Friday 10 July 2009

12 friends, two tents and ten candles ...



Oh dear another whole week has gone by without a new post, any visits to your lovely blogs - I'm so sorry my bloggy friends. It's definitely tail chasing time of year isn't it? So many things to do at school, at home etc- here's hoping that things will calm down in a couple of weeks with the onset of the summer holidays - fingers crossed!
Anyway, back to the matter in hand - those of you who read the last post about Little Sister's birthday might be wondering what was spooky about the entry for "Tent" being under the entry for "ten" in my old French dictionary. Well if you remember reading about our visits here and Big Sister's Birthday, you will understand just why Little Sister said "no" to a birthday party and "yes" to a weekend camping.



It's funny isn't it no matter how much you fall in love with a place, there is always a doubt that the next visit might disappoint, or let you down in some way. We should have known that this would never happen here. Our magical spot was waiting for us, the sun was shining through the trees and our friends arrived laden with food, pressies and more food.



I can't tell you how special this place is. It's pure enchantment - a child's special dream, an adult's weekend fantasy.
We made ourselves at home, once more, in Mr Tumnuss' house,



noting the hot water bottles that had been left thoughtfully for our visit and praying that we wouldn't need them.



We decked the woods with bunting, our children ran off to explore and we took a deep breath. Breathing out the stresses of the week and breathing in the fresh, pure promise of the weekend. There is something about camping, about spending a length of time that makes you appreciate the course of a day, no distractions, just living and enjoying the moment.



No sooner had we settled in than Emma and her lovely family arrived for tea and cake (courtesy of Mrs Sew Recycled). It was lovely to see her two boys enjoying themselves in the woods, experiencing the joys of hanging from rope swings, paddling in the stream, wandering off alone (all very boy's own stuff). We played rounders, we ate, we laughed, we chatted and laughed some more.
An afternoon that seemed to last forever (in a good way Emma!) - one that you would like to bottle and keep by your bedside for those rainy days...



We made a fire although it was far too warm,



we ate our food in the dappled sunshine of early evening and the children drank their summer "cocktails" and devoured the homemade brownies that Little Sister had made the night before.



We took a twilight stroll into the woods, marveled at half finished camps,



stared at strange shapes and shadows and listened intently to the sounds of the evening.



We went to sleep accompanied by some singing campers who had formed another party beside us (but that's another story!).
And when we awoke, Little Sister was ten! Her birthday wish was to walk in the stream before breakfast. Not bad eh, bed to stream in a minute!



An afternoon of picnics, birthday cakes, rounders, three legged races (I have the bruises to prove it), swinging from trees and frisbee throwing.



Time went at its proper pace last weekend and we left our beloved spot late Sunday afternoon. The bunting removed, the crumbs swept away, the laughter silenced but the magic remained.

32 comments:

{Love, Love, Love} said...

It looks like you had a super time! x

Greentwinsmummy said...

oh wow it looks like a wonderful party! what great fun you all must have had.
Happy Tenth Year little one!
GTM x

violet ~ creme said...

Oh my goodness, how absolutely dreamy! Where is this place? I must try and go!

April said...

sounds amazing

April xx

Sal said...

That's just so magical,Kim!
Everyone will look back and remember what a great time was had by all.
Happy Birthday to Little Sister!
xxx
;-)

Unknown said...

Sounds fabulous!

Glad you had a great time.

dottycookie said...

What a lovely birthday treat! Happy Ten to Little Sister!

Funnily enough we were talking not two hours ago about planning a camping trip - it's been a year and I feel rather nostalgic for it.

A time to dance said...

Oh that looks like heaven...what a lucky lucky girl...I would love to go there...I bet you had a lovely time...have a lovely weekend....

Poppy said...

Hi Kim, I can see why the weekend so magical! I don’t do camping, but even I could do that sort of camping.
I hope things slow down a bit for you! I can’t wait for the summer holidays, I’m going to take some time out from work and make some memories myself with some days out with the boys. Good luck for your daughter with her exam results.

Have a lovely weekend-love Lou xxx

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Innocent and perfect pursuits... what a shame you can't bottle it!!

Happy Memories that last a lifetime..

DX

Ticking stripes said...

Delightfully simple , simply delightful!

Rubyred said...

How wonderful, such a beautiful place!
Rachel x

Emma Herian said...

It was magical Kim, we were so close to smuggling into your beds for the night! I have bottled it in a special little space in my memory. Thankyou to all of your gorgeous family xxxxxxxxxx

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

What a delightful birthday celebration! One you will treasure for a lifetime! I am sure your daughter will share that moment with her own children and grandchildren!

Lisa said...

What a wonderful birthday weekend Little Sister had, lots of family memories made.
Lisa x

aromatic said...

What a wonderful place... and sounds like Little Sister had a most wonderful birthday!! Lovely family times to be remembered for ever!! Belated Happy Birthday to Little Sister!!
With Love, Jane xxx

Anonymous said...

Truly magical ...

Elizabethd said...

What a blissful way to spen a birthday!

Heart in the country said...

It looks like you all had a fantastic tine, and those Yurts look amazing!

Amanda and Tim said...

My tenth birthday was a trip to the cinema - I wish I'd known then about camping as I would have been pleading to go if I had!! What a wonderful birthday - glad you all had such a wonderful time!

Suzy's Vintage Attic said...

Hello Kim
What an experience! I hope that you all came back feeling refreshed and relaxed.Belated Happy Birthday to little sister.
Isabelle x

Tracy said...

Oh, what wonderful fun, Kim!! Keep enjoying these lovely summer days :o) ((HUGS))

driftwood said...

truly magical!

Pipany said...

Such a gorgeous post of the most magical place. What a special time. Only howling gales and rain here just now x

Heidi said...

I remember you sharing this magical spot last year. It did not loose its magic. How wonderful to celebrate a decade of your little girl's life in such a special way.

Hugs ~
Heidi

carolyn said...

Another magical weekend.

OhSoVintage said...

What a wonderful birthday 'party'. So much more fun and so different from the usual bowling or cinema etc parties. What lucky children. Magical!

the homely year said...

How wonderful...love those tents and the setting looks magical. What a great birthday treat!
Margaret and Noreen

Helen said...

Just Fabulous!! a wonderful memory.

Joshy and belle said...

it looks like you had a lovely time, this last week of term is manic!
felicity xx

A Bun Can Dance said...

Delightful! Oh how I do love camping!
Thank you for sharing this special experience,
Denise x

Sara said...

Oh my my... I am so enchanted! it looks like perfection - so glad to read that you had such a wonderful time <3
Any chance of you sharing the secret to this magical location?
xxx