I feel like I've begun all my recent Friday Happies posts with a kind of frantic, breathless feel, like I'm racing headlong into the weekend, anxious and overstretched. Not today. We're all busy aren't we, but tonight I feel calm and happy. Peaceful. I really wanted to thank you for your comments on my Midsummer post, in which I had a little sulk about the perceived boringness of my life. You caught me in a vulnerable mood. I normally couldn't care less what everyone else is up to and I let the trendiness wash over me. I truly love the everyday, the little things, and tonight that's what I'm celebrating.
So, here are tonight's happies:
1. The way these hot pink fushias look against our grey front door. I have three terracotta pots in a row and they've gone mad, bursting forth and overflowing, pink cascading everywhere. I love to see these flowers as I walk up the steps and I always pause to admire then while rummaging in my bag for my keys.
2. Summer evenings. Pinky-peach fluffy clouds spotted while doing the washing up at 9pm.
3. Mid week drinks with the very best sort of friends. The kind you can cackle with. A cold bottle of beer with a lime in it, drunk in a pub beer garden with a view, on a night when it was just warm enough to sit outside.
4. Baking. A batch of Oreo brownies (just regular brownies with some crushed Oreo buscuits scattered on top before they go in the oven) and some flapjacks, for the weekend. I've not done any baking for the last couple of weeks and I'd forgotten how much sweet pleasure there is to be had in weighing and mixing things, then putting them in the oven and 20 minutes later taking out something totally delicious. Plus the house smells fantastic too. Baking is good for the soul, don't you think?
I wish you all a lovely weekend. We are camping in the Dales tomorrow! Well, when I say camping, we're staying in a "pod" (which is basically a fancy shed) but it involves inflatable mattresses and sleeping bags and campfires, and that's about as close to camping as I'm ever likely to get. I'm really excited. I just hope the rain stops.
I hope that you have a wonderful weekend camping! Your fuchsia is beautiful! xx
ReplyDeleteWonderful happies, the pub garden sounds like a lovely place to be. I did some baking today, cookies and millionaire's shortbread to take on holiday. It did indeed make me feel a lot calmer and more in control. I hope you have a lovely weekend, that kind of camping sounds very civilised, something even I could manage! CJ xx
ReplyDeleteBaking is so very good for the soul! I love to bake on a lazy Sunday. I'm out tonight with a friend for dinner a show and cackle. Can't wait. Enjoy your weekend lovely xoxo
ReplyDeleteI love to bake and made gooey brownies during the week, I freeze them and have 1 every now and again, tonight I had 1 with thick raspberry yogurt, lush. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend, Gillian. The brownies sound delicious.
ReplyDeletePod camping is fun, enjoy it! Did you know that fuchsia flowers are edible and sweet? My children call them garden sweeties. This is a lovely selection of happies and they would make me happy, too. x
ReplyDeleteI love your Friday Happy posts and hope the weather clears so you have a great weekend, though I am green with envy at the thought of you being out there in the Dales. I too love baking, but not as often these days as there are only two of us now. Take care.
ReplyDeleteLovely happies Gillian, and I'm really taken with that gorgeous sky and your beautiful fuchsia in a perfect spot to greet you. Happy camping and I hope you have good weather! xoJoy
ReplyDeletePod camping sounds like a lot of fun ... an inflatable mattress is about as close to camping as I am likely to get too ... will you packing be some of those delicious looking brownies ... I would 😏 Bee xx
ReplyDeleteLovely glimpses of your life here. Have fun camping!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your mix of photos. Have a great weekend in the pod, I would love one in my garden!
ReplyDeleteCaz xx
That kind of camping sounds just fine to me! Have fun!
ReplyDeleteThe oreo brownies look delicious - definitely one to try. Happy camping! x
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your camping trip !
ReplyDeleteI would love to try that brownie cake... Hmmm looks soooo good...
Hope you add to your Happies, this weekend and that the sun shines!
ReplyDeleteJacqui x
I love a bright burst of colour by the front door too. Your fuchsias are stunning.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great weekend - isn't that "glamping"? x
I need some pink fuchias in my life! and to sleep in a pod! enjoy, Heather X
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your camping!
ReplyDeletehave a lovely weekend x
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed by that specific fuchsia pink color!!! Have a great fun filled and happy camping weekend!!!
ReplyDeleteLove
AMarie xxx
Lovely post! Fuchsias are such stunning flowers, they almost seem unreal to me, how they can produce two wildly different yet harmonious shades...I have a pretty ribbon embroidery design for them that I could send you...and I so agree with your baking sentiments, the whole process is so calming, restorative, almost meditative, and then you get the bonus of licking the bowl and eating cake after! Woo hoo! Enjoy your camping weekend! Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteWell jel of the pod. I'm a coward when it comes to camping; tents are too close to the ground for me. I've read about and seen pods on t'internet so please please please do post good pictures of it!
ReplyDeleteHey Gillian,
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your pod camping. You'll have fun. The kids will have a ball. The oreo brownies are making me salivate. I have a huge fushia bush outside my front door. I prune it back hard every year, and every year in grows back and all these wonderful flowers burst forth. The bees love it too!
Leanne xx
Your weekend trip sounds like it'll be fun, hope it turns out that way.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite of your happies is defo the brownie shot, they look scrummy.
Lisa x
WOW! The post has just plopped through the letter box and my August Style at Home Magazine. I was flipping through when I saw a crochet cushion which looked a bit familiar so went in for a better look!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess who? It's lovely to see you in the flesh and the article is great. Waaaaayyyyyyyyyyy.
ReplyDeleteHope you have fun in the pod, we've been in one in the past, it was a raining weekend but we had a little electric heater which made it bearable. That and the wine.
Clicky Needles x
Glad to hear you don't normally care about what other folks do or don't do. In fact I think that's an important part of mastering the art of living (one's own life). Have a wonderful weekend x
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ReplyDeleteAh, I love your posts and pics! Baking IS good for the soul! ( Not so good for the waistline maybe ) We have recently introduced " Sunday Tea " and it is honestly the highlight of my week! I think about what to bake all week, and the children take it in turns to choose what cake they want me to make. Love it! Enjoy your weekend, Claire
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time camping, I hope you have sunny skies, lots of laughter and a ton of fun.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Call be old-fashioned, or just behind the times, but I've never seen Oreo biscuits, much less had one. But what a good idea, they look a little like old coins broken up and sprinkled over the bronwnie mixture.
ReplyDeleteOh, dear camping ... the weather is dreadful down here in the west country. I hope it's better for you!
Love the fuchsias! I love one called Devon Dumpling, but the heads are so large on them that they need propping up and that tends to spoil the effect. But fuchsias against the pale grey look stunning.
Margaret P
Enjoy the camping - apparently the weather's supposed to pick up on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteI'm also baking this weekend and yes, it's one of those things that makes you happy. The whole process. I'm rubbish at anything science-y but weighing, mixing and dealing with very hot temperatures makes me feel quite accomplished...
Have fun glamping!
Sarah x
Some wonderful happies here! I do hope your camping goes well. I keep looking at the Glastonbury 'campers' and the rain that is falling there (oh well Glastonbury isn't Glastonbury without the mud is it?!). Keep dry xx
ReplyDeleteLovely happys, have a great weekend. Kate x
ReplyDeleteHope you have lots of fun this weekend. Your Friday nappies are a real treat!
ReplyDeleteThose brownies look too good....enjoy camping. I love fuschias, but, can you resist popping them when they are almost ready to open!?! Glad you are feeling chipper again xx
ReplyDeleteFour lovely happies Gillian. I love the Oreo brownies too, I was really pleased when I found the recipe because one of my daughters is allergic to nuts so the traditional ones are no go in our house. Couldn't agree more that baking is good for the soul. Have a wonderful camping weekend.
ReplyDeleteJane xx
Your photos are lovely as usual. Love your fushia, and, yes, the grey door makes a beautiful backdrop for it. My mom always had fushias hanging on our porch when I was a child, and I was so taken in by their brilliant colors.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend camping!
I adore those fushias against they grey door...beautiful. I love Oreo brownies too, they are so delicious. I use a Lorraine Pascale recipe for them. Hope you have a great time on your camping trip. We have stayed in a pod a couple of times and we all really enjoyed it....much comfier than a tent!
ReplyDeleteMarianne x
Baking is indeed the very thing for soothing a sore soul, mmm Oreo brownies what a divine combination. Hope you have a fab 'nearly camping' experience, a pod sounds huge fun!
ReplyDeleteHmm, this one for you then if you have the feeling you need to focus on enjoyING the beauty of the simple thinngs...this song made my week .. http://www.strongsoutherly.com/strongsoutherly/2014/6/24/follow-the-sun
ReplyDeleteI'm all about the baking for happiness - I do it almost every day. I have also been admiring the sunsets we've been having, quite late, after the little babe is in bed. And a light summer beer is definitely happiness inducing!
ReplyDeleteAmazing shot of the sky! But my favourite pic is the one of the beer bottle, a beer with a view sounds perfect!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a lovely time camping. Weather's been rubbish in London, hope it was better for you!
Baking is brilliant - satisfies so many needs at once!
ReplyDeleteAmazing with the fuschias against your front door. I love the colouers!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos, as always! I get a bit stressed about posting sometimes-I worry that I'm being boring or my photos aren't good enough and I have to remind myself that it's not about the audience, it's about sharing what you make and taking delight in blogging.
ReplyDeleteThose oreos browines look a.m.a.z.i.n.g!
I love how much you remind us to be grateful for those beautiful "little" moments which are, life.
ReplyDeleteWHOA. that OREO BROWNIE thing looks amazing!!
ReplyDelete:) just found your blog through Hello Olive. i love this post about "happy things" :)
Laura
ART+SOUL
www.artandsoulcreativeco.blogspot.com
Always good to be grateful for the little things we so often overlook. xoxo
ReplyDeletefushias are so jolly aren't they. They look like ballerinas.
ReplyDeleteOk, that cold beer looks just perfect right about now since it's 95 degrees outside! And so do the brownies... Yum!!
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely happies :-) xx
ReplyDeleteAnd have a lovely holiday xx
DeleteThat fuschia! Those brownies! Yum! xx
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