Margot Tries the Good Life

A chronicle of the transformation from self-confessed townie to country bumpkin

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From Margot with love
Bidding 2018 a fond farewell
Summer’s end
You’ll have to call back – I’m in Narnia
A Year to Remember

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Still mornings and moths. Sultry days and skulkin

Still mornings and moths. Sultry days and skulking about sentences. Wafting linen and whispers in fading light. Barefoot wandering on dewy lawns.

These days of summer dance to a beguiling tune I find hard to resist.

#songofseasons #summerstories #mothsarebeautiful #seasonspoetry #magicthegathering #musings #awhisperedbeauty #curiousminds #findingstillness #stillwithstories #storiesoftheeveryday #summersmagic #seekmoments #momentsofmine #beautyundermynose #livethelittlethings #poetryofsimplethings

‘Sometimes since I've been in the garden I've lo

‘Sometimes since I've been in the garden I've looked up through the trees at the sky and I have had a strange feeling of being happy as if something was pushing and drawing in my chest and making me breathe fast. Magic is always pushing and drawing and making things out of nothing. Everything is made out of magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us. In this garden - in all the places.’
- Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

The solstice always reminds me of the magic in the every day and this time of year it’s always to be found in the garden, in the half light. I took this last year on midsummer’s Eve as the sun was bidding farewell and whilst it may not be as sunny this year, I know that magic is to be found walking through the garden and remembering to look up, even on the rainiest of days.

#solstice #midsummer #longestday #seekthesimplicity #awanderthroughthegarden #thebeautyofsummer #summersolstice #underafloralspell #astoryofseasons #magicthegathering #awhisperedbeauty #catchingthelight #secretgarden #findingmagic #closeyoureyes #andbreathe #letmagicbeyourguide #moodcollectors #wanderingtales

Today’s the sort of day when you’ve got into a

Today’s the sort of day when you’ve got into a groove with what you’re writing and you’ve found the perfect spot in the sun with no WiFi to distract you. Then the universe thinks it’s time to readdress the balance so you get bashed in the face by a duck, hit your head on the duck house and emerge from the altercation reeking of duck poo for good measure.

(Disclaimer - no ducks were in any way hurt or injured before, during or after the incident. Their owner however is scarred by the sheer power of a duck wing to the face)

Thankfully the roses are finally out and the garden feels like my very own slice of Eden. Balm for the soul. Amazing how you can never predict which end of the seesaw you’ll be teetering on by six o’clock, isn’t it? 🤷🏼‍♀️

#thebeautyofsummer #rosesarepink #songofseasons #summershere #juneinthegarden #farmhouselife #balanceandharmony #awriterslife #amwriting #aroseaday_ #aroseisaroseisarose #stopandsmelltheroses #botanicalpickmeup #lifelessons #athoughttoponder #findingjoyinthesmallestofthings

Summer is here at last. The hammock’s up and th

Summer is here at last. The hammock’s up and the dogs have taken to lying on the garden steps like lizards searching for the perfect sun stop.

Heaven is a radish straight from the garden.

#summershere #loungingaround #longlunches #livethelittlethings #aseasonallife #daysofsmallthings #simplepleasures #thesundays #pocketsofslow #sunshinetherapy

Thank you for all your lovely messages about Lily.

Thank you for all your lovely messages about Lily. I’m so touched by each and every kind word that’s been sent. It’s been a strange old time.

Took myself off for a walk. Last year I couldn’t see the bluebells so this felt a happy return. The woods seemed more special somehow - the scent heavy in the air, the canopy greener and more embracing. A walk is always good, isn’t it?

#seekthesimplicity #wildinthewoods #awalkinthewoods #songsofseasons #seasonssimplicity #thoughtsandwalks #wanderingminds #quietinthewild #momentscaptured

We buried our beautiful girl this afternoon, with

We buried our beautiful girl this afternoon, with wildflowers to keep her company and the view of the sun setting in the beech trees.

15 and a half years of her feisty, unfailing love. Lila, Lolly, Chairman Miaow - our Lily. A wedding present from dearest friends, she was our first baby. The one who taught us what it all meant.

She travelled on train seats to the amusement of other passengers, ran sideways with excitement and played hide and seek, waited in the window of our first home together in a basement flat in London watching for our feet to pass before rushing to the front door to welcome us back after a day at work. She told the dogs she was the boss and in her last few years adopted our youngest as her human, laying on the pillow next to her at night and making the dark less scary when the lights went out.

Sleep well darling. You were so loved.

#sayinggoodbye #catsofinstagram #cats #loveisablackcat #blackcat #byemylove

There are floorboards, skirting boards and most of

There are floorboards, skirting boards and most of the contents of a bathroom filling the hallway and we’re still sleeping on a mattress on the floor so here’s a pretty little scene from our walk yesterday instead. So close but not quite.

#thissimplescene #momentsofmine #awalkinnature #theromanceofspring #springisintheair #seasonsofsimplicity #walkingtime #thisprettyengland #makingthemostofit #slowandsimpledays #abreathoffreshair #soonsoon

‘I was so astonished that I could think of nothi

‘I was so astonished that I could think of nothing to say, but wondered irrelevantly if I was to be caught with a teapot in my hand on every dramatic occasion.’
- Barbara Pym, Excellent Women

There should always be tea and teapots and early morning thoughts floating like lint in the air and the first glow of the day filling the kitchen. I never seem to be ‘under’tea’d’ on any occasion.

Back to the desk with a bump this morning and another Barbara Pym line in my head.

‘I hope you don’t mind tea in mugs,’ she said, coming in with a tray. ‘I told you I was a slut.’

I can’t remember the last time I had tea in a cup.

#morningthoughts #thissimplescene #kitchenquotes #theromanceofspring #aslowmoment #brimfulofcurious #thesweetlifeunscripted #agentlestart #daysofsimpleandslow #calmchronicles #thecalm #barbarapym #awriterslife #seekmoments #tea_cup_tuesday #teapottuesday

Pretty little moments #theromanceofspring #thisl

Pretty little moments

#theromanceofspring #thislittlemoment_ #blossoms #bloomandwild #plumblossom #amomentofcalm #ukpetalwatch #springisintheair #blossomseason #springblossoms #bloominglovely #seekthesimplicity #thebeautyin_flowers #underafloralspell

This picture sums up the reason I’ve been so qui

This picture sums up the reason I’ve been so quiet on here lately.

So far it’s been 7 weeks and counting and upstairs looks a lot like this at the moment. All the floors have come up to make way for new wiring and new plumbing as a lot of it was still circa the 20s and 30s and floorboards have been replaced with salvaged new boards. The spare bathroom has had a complete facelift as have the spare room and both the girls’ rooms including removing doors in walls and all sorts. We’ve lived in the house throughout and are very much camping upstairs at the moment but it’ll have been worth it. We’re now into the last phase and have reached the worst two rooms. Soon it’ll be time to say goodbye to the Tupperware box which we’ve washed our hair with for the last four years.

Much like the renovations this is a now a ramble on of a post but you’ll get the gist of why I haven’t been on here much. The house never disappoints with the treasures she reveals and I’ve loved peeling back her layers to find glimpses of what she might have looked like long ago (see stories for the gigs this week).

Here’s to this last push. I can’t believe we’re nearly there. Happy Saturday!

#renovation #renovations #housetoahome #thisishowweroll #timetochange #saturdaythoughts #farmhousedecor #farmhouserenovation #farmhouseinteriors #gettingitright #amidstthechaos #buildingthedream #madbutmagic #rusticinterior #beautyindecay #derelicthouse

Plum blossom and early morning light. Rays of hope

Plum blossom and early morning light. Rays of hope streaming through the window promising Spring. She’s coming, gently brushing her hand against the landscape and telling us it’s time to wake.

#myseasonalwindow #throughmywindow #throughmyeyes #thepromiseofspring #springiscoming #theviewfrommywindow #wakingup #aconsciouscollection #thatwinterspringthing #livetheseasons #mydreamywindow #thislittlemoment_ #moodofmymorning #thissimplescene #floralstories #blossom

Rainy days and pancakes. All thoughts melancholy d

Rainy days and pancakes. All thoughts melancholy drowned in chocolate sauce.

I’ll let you into a secret..... I hate pancakes so these are just for the girls. I’ll be drowning my melancholy thoughts in coffee, seeing as today’s the last day I can drink it before giving it up for Lent. Pray for my family 😂

#rainyday #rainraingoaway #pancakesforbreakfast #shrovetuesday #pancakeday #moody_tones #amomentofwhimsy #daysofsimpleandslow #simplethingsinlife #chocolatemakeseverythingbetter #breakfastclub #findingsomethingjoyful #halfterm #momentsofmine #quietthechaos #findyourcosy #seekthesimple #thesweetlifeunscripted

Come on snow! We could do with something to lift o

Come on snow! We could do with something to lift our spirits a bit. Don’t know about you but we’ve reached peak tiredness here at the farmhouse. My get up and go hasn’t even got up and gone, it’s hiding under the duvet trying to avoid work and homeschooling and well just life! Steeling myself for another week of it is proving hard and I’m already on my third cup of tea.

Monday morning mood is wearing 2 jumpers and sneaking a spot by the fire with a large pot of tea. Who’s with me?

#mondaymood #mondaymorning #mytaleofwinter #wintervibes #wintertime #januarydays #waitingforsnow #findingbeautyeveryday #awalkinwinter #colddays #wheresthesnow #whimsicalwonderfulwild #presentmoment #wildinmysoul #quietinthewild #slowlyslowly

January has seemed so long that I’m surprised to

January has seemed so long that I’m surprised to find that it’s February at all.

Here’s to lighter days and hope whispered into the nodding petals of snowdrops reminding us that slowly but surely spring is coming.

#awinterwalk #mytaleofwinter #february #hellofebruary #daysofsimpleandslow #atimetoreflect #slowsimplewild #wildernessculture #quietinthewild #awalkinthewoods #seeksimplicity #wanderingtales #storiesoftheeveryday

‘Snow was falling, so much like stars filling th

‘Snow was falling,
so much like stars
filling the dark trees
that one could easily imagine
its reason for being was nothing more
than prettiness.’
- Mary Oliver

Shrieks of excitement could have been heard in space this morning such was the joy of waking to this winter wonderland. Thank you thank you to the weather gods for this much needed lift at a time when we’ve been struggling. The farmhouse looks like it’s been transported to Narnia.

#mytaleofwinter #winterwonderland #letitsnow #thebeautyinwinter #snowscape #throughmywindow #myseasonalwindow #joyful #findingsomethingjoyful #whiteout #narnia #aseasonalstory #aseasonalyear #windowlight #fromwhereistand #theviewfromhere #littleseasonalwhimsey #brimfulofcurious #slowsimpleseasonal #goquietlyandwildly

‘Waking up begins with saying am and now. That w

‘Waking up begins with saying am and now. That which has awoken then lies for a while staring up at the ceiling and down into itself until it has recognized I, and therefrom deduced I am, I am now. Here comes next, and is at least negatively reassuring; because here, this morning, is where it has expected to find itself: what’s called at home.’
- Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man

Of course we’re all waking up at home and the days have an odd punctuation but I like the thought of ‘I am now.’ That’s all we have for the moment. So today I am Friday and the prospect of gin at the end of the day and two days off homeschooling and some time by the fire reading. I’ve finally got round to Mantel’s The Mirror and the Light and I’m steeped in the swishing velvets of Tudor court and secrets and spies around every corner. I may also be fish finger sandwiches for supper. Here’s to Friday - another week ticked off. What’s your now?

#wakingup #mistymornings #mistymorning #livingthenow #daysofsimpleandslow #morningwalk #mytaleofwinter #awinterstory #chasinglight #afarmhouselife #whisperofnature_ #natureismytherapy #alifemorebeautifullylived #inthenow #findingmoments #awhisperedbeauty #thebeautyinwinter

I keep feeling as though I’ve run out of words b

I keep feeling as though I’ve run out of words but then trying to remember that the fog always lifts in the end or at least I hope it does. This short wander yesterday was much needed in a weekend of worry over everything including emergency trips to the vet hospital with Monty our biggest spaniel and long waits trying to get to the bottom of it all. I’ve woken this morning feeling more exhausted than when I went to bed last night. Perhaps that’s the thought of what Monday morning brings? Trying to steel myself again for homeschooling and juggling work and more trips to the vet and would happily swap the thick mist for hiding under the duvet instead.

If you’re feeling a little foggy this morning too, I’m sending tea and pots of it with biscuits for elevenses. Even if we haven’t quite got this, we’ll find a way through the mist.

#mondaymood #mistymorning #foggyweather #ethereal_moods #gloomandglow #mymoodywinter #awhisperedbeauty #mood_magic #throughthemist #wakinguptothis #moodoftheday #mytaleofwinter #findingaway #gowildlyandslow #mistymilkyfoggymoody

‘ “I'm afraid we shall waste an awful lot of t

‘ “I'm afraid we shall waste an awful lot of time."
"Don't worry," answered Snufkin, "we shall have wonderful dreams, and when we wake up it'll be spring.’
- Tove Jansson, Finn Family Moomintroll

One thing one minute, another the next. I feel this week has been exhausting enough already and it’s not over yet. I don’t know about you but I’m taking the wins where I can. January is long enough. Bowls of soup, lashings of Tove Jansson and hibernating until spring are top of the list at the moment. If you’re looking for me I’ll be hiding in the downstairs loo - the children haven’t worked out it’s my hiding place....yet.

Courage, my dear friends. Please share your wins and anything positive over on #findingsomethingjoyful

#antijanuaryblues #januarymood #mytaleofwinter #hiberbationmode #wakemeupwhenitsallover #findingsomethingjoyful #talesofwinterwoes #calmingvibes #lockdown3 #stayingpositive #thesimpleeveryday #winterishere #comfortinyoursoul #sendhope #nestandthrive

‘That’s what winter is: an exercise in remembe

‘That’s what winter is: an exercise in remembering how to still yourself then how to come pliantly back to life again.’
- Ali Smith, Winter

These days of stillness between the old and the new always remind me of this. Time just switching off and letting feet and mind wander. Snowflakes fell as we walked along the river, the path dotted with white for a second or so before disappearing. Anyone else looking longingly at gorgeous snowy Insta pictures?

#thesimpleeveryday #thisiswinter #thebeautyinwinter #gloomandglow #seasonaltales #ofwhimsicalmoments #theworldinwinter #winterwalks #awinterstory #riverwalk #calmchronicles #natureismytherapy #thissimplescene #capturethewild #reflections #calmthechaos

Crisp walks, twinkling lights, full bellies but mo

Crisp walks, twinkling lights, full bellies but more importantly, full hearts. Christmas magic in spite of everything.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas 🎄 and sending love

#christmastree #christmas2020 #christmas #farmhousechristmas #inasoftlight #magicofchristmas #findinglove #magicofchristmas #twinklylights #magicmoment #amomentofwonder #lightinthedarkness #joyful #englishchristmas #mytaleofwinter #heitermoments

Solstice. Light and dark. A time for hope and a re

Solstice. Light and dark. A time for hope and a reminder that nothing lasts forever. The light will grow stronger and the darkness will retreat. If ever there was a time to hold that in mind, it is now.

This day always carries the best of memories for me. It’s the day that my best friend asked me out 24 years ago. We were sixteen. The beautiful verses of Sidney’s Arcadia couldn’t carry my thoughts better - ‘His heart in me keeps me and him in one’ Wherever you are, however hard the next few weeks are, I hope you find comfort in the darkness and love shines a light for you. If this year has taught me anything it’s that love is the only thing.

#wintersolstice #solstice #midwinter #mytaleofwinter #thebeautyinwinter #aseasonalyear #alliseeispretty #noticingmagic #thisiswinter #littleseasonalwhimsey #daysofsmallthings #aseasonaldecember #heitermoments #myseasonaljoy #thequietwinter #awhisperedbeauty #meetmethiswinter #livetheseasons #loveisallyouneed

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