Enjoying our lovely canals ...

How welcome the bright, warmer weather is after a grey winter. The oil seed rape / canola oil fields are so stunning that a drive was needed today - how can you not be uplifted at this sight? 

Our lovely county of Shropshire is a large rural one, the heart of the Industrial Revolution that propelled the world in to the new age of mechanism ...

These canals once carried barges full of merchandise from our Industries around the country, our precious potteries were safely transported by canal when the roads were too bumpy.

They hold a special place in my heart, I love the way they wind through our countryside, unseen at times but the old highways now carry tourist narrow boats along at a leisurely 4 mile per hour pace, a gently hum the only things that disturbs the peace.

The bright weather today gave us the opportunity to get out & a canal walk was my first choice - it has been a long winter & I just knew that the trees would be greening up & it would be perfect ...

I have seen photos of this unusual canal bridge so it was lovely to see it today with the double arch & the telephone wires on the top arch - it is really tall & spans a deep crossing ...

The water was a little muddy today after our recent rains but the ducks with  their sweet young ducklings did not seem to mind ...

The bridges are all different sizes & shapes which frame the views beyond ...

 The countryside is so green now & the hedgerows are filled with pretty flowers ...

We called in for drinks at a tiny little canalside pub - the bar was just this little counter with what looked like 2 front rooms for patrons,  everyone sat in the garden enjoying the canal views & the sunshine - bliss ...

As we eventually walked back, the sun was much brighter & we had walked 7.5km along the tow paths. The reflections were perfect, it was green, peaceful & the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

On the way home, we passed a lot of poly tunnels, all laid out so beautiful,  a nod to the agrarian nature of our county where farming is still very evident. 

Thank you for stopping by & taking the time to read & comment,
Dee ~💕~

Making my own natural cleaning products ...

I know many share my concern about the quality of air in our homes. We are now very aware of the products that we use because they influence the quality of air in our homes & thereby impact directly on our health, especially in Winter when we spend more time indoors with the windows closed.

I recently had the opportunity to join a workshop lead by an aromatherapist with the view to looking at natural cleaning products to cut down on air pollutants in the home.

For those who have septic tanks, natural cleaning products do not kill off the essential microbes needed to break down the waste so it is essential to think of this when using products.

She uses various natural oils in her treatments so I was excited to learn more about natural products as I am very aware of pollutants at home.

I already grow a variety of house plants that are recommended to help clean the air.  I have found that peace lilies & aloe vera seem to thrive in our inglenook fireplace space. I like to think that our living room has the cleanest air in our house with all the plants in it.

This was our sample of natural oils to use in the workshop

A graduated bottle was useful for making up the mixtures ...

Natural products that we all have at home anyhow & which don’t impact on air quality

Our handout / booklet with recipes

A small group of us ladies gathered on a Sunday morning with our bottle to mix up the potions. 

My philosophy is that we can each make a difference to the environment by starting with ourselves, making changes that can have a ripple effect - less chemical, more natural products, small changes that help.

I am pleased for the warmer Spring weather when I can fling open the windows & doors to clear the air & by making changes with more air cleansing plants & less chemicals, I know I am making a small difference.

I hope I can inspire you to do the same too. Thank you for stopping by & taking the time to read & comment,
Dee ~💕~

Easter blessings ....

Easter is very late this year & this term has been long but at last it is our break & I can concentrate on relaxing & enjoying Easter with friends & family.

My sideboard / dresser in the conservatory has transitioned from the blues to Easter favourites - a quiet time at home with special things close by.

A few favourite Easter things have once again appeared; a mixture of vintage (the blue plates), hand made bunny bowl & matching jug; the little bunny dish & round dish & the bunny glass bowl were bought in South Africa  while the two bunny plates are modern high street ones. I love how the ages, patterns & styles all somehow sit well together.

The little knitted easter chicks were bought last year in aid of a Dorset charity & I love them. Don’t  you just love the bunny pottery that is not Easter specific ... 

The 'running hares’ bowl & jug by John Atkinson of Bell pottery in Oxfordshire is so lovely, they are definitely not just for Easter. 

A little Easter tree with some fragile glass ornaments & then craft bunnies - always mix things up. It is a reminder of the fun part of Easter. Godsons gifted me some tiny wooden decorations for it - can you see them?

Easter is of course a Religious time & my collection of Ethiopian crosses (bought on my many trips to that amazing country) keep me grounded, a reminder that faith & spiritualism is at the heart of our Easter.

I am sending many blessings from my home to yours at Easter - however you spend it, enjoy your time with family & friends.

Thank you for your company, stop by again soon, and have a blessed Easter,
Dee ~💕~

Classic blue & white of Burleigh Pottery ...

It is no secret that I love china of all ages & colours but the classic blue & white is a Spring favourite because it brings a freshness to the decor after the festive red & gold colours

I love mixing up patterns & even era’s  which brings it right up to date. While having some visitors recently, we decided to visit the Burleigh pottery factory at Middleport in Stoke on Trent. Middleport potteries is on a canal & it featured as the place that the Great British Pottery Throw down was filmed.

Stoke on Trent is the home to British potteries, the town are famed for their bottle kilns & fine china wares.  I took pottery classes many years ago & it is a craft that I love.

The shop with its familiar patterns & colours ...

It was a lovely day doing some of my favourite things - exploring the origins of various china patterns & methods. 

Views from the upstairs looking towards the canal which runs alongside the factory.

We enjoyed a cream tea upstairs surrounded by lovely wares ...

The factory & museum plays tribute to the many patterns it is famous for ...

Dainty grape hyacinth are potted up in the pretty bowls

The twinkling lights soften the views between the industrial buildings

Many of the original moulds are on display; they are interesting as the shapes are still familiar

How can you not love this space?

The lovely thing about all the patterns & hues all together give a clue as to how they can be used & displayed together

It was a fascinating visit which I really enjoyed because of my love of blue & white wares. It is the success story of how many of these Potteries had to reinvent themselves to be financially viable.

 I hope you share my love of such lovely things, and that it has inspired you to mix it up. 

Thank you for your company, stop by again soon,
Dee ~💕~

Time passes, remembering all the Mothers ....

Time passes, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, sometimes in slow motion ...

It has now been 7 years since my Mother lost her cancer battle, I have shared her story before, & I will continue to speak her name till my last breath.

This past year, I travelled to South Africa twice to visit my Dad & family - with both daughters accompanying us on the second visit, the youngest on both visits. It was a very special time to be together again as adults, the enjoy their company & feel proud of the wonderful adults they have become.

My Aunt gave me a large collection of photos & documents from my late Grandmother - such a special gift because it contained things I had never seen before & glimpses of their lives that I was not privileged to.

A photo of my Mother her younger brother & much younger sister with my maternal grandfather, a photo I had never seen.

This was my Mother in her early 20’s.

 The earliest photo I have of my Mother & I in Rhodesia, she was so elegant ...

My Mother’s life was inextricably intertwined with that of my Fathers - they spent their lifetime together, married for almost 57 years, devoted to the end ...

This year, we stopped at the sea in South Africa, before heading 1000km north to Johannesburg. My Mother loved the seaside, something Dad & I did not share, & while there, I collected special stones  that I loved because I do not get to the family graves in South Africa often enough & the Jewish tradition of ’stones last longer than flowers’ seemed appropriate. 

My Parents visited Israel several times & my sister lived there for several years so it was the right way to leave a reminder that we had visited their final resting place. 

Stones & shells I choose on a beautiful beach to take 1000 km to the family graves.

My Dad with us at the seaside this past year, Dad & I choose a small selection of stones that I have in my safekeeping for a future time.

My Mother would have been right in there swimming because she was a very competent swimmer.

We travelled the 1000 km to Johannesburg & visited the family graves, leaving our stones & shells as a sign we had been, along with some proteas which last long & were firm favourites of all. The dryness of the Transvaal winter echoed my sadness that I do not get there as often as I would like...

My Mom & my forever young brother ...

My grandparents & uncle share a space ...

My grandfathers sister that we loved dearly for her eclectic ways ...

I had visited this market In Kwa Zulu Natal with my Mother & so it was appropriate that I would buy some hand beaded proteas from there, a reminder in my home on the other side of the world of flowers they all loved, so it is a reminder that I am part of their history  ... 

As the person who is passionate about recording our family history & the stories of my ancestors, this is perhaps why I do it - to give them a permanent history 

Indeed, if we tell the stories of our past, the departed will never be forgotton. While their name is spoken with great fondness, they will live on, their lives will not be in vain.

A journal Mum, tell me, a give & get back book by Elma van Vliet is a journal with spaces to record wishes, dreams & memories in. 

I wish I had asked the questions of my Mother & Grandmother that I really want to know about. I wonder who influenced them the most? What were the hardest things they faced? What were their fears & dreams? What were their proudest moments? What were their biggest regrets or sadnesses? How did they cope with WW11 when both my grandparents served & my Mother & her brother were left to the care of her maternal grandmother & Aunt? I wonder about the sister whose name I know but I never got to meet but they did as they named her ... 

Do we really know someone well enough to answer these questions? Do we ask the questions that will lead us to understand a life lived with different choices? Will someone care enough to tell my story when I am no longer here? Will there be a story with my name in it? 

This weekend is Mother’s Day / Mothering Sunday here in the UK. It is also the anniversary of my Mothers internment, my birthday & soon the birth & death of a sister I did not know as she lived only briefly - a whole lot of history colliding with bittersweet memories.  

To all the other Motherless daughters, we are part of a group that we never wanted to be in so spend time in reflection & give thanks ...

Thank you for your company, stop by again soon,
Dee ~💕~