Binky here we Come

The holidays are coming to a close and I want to draw them out for just a bit longer. I love waking each day thinking what shall we do now - stay at home and pooter about or go out for adventures?

My man being of the self-employed variety takes random days here and there so we try to make the most of time when he's off. Early in the week we headed to a place known to us as Binky Hall (because he misheard me when I first told him it's name). I prefer our name as it captures the war time associations of the hall for me. 

It was gifted to the National Trust by Lord Lothian, the last owner, upon his death in 1940. Interestingly he was in Washington at the time trying to convince the Americans to join forces with the Allies. The RAF were also stationed here during the war (there's a fascinating display detailing this that I loved). Last snippet that interested me was that one of my favourite childhood films The Wicked Lady with Margaret Lockwood was filmed here in 1945. Do you remember the days when black and white films were on tv on a Sunday afternoon? My Mr and I loved them, but sadly they don't show them anymore.

Binky is a Jacobean house with fabulous gardens and grounds to explore. We've only visited the gardens with the Bun's, but as they love history as much as us they were really interested to be going here. Other interesting fact is that it was the site of Anne Boleyn's family home, although that manor house was knocked down to build this house.

When I went through my pics I realised that I'd taken mostly doorway shots so if you've ever about in this part of Norfolk you'll have to come and see for yourself what a fabulous house it is.

As it's been a few years since we last went inside there were loads of interesting changes to see. A beautiful handpainted Arts & Crafts ceiling had been uncovered and the kitchens were now open to the public.

The kitchens are always the most fascinating part of a house to me. To see how a house worked behind the scenes and to be able to balance up both sides of the daily life of the house from the grandeur to everyday realties makes it far more real.

 

After we'd finished our snoop around the interior we headed off outside. The Bun's galloped about burning off energy while we had a bit of hand holding strolling. Along the way we found the secondhand bookshop and collected up some good reads. An Agatha Christie for Miss Rosey, some Enid B's for Little Bun, art books for Mr B and some childrens books for me.

Then we stumbled upon the kitchen garden. These are always our perfect spaces, just the way we would like our garden to be - all a bit ramshackle and softened around the edges.

 

Just behind me was a small grassy area under a tree. I imagined that's where I would put my bench and sit and knit in the afternoon sun while Mr dug holes for things. All in all a great day - full of the ones I love best, history, daydreaming, books and tons of fresh air.

Back to reality today as we need to buy school trainers and the food cupboard is bare so off we go hunting and gathering. 

Thank you for your lovely well wishes on my last post. Truly appreciated as always.

Pootling

This weekend promised lots of treasure and goodies to be searched for and brought home. There were markets and fairs being held here and there on Saturday and Sunday. Having not found much treasure down south I was having a bad case of the withdrawals and needed to go hunting. Truth to be told I also wanted a spot of time with just me. I do need a bit of time alone or I become seriously grumpy. I can feel it coming on, rising up like a grumpy old aunt if I don't get a bit of space and then I start being a pain to be with. This ironically gets me time alone as no one wants to be with me if I'm grumpy.

Anyway I've digressed as usual. Saturday morning started sunny and gorgeous. Once we were all fed we went off to do our own thing for a while. The Bun's to play and generally flop about, Mr Bun to attack hedges and nettles with a Mad Max garden cutting thing and I fannied about pulling dead leaves off things for a while.

All clear in my head from my mornings wanderings, it was time to head to the Vintage Mischief market. Mr Bun wanted to come too, but the Bun's didn't so off I went with my purse full of pennies. I thought you might like to see my new red satchel that I took with me. Since May I've had severe back pains that sometimes make me look like I've poo'd myself when I walk in a crumpled up delicate way. I decided having a huge messenger bag slung across me probably wasn't helping my back much so I needed something smaller. I'm just not a handbag kind of person, when I saw this in Hennes I knew it was perfect for me.

I added my Happy Days Shopper to my satchel in the hope that I'd find things to fill it with and luckily I did. For a while now Mr Bun has been after a Little Snoopy pull-a-long dog so I was thrilled to find this fella to keep Alfie Blue company.

There was so much wonderful fabric to choose from that my head spun trying to work out which to pick. I only allowed myself a few pennies to spend, so I had to think about what I really wanted. Now, much later on, I wish I'd not been so strict with myself as there were so many other things I wish I'd brought home with me.

In the end I settled on daisy curtains and three vintage floral sheets. I did buy another piece of fabric, a beautiful grey and yellow barkcloth, but that was covering the table so the Bun's and I will go back to Vintage Mischief to collect that in the week. I think the lure of sticky buns in the cafe and a milkshake might tempt them along. Mind you they do generally like browsing for treasure the same as me so a bun will just make it even better.

I couldn't resist yet another basket, a plastic fruitbowl and a few other odds and sods either. While I was there I bumped into a few people I knew, missed friends who had already been there hunting much earlier than me and had a chat with some lovely ladies. The stall where I spent most of my money had so many more things that I loved and it turned out that Amanda, whose stall it was, reads my blog too so sort of knew me before I knew her.

On my way back to the car I had to go to the bike shop to see if they could mend my poorly bike. Now if I'd not headed off there I would have missed the other vintage market being held in the Quaker Hall opposite.

Not too much there, but I did find this sweet ginger cat bookend.  I bought it for Little Bun as it reminded me of her beloved Molly Cat. Tesco's beckoned next, but I won't delight you with the excitement of that trip.

Once home and food packed away I did a show and tell of all my treasures. Then I settled down for a quick look see through this months Mollie Makes and to decide what sort of making I fancied for the hour before the grown-up drinks came out.

In the end I thought I'd cut up some of my new fabrics to add to the quilt top I made. I'd decided it's not big enough so best sorted before I buy the batting for it really. 

There were so many other wonderful markets to visit further up the coast on Sunday, but I thought I'd better not spend any more pennies. With a Rayburn to mend, another car to buy as my dad's old car went to car heaven last week, a 12th birthday on the horizon and holiday spendies needed I was good and stayed home to throw more paint at our bedroom walls.

Busy do Nothing

This morning we all decided on a plan and that was to make no plans for today. We needed to just go with the flow and do whatever we felt like doing. The best thing about the holidays is chucking out routine when the clock decides every minute of the day. The Bun's wanted a jammies day and I wanted a no routine, no sense of guilt that there were a million things I should be doing rather than what I wanted to be doing kind of a day.

This kind of day meant I slowed up. I took time staring out of the window. Watched the hens race around pooing and eating for a while.

I took pleasure in just looking around. I had to remind myself it was ok to switch off and just amble around in my slobby clothes. There was no work I needed to plan (except for the pile of paperwork that I'd decided I was going to ignore) and no cleaning was going to be done today. I did have to feed everyone mind you as they kept moaning they were hungry.

When the Walrus of Love belted out You are my Everything on the radio, I turned him up loud and we had a whirling disco dancing session. I imagine a lot of families do their best dancing in the kitchen, it's definately where ours seems to happen. I doubt I'm teaching the Bun's any cool moves though, but we all seriously enjoy a twirl and a shimmy.

Dancing over and I went off in search of a crafty book. Among all of my favourite things in our home, these wee fella's are among my most happy making. They sit and prop up a pile of my making stuff books.

I got an urge to start a bit of sewing, but couldn't really settle to anything.

I was more in a wandering around looking mood. I was enjoying looking properly at our home and seeing some of the things that make me happy and so glad that I live here.

Before lunch I had a wander around the garden with the hens. My favourite thing is to hang up washing early on a summers morning with just the hens clucking around me for company. This simple thing always makes me feel so peaceful and good to be alive. This morning I took my time over it. I cuddled Pixie our rabbit and had a good look around. 

Then that sewing urge came over me again. I want to make some more patchy cushions for the market I'll be at next week. I fancy making them as a smaller version of the jolly one we have on our bed.

The Buns sat at one end of the table drawing while I chose fabrics, cut them out and pinned. Then we decided it would be much more fun to watch a film and eat popcorn.

We hadn't seen my last charity shop video buys, so the choice was between Titanic and Death on the Nile. Both boating disasters, but Titanic won the vote with the Bun's. I'd have liked to have seen Peter Ustinov sleuthing again. I'd liked Titanic the one time I saw it when it first came out, but thought it would have been a heap better and less cringey without Leonardo.

The bonus with Titanic was that it's a long film so we grabbed popcorn and choc and snuggled up for a cosy afternoon. 

I feel I've got my head into this time off lark properly now. I had fun playing with the new thingies on Picassa as there were no lessons to be planning tonight. Tommorow night I want to have a good read and catch up with all the blogs I love reading and try to pop over to say hello to the new readers who have left a lovely message here lately. Basically we're going to slow down, enjoy time together and do whatever we feel like.

Halfway Already

When I was making Little Bun's bed the other day, I turned round and was stopped in my tracks by the beauty of our cherry tree. Now I've told you I'm no green fingered Lil so I might be wrong here, but I'm sure the blossom was pink last year. Eldest Bun agrees with me on this one too. Can trees do this and go for a change of image when they want to catch us out?

I think she's a lucky girl having that view out of her window, very dreamy.

It made me go and have a look at Eldest Bun's view from her room. Our garden and the fields beyond. She chose this room so she could keep an eye on the hens and anything else that wandered in. At the moment we have a male and female duck that come to the kitchen window to be fed each morning. EB and I watched from up here tonight as Mr Bun threw them some bedtime corn. Fingers crossed ducklings will be born in our garden.

Now those hens of mine have been allowed back into the tidy garden and they're having a lot of fun. I caught them nestled into deep dug holes having a fabulous dust therapy session before pecking the bugs off each other on Monday afternoon.

Spring is bringing out the cupboard clearing bunny in my nature. I've been finding things and looking at stuff as if it's new as I try and move the clutter from one place to another. The petal edge plate collection is growing.

I found a small greendawn jug I didn't even know I had, so I lined the colours up to admire their sugared almondness.

Then I spicked and spanned the downstairs bathroom, which sounds grand, but really it's a very tiny place where we feed the cat and use the bath to store bagloads of stuff. There are some nice bits though.

Around work I've been busy hooking different bits and bobs and coming up with plans of what I'll be making for my next market at the end of May. Yes time is rushing towards our second Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market. It's all systems go with a long list of things to do to be ticked off by us both this week over lunch.

We have had some great coverage already in the Norfolk magazine. Excitingly Selvedge will be mentioning us in their May edition. We have a really fabulous group of makers signed up for the day. Some new faces and some returning from our first market. I'm really looking forward to this one. If you want to find out more then pop on over to the blog by clicking the link above.

Over Too Soon

Apart from a hideous car boot experience on Sunday morning (something to do with being trapped in a field of escaping cars for an hour in the rain) it's been a sunny, chilled and perfect weekend.

I finally finished off my Granny Blob cushion. I made the back from a piece of felted blanket and blanket stitched all the way around. I had plans to put buttons on the back with proper buttonholes, but after a while with my sewing machine I realised I hadn't a clue how I'd ever done this. I opted for the really quick not bother with it method.

I worked my needle all the way round and finally I had a cushion of colourful blobs. Eldest Bun has her eye on it, but for now it's happy sitting on the Big Kids bed.

Then there were bits of gardening. Now for the record I'm not much of a gardener. I know exactly how I'd like my garden to look, all cottagey with corrugated iron hiding a pile of compost. Homely and real is my thing for a garden. I lack the uuummppphh to ever make this really happen outside so I just dream about swaying hollyhocks, lupins and whatever other names tall flowers have.

Our garden looked seriously unloved. The grass hadn't been cut since last year, weeds, rubbish and broken pots were taking over and then there's the ducks who've moved in and our naughty naughty hens who completely trash the place. But hey ho, I forgive them because their eggs make the most yellow of yellow cake mixes and batters which taste delicious.

My parents came over and joined in with the mending and clearing. The Bun's wheeled the barrow full of mess around and planted seeds of all sorts in their Belfast sink garden. Then we stopped to eat the eclairs I'd made and trust me they tasted so good. No pics as they got eaten quick.

Later on a spot of bike riding, trampolining and Piggy in the Middle before collapsing with a Shandy (beer & lemonade all mixed to make a kiddy beer).

Mr Bun asked me to lock the ladies up in the end, because the more we tidied, the more they wanted to chuck rocks on the lawn and get it back to how they liked it best.

We sat and watched them for a while in our new sunny spot. My dad had mended the bench for us because we're hopelessly impractical at stuff like that. We dragged it up to the top so we can catch the last of the days sun. I might bring my knitting up here tomorrow and chat to the girls and little Molly who's buried right beside.

As we tidied the day away, got stuff ready for Monday, moaned about the weekend being over before we were ready we decided it'd been a good one.

A Bountiful Day

Wow - well I bet a shot of a red bucket filled with crab apples has seriously got your interest. This is where it all started yesterday. I got fed up with the darned things falling on our heads while we ate underneath the crab apple tree, so I pulled some off. There are still masses and I have no desire whatsoever to make jelly, so I'll put the bucket outside and hope someone takes them away.

After that the Bun's and I had a look at the greengages and we were so excited to find that we had got to them before the wasps this year.

The greengage tree was a Mother's day present from Woolies (so a tree of historical significance now too). It moved with us from our old house and seems to like it here too.



I planted it a few days before little Bun was born so they're the same age.

The other tree that is as old and moved with us is her apple tree. We planted that for little Bun when she was born. Eldest Bun has a beautiful Rose. For probably quite obvious reasons.

While we were picking the greengages our neighbour popped over with the smallest sweetest tomatoes. Starting to see chutney developing before our eyes I got the urge to go fruit picking. The nursery we go to is a slice of heaven for us, so a great afternoon is guaranteed. I love ramshackle places with animals running everywhere as do the Bun's. We all have a dream to live somewhere like the Darling Buds of May one day.

Before fruit picking I thought a mystery tour for a picnic venue would be just the thing. Picnic packed and off we went.

Once we drove past one of the many windmills that are dotted around the Norfolk Broads, the Bun's guessed where we were headed.

A ride on the chain ferry to picnic on the other side. We could eat here, but that's not as much fun is it.

While we sat on the embankment munching merrily we saw this fabulous yacht go by. The sails were full of wind so it whipped by at quite a speed. It reminded me of the boat GR-J sailed on the Broads on Sunday (if any of you caught that great rivers programme). My earliest years were spent messing about on the water as my dad had a boatyard on the Broads. My strongest memory is of the eccentric community who lived on houseboats there. I loved visiting them and having squash and cake with them while my parents worked at the yard.

For a moment we thought they might collide.



Picnic eaten and one return journey back to the car on the other side and off we go to find

The Bun's were thrilled that Mr Cottonslippers (their name for this elusive feather footed gent) was around. He dashed off each time I got the camera near him though.

Then we saw this sign and knew we were in for a treat. You never know where you might find them as there are so many places for them to hide.

This hen actually had fifteen chicks around her. I'm sure she must have been chicksitting.



So beautiful this lady.

That's only a few of the hens and chicks we saw as they were also amongst the bushes with us as we ate (picked I meant). Little Bun gave the game away completely as she was covered in purple juice with a big splodge on her cheek.

Look at all the jewels we came home with, plus the tomatoes from earlier. I've never paid to pick blackberries before, but they're so disappointing on our hedges at the moment and these were delicious. There are sloes though and with a spot of gin and a long wait I might try to rustle up something for those winter months ahead.

I really must say a big thankyou to all of you who are following my blog and who leave me such lovely comments. They are truly appreciated and mean that I keep finding loads more fantastic blogs to visit too. Even when I'm slow in getting round to say hello I do get there in the end. One of the newest blogs to me lately Maminka Girl had a great quote which I'll share with you.
'You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it.' (Charles Buxton). Sums up a day really, constantly chasing my tail and trying to squeeze that little bit extra out of it before the sun goes down. See you in a day or two.