Little things making me happy...

With all the horrible things going on in the world, it is even more important to enjoy the little things. Things like the beautiful autumn colours of the leaves...

...here a hydrangea...

...and a blueberry.

Magnolia Susan against blue sky (when there has been some)...

these leaves are now on the ground.

Hydrangea flowers still with colour...

Rose William Shakespeare 2000 flowering...

...and a splash of fuchsia pink from the asters.

They look much more bedraggled now.

Lovely delicate pink skies...

 ...echoing the New Dawn roses.

 Buttery yellow Ginkgo leaves.

 Inside the house, we have new tiles for the splashback behind the sink.  It's still a work in progress, but it is progressing.  I love the colours of these tiles...

...and the iridescence.  They make me smile every time I see them.

Finally, today's lunch - it is raining yet again, so what better to cheer up the day than a plate of beans on toast?  (These are Heinz, no added sugar ones as I find the original Heinz beans too sweet now.)  Little things that are making me happy - and don't we all need them?

Creativity

a page from my first art journal

(This post comes with a warning - I am going to get on my soapbox...)
As I have got older, I have realised the vital importance of creativity in my own life.  However, the word 'creativity' has a difficulty in itself.  Say it to people and they think of art, music or drama - the 'creative' subjects.  A new report has just been published about creativity in education in the UK, called The Durham Report.  For quite a few years, creativity in education has not been given the time and recognition it deserves.  In the report (which I admit, I haven't read all of yet) there is a definition of creativity:
"Creativity: The capacity to imagine, conceive, express, or make something that was not there before."

Other definitions in the report are:

"Creative thinking: A process through which knowledge, intuition and skills are applied to imagine, express or make something novel or individual in its contexts. Creative thinking is present in all areas of life. It may appear spontaneous, but it can be underpinned by perseverance, experimentation, critical thinking and collaboration." 

"Teaching for creativity: Explicitly using pedagogies and practices that cultivate creativity in young people. "

The gradual removal of creativity from the curriculum over the last ten years or so (since I was working with four and five year olds) has upset and bothered me enormously.  I do feel that this has been a contributing factor to the huge increase in mental health issues affecting young people.  (I do realise that there are many other contributing factors and that each person will have experienced many different causes). 
I remember going to a school to help my husband with a puppet making day a few years ago and was told that we were part of a creativity week which happened every two years...at that point, I despaired for the children.

So, the point of this post?  Well, with the publishing of this report, perhaps the curriculum makers will have the dawning realisation that we are all creative beings and we need to express this.  Perhaps children will be encouraged to explore their creative ideas, which will be valuable and valued and perhaps this will benefit future generations too.  I am feeling just that little bit more hopeful.  We shall see. 

Autumn soup recipe - sort of...

I have been asked for the roasted squash, pepper and sweet potato soup recipe.  Chris didn't use a recipe (unlike me who always has to follow a recipe), but here is a sort of recipe.

He roasted a squash, onion, peppers, tomatoes and garlic in the oven, until they were softened, having drizzled them with a little oil (or Frylight).  He then chopped up sweet potato and ordinary potato and added the roasted veg into a pressure cooker and added vegetable stock.  He let it cook for 5 minutes (this could all be boiled in a large pan for about 20 mins (that's the way I would have to do it, because pressure cookers scare me!).   As I am fussy (!) he then blitzed the soup down until smooth, although if you like chunky soup, you can leave the chunks in.  He probably added a little butter, some salt and pepper and some wine too.

It does taste lovely!  

Autumn food and gardening

There is a definite feel of autumn now.  Subtle changes such as darker mornings, cooler evenings and foliage starting to fall or change colour.  I have been enjoying comfort food this week and soups and rice pudding have featured.

Above is a delicious soup Chris made - roast squash, peppers and garlic, sweet potato and potato.  Really warming and gorgeous.  We have also had leek and potato soup which was also delicious.  Leek risotto has featured as has Yorkshire Sponge Parkin cake with the ginger and spice flavours.  I made my first rice pudding yesterday which tasted really good, but I need to work out how to get the rice and milk mixture incorporated better.
My autumn gardening has included planting my allium Globemaster bulbs which I bought from RHS Chatsworth and finally getting round to planting a replacement Winter Flowering Jasmine which has been in a pot for a year or so and which I hope will grow well now it has been released into the garden. I have also planted some foxgloves 'Foxy Hybrids' and 'Apricot' which I grew from seed so I am looking forward to seeing them grow too.

Walking round the garden, whatever the weather

 We have had quite unsettled weather this week.  There have been beautiful blue skies...

...roses enjoying the sunshine (Olivia Rose Austin)...

 ...dry days which the sempervivums have liked...

 ...and the japanese anemones, both white...

 ...and pink.

 When we have had rain, the droplets settled beautifully on the alchemilla mollis leaves.

 They look a bit like liquid mercury.

 Clematis Prince Charles looked really awful and brown last month, so I cut it back and it has rewarded me by re-growing and flowering, which was an unexpected and very welcome bonus.  Some flowers have five petals...

 ...and others have four. 

 The little hydrangea I bought at RHS Chatsworth is turning shades of pearly pink and green.

 Liriope Muscari is getting bigger every year and giving a very welcome splash of colour to a shady border.

 The combination of buddleia, perennial sunflower and aster look lovely when the sun shines.

It has rained all day today, on and off, but occasionally, there is the reward of a rainbow.  Seeing one never fails to amaze me.

Making...

...more cards.  This was for my friend Alison's birthday.  I watercoloured the background floral stamp and then used a 'spotlight' die effect for the sentiment.  This was cut from the background and then layered up so that it stands proud.  It looks a bit like an optical illusion and I think it is really effective.

 Here's a close up.

This second card was a little different as I made it for someone I don't know and doubt I shall ever meet.  His name is Rhys, he is fourteen and has a life limiting condition.  His mum put out a call on Facebook for cards to cheer him up and Chris said we should send one, so we did.  He has now received over 18,000 cards and also presents too.   There is a short report about him here. It just shows that despite the world news, the depressing statistics and upsetting images, there are still a lot of decent and kind people out there and that is a comforting thought.

Favourite plants in September

 While things may be starting to turn autumnal, there is still lots to enjoy in the garden at the moment.  This combination of Japanese anemone, fuchsia and geranium Rozanne makes me smile.

Seeing a Red Admiral butterfly enjoying the buddleia was also a happy moment.

 

 The asters are also in full flower.

I am collecting a few more fuchsias...this is Rivendell (bought last year at RHS Chatsworth).

 Bella Rosa (I think)...

and Lady Thumb, all looking good.

 Hardy cyclamen are so delicate and beautiful - these are something I look forward to seeing every autumn.

 I think this is cyclamen Rose something - I shall have to check!

 Aster Little Carlow which is always a good flowerer.

Finally, my miscanthus are doing well and adding some elegance to the borders.

 This is 'Morning Light'...

...and here is Starlight.  Just some of my favourites at the moment.

Gardeners' Question Time

Chris and I were very lucky to be able to go to a recording of Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time which took place in Lincoln last Tuesday night.  It's a programme I always try to listen to on a Sunday afternoon and to be at a recording was a bit of a bucket list opportunity.  We duly arrived at the time specified and were entertained by a playlist of music all with gardening or plant associations, such as 'A good year for the roses' by Elvis Costello, 'Flowers in the Rain' by The Move and the slightly more tenuous 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay' by Otis Redding.

Chris took the opportunity to take a photo before the evening got going

A man came onto the stage and gave the safety information as well as announcing the first set of questions and those people were asked to sit on the front row.  Kathy Clugston, the presenter, then introduced herself and the panel, Matt Biggs, Pippa Greenwood and Mathew Wilson.  There were lots of interesting questions ranging from dealing with pests and diseases to renovating trees, how best to use chicken manure and everything in between.  (Sadly, neither my question on pruning a hibiscus and Chris' on dealing with a plantaholic wife who has used every space in their small garden weren't chosen.)
What I found most interesting was the interplay between the presenter and panel; face pulling and gesturing to show that a panellist wanted or didn't want to contribute, being the most obvious.  Kathy Clugston also had to keep the pace right, deal with comments from the producer in her earpiece, re-do some linking pieces and introductions, think of suitable comments to round off each question while  remaining calm and relaxed - not an easy role at all.
Chris said he had really enjoyed the evening too, which is high praise as he is not really a gardener.  The shows will be broadcast on 20th September 2019 and 18th October 2019 and it will be fascinating to hear the final edited versions. 

Latest cards and papercraft experiments

I have had a few birthdays to make cards for over the last month. 

 This Daisy edger will be quite versatile as you can put it onto different backgrounds and it will look different every time.  This needs to be put onto a card.

 I need to stick this stencilled flower panel onto a card too.

 This card was for Chris' Mum and I think she liked it.

 Two more experiments with a new die - using watercolour crayons...

 ...and watercolour paints.

 This card was for a colleague at work.

 I made this tag for our friend, Rachael, who starts an MA in September.

 I hope this quote will keep inspiring her.

Finally, an 80th birthday card for a friend who will be travelling to Australia and Canada to see relatives.  I thought this was quite appropriate for him!
I have been working in my art journal too and sewing, gardening and reading.  It is back to work tomorrow after a very nice week off but there will be more crafting at the weekend.