Captured: On a walk with Ted a few mornings ago, up in the woods near our house.
The Story: I stopped to watch the cows for a bit, and Teddy stopped to watch me watch the cows. I’m not sure if it’s a spaniel thing, but this dog just won’t leave my side when we’re out walking. He’s happy to roam whilst we’re walking (with frequent checks back to make sure I’m still nearby) but as soon as I stop walking he’ll return to my side until I’m ready to head off again. That face above is his ‘Can we crack on now, please?’ face.
Captured: When I was in the midst of my griddled vegetables phase a week or so.
The Story: This is probably my favourite no-carb lunch I’ve made in the past few weeks. Griddled courgettes dressed with olive oil, salt, and fresh thyme leaves, with crumbled feta, mint leaves and balsamic added post-cooking. I love to slice the courgettes thick, so that they retain their bite after cooking. The other story behind this photo is that my iPhone camera won’t focus properly these days, so post-production sharpening is now the name of the game. Sigh.
Captured: At my Mum’s house, a Sunday or two ago. I can’t quite remember.
The Story: This was the first Sunday roast we’ve had in the longest time, and Mum did herself proud. Anyone else totally in love with carrot and swede mash? We talked at length about plans for Christmas this year, reminisced over my Grandma’s inventive cooking skills (she once boiled carrots in orange squash and stuffed a whole fresh sea trout with pickled onions), and flicked our way through various style magazines. Mum tutted at all the outlandish fashion, I got cross with her for tutting, my sister agreed with everything I said because she’s a little sister and that’s just how that works, and Jason ignored us all and read the sports section of The Sunday Times. Now that’s a pretty great family Sunday, if you ask me? :)
Captured: On a spectacularly beautiful day last week, that managed to combine summer sunshine with crisp autumnal air.
The Story: I’d intended to take my proper camera out with me that day to take some photos, and lamented my forgetfulness the whole way round our walk. We haven’t had light that gorgeous since, and I suspect we won’t now for a good few months. Like I said, my iPhone camera is playing up at the moment (though who can blame it, after I’ve dropped and smashed it three times recently) but it still managed to create this kind of awesome light leak that makes it looks as though this sheep’s about to be beamed up. Well done, little phone, great job!
Captured: In my new favourite shop ‘The Ark‘, in a town about twenty minutes outside of Guildford.
The Story: I came across this shop a couple of months ago, and fell for it in a big way. It’s a treasure trove, full of beautiful furniture and homeware sourced from antique markets across France and Eastern Europe. They recently brought in a huge quantity of wonderful old French fruit packing crates, and I couldn’t help but buy a few to put together as a little bookshelf for our living room. I was tempted to buy about twenty crates just for the beautiful old weather wood, to use as photo backdrops and the like. And at fourteen pounds a box, it very nearly happened!
Captured: After a late afternoon, on-a-whim baking session.
The Story: I hadn’t made a plain, all in one cake like this in such a long time, and woke up with the biggest craving for simple cake that morning. I used to make them all the time with my Mum and Grandma when I was little, and the smell of fresh lemon zest and butter just takes me straight back to happy hours spent whilst standing on a stool in the kitchen in order to reach the work surface. This one sunk a little because my neighbour popped round just as I was putting it into the oven and so didn’t notice the temperature was about 30 degrees lower than it should have been, but it still tasted pretty delicious.
Captured: In a moment of green-fingered admiration.
The Story: This cyclamen and its tiny terracota pot captured my heart at the Ark the other day. Isn’t it sweet? Since my herbs are still alive (I’m so proud, it’s embarrassing) I’ve decided to move things on a step, horticulturally speaking, and attempt to keep this little darling going for longer than two weeks. I did as the sweet lady in the shop instructed and soaked it, pot and all, in an inch or so of water as soon as I got it home, and since then have left it fairly well alone. I love its little lily pad-looking leaves, and proudly upright flowers. Keep your fingers crossed for it, please!
Captured: On a drizzly Thursday morning by the canal in Guildford.
The Story: I learnt that day that Teddy’s hatred of birds extends to herons. He thundered down the bank chasing after this one, and had to screech to a stop to avoid falling headfirst into the water. I’m impressed he even bothered to stop, to be honest, since usually he divebombs into every mass of water available. Is my dog learning…self control?! I love his helicopter ears in this photo.
Captured: At the beginning of a long day of work at Jason’s office.
The Story: This is what my plait looked like at about 10 o’clock in the morning, having been done about an hour before. Messy, but still hanging in there. By around 2pm, it was a totally different story. Can someone explain to me why sideplaits have a maximum life span of about three hours? They’re like the mayfly of the hairdo world. This shirt is definitely my new favourite clothing item though. I’m currently fighting the urge to go and buy it in every colour way and pattern available…
Instagram // ‘ciderwithrosiebee’
