Happy Hallowe'en!

Mini Harvest Festival; pumpkin, preserves and jam

In this season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Sean brought home a lovely plump pumpkin from the farm. It became chutney, soup and risotto, and I needed to buy another for this year's Pumpkin Pie for Hallowe'en. I found a suitably large one and shared it with Mummie so she could make one too. Takes me right back to childhood. A beautiful marrow came from the farm, too and was similarly enjoyed as soup and stuffed with risotto.

Enjoyed the Day of the Dead celebration at Hackney City Farm today, where Sean and Ian were forging, demonstrating and teaching. Met up with Joanna, Matt and the girls, and had a lovely, albeit damp, afternoon.

 Hallowe'en Pumpkin Pie and the enormous marrow!

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More lavender and lace

I made some more lavender bags - one for Teresa, who kindly gave me the fabric, one for Aunty Bridget, and one for Helen's birthday next month. Love the smell!
Up to town today to various bead shops to get some findings for keyrings and bagtags, and was very restrained - only bought what was on the list plus a dear little screwdriver. I found a beading needle with a collapsible eye at last, so I can re-string Breda's pearls; a job which has been on the "To Do" list for a while.
In Chiswick (one of my favourite places to go shopping) I found another lovely bowl to add to my collection of dainty china. I do like to eat my pudding from something pretty. It's the one on the left. I found the daffodil one on a charity stall in Winchester, and the others in the marvellous Cancer Research charity shop in Hounslow.

Visit

I went down to Christchurch to visit Mummie yesterday, visited my favourite shops selling lovely things, and took in a new one, Pinks, in Bargates, selling everything for cross-stitch and embroidery. They teach classes as well. Opposite, is a lovely traditional haberdashery, Feather in the Breeze, selling all manner of buttons, ribbons and notions.  Lots of inspiration!
Other favourites are Lavender and Bay in Wick Lane, Cricklewood in the High St (www.crickle-wood.co.uk) Wisteria (www.wisteriagifts.co.uk ) and Thomas and Lucia (www.thomasandlucia.com) both in Bargates. Check out their websites if you can't get to the shop; well worth a visit if you are in the area.
We had lunch at the New Forest Perfumery, a proper old fashioned Tea Rooms, with its quaint wonky floors and beams, and then a stroll round the ancient lanes and alleys.

Flowers abound - even in the station's ironwork!

Then, before my journey home, to a Christmas Shopping Evening at Thomas and Lucia, browsing with a mince pie and glass of red. I found some wooden hearts on string, paper lanterns for tea-lights, two Christmas tree decorations (I treat the tree to something new every year) and a felt hanging heart, may make it to becoming gifts for friends, may stay with me.....

Half term!

Enjoying a rest. I had to stay in yesterday as the front door was being painted so I made a lavender bag from lavender from Mummie's garden and fabric from Teresa. I'm sending it to Auntie Janet, who is recovering from a knee replacement operation. The whole house smells lovely - lavender essential oils pervading the air, giving a lovely calming atmosphere.

Welcome to my blog!

Welcome to my blog! I'm Geraldine, Music teacher / Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator / Senior Leader by day, and a violinist, singer, pianist and maker of things in my spare(!) time. Half term next week - looking forward to some R&R,  visiting my mother and making some Christmas presents.
I played in a fantastic concert last night at St Mary's church, Putney Bridge, with the Thorington Players conducted by David Cairns - Brahms Violin Concerto with a young soloist, Tim Wright, (look out for him in the future), Brahms Trio for horn, violin and piano, and Beethoven Symphony no.2. It was a charity concert, in aid of Newpin, which supports and helps young families.
Playing beautiful music in great company to an appreciative audience is one of the best things ever!
Just waiting for the Formula 1 Grand Prix from Korea to start - when and if it stops raining! Bright sunshine here.