Spring 2018 Bucket List

It has officially been spring for a whole entire week now.  So I think it is fair to say that it's about time I publish my 'Spring Bucket List'.

*Plant some seeds

*Bake biscuits

*Visit Columbia Road Flower Market

* Plant up a vivarium

* Sell at a car-boot-fair

* Walk over the O2 (Up at the O2)

* Make something (it's been a while since I've done something creative)

* Visit a garden

* Sit with a book outside

* Explore somewhere new

I have missed creating my monthly bucket lists this year, however that said, I used to dread that time of the month rolling around as I could never think of what to add to them so have been thankful for not doing them so far this year.  I figured the seasonal ones would be a lot easier but I will admit, I have struggled compiling this list.  Still at least I now have a couple of months before the next one is due. 

~ Gem x

Hanningfield Bluebell Wood

I've wanted to see a carpet of bluebells stretching out as far as the eye could see for some time now.  After spotting the most incredible photo on a friends Instagram taken at Hanningfield Reservoir, I knew I had to head over there to see them.  

After leaving the car park it didn't take long to reach the ocean of blue, swaying beneath the trees.

The smell was just beautiful.  

I stood there for quite a while, just breathing it all in.  The truth is, I didn't want to leave.

I have never seen anything like it.  Definitely a moment to treasure.

~ Gem x

April Bucket List

Another month, brings another bucket list and this months takes us straight into spring.

I actually managed to do everything from my list last month except for just one thing so I shall carry it forward to this month as to be honest it can be done at any time of the year.

* Make my own bird feeders.

I love seeing birds in the garden so being able to dot little handmade feeders about the place will make it all the more special.

* Have a crafty adventure.

My crafts have sat by the way side for some time now, I'd really like to get back in the swing of things again.

*  Spring Clean.
It's at this time of year that I really enjoy having a good de-clutter and deep clean of the home.  Throwing the windows open and freshening up the home ready for the summer ahead.

* Explore a Bluebell Wood.
I've been meaning to do this for years so hopefully this will be the month I get to see Bluebells as far as the eye can see.

* Plan some breaks away.
I'm craving some time out at the moment.  I know I've not long been back from Center Parcs but having some things to look forward to is always good.


What have you got in store for April?  Any exciting plans or just seeing where the month takes you?

~ Gem x

Freshwinds Camping

Did you all have a lovely Easter?  The weather was a bit of mixed bag.  Beautiful warmth and sunshine on Friday and then it kind of just went downhill from there with the arrival of storm Katie.  We spent our weekend back at Freshwinds Campsite, thankfully staying in their Shepherds Hut, I don't think I could have coped in a tent. 

It was beautiful and cosy in there with the stove burning away.  In fact at times it was too hot, but I wasn't going to complain.

On Saturday night it poured with rain, boy did it rain.  I don't know about you, but I find there is something quite special about sitting and watching the rain from the warmth of inside.  

When it wasn't raining we spent time on the farm.  We had hoped to see some lambs being born, but sadly there were none.  I'm so grateful for the experience we had lambing last year, I'll never forget it.  

The cows seemed happy enough with the extra attention though.

And when we needing warming up after hanging out on the farm, cups of tea were enjoyed back in the shepherd's hut.

It was a lovely weekend and great to catch up with our friends who's farm it is.  Hopefully we will be back again soon to see some new arrivals.

~ Gem x 

The Past Week

Happy Easter.  I come to you under a mountain of chocolate Easter eggs (in my dreams).  Why is it that you can't get chocolate bars that taste like Easter eggs?  They have their own unique taste, does anyone else find that or is it just me? 

The Easter decorations are up.  I just couldn't find it in me to put them up earlier this year.  I'd not really been feeling myself, so they were quite late going up, but they made it in time so all is not lost.

I also managed to squeeze in some Easter baking with a Creme Egg Brownie creation.  I made this last year, it went down well so I figured I'd give it another go.

An evening spent in London meeting my all time favourite author Cecelia Ahern.

Plus a gorgeous dinner out with James and the start of a trip away to help friends on their farm, but I'll share more about that later in the week.

Have a wonderful Easter everyone.

~ Gem x

Norpar Easter Barn

Having visited Norpar Barns on numerous occasions, I was yet to visit their Easter Barn, well until Saturday that is.

It was just as I had imagined, bright, colourful and oh so pretty.

I love how they colour co-ordinate their displays.  It makes it so much easier to shop and is very pleasing on the eye too.

I could spend hours there, admiring all of the little decorations.  Near enough everything is my style, so I could also spend a fortune.  

It must take the staff ages to set it all up but it is so worth it.  It all just looks so delightful. 

The days have already started getting longer, all we need now is for the weather to warm up a little bit and spring will have well and truly arrived here in the UK, and I am so ready for it.

~ Gem x

The Past Week

A bit late in the day posting this, I wasn't going to post it but then I figured why not, so here it is.

The weather has been much more spring like this week, although still a bit nippy, but spring is definitely in the air.  Coming home from work to see a sunset like this was very much welcomed. 

My spring bulbs has come into full bloom this week.  They were a gift from my Nan for Christmas.  I do like seeing things I've planted come to life.

A day trip to London to visit the Spring Country Living Fair which I blogged about on Friday.

An amazing dinner at The Princes Room in Chelmsford, where students were hosting a canape evening.  You can read more about it on the blog tomorrow. 

Then finishing off the week nicely with a stop at Norpar Barns to check out their Easter Barn.

I hope you have all had a great week, here is hoping that the next week is just as good.

~ Gem x

Spring Country Living Fair

If you follow me on Instagram you will already know that I spent my day on Wednesday in London at the Spring Country Living Fair held at the Business Design Centre,  I've previously visited the Christmas version of this event but never the spring fair, so I was intrigued to discover what was in store.

  

Entering through the main doors and looking up I was greeted by the colourful rows of pastel bunting, strung from the ceiling, such a lovely sight.  Lowering my gaze I was struck by the beauty of the gorgeous garden designed by Lucy Summers.  The garden inspired by the beach, included pastel coloured beach huts, a beautiful bike and a small boat filled with beautiful flowers.  Also planted within the garden was the introduction of 'Midnight Mystic' black hyacinths.  I felt very privileged to be seeing them during their first day of public viewing.  Thompson and Morgan started off the species with 3 bulbs costing £150,00 and have taken over seven years to get to the current stage of production, such a great achievement, it's very rare to be seeing such dark coloured blooms.

Located behind the garden was a small seating area which hosts a number of talks throughout the day.  These talks vary from day to day, but definitely worth checking out if you are planning a visit.  I stopped by to check out Georgie Newberry from Common Farm Flowers demonstration of garden floristry which was very inspiring.  Talking through different materials available from our gardens to use in floristry displays all year round.  Even after completing a floristry course a few years ago, it made me think twice about the materials that are available to us in our gardens.

From here I wandered around the stands.  Taking a look at all the stunning works of art created by the designers.  Seeing how much time and effort had been poured into their creations and seeing how proud they are of their wares.  Being able to talk to them about their work, something you don't really get through the internet. One stand I spent a particularly long while at was Ashley Thomas.  Such a lovely lady, I could of stood talking to her all day.  I took a long time gazing at her stand, I honestly wanted to buy everything, her work is incredible.  She painstakingly draws every tiny little detail even down to the repetition of her patterns, to then be transferred onto fabric for cushions, tea towels or wall hangings plus notebooks, greetings cards and mugs. 

I also bumped into Jane Means who you may remember me taking a course with early last year.  I admire her work so much, she is such a talented lady, and her ribbons are to die for.  Such vibrant colours and fantastic quality.  Her stand looked amazing, all the little details with the teeny tiny wrapped parcels dotted around were super cute, I loved it.

Another feature of the show is the Country Living Spring Theatre.  On Wednesday it was host to some very inspiring speakers, including Liz Earle and Jan Constantine, talking about their journey in setting up their business and sharing some pointers with the audience.  Hearing that with hard work and dedication anything is possible left me and I'm sure many others in the room, feeling pretty inspired.  For the remainder of the week the talks include: capturing the good life, turning a hobby into a business, how to be self sufficient and designing and decorating a country home to name but a few.    

One thing I didn't get round to trying was the craft workshops on offer, sadly I just ran out of time.  But it was good to see that one free craft workshop was available to each visitor to the fair and there are some great workshops available to try out.  I personally quite liked the sound of the block printing or the chocolate Easter bunny, maybe something for me to try at home perhaps.  I'll have to do some investigating and YouTube watching I think.   

It really was a great show.  You could tell the organisers had worked really hard at putting it all together, but the hard work paid off.  It is well worth a visit, if you are in or around London the fair is open until Sunday.  It has certainly got me filled with the joys of spring.  

~ Gem x