Under An English Sky

Summer Catch Up

2026-08-05T13:22:37.871+01:00

What a summer it has been! It has certainly kept me busy and sadly, away from here. But as we approach the end of summer I can feel a shift to the rhythm of our days. But let's have a little catch up and let me tell you what we have been up to.

In 2025 we sold our house and moved back to the country. My husband retired from the hotel industry. The plan was to open a coffee shop, a long held dream of my husbands. The hotel industry was slowly killing off the joy of living and we knew that it was time for him to leave. The time seemed right.

After months of searching for the right shop and with a false start on one space which led to finally acquiring the shop we have now, we picked up the keys to the shop in April.

With the help of my husbands industry connections, we set to gutting the shop and refitting it with my husband doing a lot of the internal prep. It has been a labour of love from the start and he spent almost every day working on the shop from the moment we got the keys.

We have named our coffee shop Roots. This name was settled on by the whole family because it reflected how, after years of traveling the world for my husband's work, we finally had put roots down here. It is the first place that felt like home, like we belonged. We are also rooted in supporting food artisans and of course our entire lives, including our business is rooted in Christ Jesus.

So many reasons why Roots was the right choice.

We have been trading for a little over 6 weeks now and I am so thankful and happy to see my husband love his work again. He hardly needs that morning alarm, he is excited to go to work each day.

What a blessing it is for him to be working regular hours, something the hotel industry has never really allowed him to do.

An added blessing is that our daughters are working with us. Our youngest picks up a shift every second weekend as she just loves working in the shop, and our eldest, who has always wanted to work full time with us running the shop, moved home this week as she takes on the management of the shop alongside her dad.

The Summer Garden

Oh this has been a mixed bag this year! We have had a number of heatwaves and just this past week we have had a hosepipe ban put in place for the whole of Wales.

Many of my little seedlings did not make it and those that have seem to have been a bit of a disappointment.

The tomatos and the potatoes are really the only vegetables that have yielded anything remotely useful. The lettuce and rocket bolted in the heat, the courgettes produced an abundance of leaves and flowers which then amounted to absolutely nothing as did the peas and beans. Such a shame!

I'm going to have to do a bit of research over the autumn and winter months and see what changes I can make.

The pond, poppies and roses have all been incredible...

But with the lack of rain and the hosepipe ban, the lawn is looking dreadful...

Thankfully, we have had a bit of rain over he past two days so I am hoping that it will make a difference.

Knitting and Reading

As usual, I have a couple of books on the go but my main go-to this summer is The Old Ways by Robert MacFarlane.

I love travel, nature, history and writing and this book combines the lot! The author walks along the tracks, byways and paths of British landscape, both ancient and modern by comparison. He walks in all types of weather and links the reader to the landscape and to the stories of generations long since past. It is a book of time and place.

The opening chapter sets the scene, the author is sitting at his desk one evening, trying to work but is distracted by the snow falling softly outside his window. He cannot resist the call to get outside and he prepares a flask of something to keep himself warm and ventures out into the moonlight snowy landscape. The houses of his neighbourhood soon thin and are left behind as he ventures over fields and along a path he has walked many a time before, encountering a fox and observing tracks of birds and animals left in the snow.

You are immediately awash with the peace and beauty of nature as you read his poetic words, and so he takes the reader on the journey with him on various other paths, tracks and byways

If you are a nature lover as I am, you will be inspired to get out and explore your own surrounds. It has certainly inspired me to so so.

I am knitting the Truly Tasha's Shawl by Nancy Bush. She was inspired to design this shawl after visiting the illustrator and writer of children's books, Tasha Tudor's home in Vermont.

I've just about finished the body and am about to start the lace edging. What I loved about this pattern is the plain garter body and the size of it. It simple enough to embrace the need I have for more simplicity in my life and big enough to keep my walm in the cooler winter and autumn months around my home.

As you can see, I have made a little note of all this in my project notebook, along with the ball band and sample of the yarn I chose which was Cascade 220 100% Peruvian wool in the colour 'Birch Heather'. The whole project is a tribute to autumn. I can't wait to wrap myself up in it and curl up in the conservatory on a rainy day with a book!

That's about it for this post, I shall see you back here very soon!

Curating a Creative Space

2026-05-24T15:25:05.838+01:00

I spent a delightful morning rearranging my office/studio space. I am blessed to have a lovely outside space set away from the house overlooking the pond garden.

The sound of running water and birdsong fill my studio. Birds regularly come for a drink and a bath and I have a regular visiting baby squirrel coming to my door to gather the nuts that I lay out on the deck. it is simply sublime and my little creative, peaceful oasis.

When we first moved into this home, I had set the space up with the shelving running along the wall where the shawls are now hanging. However, this took up a lot of space leaving the space behind my desk redundant. I really wanted to have my sewing machine out permanently because it is much easier to be spontaneously creative and crafty when all your tools are at hand.

The space has a dual purpose. A space for my desk and computer for my writing and running my creative events business, and the need to be a place of creativity and inspiration.

One morning about two weeks ago, I was catching up on some admin when the idea for a new layout suddenly took hold. My husband was about to start cutting the lawn but I needed his help with moving the shelves and bringing in another table for the sewing machine.

He is used to my 'sudden ideas' so very kindly helped me sort out the studio before cutting the lawn - such a kind and patient husband!

He even took the time to hang up some of my shawls. I want this space to be a place that inspires creativity and nurtures a slow, creative life.

I brought a comfortable chair into the studio. The studio is such a lovely garden room and is insulated and has heating which keeps it warm in the winter. A place to sit and work on my knitting or stitching, perhaps while watching a favourite vlog, is just what is needed.

The little quilt on the back of the chair is waiting to be hung on the wall. I made the embroidered tote bag and cushion when we still lived in South Africa so bringing them out of the linen cupboard to use and enjoy on a daily basis brought in a little nostalgic memories of when my girls were small.

I cleaned all the cubby shelves and enjoyed sorting out my fabrics ...

and books...

I dug out some of the pretty letter writing supplies that I have and popped them on display. I want to send more snail mail this year.

While sorting through my stash, I found a couple of gorgeous kits I bought a few years ago but which I have not got round to doing.

I want to work on these projects and have them done before the year is out. I don't want to keep putting my making on the backburner.

So, I have picked out 3 projects and set them up in various places around my home. Having them close by and ready means that I am finally spending time working on each project.

I have a copy of the "A Needlework Enthusiast's Book of Days" planner by Needlework Press arriving any day now and I plan on using this to plan out and document the projects I want to work through in 2026.

I have to say that I am loving feeling so productive and I find that getting back into my hobbies with purpose has been inspiring my creativity.

I have been very purposeful in setting aside social media and stepping back in a big way from 'hustle culture'. Instead, I am embracing a more 'analogue' traditional lifestyle which is far more familiar to me.

I am finding the gentle rhythms of keeping my home, creating and trusting God in each moment, is helping me recover from the burnout that realised I was suffering from after too many years of pursuing something that was not meant for me.

One of my little projects that I want to do is to take these little jumpers and make them into a garland for my studio. I think that it would look so sweet.

When I was dyeing yarn, I knitted up a whole lot of mini jumpers to showcase my colourways. These were always such a hit on my stand with people wanting to buy them. They are so quick and easy to knit up.

I think I shall put together a little pattern for any knitters amongst my readers...another project to make a note of in my 'Book of Days' calendar!

My studio is very small. Much smaller than the sewing room I had in our previous house. One day I would love a lovely roomy room where I can have a cutting table and both my sewing machine and overlocker out at any one time, and lots of lovely wood and glass storage cabinets. I would love to be able to host workshops with lovely fellow creatives.

But for now, I am just really enjoying quietly reconnecting with my creativity in my little studio overlooking the garden.

The Seasonal Weekender - A Sunny Bank Holiday Weekend in the Garden

2026-05-23T13:15:32.792+01:00

Hello my lovely friends. Here in the UK we are looking forward to a Bank Holiday weekend and gloriously...apparently we are expecting a heatwave over the next week and clear skies!

I hope that you have all had a lovely week. Mine turned out to be slower than anticipated as I came down with a throat infection but sometimes taking a bit of time to slow down can be a good thing. I pottered about the house and just indulged in some lovely homely things like picking flowers from the garden and opening up an embroidery project that has been sitting on my To-Do list for over two years! I'm looking forward to more of the same all weekend long!

This morning I woke up feeling like I am on the mend thanks to a couple of doses of antibiotics, which is just as well given the anticipated weather this weekend. I don't want to be cooped indoors feeling poorly when the sun is shining!

From the moment I opened the conservatory doors this morning I could feel the warmth - so lovely after a cold spell. I immediately opened all the doors leading into the garden to let in the fresh air.

Of course, I took advantage of today's warm weather and got all the washing done, it is currently drying in the sunshine and warm breeze. I have to say that it is so nice to have the washing drying outside rather than in my kitchen. After a long winter of my kitchen doubling as a laundromat, it is nice to return it to it's summer state!

In Season

May is the month of large swathes of frothy Cow Parsley in bloom. Living in the country we get to enjoy this seasonal treasure every time we go anywhere as the lanes are flanked with billowing clouds of this gorgeous wildflower.

I picked a huge bunch for the house. I have found a way to maximise this delicate flowers longevity once picked. First you punch the stems into boiling water for 30 seconds, then straight into a vase of ice-cold water. The blooms have looked fresh for well over a week.

Today I noticed the kitchen table littered with tiny white petals. The flowers still look fantastic but it is an indication that they won't last for much longer. We also eat breakfast at this table each morning and I really didn't fancy the idea of the falling petals landing in our food.

Still wanting to enjoy them for a little while longer, I moved the vase to the outside picnic table where I think they look too beautiful.

In The Garden

I love walking through the garden first thing in the morning. I take my cup of tea and slowly stroll along the path to see what changes there have been from the day before. At this time of the year there is always a lot going on.

The Iris's have been teetering on blooming for days and happily, the first three blooms chose to greet me on my morning inspection walk.

I planted a couple of Geum's next to them and the contrast is just lovely. Geums are a MUST in my garden, they are prolific bloomers and will flower all summer long. I couldn't resist capturing the early morning light shining through the delicate orange petals this morning!

I headed up to the greenhouse to check on my plants and open the vents and door ahead of the days heat. I was delighted to see that the first few tomatoes are starting to form! This is the first year I am growing tomatoes in a greenhouse so I am expecting a satisfactory harvest this year!

The pond continues to thrive, I spent a good 40 minutes this morning sitting by the pond and watching the busyness of life lived out beneath the surface and on top.

The Tadpoles get bigger every day and some have already got their little hind legs growing.

The Newts are less bothered about our presence these days and happily bob about the surface of the water snapping up the fish food and soaking up the sun's warmth.

Frog life is still going strong, in fact they have been rather vocal over the last three days. I was able to sneak up on them and see what all the noise was about. They were sitting along the edges having a good sing-a-long although in reality i suspect it was more to do with notifying neighbouring frogs not to encroach into their individual territories. It's a busy pond!

While I was sitting by the pond-side, I noticed a good many damselfly's laying their eggs in the pond moss.

We should have some damselfly nymphs hatching in about 2-5 weeks. Now, they are hugely predatory and will prey on tadpoles, so I am hoping that by the time it gets to that time, our tadpoles are nearer to frog stage and that a good many will survive.

Well, I'm of to pick up my needles, I plan to sit outside as long as possible under the shade of the gazebo this afternoon knitting and stitching - perfect convalescing activities - and I hope to feel a bit more 'human' by tomorrow! Whatever you are doing this weekend, I hope that involves a bit of time outdoors and doing something that brings you joy.

Blessings in Christ

Shirley

Seasons of Grace and Learning Episode 2

2026-05-17T13:49:16.257+01:00

Hello Lovelies,

We have had a bit of shift-around and I would truly be so grateful for your input.

You may have noticed that for the last few weeks this little corner of the web had been redirected to my Seasons of Grace and Learning blog. I have found that I have had little engagement on there.

Initially I thought that it was down to the fact that I hadn't activated the comments but then once I did that, I was still finding traffic to be low and the only engagement I had was with blinking spammers leaving tiny url links!

A Little Rethink and Reorganising

So I have had a little rethink and a bit of reorganising... here is what I am thinking about:

1. Under An English Sky will continue to be my blogging home. Let's face it, it's been around for a quite a while and while the platform may be basic and rudimentary, it works.

I was hoping to make it all a bit more professional-looking on Seasons of Grace and Learning but perhaps that is not really what is needed. We just need a space where we can connect. I miss your comments and interacting with you. So I shall continue to use Under An English Sky as my blogging home.

2. Seasons of Grace and Learning is my YouTube Channel. I like the name and it is quite personal to me. You can read why I settled on that name in THIS POST. I have come full circle since our homeschooling journey ended with our youngest graduating in 2019 and I am learning how to give myself grace to embrace each new life season. I suspect that I will release the website blog of this same name - no point writing there. I am aiming to publish every 2 weeks all going well. It will likely take me a bit of time to find my recording rhythm but I am sure that I will get there.

3. Instagram - will remain as @seasonsofgraceandlearning as my heart is to build the community on my YouTube Channel. To be honest, I am moving away from IG. You will have noticed that I am less active there, you see, I'm just not a short-form kind of girl. I like to chat, connect on a deeper level. IG doesn't really do it for me. It's all so brief and hit n' miss I find.

4. Content - Back to what this blog used to all about - home, family, faith, seasons and creating.

Episode 2 Seasons of Grace and Learning

With that said, I am here to let you know that Episode 2 of my podcast is now live. Please do excuse my croaky voice but I have managed to pick up a cold and it went straight to my throat and ears.

In this episode I share about The Artists Way, a 12-week course that aims to reconnect the reader with the artist within. I have just started this and while there are certain things that I had to ignore, on the whole it is reconnecting me with my creative self which I am loving.

I take you along to the Antiques and Salvage Market that is held once a month in Cheshire. I was on a mission to find some interesting pieces for the coffee shop. I found going on my own a bit daunting at first, but once I started trusting my own purchasing decisions I found that the creative ideas began to flow. As the day went on, I trusted myself more and actually found that it was good overall.

I have also completed a craft project that has been on my To-Do list for nearly a year. I share a bit about that process and how you can make it yourself.

Finally, I share some books that I am reading at the moment and a literary society that I joined.

Please do pop on over and watch. Perhaps grab a cup of tea or coffee and your knitting or needlework to work on while you watch.

Well lovelies, I hope that you are all having a blessed Sunday. I'm off to grab my own cup of tea and knitting and enjoy watching a cosy afternoon episode of Poirot.

Blessings to you all, I will see you bake here very soon.

The Seasonal Weekender: Lemon-Blueberry Muffin Recipe

2026-05-11T11:32:00.000+01:00

Hello lovelies! I hope that you are all well and enjoying the weekend.

Here in the Welsh hills, it is blustery and rainy with the occasional hail shower. We had wanted to visit Bodant Garden in Conwy today but I think that given the conditions, we may wait to visit in May.

Instead, I have spend the morning baking some lovely Blueberry-Lemon Buttermilk Muffins. The mixture yielded 12 muffins plus enough for a loaf, or you could do 24 muffins.

Make my Blueberry-Lemon Buttermilk Muffins

Here is my recipe if you would like to give them a try - they certainly are delicious!

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Bake Time: 20-24 Minutes

Makes: 24

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups fresh blueberries

GLAZE

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest

Steps

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Lightly grease two muffin pans or line with paper baking cups.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, bicarb powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter and the sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla and combine until smooth. Beat in the flour mixture and buttermilk, alternating the two, using about one-third of each for each addition. The mixture should be smooth and creamy. Fold in the blueberries, and mix until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter. Pour the batter into the muffin tins, filling each up about half-way.
Bake until the muffin tops are golden, 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes.

Make the Glaze: Stir the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest until smooth. Brush the glaze over the muffin tops while the muffins are still warm.

Down the Spring Garden Path...

This is our first spring in our new home and it is a joy to watch the garden awakening this spring.

The garden is surrounded by a variety of trees, shrubs and hedges and most of them are in various stages of blossoming. It is so lovely to see colour creeping in to the far reaches of the garden.

While we have had clear blue skies on occasion, April is renowned for its turbulent nature, so to see these pops of colour helps us to remember that better days on most certainly on the way!

In the greenhouse, I have had mixed luck with my seeds. The problem is that I planted a lot of seeds who's sell by date had come and gone. I couldn't bring myself to throw them away, they had to be given the chance.

I have cosmos, lupins, poppies, rudbeckia, sweetpeas and sunflowers coming up. I bought some fresh seeds just this week so I will get those sown this weekend.

My YouTube Channel

I wanted to let you know about the trials and developments with my YouTube channel.

I spent hours and hours recording and editing my launch episode only to find that the program I used draws the various clips from a URL and does not store the content on its platform.

This is completely useless because it means that I need to keep the files on my own hard drive on cloud storage which takes up an immense amount of room. If the URL's are deleted, your uploaded video is destroyed.

So, back to the drawing board. I think I am just going to record again, not worry too much about making it a professionally edited production, and hope that people are happy to connect with me in a simple, unedited manner. Something is better than nothing right?

Midway through the cut - look at the difference!

You will note that I managed to figure out how to get the comments form visible on this new blog home - it's only taken me about 7 months! So if anyone has recommendations on editing software, I would love to hear from you!

Saturday Afternoon Reading

I picked up The Simple Things magazine yesterday so I am enjoying paging through April's copy this rainy afternoon.

I am also enjoying this little spring display that I put together for the coffee table in the conservatory. We got this gorgeous Easter card from a dear friend and I love it so much that I'm going to keep it for future spring displays. The little house was a gift from my daughter's recent visit to Copenhagen and I picked a few of the blooming dandelion flowers from my garden.

I've shared before how my husband can't stand them and how much I love them - they are a hallmark of spring! Fortunately, all the dandelions in our garden appear to be containing themselves to the far reaches of the garden and in the wild boarders, so in my view, they have every right to be there.

Anhyoo lovelies, that's about it from me this weekend. I hope that whatever you are doing you are enjoying a slower pace and will find some time this weekend to nurture your creativity and home.

The Seasonal Weekender: Early May

2026-05-03T11:39:00.000+01:00

Hello lovelies!

I hope that you are all enjoying May so far. I am continually and pleasantly overwhelmed by the beauty of this month. Living out in the country I am so much more in tune with the subtle changes in the seasons.

Along the country lanes Cow Parsley towers above carpets of purple bluebells. Horse Chestnut trees are laden with soft creamy/pink candle flowers and the fields are awash with yellow dandelions that slowly give way to waves of white as they turn from flower to dandelion clock seed heads.

I will be sharing a bit more about this in my next YouTube video - which was supposed to be out last week but... we have a lot going on at the moment and time seems to run away with me quite frequently. I'll share a bit about that too. Thankfully I have a more relaxed week this week and I am fiercely guarding my time so I plan to record tomorrow.

As you can see, the bunting is up too - it will stay there for the summer coming down only to be washed and then straight back up. There is something so cheery about bunting don't you think?

I am reorganising my studio (post to come) and

I found this quilt and a few of my favourite embroidered items that I hadn't unpacked since our move last year. I really want to get joy from the items I have crafted and I want them on display in my studio, so I gave them a wash and hung them outside to dry in the spring sunshine. Soon they will be back in the studio to enjoy.

YouTube Channel Revival and A New Direction

2026-05-01T12:24:00.000+01:00

Hello my lovely friends,

I hope that you are all well. I am here with some very exciting news...well I'm excited about it anyway...

It seems to me that blogs are no longer read or interacted with much anymore which is kind of sad. I have always thought them a great way to connect with people around the world and because I have been blogging for around 17 years, it is not something I really want to let go of, so this little space will remain here and I will continue to write even if it is just for my own record-keeping.

But, I do miss community. When I was homeschooling my daughters I had a natural community of like-minded people. But seasons change and my daughters have finished homeschooling and are now adulting rather well.

With the end of our homeschooling I endured the seasonal shift as I explored my "what's next", and it has been turbulent. I liken it to the seasonal storms that sweep across the Uk in autumn. I've felt tossed around like a fallen leaf as the wind tears across the landscape, leaping, swirling and jostling me along whether I want to go along or not.

But now that the storm has subsided and I can see a little more clearly, I feel I have found my bearings and can see clear skies ahead.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life

I've explored all sorts of things as I attempted to find my new purpose. Finally, I find myself settling into something that is aligned with who I am and have always been and which to a large extent is very much a continuation of the life I felt so comfortable in as I raised my children and kept my home.

I am settling into my continued role as keeper of the home, my husband's helpmeet and support as he embarks on a new business venture that seems to finally support the 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 scripture that has been my guiding scripture for so many years:

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: you should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependant on anyone".

He is opening a coffee shop, a long-held dream. I am now pursuing my own long-held dream and accepting the value I bring as a wife, mother, homemaker and support to my husband. I'm looking forward to occasionally working in the coffee shop and continuing to host and organise my annual event, the North West Winter Wool Festival, but the biggest thing is that I finally have the time and space to write.

I am working on two book ideas that I have been brooding on for many years. I am not worrying about who will publish them for I have discovered many lovely books that were in fact self-published. So I am just going to get on with the business of writing and will likely self-publish the first few books.

The Exciting News: Building a Community

And so comes the exciting bit...now that I have weathered the storm and can see the way forward, I feel that I am finally at a place where I can be a bit more present here on my blog but I feel that I am finally in a place where I can build a community on my YouTube channel.

I am relaunching my YouTube Channel. I realised that we are all continuing to learn as we travel through life's seasons and so I have aptly named my channel "Seasons of Grace and Learning".

I love the idea that I can record bits of my day and chat to you as if we were visiting and having a good old chinwag. I know that some of you are already subscribed so I am looking forward to seeing you there! Please do leave comments so that we can engage with each other - it will be so lovely.

I will be blogging and YouTubing about all the things I have always held so closely to my heart... seasonal and everyday living, making, homekeeping and how I weave my Christian faith into all that I do.

Of course as a 'retired homeschooling mum' and a writer, books and nature are never far from my thoughts and activities so you will have bits of that too :)

Episode 1

After a huge amount of trial, error and frustration, I am very pleased to say that Episode 1 of Seasons of Grace and Learning is now live on my channel.

If you enjoy listening to such things while you are working on something or just in the background, please do consider listening to this episode.

It is a little rough and ready but honestly, I figured that if I don't just record and publish it would never get done. I'm hoping my skills will improve as I continue to create content on YouTube.

Until next time, wishing you all every blessing!

April Seasonal Living: Signs of Spring in the Garden, Pond and Home

2026-04-01T11:52:00.000+01:00

Hello lovelies,

Can you quite believe that we have arrived at April already? There is something about the turning of the month that feels like a threshold...March quietly slips behind us, and suddenly we find ourselves stepping more fully into spring.

And what a lovely March it has been.

Stepping into April

The bumblebees have returned, moving slowly and purposefully from flower to flower, gathering what they need after the long winter months. There is something so reassuring about that familiar hum. It feels like a promise that the season is truly changing.

The daffodils have come into their own too, and are still blooming beautifully, their bright yellow heads catching the light and lifting even the greyest of days. They never fail to bring a sense of cheer to the garden, quietly announcing that spring is here.

The Pond Awakens

And then there is the pond.

It is beginning to stir again, almost imperceptibly at first, and then all at once. The frogs have returned from their winter rest and have filled the water with spawn. So much so that it has become a little nursery of its own. I find myself drawn to it each day, pausing to observe, to notice, to wonder at the steady, hidden work of growth taking place beneath the surface.

The spawn is looking healthy, and thankfully untouched! I am watching closely as it begins its gradual transformation. There is a quiet anticipation in this stage, knowing what is to come, yet allowing it to unfold in its own time.

Seeing it all has taken me back to our homeschooling days, when we gathered frogspawn and carefully nurtured it at home, watching it develop from tiny dark specks into tadpoles, and eventually into the smallest of frogs. It was one of the simplest studies we ever did, and yet one of the most memorable. I will share that post again later this week, in case it might inspire you in your own homes this season.

We also discovered, quite unexpectedly, that we have newts in the pond, a small but delightful surprise. It seems our garden is becoming something of a haven for wildlife, which brings me a quiet kind of joy I find difficult to put into words.

Blossom and Light in the Garden

One of the quiet joys of living in our new home is watching the garden reveal itself, little by little, as each season unfolds. It still feels, in many ways, like an introduction...each week bringing something new into view, something we had not yet noticed or fully appreciated.

At the moment, so many of the shrubs and smaller trees are dressed in white blossom. It has come upon us almost all at once, softening the edges of the garden and catching the light in the most delicate way. There is a freshness to it that feels unmistakably like spring, clean, hopeful, and full of promise.

I find myself lingering a little longer outdoors these days, noticing how the light falls through the branches, how the breeze carries the petals, how everything seems to be quietly coming back to life.

Back to the Kitchen

I have also found myself spending more time in the kitchen again, returning to the quiet rhythm of baking our own bread. There is something deeply satisfying about it. The steady process, the simplicity of the ingredients, and the sense of care it brings back into the home.

This week, I made a batch of lemon and blueberry muffins from one of my Amish baking books. They were quite delicious! Light, fresh, and full of flavour, and felt just right for this time of year. There is something about the combination of citrus and berries that seems to capture the essence of spring so perfectly.

It is these small, ordinary things—the tending of a garden, the watching of a pond, the baking of bread—that seem to mark the season most meaningfully. Not in grand gestures, but in the quiet, everyday moments that gently shape our days.

As I look forward to April unfolding, I am reminded how closely the rhythms of home and nature mirror the deeper truths of our faith. There is a quiet unfolding taking place all around us, in the garden, in the pond, in the small, faithful work of our hands within the home. Nothing hurried, nothing forced, and yet everything moving steadily towards new life. After the stillness of winter and the reflection of Easter, this season feels like an invitation: to notice, to tend, and to trust in the gentle work of renewal. And perhaps that is enough...to live attentively in these days, to care for what has been placed before us, and to rest in the assurance that growth, both seen and unseen, is always at work.

Getting Ready for Spring Gardening

2026-03-16T12:00:00.000+00:00

March marks the beginning of meteorological spring, the day when winter loosens its grip and the promise of a new season begins to stir across the British countryside. The light lingers a little longer in the evenings, birds grow more vocal in the trees and hedgerows, and the first brave signs of life begin to push through the soil.

I know that many people only herald the start of spring at the Spring Equinox, but I am more than ready to embrace the small hallmarks of the new seasons arrival and so I am officially embracing that spring has arrived.

To mark the turning of the season, I'm sharing a short video filmed this weekend - a gentle celebration of this threshold moment between winter and spring. It also marks the beginning of something new for me, as I prepare to launch my YouTube channel, where I will be sharing reflections of seasonal living, the beauty of the countryside, the quiet rhythms of everyday life, along with the books I'm reading, thoughts from my nature walks, and glimpses of traditional homekeeping and creative pursuits that bring meaning and calm to the days.

If you enjoy this glimpse of early spring in my garden, I would be delighted if you would subscribe to my channel and join me as this new creative chapter unfolds.

So how did you spend your first day of spring?

Garden: A greenhouse in time for spring

My husband and I spent the day finishing off our greenhouse. We started building our greenhouse late December. Then the snow arrived and put a stop to our progress. The temperatures remained too cold to get any significant work done. February seemed to be a month of eternal rainfall and this is not a job that you want to do in the rain.

This weekend, we decided to get it finished.

It is time to sow my spring seeds, so when I suggested that my husband bring in a few of our fold away tables into the conservatory so that I could get on with my spring gardening tasks, it proved to be just the motivation to get the greenhouse finished.

It took us the better part of the weekend but by Sunday afternoon it was done, complete with staging. The pelargoniums were moved out of my office where they have been overwintering, and into the greenhouse.

I have wanted a greenhouse for as long as I can remember and finally, I have one of my very own and I am looking forward to spending a few days this week in the greenhouse, planting my spring seeds.

I have dreamed of lavishing seasonal touches on my greenhouse so I will be hanging bunting and perhaps a seasonal wreath too. Adding small seasonal decor touches is a way to celebrate the season and I find such joy in this small practice.

What are you doing to celebrate the arrival of spring?

New Year Beginnings...January Snow Day

2026-01-05T12:05:00.000+00:00

What a beautiful start to the new year! The house has emptied of guests and it is time to ease my way back into the rhythms that make up my days.

As if willing me to slow down and just enjoy the moment, we were blessed with a snowfall. This is one of the joys of living up in the hills in Wales.

In our previous home, the snow would often skirt Chester and fall instead on the surrounding countryside. We would occasionally get snowfall but nothing like this!

I cannot tell you how much joy this brings me. Snowfall will forever awaken the child within and fills my heart with peace and joy.

I love heading outdoors and feeling the snow crunch beneath my feet as I sprinkle food out for the birds and ensure that they have fresh water. The hop about busily filling up on seed, necessary fuel to keep them warm during challenging weather like this.

To feel the icy air on my cheeks and to listen to the silence of a white-washed world quickens my spirit. I am reminded of God's goodness and provision when I am in such close proximity to the wonders of nature like I am when he opens the heavenly storehouses and sends snow in season.

Well my lovely friends, I want to wish you all a wonderful 2026. May God's richest blessings be upon you all in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Blessings in Christ.

Themes and Plans for October

2025-10-02T09:21:00.001+01:00

In the season of mothering and educating my children, I began the habit of observing the seasons and trying to make each one special by thoughtfully planning activities that would bring a bit of what the season has to offer to our attention.

This has helped us live in the moment, slow down, and notice what each day, month, and season has to offer. It's about being aware of our blessings in every life season.

October always feels like the very heart of autumn to me. The trees are glowing with colour, leaves drift gently to the ground, and there’s still a little breathing space before winter comes knocking. It’s a month that invites us to pause and savour the season. I remember last October giving us some glorious days, and even now—despite the grey clouds and blustery winds (and the impending arrival of storm Amy tomorrow)—I’m hopeful for a few more soft, golden afternoons before the colder months arrive.

Because October holds so many simple joys and reasons to celebrate, I like to spend a little time gathering my thoughts and making some gentle plans. Out come the autumnal candles, favourite recipes, and weekly folders, ready to hold all those little touches that help me notice and enjoy the season as it unfolds. Here’s what I’m looking forward to this colourful, breezy month.

Folk law

Traditional Rhyme: Rain in October means wind in December

Gemstone: Opal or tourmaline

Flower: Marigold/Calendula

Full Moon: Hunters Moon (7^th)

Nature

Apple and pumpkin picking!
Autumn mists
Cooler Temperatures
Windy weather
First Frosts
Fly Agaric (those cute little red and white mushrooms) and other Fungi flourishing
Shrubs and Trees heavy with autumn berries
Busy Squirrels burying nuts in my lawn as they prepare for colder days
Sloes ripening

Garden

Rake up leaves
Create insect hotels and hedgehog hideouts
Empty out last of the flowering annuals
Dig over beds
Harvest pumpkins
Wrap up and cover up frost sensitive plants

Home

Canning and preserving the last of the harvest (loads of tomatoes in our case)
Stock up on a few more blankets and hot water bottles
Pantry list – stock up on winter staples
Batch meal prep for the freezer
Winter PJ’s for all and warm jumpers/jersey’s
British Summer Times Ends – put clocks back 1 hour on 26^th

Food

Bring out the crockpot!
pumpkin pie
Cinnamon Buns - try out flavour variations
Apple crumbles and pies
Cook up a variety of soups for the freezer. These make for quick and easy lunch options.
I have loads of recipe ideas for pumpkins and apples and am eager to try them out - you can check them out on my Pinterest Board.

Faith -The Liturgical year

St Francis of Assisi – 4^th
St Luke – 18^th

Arts & Crafts

Autumn Leaf Suncatcher

Leaf Wreath

Leaf Lanterns

Painted Autumn Leaves

Natural Room Scents

Bees Wax Leaves

Check out my Four Seasons Pinterest Board for more ideas.

As the month unfolds, I hope you find little moments to pause and enjoy the beauty all around—whether it’s a walk under golden trees, baking something comforting in the kitchen, or simply sitting with a cup of tea and watching the leaves tumble past the window. October always feels like such a gift, a gentle reminder to slow down and delight in the season before winter makes her entrance.

May you experience God's blessings in you home this month.

Closing the Door on a Life Season

2025-09-29T09:48:00.006+01:00

After 15 months of living in state of flux, we finally completed on the sale of our house in Chester on Friday last week. It was a bittersweet moment when I received the telephone call from our solicitor telling us that we had completed.

We were no longer owners of the home that has housed our family for the past 5 years. In those four walls, we built memories, cried tears, experienced loss, dealt with health issues, faced uncertainty and change.

It was the home that saw the end of our home educating journey, a safe haven for our girls to return each day after university lectures, a launching pad when they finally fledged the nest.

As I wrote a little "Welcome Home" card and placed it next to a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine for the new owners earlier on in the week, I prayed over the house.

"Lord, may this be a safe and happy home for the new owners. May the experience every blessing and create a myriad of happy memories together. Bless this home and this family".

I'll be honest, over the past 15 months I really could not understand why it was that the door kept closing on our sale, why we experienced such an uphill battle to pass it on.

Three of my friends sold and bought houses in that time with very few problems, it was disheartening.

But there came a point when I realised that God was working out His good plans in our lives, directing our paths, and showing us that His way was infinitely better than our personal plans.

Our plans had us moving to the Lake District, further away from our children and our community. God's plans placed us in the Welsh hills, within easy commutable distance of our children.

Our plans had us downsizing to a small 2 bedroomed cottage. God's plans placed us in a sizable home with 4 bedrooms. Our children and their boyfriends and friends have spent a significant amount of time visiting and staying with us. More so than when we lived in Chester. This home seems to invite people to stay. It's inviting, warm, comfortable, spacious enough for everyone.

Our plans had us moving closer to my husband's place of work. A job that made him deeply unhappy and stressed and was having a very real impact on his health. God's plans had my husband step back from his job, retire from the hotel industry, and move toward finally opening his dream business. Since leaving full time employment he is happier, healthier, has lost weight as he has time for regular exercise. I am no longer fearful of him having a heart attack. We are looking forward to opening our own little coffee and artisan food shop - a long held dream.

Our plans were for a quick and easy sale so that we could push on with independence. God's plans forced us to depend on Him and His timing. That process restored my trust in God, trust that had been severely shaken after the untimely death of two close friends.

I have since been able to let go of my own plans that seemed "the sensible thing to do" and am trusting him to lead me along a different path, a path of a ministry which He placed in my heart when he asked me to trust Him and home educate our daughters 20 years ago. I'm grateful that my training allows me to work in a freelance capacity right now, allowing plenty of time to step out in faith as He leads me down a new path.

My angst has faded. I don't have any assurances as to what the future holds but I do know that I am back on the path that God has planned for me, for us, because I know God's peace that suparsses all understanding (Phil 4:7), and I have not had that peace since our home educating days came to a close.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways", says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. " ~ Isaiah 55:8-9

While hindsight is a wonderful thing, the process of walking through difficult times is a refining and necessary process if we are to grow in our faith.

While I couldn't see it at the time, am grateful that our journey was not a smooth and easy transition. It was not what we needed and our Heavenly Father knows best. He knew exactly what we both needed, and for all our kicking, screaming and tantruming - He patiently loved us and revealed His good and perfect way for our lives.

Whatever season you are in, lean into God and trust His ways. He loves you deeply and wants good things for His children. Sometimes our understanding of what 'good things' are may not be the 'best' things.

Wishing you every blessing this week.

Lessons From Our Homeschool Journey:: When Doubt Calls

2025-09-25T07:00:00.003+01:00

Each Thursday I’ll be sharing a post from the archives—words written in earlier seasons of my homeschooling journey that still hold meaning and encouragement for today.

I spent 15 years home educating my daughters at a time when home education in the UK was very much the road less travelled. Instead of following the traditional British route for high school qualifications, we felt led to pursue the American SAT pathway. To say I often questioned myself and felt out of my depth is an understatement. Yet we held fast to our conviction that continuing with a Charlotte Mason education through the high school years was right for our daughters and best suited to their learning styles.

In God’s kindness, that decision was rewarded—both girls went on to be accepted into British universities. As I look back, I see how those years were filled with both joy and challenge, and how the lessons we learned remain just as relevant today. This post, originally written some years ago, is one I believe still speaks into the heart of the homeschooling journey, so I’m delighted to share it again from the archives.

From the Archives...

Choosing to homeschool our children has truly been one of the best decisions of our lives. The memories and experiences we’ve gathered are treasures we will carry forever. I feel deeply blessed that I still have two years left of shared learning with my youngest. Our homeschooling journey isn’t over yet, and I intend to savour every single moment that remains.

But today, I want to talk about something that can quietly steal our joy along the way: the “voices” that come at us from every side. Some mean well, trying to encourage us, yet they leave us feeling judged or inadequate. Others are far less external—they are the whispers of our own fears and insecurities, growing louder until they become a flood of doubt that threatens to paralyse us.

These are my own reflections on those two types of voices. Perhaps they’ll resonate with you—or perhaps not. Either way, I share them in the hope of encouragement.

The Voices That Mean Well

Who are the voices in your life? For me, they’ve often come from the blogs I’ve read, the online groups I’ve joined, the books or podcasts I’ve followed, or even from fellow Christians we love and respect.

When you see another homeschool mum’s beautiful blog, complete with perfect photos and inspiring projects, it’s easy to compare and feel “less than.” Or when a popular podcast suggests a particular method, you start to wonder if that must be the only “right” way because of their large following.

Sometimes, it’s even the subtle pressure from within our Christian communities—well-meaning comments that leave us feeling that if we allow our children to read certain stories or watch certain programmes, we’re somehow falling short of God’s will.

The danger is this: if we give those voices too much weight, they drown out the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit, the only voice we should ultimately be following.

The Voice of Fear and Doubt

Then there’s the inner voice—the one fuelled by our fears and uncertainties. I’ve wrestled with this deeply, especially when I’ve found myself without a community of like-minded homeschooling mums.

More than a decade ago, God called us to homeschool. He placed on our hearts the desire to raise our children to know Him and live for Him. By His grace, that has been our guiding light. Yet even with that assurance, the world’s expectations can press heavily. We wonder: What if my child’s path looks different? What if it doesn’t align with what is considered “normal”?

Community makes all the difference. When we walk with others who share the same vision, we can pray together, encourage one another, share ideas, and remind each other of God’s faithfulness. Without that, it’s far easier to slip into fear-driven decisions.

Here’s a real example. A while back, I found myself in knots because my daughter would finish her A-Levels at 19 instead of 18. For reasons I can’t quite explain, this consumed me. I stressed about university applications, worried about being “behind,” and allowed fear to overshadow peace.

Then God graciously intervened through a simple conversation. I was speaking with a fellow homeschooling mum—someone who had already graduated two children and was calmly guiding her son through his A-Levels, also to finish at 19. She answered my questions with wisdom and reminded me that this was not unusual. More importantly, she reminded me that God’s plan for each child is unique.

I left that conversation both refreshed and repentant. I realised I had been listening more to fear than to God. And I was reminded how vital it is to stay connected with others walking the same road.

Since then, I’ve made a conscious effort to build that fellowship again. A few local homeschooling mums and I now meet monthly, simply to encourage one another. It has been life-giving.

Guarding Our Hearts

Fear and doubt creep in quietly, but they take root quickly. Guard against them by surrounding yourself with voices that strengthen rather than weaken your trust in God’s calling. Stay connected with people who point you back to Him, and keep His gentle voice louder than all the rest.

Wishing you God’s richest blessings today.

Counting My Blessings

2025-09-13T14:29:00.000+01:00

A Heavy Heart

The past few days have been heavy. I did not know Charlie Kirk personally, but I was familiar with his work. While I did not always agree with his political views, he was first and foremost a brother in Christ, a husband, and a father. To hear that he was so brutally murdered simply for speaking, debating, and seeking to shine light is both horrifying and deeply troubling.

What shakes me even more is witnessing people publicly celebrate the violent death of another human being. Such cruelty, such callousness—it reveals something very dark about the state of our society. My heart grieves for his family and friends, for our Christian brothers and sisters in America, and for the wider world in which hatred is allowed to fester so openly.

On Community

After sharing a simple Instagram story—a photograph of Charlie Kirk with a few words of sorrow—I immediately saw my follower count drop. A sharp decline, just like that.

Now, let me be clear: I have no concern for vanity metrics. Numbers on a screen do not define me, nor do they measure the worth of my life. I come from a time when relationships and real connections meant far more than “likes” and followers.

What I do care about is the kind of community I nurture around me. If those who unfollowed me are people who would celebrate the violent death of a Christian man, then it is best that our paths diverge. We clearly do not share the same value for life, compassion, or truth. Circumstances such as these always reveal the true heart of people.

Drawing Nearer

And so, I turn my gaze back home and count my blessings. In a world that feels increasingly fractured, I am reminded of the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who share our values, who offer encouragement, and who seek light over darkness.

Even in sorrow, we can choose to draw nearer to God, to hold fast to His truth, and to be grateful for the community of faith He gives us.

Counting My Blessings

In times like these, when the world feels harsh and unsettling, I find myself cherishing even more the peace and beauty I can create within my own home.

Home is where we practise gratitude in the ordinary, where we nurture our families, and where we remind ourselves that God’s goodness is still all around us.

One of the small yet meaningful ways I mark this season is by showering our home with autumnal touches—simple decorations that speak of warmth, abundance, and the comforting rhythm of God’s creation.

My hops garland arrived from Huskin Hops on Friday. I absolutely love decorating my home with natural material, usually gathered from nature on my walks.

I had seen hops garlands in various places over the years and really wanted to have one for my own home. However, our previous home just did not lend itself to a hops garland. We didn't really have a natural place where it would hang.

Our new home has a lovely inglenook. The moment I saw it I knew that I would be ordering a hops garland for my autumn decor. It has not disappointed! I absolutely LOVE it!

Of course, I have added a few other autumnal touches because September 1st is autumn for me. There's no waiting until the autumn equinox in my home. I want to get every ounce of autumnal goodness from the season before we transition into the festive season.

So the candles are out and the house fills with the scent of apples, cinnamon, pumpkin and spice each evening.

Autumnal pictures have been hung...

Corners of my home are lit with fairy lights and adorned with garlands and much loved homespun decorations have been brought out of storage and now take pride of place for another autumn season.

Books are being gathered in preparation for longer nights and cozy days. I'll share my autumn book basket in another post. I have added some lovely books to my home library over the last few months that I am excited to share with you.

I love the changing light at this time of the year, it comes in gently and pools in little puddles of warmth throughout the house at different times of the day. What a lovely small blessing!

I have always paid attention to the simple, small things and I love making my home a haven for my family and for those who cross the threshold. Last night, I overheard my husband telling my daughters boyfriend that after a long day at work, he always got excited about coming home because it was his 'happy place' and it was made so because of the love lived within its walls and the care taken in making our home a haven.

I was so touched by that. That is exactly why I do everything I do, and why I place such value on the simple things that go into running a home.

I want my Biblical womanhood, love and faith that I hold in my heart for my Lord and for my family shown in practical ways through the canvas of my home and it appears that my husband has felt that. It touched my heart hearing those words.

Thinking about it later on in the evening, I was reminded of the importance of the woman in the home. We set the tone, we are the thermostat to the atmosphere of our home. We can bring blessings in so many ways. Be encouraged. I know it can often feel like a thankless and overlooked task. But what we do matters. It brings blessings!

Before I go, I wanted to share a beautiful playlist that I came across the other day. I hope you enjoy listening to it as I have and may it be a blessing to you.

May your homes be filled with faith, love, peace and joy this next week.

Seasonal Living in September: Welcoming the 'Ber' Months

2025-09-01T06:00:00.019+01:00

The Seasonal Home in Early Autumn

The approaching autumn brings a gentle shift in the air—a coolness in the mornings, the first golden leaves crunching underfoot, and a quiet turning inward that seems to come quite naturally as we prepare to welcome in a new season.

Early autumn always brings with it a sense of settling. The light softens. The evenings come sooner. The pace slows, just a little. There’s a deep comfort in the changing season, a rootedness I always look forward to.

In my Seasonal Living in August post, I mentioned how I would mark each month with seasonal themes that helped shape our learning and home life. Now, though the season of homeschooling has passed, I find myself still looking to the calendar and the natural world as gentle guides for how I care for my home and heart.

Autumn invites us to look inward—not just within our homes, but within ourselves. And in a world that often rushes headlong through the year, I want to pause and dwell in this moment. I want to notice the beauty, the comfort, and the provision. To let the Lord remind me that He is present in every season, both around me and within me.

🍂 Biblical Encouragement for the Homemaker’s Heart

There’s something profoundly spiritual about this time of year. The harvest season has long been a symbol of gratitude and dependence on God's provision. As the trees let go of their leaves, I’m reminded to let go too—to release the things I don’t need to carry, and to trust in the One who provides what I do.

“Come before Him with thankful hearts. Let us sing Him psalms of praise.”

—Psalm 95:2

In these quieter days, when the world outside begins to hush, I’m turning my attention more intentionally to home and heart. I’m asking God to make me sensitive to His rhythms, to help me honour Him in the small, unseen acts of homemaking, and to fill this season with His peace.

🍁 Early Autumn Homemaking Rhythms

Autumn homemaking doesn’t need to be grand or hurried. It’s the season for softening, for making things cosy and warm, and for drawing our families close. Here are a few gentle shifts I’m making around our home this season:

✨ Create a Cosy Atmosphere
Soft blankets are finding their way back onto armchairs. Candles are being lit earlier in the evening. I’m tucking away the lighter summer décor and pulling out warm amber tones, soft browns, and rusts. Even something as simple as a small pumpkin on the kitchen windowsill feels like a quiet celebration of the season.

🍂 Autumn’s Bounty
The kitchen begins to fill with richer scents—cinnamon, apple, roasted vegetables, and slow-cooked suppers. I find joy in baking again. A batch of apple muffins or a simmering pot of soup on the stove fills the house with warmth. I might even attempt a new recipe or two—something comforting and nourishing to match the mood of the season.

🌾 Preparing the Home
As we begin spending more time indoors, I like to refresh the spaces we’ll be using most. I’ll give the sitting room a bit of a tidy, perhaps add a seasonal cushion or a dried flower arrangement. These aren’t tasks so much as gentle rituals that help me mark the changing days.

🍎 Simple Autumn Joys

The beauty of autumn is that it doesn’t demand much—it simply invites us to notice. Here are some quiet pleasures I’m leaning into this month:

Wandering through crunchy leaves with a warm scarf and a brisk breeze
Collecting conkers and acorns on a walk through the park
Sipping hot tea while reading by a rain-streaked window
Lighting the first fire of the season
Setting the table with seasonal touches—a mini pumpkin here, a linen napkin there
Pressing leaves between the pages of a book, just like I used to as a girl

🕊 Tending the Heart

As the world quiets, I’m leaning more intentionally into quiet time with the Lord. This slower season lends itself beautifully to reading Scripture, journaling prayers, and simply sitting still in His presence.

I don’t want to miss what He might be whispering in these quieter months—those small nudges that are so easy to overlook when life is loud and busy.

And Finally...

Early autumn invites us to return home—to settle into rhythm, to light the candles, to fill the pantry, and to wrap our loved ones (and ourselves) in warmth and grace.

My prayer is that this season will be one of reflection and peace. May we not rush ahead but savour what is. May we be mindful of the beauty tucked into ordinary days. And may our homes, whatever their shape or season, be a haven of comfort, welcome, and faith.

As always, dear friends, thank you for walking this journey with me. I’d love to hear how you’re embracing early autumn in your home—do drop a note in the comments or come visit me on Instagram.

With warmth and gratitude,

Shirley Xx

The Power of Choice in the Shifting Season

2025-08-18T15:12:00.002+01:00

We are just a few weeks away from the start of a new season, my favourite season of all...autumn. I am aware of the fading summer garden and the shortening days. I am no longer awakened at 4am with the rising sun, and I am having to switch on the lamps earlier in the evenings.

Come and spend the afternoon with me as I observe and reflect on the shifting season and our power of choice within each season of life.

The trees are all looking tired and dusty now, as if they are approaching the finish-line in a marathon. Some are holding on to their leaves with all their might, yet somehow failing in their quest. The summer's heat and lack of rain is leaving the tell-tale signs of unseasonably dropped leaves littering the parched grass. I am reminded of the hot African summers of childhood.

As I stand at my kitchen window washing the dishes in the deep white ceramic Belfast sink, I watch butterflies dance in the dusty air before briefly landing on a nectar-rich flower head, then just as quickly, they dart away, meeting midair for a brief spiralling waltz before going their separate ways. I am filled with the memories and peace of childhood summers whose days seemed to last an eternity and I wonder how to recapture the time.

Drying my hands, I move to the conservatory, I think I will spend an hour working on my cross-stitch autumn sampler. I continue to ponder on how easy it is to allow the sands of time plumett through the thin neck of the hourglass, it seems to run quicker the older I get. Why is that?

I realise that time is time. It has always been what it is. The time of childhood days is the same time of adulthood. The difference is that children know how to value and spend their time.

As adults, we can be swept away by the ever-growing To-Do list. We have an insatiable need to always be busy, sometimes these are from external sources but a lot of time it's the self-imposed by the choices we make.

I realise that I lose a LOT of time on futile and empty pursuits such as social media, or engaging in tasks that really could wait a while or perhaps spending too much time on tasks that could be done just as well in a more focused, better-planned way that would free up time.

My choices and actions run along well-established lines of habit without any serious thought - this can change.

I look up from my stitching and watch the birds fly in and out of the three feeding stations I have set up. Amongst the regular Blue Tits, Great Tits, Sparrows, Robins and Starlings, I notice a new visitor...the Chaffinch. He has a slate grey head, orange cheeks and breast, and white wing bars and a silver bill. His female counterpart is slightly more demur and lacks the burnt orange colouring.

I set aside my stitching, trading needle and thread for my camera.

It's been a long while since I had Chaffinches visiting my garden. I have noticed a marked difference between the suburban garden of our last home to my new country garden.

I pick up my needle and thread again and contemplate the thought that soon autumn will be ushered in. I love this time of year so much. Nature holds a gentle reminder that our days are numbered, they always have been, and we should be wise in our choices and how we spend our time, and on whom we invest time.

Children know. They live in the moment. When they are playing ball they are 100% committed to the game. When they are exploring a river or field, they are completely committed, driven by their need to know and discover more. When they encounter a new creature, their attention is focused on it, watching, observing, holding it in awe and wonder.

We have a healthy population of frogs in our wildlife pond.

They are unapologetic in wanting to spend their time on things that bring them joy, that capture their attention, that feed their curiosity rather than spend a disproportionate amount of time on things that sap the joy and purpose from their days.

As adults, we are more aware of time slipping through our fingers, should that not be the very incentive to evaluate and decide to be purposeful in how we spend our time?

Soon I am once again setting aside my needle and thread in exchange for my camera, a new visitor, one which I have never seen before...

I manage to get a few well-timed shots and then pull a field guide from my book shelves...a Nuthatch. I am absolutely thrilled!

A little while later, after having spent time in the garden, I return to the kitchen to find a small sparrow has somehow found its way into my kitchen. It's frightened, desperate to get out. I try my best to direct to to the open window. It stands on the cusp of the windowsill and then in its distress, takes the wrong flight path and flies right over my head, straight into a closed window. It immediately drops to the floor, lifeless.

I feel so terribly sad as it lies in my hand. Just like that - this small creatures life is extinguished. This morning, it had no inkling that today was it's last day. One wrong turn was all it took. There is a lesson here.

Be Brave and Make The Changes That Need To Be Changed

I know that I need to make a change, this whole year has been about needing to change. Escaping from the 'way things are' and not accepting them as the way they have to be.

There was a time when we read real books and not just for 10 minutes before bedtime when we squeeze in a few lines on our backlit Kindle before our eyes close in exhaustion.

Instead I can CHOOSE to take a real book at anytime of the day (work allowing) and sit on the lawn or a park bench and immerse myself in the authors world.

There was a time when we got our news from printed newspapers, and once we had read what we needed to read, we closed the pages on the wider world and got on with living our days, our moments. Now, we are bombarded with news, real and fake, 24 hours a day from multiple sources and worse, we willingly subject ourselves to that!

I can CHOOSE to modulate how much news I consume and choose where I get it from. I know that my choice will reduce overload anxiety while still keeping me informed. Personally, I don't need to be updated on a daily basis on all the horrible things that are happening or on the screaming opinions - all of which are determined to have their say and all of whom are convinced that their opinion is more valuable than any you may hold yourself. I can shut the door. It's my door to shut.

There was a time when we valued our role within the home, taking care to be frugal, to plan, to only spend on what was necessary and not use shopping as a means of emotional therapy or as a means of acceptance. yet 'keeping up with the Jones' has reached epidemic levels perpetuated by social media. We seek to keep up with holidays, aesthetically pleasing homes rather than down-to-earth, warm, inviting, homespun, genuinely welcoming embracing with arms-wide-open, old-fashioned hospitality.

I can CHOOSE to stop falling for the expert marketing from people whose only wish to to capitalise and line their own pockets from selling old-fashioned warmth and hospitality by selling 'things' that will 'give you' that old-fashioned feel. I can CHOOSE just to BE hospitable right where I am with what I have and save money while I'm doing it.

When we realise that we have the choice at any time in our lives to reject 'the way things are' or 'this is just the way it is in the modern world', we are empowered by the momentum created by our active choosing.

If you want to sit at the edge of a pond and watch the frogs rather than go out and put on the next load of washing, do it. The washing can wait 15 minutes.

If you wish to spend an hour of your free time reading a new book or working on your favourite craft, do it. You are entitled to spend time doing something you love rather then always feeling that you have to tick one more thing off your 'To-Do' List. There will always be things to do and those things tend to be like an insatiable beast, never satisfied, the hunger never quelled. Ditch the guilt - do lovely things that make you happy.

Don't wait until you have the 'perfect home' to extend warm hospitality, do it now, where you are - people want to spend time with you. You are the key and most important factor, not your surrounds. Be a blessing and be blessed.

Well lovelies, I hope that you are looking forward to the new season and perhaps look forward to spending a bit of pondering time on your own life season.

Sending you warm blessings.

Seasonal Living in August: Celebrating the Last Weeks of Summer

2025-08-01T07:00:00.006+01:00

August is here, the last month of summer. We've had some glorious weather this summer and a good few rainy days too which has been nice. I feel like we have had a good run of weather this year and while I am not wishing away these last days of summer, I have to admit to looking forward to everything that autumn brings.

I think there is something deeply comforting about planning for the seasons and it is something that I have done in our home for the past 20 years. Each month brings its own beauty and meaning, and I love weaving these moments into our home life.

Celebrating the small markers of the year not only created lasting memories for my children growing up, but also keeps us all connected to the gentle rhythm of the natural world. Even though our daughters have left home and have homes of their own, I still continue these simple seasonal rituals in my home.

Season-keeping, as I like to call it, brings me so much joy—but it does take a little planning! At the start of each month, I set aside time to gather my thoughts and sketch out simple ways to reflect the season in our daily routines. This helps me turn inspiration into action and ensures that I really notice and savour the gifts of the moment.

I’d love to know how you mark the seasons in your own home—I'm always on the lookout for fresh ideas and inspiration!

In my Home Journal, I keep a section for each month of the year. Tucked behind each tab are notes and plans from previous years, which I revisit at the start of the month alongside my calendar. I draw from a blend of resources—Pinterest boards brimming with ideas, favourite books, saved magazine clippings, and bookmarked blogs—all of which help me dream and plan with intention.

Here’s a glimpse at what August looks like in my seasonal planning this year...

Folklore

Gemstone: Agate
Flower: Gladiolus
Sayings: If the first week of August be warm, the winter will be long and white.
Full Moon This Month: Sturgeon Moon

Nature

Late Summer
Shortening Days
Busy Insects
Summer holiday
Full Moon - 9th August
Blackberry picking
Perseid Meteor Shower - expected peaking 12 August this year. (pre-dawn is best viewing time)

Homeschooling

Clear out the schoolroom for the next academic year
Refresh stationary supplies
order curriculum and books
Sort out the bookshelves - perhaps order a few new seasonal books.
Plan field trips for the autumn months
Plan autumn nature studies
Sort out clothing and make lists for winter clothing needs.
Plan a 'back-to-homeschool' surprise.

Home Blessings

Wash and refresh all the blankets and quilts ready for autumn and winter use
May as well get those curtains and cushion covers washed too 😉
Pick flowers from the garden to enjoy indoors.
Clean bird feeders in readiness for cooler months
Start making gifts ahead of Christmas
Utilise home-grown produce or foods that are in season now and make soups for the freezer to be enjoyed in autumn.
Plan your autumn decor and make lists for what you need; what you already have; and what you can gather from nature. Afterall, Autumn is right around the corner!

Food

BBQ's
Homegrown tomatoes
Basil
Peas off the vine
Baking bread for Lammas day
Garden Tea Party for Tasha Tudor Day

Life

Afternoon Tea Week (11th - 17th) - Celebrating the great British tradition of afternoon tea! (plan a tea party with friends)
August Bank Holiday (25th) - the last Bank Holiday in the run-up to Christmas

Summer Crafts and Activities

Stargazing
Make some natural room scents for last days of summer.
Colour some Wild Carrot (Cow Parsley)
picnics in the woods
pond paddling
Make lavender wands

In My Book Basket This Month

The Dun Cow Rib: A Very Natural Childhood
A Thousand Feasts: A New Memoir on How To Find Joy in Food, Travel & Gardening
English Pastoral: An Inheritance
The Magic Apple Tree

The purpose of creating a seasonal mood board is to bring some of these lovely ideas to life—whether it’s reserving books from the library for our reading corner, pencilling special outings or celebrations into the calendar, or trying a few seasonal recipes to mark meaningful days.

The key to season-keeping is consistency over perfection. It’s about establishing a gentle rhythm that supports your family life—not overwhelming yourself with grand plans. A few simple, well-chosen ideas go much further than an overambitious list. As the saying goes, baby steps!

Wishing you a joyful and peaceful month of season-keeping...

Where Badgers Visit and Owls Call: Life in Our Welsh Country Home

2025-07-31T09:25:00.002+01:00

It's 5am on the first morning in our new home and I am sitting in the conservatory, my hands cupped around a steaming mug of tea, watching a badger gorge on bird seed from the feeder he has tipped over and raided.

I move to re-adjust to a more comfortable position, alerting the badger to my presence. He freezes, our eyes lock for a second, and he turns tail and lumbers off across to the far end of the garden before disappearing through the hedgerow into the field beyond. A small mouse darts out of the undergrowth to steal a few sunflower seeds left behind by the badger.

At dusk I watch bats zig-zag across garden hunting for insects and at night, just before I slip into sleep, I hear the mournful call of an owl. the I feel like I may just be living in a Brambly Hedge storybook!

I had forgotten the deep, beautiful silence of the countryside. This morning, that silence was punctuated by birdsong and the sheep having a chat to one another, no doubt discussing their plans for the day.

It's been 10 days since we moved into Hillbank (the house name reminds me of Beatrix Potter's 'Hilltop Farm'), our home in a small village in the Welsh hills. It feels comfortable, like pulling on a favourite well-worn comfortable jumper on a chilly autumn morning. The house embraces us with its warm wooden flooring and deep inglenook fireplace which promises to wrap us in warmth and cosiness throughout autumn and winter.

The garden is wild. It has not had a proper caretaker for many years. The grass has been allowed to romp freely into the flowerbeds, the rushes have taken over the pond to the point that you would not know that it is there, and the moss in the lawn could provide a hundred florists with all they need for their floral arrangements for months.

It will be a labour of love to restore the garden to what it once was.

Last week I picked up a few supplies at the small farm shop in the village and met some lovely ladies. "You must join the WI when we reconvene in September!"; and, "We have a choire, do you sing?", then, "Oh we are short of a soprano, I do hope you will join us".

I can see that life will be rich and full here. I am very much looking forward to being part of village life.

This home would have been a perfect homeschooling home! It was the first thing my daughter said to me when she popped over for a visit. She's right, it would have been 😊.

But this home is the start of a new chapter for us. It's a home that anchors us as we start new ventures. My husband has semi-retired - that is, he has left the hotel industry and will be starting his own artisan food and coffee shop. I have finally started writing again and am working with a mentor as I journey to get published.

I don't know what the future holds, do any of us? But I know that for this next season in our lives, we are exactly where we should be. It won't be our 'forever' home as we are just renting 'Hillbank' while we build our businesses, and I still have a hankering to live in the beautiful Lake District.

But for now, I know that this is the right place for us to roost. It is near to our adult children, both of whom are in their own seasons of building and establishing their lives and who appreciate the support and proximity that this home offers to us all.

It will be our place of recovery after a really difficult and emotional home sale process (please do pray for us that our house sale goes through and does not fall at the final hurdle once again). Our place of gentle adjustment as we move out of suburbia and back into the countryside, losing many of the conveniences that come town living.

It's a place gentle reconnection as we adjust to what life looks and feels like with both us working in a self-employed capacity. I'm grateful that we will get to be the caretakers of this beautiful home and garden and to write 'Under a Welsh Sky' for a season 💕

A Year of Resolve : Real Books & More

2025-07-11T06:00:00.001+01:00

2025... is my year of resolve.

In February this year, I wrote a post on slow living. I was feeling overwhelmed with the pace of life, the influence of social media, even the slow life is being romanticised unrealistically. With the rise of AI, we are in more danger of losing our jobs, skills, talents, original thought and ideas.

I keep seeing people pushing how you can use AI to generate whole books and courses with just a few prompts. Well my question is, where is the real connection that the reader forges with the author through the ART of storytelling through their unique command of words and language?

Are we entering another 'dark age' without realising it? An age where we hand over original thought and talent to AI and stop thinking for ourselves altogether? Where we stop creating and rely on AI generated art, books and stories?

I am not a complete luddite, I do see how these things can be helpful and beneficial, but I fear that we will lose more than we gain. There is no going back, we have no choice but to hang onto the train of progress for it is moving forward whether we like it or not and we are going to have to fit in.

But I think this is precisely all the more reason to live with resolve. To be purposeful in how we choose to live life. In being purposeful in our choices and remaining grounded enough to not lose sight of the importance of old-fashioned skills and slow ways.

All this fits into my year of resolve. A purposeful return to gentle things, real things.A purposeful relationship in faith with Christ. A purposeful return to the gentle art of homemaking. To learning new skills and returning to the gentle rhythms of the home.

Real Books

I mentioned in this post that I intended to read only 'real' books this year. Well, that resolve quickly grew and it seems to have taken on a whole new wonderful momentum.

I am enjoying visiting my local library, browsing the shelves and choosing a great big pile of books. What I'm enjoying more, is building my very own library at home!

You see, visiting the library and seeing all those wonderful books seemed to awaken something in me. I've always loved reading books. My dad used to call me 'Horizontal Harriet' because I was always lying on my bed or under a tree reading a book.

What I love about them (books) are the worlds authors create. I am transported into a land that is simply quite magical and I get to share in the adventures with the most marvellous characters, who become lifelong friends.

As a homeschooling family we have always had a deep love for and a lot of books. At the moment, most of our books are in boxes. I'd love to say it's down to our pending move, but it's not.

They have been in boxes for a number of years because I have not made space for them. I have not been mindful and purposeful in giving them a home since our homeschooling days drew to a close.

Typing those last few sentences actually made me quite sad!

My latest acquisitions for my home library

So I am glad that my simple step of going back to the library initiated this new journey...a journey to curating a home library and writing.

I have been purposefully seeking out new titles, buying real books - hardcover if possible, I prefer hardcover.

In our new home we have a lot of space, space to have a home library, not just a small corner, but enough space to have a couple of floor to ceiling bookshelves.

I've treated myself to British Library Crime Classics subscription. Each month a box arrives with a new classic crime book and a beautiful vintage print which I plan on framing once I have a set of 6 for my home office.

A Writer's Almanac

The momentum continues...

At age 9 I submitted a story I wrote to a competition the local newspaper was holding and won! Right then and there I knew that I wanted to be an author.

I've always loved writing. I am a writer. I write here on my blog. I write for a homeschooling nature study publication. I have a huge bag full of journals that I have kept over the years. I keep a nature journal. I am a writer.

I realised that I need to write to be happy. To be who I was created to be. To make sense of this world we live in. To create.

And so I am.

I've been exploring letting go and embracing new beginnings. I've started a dedicated writers blog/newsletter on Substack, a platform for writers. You can read my first post called New Beginnings Are Hard.

I've rebranded my YouTube Channel to be more in keeping with who I am. A woman of faith, a writer, homemaker, observer of the seasons and nature lover.

At the moment I'm uploading short videos and plan on creating longer content videos after our house move. The content will not be solely focussed on knitting as it was, it will be much broader.

I plan on taking you with me on nature walks, giving you behind the scenes peeks into my nature journal, my writing, my seasonal living and home, and so on.

You can subscribe to my YouTube Channel HERE, and to my Substack here. If you are on Instagram, you can follow my writing account called @shirleyannvelswriter

Anyhoo, I think that about wraps up this bookish post. If you are fellow bibliophile or writer, I hope that you will join me on my journey on any of those channels. If not, I shall see you back here very soon.

It's The Simple Things That Count

2025-07-10T11:45:00.000+01:00

Materialism is an ever-constant assault on our senses. It's everywhere. All the time. Trying to convince us that happiness and contentment can be bought.

I was scrolling through my archives and found this post that I wrote in 2015. I couldn't help but think how much pressure to 'have more to have happiness' has increased with the growth of social media and influencers since writing this post.

Honestly, it's exhausting to be constantly told how to 'find happiness'. Ultimately, the people who are trying to convince us of their wealth = happiness gospel are doing so because it has a direct correlation to their own bank balance!

So, I thought it may be a good time to re-publish this post as timely reminder to rebalance our thoughts and hearts on what truly matters in life.

From the Archives:

In today's post I wanted to share some lovely simple things from my week that have made me happy. It seems to have become a bit of a ponderous post for me though after our read-aloud time this morning. So instead of speaking about those lovely simple things, I will pen out my thoughts and pepper this post with pictures of them instead.

I am reading the book 'Daddy-Long-Legs' by Jean Webster to my girls during our read-aloud time. In today's reading the main character, Judy, writes to Daddy-Long-Legs of her first visit to New York. She writes,

"I can't imagine any joy in life greater than sitting down in front of a mirror and buying any hat you choose without having first to consider the price! There's no doubt about it, Daddy; New York would rapidly undermine this fine stoical character which the John Grier Home so patiently built up."

Her very next letter sees her in a more rational frame of mind. Daddy Long-legs evidently sent her a cheque after reading her letter, but she returns the cheque with a note explaining why she cannot accept the money, she writes,

" I am sorry that I wrote all that silly stuff about the millinery shop; it's just that I had never seen anything like it before."

I'm sure we can all find a time in our life when we felt like Judy. It is so easy to get sucked into a world of materialism. I usually try to avoid shopping malls that hold every top brand name, or those streets in London that house the same. It sucks you in and you begin to feel a little like Judy. I know what she means when she says that *New York (*fill in your own city/mall/shopping weakness here) would undermine her stoic character.

Materialism is a terribly enticing and bad master and the truth is that shopping up a storm or adding 'stuff' to your name does not make you a happier person. Unfortunately we spend our lives having advertising companies bombarding us with messages on why we will only ever be happy if we buy x-y or z.

The best way of counteracting this is to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness for what we have and appreciating the simple things in life.

There are many, many things to be thankful for and appreciate if you just look around you. Here are some of mine this week:

* The good health of everyone in my family

* BBQ's on a warm spring evening

* Nature walks with my children

* New life springing out from all quarters every single day

* A roof over our heads and food in our tummies

* A good job to keep us in above-stated condition :)

* Being able to sit quietly and work in my nature journal

* Good friends to talk to

* Happy memories of family holidays and times together

* Living in England! I love this country and feel blessed to be here

* Seasons - I love the seasons

* Birdsong - how can you not be cheered when you stop to listen to them

* Buzzy bumble-bees and fluttery butterflies - all out in the sunshine

* Washing dancing in the wind as it dries outside on the washing line

* Freshly cut lawn

* Clouds scudding across the blue sky

* Blossoms and blooms - they are everywhere at the moment

* The feel of my fountain pen moving over paper as I write in journal entries

* Reading good books together with my children and for myself. We have many wonderful memories of books read together. I'm so grateful that I have given my children a living-books rich curriculum

* Jumping on the trampoline with my daughter and laughing until our sides hurt

* Eating ice-creams outside in the warm sunshine

* Seeing the Cowslips blooming - they are so sweet, I love them.

I could go on but I fear I might bore you LOL. But I'm sure that as you read my list you will see that none of the things I have listed as precious and thankful memories and moments have cost very much or anything at all.

In a world that seems to have gone half-crazy on materialism, I'm immensely grateful that its the simple things in life that make me most happy.

A blessed Thursday to you all...

A Year of Waiting: Our Long Road to Moving House

2025-07-08T16:25:00.003+01:00

It’s been a full year since we first placed our home on the market. To our surprise, it sold within just two days, and with multiple offers on the table. We had hoped that this was a sign of things to come—swift, smooth, and straightforward. In truth, that was where the ease ended.

Since then, we’ve experienced just about every setback the UK housing market can throw at a seller. We are now on our third buyer. Yes—third.

Buyer One: A Lesson in Disappointment

Our first buyer, as it turned out, was not acting in good faith. We were given reassurances that their sale was progressing, their finances were in order, and that everything was proceeding as planned. Sadly, these turned out to be untruths. The week we were due to exchange contracts, they suddenly withdrew—having apparently found “something more suitable.” It’s difficult to understand how some people can so casually disrupt the lives of others.

We will miss this garden that we have so lovingly built!

Buyer Two: A Heartfelt Attempt

Back on the market we went—and again, the house sold in a few days. We’re fortunate that our home has always attracted interest; it’s in a good location and offers lovely spaces. Our second buyer was a kind couple, genuinely lovely, but they faced repeated setbacks with the sale of their own property. After several failed attempts, the stress became too much for them, and they made the understandable decision to withdraw entirely from the process.

By this point, seven months had passed since we first accepted an offer. Our own intended purchase understandably could wait no longer and returned their home to the market.

This is a bumper year for our little apple tree. If we have not completed on our sale by September, we will be harvesting these apples!

Buyer Three: Hope With Caution

And so, the house went back on the market once more—and again, sold within days. We were careful this time, choosing buyers who had already sold their property and appeared to be progressing steadily. They are, again, a lovely couple, but complications in their chain have brought fresh delays. We are reassured each week that completion is on track for the end of August—but after the year we've had, I take such assurances with a pinch of salt.

What we’ve come to realise is that throughout this process, buyers have not always been transparent about the challenges they are facing. We’ve often found out about issues far too late, when momentum has made it difficult to pause or pivot. It's disheartening. I find it very difficult to reconcile with the idea of withholding truth to preserve a transaction.

A Change of Direction

A year of living in limbo—of half-packed boxes, cleaned cupboards, and cautious hope—has finally taken its toll. We need to move forward.

So we are.

The new house - we are looking forward to making it our family home.

We’ve found a lovely house in the countryside to rent—a peaceful, pretty place that feels just right. By removing ourselves from the chain, we can hopefully make the next step a little simpler. When the time is right, we’ll be in a position to buy again, this time as cash buyers, and with far less uncertainty surrounding us.

We had been due to move at the end of May, with all parties in agreement, but then the bottom of the chain collapsed again. That was the final straw. Thankfully, the owners of our new rental home were happy to delay our move-in, and it suited their needs too.

We have a wonderful new garden to look after!

Now, in just under two weeks, we’ll be making our move—this time for real. I’m grateful we’ll be able to settle in without the exhausting pressure of a same-day exchange and completion. Anyone who has experienced that will know the near-impossible task of handing over a clean, tidy house while simultaneously moving your worldly belongings into a new one.

This past year has revealed just how deeply flawed the UK’s house buying and selling system really is. It’s costly, fragile, and frankly, in desperate need of reform. Too much is left to chance and goodwill—both of which can run out quickly in a long chain.

But in spite of everything, I’m choosing to look forward. A new chapter is beginning, and I pray it will be marked by peace, stability, and new rhythms of home.

Making Home with Your Hands & Your Summer Peace Plan Printable

2025-06-27T10:19:00.001+01:00

There’s something deeply comforting about crafting with your hands—especially in summer, when the days stretch long and golden, and the pace of life invites us to slow down, savour, and make space for peace.

This week, I’ve been leaning into that sense of intention and simplicity—creating with joy, prayerfully preparing for the seasons ahead, and grounding my days in gentle rhythms. I’m delighted to share a few of those things with you today: a cheerful handmade rag wreath to brighten your home, beautifully decorated candles ready for gifting, and a free printable to help you map out your own peaceful summer.

✽ Creating a Home that Whispers “Welcome”

I started the week with a simple, satisfying craft: a fabric rag wreath. This is the sort of project that feels timeless and comforting—no fancy tools required, just your hands, some fabric scraps in soft summer hues, and a bit of time to tie and tuck.

Each scrap carries a story—a memory from an old sewing project or a remnant too pretty to part with. As I knotted them around the frame, I found myself praying quietly for my home and those who pass through its doors.

✽ Preparing for a Season of Giving

While the warmth of summer wraps us in sunshine, my thoughts often stray to Christmas. Yes, really! I love to use these quieter months to prepare small, thoughtful gifts that can be wrapped up with care when Advent arrives.

This week, I dressed a few candles with a collar of brown craft paper and seasonal trims—tucked away for December gifting. There’s such peace in this kind of quiet preparation. It feels like sowing seeds of love in advance, ready to bless someone months from now.

Perhaps you’d like to make a few too? Pop on a hymn or soft music, brew a cup of something soothing, and let your hands create beauty.

✽ A Printable to Help You Plan a Peaceful Summer

To accompany your slow summer days, I’ve created a Summer Peace Plan printable, designed to gently guide your heart and home toward peace. It's a one-page resource you can tuck into your journal, pin on your fridge, or keep near your Bible.

It includes:

Daily Anchors for Peace like prayer, time outdoors, and creative moments
Soul Prompts to reflect on what God may be inviting you to release or embrace
A Gentle Summer List of soul-nourishing ideas—from pressing flowers to reading under a tree

This is not a to-do list, dear friend, but an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and dwell in the quiet, nurturing presence of God this season.

✨ Click here to download your free Summer Peace Plan printable

PS. You can download this plan anytime from the FREEBIES page on this blog.

✽ Homemaking as Worship

Whether you’re stitching, baking, tying ribbons or simply sweeping the kitchen floor, I believe these acts can be a form of worship. When we make our homes with love and intention, we reflect the heart of our Creator—who made all things good, and called them beautiful.

So as summer unfolds, may you find peace in the small things. May your hands be blessed in the work they do. And may your home be a haven of grace.

With every blessing...

Starting a Simple Stitching Practice This Summer

2025-06-25T17:50:00.000+01:00

There’s something about the slower days of summer that seems to invite me to pick up something gentle and meaningful with my hands. Perhaps it’s the longer evenings, or the unhurried rhythm that naturally follows the school year winding down, or in my case, a considered return to the gentle art of homemaking.

Whatever it is, this season feels like the perfect time to begin—or return to—a quiet stitching practice.

Needlework has long been a companion to peaceful moments. Whether it’s the soft click of knitting needles, the rhythmic pull of thread through linen, or the satisfying neatness of tiny cross-stitches forming a pattern, there is a kind of stillness that settles over me when I work with my hands. It's a way of grounding myself, of inviting beauty and creativity into the everyday.

This summer, I’m leaning into those slower moments by spending more time with needle and thread. I find that cross-stitch and embroidery offer just the right amount of focus to quiet the mind, while knitting feels wonderfully meditative—especially when paired with a cup of tea and a breezy open window.

Needlework has threaded its way through may seasons of my life - some joyful, some trying - and it's always brought a sense of clam and comfort.

Needlework has been my companion through many a season. It has been a link from my role as a young homeschooling mother with days packed with learning and the challenges that parenting can bring, through the transition over the turbulant rapids of discovery throughout that empty nest season, into the still waters of acceptance and a new season.

I recently spent some time sorting through the stitching supplies and fabrics I’ve gathered over the years and came across three unfinished projects, along with materials set aside for others I’ve yet to begin. I'm so grateful I took the time to store these treasures carefully—they’ve waited patiently, ready to be picked up again.

This summer, I’ll be returning to these three projects, gently weaving a simple stitching practice into the rhythm of my days and weeks.

A Little Winter Robin

This little "Feathered Friend" stitchery in issue 234 of The World Of Cross Stitching magazine which I started in 2018.

It was going to be a gift for my grandmother, we have shared a love of the little British Robin since my childhood. Sadly she passed away a few years ago and I never got to gift it to her.

It's a stark reminder to not put off for tomorrow what we can do today.

I think that finishing this little chap and displaying him in my home this Christmas time will be a beautiful tribute to her.

I can imagine it catching my eye as I work in the Kitchen during that joyful season, and to be reminded of her. It will be like she is with me in the ordinary moments of my days. So my goal is to finish this project over the next 8 weeks.

Forest Snowfall

I started this Country Cottage Needleworks chart, Forest Snowfall, about two years ago. It's been tucked away for far too long, and I would love to complete it in time to display during the early winter months.

In my mind’s eye, I can see myself gently packing away the festive decorations after Twelfth Night, the house quiet once more after the joyful flurry of the holidays. In their place, I hang this wintry stitched scene—a quiet nod to the season, full of charm and stillness.

There is something so comforting about those first weeks of January, when the world slows down and home becomes a sanctuary once again. This sweet little chart reminds me that the return to simple domestic rituals are their own kind of celebration.

Changing Seasons

This was a more recent start. Autumn is by far my favourite season—there’s something quite magical about it. Outside, nature begins to slow down. Leaves shift from summer green to rich golds and russets, a final glorious flourish before the stillness of winter, when all things rest and gather strength for the season to come.

Yet even in this slowing, there are new beginnings. The rhythm of the year turns toward harvest celebrations and the quiet anticipation of winter festivities. It’s a season of both stillness and expectancy—a slowing and a quickening.

This chart was designed by Durene Jones for the World of Cross-Stitching Magazine. You can buy this design from her Etsy Shop.

I love to decorate my home for autumn with natural items gathered from nature, warm blankets, autumn scented candles and of course, my homespun stitchery's. I try to make something new for my home each year and I think this little sampler would be a great addition.

Starting a Simple Stitching Practice This Summer

What I love about this hobby is that you don’t need to be an expert or have a drawer full of supplies to begin. A simple hoop, a few threads, a free chart found on Pinterest, or better yet, treat yourself to a lovely cross-stitch magazine packed with charts and advice ... is all it takes to open the door to hours of peaceful creativity. And in a world that often moves too fast, returning to these traditional crafts can feel like reclaiming a bit of quiet joy.

As I settle into this slower rhythm, needle and thread in hand, I’m reminded that creativity doesn’t need to be grand or complicated to be meaningful. There’s such comfort in the familiar motion of stitching, in watching something beautiful emerge little by little. It’s a quiet, grounding practice—one that draws me back to the heart of home, to peaceful winter afternoons and the gentle blessing of making something with my own hands.

So why not pick up your needle and thread, find a quiet corner, and begin? You might just rediscover a deep and quiet joy waiting to unfold, one stitch at a time.

The Seasonal Home in Early Summer

2025-06-21T06:00:00.010+01:00

With today’s golden light and long hours, it feels safe to say—summer has well and truly arrived.

In our homeschooling days, I used to share a monthly series on seasonal themes and plans. They were simple collections of ideas, rooted in the rhythm of the year, which guided our learning and helped shape our days at home. Those posts held everything from nature study to liturgical observances—threads that wove beauty and meaning into the fabric of our family life.

Time, of course, moves on. But lately, I’ve felt the nudge to revisit that practice—this time through the lens of a homemaker.

Observing the seasons has always helped me to slow down and notice. It gently lifts my eyes from the rush of the world and turns my heart back to what matters most: faith, family, home, and the quiet beauty of the present moment. It reminds me to give thanks for what I already have, rather than dwell on what I don’t. And when we live with a heart of gratitude, peace often follows.

In a world that feels increasingly hurried—and one that seems, at times, to drift far from the Christian and traditional values I hold dear—I find great comfort in tending to what I can influence. My home. My heart. The atmosphere I cultivate each day.

So, as this new season begins, I’m turning my gaze once again to God’s goodness, and asking Him to help me keep His priorities at the centre of my days.

Biblical Encouragement for the Homemakers Heart

The past six or seven years have brought a steady stream of changes—some welcome, others challenging. It’s been a long season of transition, and I’ve often tried to navigate it all in my own strength. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that my wisdom is sorely limited! So this month, I’m intentionally laying things down at the Lord’s feet—choosing to trust Him not only with the big concerns, but also with the everyday details of life at home.

Here are a few gentle practices I’ll be focusing on this June—simple rhythms that help lift my eyes heavenward and steady my heart.

🌿 Enjoy Creation

June offers so many beautiful glimpses of God’s handiwork. I’ll be making a point to step outside, feel the sun on my skin, listen to the birdsong, and simply notice. As Psalm 19:1 reminds us,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”

🕊 Practice Hospitality

There is something sacred about opening our homes, even in simple ways. A pot of tea, a slice of cake, a welcoming heart. Hebrews 13:2 gently encourages us:

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

✨ Rest and Refresh

In a culture that praises busyness, making space for true rest is a spiritual act. This month, I’ll be carving out quiet moments to simply be—to rest in the presence of the One who calls me His own.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28

Early Summer Homnemaking Tasks

Each season offers its own rhythms in the home. Here are a few June-specific tasks I’m gently weaving into my days:

✨ Deep Clean & Declutter

Windows: Clean inside and out to let the summer light stream in. Don’t forget window screens!
Carpets & Rugs: Give them a good vacuum and spot-clean for freshness.

🌼 Outdoor Maintenance

Patios & Decks: Sweep, wash, or power-wash surfaces and freshen up outdoor furniture.
Garden & Lawn: Weed, mulch, trim, mow—and plant cheerful summer flowers or veg.
Gutters: Clear out debris to prepare for any summer downpours.

🍓 Kitchen Refresh

Fridge & Pantry: Wipe down shelves, check expiry dates, and make space for summer produce.
Grill Ready: Clean and prep the barbecue for sunny days ahead.
Freezer Meals: Start slowly stocking up with baked goods and pre-prepped meals—especially handy for busy or hot days.

Light & Lovely June Décor

Small seasonal touches can bring a sense of joy and freshness into our homes.

🌞 Light and Airy

Colours: Swap out deeper tones for whites, soft blues, and buttery yellows.
Fabrics: Choose breezy cottons or linens for bedding and cushions.

🌿 Nature Indoors

Fresh Flowers: A simple vase of daisies or sunflowers can completely lift a room.
Potted Greenery: Bring in a few leafy plants to add life and freshness.

🪟 Outdoor Living Spaces

Cosy Corners: Add cushions, throws, and even an outdoor rug to make patios or balconies inviting.
Lighting: Twinkling fairy lights or lanterns can create a magical atmosphere for evening relaxation.

🐚 Seasonal Accents

Coastal Vibes: Think driftwood, shells, or a nautical print here and there.
Wall Art: Swap in a few summer-themed pieces to reflect the season’s warmth and light.

Simple June Joys & Home Care

🍉 Summer Activities

Host a casual picnic, an impromptu BBQ, or a relaxed garden tea with loved ones.
Plan outdoor adventures—walks in nature, beach days, or countryside rambles.

🛠 Light Home Maintenance

Pest Check: Keep an eye out for seasonal critters and take preventative steps.
Smoke Alarms: A quick test gives peace of mind.
Irrigation: Adjust sprinkler or watering routines as the weather heats up.

And Finally...

Let June be a month of gentle purpose—a time to realign with what truly matters and to invite beauty into both our hearts and our homes. May we not be overwhelmed by to-do lists, but instead see each small act of homemaking as a quiet offering—an opportunity to reflect God’s care and goodness in the daily rhythms of life.

And as always, may our homes be places of peace, our hearts tuned to grace, and our eyes lifted to the One who holds all seasons in His hands.

How To Get Started With Nature Study

2025-06-18T06:00:00.001+01:00

As a long-time Charlotte Mason homeschooling mum, I've been reflecting on the many rich elements that shaped our learning journey over the years. Among them, nature study has stood out as a quiet yet powerful thread—one that not only nourished our understanding of science, but helped form lifelong relationships with the natural world.

In our home, nature study became more than a subject; it became a way of seeing. It even played a part in inspiring my eldest daughter to pursue a career as a botanical illustrator, proof that the seeds you plant in those early days can bear beautiful, lasting fruit.

Why Nature Study Matters

At its heart, nature study is simple: it's about spending time outdoors, observing, and forming a connection with God's creation. It lays a natural foundation for more formal science lessons down the line, but just as importantly, it teaches attention, wonder, and reverence.

Yet, many parents feel unsure about where or how to begin. If that's you, take heart—this post is for you.

Step-by-Step with Charlotte Mason

Charlotte Mason encouraged families to spend regular, unhurried time outdoors—at least once a week. Each family member should have a simple nature notebook for recording observations, which may take the form of sketches, written notes, watercolours, quotes, or poems.

She championed long hours outside, even in winter, because she understood that nature itself is a master teacher. Children naturally tune in to the patterns of the world around them when they have the time and freedom to explore it. They learn best through observation, watching patiently until they come to know the habits of bees, ants, dragonflies, and spiders.

As Charlotte wisely put it: "Never be within doors when you can rightly be without."

Letting Go of Pressure

One of the most freeing aspects of the Charlotte Mason approach is that you don't need to be an expert. In fact, she cautioned against doing too much talking or 'teaching'. Let nature do the speaking. Your role is to gently facilitate by making time, showing delight, and occasionally pointing out something especially lovely.

You don't need to know all the answers either. In our home, we often turned to Anna Botsford Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study to learn together. The joy is in the shared discovery.

Charlotte reminds us: "By-and-by he will learn the bearing of facts with which he is already familiar... a very different thing from learning the reason why of facts which have never come to his notice."

Where to Begin

Nature study doesn’t require anything elaborate. Start by heading outdoors together, journals in hand, or bring something home from your walk to draw or explore more deeply. If you’re looking for guidance, I highly recommend Karen Andreola’s A Charlotte Mason Companion or her delightful narrative A Pocketful of Pinecones—a gentle, story-based introduction to implementing nature study.

Favourite Supplies

Here are some tried-and-true resources we’ve used for years:

A set of 12 half-pan watercolour paints — one per child lasts for years!
Square Watercolor Journal's — These are my personal favourite. They have lovely thick pages perfect for watercolour
Anna Botsford Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study — a foundational investment used weekly in our home
Outdoor Hour Challenges — free, seasonal step-by-step nature study lessons from Homeschool Nature Study

If you’re just starting out, begin with the "Getting Started" section of Homeschool Nature Study. It’s full of gentle encouragement and practical tips.

Final Thoughts

I hope this post has given you the courage to simply begin. Don’t let lack of confidence in your drawing or scientific knowledge hold you back. Your children don’t need perfection, they need presence. And you might just find yourself learning and growing right alongside them.

Let this be the year you embrace nature study. Go outdoors, be still, and wonder. You never know where it might lead—perhaps even to the heart of a future naturalist, a scientist, or a botanical artist in your own home.

Here’s to the journey, and all the beauty it brings.