Apple Blossom in October 2011

It's true we have apple blossom on our apple tree.

Such strange freaky weather over the last few weeks. Our trees and plants aren't sure what to do. Go to sleep for the Winter or wake up for Spring.

At least it gives the bees a last minute boost.

I've been trying to get some plants undercover for the Winter.

The only things I expected to find on our apple tree this morning were Amie and Mew's wind chimes.

I also found some roses, Autumn can't be that bad....

It was 17 deg C. at lunch time today. A bit cooler than the last few weeks, still great weather for walking on the beach.
You can find Freya at  CATFLAP CAVALIER
She's starting to have an attitude, just like another Cavalier I used to know. Must be a Cavalier thing !

soggibottom

Here she is. Soggibottom Cottage as you see her.

We have been asked so many times why we called our cottage  "Soggibottom". It makes you smile and laugh right away doesn't it ? Well, maybe, it's an aquired taste, it make's me laugh...

Who in their right mind would call a beautiful, old cottage "Soggibottom" ?
Someone, I would hope who has a good sense of humour............

.... this dear 1668 cottage won our hearts when we first saw her. She needed so much tender loving care. More inside than out. nothing you see about Soggibottom is staged, she is as she is..

After moving in and stripping her bear (pun, not a spelling mistake) of her last inhabitants... it has taken us years of making her ours.  Here, I have to say, sorry, I have been neglectful of our hanging baskets... it is October in England. we have had a strange heatwave....

When we first moved to Devon, we left so many of our friends and family behind. It seemed only right that they should know what we were up to.  The reason for starting our blog.

No nipping around for tea and coffee. Our kids spend hours travelling along the A303, the road to the South West of England to spend time with us.

We spend hours travelling backwards and forwards to them. For all our friends we left behind,
HI GUYS... you know who you are.................
We also know that just because you don't leave a comment, you visit... that is what this is all about.... just being there........

This is the bridge we cross every time we need to go out into the big wide world.
The big wide world is "somewhere" on the other side, You can see it... although there are times that being an island is heaven. There aren't many people that find us down here.
If your trying to find Soggibottom, you need directions. 

Some make it here, there are some who don't know how to get here. You only have to ask.
Hi guys...postcard................ ? ? ?

This little bridge was one of the first crossing places along this route.  The road at one time used to be called Monk's Way. I want to tell you more, but by doing so, it gives our location away completely.  It is however, one of the lowest crossing points in our village. The stream  in the Summer at low tide, is fine,  in Winter or at a high tide, it tends to get a bit wet. It's a tidal stream/river... it was classed as a river a few years ago... I wonder how many river's are able to just cover your toes in the Summer...We love living here.

We have shared our cottage with our beloved pets over the years, I know you all know Amie Soto Blossom.
It makes me smile to add her to this post, because Amie was always a very big part of Soggibottom.  So many that didn't really like dogs, fell in love with her, ... her snoring was just apart of her beloved nature... I joke, she had her own charm.. There could only be one Amie Soto Blossom...
 Just as some still ask me about out very first dog, called Lucky, Amie was intended to be our very last...

There can be only one, Frankie de tabby ...  Frank is still around, he is "my lad", mum's boy....  If you ever  have lunch here at the cottage, watch your legs, he is a very well renowned scrounger at Sunday lunch times...  he is however a bit of a wimp when it comes to visiting the vet or any time a fox is around late at night visiting our very well stocked bird table.

There can only be one Hannah cat.....

One Sneaky and Mew.

One dear Fluffs, my blogging buddy....

I haven't forgotten Fluffs.

Soggibottom is a beautiful cottage, it tends to get wet now and again.. The last time it was flooded, a dyke was build around the stream in the park behind the cottage...
Who ever would have thought that we would spend another Winter with wet feet when a burst water main pipe came up through our kitchen floor..... ..  Soggibottom always has a surprise. but, we love her.

Visiting Soggibottom .... You have to have directions ......
Just let us know....

Time moves on, we are lucky enough that we live in one of the most beautiful parts of England.  Frank is still here, Freya has taken Mew's place by the fire, she has taken over Amie's toy box, Amie wouldn't mind...she has also taken Hannah and Sneaky's place, sitting on the settee. No one has yet taken Fluff's place beside me when I blog... It's open ... We smile a lot... the secret of a happy cottage.

I am sure there is a reason why you have named your blog a certain name... I have tried to explain why we call Soggibottom , Soggibottom... We love Soggibottom, but it's not just about us you know !

We can give you directions :-) you just have to ask ................. We are full for November and December :-)

Thanks Dawn, you are at star ... I won't be able to see your star,  living in this part of the hemisphere, just because I can't see you, doesn't mean your not there... x x x

dawnhaydesigns.blogspot.com/2011/10/whats-your-name.html


Freya Rose Blossom can be found as usual at   The Cat Flap Cavalier

Late September in South Devon - Bigbury Bay and Burgh Island

Weather breaking records in September. Winter tends to be too long and dark, make the most of the weather and head for the beach. . Seems as if the good weather is going to last into October, at least for the first few days..

The beach we headed for yesterday morning was Bigbury Bay, across the sand is Burgh Island.
When the tide is in it covers the cause way, the only way back and forth to the Island  is then by a large sea tractor.

Burgh Island is famous for it's Art Deco Hotel. Visited by such people as Noel Coward, Edward and Mrs Simpson, Agatha Christie, the Beatles, Winston Churchill and Eisenhower.
It still stands as it did back in the 30's. I haven't been inside the hotel, but I know someone who has. They say that inside all the fixtures and fittings are still the original 1930 ones. The mirrors are starting to tell their age. Maybe that's only to be expected considering where the Hotel stands and surrounded by water twice a day.

Very impressive gates.

It's an easy walk across the sand when the tide is out. 

If you visit the Island make sure to avoid a rather large hole on the cliff top. It's one that Freya decided to leave behind as a memento of her visit. She brought some of the earth home in her paws.  Just like to warn everyone in case the rabbits get the blame for it.

In the distance is Wembury, the beach we went to last weekend.There can't be a better way to while away an afternoon than watching the world go by from this spot on a beautiful day. Plymouth is slightly further down the coast.

You never know who will pass, you might want to double click on the photo to see the dog on the surf board.

Not this one, she was too busy digging,

watching boats.

meeting new friends.

On the whole, accosting anyone who would make a fuss of her.

Mostly it was a digging

and paddling day.

Where ever you are over the next few days, make the most of the great weather.

As usual you can catch up with Freya over on THE CAT FLAP CAVALIER

The joys of no phone signal, no internet connection

After looking at a map, our destination was only a few miles down the road. No phone signal, no Internet connection, deep in a Devon valley a few miles away from glorious views over Plymouth Sound. Forget the grey sky, the sun was shining when we set out.

It was there somewhere, although there was a lots of talk about falling bits of space debris on Friday.

 If you really need a chill out weekend in late September, maybe this is the place..

 A log cabin in a wooded area near Wembury in South Devon.

 We know a certain pup that loved the whole weekend.

 I'm sure she's ready to do the whole thing again.

Loads of coastal walks.

 Rock pools,

to explore.

 The company of Jason and Karina.

We even found a Devon Long House that has been turned into a pub.

As the pub was called The Mussel, it was only right we sampled a few.

The trouble with days when your enjoying yourself, they are over far too quickly.

If you've ever driven down our back country Devon lanes and wondered why they aren't cut back, they do cut them at the end of the season..If your really lucky, you can get stuck in your car behind one of the hedge cutters while it cuts the hedges.
Long, windy narrow roads that go on for miles without a passing point, all at the speed of walking pace. Now that really is the way to travel down Devon lanes. 

Many thanks to Karina and Jason for inviting us, we had a great time.

Frank was cottage keeper for a few days, a good job of it he made too.

Many thanks for all your thoughtful comments on Soggibottom and Freya's The Cat Flap Cavalier blog.
I don't always have the chance to thank everyone, THANK YOU, we love to read every comment..

Freya has more photo's of her week over at, THE CATFLAP CAVALIER.
 As soon as she's old enough, she'll be answering her own post !

Champagne Bubbles really do go up your nose.

Autumn might be here, at least the start of it, we still have a few sunny days down here in the South West of England.

Visiting Dartmouth there was a distinct absence of people yesterday.. We weren't on a day trip or jaunt, we have visitors at the cottage that  had never been to Dartmouth.

 A return visit too. There is nothing better than enjoying  the company of friends.

 Playing silly devils with the camera around the shops.

This is a shop I wanted to visit. The Harbour Bookshop in Dartmouth is closing down.

 It was opened in 1951 by Christopher Robin  Milne. The real Christopher Robin of Winnie the Pooh fame.

 The Internet has huge book stores, why bother going out to a book shop ?

I like book shops, I love to browse and read before I buy. As much as I love the Internet and how it's made the whole world a lot smaller, it's played a great part in this shops demise. I will miss book shops that are closing just like The Harbour Bookshop because of the Internet.

  Thankfully, some things still stay the same, the taste of real French Champagne for one.

Good friends another.

What ever your up to this weekend, have a great time. Champagne bubbles really do go up your nose. Not that Freya would know.

Freya is out and about on her blog. You can find her at The Cat Flap Cavalier.
She has her own photo's to show you. Here is one that I thought you might like to see on Soggibottom.

Our window seat seems to be full again.