Monday Poem :: The Soldier

Photo courtesy of The Theatre Royal

In honour of Remembrance Day on Wednesday, I have chosen a poem today that for me, sums up the futility of war and the love of one's own country.

This poem is one of my all-time favourites and never fails to bring a tear to my eye each time I read it. Like many of you I'm sure, I will be thinking of our soldiers based in Afghanistan, this Wednesday.

This is for all the brave men and women who have given their lives in conflict since 1914.

The Soldier by Rupert Brooke - read about his life and poetry here

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

x

Afternoon Joy

bring in the logs and the kindling ...


gather cones and sprigs of fresh rosemary from the garden for a sweet-smelling fragrance ...


... add to the fire and watch the flames dancing in mesmerising light


Relax in your favourite chair ...


with a good book and a glass of wine ...


Add an adorable kittie ... and what do you have?


My recipe for a lazy Autumn Saturday afternoon, a welcome treat - what's yours?


xox

Coco Before Chanel

(Image courtesy of Google Images)

Last night I went with a girlfriend to see the film Coco Before Chanel starring Audrey Tatou. It was so gorgeous it took my breath away – in French of course with English subtitles – perfect for the subject in question. Tatou (Amélie) possesses the kind of face that cameras must have been invented for.



(Image courtesy of Google Images)

The film begins in 1893 with Coco and her sister being dumped at an orphanage and quickly ages her to Parisian chanteuse, drawing lascivious glances from rich men and returning them with irresistible indifference. One patron, the race horse millionaire Étienne Balsan, pursues Coco and she exploits this, moving into his mansion estate, hidden from wealthy friends who would disapprove.
As the film ends, in around 1915 Coco is just beginning to leave her mark in an era of male dominance, freeing women from pastry fashions. Coco’s aesthetic is still very much evident in today’s designs and the Chanel bag has become the must-have.

Here is the real Coco, looking absolutely divine, darling!



(Image courtesy of Google Images)

Have a great weekend. Jeanne x

Contemplating : Birds

While I was sitting at my desk earlier, trying to hit a deadline with some legal documentation that I was typing, I heard a loud call. I took off my headphones and listened again, it was the unmistakeable hoot of a pheasant and suddenly there he appeared on the kitchen roof directly opposite. I grabbed the camera, zoomed in and took a photo through the window.

He’s a handsome fellow ...




Thanks to all those who have left get well wishes on my last post – it’s gratifying to know that not only are these ramblings of mine even read in the first place, but that you care as well, and not just on this post but with previous posts too. So a big thank you!

The thing is, as I lay feverish in my bed on Monday morning all I could think of was that I hadn’t posted a Monday Poem – I know we should never apologise for missing posts or not commenting enough but there you are … guilty as charged!

Back to bird matters, I'm aware that for the past week or so I’ve neglected the feathered visitors I get in my garden each morning, due in so small part to the arrival of Jess & Bobbi who in their totally endearing way have taken over my life, and the garden! I’ve always enjoyed enticing birds into this little haven and get regular visits from blue and great tits, blackbirds, finches, thrushes, sparrows, robins and of course wood pigeons and colly birds.




They have food, just, in their feeders (need to stock up with some more super big bags of peanuts from the market) and they have fresh water, however there are now two potential hunters in their midst who have been climbing trees and scaling walls, as cats do. So, how to reconcile the two? It’s difficult and hopefully the garden can accommodate both. I certainly want to keep any visiting birds out of harm’s way.




I’m coveting something like this, maybe incorporating a very high feeding table … a beautiful dovecote we came across when visiting The Lost Gardens of Heligan




I recently bought this great bird feed from Baileys Home and Garden – I love the tin and the illustration! I’ve been scattering it on high ledges that I know the cats haven’t discovered, yet …




I feel that with cats, you either have to keep them in from kittenhood at the very beginning and have them as house cats or, as in my case with adoption, they must be given the freedom they experienced before, unless you want some very unhappy kitties roaming around the house miaowing to get out and scratching the doors down! So there we have it - a dilemma!

Xx

Goodbye to a glorious month

The glorious and colourful days of October may be over as far as the calendar is concerned, but autumn colour and beauty may yet be found in the hedgerows, along well-trodden footpaths and in woodland glades. We had promised ourselves a walk in Thetford Forest today but a combination of truly awful weather this morning and the beginnings of a nasty head cold for me meant we stayed at home instead. So apologies but I'm feeling a little sorry for myself whilst writing this!

November is upon us so swiftly - where does the time go - bringing with it unsettled days of wind and rain and relentless grey. I don't mind misty or even foggy days - they can be hauntingly atmospheric - but grey skies make me feel sad. I start to look ahead to spring long before I should - before experiencing the joys of a snowy mid-winter, with its promises of icy ponds, gorgeous low winter sun and exhilerating winter walks; snuggled up in thick woollies, scarfs and hats.

I hope some bright skies return and dispel the grey and drizzle - wherever you are!

Xx

Jess's First Outing!

After my last somewhat scary post, this is just to let you know that all is well at Cottage Garden and here is a nice fluffy post to end the week!

Jess had her first taste, well in this home anyway, of the outside world this morning and my, did she enjoy it. She spent over an hour exploring her new territory and was very, very pleased with herself! After sussing out the garden she ventured further away and was familiarising herself with the little lane that runs down the side of our property. I kept a discreet distance to reassure her that I was still around and she took one mischevious look back at me as she dived into the bushes. Oh dear. I decided that she was experienced enough to know her limitations so I took a step back and returned to the garden, feeling really quite stressed.

I waited nervously at the garden table, cup of strong tea in hand, for her to reappear. She suddenly scooted up the path, eyes wide like a cartoon character, divebombing me and rubbing herself furiously against my legs miaowing with excitement, her little motor working overtime; re-affirming her friendship with me. It was such a lovely moment and it felt like she was now truly part of our family; this is where she returned to for a nice cuddle and a soothing word; this was home.

After she had calmed down and was feeling just a little sleepy after her exertions, I managed to film this. She is so sweet.

If you want to know where Bobbi was, she was asleep upstairs and missed all the excitement!!

A Woodland Walk in October

My walk in the woods looks and feels very different at this time of year.



Russet red, flaming yellow and burnt orange are the predominant colours on any autumn walk but the greenness and minute detail of this lovely moss caught my eye.




Part of my walk was hindered by fallen or felled logs, not quite sure which...




It felt strange and eerie in the woods today, strange noises and unfamiliar rustling emanated in the otherwise silent space. I could feel the blood pounding in my head. I swung around at yet another branch cracking. Was I alone? I felt very alone ...






The clearing is sparse and open at this time of the year and I could see through the woods into the fields beyond - non-one seemed to be around. Sometimes I see the occasional dog-walker but not today ...






By now I was feeling very uncomfortable - I had the weirdest sensation that I wasn't alone - that I was being watched; from afar, I could hear a heartbeat, I felt hot and then cold. My head was hurting.




I felt into my pocket, yes I had my phone, I had contact with the world, I could get help ... if I needed it ... but could I get a signal? SNAP! I swung around again, half expecting to see ... something?




It was then that I started running - my legs felt stiff and awkward - my breath coming fast and shallow. I tripped and almost stumbled but I could see the edge of the wood ahead - I would soon be free of the tangled branches and smell of decay.




Safety lay ahead.



Did I fool you? HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Jeanne x

Monday Poem :: I Remember, I Remember

My elder sister Chris and me in Kensington Gardens, circa 1963!

It's Half Term for many children this week and it prompted me to think of poems about family and childhood and I came across this one by Thomas Hood which I think captures the memories of a fleeting long-ago childhood perfectly. It's so wonderful and carefree. I like to think there is a still a little bit of the child in all of us. Do you agree?

I remember, I remember,
The House where I was born,
The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at morn;
He never came a wink too soon,
Nor brought too long a day,
But now, I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away!

I remember, I remember,
The roses, red and white,
The violets, and the lily-cups,
Those flowers made of light!
The lilacs where the robin built,
And where my brother set
The laburnum on his birthday, -
The tree is living yet!

I remember, I remember,
Where I was used to swing,
And thought the air must rush as fresh
To swallows on the wing;
My spirit flew in feathers then,
That is so heavy now,
And summer pools could hardly cool
The fever on my brow!

I remember, I remember,
The fir trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky:
It was a childish ignorance,
But now 'tis little joy
To know I'm farther off from heaven
Than when I was a boy.

By Thomas Hood (1799 - 1845)

Xx

Deli Art

I love everything about deli's and these ones we have come across on our travels in Cornwall and Italy are like works of art!


The peeling plaster only adds to the charm ...


This one has to be my favourite ...


Here it is again in sepia - straight out of a 50s Fellini film!


Have a great weekend. Xx

Let's hear it for ... Farmers' Markets

One of the many things I like about living in the countryside is the accessibility to really good food. Not only the many farm shops offering their own home-grown produce, milk and fresh eggs but also the Farmer’s Markets that are springing up everywhere. They are such an antedote to the drone-like experience that is supermarket shopping. Now I know in these cash-strapped times the supermarkets appear to offer good value (and I suppose I have to admit they do) but I get so annoyed when I see tomatoes from Spain, runner beans from Kenya and even worse apples from France! Where are all the local seasonal fruit and veg? That’s why I love going to Farmers’ Markets and if they’re accredited by NAFM then all the better. I prefer to grow my own wherever possible but there are many occasions when I do buy and I would rather hand over my hard-earned money to the farmers rather than Tesco (Waitrose I forgive, just because!)

One such Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday morning at Wyken Vineyards. The market is small but perfectly formed and has everything you need – fruit and veg, bread, cheeses and cold cuts, olives pickles jams and conserves, meat and fish products and flour from a local mill.

We went along on Saturday ... a crisp sunny day; first stop - the wonderful little café for hot chocolate and some home-made cookies – still warm from the oven – delicious.




There was a nice little man extolling the virtues of the good old English apple. He had open a beautifully illustrated book together with bird's feathers, broken eggshells, chestnuts and other items collected from the woods and fields, all lovingly displayed as a nature table. He was chatting to anyone who would listen to his tales, delivered in a nonchalent Suffolk accent, completely natural and unforced. He was happy just to share his love of the countryside. He seemed like a real man of the earth, a country man, he certainly knew a lot about apples and told us he runs an orchard nearby, we will visit him soon. A lovely man.


Just one picture of the market - I felt slightly self-conscious taking photos of people going about their shopping - do other bloggers feel this when taking photos to illustrate your blogs?


Wyken is also home to a wonderful shop called The Leaping Hare (often mentioned in Country Living), beautiful gardens and a thriving vineyard.




The gardens were closed to the public on Saturday but we were able to take just a couple of photos outside the little summer house – the peacocks were feeling just a tad shy!


I will do a post about the gardens another time, perhaps in the spring when it really does look its best.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR FARMER'S MARKETS!

Benefits for Consumers
You can have contact with farmers and find out first hand where their food comes from and how it is produced.

Farmers’ Markets provide a good opportunity to exchange ideas about preparing and cooking fresh ingredients.

You have a much wider variety of products to choose from that do not always reach the supermarkets.

By buying local produce, you are also supporting the countryside you value and enjoy.

Benefits for Farmers
By selling direct to consumers farmers keep most of the profits which helps to keep their businesses viable in a supermarket-led society

By keeping in regular contact with the market, farmers can respond to consumer wishes and demands.

Farmers’ Markets provide an outlet which is particularly important for small scale or new producers.

Find out more about Farmers Markets here and here

Xx