When we saw this, just the weekend before our first event of the summer, we knew that we had been blessed and that we would be making many happy sunny memories, some of which are recorded in our gallery for you to see. We filled the garden with children, paint, teepees and laughter and chased trails and bugs all week long. The camp fire was lit for what seemed for the first time this year, and when it was cool enough we sought the shade of the giant teepee for stories and workshops. We had a range of children visiting, aged from 5 to 12, and it always amazes me how they all get on, help each other, work together and make the most of whatever we offer. Lunch was either hot sausages cooked over the camp fire, cooling salads around the huge kitchen table or pitta pizzas prepared by the children and cooked in an oven outdoors. Drinks of the blackcurrant and summer fruit varieties flowed throughout the day, but Roger and I had to wait until dusk for our well earned glass of Pinot Grigio!! We are so looking forward to the next week - 6th - 10th August. If we are not blessed by as much sunshine this time, we'll make the most of our shady sheltered places, we'll hang out in the giant teepee and we'll bake up a storm in the kitchen with Gracey purring in the background and the smell of Summer cookies wafting through the house. Well the rain it fell, and I spent a worried night - hoping that Ruby and the chicks would stay dry - thankfully they did, but as I went down at 7am to check, I thought I'd go and see if my lovely advertising banners had blown away. The banners are safe and sound, but Sainsburys car park resembles a beach! Full of sand and silt with a unique waterfall as the stream now rushing like a river through our garden, which USED to flow through the orchard, finds any way it can to bypass the new drain it has been directed through by the contractors. The good news is that The Secret Garden has lived through the most rainfall in living memory (possible exaggeration), and is not flooded. The barn has a bit of a pond in it, but that will soon drain. And still the rain falls. So if yo're shopping in Sainsburys this weekend, come in your wellies!! :) Do you remember that lovely hot sunny weather we had a couple of months ago? Ruby and her chick friend were doing plenty of lovely sunbathing. The grass was neatly cut and the bees were buzzing through the flowers. Well it hasn't been like that lately has it!! But the upside is that the rain has painted the garden green! Everything's growing so fast - the trees are beautiful and offer welcome shade when the hot sun blazes through. We've booked the sun for our 2 weeks of teepee fun. If we have a shower we'll adjourn to the barn and cook our lunch around the chimenea and the fire pit will keep us safely warm. We still have places left for all days, although we have had lots of interest since the giant banner went up in Sainsburys car park. Book soon to avoid disappointment! Remember, if you book for more than 2 days, or if you bring a friend you get a discount of 50p per hour! We have a party on the last day, so if you want to be there for the fun and games - at no extra charge - book early. You can bring a parent/guardian free of charge to join in with our happy and exciting event. That's on Friday August 10th, and just happens to be the day before Maisie's birthday and 2 days before Rogers! CELEBRATE!! |
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November 2016
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