Our last few weeks of the summer break have been busy and lazy in equal measures. There's been plenty of laying about in PJs days and days full of action and activity…
A trip to Forty Hall with Amy and her boyfriend. A wonderful 1620's built, Jacobean mansion house with amazing plaster-work ceilings and beautiful parkland where we wandered, watched wildlife and picnicked.
A walk around Aldworth in Berkshire with Gran and Granddad, watching the buzzards and red kites, listening to the skylarks and finishing in style at the pub.
And the highlight for Toby was a little hot-tubbing in a gorgeous garden with a beautiful family friend. Thanks to Julia, Josie and Kitty for the lovely afternoon x
We're now settling into comfortable term-time routines though it might be a week or so until I'm back to full blogging strength – I'm convalescing at the moment after a rather nasty encounter with staphylococcus which somehow found it's way into the tiniest of cuts on my finger and from there proceeded to party up my whole arm via my lymphatic system. Happily a hefty course of antibiotics seem to be getting the message across that staph is not welcome here and my finger is starting to resemble a finger again rather than an alarming purple sausage. The most frightening thing was the speed with which the red line spread up my arm so please, if you have a little cut which looks like nothing but you then feel a bit unwell with a swollen armpit a few days later, get yourself to the doctor quickly and get it checked out! And chicken keepers – always wear gloves when you clean the food and drink containers, even if you are in a hurry!
Anyway, I hope to be back soon to celebrate my little blogging anniversary, til then keep well xxx
little cotton rabbits 
Hope your finger gets better soon! xxx ps Toby looks soooo happy in that hot tub!!!
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Oh my gosh, yes, the World Traveller fell off a motor bike onto gravel and the same thing happened, good advice! Apart from that, a lovely end to the holidays, a sweet couple and love the pictures of Toby in the hot tub! Oh, that house!
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Goodness, your children are so grown up now! 🙂
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That was scary. I’m very happy you are on the mend. I do so love your photos. Such a beautiful country.
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Thanks for the warning about staph and chickens! So glad you are getting better. That’s crazy how and scary how quickly the staph spread. Nice family!
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Gosh, that sounds scary. Glad you’re on the mend. Your children are gorgeous. And so grown up!
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Hope you get fully recovered soon, thanks for the tip about the chicks, I have about 30 birds and very often I change their water containers in a hurry and with no cautions regarding if I have any cut in my hands. Regards
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Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos of your lovely trips.♥Amy and her boyfriend, so elegant! and ♥Toby in his bath, so happy!
I am sorry to read that you caught staphylococcus… thank you for your advice. I am glad your treatment seems to be working well! Anne
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Ouch Julie, that sounds all rather nasty, glad you’re on the mend now, these things can happen so simply!
On the bright side though it looks like you all have had some lovely summer outings!
My goodness I still can’t get over how grown up Amy is now, she was just a little girl when I first started following you here, time flies!!
Have a great weekend,
V x
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Beautiful happy photos Julie – hope you mend up quickly 🙂
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Scary about your finger and I’m so glad it’s better. Such cute photos of your children. My, they are growing so fast! Hope you’re feeling better quickly.
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Beautiful plaster ceiling.
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Kitty, Josie and I loved seeing the fun Toby had. The best afternoon in a very long time seeing his smile and your happiness. Just wonderful. Don’t know who loved it more; Toby or us 😊 xxxxx
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That sounds so scary. Amy is stunningly beautiful and Toby looks so happy! Take care of yourself.
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Lovely to see such nice photos of the family! Toby looks so happy in the hot tub. I notice that you slip in a little comment about your own health issues right at the end!! Good to hear you are on the mend. My DH had something similar years ago that started as a mosquito bite on his toe (we think!) Take care of yourself.
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Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos of places and family..Toby looks so happy and Amy is such a beauty. I hope your finger is healing well….look after yourself.
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Wow, “Amy’s boyfriend” made me gulp! 🙂 but they are both adorable. Glad you are on the mend and Toby had a good summer.
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oh no, hope you’re feeling better soon! The pictures of the house look amazing!
Greetings from Austria
EmmA
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ouch! you think a finger is so small…and we take them so for granted….until!!! YIKES. Hope you are on the recovery road and back to feeling yourself. You outing was lovely….thanks for sharing with us. I’m leaving my armchair traveling for a couple weeks to actually make a trip, but the armchair traveling is one of things I love so much about the blog world. 🙂 thanks for being part of it!!!
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ouch, get well soon x take care xxx
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What beautiful pictures! Everyone looks so happy! So glad you are healing from the nasty infection!
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What a lovely place you visited……that ceiling was gorgeous…..thankyou for sharing your photos with us😘
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Love the mischievous smile from your son! I am glad he is getting comfortable with the camera. He has a sweet face and lovely smile!
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LOVE reading your blog!
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The place looks incredible – love this blog post 🙂
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Pleased to hear you are on the mend. Nasty infection that Staphy stuff! I can’t believe how grown up the children look now. Lovely family pictures x
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Scary but pleased you are on the mend. Lovely photos of Toby.
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That mansion looks like something straight out of Jane Austen!! Beautiful! I’m so glad you were able to go on Holiday and, say what??!!! Amy has a boyfriend?? Nooooo! She’s not allowed! She’s not allowed to grow up and think of boys that way. She’s supposed to think boys have cooties still! Her hair cut is darling!!
Toby, as always. I so love his smile. He’s getting tall!
Scary about your finger! Glad you are okay and that we live in a time of anti-biotics. Such simple things, small cuts, would take lives back in the day. Hard to imagine. I take so much for granted!
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Sounds like a wonderful time, Julie. Loved all your gorgeous pictures, and almost felt like I was there with all of you. Such a beautiful place! So glad you’re better. You should get your magic hands insured for millions.
Hugs, Kimmy
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your children are so growing up they are lovely amy hair is so nice
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Beautiful photos! Would love come across the “pond” and explore the English countryside.
Glad your finger is on the mend!
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Lovely seeing Toby so happy AND having his picture taken!
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Having had a similar encounter with that alarming red line – in my case courtesy of an infected follicle on my breat of all places – my sympathy and well wishes Julie, and a gentle reminder to allow yourself plenty of time to heal, those mega antibiotics really wipe you out x
Lovely to see these sunny, summer pics of Toby and Amy :o)
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I second Annie’s suggestion about recuperation. Your immune system has taken a bashing and it will be a while before it is back to full strength. Factor in lots of Toes-Up time!
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Looks like you’ve had some lovely days out over the summer 🙂
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That was an awful infection in got. Glad it’s clearing up.
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Beautiful pictures! What lovely memories you’ll have of those beautiful days.
So sorry about your infection…all recovered now, I hope?
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Glad to read your finger (and arm!) is better now.
I know that pub, and the surrounding landscape, really well. 🙂 In fact, it’s known here as ‘Mummy’s best pub in the world’, and it is. Mmm, crusty baps and nice beer. 😀 Lovely photos.
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What a wonderful outing! The photos are beautiful. I especially love how happy and relaxed Toby looks in all of them. What joy! 🙂
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I find myself a little wonderstruck at your blog! Your work is quite stunning and always so beautifully presented. I love the community spirit that exists here.Many Thanks.
Glad to hear you are on the mend too- good tip re spotting such an infection.
Warmest Best to you
Ballu
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