Summer Days in Cowden

Cowden was a chapter of joy, family, and simple magic. We were welcomed by Hannah, George, and their three beautiful children into their picture-perfect home, and cared for their two black Labradors, Floss and Sooty.

Floss, still very much a pup, was bursting with energy, never far from a cuddle and always eager for play. Sooty, their mum’s dog, was the elder statesman, a gentle soul who loved nothing more than a belly rub and a carrot after his walks. Both were ex-farm dogs, carrying that sturdy, grounded presence that made them a joy to spend time with.

Life in Cowden unfolded like a holiday. There was a heated swimming pool that became the heart of our days, a giant trampoline that echoed with Dylan’s laughter, walks by the river, and even a tent tucked away in the forest for nights of camping out. One evening we toasted marshmallows by the fire pit in the woods, the stars above us and the forest holding us close. Dylan kayaked in the river, played for hours on the rope swing, and lived the kind of freedom every child deserves.

Family came to visit too. Mum, Dad, and our nephews Sonny and Charlie joined us for a day that flowed from the pool to the woods to a barbecue in the garden. We finished the night with a game of bowls, and of course Dad won most of the time, some things never change, and his victory laugh is becoming part of our family tradition.

Another highlight was the visit from Nathan’s best friend, whom he lovingly calls his sister. She arrived with her husband Dave and their daughter Mia, and it felt like no time had passed, even though it had been over three years since we’d last seen each other. Our paths had kept missing until now, but this reunion made up for lost time. The pool was filled with splashes and laughter, the table with delicious food (lovingly prepared by me), and our hearts with gratitude for friendships that hold steady across the years.

Cowden also became a place of creation. It was here that Nathan first published his two books, The Nomad Family Blueprint and The Unschooling Framework. and released the free guide that accompanies the Blueprint. The ideas had first begun back in the New Forest, during our sit with Bracken and Buddy, when daily walks turned into moving meditations and the vision for the books started to take shape. Here in Cowden, those early sparks became real, finished works sent out into the world, milestones not just for us, but for the wider community we hope to inspire.

Cowden gave us everything, space to play, space to rest, and space to grow. It was one of those sits that felt less like “work” and more like a chapter of life we’ll treasure forever.

Reflection from the road: This sit reminded us of the gift of togetherness. Whether with family, friends, children, or dogs, the real wealth of life is found in the moments we share, in laughter around a fire pit, in splashes of pool water, in hugs after years apart. And in the stillness between those moments, dreams can take shape and begin to fly. From the first sparks in the New Forest with Bracken and Buddy to the birth of books in Cowden, we were reminded that every step of the journey carries the seeds of something greater.