We went out to check on the cobwebs by the greenhouse ...

Bingley and Darcy

It was colder and we didn't see any birdies ...

there were plenty of leaves and some of them the most beautiful shade ...

Bingley

The garden was SO damp ... and then it began raining again.

Darcy

... why drink from a clean water bowl, when you can lick rainwater from the terrace!

Darcy

...eventually I ask to come back inside ...

Bingley

But my brother had already taken MY spot.

He keeps Mrs H's laptop case warm as much as possible.

Call for information from Mrs H: 

Do any of you dear Bloggers know who makes this fabric and where I can find it?

running to seed

Autumn is here and our last post was in August! 

What happened to those months in between?

How could they have disappeared so fast?

Well, here we are again, and all is well.

Mr Bingley checking over his conker collection ...

Mr Darcy demonstrating disdain for the worker ...

Harvest bounty at a wonderful garden centre we visited just outside Stratford.

Chinese Lanterns light up the garden even on the dullest day!

Dahlia bonanza, the one above is in our own garden,

but look at the display below at Baddesley Clinton in Warwickshire.

'Warm Welcome'

Our new orange rambling rose which we are training round the urn.

Lady Hillingdon flowers one more time!

  “The summer-flower has run to seed,

And yellow is the woodland bough;

And every leaf of bush and weed

Is tipt with autumn’s pencil now”.

John Clare ~ The Village Minstrel

So we are home once again. Allow me to tell you more ...

Mr Bingley in his favourite chair

Story teller at heart

Bingley

It began with me playing dead (writhing tummy up in a terrible, slow death) when I discovered Mrs H packing her travelling bags!

I had no choice. 

She CANNOT go.

When my attempt at being dead failed to achieve the desired response I undertook 'Plan B' and simply encamped.

View from the sitting room

What I didn't know then was that my brother and I were being packed too!

Not home alone afterall but off to Cornwall!

Some of our dear readers will know that Aunty B died (previous post) and so there was much to do in Cornwall to sort her home and we stayed there. 

It was sad and yet comforting too because she had been so ill near the end. 

A release for her.

Time to reflect for us.

... the wild flowers were magnificent and so many bees and butterflies in her garden.

Bingley

I checked out every corner of the garden, swishing my fluffy tail all about as I went!

This is 'Small Cat' (yes his actual name) and he lives in the lane. 

He always comes over to see us ...

.. for such a 'small' cat he has BIG claws

(but we still like him and sniff noses and sit together - a discreet distance, not looking each other)

The black cat theme continues ... this one Mrs H met in Fowey in the Old Grammar School garden. 

He seemed to have bonded with the young seagull. They went around together.

Downderry Beach

We love these rainbow coloured pebbles!

We spent a lot of time in holiday mode and pose to show Mrs H how it is to be done 

(she isn't very good at it!)

Darcy and Bingley

... well someone needs to keep the guest room warm!

This we saw as our chief role.

We hope you have all had good times, wherever you are and whatever you have been up to.

We can't wait to visit you...

xxx

.. she was ...

Say not in grief "she is no more" but live in thankfulness that she was ... 

Beryl Roome
1924 - 2013

If Roses Grow in Heaven

Don't think of her as gone away,

Her journey's just begun.

Life holds so many facets,

This earth is only one.

Just think of her as resting

from the sorrows and the tears.

In a place of warmth and comfort

Where there are no days and years.

Think how she must be wishing

That we could know today,

How nothing but our sadness

Can really pass away.

And think of her as living

In the hearts of those she touched,

For nothing loved is ever lost

And she was loved so much.

~ Kirsten Preus 

Some of her much loved roses.

The view from her home as the sun sets. Farewell.

Uncle George with Aunty Beryl

Together again

After Glow

I’d like the memory of me

 to be a happy one.

 I’d like to leave an afterglow

 of smiles when day is done. 

 I’d like to leave an echo

 whispering softly down the ways,

 of happy times, and laughing times

 and bright and sunny days. 

 I’d like the tears of those who grieve

 to dry before the sun

 of happy memories I leave

behind ~ when day is done.

~ Helen Lowrie Marshall

Spring in the garden

Hello dear blogging friends.

We are back and blogging again after a gap. Time flies by and we can't believe its been so long since we posted.
We can't wait to visit you all.

A rare moment reading a magazine and soaking up some sunshine with Mr Bingley.

 petals (like snow) in May

On Sunday, there was an Open Gardens charity event in Binfield Heath.

7 gardens were on show. 

My favourite featured a canopy of Wisteria and a Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula).

It was devine. 

The Alliums are up and almost fully open.

Such bonny flowers.

Lord and Lady Nuffield and their home.

The National Trust have just taken over Nuffield Place, the home of 

William Morris (1877-1963), a car manufacturer (Morris Minors) and Philanthropist.

These are his tools, housed in a walk-in cupboard in his bedroom (yes!).

I love his travel set.

Lord Nuffield gave away so much money during his lifetime. 

The equivalent of £600 million.

His wife often used the bus.

No airs or graces and their beautiful, modest home reflects this.

The garden is being restored according to the plans laid out in the 1930s.

Worth a visit.

familier frontiers

I suppose frontiers should generally be new ones!

But not these, familiar ones instead.

We have been away in Cornwall dear Blogging friends, spending time with our Aunt in her lovely rural home.

When we returned home we observed that Mrs H's world was consumed by W O R K.

So glad to be visiting you all again now, at last!

Mr Bingley walking the boundaries

Nature doesn't acknowledge frontiers... you know ...

I wish to go forth (but Mum would miss me)

Bingley checking out Crows

Sitting with Aunt

We can see where she is struggling with knowledge. We can see what she forgets completely but also what she knows she once knew. We can tell how she is trying to remember. It is possible to alleviate her physical pain, but mental pain - her dementia – no we don’t know how. If only we did. Love you Auntie.

 ... and then we go out again, rest up a bit, ponder life.

 ... the next day the sun comes out and we get up early, drive to Newquay and walk the cliff and beach.

Finishing off with a veggie breakfast.

Mr Bingley supervised the tree surgeons taking down some wayward trees on our boundary.

Plenty of logs for the stove.

 ... also he supervised the flies and a number of ants ...

(some cat must)

A day trip to Glendurgan Gardens a stunning spot (felines kept the bed warm at home).

When we came home Mr Bingley checking nosed BIG TIME in the shed.

Darcy and Bingley

We have had a holiday, and we'd like to take it up professionally.