 

Wishing you all a healthy & happy 2014

come visit us!

Love Gem x



Grateful!

Maria and I longed for summer to come, for those lazy long summer days that are all our own to play with. No work, no marking, no clock....no bell! And it came, and we did all those things we longed to do! Apart from keeping our blog up to date! I really thought we would have more time to blog, but we were both far too busy enjoying the summer sun. This year my favourite past time would have to be swimming in the sea, and that I did a lot! So here is my little blog post a homage to a wonderful summer. I am looking forward to the Autumn and love the fact that the seasons are so defined in England. I have not given up hope that I might just get one more sea swim in, before the waves start crashing in and the trees drop their leaves.

Have a great weekend! 

I promise we'll be posting more often now the nights

are drawing in x

gem