Since we got back from our wee holiday in Dumfriesshire last week I've been using my time off to catch up on the long list of neglected tasks at home, walks with Bracken, trying to read through my mountain of books, relaxing, cooking and thinking about organising christmas gifts.
I love going on holiday but it's equally good to come home, especially to one as lovely as this. Its the first time we've been away since we moved here nearly a year ago. Having been shut up for a week it was interesting to see that this old cottage offered us the scent of wood polish in the kitchen (from my much polished table and dresser) and in the lounge the gorgeous scent of my current candle, Ginger Star by
The Botanical Candlemaker
There is no getting away from Christmas now so if you are you stuck for a gift idea for the gardener in your life why not treat them to a gift voucher? Our vouchers can be spent on plants or any of the items in our wee shop here at Quercus. You can buy vouchers on our website nursery shop page and I will post them out to you (postage is free).
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| Straining the cooked apples from the nursery to make apple jelly |
We're trying to get out and do a walk every day, depending on the weather and what ever else is on, depends where we go. On Monday we up the forestry track along from the house and then back via the woods. We are now approaching being a year in this house and have observed the ancient woodland through a year of changing seasons and weather, such a gift to have somewhere like this right on our doorstep.
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| Every sniff has to be sniffed |
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| In the protection of the dense forest the ferns are still green |
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| Birch are one of my favourite trees and they have great winter interest with their bare silvery white trunks |
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| This birch looked like it had mossy knee pads |
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| Trotting along, well Bracken, not David |
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| We've moved the shelf unit out of the landing and put my lloyd loom chair there, a little seating area in the light from the window, surrounded by books and plants |
On Tuesday I headed north to get Poppy cat back from Granny's house where she was staying while we were away. Her disappointment when she realised Bracken was still around was plain to see. Even although she only has one eye she can cast quite a look!
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| Poppy, you wouldn't realise we had a cat when Bracken steals the attention all the time |
Its been a productive week so far! Apple jelly, Apple chutney and a second loaf of bread made, along with the mincemeat and christmas cake. The kitchen has been smelling amazing for the last few days!
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| The mincemeat ingredients ready for mixing together |
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| Making mincemeat |
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| Fruit for the christmas cake soaking in brandy overnight |
We managed a walk at Traquair in between the showers. This is another lovely walk near the house, walking through the woods on the edge of the estate towards Innerleithen.
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| Puffballs |
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| Orange Peel fungi |
Thursday and the weather was dry and sunny! David was off gliding so Bracken and I (mainly me) spent the morning tidied the patio outside the back door and some of the front garden, pruning shrubs so we can get along the path and see out the living room window and let some light in. It was lovely to have some decent weather after all the rain. In the afternoon Bracken and I headed along to Kirkhouse and walked up the SUW to the hill behind the house then home down through the fields. We sat on a stone in the shelter of the dry stone dyke for a while, enjoying the sun, blue sky and silence.
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| The chosen one |
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| Cutting back the enthusiastic ivy |
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| Heading up the Southern Upland way behind the house |
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| Sheep and tree silhouettes |
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| Great to see blue sky and sun |
I knew that good weather was too good to last, more heavy rain overnight on Thursday and Friday dawned grey, wet and dreich. The rain cleared up late morning so we headed out for the afternoon. Twenty minutes down the Yarrow valley from the house is Philipshaugh Estate, so we took ourselves down there this afternoon for a visit. We had a walk along to the Cauld where the salmon travel up the ladder there and then further up the Ettrick water to spawn, then a lovely lunch at
The Waterwheel Cafe
. A little further up the road is the estate walled garden which is open to the public. We had a wander round and a long chat with the new head gardener, a lovely very enthusiastic young man who certainly has his work cut out but is up for the challenge. We also got a bottle of apple juice pressed from the apples in the walled garden, it's excellent. Follow them at 
I hope you are all well and if in a higher tier area, coping ok. All my kids are in tier four so I dont know when I will see them and its been six months since I've seen some of them. Its a long hard year for every one of us in one way another: mentally, financially, emotionally, physically.
Keep well, keep strong, keep gardening and planning for next years garden.
Title quote - Sara Coleridge
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