Heavens Gate....

There are some places near to where you live that make you sometimes think; "If we moved from here I'd really miss this". This morning was one of those occasions. A 10 minute drive down the road, a short walk, with the girls collecting a multitude of pine cones, feathers and small sticks along the way.........

.....brought us here to Heavens Gate. A stunning, peaceful location on the Somerset/Wiltshire border, where you can see for miles across Somerset, Longleat House and its estate designed by Capability Brown in the latter half of the 18th century.

The sculptor, Paul Norris, worked on these stones (made from Granite originating from Mabe in Cornwall), for 2 years whilst living on the estate, and carved the them inspired by his surroundings.

Like Paul, Heavens Gate lifts my spirit too, as I know it does many others that live and visit this lovely part of Wiltshire.

Here is what Paul had to say;

"Heavens Gate is a magnificent place of beauty where people spend time absorbing the splendour of Longleat House and its park. My intention was to convey beauty through emotion rather than attract attention by art. I hope the sculptures will act as a greeting place rather than an attraction as they are set back from the viewpoint. The Millennium was the end of an era and the beginning of another, which encouraged excitement and hope for the future. Longleat is so very special as it changes with the times but holds onto its deep rooted history".

I have many happy memories of times spent at Heavens Gate. I have photos of me standing in the circular stone when pregnant with big shrimp and others of her tucked up in her sling carried by daddy when she was newborn. I have one particular memory of walking up there one Sunday morning when 41 weeks pregnant with little shrimp. Mr Shrimp and big shrimp striding on ahead telling me to hurry up as only a man can who has no idea of quite how much climbing a hill when overdue with a child, can take out of a pregnant woman!! There have been lots of pictures taken over the years here of the girls standing in the circular stone and our picnics together.

Only last week I whittled away 4 hours here, chatting away with a very dear friend I've met since living here in Wiltshire, whilst our two girls played hide and seek with each other behind the carved stones, before enjoying a picnic lunch in the April sunshine.

If ever you are this way, or visiting Center Parcs at Longleat, then take an hour out of your day to visit this spiritual place. It is located on the same road as the Center Parcs entrance. A little further up on the left you will find a car park, cross over the road into the clearing and follow the path...it's worth it, you'll see.

Bargain of the day.

My shopping trip today saw me come home with the following;

1 x Striped long sleeved t-shirt from Cabbages and Roses.

2 x Retro blue & white towelling all in one short jumpsuits from The Little White Company.

1 x Greengate tunic style dress in this beautiful print;

But my bargain of the day came from WH Smiths; Rachel Allen's fab cookbook for the grand total of; £6!!

This is selling in Cath Kidston at the moment for £25.00, but good old WH Smith has it reduced to £7.50. I was able to use the 20% off discount card that I had knocking around in my purse from a previous purchase which made me smile even more!

Thought I'd let you like minded ladies know, just in case you too were thinking of buying it.

Enjoy the lovely weather this weekend, doesn't this lovely sunshine lift the spirits?

A rainy and creative Saturday afternoon...

With Mr Shrimp painting away in the top bedroom all day, the shrimps and I have been busy with 'all things Easter'.

We've baked and decorated cakes ready for tomorrow's family visits.

Big shrimp finished decorating the egg she had started.

And little shrimp got all 'gluey and fluffy' whilst making her Easter Bonnet.

PHEW...Time for a sit down I think!

Happy Easter.

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing this weekend, enjoy yourselves and have a very Happy Easter.

Corners of our seaside home.......

These are the things that make me smile during weekends spent in our South Devon home.

Freshly cut flowers.

Seaside appliqued cushions.

Quirky harbour front houses .

Fish hooks as Coat hooks.

Walls full of memories....

.....and spring flowers.

Paintings of local beaches.

Imaginative door stops.

And picnic hampers awaiting sunny days.

"Let's go fly a kite"........

Let's go fly a kite,

Up to the sky at night,

Let's go fly a kite,

And send it soaring,

Up through the atmosphere,

Up where the air is clear,

Oh, let's go fly a kite.

Special days, with special girls.....

Thank you beautiful lovely girliewigs for not only making me smile each and every day and making me question if it really is possible to love you any more? but also for helping create days full of wonderful memories that I'll cherish and remember forever.....

When we awoke this morning you were so eager and proud to give me these beautiful cards that you lovingly made....

I even cried when I read this beautiful poem and your wonderful writing inside that you'd taken so long over.........

Then you took me out to Salcombe for the day to enjoy the beautiful gardens and views that Overbecks has to offer.....

We walked up steps with quirky handrails....

Witnessed the first signs of Spring....


Found Secret Gardens....

Fabulous statues...

Seating to rest our weary feet....

And admired such stunning views.......

We listened to crystal clear jolly music on this wonderful Polyphon (I'm glad I don't have to find room for one of these to send you to sleep at night instead of the ipod you are now used to)!

We enjoyed games on the manicured lawns.....


....outside this beautiful National Trust house; Overbecks...............

And finished our little trip by soaking up the March Sunshine as we ate homemade cakes whilst enjoying the spectacular scenery...

And whilst I sit typing away, I glance down at my wrist admiring the beautiful bracelet that you gave me this morning and remind myself..."Mothers hold their children's hands for a while, but their hearts FOREVER".............

I love you beautiful girls, forever, thank you for a wonderful day and for giving my life such meaning. xxxxx

Out of the mouths of babes......

There are those times when young children just come out with absolute classics...... You know the times, when you have to try your absolute hardest to keep a straight face when you explain that; 'yes' you can understand why they thought what they did, but you have to slyly wipe away the tears of silent laughter as you explain the reality.

Walking along the quayside during low water on Saturday afternoon..........(note small black blob half way up on the left of picture)


Big Shrimp confidently asked...........

"Is that the plug"?

I can see her logic, when you're 5 years old the water has to go somewhere, right?.....................................................How hard it was to not undermine her confidence whilst we fell to the floor laughing!