A Good Night's Sleep ~~~

Hello Friends ~~~

I don't normally talk about these things, but this is just too useful not to share and if it helps you, then who am I to keep it to myself? I may have cracked the issue of how to get a good night's sleep ~ at last!

Now, I've never been a good sleeper. I can count the number of really good nights of sleep I've had, probably in my entire life, on one hand.  Even as a child, I seldom woke up feeling fully refreshed and restored, but have learned to live with it and adjust my life accordingly as best as I can.

I know, for some, restless nights seem to arrive with the menopause and never leave, and as we get older we seem to naturally sleep less, but for me, ever since I was a child I've struggled with falling asleep at a good and proper time. I've blamed it on a lot of things too, starting with having to share a room with my Nanna and we'd talk into the wee small hours about gardening and baking, and of all things space exploration and the Universe! So, my pattern of staying awake seems to have established at quite a young age. As I moved into my teens, many a late night was spent, snuggled under a mountain of blankets, listening to Radio Luxembourg on my tiny transistor radio with a tiny earphone so nobody knew what I was up to!  Of course, getting up for school in the morning was not easy but somehow, over the years, this lack of sleep seemed to balance out by staying in bed as late as I could manage every morning. It didn't affect my schoolwork and my academic achievements were glowing to say the least, so why bother about getting sleep if you don't need it?

Years pass, and the situation continues, until I reached breaking point as the hour I was falling asleep, after tossing and turning for hours, became five a.m. Try and get up at seven o'clock in the morning on just two hours sleep day after day after day. You just cannot. Thankfully, I living in Iceland at the time and was not working and had no responsibilities as such, so I just went with it, sleeping until midday and letting my body clock adjust accordingly. Sometimes I was out walking in the twenty four hour daylight at three in the morning out of sheer boredom. Of course, that doesn't work for ever.

Over the years I've been given so much advice and help, both informal and professional. I've tried not going to bed until I'm properly tired; working out and exercise; meditation, crystals, essential oils, massage and Reiki; diet and not eating late in the evening; reading and listening to music or meditative music; keeping a note book by the bed to clear my thoughts; drinking herbal tisanes and concoctions of every sort you can think of; switching off devices and television early; light therapy; I've even tried a course of sleeping tablet {never again!} and been to a psychiatrist! Oh, and any combination you can make of the above too!  I have been told by holistic healers that my Circadian Rhythm is all out of balance, possibly as great as 30 hours rather than the 24/25 hours it should be, and that is what is to blame.

You name it, I've tried it but ~~~

NOTHING WORKS!!!

~~~ Until now ~~~ 

Are you ready for this?

Then, a few months ago one of my Facebook online friends shared yet another link on how to cure insomnia by wearing bed socks to bed as a possible solution.  I sniffed at this, just another gimmick, but then, a few weeks ago it popped up from another source so I took a bit more notice and then thought I'd give it a go; it can't hurt, can it?

Guess what?  Well, you probably already worked it out where this is going ~~~ 

IT WORKED!!!

Since starting this about a month ago I've fallen asleep very quickly most nights {other than when I have had a snack too late in the evening to digest properly} and had a good night of restful restorative sleep each night. A couple of nights I've forgotten and guess what? Back to Square One with difficulty falling asleep.  I am amazed! Not only do I wake up refreshed and restored but I've got loads more energy, my mood has improved no end, and I'm a different person all together!

I've looked further into this and, apparently, it has to do with keeping your feet just a few degrees warmer than the rest of your body. Now, I know this is going to get some of you saying that you are already too hot in bed at night. I am, and I spend a lot of time with my legs hanging over the edge of the bed BUT trust me on this and try it. What's the worst that can happen? You end up kicking the socks off, right? But what if it works and you get that elusive night of good sleep ~ every night that you wear those socks?

WHAT IF???

Until next time ~~~

Deborah xoxo

Mid Autumn Catch Up

Hello Friends!

That most delicious time of year is upon my corner of the Shire once again. You know of what I speak ~~~ Autumn, my most favoured time of year, and now nearly half way through. So much has happened since I last wrote, so today I'll quickly share a few of my recent photographs as there is really far too much to recap. I can scarce believe it is a month and then some since I last journalled here ~~~ I have been sidetracked but manage today to share some photographs taken two weeks ago, although my words are sparse today ~~~

Summer passed us by again, and I know many of you are quite envious of the cooler weather that meant I have had the heating on at some point most days through July while you and your ice creams melted in the sweltering, scorching sun. Of course, I've now got the heating bill to prove it! A few weeks ago, we actually broke through the 70 degree barrier! It came as a shock to the system, three whole days in a row of 80 degrees and higher, but then we dropped back to our typical mid~60's.

The light at this time of year takes on a quality of gentle softness as the sun slips slowly lower in the sky with each passing day.  I do not get out as much as I would like, but when I do, you know my camera goes too, so here are some, quite a few, photographs I've taken when I've had the chance to go for a walk along the highways and byways surrounding my home ~~~

A well camouflaged trout in the shallows

high in the horse chestnut tree sit unripened conkers waiting to fall

the view from Pen Lan across the valley to the village

I think he might be stuck ~ he's torn up the road for sure!

So lush and verdant it almost looks like a tropical valley

down the hill and into the valley below

so little rain, the stream is nearly dry

gulls paddling on the seashore's edge

old stone cottages with traditional lime wash bask in late autumn sunshine

the cathedral tower rising up from it's hiding place in the hidden valley

a macro photo of sycamore "helicopters" with a tiny spider

a sprig of helicopters waiting to fly

horse chestnut leaf 

a magical new addition to the once ordinary railings at the Bishop's Palace

beautiful details

I love these magical mushrooms

cathedral view

a row of pretty traditional stone cottages

if the folk lore holds true, red berries signal a hard winter ahead

a calm and shady spot along the stream

sweet chestnuts fall along the wayside

I'm sure the squirrels will be along soon

looking out across the coast to the south west

a medieval chapel in ruins in an ancient field 

a tanker, like a ghost ship, sits across the misty bay

all the way down at Fulmar Cove

ruined medieval chapel

I often sit on the Welsh~American slate seat and think of my friends Across The Pond

A big old beetle scurries across the path to the cool shelter of the grassy verge

Blackberries ripen on the vines

Nature's sculptures ~ trees carved into shape by the prevailing west winds

So, dear friends, thank you for coming with me, I have enjoyed your company on our happy little stroll through the sunny byways and lanes ~ wasn't it fun? It is getting colder now each day and October is nearly spent ~ my gloves and scarves are waiting in the wings {there is always room for one more lovely scarf and pair of gloves?} Next time we'll bring along a Thermos of hot chocolate and a biscuit to nibble. My autumn decorations are up, the special favourite mugs are now in use, and hot chocolate is back on the hot drinks list in my kitchen.  I always put a tiny pinch of chilli powder in my hot chocolate, just to give it a little kick, they do compliment each other so very well.

Until next time
~~~Deborah xoxo

The Last of the Apples

Hello Friends!

Just the other day, I mentioned to someone how more like Winter our weather is right now. Much of the rest of the country is experiencing the hottest September on record, with a high of just over 34 degrees Centigrade {that's about 100 degrees F} recorded this very afternoon in Kent, while here in the west the winds are 40 mph and it rains buckets full. As the weatherman said at midday 'The South of England roasts and, typically, the west is cold and wet' which just about sums it up.  I'm glad he said 'typically' ~~~

As I type, there is a lamb casserole in the Crock Pot. Many of you know I am vegetarian, and this is for my Mum. I admit, it isn't complicated and that is just as well because I can't taste it to check for seasoning so I really have to wing it when I cook Mum's ready meals for the freezer.  I am such a chicken {not a pun} and buy trimmed and diced meat from the supermarket so that I don't have to handle it. I just open the box and put it in, along with stock and vegetables. It has been so long since I ate, or cooked, meat that I can't remember much about it now. This week, after it's quarterly defrosting and clearing out, the freezer is being well restocked with hearty, warming and nutritious casseroles {both meat and vegetarian}, as well as lots of Apple Sauce, fresh picked wild blackberries, and more. I love this time of year, preparing comfort food and puddings for the Winter freezer more than any other.

I was speaking to my neighbour over our shared fence this afternoon and she confirmed my suspicions that the blackberry pick just isn't as good as usual this year.  Summer was simply too cold and dry, and this is probably to blame. I'm still picking what I can daily and freezing them and will decide what to make once the season is over. However, if you have plenty and would like to get a really delicious recipe for a scrumptious Blackberry Roll then pop over to the blog of my good friend Martha Ellen's The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen where you will find the recipe ~~~

I have put off decorating, but as September is now midway through and the Autumn Equinox is in a few days, I think it is time to bring out the boxes of Autumn decorations.  I am honouring the imminent arrival of Autumn by making a recipe from my Susan Branch "Autumn" book called Cranberry Apple Crisp.  I am not sure if I can, due to copyright reasons, share the recipe, suffice to say {for my British readers} it is very similar to a Fruit Crumble, but if you own a copy of "Autumn From the Heart of the Home" by Susan Branch, you can find the recipe on page 95.

Here it is ~~~

Getting the ingredients together with my green glazed Mason Cash bowl 

I used frozen cranberries, thawed, and a few blackberries that were to hand ~~~

Ready to work in the butter with my pastry blender before finishing by hand ~~~

Ready to bake on a tray in case it leaks! I used wholewheat flour so it looks quite brown before baking

The finished dish 

Nicely layered with plenty of topping and fruits

This will be pudding tonight served with a warm custard sauce ~~~ delicious!

Not much is happening in the garden, but I'm hoping the blackberries will continue to produce some good fruits for the next few weeks ~~~ there are plenty of buds and blooms  ~~~

but already the leaves are starting to turn colour ~~~

Until next time
~~~Deborah 

Have You Noticed?

Hello Friends ~~~

Have you noticed that Autumn, the most blissful season of all, is here?

Quietly she came, and began whispering in my ear some weeks ago; the quality of light is softening daily as the sun drops closer to the horizon; the days are noticeably shorter; nights are drawing in; curtains are closed earlier now; the heating is needed to take the chill off the early morning and late evening air; the hedgerows and trees are offering up their ripening fruits; the world that dwells far above the Equator prepares to slow down and rest.

Although the air feels Autumnal, and the light is Autumnal, the trees and fruits seem still a little way behind, but here are some photos of what is happening in and around and near my cottage ~~~

Rosa Rugosa grown into rich ruby red hips

Japanese Wind Anemones fill my borders

Won't you join me on a gentle stroll around the valley this pleasantly warm and sunny Autumn afternoon?  Let us take a peek and see what is happening as we traipse along the high~hedge boundered byways of the Shire ~~~

A trout lies well camouflaged on the muddy river bottom

Leaves still wear the green of Summer and show no sign of turning yet

Conkers ripening high up on the Horse Chestnut Tree

View from Pen Lan looking up the river valley to the village

I think he might be stuck! He certainly chewed up the surface of the lane!

Looking down the river valley all is lush and verdant green and out of site the ocean lies

The winding shady lane that leads back to the village and a blue sunny sky

The stream is low in water and is nothing more than a trickle

Crab Apples ripening for jam and jelly making

My favourite Autumn fruit ~ Blackberries ~ deep juicy jewels ~ gems of goodness

A net of spiderweb covered in dewy crystal droplets of early morning rain

Each day now I am picking a small bowl of wild blackberries from the vines about my cottage and soon I will decide what to make with them as they assemble in the freezer ~~~ the more you pick, the more you get, and with heavy rains coming in tomorrow I hope the following days of sun will give a bumper crop to pick ~~~

Until next time
Deborah