Flowers As Nature Intended

Today is the start of wreath making madness!

Everything sourced from the hedgerows, woods and verges filled in with greenery and flowers from gardens and forestry – having asked for permission first!

Caroline is a Constance Spry trained florist, with many years experience. She is running wreath making courses as well as making to order. To make an order or book in on a course please email:  caroline@marinerslodge.info  Get some friends together and either come to Mariners Lodge or Caroline will come to you!  You will have a demonstration, followed by  tuition in making your own wreath, table centre, swag or garland.  Make it a party, much fun had by all, whilst learning a great new skill and picking up loads of helpful tips. 

Wow your friends with your stunning creation!  Book now – email caroline@marinerslodge.info

Autumn Light

One of the many joys of overlooking the sea is to watch the weather. As if by magic, so often, clouds part or cover at high or low tide.

Today was no exception, dull, but with another high tide due, I was ready with my camera. 

Hearing the farmer on his quad bike, the sheep rushed towards him. It was time for their breakfast. 

I looked through the lens to capture the high tide, when BINGO, someone switched the flood lights on!

 

It was late morning before was able to saddle up and go for a ride. But which way to go on a day like this?! I could ride up to North Hill and take photos above Hurelstone point – on top of the hill to the right of the bay. Or maybe up and down the steep paths which are directly behind our house. I decided on the latter and hope you agree that it was a good choice!!

The colours were wonderful. We had climbed steeply up the first track when I pulled up to take this photo of Mariners Lodge.  As you can see, the house is beautifully sheltered by the trees on the hill behind it. This is taken facing due north, the house faces east, which gives us unbroken, panaramic views of the bay. No wonder West Porlock is well known for some stunning sub tropical gardens. 

Half way up the next steep climb, these shadows were too good to miss – they really enhanced the colour of the sky.

Puff puff – getting there! This shows a bit of perspective and me the shivers, I hate heights! 

I love these shadows of the clouds coming up behind us and on the sea.

I can’t imagine the height of these trees, the hill drops steeply down and I’ve no intention of peering over the edge to check. They are home to several bussards. Maddeningly, I just missed a photo of two young ones flying off, which is why ears and eyes are looking down!

After a steep downward track, we are now directly behind the house, albeit about 300′ still above it!  The colours are stunning, but still green with so much leaf for 8th, November!
This is where I get my inspiration from to design and decorate with flowers from nature.

Squirrel Nutkin Got There First!

It’s mid October and 20c today with not a breath of wind – that’s to come!

Time to tack up and attach the saddle bag, we’re going foraging again.

What this time? Chestnuts we”ll just watch you scrabbling round in the leaves.

Think those pesky squirrels got there first!

Yup, we were right – the speed of that squirrel,  look at the size of that Chestnut!

So, should an Exmoor Squirrel Nutkin offer you delicious Marron Glacé  at Christmas time, buy them, they got there first and found some whoppers!

Only two big enough today, but the tail end of another hurricane is forecast to go through on Tuesday. There are bigger and better chestnuts to come, I’m sure!

Now for preparing them. I’m sure that there are loads of different ways to cook these, this is mine.  A large cross on the flat side of the chestnut, I soak them for a few minutes before cooking them over white heat from an open fire. Place them, cross down on a caste iron pan which is preheated and burning hot – literally! Now cook them spraying with water if they start to jump or actually burn!  I have also been successful in doing them in the micro, just for making a purre . Make cross and place in dish with a little water. Cover with  pricked cling film and cook at full heat until soft inside. Cooking time depends on size, so try a few out before deciding how long! They will stay hot for a little while, so be careful and don’t let children open them unsupervised. You’ll  need to check each one for heat first!

Gale Force Winds up the Severn Sea

Last night was very wet and windy here with gale force winds, heavy rain and flood warnings at Porlock Weir. Tucked up in the warm of Mariners Lodge, the panorama unfolded in the bay infront of us!

I arrived home as it was getting dark, to see this rainbow coming out of he top of one of our Echiums! By the time I’d got my camera ready, the cloud had all but covered the rainbow!

Love these colours, but the storm was well on its way towards us, soon obliterating the view!

This morning  was a different story. As the tide swept in across Porlock’s Salt Marsh, the channel was boiling.

I can’t remember ever seeing the sea coming on to the marsh already muddy –  It was being churned up in the bay before it entered!

Look how the red sand has coloured the water up to the pebble ridge to the left. 

The light line further out was caused by a strong undercurrent from the main stream of the incoming tide.

A few hours later, the tide was receding and the sun was making a watery appearance. But, look what’s on its way – another wall of water coming straight for use!

Phew, help’s on its way (to someone) with an old fashioned advanced guard of rooks to help. Who needs radar/GPS?!

Snap Shot!

With the ever changing colours over the Severn sea, I try to have my camera charged. It’s so disappointing to rush to capture ‘the’ moment (and here, it’s often just a moment!), only to find I have a flat battery!

Luckily, all was well yesterday afternoon, with the sun glancing through thick clouds behind me, I actually captured the colours across the water. Sadly, I can’t take the full panorama, but I was happy with this one!

Today, the sun has returned and it feels like summer again. Come to stay soon to enjoy the ever changing views from Mariners Lodge B&B. Go to  www.marinerslodge.info 

Cold evening – great sunset!

It’s been a very busy summer here at Mariners Lodge. The warmth of early summer gave way to cooler wet weather as soon as the school holidays began. Why does that so often happen?! However, tonight is dry and quite chilly and I was at the ready to catch the sunset! I was thrilled to see the boat, full steam ahead, powering towards the sun as I captured it across the Severn sea

Time for a ‘sundowner’?!

Anyone looking at friends and families posts from Porlock to Porlock Weir, could be forgiven for thinking there’d been a mass outbreak of plagiarism – luckily, there hasn’t. However, everyone’s out there ready to capture the best view of each nights sunset. All taken from different positions, They would make a fascinating exhibition!

I took this one this evening from our garden at Mariners Lodge B&B, I’m looking forward to seeing our visitors photos taken from their bedrooms – should be stunning – hope they post them!! 

Come and see for yourself by emailing caroline@marinerslodge.info to book your stay – looking forward to hearing from you!

Take a look at this

http://pin.it/vyi9pAq

Perfect Gentlemen!

The intense heat of last week may have dropped, but it didn’t stop the sun shinning on Porlock bay, Exmoor today!

I often suggest to our B&Bs that they walk up the hill to sit on this bench directly above Mariners Lodge and enjoy the view, but had never posted a photo of it. 

There are several benches perfectly placed up the middle toll road, taking in the magnificent and panoramic tapestry set out below, but this ones my favourite!

My two boys ducked their heads obligingly when asked, as they too had been enjoying the view – the perfect gentlemen!

One more bend of the road will find you listening to ‘Samphire Festival 2017’ 7th – 9th July

Winner of “Best Small Festival” NOEA Awards 2016, this is a must for festival lovers! 

Enjoy the festival and stay in comfort. Email caroline@marinerslodge.info to book your room for the weekend! 

Apocryphal!

With our country in post election meltdown,  Mother Nature has been sending us glorious signs!

Time to have a break? Where better than Exmoor, where the moor meets the sea at Mariners Lodge, in the middle of  Porlock Bay.  As our stunned guests say, as they arrive ‘Wow, it’s even better than in your photos’! It’s true, you can’t begin to imagine  the changing light across the marsh to the sea and beyond.

Come and see for yourself! To find out more email me: caroline@marinerslodge.info