• Mottisfont House and Gardens
    days out - Hampshire - National Trust - parenting

    A day at Mottisfont House and Gardens

    July 1, 2017 - By 

    A few weekends ago we met up with some friends at Mottisfont House and Gardens in Hampshire. Entry was free with our National Trust membership cards and we had a great day out exploring the house and gardens. The weather wasn’t great (ok, it rained on and off all day) but it didn’t stop us from spending an insane amount of time outside. Mottisfont House is a former Augustinian priory set beside the River Test with an amazing park and garden. The park has ancient trees and an eighteenth century summer house. The Lime Walk was designed by Geoffrey Jellicoe…

  • Buckinghamshire - Christmas - days out - National Trust - parenting

    A fairytale Christmas at Hughenden Manor

    December 17, 2016 - By 

    I’ve mentioned Hughenden Manor a few times on my blog. It’s a local National Trust property and a great family day out. We’ve recently re-joined the National Trust as we realised how much we missed being members so I am looking forward to lots more great days out in 2017! We visited Hughenden in October to go pumpkin carving. You can read all about our Halloween experience here. As we were leaving one of the volunteers mentioned we should book early for Christmas and I did. I read a little more about it on their website and knew it sounded…

  • Pumpkin carving at Hughenden Manor
    Buckinghamshire - days out - Local Review - National Trust - parenting

    Pumpkin carving at Hughenden Manor

    October 29, 2016 - By 

    I’m so pleased we were able to squeeze in a trip to do some pumpkin carving at Hughenden Manor today. It was a great way to round off a very exciting half term. It’s also one of my favourite National Trust properties. Hughenden Manor was the home of Benjamin Disraeli, once Prime Minister, but also had an important role during the Second World War. Today you can visit part of the house, gardens, and extensive grounds. They also run some really fun events for families. Last year we went along to one of their Apple Days, this time we wanted…

  • Westwood Manor Wiltshire
    days out - National Trust - parenting - Wiltshire

    Westwood Manor {a National Trust day out}

    September 3, 2016 - By 

    Last week we had a few days with my mum in Wiltshire. We’ve always wanted to visit Westwood Manor, a small National Trust property near Bradford on Avon. Although owned by the NT it has live in tenants so is only open for a few days in the year. We usually travel home on Sundays but thanks to the Bank Holiday we were staying for the long weekend so could visit! With two youngish children I have to admit that this year we haven’t renewed our National Trust membership for the first time in about 10 years. We usually visit Hughenden…

  • english paper pieced diamonds
    days out - family - homestyle - mindfulness - National Trust - sewing

    Monday happy list – week 83

    April 25, 2016 - By 

    I’m not sure why but I haven’t felt in the mood for sewing recently. I have lots of things to make, such as my Shipping Forecast quilt and a fun Nana Company swap deadline looming. The only thing I have been stitching are pretty yellow English Paper Pieced diamonds from the last issue of Mollie Makes. Normally I love to make the cover gifts so something is definitely wrong with me if I’m still making it (the new issue landed on my doorstep today!). The yellow EPP diamonds will eventually make a Starburst Sampler which I’m going to hang on my…

  • Apple Day crafts - Buckinghamshire - days out - Local Review - London - National Trust

    Apple Days

    October 17, 2015 - By 

    Apple Days seem to be growing in popularity over the last few years. I keep hearing about them, I’ve even tried a few kids crafts on my blog but we’ve never made it to an event – until today. In between ballet lessons and birthday parties we headed over to Hughenden Manor, a lovely National Trust property near High Wycombe for the afternoon. There is so much to do at Hughenden Manor. There’s a beautiful historic house, once the home of Benjamin Disraeli, gardens, woods, a walled garden, a lovely cafe and they hold some great events. Since our last…

  • Lego - National Trust - vintage

    Monday happy things

    August 17, 2015 - By 

    We’re now halfway through our summer holidays. The days are flying by and we’ve had lots of fun this week. My Monday happy things are: I went to a fun workshop to celebrate the launch of Furniture Hacks by Hesta Van Overbeek at West Elm. Her book is lovely, packed full of ways to upcycle and update your home, and I will be reviewing it here shortly. I made a clock using a plate from West Elm which is one of the projects in the book. My 3 year old went to her first ballet class. She sulked a lot…

  • days out - Handmade gifts - National Trust - Orla Kiely

    Monday happy things

    September 29, 2014 - By 

    So it’s only the second time I have written my Monday happy post but already it’s making me happy just thinking about what to write about. I’ve decided to pick 5 things which have made me happy over the last week but I could easily have written more: On Saturday we booked ourselves on a tour of the beautiful Red House, the only house commissioned, created and lived in by William Morris, founder of the Arts & Crafts movement. He only lived in it for 5 years but it still retains some pieces of furniture, wall paintings and decorations that…

  • baby - motherhood - National Trust - The Gallery

    The Gallery: Motherhood

    June 15, 2010 - By 

    The theme for Week 15 of The Gallery is motherhood. Although this isn’t the best photo of me and Edward it’s one which makes me smile. Before I became a mother I had no idea what it really entailed and I’m no expert yet. Edward is now 3 months old and so far I’ve spent most of my time feeding and burping him. I permanently have a stack of muslins somewhere on my person and the washing machine is always on to make sure I have a fresh supply to hand. This photo was taken on our first family holiday…