Plain sailing on a fine day, outdoors and in.

There's nothing better than a day of sunshine to lift spirits and put a spring in your step. You will be pleased to hear that it put me in just the right mood to place my bits and pieces of freshly washed china and glass back into the cupboards that have remained empty for so long whilst we made alterations to the study.

First to go back was the glass ship that I showed you last week. With its sparkling clean dome I positioned it centre stage and alongside placed its companion, a little Victorian boy wearing a sailor suit and sitting on a large cockle shell.

On another shelf a hand painted Victorian cup and saucer, my granny's cut glass biscuit barrel and a 1920's child's mug that I found discarded on a bonfire. What sort of silly person disposes of china on a bonfire I wonder?

This little boy in his pony cart was one of my mother's favourites. It came to me when she passed away in 2006 and I will always treasure it.

Also a favourite, his little sister who has her own pony cart and sits alongside her brother. Both children will live safely in the cupboard until Christmas when they will come out and trot along the mantle, their little carts loaded with greenery for the festive season. My mother did this for many years and I like to carry on the tradition.

When I'd at last finished refilling my shelves with china I had time to make a swift visit to Holehird, a nearby Lakeland garden that I have taken you to before. What fun it would have been to travel there in a little horse drawn carriage on such a fine November day. Imagine pulling up in style outside this big country house that forms part of the estate.

The house enjoys magnificent views over the gardens and surrounding countryside.  

Sadly I didn't have time to explore the wonderful walled garden

and I stopped only briefly to admire the way the autumn sunshine filtered through the ornamental grasses

and then I reached the area I had come to visit....the holly garden. I love holly and would like to plant more in our garden but there are so many varieties to choose from these days that I decided the best idea would be to make a note of the types the experts had planted at Holehird (I will use any excuse to visit this garden!) With their variegated leaves in all shades of green and gold and berries of red, black and vibrant yellow I made hasty notes of the hollies I liked best and (returning to my make-believe pony cart) made the journey home.

On the return journey I noticed a few people were on the lake in their sailing craft enjoying the fine weather but concluded a pony and cart would remain my choice of transport!

In this area I'm surrounded by wonderfully large expanses of water but I'm afraid I wouldn't make a good sailor. The nearest I have come to steering my own craft was as a child when playing a similar game to this pair on the stairs in Robert Louis Stevenson's poem 'A Good Play'.

 
We built a ship upon the stairs
All made of the back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of soft pillows
To go a-sailing on the billows.

We took a saw and several nails,
And water in the nursery pails;
And Tom said, "Let us also take
An apple and a slice of cake;"--
Which was enough for Tom and me
To go a-sailing on, till tea.

We sailed along for days and days,
And had the very best of plays;
But Tom fell out and hurt his knee,
So there was no one left but me.

.....I had great fun playing 'make believe' games with chairs and pillows when I was young.... Happy days!....Do today's children still play these sorts of games I wonder?

Have a good weekend.

Comments

[Redwood House]

Good morning Eli,so much lovely china I bet you are pleased to get it back on show without damage. Love the thought of the carts filled with greenery. Holehird looks fantastic, the walled garden looks very inviting and how wonderful it still all looks. I really need to get into my little plot and do a winter tidy up.
I know what you mean about choosing holly to plant, you feel a purchase should be straight forward but alas no, I often go to buy something and end up with nothing because there is too much to choose from and I can't make up my mind. Having said that I always seem to come away with plants just can't resist.
Jan

[Martha]

Oh, I just love traditions like the one with the figurines...every holiday, such a sweet way to decorate and remember your mom at the same time.♥
My cushions can attest to the fact that children do indeed still play that way! My couches are always a jumble.
I'd be interested to hear what Holly you end up with. I love it too!
Hope you are having a lovely day...

[clarice]

Sighhhhhhhhhhhhh, I am ready to move in. Clarice

[Selia]

Dear Eli,

I so love all of your treasures in your cupboards! What an absolutely breathtaking country you live in! I so love the tour and yes, I would think of any reason to go back to those beautiful gardens. Thank you so much for sharing.
Blessings,
Selia

[Paula]

Dear Eli,
What a delightful post! All your treasures are just beautiful!!!! I cannot imagine anyone throwing a sweet cup like that onto a bonfire. I am so glad you rescued it! I love the carts your dear mother left to you and how you will carry on her tradition of placing them on the mantel with greenery to celebrate Christmas!

Thank you for sharing the beautiful country you live in. It is truly breathtaking. I do hope you find some pretty holly to plant in your garden. I love the one pictured.

Oh, my son and I memorized that poem and several others of Robert Louis Stevenson. We love his poetry and books, Treasure Island is our favorite. When he was little he loved to play like that. We do not have a tv and have not had one in over 10 years so he has always enjoyed creative play.

I hope you have a lovely week!
Love, Paula

[Redwood House]

Hi Eli, the felt flowers aren't stiffend the felt is so thick there is no need, too thick really I feel they are a bit too chunky. The shaping is done by steaming, the petal is put over the steam for a few seconds then you push into the felt with your thumb and leave to cool. This is using 1oo% wool felt I'm not sure what would happen with regular craft felt. The course was actually full with four people the room is quite small and 4 people plus her is all that it will take, at £50 a day I think it is good value and very enjoyable. The felt is the left over pieces from her hat making she is a milliner by trade. Thinking of your wonderful knitting, one sort of hat they sell there is a hand knitted pull on, some with little brims etc. then lady that makes them makes them slightly larger than needed then puts it in the washing machine on hot and they come out beautifully felted, she then trims them up with flowers feather etc. I forgot to take photo's so will try to remember nest month.
Jan

[mumintroll]

Your treasures are so beautiful!!

[Michele]

It is so comforting to read your blog Eli..
There are so many elements that are wonderfully familiar to me.. the childhood elements of books, literature and illustrations from my own golden days..
and your fabulous collections.. The shelf with the glass dome and china ornaments is one that I would have found in my parent's home..
I adored playing 'camp' when I was a child and my mother would indulge me by letting me use a big linen sheet draped over the backs of our kitchen chairs..
Magical memories!
With love and best wishes
Michele xx