Year: 2025

I did a big shop two weeks ago in anticipation of visitors…..but now I need a bit of a top up (I forgot an important item!)….it cost £10.39. I’m also doing a bit of cooking…using so me of my harvest for a soup and making houmous from the store cupboard. Plus some chat re tinned vs dry and the Instantpot for freezing. And using my homemade beeswax wraps.

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Living a simple, mindful life by the sea in rural England (Dorset).

At Home: Shopping (£10.39) & Making Houmous

Today it’s all about friends, food and foraging…..with some lovely woolies and the Sycamore Gap thrown in for good measure.

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Living a simple, mindful life by the sea in rural England (Dorset).

At Home: Friends, Food & Foraging

Hahaha….it’s time to get some stuff off my chest in my Monthly Moan! Planning permission rules, in-contract price rises….and more……but all sandwiched between some lovely stuff.

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Living a simple, mindful life by the sea in rural England (Dorset).

At Home: Monthly Moan!

I’m pinned indoors by the grotty weather, again so I’m getting on with some domestic stuff. Hahaha…I am not a natural domestic goddess!

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Living a simple, mindful life by the sea in rural England (Dorset).

At Home: Domestic Bliss?

I live on very little but I feel I live richly…here are 10 things (there are more!) that I don’t buy which contribute to making my low income life a very happy, fulfilling one.

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Living a simple, mindful life by the sea in rural England (Dorset).

At Home: 10 Things…. I don’t buy.

Shovelling rubble with an ice-cream scoop….hurray, the shed is finished! Plus a couple of rain free hours to complete some small garden jobs.

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Living a simple, mindful life by the sea in rural England (Dorset).

Vivi’s Cottage Garden: Shed finished + odd jobs.

With just one dry day before a fortnight of rain I try to get on with a job I’ve wanted to do for ages…….turning the outhouse into a potting shed. The shed makeover begins.

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Living a simple, mindful life by the sea in rural England (Dorset).

Vivi’s Cottage Garden: Shed Makeover (part one)

I’ve been asked so many times how my budget has changed since I moved…..so here it is. How I budget/manage my finances each year including dealing with the increases since moving.

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Living a simple, mindful life by the sea in rural England (Dorset).

At Home: My New Budget

Today I am continuing to plant for my winter garden. Brassicas and more garlic….plus a bit of a, much needed, clean-up.

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Living a simple, mindful life by the sea in rural England (Dorset).

Vivi’s Cottage Garden: Winter Garden 2: Brassicas, Garlic & Clean-Up

Having cleared out the summer garden it’s time to plant the winter garden. Today it’s broad beans and garlic. Plus; the squash harvest.

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Living a simple, mindful life by the sea in rural England (Dorset).

Vivi’s Cottage Garden: Winter Garden 1: Broad Beans, Garlic & Squash.