our new house (sneak preview)
- At July 14, 2012
- By Rachael
- In beginning, Children, Gardening, Home, Photography, Seaside life, Writing
24
On a flying pick-up-the-keys-and-sign-the-contracts visit to the seaside. Fancy a sneaky look at the house through my eyes?
The fireplace in our sitting room, the one with no television, heaps of books, Radio 4, and a pile of cats.
The fireplace in the playroom. Television, Xbox, trains, chemistry sets, Warhammer games, Australian soaps, muddle.
The Bramley apple tree in the garden. Apple pie, apple jam, apple cake. And yes, I’ve already unpacked the KitchenAid. (R’s response: ‘You paid WHAT? For a food mixer? Are you insane?’)
Sedums! Walled garden! Garden blog heaven.
Toadflax! My favourite plant as a child (yes, I was an odd cookie).
A stable door in the kitchen! This is especially for my friend Pip, who writes at A Mother’s Ramblings and requested a photo. You’ll note I also said Let There Be Light and there was an awful lot of the stuff. That’s iPhone snaps for you.
The funny thing is I realised as I was writing the photos pretty much sum up what new Tales from the Seaside will be all about: gardening, writing, life as a blended family of eight (eek), and cake. Sounds good to me.
Maria
Http:// Love the fireplace, and congratulations on the new life by the sea.
Angela Beegle
Toadflax! So that’s what it’s called!
Two years ago, my neighbors and I worked together to re-landscape a traffic circle in our cul-de-sac which had been overgrown with David’s Eye and some other brambly sorts of bushes. We bricked a cross-shaped path through it, left in the 40 year old Rhododendron bush (one neighbor, who likes things ‘tidy,’ wanted to take it out, but the rest of us adamantly refused), and put in “focus plants” in each of the 3 wedges not full of rhododendron. Well, the tidy neighbor picked out a bunch of ground covers she liked, and we got some volunteer ground covers in the pots too, apparently. One of those was toadflax. It grew luxuriously, covering the ground like she said she wanted, and flowering too! Then one day she pulled the whole lot of it up in a fit of tidiness, leaving faded cedar bark punctuated with about 29874369346 baby cedar, hemlock, and fir trees sprouting up everywhere, plus the inevitable other weeds. Personally, I preferred the toadflax. It was pretty, and you didn’t see the weeds.
There are a few little toadflax sprouts coming up from seed, too. I’ve not been pulling them.
elaine rickett
It looks like a lovely house with gorgeous fireplaces – and a walled garden, now I am envious.
elaine rickett – most recent blog post – The Scented Garden – Sweet Peas and Old Fashioned Pinks
Rachael
It’s utterly beautiful and I feel very blessed. Life is sweet sometimes.
jfb57
It is so good to have these happy posts R. So glad that you are getting settled. So exciting for you all!
jfb57 – most recent blog post – Silent Sunday
Rachael
Thank you Julia. It’s lovely to be so gloriously happy and have this wonderful future. x
Laura
Wow, it looks beautiful. I am particularly envious of the bramley apple tree! x
Laura – most recent blog post – Toddler Baby Obsession
Rachael
Ooh, I know! I have always wanted one. I’m so excited about autumn!
Lou
Lovely, lovely, lovely.
Never heard of Toadflax (now feel I had a poor childhood, te he)
Hope the new chap is aware how lucky he is to find you. x
Personally I wouldn’t change the name of your blog, it’s your history and a powerful name in blog-land, maybe have a strapline for wherever you live…. ‘by the seaside’ or whatever.
I love to read your unfolding adventure, you have such an easy tone to your online voice.
Lou – most recent blog post – Olympic Sport at The Larches
Rachael
Oh lovely Lou. Thank you so much for that. He knows, and I know in return. Big kiss. x
Tania @ Larger Family Life
Looks gorgeous! When shall we visit?
Tania @ Larger Family Life – most recent blog post – Why home educators do other taxpayers a favour
Rachael
Soon! Tee hee. x
liveotherwise
It is so good to have you back and happy. Are you going to actually change blog name/ domain? (Yes, I know that’s somewhere way down your priority list, but humour me.)
Gorgeous garden.
liveotherwise – most recent blog post – Mike the Knight – T shirt, toys and thoughts on gender.
Rachael
I love that you wonder about that stuff, too, my fellow geek chum. I’ve registered Tales from the Seaside but I dunno.
Tatjana
Oooh! I can’t *wait*!!
Rachael
Me neither! xxx
mama syder
Looks great! Looking forward to following your new life x
mama syder – most recent blog post – WIN a family trip to Centre Parcs up to the value of £1,000 With NEW Sudocrem Mousse
Rachael
Thank you! Can’t wait to write all about it. x
Tasha Goddard
Lovely pictures. It looks like you’re going to be very happy there. xxx
Tasha Goddard – most recent blog post – Basham Music and Arts Festival: 4th and 5th August 2012 (Profits to Dorothy House)
Rachael
Thank you T! xx
BucksWriter
Hurrah! Looks like we’ve sold our place too so watch for a twin blog from the countryside
BucksWriter – most recent blog post – The Cornish House
Rachael
OOooooh! (Ugh, packing.)
Vonnie
It looks absolutely lovely! If you see any houses nearby which would similarly accommodate a family of six, give me a holler
Vonnie – most recent blog post – My first screenprinting!
notsupermum
Lovely photos, I’m so looking forward to reading about your new life x