In the roses

Hello friends, we have been enjoying the sunshine up here on the moors, and spending lots of time outside in the garden.

In amongst our roses we have an elderflower tree. I have noticed that we seem to be a couple of weeks behind in the season, maybe because of our altitude and northern location. This is great because it gives me a chance to be inspired by all your elderflower goodness, and get ready to join in.

Such a pretty delicate flower, when you get up close and have a good look.

My daughter and I collected the flower heads and left to steep over night. With much excitement and anticipation we patiently waited. We followed this recipe, and found it very easy to do.

The result lived up to the expectation, and tasted delicious. This will be something that we will look forward to doing every year. Making memories, celebrating the seasons and enjoying home made goodness.

We hosted a little party last week, and invited my youngests pre- school class up to visit the pigs.

We made some piggy cup cakes and served them with the elderflower juice, and a good time was had by all.

The pigs are getting bigger by the day, more noisy and boisterous. We've erected a sun shelter for them, and they love to have a snooze underneath it.

They still do everything side by side, and are getting very good at burrowing in the earth. So much so, that they escaped last week!

They got out under the fence, and the bin man spotted them walking up the lane. Luckily the neighbours managed to get them back in safely. I was blissfully unaware of the whole thing, as I was doing some shopping in town.

We have barricaded the hole with some stones and a wheel barrow, until we can get an electric fence fitted.

This week I am busy getting ready for the school holidays Yay! I can't wait. We are holidaying at home this year, and I want to be organized so that we can spend as much time having fun and enjoying the sunshine as possible. It's all thirsty work you know, have a good week x.