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journaling the slow life
in the suffolk countryside
Recent posts


In Search of St Edmund
Earlier this month, to prepare for St Edmund's Day, we visited Hoxne in search King Edmund and his legend…

Sam
Nov 19, 20243 min read


Pottery Painting at the Hatter Street Studio
A few weekends ago, as a (very belated) Birthday present for Elle, we had a morning of pottery painting at the Hatter Street Studio.

Sam
Oct 13, 20242 min read


Weaving (and more) at the Lavenham Guildhall
It has been my Birthday weekend and – like any self-respecting gentleman of six and thirty years – I decided I would spend it weaving...

Sam
Sep 19, 20242 min read


Winter Walking
Winter walking is one of the best pleasures of these colder months: frost, crisp air and subtle colours.

Sam
Dec 10, 20234 min read


St Edmund's Day - King, Martyr and Saint
The legend of St Edmund continues to have an enduring appeal today, especially here in his town, Bury St Edmunds.

Sam
Nov 19, 20232 min read


The Flower of Childhood: Pick-Your-Own Sunflowers at Rougham Estate
Last week, we returned to the 5-acre field on the Rougham Estate that has been transformed into a labyrinth of sunflowers.

Sam
Aug 18, 20233 min read


Among Old Friends: The Importance of Ancient and Veteran Trees
The recording of ancient trees is important, urgent work: despite their ecological and historical importance, few are protected in the UK.

Sam
Jun 11, 20235 min read


Getting Back to the Sloe Life
The foraging season is just starting again after the lull of winter. It is the perfect time for harvesting three very similar wild greens.

Sam
Apr 4, 20233 min read


The Pumpkin Patch: Pick-Your-Own at Rougham Estate
One of our favourite things about the Halloween season is decorating the house with pumpkins and squashes of every shape, colour and size.

Elle
Oct 11, 20223 min read


The Small Pleasures of a Picnic
Perfect picnic days can be few and far between, so here are a few quick tips to help you seize the moment when the opportunity arises.

Elle
Jul 31, 20225 min read


Weird and Wonderful Wood
Weird and Wonderful Wood is magical in the oldest sense: something earthy and pagan and sacred.

Sam
May 8, 20223 min read


Spring Storms and Fallen Trees
Spring heralds the return of colour, but also the arrival of storms. The destruction can be terrible, but also brings renewal.

Elle
Apr 28, 20225 min read


Walking with Trees: a new exhibition
Woodlands are escape from the world. A place to heal. This power of trees is highlighted in the new exhibition in Bury St Edmunds

Sam
Apr 18, 20223 min read


A House in the Round: Ickworth House
Ickworth House is a regular weekend retreat for us, for long country walks or just quick visits to the bookshop, followed by a cream tea.

Sam
Feb 24, 20224 min read


Fog and Ruins: A Walk to Rougham Hall
Between the trees ahead of us, the ruin of Rougham Hall materialised out of the mid-morning fog like a ghost.

Sam
Nov 25, 20214 min read


A Seasonal Shift: Autumn
Autumn is on its way. Already the colours of the trees are shifting to the golds and browns and yellows, and the leaves crunch underfoot.

Sam & Elle
Sep 28, 20212 min read


A Seasonal Year: Twelve Months in Six Photographs
Over the last year of working from home, we have been photographing the same corner of a nearby field, watching it change with the seasons.

Sam
Apr 26, 20214 min read


Brighter Skies: The First Days of Spring
There is something about that first day of Spring. You know there will still be some colder, darker days ahead, but this day is a gift.

Sam & Elle
Mar 10, 20214 min read


5 Simple Rituals to get you Back in the Present
Since the beginning of 2021, I’ve been trying to spend more time focused on the present moment. Creating rituals out of daily tasks.

Sam
Feb 10, 20216 min read


Memories of December Snow - Part II
Snow formed the backdrop for one of my most treasured childhood memories. It saddens me that White Christmases may be coming to an end.

Sam
Dec 29, 20204 min read




























































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