Myself through a looking glass . . .

This is an idea inspired from another blog - what your possessions say about you, basically. Well, as far as interests go, cats, horses, baking, gardening are all a given. As are books really, but I do have several areas of interest. This is just a very small selection of my archaeology books. Some of my favourites there, especially the well-thumbed ECMS which was my rock whilst I was researching my Dissertation. The Picts are a particular interest of mine, and Early Christian Monuments (especially those linked to the Picts), but you will note two Welsh reference books on the same. My children always rolled their eyes and said, "Oh mum, you and your STONES!!!" I always told them, stones rock : )


My literary collection, or at least, about a third of it. Mostly biographies about Thomas Hardy here, and poet Edward Thomas, though I also have books by and about the Brontes, Dickens, Jane Austen, Mary Webb, Eden Philpotts, Trollope, and poetry books in this bookcase.


I have quite a good collection of books by and about Edward Thomas, who is my poetry hero. A fascinating man but good grief, he can't have been an easy one to live with!


Just a wee part of my 200+ cookery books. I think you should quickly see a theme going . . . Anything farmhouse/cottage/countryside orientated.

Some of my craft books. Quilt making was a passion of mine 30 years ago, but I know I don't really have the mind for colours and planning and these days I just stick to making hexagon quilts to throw about the place.

This part of my book collection is one that pleases me greatly as it comes under several areas, by author, by area, by content. It is always being added to and these books are ones which I would NEVER part with.


Some of my botany books. They are good companions and regularly referred to.

I have a "thing" about big old storage jars. The one at the front, complete with its original earthenware lid, is the most recent addition, and all are in use.

I have a small collection of Gillian McDonald limited edition prints. They remind me of Scottish holidays when the children were smaller.

I love old cottage pictures. This is one of a set of three and I still have a jigsaw puzzle (a few bits missing now) which I had as a child, showing a cottage garden scene painted by this artist, Sid Gardner.

I adore Celtic interlace. This is a design from - I think I remember rightly - the Book of Kells. My husband and I bought it when we were holidaying in Cornwall and found this at a Tintagel gift shop. The design is worked on slate.

I love old things - furniture, china, and big earthenware jars. The latter never pretend to be anything other than what they are - down to earth (and from the earth) and functional with the minimum of decoration and they link me to my "ag. lab." roots.

When my children were smaller I did a lot of x-stitch. The Quilting was an American pattern.

This picture reminded me of "home", Dorset, and such happy memories of walking in the Purbecks. My late m-in-law was once horrified to see me tucking into half a pint of prawns outside the pub in the picture (The Greyhound) as to her, prawns were what came to shore on the drowned bodies in the Scarborough of her mother's memory . . .

Spinning is something I need to get back to. I learned to spin many years back, before we moved to Wales, and then I had a 6 week course about 4 years ago. Life has rather got in the way these past couple of years



Plain hexagon patchwork. Something I can work on my lap, hand sew (which is what I like best) and pick up for 5 minutes or an evening. This is an "extension" to turn a large single quilt made for middle daughter's Uni bed into a king size quilt for our own.

I love walking down by our river as it is never the same two days running and it has such energy, even when water levels are low as they are here.

I love wild flowers. Ever since I was given the Observer's Book of Wild Flowers when I was 6 years old, I have identified them and learned more about them.

Meadowsweet.

Deep pink Valerian.

Roses of course. This is a beauty from Haddon Hall.

Kiftsgate back at home, against a glowering sky. It has finally reached the top of the Hawthorn tree and given it a silver crown to wear. Paul's Himalayan Musk to its left.


Historic old houses, of course. Haddon Hall below and above is the last working snuff factory in the country, in Sheffield.