Field Notes: Summer Bumper Edition
& a quick note on what to expect on my Substack going forward
I’m back from an extended summer break, which has honestly flown by. I don’t quite understand where August gone; it seems like all the grey rainy days of this disappointing summer have rolled into one.
I always see September as the start of something new (a hangover from my school days, but I’ve also made quit a few big life decisions around this time of year) and have had the past few weeks to think about what I want my Substack to look like going forward. There are going to be a few subtle changes to the content I share on here, so I’ll start this edition of Field Notes with a quick summary of what to expect going forward:
Field Notes will delve deeper into the simple living and slow travel content I share on my blog & Instagram. I'll also be writing about the reality of what it’s like being a freelance writer & photographer, taking you behind the scenes with subjects such as money worries, my daily routines and how I find work.
This is also the home of my book content. If you follow me on Instagram (@fieldandnest) you’ll know that I love to read. I’ll be sharing a monthly book club talking through what I’ve been reading over the past month, as well as regular articles focused on recommendations, reviews and book lists.
Going forward, there will be two free newsletters each month: Field Notes (my monthly musings & recommendations) and Book Club (what I’ve been reading & what’s on my pile to read next). All other content will require signing up to a paid subscription of just £5 a month to read.
Lessons learnt this summer:
Do not rely on a UK summer to be hot and sunny.
Freelance work goes just as quiet over August as it does in January.
Always book a holiday for late summer, to drag out my favourite season.
This summer may have flown by, but I’ve packed a lot in. Since I last wrote my monthly Field Notes musings (back at the end of June) I have photographed three weddings, visited Highbrook Cottage, Fforest, Glebe House and the Hawarden Estate, spent a week camping in Cornwall and Devon, and grown the most wonderful dahlia display in my garden. I’ve also almost finished decorating our bedroom (photos coming soon to my Instagram), and am about to take on two new unexpected projects in our house. We weren’t planning on carrying out any further work to the house this year, but due to a leak in our bathroom that has caused part of our living rom ceiling to cave in, these two rooms will soon be renovated.
The weather may have been disappointing these past two months, waiting for a heatwave that never appeared, but I have still made the most of my favourite season. I’ve spent as much time outside as possible (avoiding only the most bibilical of the rain): swimming in my favourite spots, camping on the south-west coast, pottering around my garden. Summer is far from over, in my opinion, and I’m hopeful to squeeze in a couple more trips before I finally accept that sweater season has arrived.
Read on for briefs recaps of the wonderful places I’ve had the pleasure of visiting this summer. (ad - some of the places featured below were photography jobs and pr trips)
HIGHBROOK COTTAGE
Back in late June, I had the pleasure of photographing this beautiful cottage nestled on the Welsh borders. Part of the Whinyard Rocks family, the holiday cottage is located just a stone’s throw from their vineyards and you can request bottles of their wine to enjoy on arrival. The weather was grim during my stay, but this only encourage me to hunker up in the whimsical cottage, soaking up the beautiful interiors. Stay here for cosy getaways within a short drive of Hay-on-Wye.
Read more about this stay on my blog.
FFOREST
I returned to my favourite place in West Wales, Fforest in July, for a few days away with a friend while shooting their dreamy site. I stayed in the same Garden Shac as last year - all their accommodation looks incredible, but I just can’t tear myself away from being surrounded by their kitchen garden. We ate delicious food, swam in both the river and the sea (and a lake on the way home through Eryri National Park), basked in the sauna, and just soaked up the happy Fforest vibes. Stay here for getting back to nature in beautiful surroundings.
CORNWALL & DEVON
In early August, I headed to Cornwall and Devon with my partner and dog for a camping trip. We were primarily there for a wedding and a stay at Glebe House (see below) but squeezed in five night of camping to get back to nature. Highlights of this trip included strolling around Ashburton’s antique shops with Rosie Harbottle, spending a day on Grebe Beach, taking photos at Stowford Flower Farm, and swimming in the sea at Branscombe beach.
GLEBE HOUSE
Glebe House is my favourite place to stay in the UK, so I was delighted to be welcomed back to their cosy new cabin for my birthday. I basked in the glory of their beautifully considered interiors, begun my birthday with a dip in the pool, ate the most delicious food and drank the most delicious wine, and just enjoyed a night’s luxury after sleeping on an air mattress for a week. Stay here if you love beautiful interiors and good food.
BEEKEEPERS HUT
Last week I took myself away on a little solo adventure with my dog, Evie. We travelled by train then bus to reach Beekeeper’s Hut, a cute shepherd’s hut located on the Hawarden Estate in north Wales (spot a pattern here: I love Wales). This was the perfect place to unwind for a couple of days, although I did take my laptop and worked remotely from their walled garden. In between emails, I strolled around the estate, ate in the farm shop cafe and the nearby pub, basked in the heat of the sauna, and cosied up with a good book. Stay here for a solo trip or romantic getaway in a sprawling walled garden.
GARDEN UPDATE
I am head over heels in love with at least a small part of my garden this summer. My dahlias have sprung into life, growing over five feet tall and filling one of the new beds in my garden. I planted seven tubers, and am delighted at how many flowers I’ve had - I’ve lost count of the bouquets I’ve made for myself and my friends, and the blooms just keep on coming.
Other success stories that I’ll be repeating for next year are beans (I’ll be growing even more broad beans next year, and will be training my runner beans on cane tripods instead of up the wall) and squash. We have two unexpected squash plants flourishing, and can’t wait for my favourite autumnal vegetable to be ready to eat straight from the garden.
I’m already making plans for changes and developments to the garden for next year, making a big list of perennials to add, cut flowers to grow, and vegetables to attempt. Next on the list: spring bulbs! I’ll be rotating my dahlias with tulips, so will be ordering them plus any other spring flowers I decided to grow soon. I’ll fill you in on my bulb order next month. In the meantime - I‘d love to hear what bulbs you’ve ordered for spring?
SUMMER EDIT
As I’ve been decorating my bedroom and making plans for the rest of the house, I’ve been seeking interiors inspiration via Rachel Bottomley and Robert Trieger’s wonderful homes, as well as scrolling Anna Eleri’s and Deorling’s Instagram accounts for ideas. I’ve been living in my new Beyond Nine trousers (not just for maternity wear; long live the elasticate waistband!) I have their Mabel trousers in black linen and new Mia lightweight denim trousers. And over on my favourite app for procrastinating, I’ve been soaking up the sight of all the beautifu summer flowers thanks to @flourishflowerfarm, @floreagarden, @farmluxe, @kittengraysonflowers, @lamusadelasflores and @petalbackfarm.
I’m delighted to be back on Substack following my month-long break, and will have more for you to read very soon! If you enjoy these monthly newsletters and would like to read more of my writing, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription.
Emma xx