An evening spent with little people – handing out Halloween treats, reading books and playing games, really does warm the soul!
Note the adorable solitaire pieces which are lined up! Each one represented a different character in our story!
Early Sunday morning walk along the Quay!
Watching the kayak negotiate the current!
The entrance to the cemetary across from the river!
Oh how I love that basket!
The Quay along with resident swans!
The Antique Shop & Tea Room!
Cosy little shop – so many interesting things!
Ladybird books – they bring back such memories of my childhood!
A little known fact about Frugal Trenches – I adore anything John F. Kennedy
Found this postcard, the Quay certainly looks different now! Despite finding lots of lovely things I saved my pennies and decided to get my fix by continuing on my walk instead!
A 2 mile walk along the quay was simply marvelous!
And I came home and made this for Sunday lunch – salmon fillet rubbed with mustard and herbs, scalloped potatoes, ozra salad, carrots & baby plum tomatoes!
This weekend was filled with some good & bad times. I supposed when you have a loved one in the hospital, no day is going to be wonderful, but even among lots of scary tests and illness there was joy. Friday night after a long day at the hospital a friend arrived with her little ones and I had the evening I needed; it was filled with laughter, stories and games. Saturday was a tough day at the hospital but we, my mum and I, laughed so hard we almost wet ourselves; today she is doing a lot better! I’m heading back over there this afternoon and then will spend the evening doing things around the house and garden for her. I have plans to make her favourite homemade carrot & lentil soup, so that she has lots of frozen healthy meals when she is well enough to come home. I wish I didn’t have to head back to work tomorrow, but sadly I do. Today I was feeling quite upset about leaving her, so instead decided to focus on the three good things about heading back to work. To remind myself, here they are:
1. Work has allowed me to save £4500, meaning the £130 it cost me to get to my mum, was no problemo!
2. My good salary means I’ve been able to stock up on food for my mum (£43), petrol for her car (£28) and buy Grace some groceries and activities (£16) without a second thought!
3. While I feel tired to the very core of my bones (visiting people in hospital for hours each day, plus meeting with her team of specialists, is quite exhausting!) work will provide me with a distraction!
A few more hours of visiting, some soup making and gardening and then I shall curl up with a cup of tea, try my hand at knitting (I’ve found some wool & knitting needles in my mum’s spare room!), snuggle with a cat and catch up on all your blogs! Thank you for all the wonderful comments and emails, I’m sorry it’s taken me a while to respond – I hope to get around all your lovely blogs this evening!
Looks like a perfect, simple, fabulous weekend! And you are right, it is times like these we are reminded of how fortunate we are and why it is important to save $$. Thinking of you and your family!
Your are truly blessed! Love the photos. Some day I’ll get to England.It sounds like you unwound by doing little things not only for your self but others. Enjoy the rest of your week.
Hi there-so pleased for you that the weekend went well, best of wishes to your mum and Grace. I love all the photos too!
Oh, I do miss England…I have to work harder towards my canal boat, so I can move again…
Thanks for the beautiful photos; get some rest and relaxation.
I just wanted to say what i beautiful person you are, beauty comes from the inside as they say!.
You truely are a selfless person to forgo ‘treats’ to yourself to be able to give to others. It is a shame there aren’t more people like you in the world.
It is a blessing to be able to read this blog, you aspire me to follow the path that you do.
I hope that your mother and grace return to full health soon, how lucky they are to have you.
I truely believe in fate and ‘pay it forward’, I am sure by living as you are now you will end up with your home in the country with rescue rabbits.
Look forward to reading the next step of your journey. Stacey
Looks like a lovely weekend and I love the tea set!
Good to have a progress report on your Mum.
Lovely to see the photos of some of my old haunts. Used to live not far from there. Trying to remember the name of the old pub on the quayside. Is the cable ferry still there?
Regarding that last photo: Man oh Man that looks good. It’s nice to see photos of what you actually eat, considering I don’t know a vegen from a vegetarian:)
Beautiful photos! Thought are with you and your mum. Knitting is really relaxing for me – I hope you enjoy it.
Pictures are lovely. Hope your working week proves to be an easy one.
lovely photos, thanks for sharing them, I hope your mum keeps improving.
I could seriously get lost in that shop!!!! Hope your Mom is home soon enjoying the soup you made her and you get some rest as well. Fiona
my husbands grandad used to be the ferrymaster at that exact river crossing in exeter! he recieved a medal from the queen for saving so many people from drowning in his lifetime of work. you’ve thrown yourself a life line too – keep it up, rewards come in many forms!
Hi Sandie
There’s the Mill On The Exe – no cable car, sadly!
Rob, this meal includes fish so definitely not vegan, and probably not considered vegetarian either, although many people who call themselves vegetarians eat fish.
This is the first piece of fish I’ve had in ages, I felt I needed it today. I currently don’t eat any meat, though…
That salmon looks delicious!
It all looks so relaxing and nourishing for your soul… I hope your mum makes a speedy recovery.
looks like a great weekend, even with dealing with some tough stuff. hope this week goes well!
Hope your mum is better soon!
beautiful pictures! sorry about the hard times, and hope all is well again soon.
Lovely photos, I just love the teapot and milk and sugar bowl……..
Here’s hoping your mother is making a speedy recovery,
Gill in Canada
Just catching up! Sorry to hear your mum was ill but how lovely that you took Grace under your wing while visiting.
really love the pictures…especially the “before and after” of the quay. lovely, and what a nice meal to share as well. hope that your mum feels better soon!
Beautiful pictures. I hope your mum’s doing better now. All the best!
I wish you would do more posts.
If you could, could you touch on how much debt you WERE in…..
I love all of your photos. They reflect the peace and serentiy I sense in you. I’m so sorry your mom has been sick. Please keep us posted. I’d love to have your recipe for carrot and lentil soup. You could give it to us on your blog?
Blessings,
Nichole
FT-
Your blog just keeps getting better. I have been away for a while, and returned to find all these gorgeous pictures. Thank you!
The ladybird books are extremely evocative. I can actually recall having some of those exact same versions, growing up! Hmmm… I wonder where they are now.
Reading your posts is a little like coming home. They are simple, wholesome, and thoroughly good for the soul.
I thought you might really enjoy reading this Pioneer Woman’s blog posting, called the Compassion Ministry. It really is a beautiful post. I think my family may just ‘adopt’ a child.
You sound calm in spite of everything – I’m glad your mom is better. Way to not spend money and continue that gorgeous walk!
Also your food pictures? Have me hungry
A little acknowledgement for you, over on my blog.