News from Rag Rug Cottage

Berry harvest time is upon us again!

2017-06-25T12:45:00.000+01:00

I do like our garden – I doubt it would ever make it into any self-respecting country garden magazine, but it is a lovely wilderness of berry bushes and fruit trees that provide us with delicious, organic fruit from June all the way through to the winter (one of our apple trees keeps its fruit on until well into December!)

The raspberries are already well on their way. We eat them fresh off the bushes by the handfuls and enjoy them with yogurt, ice-cream or cream.

A family of swans

2017-05-21T23:59:00.000+01:00

We just saw a swan family on our walk, but didn't have a camera with us. It reminded me, however, of an encounter we had two years ago in the Lake District. We were staying at Low Wray Campsite and came 'up close and personal' to this swan family.

It was a similar time of year around the end of May in the half-term holidays. Early in the day, in the light of the morning sun - it was magical! They didn't seem to mind at all that I was constantly pointing my camera at them and clicking away merrily.

Such graceful creatures! Have a look - hope you enjoy!
Read more »

Spring Birthday Season

2017-03-07T14:26:00.000+00:00

It’s our spring Birthday season again, with three of us having our Birthdays in close succession, and a few more Birthdays among our extended family and friends. We do like Birthdays! And baking cakes! And eating them, of course… I admit that we regularly suspend any healthy eating attempts by starting each Birthday with a breakfast that basically consists of a massive slice of Birthday cake (orange juice and/or hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows are optional extras!)

Winterland

2017-01-08T23:33:00.000+00:00

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you had a lovely holiday season and also saw some winter weather.

While we didn’t get any snow, we were lucky enough to have some frosty mornings, on which the world around us was

transformed into a magically glittering wonderland.

Happy Christmas!

2016-12-24T00:00:00.001+00:00

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you;

he is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:10-11

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas!

Deck the Halls...

2016-12-15T18:33:00.000+00:00

Out of all the festive times throughout the year, Christmas is definitely our favourite. We love the atmosphere, the candle light, the decorations, the aroma of freshly baked biscuits and the scents of pine needles, frankincense and gingerbread.

The Shoe Box Aquarium

2016-11-25T21:43:00.000+00:00

The first time I came across a shoe box aquarium was many years ago, when I made one myself with the help of my nursery school teacher. I still remember how proud I was in my 5-year-old self to have made something that looked so ‘real’.

Although the piece in question is no longer in existence, it stuck in my memory ever since, and when our children were little, we made our own – see photograph. This one also dates back quite some time now (9 or 10 years) and is one of the many art & craft treasures we keep in our attic.

The shoe box aquarium is an exciting activity which can be completed over a few days. It involves a variety of skills and is a great way of introducing slightly bigger art projects, as it takes several steps to complete it.

What you need:

First Lakeland Adventure

2016-11-10T23:00:00.000+00:00

After taking our first baby on a plane to Austria at only 10 weeks old, and then again at 6 months old, it took us astonishingly long to venture into the Lake District for the first time. What anxious young parents we were, just look at the enormous backpack we lugged around with us! I can't remember how many changes of clothes, nappies, blankets etc. I had stuffed into it prior to our departure.

The Lake District

2016-10-30T21:09:00.000+00:00

Our first post just has to be about the Lake District.

So many lovely memories, so many special times. Our first holiday together, our first camping weekend with the children, many more holidays, days out, walks etc... we still come back year after year, and we keep discovering new magical things each time.

The Lake District is special in so many ways to so many people. Walking, hostelling, camping, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, exploring, relaxing, simply being away from it all.