National Trust is relaunching today, May 2nd, their "50 Things to do Before you are 11 3/4 -booklet" for children. Our kids (and especially Miss A. who already has turned eight) have been working hard on their old booklets and loved doing so - and I can reveal that the new book will be even more fun as we've had a sneak peak on it.

This new booklet, titled, "My Adventure Scrapbook" has had 15 new fun activities added to it, it contains better instructions on how to complete tasks, and there is more space to record the tasks. Also the rewards stickers are nicer, and more importantly I hope that they will distribute them with instructions to all properties as we had sometimes hard time collecting those completion stickers when we were out and about in different NT properties.

I also like the new regional summary sheets they have done: this sheets tells you all the National Trust properties in your area and what tasks you can complete there: either independently or by joining their organised events. And since this is the digital age, the National Trust also has a website where one can log all adventures as well as unlock additional secret challenges.

That said, I certainly hope that more parents will find out about this fun programme and encourage their kids to join in with the fun: discover these fabulous properties, learn about the history of the places, complete some fun tasks and while doing and as an additional benefit they'll spend more time outdoors too. I think it's obvious from previous posts that I am a huge fan of National Trust and other historic houses and gardens, and very happy that my children seem to share the same joy of exploring them! Now are you ready to introduce this fun programme to your children or someone you know?    

A sneak peek into the look and feel of the relaunched 50 Things to Do -programme. We got the "recipe" for mud pies so that's going to be on our agenda this weekend. First one for this mom also, maybe I'll earn a sticker too! 

Our little Miss C. got cracking with task no 41 - Plant it, grow it, eat it. Let's hope we'll have something to eat in a couple of months time!

First batch of seeds planted and time to water them. Guess who was enjoying this task tremendously. And tomorrow is the turn for Mr H. to plant some peas in his garden area...

Some of us are lucky in terms of having a lovely estate to go to for walks almost in the back garden. Today I had a walk in the grounds of the lovely Knole Park with a friend, enjoying the scenery, deers grazing peacefully, birds singing - it was so beautiful, especially when the sun came up too. To make it even better we had a lovely cream tea in the tea room garden afterwards, and a quick walk around the Knole House, which is a National Trust property in Sevenoaks, Kent (I've written before about Sevenoaks too, and here's the link to that post).

The house wasn't open yet, so I took a look at the exteriors and enjoyed the pretty little details - and there are so many starting from something so very mundane as the gutters (that just were so elaborate). Sometimes it's so easy to forget to enjoy the little things in life and just look at the big picture but this morning it was all about "them pretty little details". My favourite parts of the Knole House include the lights, gutters (yes!), doors, windows, courtyards, statues, those cute towers... just pretty much every detail one can spot! 

Oh la la - French people know the art of dressing chic, the streets are lined with beautiful historic buildings with matching shades - and even the gardens of Paris are uber-chic and colour-coordinated. A little stroll in Tuilliers towards Louvre reveals that everything in Paris is just so well planned and beautiful. The mind truly rests with the beauty of the surroundings...Paris toujours is how I feel today!

Oh la la - French people know the art of dressing chic, the streets are lined with beautiful historic buildings with matching shades - and even the gardens of Paris are uber-chic and colour-coordinated. A little stroll in Tuilliers towards Louvre reveals that everything in Paris is just so well planned and beautiful. The mind truly rests with the beauty of the surroundings...Paris toujours is how I feel today!

I have always wondered if these old and wonky-looking houses were like that from the inside too, and at least this was really was: floors going up and down, lots of low beams and charm. We picked a little different kind of destination today: Smallhythe Place (also a National Trust property) - a 16th-century cottage that actress Ellen Terry purchased in 1899, and which now is filled with her memorabilia. 

This little cottage next to an old, and as impressive church also has cute lite grounds where spring flowers were coming up from hyacinths to daffodils. Beautiful countryside stretching out, sheep, sunshine - it was a lovely afternoon. And the delight of the day for the kids was the Easter Egg Hunt, which made them run around the grounds looking for clues.

I also like the fact that they had worksheets for kids in the house (and they got cute little bookmarks as rewards): questions for older and picture sheets of each room for the little ones - a great way to engage the kids and have them to learn something on the side too. Thank you Smallhythe Place for this lovely afternoon! Maybe we will be back one day for one of the theatre shows in the revived theatre barn on the grounds... 

Oh well, it was a rainy day today. But we were so excited about a spring walk  that we went to visit the lovely National Trust property Nymans Garden in Haywards Heath in Sussex despite a little drizzle and mist. And it was a breath of fresh air - both literally and metaphorically.  

It just never stops amazing me how pretty the English countryside is with its rolling hills, many shades of green, variety of trees and flowers. At Nymans there is so much to do and see as the area totals 275 acres - forest walks, more formal gardens, the ruined Gothic and Tudor style house, the restored part of the house - you name it! 

Kids also have a lot of do here starting with seasonal work sheets (identifying flowers, moss and other spring things), trail maps, spotting the fox and other items in the house, and geo-caching. So my conclusion is - rain or no rain, being out in a beautiful spot of nature will always be fun. And while you are in the area why not visit another property, such as the Wakehurst Place (see our story here) or Sheffield Park (NT Link here). Both are absolutely lovely places to visit, and our kids loved these destinations too. 

[See also here our YouTube photo video journey of Nymans Garden]

Enter the oh-so romantic gardens and ruins of Nymans

Pinetum views

Sweeping views to the Downs 

Loved these clipped groupings - maybe one day my gardens will be like this too...

One of the pros of rainy days is that there are no huge crowds!

A misty pond in the meadows

First flowers

Enjoying the raindrops

Nymans is the romantic destination with ruins, rose gardens, meadows and more!

The history of the place

Small part of the ruins are still usable and one can your that furnished area. This must have been such a beautiful house (and it still is)

Looks like a little fortress in itself!

Romantic tower and pretty little details in the birdhouse

Miss A. and C. enjoying their activity sheets

Love the way snowdrops have been planted here 

The summer must be glorious - air filled with the soft smell of flowers and colour is everywhere

Where are the birds...?

Romantic stroll around...

Someone loves all flowers pink!

Miss A. loves her close shots of flowers 

Kids were thinking of Alice in Wonderland here!

One of the prettiest benches I've seen - and so perfectly romantic and suitable for Nymans

Looking forward to seeing and smelling the full summer bloom...

A sunny spring morning. Fog rising. First spring flowers. A bit of mud too. Yes, I've been to Emmetts Garden - a lovely little oasis in Ide Hill, Kent (the South East part of England) and I did the Ram Pump loop, which got a bit muddy at times. But it was so pretty and relaxing - just the perfect start for a morning!

Ide Hill has formal gardens as well as a pinetum and nice little forest trails, which actually connect with a larger network of trails. It is still early spring and only some flowers are in bloom, but in summertime there will be plenty to look at from the rose gardens to the rock garden. The gardens only opened this week from the winter hibernation, but the trip was definitely worthwhile (note though that the house pictured is actually in private use, so Emmetts Garden really is just about gardens). This is also a great place for the kids as there is a little cottage for them filled with activities, games and tools such as magnifying glasses to use while exploring the gardens. 

I loved slowing down at the pond and just listening the birds and admiring the beauty of the forest. But the most impressive moment was on top of the hill where I could look down to the valley and watch the fog slowly lifting off the valley, revealing a church and flogs of sheep in the horizon.

Oh Emmetts Garden, I'll be back to see your colourful displays this summer - and of course to visit the lovely tea room too!  

Today was the first warmer day and it felt like spring as the sun was out in full force too. Meanwhile, I've been learning how to use my camera and the latest practise targers were the first spring flowers. Happy start of the spring!

Some places are beautiful and worth a visit all year round, and Scotney Castle in Lamberhurst, Kent in the South Eastern part of England is one of those places. The estate is 770 acres with lovely walking paths, a beautiful Victorian manor, gardens and of course the old, ruined 14th century castle with its moat - not to forget a lovely little tea room and a cute shop, or activities and education center for the kids - so much to see and do here!

There are also walled gardens, which they are still restoring, but worth a visit with the little ones as there are also chickens there. Book a good 3-4 hours for the place, then enjoy a cream tea and maybe even visit the  Bayham Old Abbey nearby, which is part of the English Heritage buildings (note: although Scotney Castle is open all year round, the Bayham Old Abbey is closed between October and March). 

As we liked this place a lot, we also made a little photo video on Youtube, where we have even more pictures of the Lovely Scotney castle and estate: see the link to the video here. 

Cute entrance to the Victorian manor, the gardens and a 14th-century ruined moated castles through the little shop and cafe building 

Outbuildings with an adorable clock tower

Entrance to the Victorian manor 

The entrance is very ornate 

A walk thought the house transforms you back in time with its beautiful interior 

Dining in style in the formal dining room

We wondered if these guns were ever used in battle...

The house has impressive views over the valley as it in elevated position 

We spy the old castle and moat!

Down we walk towards the quarry garden and the little lake 

Early bloom in quarry garden - the gardens are known for azaleas and rhododendrons in late spring

Snowdrops everywhere 

Old castle - the part with the turret is still accessible

I wonder how this corner looked like before...

Romantic old ruins 

Walk through the ruins...

...and around them to reach...

...to a pretty corner by the moat

Historic kitchen in the old castle

Boat house over the water 

A romantic view of the old castle from a tree-covered pathway

Scotney Castle is one of the most picturesque gardens in England

These paths just call for exploring and walking around!

Stroll around the lake - the castle is always visible 

Rolling down a steep hill - girls competing a task from the National Trust's kdis booklet "50 things to do before 11 3/4"

A beautiful place to take a break and enjoy the sweeping views 

Well, this is new for us, although the idea clearly is no new: photo videos.  We love looking at cute pictures of the places we visit and decided to make some little photo videos with some chill-out music on the background.

So let me proudly present the very first video of a winter stroll in a very spring-like day at the beautiful gardens of Kew at Wakehurst Place! ( And apologies for the quality is not perfect, not sure what the issue is as the download at home is just fab to look at, but this is still very much enjoyable, I hope!)

Spring is in the air - the sun is out and little flowers are coming out everywhere. It is starting look prettier and greener by the day! Today we spent the first half of the day buying new wellies, and then testing them in one of the most popular National Trust properties - the Wakehurst Place. There is a mansion here too, but people come here more to enjoy the magnificent gardens and the views of surrounding landscape - as well as exploring the largest seed bank in the world. 

We love exploring country houses, castles and gardens and normally there is plenty to see for everyone - kids get fresh air, exercise and fun riddles and activities to solve while parents get to relax, enjoy the beauty of the nature and a cup of coffee or tea with some lovely home-made pastries. This was our second visit to Wakehurst Place and we still haven't seen everything this place has to offer: lakes, streams, formal gardens, themed Himalayan and other gardens, koi carps, kids activities, family trail - oh you name it!

As it is still winter, the gates close rather early (4.30 pm), so make sure you get there early enough as the tour around the estate is around 4km (2.5 miles). I'd recommend that you join the National Trust too if you like exploring these sort of places - as the low annual membership fee pays itself back after just a few visits and you get a handy map, property handbook, magazines and all those activities for kids - Miss A. is just loving completing her "50 things to do before you are 11/34 years" - workbook. This is the good life: happy family enjoying the countryside together!

Snowdrops!

Miss A. reading family trail clues

Wakehurst Place mansion 

Mansion gardens 

Mansion pond

Solar clock 

Learning about hummingbirds 

Black pond with large koi karps 

Crocus time

Art on the grounds - giant fly 

Kids just wanna have fun 

Exploring the compost corner and water gardens 

Spiky art - seedlings? 

Exploring little paths and bridges 

On trail towards Himalayan Glade

Himalayan Glade 

Trails are well marked 

View from Pinetum towards Horsebridge Wood

Past the Southern Hemisphere Garden and Walled Gardens back to the Mansion 

Colour is everywhere - whites, yellows, pinks, purples keep coming up in different parts of the gardens

A peek into the walled garden 

The Mansion is very rustic with pretty details

A lovely cafe on the grounds - as the place is also part of the Kew Gardens, the shop is large and has a very impressive selection of goods (lovely wellies too, which you should have in spring time if you wander out to pinetum and other wet parts)

Spring is in the air - the sun is out and little flowers are coming out everywhere. It is starting look prettier and greener by the day! Today we spent the first half of the day buying new wellies, and then testing them in one of the most popular National Trust properties - the Wakehurst Place. There is a mansion here too, but people come here more to enjoy the magnificent gardens and the views of surrounding landscape - as well as exploring the largest seed bank in the world. 

We love exploring country houses, castles and gardens and normally there is plenty to see for everyone - kids get fresh air, exercise and fun riddles and activities to solve while parents get to relax, enjoy the beauty of the nature and a cup of coffee or tea with some lovely home-made pastries. This was our second visit to Wakehurst Place and we still haven't seen everything this place has to offer: lakes, streams, formal gardens, themed Himalayan and other gardens, koi carps, kids activities, family trail - oh you name it!

As it is still winter, the gates close rather early (4.30 pm), so make sure you get there early enough as the tour around the estate is around 4km (2.5 miles). I'd recommend that you join the National Trust too if you like exploring these sort of places - as the low annual membership fee pays itself back after just a few visits and you get a handy map, property handbook, magazines and all those activities for kids - Miss A. is just loving completing her "50 things to do before you are 11/34 years" - workbook. This is the good life: happy family enjoying the countryside together!

Snowdrops!

Miss A. reading family trail clues

Wakehurst Place mansion 

Mansion gardens 

Mansion pond

Solar clock 

Learning about hummingbirds 

Black pond with large koi karps 

Crocus time

Art on the grounds - giant fly 

Kids just wanna have fun 

Exploring the compost corner and water gardens 

Spiky art - seedlings? 

Exploring little paths and bridges 

On trail towards Himalayan Glade

Himalayan Glade 

Trails are well marked 

View from Pinetum towards Horsebridge Wood

Past the Southern Hemisphere Garden and Walled Gardens back to the Mansion 

Colour is everywhere - whites, yellows, pinks, purples keep coming up in different parts of the gardens

A peek into the walled garden 

The Mansion is very rustic with pretty details

A lovely cafe on the grounds - as the place is also part of the Kew Gardens, the shop is large and has a very impressive selection of goods (lovely wellies too, which you should have in spring time if you wander out to pinetum and other wet parts)

Old Summer Palace, or Yuan Ming Yuan - The Gardens of Perfect Brightness, as the locals would know it must be one of the best kept secrets in the city. It's location is very central in Haidian district, the area is covers is large (3.5 sq km, or 860 acres) and the number of visitors (at least on the days we have been there) is relatively low. Maybe it is because people confuse the name with the Summer Palace, or because this place is mainly about nature rather than buildings, since those were destroyed byt he British and French troops around 1860 during the Second Opium War.

The park cosnsists of three main parts: the Garden of Perfect Brightness proper, Garden of Eternal Spring and Elegant Spring Garden.  first time we visited the park it was the time of the Lotus festival and those beautiful white and pink flowers could be seen all over the lakes and ponds. The northern part of the park had black swans and other birds, which had also attached a large number of photographers trying to catch them on film. This park goes good both for the mind as well as body, as one can stroll for hours around, take a little boat ride, sit down for a pack lunch ot enjoy a meal in the restaurant over a lake (note that bicycled are not allowe, but one can buy battery car tickets if one gets tired of walking). Kids loved running around the place, up and down the little bridges and along the old walls and of course in our case (after a rain), slpashing in puddles with their rubber boots. We all had fun and were tired but relaxed at the end of the day!

Late May-early June is the perfect time for Lotus-flower spotting. So beautiful!

Giant lily pads and a pavilion near the main entrance of the park. This is one of the few original buildings that survived the descruction  

A little green pond 

Lotus flowers and a fountain, on the background also a restaurant and a steep bridge 

The park is full of little paths and bridges to cross 

A moment from the past... 

Miss C. enjoying the boat ride and look at fish and other boats 

The best preserved part of the European-styled palace ruins

A rainy day can still be a perfect trip day, especially after the rain stops the real fun can start... 

Exploring the ruins 

Trying to clear our way to the central pavilion in the restored Wanhuazhen labyrinth

Last tranquil pond at the other end of the park 

The area is huge and a day barely is enough to discover the grounds and ruins of the old summer palace (we only managed to cover the two smaller parts during our first full-day visit)

My review of the Old Summer Palace (Yuan Ming Yuan/ 圆明园): Excellent
Address: Haidian District, No. 28 Qinghua West Road (Qing Hua Xi Lu)/ 海淀区清华西路28号

"Beautiful and fun place for the whole family. Look for specific events or special times such as the lotus flowers blooming in May-June or the lanterns in late summer. A boat tour is very relaxing and fun way to tour the place and admire the beauty of the nature. Cross sometimes very steep bridges, walk along the wooden decks and let your imagination run with the ruins on how gorgeus this place has been. 

Have a picnic, admire the black swans and race the restoed stone-walled labyrinth to the pavillion. Even on a hot summer this park is bearable because of the presence of water elements. The entrance fee is low and you get certainly your money's worth here. Enjoy Yuan Ming Yuan!"

I just had to share a few of my flower snaps from today (and a few more from earlier trips) - it's so delightful to see these vibrant colours this time of the year - not to forget mentioning the imagination used in the creations! Oh, and bonus points if someone can guess any of the the locations from the little background clues or from personal travelling experience...

Sweet pastels and so rustic - what a cute little patio area this one is. Old items have been given a new lease of life and the end result is a very relaxed atmosphere. Absolutely lovely shabby chic at its best!

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So this is the new home from the outside and the compound around it. There isn't that much to see in our house yet as we are still waiting for new furniture to arrive (and to buy some more too). This gated area (everything is pretty much gated and guarded here) is pretty lush and offers kiddies some nice biking around it, and we decided to test it the other day.

The smallest one had to ride a tricycle (lots of pedalling for the poor boy) and it made the progress rather slow, but surprisingly he did anyway about a mile - which I find pretty astonishing! So here goes, China-style living:

Our cute little entrance to the front garden 

So this is the new home from the outside and the compound around it. There isn't that much to see in our house yet as we are still waiting for new furniture to arrive (and to buy some more too). This gated area (everything is pretty much gated and guarded here) is pretty lush and offers kiddies some nice biking around it, and we decided to test it the other day.

The smallest one had to ride a tricycle (lots of pedalling for the poor boy) and it made the progress rather slow, but surprisingly he did anyway about a mile - which I find pretty astonishing! So here goes, China-style living:

Our cute little entrance to the front garden 

Now I like this idea I saw at a school in California - the kids had created flower planters using plastic bottles and hung them planter style with strings. If one refines the idea it a bit, and it could be a really beautiful way to display flowers (not that this isn't pretty, I certainly think it looks great). And using some green thinking this is a great way to recycle plastic bottles also... Kids have the greatest ideas!

I have moved onto garden furniture in my house furnishing search, and if there is something I always dreamed of owning it would be to own a canopy byt the water (lake, sea or even a pool would do)...

I can feel the cool breeze in my mind when i picture myself relaxing in the canopy with a nice summer read. Oh those delectable canopies and their promise of a relaxed and somewhat romantic lifestyle!

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Oh these cute covered patios - protecting from the hot sun at daytime and little lighted havens in the evening. Summer is my favourite season and I love all things summer, especially in the garden!

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This is a party I'd love to join - everything just looks so delicious, the decor is fantastic, and weather warm and sunny too. Oh, when do I get to move to a house and host a party too!

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I admit that lately it's been a bit hectic and I haven't had time for all the fun things I'd like to do. Today I've been house hunting again and dreaming of gardens (I think I might have also found the house for us, but that's a different story...) as many of them were rather dead and therefore plain canvases ready for garden makeovers.

As the weather here gets very hot in the summer, I am thinking of my lifelong dream of having a fab succulent section. So I started creating this cool board on Pinterest called "Succulent Love" - so have fun browsing! ...And I promise more fun and cool boards to come soon, and to update the existing ones also!

I've spend a whole day house hunting. Yes, there was the luxury of the driver and a couple of agents who organize it all for you, but with a little boy in the tow the walking up and down the stairs (every house has at least three floors) and often carrying him while taking photos for the family it was quite a tiring day (on hindsight if I was in better shape I guess would not be whining so much...).

The houses might be large, but the decor and condition were not that great always (and I realize I am a bit picky here too). We just so would like a modern house and decor, but the style here is more French antique or American lazy boys than modern European or simple Ikea. We are looking for a furnished house, and the process here is such a funny one that one can negotiate with the owner changing carpets to woodfloors, painting and even new furniture that you can go and buy yourself. What a different world!

House no 1 of four in the first complex

House no 2...

...and no 3

Spot the pattern with no 4 - similar designs and a couple of different colours...

Fresh, light Ikea kitchens with all the mod-cons

Loved the neutral colour schemes and sizes of the bathrooms!

Some houses had beautiful details of recessed ceilings and special wood floors or floor tiles

The small garden was such a luxury we didn't have in California - these would fit a sandpit, trampoline,  a BBQ and garden furniture! Oh, and the landscaping can be changed too if you like...

The compund facilies and number of children in the area are also important factors. This clubhouse had a nice store, hairdresser, couple of restaurants, the gym and indoor (as it snows in winter it's nice to have an indoor pool as they give swimming lessons in these too) and outdoor pools. Not too bad I say.

Tomorrow I am house hunting and so excitedly been already dreaming about patios and dinners outside in the warm evening under the starts (on those nights when one can see the start from the smog and it's not unsafe to be outside, a minor detail but anyway...).

Oh, it is so summer patio time and beautiful patio areas can be found everywhere in magazines and interior sites right now. I am so excited!

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Recently we attended a little party at friends house, and I just loved the way the hostess had used coffee sacks as accents in the garden. Such a simple and easy to realise idea where the outcome is really great!