deck the beams

The first christmas at Meadowside is an exciting prospect, but with my best beloved away until a few days before Christmas, the decorating falls to me. And to the visiting mother ship.

Neutral and natural decorations seem to suit but I keep wondering how the cottage's previous incumbents marked the season. I have a willow base wreath that I've added ivy and berries to, to hang on the front door. The tree decorations are from the rather wonderful Re-Found Objects.

mist opportunity

We went for a walk in the frost and snow to take photographs, not much light but there was a lovely frosty mist and complete silence.

snow good

Another snow day, another day working from home. What a pity.

hello ween

Lovely friends, James and Ali, to stay for halloween with very sweet tiny ones, Herbie and Nelly. A twilight walk to the Itchen river saw cows and swans in the rising moon. We walked back to the pub checking out the Easton pumpkin display on the way: if you're open to trick or treaters then you put a lit up pumpkin by your front door. We did and I was still baking batches of ginger cookies at 10.00pm to cope with the rush...

red leaves and Rania

Having friends to stay is the best of life, especially when it includes my beautiful god-daughter. We went for a long autumn walk to the nearby weir and I gathered some of natures bounty or some dry twigs, depending how you view these things.

My autumn display may have been much maligned, but Chris' pumpkin carving received universal praise.

Isn't she lovely?

the great pumpkins

Jacket potatoes, veggie and meaty chilli, followed by pumpkin carving with Phil, Paul, Tom, & Barny in situ and the lovely Robin via Skype. The boys came up with the best pumpkin faces, but given that they're all designers and illustrators, that's kinda cheating. Sneaky whittlers.

end of the toad

Not strictly Meadowside based, but our very favourite festival of the year with lots of our favourite friends...

smoke gets in your hair

Our lovely friend Neil has given us a beautiful photograph as a house warming present, which is sitting in pride of place in the kitchen. It's atmospheric and strange and delightful; every new visitor to the cottage comments on it and thinks it's me at first.

The artist is Georgina Mascolo and it's from a series depicting "found" objects of paranormal experiments. I think it's rather wonderful.

meadowside

We have finally taken possession of our new home. There's a great deal of work to do but it's still got the most amazing feel about it, even with peeling paint and without furniture. The garden is looking beautiful, full of roses and colour.