I found this cup and saucer in my local charity shop last week, and I’ve been using it ever since. It’s a great size and I love the print.

Ali x

This last week I visited Kew Gardens on what turned out to be a beautiful summer’s day. We caught the train to Kew Bridge station and walked across Kew Bridge and then along Kew Green to the Main Gate.  We had  the small girl with us so the first port of call was the Princess of Wales Conservatory to see the Butterflies bugs and beasties exhibition.  Small girl loved the butterflies flying all around us.

Lunch at the Orangery restaurant was next as the small girl was already wilting.  Peyton and Byrne are the new caterers there and very nice it was too! Her lunch came in a reusable heart shaped lunchbox. It has already been reused for storing her  beads.  After refreshments we headed off to the other priority of the day – the new PLANTastic play area. This is onthe far western side of the gardens so was a long walk but well worth it.  On the way over we collected seed pods from the Monkey puzzle trees (Araucaria araucana) and  met this fine chap.

With tired legs we then headed for treats – an ice cream for the small girl while we had a cup of tea and one of Peyton and Byrne’s yummy fig rolls and then a look around the shop at the Victoria Gate. I also found a lovely looking Salvia for future use.

At 5pm, after 6 lovely hours mooching  it was time to head back across the bridge towards the train and home…

Today I cooked dinner for a lovely couple with a new baby. The mother was so grateful and yet all I had done was cook an everyday meal for her.

I often cook a meal for new parents and it is something thay gives me so much pleasure.  Feeding someone is so much more than simply giving them something to eat. For new parents, it is a good (hopefully!) homecooked meal at a time when all their energy and time is taken up with their new baby, and dinner is an after thought.  It  is a simple and easy way of supporting people, that needn’t cost much, and for me, it is an opportunity to give something back.  Friends and people I didn’t know cooked for us when our daughter was born and it was a true blessing.

Ali x

I’ve been making little button brooches to sell in my new etsy shop Hope and Charlie. Here’s a sneak preview of what’s to come…

I have been so looking forward to the trip I took into London this week.

First and foremost, was a trip to the V&A museum in South Kensington to see the ‘Grace Kelly – style Icon’ exhibition. Her beautiful 1950’s dresses were the highlight for me, along with her famous Hermes ‘Kelly’ bag.

Then after lunch it was off to one of my favourite places in London. Laduree for their delicious macaroons.

images: vam.ac.uk, eatfamilystyles.com, Liberty.co.uk

I love gardens, and plants. My garden is constantly a work in progress, never ‘finished’ and always changing. This is what I love most about gardens and plants finding new planting combinations and ‘happy accidents’ as Beth Chatto puts it.