We’ve been quiet on the blogging front recently as there has been much happening ‘behind the  scenes’ and the blog has had to go on the back burner. We’ve been busy putting the finishing touches to the 2012 diary which is actually a gargantuan job and we all heave a sigh of relief when we can finally wave it on its way to the printers! Just a quick reminder, too, that if you want to pre-order the 2012 diary you only have a couple of weeks left to do so! You’ll get the diary for a reduced price and will be helping us to raise funds towards the printing costs. If you are interested see our pre-order page on the website

So to make up for the lack of visual feasts on the blog recently I thought I’d share some images of the most superb rhododendron flowers at the Westonbirt Arboretum. We visited at the weekend and it was truely glorious. If you are local to Gloucestershire it’s certainly worth a visit ( and the chocolate fudge brownie at the cafe tastes as good as the flowers look) (if you get my drift……)

And so this witching time is upon us….how delicious…..my favourite festival of the year. A group of us gathered to honour our Ancestors beneath a beautiful  Beech tree, turning from its dark leaves to coppery brown. We spoke names of loved friends and family into the circle, which was lit by candles in jam jars….simple but moving, as dusk fell around us, ushering in the winter.

Today, a quieter walk through Slad woods, catching spiralling leaves,  our footsteps winding slowly up the very steep Swifts Hill. At the top, looking out over the gently misted five valleys that I call home, sharing spiced apple juice (thank you Barbara for the apples!) and homemade chocolate biscuits, soft and crumbly.

The time of roots, and of resting. It begins.