Project 365 #48 {A funny old week}

Not a funny old week as in Ha Ha - I just didn't want to write shitty in a blog post title.

Project 365 #48

Day 327
An afternoon spent snapping some pictures in the garden and some time to tidy up my shack. My Project Shack has been on-going for a while now.
Day 328
A perfect frosty morning with a distinct nip in the air .
Day 329
Today I spent some time chilling and catching up with some outgoing happy mail for my #postcircle group.
Day 330
I came home to some incoming happy mail today, which cheered me up a bit - a lovely 'thanks' for our wedding present to my gorgeous niece back in the Summer.
Day 331
The mother in law left these today. The kiddos are lucky I didn't devour them myself - arseing mother nature is making me want to eat, eat and eat.
Day 332
Gin and tonic was called for tonight. The end of a crap week for one reason and another but I had an excellent observation at work which put a smile on my face to end the working week.
Day 333
Today we went for an afternoon stroll along the canal near Seend. I found my perfect houseboat along the way.

Linking up with The Boy and Me...

x x x

Garden & Project Shack {Update} #HDYGG

As I looked out of the window on Sunday I felt uninspired by the garden.
It was damp, muddy and the scrabbling chickens were not helping.
I planted some Spring bulbs a few weeks back and that part of the garden is safely fenced off from the inquisitive chooks.
Determined to find something out there to raise my spirits I took out the camera, bravely switched it to manual and explored.

The trees were still demonstrating their Autumnal hues whilst leaving carpets of work for me to rake up.

The tree adjacent to my shack always confuses me as I'm never quite sure when it should flower - with its buds and pink it looks like it should be currently Spring.

Outside the greenhouse the Pyracantha is bursting with red berries giving a distinct feel that Christmas is on its way.

The end of the garden remains untouched following some hard digging a few weeks back. I'm not sure what to do with the space next to the husband's shed. It has a nice view back up the garden so am torn between turning it into an area within which to sit or just leave it wild and let the children play down there and get muddy.

Neighbouring trees hang over the rickety old picket fence adding some much needed colour to the garden.

The exterior of my shack cannot hide the fact that I have neglected it this year - it is crying out for another coat of paint and some cracks in the wooden panels need filling somehow.

Inside I had a good tidy up and clear out as the kiddos have recently taken my space over.
I cleared the table top then realised how much the orange wood of the interior makes it look like a sauna - maybe a fresh oilcloth on the table will break it up a bit.
I am tempted to paint internally too but it will be one of those jobs that has to be done right.
I covered the lower half of the shelving unit with my, never to be finished, t-shirt quilt. It actually works quite well and hides boxes of work books and files.
My 'Project Shack' has been on-going since 2008 and looking back to this post in 2012 it seems to be progressing the wrong way!

One day I will get on top of it all.

How is your garden looking at this time of year? 

Linking up with Annie...

x x x

Childfree time {Me & him}

Being a parent is hard.
It can be stifling.
All consuming.
Tiring.
Monotonous.
Relentless.
Yes, this sounds negative but it is true.

Parenting is hard when you don't get a break.
Not just a break from the children to go to work but a BREAK...with the other important people in your life.
The other half.
The other half of you that can get forgotten.
The other half of you that you love, and loves you - warts and all.
The other half of you that made you a parent.

Time away from the children is needed.
Time with just the other half of you is needed.
Childfree time is needed.

Eventually we got some.
Over 24 hours of time to be me and him, not mummy and daddy.

We walked and we talked - just like back in the day.
We watched the barges meander by, took in the surroundings and spotted my dream home across the water.

We went to a pub for ale and cashews - just like back in the day.
We didn't have to clock watch - just like back in the day.
We wandered around the supermarket picking out comfort food in the form of pies and fancy mashed veg - just like back in the day.

And then the kiddos came home.
I had missed them but felt good, not guilty.
I love them unconditionally.
I love him unconditionally.
We just need some childfree time to appreciate that.

x x x

Project 365 #47 {A sandwich week}

It has been a bit of a nondescript week.
The work days tend to lead to less interesting photos so it's nice to have them sandwiched by some good days.
Here's the sandwich week.

Project 365 #47

Day 320
The in-laws took me and the kiddos to Lacock and the local garden centre today - where Christmas has arrived already in a non too discreet manner. Luckily Lacock was its usual beautiful place still showing that it is in fact still Autumn and all thoughts of Christmas should be buried away until at least the end of the month.
Day 321
Finally we moved the chooks today. They had soon turned their patch to mud so it's back to the shingle again for a while.
Day 322
I caught the sun, on the afternoon school walk, going down over the fields where planning permission is being sought for 500 plus houses. This will alter our feeling of living semi rurally massively and this saddens me.
Day 323
The husband brought this back from Bath today giving the game away he had been to his favourite coffee shop, The Society Café.
Day 324
Work day today so always harder to snap something of interest - hence the work based photo.
Day 325
Tired tonight and annoyed that the pub is never an option for me on my way home from work. Puts my weekend off to a bad start again so I went and sulked in the bathroom with a cup of Chai Latte and a steaming bath awaiting me.
Day 326
A rare day without the kiddos today. I got over my sulking and following an appointment in Devizes we drove to Bradford-on-Avon for another walk. Today we followed the canal path for an eight mile walk and finished the day off with a pint of Wadsworth in a pub back in the town. Perfect.

Linking up with The Boy and Me...

x x x

Bradford-on-Avon {Country Kids}

Last weekend saw our family day being spent locally going on a walk from Bradford-on-Avon to Freshford.
We regularly pop to Bradford for a stroll along the canal and a play on the park but we are now encouraging the kiddos to stretch their legs further on some proper walks. A post by Bradford-on-Avon Mum reminded me of a walk I had done with the husband many years ago.
The plan was to walk along the river then through the fields meeting up with the canal at Avoncliff. Then, carry on to Freshford before returning back and heading into town by the canal.
It didn't quite end up like that!

In the fields we discovered willow mazes where we unsuccessfully tried to lose the kiddos. At this point the boy found his favourite thing to have on a walk, a stick of course. It came in handy to get us through the mud; thick, oozy, mud!

We made it through and clambered up the banks to get to the canal aqueduct at Avoncliff. In this photo the canal is behind us going over the River Avon.

Then it was onwards to Freshford. We passed through a lovely gate under an old oak tree into the field adjacent to the river - here the girl spotted some beautiful cobwebs in the grass. Finally we were in the village of Freshford where we rested opposite the pub - yes, opposite the pub and not in it! The plan was to turn back and retrace our footsteps through the mud. In his wisdom the husband suggested a trip back on the train - stubborn me wanted a big walk but once the kiddos had this option in their head there were cries of, "We're so tired, it's too muddy to walk back!" Etc etc. Stubborn me started to walk back. I soon changed my mind.

I'm so glad I did as the walk up the hill to the station was a joy. The station was like stepping back in time - so peaceful. The children couldn't remember the last time we went on a train so they were rather excited - even though it would only be an eight minute journey. 

Back in Bradford-on-Avon, it was time to run to the park. It was a little muddier than last time but that's what waterproof trousers are for.



As the sun began to drop in the sky we wandered back to the car for a mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows.

Next time we will walk further!

Linking up with the super Country Kids...



x x x