Into Dorset

They spent a day in Dorset visiting family.

Stopping on the way at Shaftesbury,

walking up and down the famous Gold Hill and meandering along Park Walk,

Listening to 'Grandad's Jazz Band' playing Acker Bilk in the background!

They drove on ...

the chalk downs of Cranborne Chase,

a far reaching patchwork.

Walking through Cranborne village, 

wandering the garden centre and sipping spritzers in the pub garden.

After dinner walk ...

the dogs - Pete, Bert and Monty - sniffing the earthy air, running excitedly.

Winter browns transformed.

A painted cloth laid over the landscape.

Bold, bright paintbox colours.

A child's stretched strokes, bold golden stripes.

Scents of green and yellow, heady and warm.

A cuckoo calling.

Watching the sun yawn over sentinel pylons.

Thanks V & G!

Little man is in Italy this week , exploring volcanoes ... 

the house feels empty ...

Catching her eye ...

and coming home in her basket over the last few days ... 

This little fellow made her smile!

Not so sure about his odd little friend though ... 

Dear little badge ... 'the League of Foot Freedom'

Little moulds and antler handled cutlery ...

Advertising card dominoes for Carter's Little Liver pills ...

for constipation, biliousness, sick headache and ... complexion!

Buttons to sort through ...

... and a shirt buttons box.

Miniature shop/doll's house haberdasherers unit ...

Sweet little print ...

Toy mangle and union flag for the car ...

Lovely old case with perfect papered lining ...

and an all wool retro runner ...

Antler mounted Scottie dog ...

She has had fun shopping!

Still not sure about this strange looking little guy though, 

with his oversized head and feet!

Bird Cake

Little man loves his bird table.  

Positioned right outside the kitchen window, 

it is visited by a constant stream of feathered friends ... 

so long as 'mad cat' isn't on the prowl!

He keeps the feeders topped up, changes the water 

and puts out any tasty bird friendly leftovers.

So when the lovely Rose blogged a recipe (25th March post)

for 'bird butter' they decided to give it a go.

They used a jar of the cheapest peanut butter and a block of lard.

Added some oats, polenta, bird seed and gram flour (was supposed to be all polenta but they only had a little and there was a bag of gram flour lurking at the back of the cupboard) ... the birds didn't seem to mind!

And mixed it all together ... it was VERY sticky!

Little man made 'birdy cupcakes' ...

... and 'rock cakes' ...

The birds LOVED it!

Check out the recipe on Rose's blog.  

Rose looks after the wildlife in her patch with love and dedication 

and is a bit of a hedgehog expert.  

She loves to thrift a vintage bargain or two as well!

Friends from afar ...

They had Italian visitors.  Maristella and her charming husband came to visit.

 

Maristella has a lovely blog showcasing her creativity

 and the vintage fairs she attends selling pretty Victorian china. 

She gave VJ one of her handmade bunny's ...

She even made the little corndough carrot and heart herself ...

They arrived with lovely foodie gifts too - Veronese wines, olive oil,

 tapenade, sweet pastries, Parmesan and shortbread!

They carried the sun with them from Northern Italy

and suspended it over Somerset for two glorious days.

It shone on thatched cottages and the new willow growth on the Levels.

The VJs showed them the local countryside.
They crossed the Mill Bridge and walked along the riverside

to Kingsbury Episcopi and the fun filled May Festival.

Little girls in pretty costumes danced around the Maypole.

Dances danced for generations ...
the Jacob's Ladder, Spider's Web and Barber's Pole.

Cider fuelled merriment from the local Morris Dancers ...

Maristella was even persuaded to dance!

There were games, music, dancing, stalls, food, plants

and thousands of happy visitors.

The tunnel of wishes ...

Later they visited the grand English pad that is Montacute House ...

The gardens brimming with colour ...

As evening the drew in the VJ's cooked the Italians a meal of
traditional English fare.  The Slovaks and their little ones arrived too

and then the Mancunian and his Maltese lady

 (who just happens to speak Italian ... perfecto!).

The house was filled with laughter and chatter.

VJ was happy that they were all happy ...



Maristella and Sergio ... we hope you enjoyed the rest of your journey.

You are welcome in our home any time dear friends.

She bought a little telephone ...

... she loved it's shape and colour

but there is a problem ...

if an emergency should require the services of a big red fire engine, 

an ambulance or a 'bobby' on the beat ...

she cannot dial 999!

Delightful Italian visitors came to stay at the weekend ... more about that later ...

Too much work and too little time at present.

Mrs VJ has been reading all your lovely comments 

and apologises sincerely if she has not replied to you.