A Day in Lavender

Sometimes you need a day that makes the everyday life seem far away.  It is a day in the middle of the week and the miniest holiday that takes you away from the city, the Evening Standard with it's news of everything you need to know going on in the world and from people always in a hurry to be at the next thing. I do enjoy the hustle and bustle of London, but it only seems right to let it go and experience something entirely different from time to time even if just for a few hours. This is a day to bask in sunshine and the fragrance of lavender that really does soothe the soul. Followed with cups of tea with friends as lovely as the flowers. On this day I was with Melodie for my annual trip to Mayfield Farm and we both agree that the sunlight pulls out one of the most beautiful smells of the flowers. If it weren't for all of these pictures I would say it was all a dream.

Where do you like to go for a mini vacation? I am always looking for new ideas!  If you've noticed my activity lately on Instagram I've just returned from a longer holiday and I'm excited to share it with you on here ♥.

~ until next year ~

If you'd like to see pictures from last year's visit click here. 

Lavender Fields Forever

I think recently I discovered part of my life calling - to be a flower farmer. I'll take a cottage nestled in the Surrey hills with a little plot of lavender and a rose garden complete with English geese.  Days will be spent laying in the sun like a drowsy bee taking in the floral breeze and waking up to fresh lavender bread, cupcakes, and scented drinks. Anyone want to be my neighbour?

Lavender and Honey Cream Soda

serves 4

1/2 cup water (120 ml)

1/4 cup unrefined sugar (62 grams)

2 tablespoons of honey (lavender or wildflower are great here) (30 ml)

1 teaspoon culinary lavender buds (5 ml)

1/4 teaspoon lemon zest (1.5 ml)

1/2 cream (120 ml)

1 large bottle of soda water

20 or more ice cubes

In a small saucepan or kettle bring water to the boil. Combine it with the sugar, honey, lavender, and zest. Stir in the saucepan and dissolve the sugar. Return to the boil and simmer for one minute. Remove from heat and cool for thirty minutes in the pan. Strain and reserve for later in the refrigerator or begin blending your drink. Fill 4 medium size glasses with ice, followed by soda water topping leaving room at the top. Add 3 tablespoons of syrup to each glass following with a lick of cream (approximately 1 tablespoon). Watch the nebulous cream sink and give a gentle stir with a spoon or better yet a straw and enjoy. Soda drinks are best enjoyed much much sooner than later. Don't let them sit around - drink up!

*You can use all honey or all sugar in this recipe. It will effect the taste and colour. 

**Try without cream for a lavender soda perfect for the non dairy inclined. 

***Traditional cream sodas use Half and Half (to keep with tradition use 1/4 cup of milk 1/4 cup of cream (60 mls each). 

Mayfield Farm, Surrey, England

Weekend Holiday

Six years ago I moved to New Hampshire to go to a little school snuggled in between the rolling hills. I shared a room with a lovely British girl named Jess from Croydon.  We used to sit by each other's side as one of us was crying. laugh at the way Jess' accent went crazy after talking to her sister on the phone - or wake the other up because of a bad feeling at night and didn't want to be scared alone.  Fast forward until now, and we grew up a lot (!), got married one after the other, and Matt and I moved to the London area. Now she and her husband Luke are our guides.  They took us to Luke's family apartment above,  in an old pirate smuggling building in the South Coast of England. Jess and I ventured to the nearby town of Brighton on a misty day arranged for cafes and vintage shops instead of the pier and carousel.  We've vowed to go back in better weather and I hope we do. ♥

Here is a mini guide to Brighton from Hjartesmil that got us into the little vintage shop treasure spots. Tic-toc cafe was lovely and yes I got a little carried away with the roses. We found it when we heard some old old music playing oustide and it looked like a safe warm haven inside - and it was! There was red velvet cake with lemon buttercream frosting and sparkly sprinkles with lattes all around.

★