Easter Shian Spring '23 eZine

EASTER

HIAN

SPRING '23

Undefinable is a thing.

Imperfectly perfect, perfectly imperfect.

Spring is moments of real change, earlier light, longer days, warming earth, birdsong and a feeling of possibility.

02 Cover photo is Glen Quaich where Easter Shian is. (DHE)

WHAT'S IN E|S SPRING'23 Know about Easter Shian 05

Update for Easter Shian

Scottish Spring 06

Is it different, how Glen living differs

Hello 07

Hello and update from me to you

The Gallery 08

Spring photo journey through the lens (my unedited life photos)

E|S spring'23

BY ROOM Kitchen 11

Eating and cooking are my thing and did you know I won a cooking TV show too?

Garden 15

Garden growing, master plan and working with a garden designer- Jack Wallington .

Bedroom 19

The joys of sleep and how to decorate a bedroom for it.

The Library 22

Anti Book club! Words matter, books matter .

Sitting Room 25

From our TV binge list to making it comfortable, whats new in the sitting room

The office 28

Organisation, life and the stuff that pays the bills

Games room 31

Fun is personal as is home, games night bringing play back.

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WWW.EASTERSHIAN.COM

MARCH, APRIL, MAY

SPR

ING

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E|S WINTER '23

KNOW MORE ABOUT Change is joyful, I'm not a lover of static. Living in a field is never boring (well for me it isn't!) It's in constant change. The transition from winter to spring starts with the change in sound.

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.

Henry Van Dyke

The sound of winter is crunchy, crisp and sharp, with long periods of silence. Spring is windy breezes, unfurling buds and birds in song, and crunching turns to rustle of grass. The longer days, more sunlight and the glass warming to the spring sun.

A favourite season - I do say that about them all, though!

Monty is still injured; sadly, he had another accident and is having his other leg operated on after tumbling down the garden slope and damaging his back and leg. The slow recovery is going to take us to summer. I have bought him a dog trailer for the bike and a dog bag carrier so I can take him a little further. Plus, he's got a playpen to be safe outside enjoying the spring weather.

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Scottish Spring

This will be our 3rd Spring here; each one has been warmer than the last. The Glen does have a micro-climate about 3-6 degrees different from the village. March 1st is the birdsong switch on, and we will be in full Spring mode by (Equinox) March 20th. We then get a little bashing of lousy weather. This Spring is no exception; with a big freeze in early March, then blue skies, and crisp sunny Spring days, it has even been an outdoor sofa fire pit and sofa day a few times. Snowdrops appeared at the end of February, and the recurring daffodils unfurling from a long slumber just popped up again. As we start the gardens, I will keep a nature journal to recall the Scottish Spring changes.

It has turned upside down. Before I published this edition, Scottish spring was warmer than England's as they got swept up with snow, blizzards and bad storms.

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E|S SPRING 2023

HELLO It's my 3rd edition now, and I often think about the eZine; what would people want to read, see, and know?

I don't have any responses to that, so I consider what I would want to read, and that's what this fuller edition is all about. I ramble, roam, digress, and meander through the rooms of the house as themes or topics. I hope you find some value somewhere, and if you do, please let me know.

REALITY The world of social media is rather intense at times, and I can take it or leave it, which I do regularly. It is easy to lose yourself in comparison, and I hope that is never experienced. I want to create an unedited view of our lives, not how I think we should look. The real perfect imperfection of living in unedited photos, and I'm too lazy to do that too!

This Spring, my style of wabi-sabi, imperfection, wobbly lines, and a desire to be imperfect is at its best. Mismatch versus coordinated. This also seems oxymoronic as I love curating spaces, putting things together, tinkering, phootering, moving and changing. All this connects me to Spring, and you will see that a lot in this edition. That oxymoronic nature, the natural contradiction, is what I am, so I don't fight it. I embrace it. .

No ads or promotions everything I do is self purchased and not promoting for money or products WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE ON THESE PAGES? let me know via @eastershian or email me on hoose@eastershian.com

IMPERFECTLY PERFECT

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THE HOOSE Small moments around the hoose, when the light falls just right, or a shadow captures a mood. Spring at Easter Shian is a special time, and it's only just begun.

IMPERFECTLY PERFECT

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THE KITCHEN The kitchen in spring is about movement, freshness, and awakening, from larder sorting to drawer clearing to fresher foods to lighter meals.

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SPRING2023

DID YOU KNOW?

I won a cooking TV show called The Taste with Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre and Anthony Bourdain

Watch The Taste

ES SPRING 2023

The Kitchen

Prep 10 minutes Cooking 30 minutes

4 servings

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Super fast starter or a delicious side, as we move through Spring eating the seasons and larder, this is a win and can be served with any breads or extra crudities.

Roasted Honey Carrots, Hummus and Pesto

Ingredients HUMMUS Make your own or simply buy a good quality one.

1 TBSP OLIVE OIL Use the best quality oil you can afford, or good quality rapeseed oil.

SALT, PEPPER, DRIED CHILLI 1TSP AND 1 TBSP HONEY

PESTO OR FRESH HERBS I use fresh pesto , you can use a good quality one, its only for dressing so not a lot needed or skip and add chopped fresh herbs.

Method STEP ONE Plate up the hummus and spread around a serving platter, put aside.

STEP TWO Chop your carrots lengthways into quarters, put in a bowl, add the salt, pepper, chilli and honey and toss the carrots until fully coated.

STEP THREE Put the coated carrots onto a baking tray and cooked until darkly coloured (normally 20-20 minutes), turn if needed half way through

SERVE Tumble the carrots straight of the baking sheet onto the hummus, serve with dollops of pesto or chopped herbs, serve.

ES SPRING 2023

The Kitchen

5/6 servings

Prep 15 minutes Cooking 40 minutes

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In the kitchen, I share one of my favourite Spring recipes. I have always said that every recipe is a bastardisation of another, a hand-me-down, a flavour addition or even just the way it's served all make a personal difference. This one is no different; Nigella calls it eggs in purgatory, based on Tunisian Shakshuka. This is a simple take on all of them.

Ingredients LUDO SAUCE

Method get recipe here

a staple in our house and makes this dish special find the recipe here . You can use any best quality tomatoes or passata too.

3 TBSPS OLIVE OIL Use the best quality oil you can afford, or good quality rapeseed oil

Warm the oil on a medium heat, add your onions, garlic and allow to cook until a light colour.

If using the Ludo sauce as your base then add to your pan, let it warm and go to step 3.

STEP TWO

1 ONION, 2 CLOVES GARLIC finley chopped (you can also add cilli if you want extra heat)

SALT, PEPPER AND 1 TSP SUGAR

Add your tinned tomatoes, salt , peeper and sugar and all to simmer for 6-8 minutes

STEP THREE Crack each egg and drop individually into the sauce, around the pan, and add the mozzarella broken into pieces around the pan too. Put on a lid or foil. Allow to simmer until the eggs whites have soft set

The sugar offsets the tart of the tomatoes

FREE RANGE EGGS X 5 One egg per person

MOZZARELLA/ BURRATA 1 BALL

STEP ONE

SERVE X

You can use any cheese you like I prefer the mildness of the mozzarella in this as the tomato is the star.

You can drizzle with honey if you like and chopped fresh herbs, serve with bread or tortilla chips

THIS IS MY SPRING KITCHEN ACTION, NOT A MUST DO FOR YOU

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LARDER

Spring sort out

No larder needed

Kitchens collect stuff more than any other room for

I am fortunate to have built a larder and know that.

me, and Spring is a great time to sort out the

You can have a shelf, a cupboard, or whatever your

overflow. We all need a dump drawer, yet we don't

space does for you. The joy of kitchen spring work is

need out-of-date foods or piles of unused items. I do

sorting, labelling and, for me, decanting. Finding odd

a drawer-by-drawer method, go through, and

ingredients, out-of-date stuff, and, for me, creates a

anything I haven't used in 12 months goes into a

flurry of recipes too. Have the items you use the most

charity box and can be someone else's treasure. Less

labelled, at hand and easy to access. Remove clutter

is actually more in a kitchen.

and excess items- do you ever need more than one whisk?

Walk the kitchen Another thing I do is walk the kitchen and make sure everything is accessible, sort the stuff I have put in odd places and make sure that I can access the regular go-to items and, if need be, move other things to the larder drawers/ cupboards I don't use as much. So what's near the sink, what's easy to access near the oven, for me Aga, what's near the fridge, dishwasher etc. It amazes me how stuff moves, and I change in the kitchen.

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THE GARDEN As a non gardener, I have brought in Jack Wallington to create a master garden design that we will work on for the next 5 years (and more)

THE GARDEN YEAR 1

YEAR 2 + 3

YEAR 4+

Learning from ground up, literally

Knowing how things are establishing,

Seeing the gardens come to life and

being patient

adapting

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Master Plan created

The Front - Landscaping, planting and paths

Walls, patterns, planting, year review

The Driveway, barn, walls, planting Planting, resetting, reviewing, adding

Design

Plans

The doing

Deciding to ask for help was a big

The master plan is being created

This starts as soon as we have the

step. We could plough ahead and

by the super-talented Jack

full the master plan, the first is

do what we think. Yet the

Wallington, and I feel so

the front of house space, a herb

learnings of living in an old

privileged to have him help us

gravel garden, gravel and mown

renovation project is that you

foray into this unknown. He has

grass lawns and starting to

need skill, advice and experience

started the plans, and it is so

establish a flow through the

to guide you. We are working

exciting, informal and wild with

garden. Watch this space. It's a

with Jack Wallington, who is

our personality throughout.

full learning zone and one that I

Develop the Product

delightful and knowledgeable

am relishing as I do feel it will

and focuses on natural habitats

have a massive transformation to

and pesticides free which we

the whole Easter Shian Estate.

want.

THE GARDEN

Inspiration

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Welcome to our bedroom.

A mini sanctuary in amongst the larger glory of the Glen.

THE BEDROOM phot credit - Pintrest

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LOOK UP WALLPAPER CEILINGS I love wallpaper, my go-to brand is Woodchip & Magnolia for quality and ease of putting up, and they also resize murals to fit. Anyway, now I've said that the wallpaper in this room is B&Q Fresco! Wallpaper ceilings are my go-to. I have the Pink Room with a cloud wallpaper ceiling. When you think of all the rooms in our homes, it's the one place we are looking at the ceiling! My only other comment is I nearly got divorced (literally) attempting it myself and got our regular decorator Tony in as I lost it. Totally doing it! I always say give it a go, though. It transforms a room.

BED FIRST. We once got asked by a young couple what advice we would give them, and Dave and I both said in unison buy the best bed you can afford- they did, and we are going to their wedding soon, so maybe our advice worked? Your bed is essential; believe me, it can create physical and emotional issues if you don't sleep properly. Our bed in this room is an Emperor European style as we bought it in Mallorca and it's a beaut. If you can't afford a full bed, our go-to rescue is a much cheaper option of a top-of-the-range topper and can transform a bed too. Next is bed linen. I love linen (and do have some). However, I dont love the price and usually go for crisp cotton. I go to TK Maxx for ours as you can get some real bargains- buy it when you see it,a great notwatch when you need it! also on HGTV Final advice on beds always gets a divan; no slats here.

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Make it.

Headboard.

This headboard is actually a picture frame from Mallorca, long story short- we had it made specifically to fit Dave's bike it never went in it! So I used it for our headboard.

See it being made here

Ive always wanted a Haastens bed yet way out of my league, its signature is the checkerboard so I bought some gingham fabric and recovered the divan base. Job done!

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Spring is an actionfilled time, a doing season, and the books for Spring have this in mind. Pushing us to think differently into action.

THE LIBRARY phot credit - Pintrest

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E|S SPRING 2023

THE LIBRARY Welcome into my library, grab a book, and share your reads. I don't give books away- I keep all my books! However, when I find a book I love, I buy multiple copies to give away.

A fabulous reader of the Winter eZine edition shared her thoughts on the anti-book club, and I loved it. The concept of sharing a book you love, synopsis and the choice is yours to take.

So here's an anti-book club. This could have legs and become a thing, too- start sharing your Spring and Summer reads and let's see where it goes!

Welcome to the library Spring books are nudges of hope that drive thought, stimulate and push us into action, whether the physical kind of doing or a directional move into different thinking and building a broader perspective. So I hope you share your Spring (and get ahead for Summer reads, too). I would love to hear your thoughts on the anti-book club too!

SPRING BOOK LIST 2022/23

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Spring Books to boost, challenge, change and be curious about.

Perfect, Imperfect Karen Macarty A book after my own spring heart, the title says it all. Interiors that make me smile.

The other black girl Zakiya Dalila Harris I loved reading this, always another perspective to learn.

Smart Brevity Jim Vandhei Communication spring clean! How we understand through less is more. Super fast read too.

Why women grow Alice Vincent As a novice to gardening a friend bought me this a beautiful enlighting read.

Why has nobody told me this before Dr Julie Smith A quite moment stopping - yes why didn't I see that book. Good read to push thought.

Lost skills and crafts handbookAlan Titchmarsh Learn, see, do and a fun easy read too

Food for love Anthony Capella My repeat reading book an easy read food love story. No Spring lesson just a lovely read.

Share your Spring book list on insta @eastershian

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THE SITTING ROOM

Sitting Room for us is just sitting, relaxing, calm, binge-watching TV, chatting and copious amounts of coffee and always with a blanket!

photo credit - DHE

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PROJECT STARTS & STALLS! The sitting room hanging chair is a project start. I've decided to weave it with thick hessian rope.

It is taking a long time, and might be ready for summer!

FLOWERS, BULBS, REVISIT. I am a serial mover. I sit in a space and see what I can move.

The latest is the artwork in the sitting room, the stove addition and the flowers changed from winter faux to spring plants.

SHOP YOUR HOOSE! This is my fave sport of interiors ever. You have got stuff and if like me, a lot of it. Walk the house and shop what can be moved, tweaked, how could that mirror in the bedroom look in the sitting room, art, rugs, vases, trinkets, throws, cushions, books, plants, lamps, anything goes. It's fun and doesn't cost you anything.

A/M - Project

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IMPERFECTLY

PERFECT

Spring sit outs, fire pits, coffee, croissants fleeces and blankets

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E|S SPRING 2023

THE OFFICE Spring is about change.

The office has changed from its Autumn/Winter location in the center of the house to the sunny keeping room.

photo credit - DHE

THE OFFICE

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The keeping room is our morning room, decorated with the delightful green lick paint and my truly favourite wallpaper brand, woodchip and magnolia Floresta. It is a glorious room. The sun rises and moves through it the whole day and total of 270º views of the Glen too. It's our morning coffee and chat room.

The office had been based in the centre of the house through winter, warmer, cosier, and altogether a wonderful place to work, yet as we moved into the brighter days, it felt best to follow nature's cycle. The move began. We ended up with the domino effect of one room becoming many new spring rooms! The library, the office, the dining room, and the games room changed!

Watch now

FAUGET MAGAZINE

The office

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We moved the smaller coffee table out and the big Mallorca monastery door table in.

We removed a sofa and opened the space with the 2 leather belt chairs (Soho home).

The area felt much lighter, adding even more fresh greenery, and we haven't moved from here since! Our clients love the change, too, as they also experience the complete joy of the Glen on video calls.

watch the video here of the room walk through

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Play is a part of life we can lose. We choose to remember it. Games nights are simple, cheap, fun and can stop you binge watching tv!

THE GAMES ROOM photo credit - DHE

15 Board Games We love Scrabble and Yahtzee in our house, our go-to games nights. My Scrabble board is a prized possession from my adored Grandma, her original 1950s board in its original box. I used to go on domino rallies with her as a child and loved them! The impact of connecting at this level is we share our fun side, competitiveness, ability to self-manage, and the simple connection we create by being in play.

Make a space Fortunately, we have a dedicated game space, yet we used a tray before this. So have your games in one place, cupboard, drawer, stacked. I love it when you see packs of cards and game boxes, and even now, hotels are creating game spaces which I love. We also have our dining table that turns into our ping pong table too!

Spontaniety Just give it a go. Feeling uncomfortable playing scrabble because you can't spell, think backgammon or chess is for others?

Start with a mutual thing you like, words, numbers, monopoly, drawing games.

Discomfort or concern is soon diminished when you start to play.

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"I CAN,I WILL, I DO,I SHALL, I HAVE" MY LIFE MANTRA

E|S

EMPORIUM

COMING SUMMER 2023

WWW.EASTERSHIAN.COM/EMPORIUM

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E/S- SPRING 2023

It's easy not to say thanks for that extra smile, the coffee made every morning and the switching on the heater before you arrive. For that conversation, you didn't think you needed it.

But, the thought is always present to be more grateful and share gratitude. The effort is what makes the difference.

THANKS Dave Evans This month has seen Dave working away solo a lot more and looks like it a season of this year. I will thank him every time as he is the stalwart, the support, the critic, the cheerleader. My love.

Maximillien Halls For embracing all that-is Easter Shian. For his work on acclimatising and to the future time we get to share.

Kim Goulding who I don't see or speak to often, yet is in my thoughts are friend of over 20 years and who bought the first gift for Easter Shian the daily used welly rack and I smile each time.

Jack Wallington from your book (s) to contacting you, to the conversation to meeting you and now being a forever part of Easter Shian I know that i will be constant learner of all and so look forward to the gardens being what they deserve to be by your guidance. .

Dunkeld vets For the amazing care and attention of Monty, making him work again and providing us with the support to be be better human carers too!

Instagram followers I have a love dislike connection to insta, falling into its rabbit hole, comparison and more YET to the @homeofrealfood and @eastershian followers who have stuck with me, joined in Thank You.

This eZine is created and copyrighted by Debbie Halls-Evans and Easter Shian Estates Ltd. Want to contribute email hoose@eastershian.com