Hen Harrier and a few bits from last week

 

He caught a vole before flying into roost

Beautiful 'Paperwhite' daffodils. Need more bulbs for a huge clump of these next year. They are lovely.

A good number of Whooper Swans in the local fields

1000's of winter thrushes dropping into the trees in the fog. Will walk here again when it clears

And here is Simon with Araya and Dottie xx

A few from last week

 

Song Thrush enjoying the autumn sun

Our local postbox looks brilliant for Poppy Day. Brilliant crocheting, fantastic details. Thank you.

Tom brought van loads of wood home, it was too good to saw it up for firewood so Simon made another raised bed in part of the garden that was never really used. A new bed for onions and tomatoes next year. It looks fantastic but will look even better when next door gets a new fence !

Pied Wagtail

Continental Blackbirds

Our lovely Araya, 7 months old now, never stops chatting and exploring, learning every day. And she is absolutely beautiful xx

Our beautiful grand daughter, Araya

 

She is simply beautiful xxxxx

The garden centre trip was just too much !

I seem to have an extra chin in my old age and I look more and more like my mum every day !!

Lucy, Dottie and Araya xx 

A trip to Brigg Garden Centre never disappoints, although it was a Christmas takeover !

Even Dottie enjoys herself, but afraid she did disgrace herself with a crafty pee up a Christmas tree 😀

Araya watching the singing and dancing polar bears....not too sure if that's a look of terror on her face !

No trip to Brigg Garden Centre is complete without a visit to the cafe which serves up some lovely home made food. It was absolutely packed but we were heading for the dog cafe, plenty of tables here. Tea and a scone.....just look at the size of them and they were delicious. A crafty lick of cream for both Araya and Dottie, who was keeping a watch under the table for any fallen crumbs ! A lovely trip out xx

Bits and bobs from last week

 

I take this photo many times each and every year, throughout the seasons and I love it !

Our winter heating this year. We are totally organised for this winter for the first time ever. We bought a pallet of coal before the massive price increase (and its gone up and up again to a  ridiculous price!). I know we are eco warriors and feel so guilty burning coal but we do have an open fire and no way are we prepared to pay the astronomical price of gas. So we collect logs which are free and pine cones to start the fire. The fire heats our downstairs rooms that we use daily (living room and large kitchen / diner) and the heat goes into the bedroom above, taking the chill off.  Feel sorry for the people who don't have this option. We actually have 3 fireplaces in the house, all original 1930's. Only one is opened up, used and swept each year and we love it. Lets see how we go. 

Tom always buys Simon whisky for birthdays and Christmas.......always a different one, and they say that this one was delicious x

Always check your buckets !  We have many, many frogs in the garden but this is our first toad. Put in the back border for safety.

Stonechats

Pink footed geese have arrived in the Humber by the thousands

Fly Agaric

Puffball

Chicken of the Woods

Lucy reading the stories, Araya is mesmerised and even the dog, Dottie, is joining in. Lovely to see Emily Jane and her son, Ralph. Lucy and Emily Jane are old shipmates that danced around the world together for years xx

A few recent bits and bobs

 

Our walk in the local forest this morning with lots of beautiful autumn colours

Tomatoes from the garden - a massive harvest every morning !

Spuds and carrots - can't beat home grown veg

Simon putting a lovely bunch of flowers together for Lucy, all from the garden, stunning !

What happened to your ear Peter Rabbit xx

The last of the plums from our tree, plum crumble and custard for tea xx 

We live like kings at harvest time !

Spot the cat !  Pixi is constantly with us when we are in the garden......hiding away !

She just cant quite keep both eyes open !

A moorhen up a tree x

Our local post box. Thank you to the lady that crochets these, they are absolutely fabulous xx

Our first fungus of the autumn, turkey tails.

Flapjack is one of my favourite recipes. Two different recipes here but have to say that Mary's recipe was the nicest......with added cranberries ! Delicious, and every bit eaten.....but we did take a plateful to Lucy's so no, we didn't eat this lot ! 

Simon has grown sweetcorn for the first time this year and it has been a resounding success. We have had a cob for every meal ! Lovely xx

Lots of chillis now on ready for ripening. Tom is a massive chilli fan.....the hotter the better !

and the beautiful Araya xxxxxxxx