Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:00 PM 
I usually wash the floors on Friday. But yesterday was slightly different.
It started with a swim in the spa of a top London hotel. Continued with lunch at this little place in Paris (Hugo on Rue Papillon - the food was divine!). And wound up with a train ride across Europe to Munich.
I'd say that was one up on the average Friday, wouldn't you?
Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 11:58 PM 
Ten days from now I'll be celebrating a BIG birthday. One that warrants a whole month of celebrations. The first party was a couple of days ago when my sewing chums gathered at Dixon Hill for something rather special.
Dress A Girl Around The World is a charity that believes every little girl on the planet should have at least one pretty dress. In order to make that a reality, they encourage folk to stitch up simple pillowcase dresses which are then taken to parts of the world where little girls have no dresses at all.
In a couple of hours on Thursday, we whipped up TEN dresses - the four you see above and six others which are almost finished. We're planning to titivate them with patch pockets and appliquéd flowers etc. I promise to show you the whole line-up when they're complete.
It delights me to think that ten small people might have smiles on their faces just because it was my birthday. I honestly can't think of a better way to celebrate.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 12:12 PM 
Sometimes it's the little things….
Like finally discovering how to persuade hyacinths to bloom short and stumpy and last for AGES. Instead of bolting, leggy creatures that flop even when you stake them and are past their best way too soon.
The secret? Keep 'em cool! (Our downstairs loo is the perfect place!)
Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 9:59 PM 
This time last week we were in the midst of a blizzard that would have been more at home in the Antarctic. Cut off from the outside world by monumental drifts. Though most of the roads are now passable, driving feels like negotiating the luge at the winter Olympics - with towering walls of snow on either side.
The white stuff is in no hurry to melt either - as evidenced by the photo above. But at least it's given us weather-obsessed Brits something to talk about for the rest of our lives. 'Do you remember the winter of 2013? That was a bad 'un!'
Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 8:45 PM 
Dearest darling blog,
I've neglected you sorely of late. I'm sending you a pretty picture of the sky tonight and hope you will forgive me.
Yours ever...
Helen.
xx
P.S. Red sky at night, shepherds' delight. And oh how the shepherds round here could do with a little delight right now….
