An abundance of Strawberries!!

I seem to be doing nothing else but picking strawberries, am I complaining no.

They are just so sweet and delicious nothing better for breakfast, so although it is early I am off down the garden to pick some more to take to my mother who we are visiting today in Bournemouth.
As I mentioned in my last post I had a stall at an Antique Fair in Bideford and although there were not many buyers, it was a delightful place to be and lots of lovely people to talk to as well as the added addition of the BBC being there filming Antiques Road Trip with Charlie and James.
So here are just a few photos of the day.

Sorry about short post, hope everyone has a lovely weekend here in UK as we are celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen so there are a great amount of events going on throughout the country, we have a street party (well we don't really have a street) but it will be in the village then a barbecue before the lighting of one of the beacons so lets hope the rain keeps away.

Sun Good Times and Avington Brocante

Oh my goodness,  it seems ages since I wrote my blog, but the past week has been so busy full of everything that I love, sunshine, friends, great food and beautiful places to visit.

My little laptop has been laying there feeling so neglected, but then that’s what happens when you are enjoying yourself.

Wednesday saw us wending our way down to the South of England to stay with my very very best friend, lovely day spent with her grandchildren and Emma who has just opened this lovely shop in Bishops Waltham, if you are ever in the area give it a visit it is definitely worth it.

Thursday dawned to the most beautiful day and after breakfast in the garden we set off to Avington Court for the Brocante Fair, a superb location and with the sun it was idyllic. 

The stalls were well the only word to describe is beautiful full of everything that I love. 

 Betty and Violets stall absolute gorgeous

Hesta's stall such great finds

 Lizzie was there and loved this photo that I took of her outside her great stall full of French finds which she had brought back from a recent trip. 

Then off to Alresford for lunch and a walk around this lovely village and to the water meadows which is famous for its watercress. Such pretty houses and the Mill cottage which goes over the river

 Lovely clematis

Booked our holiday off to a part of France we have not visited before Biarritz
Cheap flight, lovely chambre d’hote can’t wait only 2 more weeks to go and guess what I have booked an empty suitcase to take with me!!! Hoping there will be lots of flea markets to visit.

Wednesday I have a Fair in Bideford, I was asked to do this one its an antique fair so not too sure whether my stall will fit in but was assured it would be fine, and the BBC are there filming Antique Road Trip!! Don’t think they will get any bargains from me!

Have a great week and hope the sunshine stays for a while (doubtful though!)

Summer might just be on its way.

What a beautiful day today I just could resist taking some photos to share with you, a  place to stop and read I love looking through my old magazines especially the Country Living and then a walk up the lane, the fresh leaves on the tree against the blue sky magic!

Wild flowers in abundance,

I planted mine yesterday so lets hope they succeed I never seem to have much luck with growing wild flowers, this time I have bought Sarah Raven seeds so lets hope they will work. Beautiful views across to Exmoor

On Saturday another Vintage Fair in the seaside town of Instow in Devon, took along some new finds, these old vintage soda syphons,

 cosy eiderdowns with my drawers now painted 

 Cushions made from old french fabrics

Samantha had a lovely stall with her beautiful candles in vintage cups and jelly moulds, her stall is an abundance of beautiful perfumes.

 Emma with her creative painted furniture. Loved the chest of drawers with roses on.

Off again on Wednesday to stay with friends and visit the Brocante Fair near Winchester in Hampshire,

looking forward to this as there are some amazing stall holders there, including Love Lane Vintage,

Christine from A Mermaids Tale, as well as Liz from the Washerwoman blog.  The weather is meant to be brilliant so really looking forward to this. Hope you all have a great week in the sunshine.

Garden of England

It seems a while since I have written a blog, but have been away staying at my favourite B & B in Kent where we had a lovely welcome from Pippa.

On our way down to Kent we stopped off at Batemans which is Rudyard Kipling’s home, for me it is a little dark and austere, but the house from the outside is beautiful and the gardens (well will be when the flowers eventually come out) there is also a working  mill where you can buy the flour. 

The next day we thought we would visit Sissinghurst (Vita Sackville-West’s) gardens, but guess what due to my lack of not looking in the National Trust book it was closed, so off to Rye we went and spent a few hours looking around the antique shops and then the heavens opened, so off to Hastings (also looked a little grim in the rain) but came across this lovely shop, very interesting and very expensive!!

Now for what I was really looking forward to the Decorative Living Fair just outside Tunbridge Wells, the weather held off and there was so many beautiful stalls, including Caroline Zoob and Lizzie from The washerwomanblogspot, who had travelled up from Taunton.

Love Lane Vintage was also there here stall is so pretty, and I have booked to have a stall at her Village Vintage in Cuckfield in July.

Rain eventually took over so we spent a long and leisurely lunch at The Bell Apparently in Ticehurst.  Really recommend this pub and I believe it has rooms as well.

Friday I eventually got to see Sissinghurst (probably better to see in June/July when all the flowers are out) but I loved it as well as the structured gardens my favourite was the wild meadows it will look superb when the wild flowers are all out.

Back home and getting ready for my next fair in Instow, spent the weekend potting on my seeds and planting out some vegetables all I want now is summer, in fact I am at the moment looking very seriously into going to France in a few weeks (south of France that is!!!)

This evening I hope to be spending my time visiting you all.

Have a good week.

Jillx