With my gratitude

Hello friends,

As the year is soon coming to an end, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for all your connections this year in whatever way they've been gifted to me. I have met many of you for the first time and some of you returning; both of which have been so lovely. I've enjoyed collaborations with like minded businesses whose philosophy for life is similar to my own, and I've had messages of support and thanks from many who have enjoyed what I have offered this year; either mindful posts on social media, short articles on Substack or workshops at Brinscall Hall through the seasons.

Please know that this small business wouldn't be here if it were not for you, and I'm immensly grateful for your support and your connections.

Spring Workshop with flowers and essential oils

This year has seen me take on a new garden space at Brinscall Hall which is a place where I can grow my own cut flowers more so than in my own garden space. It's development was hampered by a de Quervains Tenosynovitis that has endured over 12 months but which thankfully now is easing. However, at a time when digging, erecting fencing, pushing barrows of top soil were my intention, my injury prevented me for so doing. I had the good fortune to employ someone on an ad hoc basis to carry out much of the manual work. He, too, had some time out to attend to an aging family member understandably, and so my project stopped and started and then stopped again ... and so it went.

I was reminded of a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson who said 'Adopt the pace of Nature: her secret is patience', and so, freed from my angst about completing my growing space within a short period of time, I simply let it go, surrendered my timescale to whatever it will be, and my new mindset has been very freeing ever since.

So, now, having relaxed into a lack of planning, I have fencing from recycled wood, and wood chip for pathways. I have flower beds with super quality top soil, and I have plants, although not yet in every space. There is still more to do; deer fencing, a gateway, some hedging here and there, and also the continuation of planting those perennials that the soil loves to grow. I've used the no dig method of (none) cultivation so as to let the earth worms, already in situ, do their vital work, and most of all I have a considerable amount of hope for next year.

Autumn seeds sown

I've loved the workshops here at Brinscall Hall, and it seems you have too. It was wonderful to hear kind words following each one. So grateful.

We marked National Meadow Day with a beautiful flower styling workshop embracing all the longer, wafting stems of both cultivated and wild flowers. A joy, it was, to walk through the meadows of our minds and wander freely through them in our creative play.

Wild meadow styling

Workshops ended with winter wreaths, and nothing lifts me more than many of you coming back, time and again, for this annual tradition. Thank you for choosing to be with me. I never take for granted that you will return and it's always a delight to see new and old friends walk through the doors into this beautiful calming space.

Such smiles with our seasonal circles

More beautiful people and wreaths

This year also saw a collaboration with Maria Grieco, a talented chef who has her own dining space in Hoddlesden. New friends and seasonal food met wreathmaking in Maria's warm and cosy space. What a delight it was and there was a call for more collaboration starting in Spring, so I'll keep you posted. I love the idea of a seasonal womens circle, meeting every few months to craft and create, share food and stories, so let's see what unfolds.

Dinner at Marias with wreaths

And so to workshop dates for next year at Brinscall Hall; these are my confirmed dates, though not yet the details:

Sunday 17 May 2026

Sunday 26th July 2026

Sunday 20th September 2026

Winter Wreathing 2026

Sunday 22 November and Sunday 6th December

Summer fruit bowl; super scented

All that remains is to thank you once again for your connections this year, and to wish you well for the festive season. I hope to see you in the new year and I also hope that 2026 will be full of love and light for all of us.

My warmest wishes, as always

Tracey