Tuesday 3 November 2015

Of this and that since my last post

Hello All
I hope the fog is clearing for you. It seems like years since we had some proper fog!
 You may remember I took my Grandson to the airport on Friday so that he could visit his friend in Glasgow. He was supposed to fly back last night, but the flight was cancelled due to the fog. He should be back today fingers crossed, as he is back at work tomorrow.
What a change the weather has been from the weekend. David took this picture of one of our hives, just coming out, they are clearly collecting pollen from somewhere. I'll guess at ivy for the most part.

David also took this pic of part of the pyracanthus hedge that grows above our drystone wall at our road frontage. Weaver was saying that there were few hawthorn berries this year (same here) so these berries are particularly important for the birds.

I had this great plan to spend more time in the garden this weekend, but failed miserably. Here is another half hours worth of collecting. I'll share a recipe I made up from some of this veg in my next post.

We went to the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Discovery Days at Cromford on Saturday. On the way back we called in at our fiends' Tea Rooms at Holmesford Cottage. If you are anywhere near, the Tea Rooms are on the A6 between Whatsdandwell and Matlock Bath and definitely worth a visit. All sorts of teas and coffees to choose from, light lunches and cakes made by the manager or local women. (She also make retro dresses fitted to order for women - you know what they say "If you want something doing ask a busy woman")

Our youngest granddaughter stayed over on Sunday Night. We had a great day yesterday. We spent the morning peeling apples for the freezer, she LOVES peeling apples!. We then went shopping, to the bank to pay in Charlie, the rescued Lab's adoption fee -( Yes! it's official!!) took some books to the charity shops and chose three to bring back.
Back home again she set about making some snowmen from socks. We had seen it as a tutorial on facebook and it looked easy. Indeed it was. She is now thinking of variations on this theme, so we are looking for red and green socks now.
Here are her first efforts.


I'm expecting  a houseful today so need to go and clear some space.
Back Soon
Gillx
PS The Canadian visitors were really nice folk. It was interesting to get their view on world events and the like.

12 comments:

  1. Aren't bees just fascinating!? I could watch them all day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes they are great time waster! Mind you if you don't find time to watch them you will struggle to understand them.

      Delete
  2. Love the snowmen. Our pyracantha is loaded too and we have masses of hawthorn here but oddly the birds have disappeared from the garden at the moment. Your runners are amazing for November.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good aren't they?
      The gardens are amazing this year. I am picking more beans today . They are only just starting to go a little stringy.

      Delete
  3. Our bees were busy at the week end, I think they are feeding on the heather hopefully they will have plenty of stores to see them through the winter with the Indian summer we have been having, Congratulations on the adoption, and well done on the sock snowmen they are cute, would make great Christmas doorstops :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are unsure abut the stocks and need to have a bit of a peep in the hives I think.
      Good idea re the doorstops. She could use her grandad's bog socks couldn't she?

      Delete
  4. We have had busy bees here too.
    Without a dog at the moment, thinking about adopting a Lab/Retriever.
    Snowmen are fab! Maybe a few sparklies?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The gardens are keeping us busy as they haven't been put to ed yet have they?
      There are quite a few lab rescue charities. The one my daughter volunteers with is called Labradors in Need. They cover your area too and have a facebook page to visit if/when you think you are ready.
      Yes sparklies would be good.

      Delete
  5. Your produce is fantastic for this time of year. I hope I manage to extend my season next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With that in mind and of starting earlier too, have you got your early peas, broad beans, over wintering onions and garlic in yet? Neither have I! but will do so in the next few weeks.

      Delete
  6. Those snowmen are fantastic - give them ten out of ten from me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. These were done by the youngest granddaughter (aged 10) and require no sewing whatsoever. I shall try to link to the tutorial (though I'm not that computer savvy) Great project to keep the children interested.

      Delete