Shagrat's Attic

Lavender Biscuits & Lavender Sugar

2011-12-28T14:41:00.008Z

For the lavender sugar just mix 1kg/2lb 4 oz caster sugar with two teaspoons of lavender flowers. I didn't have a jar big enough so I halved the ingredients and put them into this Kilner jar, the lavender infused sugar should keep well for up to six months. Next year instead of buying culinary lavender flowers I want to try to harvest them from home-grown plants.

Lavender Shortbread

Ingredients

125g/4oz butter

55g/2oz lavender infused caster sugar

180g/6oz plain flour

Icing sugar/optional... I just used caster sugar

Set oven to 190/375f/gas 5

Beat the butter and sugar together until smooth

Stir in the flour to get a smooth paste. Then roll out the paste to 1cm/half inch thick

Cut to any type of shape you like sprinkle with icing sugar and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.

Bake in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes or until pale golden brown

Set aside to cool on a wire rack

Mine came out slightly too golden so I would start having a peak in the oven after 10 minutes if you like them the colour of the shop bought stuff. These tasted even better the next day. What I liked about the recipe was the minimal amount of ingredients needed to produce something so scrummy.

Recipe adapted from bbc.co.uk/food

Culinary Lavender from Cotswold Lavender 3.99 for 100ml jar... Expensive for a small amount but if you make the Lavender sugar then it will go a long way. Nice product.

And The Winner Is?

2011-09-25T13:14:00.009+01:00

Congratulations go to Trish from Life As I See It... you guessed correctly. Doogy was the toy Harry found in the park. Email me your address and I will send the bird box off to you. Was it the scruffiness that made you pick it?

Also congratulations to Matron at Down On The Allotment, Lioney was the most vigorously ruffed up toy by far.... I had to strategically photograph him so you could not see the holes where the stuffing was coming out. Consolation prize consisting of two knitted mice goes to you. These two cute colourful critters were made by Linda at Shabby Tiger, Handmade.

Thanks to everyone who took the time out to enter my little competition. Cheers

Shagrat's First Giveaway competition

2011-09-20T06:00:00.006+01:00

Which one of these toys did Harry find in the park? Remember the rules, 1 guess only and you can't choose the same toy as someone else. See previous post for rules and prize info.

1. Piggy

2. Snaky

3. Monstar

4. Liony

5. Dumdum

6. Dino

7. Doogy

8. Foofer

9. Bally Wally

10. Bottle

Shagrat's First Ever Giveaway

2011-09-18T08:44:00.009+01:00

Tuesday 20th of September would have been Harry Labs Twelfth birthday so I'd like to mark this day by hosting a giveway to honour and celebrate his life..... and to thank some of my regular followers for their support.

Harry in his element indulging his favourite outdoor pursuits, collecting sticks and getting wet.

At home Harry was no different he loved playing with his vast array of toys, of course he did grow bored of some of them over time accumulating a large toy graveyard but Harry definitely had a few firm favourites... One particular longtime favourite was a toy he found himself in the park whilst walking with my dad, of course Harry didn't leave it behind....

Now here are the rules to win the giveaway prize. On Tuesday I will upload ten pictures of some of his favourite toys with a number and a name, all you have to do is guess which one Harry found under a bush and brought home to add to his stash.

Remember that once a toy has been chosen by a blogger you cannot pick the same one so it is vital you look back at what others have chosen. Just leave a comment with the number and name of the toy. Once all the toys have been picked I will announce the winner, now I don't get lots of traffic on here so if I'm struggling to get all ten toys picked you might have to help me out by spreading the word around. The competition is open to all regardless of location and you don't need to be a follower.

Here is the prize on offer a colourful bird box, I was going to giveaway something doggy but then not everyone has a dog. Most bloggers like birds don't they? The only stipulation is... if you win it please report back with pictures and a few words if you are lucky enough to get a lodger. I might do a very small consolation prize for the person who chooses the toy that Harry relentlessly roughed up over the years;-)

Goodluck to you all.... Remember pictures uploaded on Tuesday 20th.

P.S Goodluck Phil Rob and Karl running the Great North Run for Help The Hospices Today. Have a great day chaps....

Rose Petal Jam

2011-08-02T20:01:00.003+01:00

Recipe from that handy pocket sized book Food For Free: Wild dog Rose petals, caster sugar, water, lemon and orange juice and that's just about it... Will have a tasting when Iv'e made some scones and bought some clotted cream.

Many Tears Animal Rescue (MTAR)

2011-07-16T12:52:00.005+01:00

I've just started collecting used postage stamps for Many Tears Animal Rescue based in South Wales, here they take in and re-home primarily ex-breeding dogs who are no longer required; those on "death row" in the pounds and those whose owners are no longer able to keep them. MTAR also have many foster homes set up all over the country. Collecting used stamps is a simple and easy way to help raise much needed funds for the rescue. If anyone wants to help can you email me for my address and I will send them on for you or you can acquire the co-ordinators address from the website www.manytears.co.uk. If you have the time take a look around the website as there are a number of different ingenious ways you can help especially if you like knitting;-).

Here is a photo of how the stamps should be collected with a half inch border around the stamp. Please don't peel or steam the stamps off the envelope as they are worth less this way especially if they are damaged. UK stamps are good but foreign stamps are worth more.......

Wildlife At The Tranquil Otter

2011-06-18T09:21:00.008+01:00

With key in hand Phil and myself set out to locate the Tranquil Otters bird hide somewhere along the perimeter of the Lough. It was quite a nice snug little place, with leather settee, chairs,binoculars and a visitor book. I like this photo of Phil coming over all twittery;-D.

Now in order to see stuff you probably have to hang around for quite a while and be prepared to visit at key times of the day. It was suggested dawn for the kingfisher so of course we

didn't see them. We did spot what looked like a kingfisher perch and a little twiggy nest in the water.

Think this may be a coot? One was sitting on the nest then climbed off swam into the reeds and like clockwork another swam over to sit on the nest. What great parents

He's behind you Phil......

Finally Phil got a great shot of the male chaffinch

The Tranquil Otter

2011-06-12T16:51:00.017+01:00

Just over two months ago I decided to book a short break to the Tranquil Otter, it being a favourite place with Harry Lab and my brother Michael. Last time Harry went to the Tranquil Otter with my parents and Mick, to my utter astonishment Harry sulked the whole day when he came back to us a week later. Blimey I thought it must be good. As you can see its pretty special...

Little more than a couple of days after booking the holiday Harry unexpectedly fell ill again with his arthritic joints, sadly a return to this quiet idyll was not to be. We nearly didn't come, it was a effort to get motivated enough to pack our stuff. In the end we decided it better to come and try to relax than mope about our home which was now so quiet a place.

Upon arriving at the Tranquil Otter lodge we immediately felt at ease, I hadn't finished looking around the place when Phil decided to get his shorts on and jumped into the hot tub.

Our own little boat....

It probably took half an hour to walk around the perimeter of lake Lough which we did every day about eight o-clock, this is the view across the lake with our lodge in the distance.

The owners of the Tranquil Otter wrote in the information booklet that their own dog Leah might pay us a visit from time to time. Here's our Mick fussing Leah.

With bird feeders in place did we see any wildlife other than Leah? Well here's a clue....

Crikey it feels like a gold fish bowl with these pesky patio door peckers, more next time.

Harry 20.09.1999 - 31.05.2011

2011-06-10T14:44:00.005+01:00

I wasn't going to write this blog because the emotional parting from my beautiful, gentle and faithful companion Harry Labrador has been so painful and personal to Phil and myself... Even as the days go by it is difficult to speak about him without getting upset. All Harry's extended family my brother mum and dad feel the hole that he has left in our lives. However it feels.... not right at all for me to continue to blog until I acknowledge, if only to myself that he is gone. This portrait picture is one of my favourites and was used on my very first blog where I spoke of my great love for him.

Black Pearl Chilli

2011-05-22T13:22:00.003+01:00

Black Pearl Chilli, wow its a bit of a looker with its vibrant purple flowers and glossy dark green to black leaves. Definitely one of my all time favourite plants sown from seed....

Dandelion Wine

2011-04-29T09:16:00.007+01:00

Yarrow at Oakmoon studio posted a recipe for Dandelion wine which I couldn't resist making once I'd seen it. Those who read my blog will know that I've made sloe gin, elderberry and blackberry wine before, so far elderflower champagne comes top as the best tipple. Once the idea was in my head that was it .... The next day I went to a field near where I work with bucket in hand to pick 4/5 pints worth, pretty easy really as these weedy plants are so abundant. Picking the green bits off once I got them home was another matter it took me about an hour and a half and I ended up with very orange sticky fingers;-(. As you can see the juice is quite orange resembling wee wee a bit. By the way I can confirm its a myth about the bed wetting

Cherry Blossom

2011-04-21T20:16:00.003+01:00

The cherry tree in my front garden is in full bloom at the moment but it is only a fleeting Barbara Cartland bonanza before my postage stamp lawn becomes a sumptuous pink carpet. People have commented that the blossom seems abundant this year but perhaps its just down to the mild stillness of the weather, not windy at all and remember last year at this time I'm sure the lawn was frosted even a foot deep in snow....

Progress On The Allotment

2011-04-16T13:41:00.020+01:00

I'm really chuffed ......Well done Dave and Phil the new 12 foot greenhouse is looking pretty damn good. All THEY... need to do now :-), is the guttering for the waterbutt a couple of block for the front steps and fill two beds with qood quality soil. Lucky me... Now the lads have shed blood sweat and tears over its construction I'll get the opportunity to bed in a few of my favorite plants..... Ya can't have too many chilli plants can you. I planted Black Pearl back in February the seeds cost three quid for six seeds a tad expensive, but if all germinate suppose its not too bad. All six did come up but only three were what I'd call 'vigorous'..... unfortunately the other three plants are still tiny in comparison. This chilli plant looks really attractive even at this early stage with its dark green to black foliage, apparently the spherical chilli peppers turn black to red. The added bonus of course is that you can scoff em. Gotta go just spotted out of the corner of my eye the little mofo responsible for the absence of my peas.

Hello Whats This

2011-04-09T10:04:00.003+01:00

Spotted this cute little creation in front of the old Yew tree as I walked back out of the nature garden at Pleasington. Funny thing is though, I must have walked right passed him on the way in. Must remember to switch my nature sense on in future. I wonder how long he will last?

Dissolution

2011-02-12T22:49:00.002Z

Worth a read.

Bishops Kiss

2011-01-30T13:12:00.006Z

A big thankyou to Sarah at (Down On The Allotment) for taking the time to send me these cool chilli seeds Bishops Kiss. I'm going to sow them today, fingers crossed they germinate successfully. I've already sown Black Pearl chilli seeds last week not cheap at 3 quid for six seeds and if they make it I'll repay Sarah by sending her some seeds later in the year.

BTW I love.... Buddy he's 'nearly' as handsome as Harry my black lab.

Update: Sad news, Buddy passed away on the 7th of Feb (my birthday). Sarah's tribute picture of them together after Buddy won top prize in a 007 contest radiates their great friendship.

The Moor

2011-01-14T22:19:00.004Z

A short walk up Great Hill off Belmont road to dust off last years cobwebs. Zooming in across Roddlesworth towards Darwen Tower which lost its top during stormy weather in December. The final shot shows my partner Phil.... looking erm dare I say a bit grumpy.

Shy Robin

2010-12-18T14:37:00.003Z

Our garden robin is totally fearless, attacking most of the birds who dare wander onto his territory. He's a bit shy with us humans though

5-1 For A White Christmas

2010-11-18T19:08:00.005Z

Pictures of Bunkers Hill taken from my back bedroom over the christmas period last year. It seems some parts of Britain may see some snow as early as next week... Hope we don't though, not until Iv'e finished work on the 17th of December then it can do what it likes...

Allotment Doggy Antics at number 8

2010-10-27T20:40:00.005+01:00

I want to thank my friend Bev's mum and dad (Dave and Janet) for giving me a chance to help out on their new allotment at feniscowles, as you can see it's a cracking little plot. Full of potential as they say. The only downside is that we all have dogs with quirky mischievious tendancies. Meg the little Patterdale terrier belonging to Janet and Dave is a none stop apple hustler, she just has to round them all up fresh or rotten for you to throw. My dog Harry on the other hand is a well seasoned potato rustler he can't stop nicking them from my potato bag at home. Bev also has a terrier called Archie, whose a bit of a carrot muncher, he'll definately give those carrot flies a run for their money and he loves..... digging. Bev's other dog Kenny (a rescue) is the dark horse in the pack, we don't yet know what he's likely to get up to down on the plot. The good news is that only one dog is allowed down at one time. (Phew) you could imagine the carnage...

Runswick Bay

2010-10-17T12:53:00.010+01:00

It doesn't take much to put a smile on Harrys face, sticks and beaches seem to do the trick each time. It was our first trip to Runswick bay and like most bays in this area tricky to get down to because of the steep gradient. There was a small public carpark at the bottom, a bit pricey at three quid for three hours, alright if you were staying the full 3 hours of course but we were a bit limited because of Harry's dodgy elbow joint. It turned out to be more of a whistlestop tour really. I'd like to have stayed longer because it was lovely and secluded, the beach renowned for fossils, not that we found any.

Sloe Gin All Done

2010-10-16T12:29:00.004+01:00

Just before I went away for a short break in North Yorkshire I managed to bottle up the sloe berries that were in my freezer. Just half fill a litre Kilner jar with the sloes, quarter fill with sugar, then fill to the top with gin. If you don't get enough sloes just use a smaller jar using the same method. You can use brandy or vodka too, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall prefers using vodka to gin because he says its the best way to enjoy the pure flavour of the sloe berries. Gin of course will mask the flavour to some extent because of the juniper content. Don't forget to prick the sloes with a pin to make sure you get as much of the juice and colour into the gin. Store in a dark place for a minimum of 2 or 3 months. Its probably a good idea to strain the juice through a muslin cloth to get rid of any bits of berry flesh that are floating in the gin.

One Day

2010-10-02T08:44:00.006+01:00

One day all of this will be mine....well a small plot on this allotment site to be precise. Phil and I decided to walk back home along the canal having dropped the car at the garage for its annual mot. We passed by what remained of the old Albion mill on the left and the bowling green on the right. Im sure my grandad Cyril must have played a match or two here at one time. Sadly the bowling greens he played on at Queens park have long since gone, the pavillion having been burned down by vandals. As I passed by Feniscowles allotment I had a quick peek over the fence wondering which plot would eventually be mine. It's probably still a distant dream as the waiting lists are very long... Still, there's always the foraging to fall back on, the sloes are already in the freezer waiting to be soaked in a litre of gin.

Badminton Season Here Again (2010-11)

2010-09-27T18:32:00.008+01:00

Hehe look at these two sweaty Betty's, our number 1 pairing Karen and Mick. Last year A team Abacus was promoted to the first division for the first time and the B team to the second. Unfortunately Mick who was so looking forward to the challenge was diagnosed with a unexpected illness and will miss out for the next year at least. All the team miss you loads and wish you a speedy recovery after your op. Tonight's first game against Halsteads will be no easy ride but we should do ok, fingers crossed. A bored Andy at pre season practice wondering what it would be like to have long locks

Wildflowers and the river Darwen

2010-09-12T12:00:00.014+01:00

These are just a few wildflower pics that I've gathered in my photo files over the last few months. Most have been spotted whilst walking through Witton park and Pleasington nature reserve, one of the paths leads you to this railway bridge which is built over the river Darwen. The Darwen rises on the moors between Bolton and Darwen at a spot called Cranberry Moss, (Freethy 1988 p.133), bet there aren't any cranberries now. I never been there but would like to go check it out sometime. Years ago this was a vibrant clean river with brown trout, salmon and otter, sadly the old textile industries used it as a dumping ground for dyes heavily polluting the waters and surrounding land. The Fielden family who were very influential and wealthy lived alongside the river indeed they once owned Witton park in 1742. William Fielden decided to move away to Scarborough but could not sell their grand house on the banks of the river Darwen. Unfortunately his decision to sue the Board of Health over the severe pollution was unsuccessful. It subsequently fell into ruin and is still there to see today. I've tried to climb down to the ruin to take a photo of this once beautiful property but it is really boggy and there is still a lot of dumped garbage down there which makes it quite treacherous under foot. Information from the River Ribble by (Dr Ron Freethy 1988).

This lovely flower is the marsh cinquefoil: Gaelic name Coig- bhileach usige or Marsh five finger and is related to the wild strawberry. I think there is a discernible resemblance

Sneezewort what a great name

Yarrow: Achillea Millefolium also known as "devils nettle" or "devils plaything". Love all the folklore surrounding herbs and wildflowers. Apparently yarrow was dedicated to Satan and widely used in charms and spells. Supposedly Druids used the plant to ward off evil spirits

A type of cranesbill, common here in Pleasington but such a nice simple flower. Love the colour on this.

Birthday Boy

2010-09-08T07:21:00.002+01:00

Happy birthday Mick... Last last last last Lambs;-)

Funghi And Harry

2010-08-30T14:45:00.005+01:00

Today started really bright with blue skies but quickly clouded over. Yesterday it was the opposite cloudy then blue skies. Phil refused to let me take the camera out with us yesterday until... he said, you've sorted out all those photos there's over three hundred on ere. Typically a photo opportunity of a kestrel hovering was missed grrrr, it was so close to us and wasn't bothered a jot that we were gaping over at in in wonder. It swooped down and pounced on the ground although I didn't see anything in its claws when it moved off. We went back today but there was no sign of him. Got this pic though of the unusual white mushy with the grey gills I suppose it will have to do. The other mushrooms pic were taken a couple of weeks ago.

Green

2010-08-28T14:53:00.008+01:00

Green has got to be my favorite colour and was loved by my grandma Doris too. She had more slippers, scarves, bags and shoes in this colour than you could shake a stick at. I think green is so... refreshingly cool, tranquil and relaxing. That's part of the reason why Harry and I like it so much in Pleasington woods or any forest come to that.

Poirot The New Kit On The Block

2010-08-21T14:55:00.002+01:00

This guy lives a couple of doors down from me along with about 5 other older cats. He's a bit of an adventurer already climbing trees like a regular monkey. He's a keen birder but I don't think he's caught anything yet. Can you guess why I called him Poirot?

Sunny Side up

2010-08-20T19:06:00.008+01:00

No sun whatsoever down our neck of the woods but who cares when the flowers glow as radiant as these fellows. Not exactly sure what they are.... perhaps leopardsbane, perhaps not...

Well enjoy your weekend fellow bloggers, I'm off to make pizza, have a glass of the vino calapso and watch Gardeners World. Heavenly;-)

Amber Nectar seekers

2010-08-14T12:51:00.004+01:00

Speckled Wood

Small tortoiseshells

Mojo

2010-08-07T15:35:00.004+01:00

Harry gradually getting his mojo back after a really bad flare up of his elbow dysplacia. I know he won't be here forever but the time we do share has become even more special if that can be possible. It's really hard to contemplate life without him but I have to respect the fact that my lovely big fella is knocking on a bit and a time may come when I have to make a decision for the right reasons and not for my own selfish wants. This record by Goldfrapp reminds me of the bitter sweet nature of owning a dog. Nature always takes it's course despite human intervention and what we might desire. To feel pain is part and parcel of being human

Sloe Gin

2010-08-07T12:59:00.004+01:00

Lots of other people seem to be making sloe gin these days but where are all these sloes to be found? The other week I came across this bush which was covered in bloom covered purple berries, could these be what I'm looking for? Even after looking on the net I'm not convinced that they are what I want them to be. Those in the know say that the berries contain a stone and very little flesh. These berries do indeed have a stone inside, so can anybody confirm whether this is a sloe. Still there's lots of time to make my mind up because the best time to pick the berries are after the first frost.

Snakes Without Shells

2010-07-31T14:05:00.009+01:00

Back garden

I've worked in an optical lab in Blackburn for nearly twenty five years now, much of the time I'm on the phone to Swedish franchise holders answering queries. Most of the people in the shops can speak really good English so there arn't many problems. After asking me about the despatch times for a couple of his patients glasses, Bjorn from Sveavagen Sweden moved to some polite small talk.. He said...

You know.... It's like dis, (It's not a spelling mistake I'm trying to capture his Swedish lilt ;-) )

Are you troubled by dose ah... er... snails

No!!...Not snails....

What do you call them... Dose Dose...

"Snakes without shells"

(priceless)

You,ve got to laugh. To be fair I can't speak a word of Swedish so hats off to him.

at the front door

I think the pictures speak for themselves... So Bjorn's ravaged allotment is not alone. According to this months Gardeners world issue Slugs are the number 1 gardeners pest. My outside chilly plants have been scoffed to bits by the little blighters... Unfortunately the garden has the perfect housing for em, dry stone walls, I swear every crevice has a lodger...

But this is not the end of the story, help literally is at hand, we have froggies!!!. Lots of froggies. See also our Mick's blog over at Badylynge

PS: No slugs have been hurt as a consequence, i don't believe in pellets, beer drownings or squishing of any kind, although I have been known to take them for a long walk... All creatures have a place.

Harry

2010-07-21T16:21:00.006+01:00

Carlsberg dont do dogs....................

Tea For Two

2010-07-17T14:21:00.010+01:00

Follow the noise of Bees to get to know the best places for tea, that's what I did. Passing under the heavily laden branches of a enormous tree I heard what sounded like a thousand bees above my head. Looking up I not only saw but smelt the fragrance of honey wafting from an abundance of yellow tree blossom. Apparently lime tree blossom makes amazing tea so I've got a few bunches drying in my airing cupboard to do a taste test in a few weeks. Mint and lemon balm also make excellent infusions.

Mint tea

Pond Reflections

2010-07-10T13:38:00.001+01:00

Elderflower Champagne

2010-07-03T17:24:00.011+01:00

I was determined not to let this year pass without making use of the Elder Flower, last year the Elderberry wine went down a treat, so much so that only one bottle remains. Albeit 3/4's. The word is that the elderberry wine tastes so much better if you allow it to mature;-) Fat chance.....

Well I did have a go at Elderflower champagne and the process was... as the Meercat says 'simples'.

16 flower heads
4 lemons, rind and juice
700g sugar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
4 litres hot water
2 litres cold water
1 sachet of champagne yeast (not in Hugh's recipe), this is an optional extra as the flowers have natural yeast.

Recipe by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Warning: Be carefull after the bottling up process as the brew can explode with the build up of gas.-

Fractal sky

2010-07-01T22:16:00.003+01:00

Fantasy World

2010-06-24T21:43:00.003+01:00

One Eared Willy

2010-06-19T14:02:00.011+01:00

Face of the Week

Sometimes when me and Harry go to the woods just off Bunkers Hill we bump into one eared willy, (not his real name), he doesn't give any ground so needless to say we carefully retrace our steps and find another path. Bet he's not so rufty tufty really but you can't be too careful;-).

Red White And Blue

2010-06-15T20:05:00.011+01:00

This daisy pic might get the thumbs down from Chris Packham due to the unsightly skewed petal but I think it's ok as it is. Although, confession time here.... I did poke the petal down and take another but on reflection preferred imperfection.

ID Parade

2010-06-12T07:37:00.010+01:00

This unusual little chicken was wandering about on his own in the early hours. He could be a French Houdan?

Without seeing more of the upper body feathers I cant tell whether this is a song thrush or mistle thrush.

Mini Beasts

2010-06-05T14:33:00.004+01:00

Tawny Owl

2010-05-29T13:27:00.007+01:00

My first unexpected early morning encounter with this cool looking Tawny Owl totally made my day.... A simple priceless magic moment. Hope you like him too.

Face of the week

Advocado Plant

2010-05-26T19:38:00.004+01:00

It took me nearly six or seven weeks to get this advocado pit to sprout a root in water then several more to see the first shoot appear after planting the pit in soil It's very unlikely that this plant will ever produce any fruit due to Englands colder climate but the other day I thought a day out in the sun wouldn't do any harm. How wrong could I be, as you can see some low ass loved up creepy crawly has disfigured one of the leaves with two perfect heart shapes. Grrrr

Nuthatch

2010-05-15T13:29:00.036+01:00

Unfortunately the nuthatches that visited my feeding station last year are strangely absent, maybe they just found a better hostess. I hope so better that reason than thinking they did not make it through the long winter. However this nuthatch was enjoying his nuts in the Victorian garden in Pleasington.
The small pond could do with a refill but there's still enough water for a reflection of the surrounding trees and Harry my black lab.

Btw that's Phil in the background. Hiding behind the rushes are these colourful marsh marigolds.

At the back of the garden the Wildlife Trust people are doing a bit of excavation work, looks like they unearthed a bit of cherub pottery along with some other less interesting bits and pieces.

Poppy Love

2010-05-15T07:42:00.005+01:00

The first poppy of this year has just sprung up, and as you can see it has that princess Diana wedding dress look. Ever so crumpled but nice.

Woodland Revisited

2010-05-09T15:26:00.020+01:00

Lovely cool fresh morning in the woods today, followed by blue skies.

Amongst the leafy foliage on the woodland floor emerged this rather dapper looking seed grass, all the while I thought bluebells would emerge. Just goes to show how little I know.

Who Is This Guy?

2010-05-03T13:11:00.004+01:00

Saw this guy in the woods the other day and am having a problem identifying him. Can anyone help?

Pleasington Old Hall Wood Nature Reserve

2010-05-02T15:44:00.015+01:00

There are a fabulous amount of woodland flowers on show at the moment, some I can put names to, others are a complete mystery. At top is a common favorite, as kids we called the dandelion clock the sugar stealer, without doubt one of natures best wind dispersal systems.
Cowslip I expected to see but this lonesome snakeshead was a surprise.

Can anyone put a name to the white flower with the yellow balls? The two main flowers in the picture look like they've been on the lash and are staggering back to the wood. Look how he's got his arm (stem) round the other for support;-)

Daddy Loves Froggy

2010-05-01T13:19:00.003+01:00

Saw my first Bluebell of the year then out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of this little frog amongst the spotted leaves and moss.

Inquisitive Birds

2010-04-25T08:27:00.018+01:00

Years ago my mum, dad, brother Mick, aunt, uncle, and two cousins would go through Marles Wood to the river Ribble for a day's fishing, the weather always seemed much better and prolonged in those days. Must remember to have a look at those old seventies pictures, so funny with my dad sporting a big tash and flares. Anyway last week Phil and I went to Ribchester to check it out, it's still unspoilt and a great place to take Harry for a swim. Yesterday Harry came with us and had a ball in the water with his much loved sticks.
On the way back spotted what I think is a Sparrow, (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), we were both checking each other out. It's not fantastic but its the best I've done so far and I was really pleased with it. Later in the day the cheeky robin came for a look at what I was doing in the garden, he was not amused that there was a piece of wood on his feeding station.

Wallaby

2010-04-24T13:31:00.010+01:00

Although Phil and I had visited Rivington Pike several times we didn't know that there were lovely scenic walks around the reservoirs. On our first trip along the waters we spotted two Wallaby's with some chickens, not what you would expect to see in a back garden in Lancashire. Now I can think of many reasons to keep chickens but a Wallaby.... hmmm. When I googled wallaby and Rivington there was a story about a startled lorry driver who had reported a kangeroo bounding down the road at Horwich near Rivington , guess this little guy must be an escape artist too.

Muscovy Duck

2010-04-17T07:33:00.011+01:00

Don't know a lot about these little critters as I've never come acoss them before. Apparently Muscovy ducks are quite intelligent, have a fairy good nature, and don't quack, (a blessing some may say), males hiss and the females sort of coo. Just look at those taloned webs, wonder what they use those for?

Bay Tree Dilemma

2010-04-16T19:48:00.005+01:00

Looks like my Lovely container grown Bay tree has got the dreaded lurgy but I don't have a clue what it is. As you can see the leaves are very spotted and have started to turn yellow. Bay tree leaves are usually very dark green when they are in a healthy state. My Bay tree suffered from scale last year but I seemed to have eradicated the little horrors by wiping them off with a soapy solution. One of my concerns is that my Bay tree is not getting enough nutrients by being planted in a pot and is becoming susceptible to viruses. However I'm unsure whether it would be a good idea to plant the Bay straight into the garden, especially in its current condition. If anyone has any idea please could you let me know.

Mr Toad

2010-04-10T15:16:00.002+01:00

Red Sky At Night

2010-04-08T20:32:00.008+01:00

Enjoyed taking Harry through the woods near Bunkers Hill tonight as the weather seemed really mild. The Gorse bushes were abundant with coconut scented yellow flowers, if I can collect enough without stabbing myself to death I'll have a go at making Gorse wine. Just before Christmas I made Elderberry wine which was foraged from the same field. Sadly only three quarters of a bottle remain out of the six pints originally made;-(. The tannins in Elderberry wine are supposed to mellow out over time producing a far superior taste. Ah well.

Glamour Pussycat

2010-04-03T17:48:00.005+01:00

Thankyou Glamour Pussycat, (aka Anne from accounts) for the lovely Hellebore you gave me last week. Can't believe she's sixty next year, must be the good genes. I've planted the Hellebore beside my homemade birdbath, which as you can see is still a work in progress;-). Anne informed me that this young plant is likely to flower next year, so the first picture shows you what a beauty this plant is likely to become if I take good care of it.

Donkeys And Daffodils

2010-03-27T13:00:00.016Z

Better late than never

Lovely blue skies

Little brown Donkey scratching his rump.

Rhubarb and Custard

2010-03-20T13:48:00.001Z

These two cheeky charmers look like they've put a big dent in the Brylcreem pot. Crazily they remind me of the birds in the cartoon series Rhubarb and Custard.

Lazy Days

2010-03-19T19:40:00.021Z

Got up nice and early this morning and had my usual cup of tea in my chair beside the patio door. It feels even better when you know there's no work today, Phil and I have both booked a personal day to enjoy a long relaxing weekend. As we've not been to the beach since before christmas we decided to go to Southport, Harry loves it, if you dont believe me go to my brothers blog site Badelynge to see him with his very sandy Mr Mannering tash.What a lovely day we had even though it was a bit on the breezy side. The sand was more muddy than usual, so Harry this time looked like he was sporting four brown pop socks :-). Damn should have took a piccy of it although I did get a sneaky quick video of Phil swilling the mud off them both. When we got home the crocuses albeit the two of them shone golden from beneath the cherry tree. Later from the kitchen window I saw my first bee, my first Wren of the year (ahhh) and was entertained by a daft little long tailed tit who had decided to give the edges of my kitchen window a good de-bugging.

Harry has sticks

2010-03-14T00:14:00.005Z

"It's in the trees... It's coming!"
He's the best there is at what he does. Ideal for camping. Automatic firewood collection mode is included as standard with all deluxe Harry models. Free voice activated face washer with every purchase. Simply say the word "KISSY" followed by the required target's name for best results.

Lawnmower Sheep

2010-03-06T11:42:00.000Z

Phil and I came across a large herd of sheep on our usual Saturday morning stroll through Pleasington Cemetary and woods. What do you think? Escapologist sheep or new cost effective grounds maintenance policy?

Collared Dove

2010-02-27T13:17:00.001Z

Spring Is In The Air

2010-02-21T13:36:00.006Z

Phil and I started visiting Pleasington Wood during the Autumn months of 2009 and every visit brings new and unexpected finds. Spring and summer are yet to come so I'm looking forward to whats ahead. I think there's a certain satisfaction in being aware of whats actually growing around you even if you can't identify everything on the spot. The Velvet Shank and Jews ear are two types of mushroom that we've never come across before but enjoyed identifying later.. The little green leafed plant is a cutting taken from a big mop white Hydrangea on our travels through the woods, looks like its taken;-). The top picture shows a climbing shrub, this plant has looked the same for several months now and I cant wait to see this lovely plant in full bloom. The name of this plant alludes me, I don't even know what colour the petals will be. It could be a smaller flowering Hydrangea, I'll just have to wait and see. Instant gratification has its merits but some things are worth waiting for ar'nt they. These parrot tulip (Madonna) bulbs were planted in the ole tin bucket back in November, it will be at least another month and a half before they come into bloom. My grandad always said not to wish your life away, I don't intend to .... living and enjoying the moment is for me.

Woodland Roe Deer

2010-02-20T11:00:00.001Z

The Horse that Smiled

2010-02-13T14:29:00.001Z

So how do you get a horse to smile? Well that was easy.
So how do you get a horse to stop smiling?

Harry relaxation

2010-02-06T22:46:00.002Z

Jew's Ear

2010-02-04T12:19:00.021Z

Whilst out walking in Pleasington wood my partner Phil spotted these ear shaped gelatinous brackets. I'd been on the lookout recently for these apparently edible fungi but had failed to spot them myself. Phil told me the reason for passing them by was that I lacked the 'spider sense' something he had in abundance and enabled him to be in tune with nature;-). According to Richard Mabey's Food For Free guide to edible plants, (a highly useful pocket sized book given to me by my brother Mick), these make a really tasty Chinese- style soup. Watch this space I may give it a go, and then on second thoughts.....

Squirrel

2010-01-30T13:53:00.001Z

I'm sure I left a stash of nuts here. Where are they? I could do with some spectacles. Hang on, have I got some spectacles? Hmmm. If I do I wonder where I put them.

Can't find the nuts. Cant find them! Can't Find them!!! Can't find them!!!!!Okay. Calm down. Let's just think. What would mum say? "They're where you left them."

No. It's no good. Who's that lurking about over there. "Hello there. I'd just like to say. If you see any nuts around here. MINE!!!!"

A Spiders Work Is Never Done

2010-01-23T13:09:00.007Z

Even on cold, damp and misty mornings webs need sprucing up to help secure a tasty breakfast. When I first spotted this little white spider he was sneakily lurking on the other side of the leaf, then hid on the other side when he realised he'd been spotted.

Cayenne Chillies

2010-01-09T15:47:00.004Z

Being short of space, I don't have room for a greenhouse, so I tend to have lots of little pots on the windowsill. It drives Phil crazy especially come spring time as I love to grow stuff from seed. Anybody who knows me will tell you that I'm messy and unorganised, so you can imagine the carnage:-) This little Cayenne chilli pepper was grown from seed last year and is still flowering a treat. The flowers are so pretty and it's given a decent crop of chillies so far. I'm going to repot it with some fresh compost to see if I can keep it going for another year. Not having space means I have to be very selective about what I grow. This year I think I'll go for lots of different varieties of Sunflowers, Chillies, Foxgloves, Spuds, Lettuce, and a good selection of herbs. In all honesty I tend to stick to plants that benefit wildlife and are useful when cooking.

Sledging On The Wintery Hills Above Burnley

2010-01-03T18:21:00.001Z

This photo was sent today from an I Phone by a colleague of Phil's, a guy called Scott Carter. He just captured the moment, technology is a wonderful thing

Ragged Robin?

2010-01-03T15:46:00.003Z

This picture was taken back in October/Novemberish, I couldn't put a name to it until now. At first I thought it was a Red Campion but on reflection thought the petals on this flower were too ragged. After surfing a couple of woodland flower sites I stumbled on a flower called the Ragged Robin which is 'apt' and fits the bill better. It's not as unusual as Eileen's Pink Lady Slipper but is lovely all the same.

Elusive Pimpernels Of The Bird World

2010-01-01T22:00:00.011Z

Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)

These cute little long-tailed tits don't hang around for long, not like our resident Robin's which literally pose so you can get a whole album of shots.

New Years Eve Snack

2009-12-31T14:33:00.001Z

Chalk And Cheese

2009-12-30T18:25:00.004Z

These two uncomfortable bedfellows share our home. Harry the lab was planned and is now an old fellow at 10 years. 'Mofo' the cat came to us as a stray who decided he would move in. Harry hates cats and so Mofo has his own bedroom with a country view and never the 2 shall meet, Mofo gets the best of both worlds, a great area to live and a safe bed when he needs it

He's Back

2009-12-28T14:50:00.000Z

This little guy doesnt seem as puffed up here as on previous photos, looks like the frozen days arent delivering as much food as usual

Love Snow

2009-12-24T00:28:00.000Z

But not too much because I ain't picked up my turkey yet. Don't fancy the prospect of a long country hike.

Fat Pudding

2009-12-20T09:02:00.001Z

This frequent portly visitor to our garden doesn't seems to mind having his picture taken, although the porridge oats help a lot. Phil took these shots this morning, his first ever go at using our new Lumix camera.

Early Days

2009-12-19T17:53:00.003Z

These are the very first point/zoom and click pictures taken with the FZ38 camera, already I'm pleased with the results as try as I might I was never able to capture our cheeky robins's antic's in the back garden. The 18x zoom lens helps alot I guess.

These photo's were taken from the back bedroom window

The King Is Dead!

2009-12-19T16:27:00.002Z

Here we have the camera purchased today to replace the much loved Fuji. A panasonic FZ38, it has big shoes to fill, watch this space

Death Of An Icon

2009-12-13T15:09:00.004Z

Today we mourn the sad demise of this Fuji camera. It was bought 8 years ago and has taken some fantastic photos over the years. I was unfortunate enough to drop it this morning, snapping the lens off

Trimmed Up

2009-12-05T21:10:00.004Z

Just finished trimming up so now I can relax and put my feet up.

Message In A Bottle

2009-12-01T22:42:00.003Z

Watery Wednesday

About five months ago whilst walking our dog on the beach at Southport, Merseyside we spotted a lonely coke bottle sat in the sand which was stuffed with what looked like paper. On closer examination it turned out to be a true message in a bottle. The note had been written by a young Irish couple and had been tossed over the side of the Rosslare to Fishguard ferry.

Weather Vane

2009-11-28T19:41:00.001Z

Not the best quality shot but..... it's quirky.

Funghi Phil

2009-11-28T16:14:00.008Z

Two For The Price Of One

2009-11-20T19:10:00.001Z

My Favorite Christmas Card

2009-11-15T23:59:00.004Z

Seeing Crafty green poet's Christmas cards got me thinking that although I get many cards each year I don't ever recall receiving a handmade card from anyone. Ahhhh shame I hear you say;-) My mum on the other hand has received many from her friends and each Christmas gets them back out again with a big appreciative smile on her face. Handmade cards give you the feel good factor don't they. I once made a cross stitch card for the Morgan family up in Guisborough, it was a labour of love and took me ages to finish. It nearly didn't get sent as I'd grown quite attached to it in the end. However to cut a long story short here's my favourite Christmas card which was sent to me by my mum about three years ago, I've told her not to send me anymore because its nice enough to just dust off and enjoy all over again. As you can see I'm a bit of an old magpie when it comes to all things glittery and shiny.

OK, Who Took A Bite!!?

2009-11-13T15:29:00.001Z

Wet Fir (Watery Wednesday)

2009-11-10T18:33:00.003Z

Inspired by T Bruce's Rose.
Usually wet fur means Harry the Lab has been out walking or swimming but not on this occasion. Apologies if this turns out to be a pine or spruce tree :-)

An Autumn Stash

2009-11-07T15:48:00.003Z

Eat your heart out Vincent

2009-11-07T15:20:00.003Z

Okay so they ain't sunflowers, but pretty as a picture nonetheless.These little rays of sunshine really woke me up on a wet chilly morning stroll through Pleasington cemetery's nature reserve garden.

Subtle reflection of the house at Pleasington cemetery

2009-11-06T17:18:00.002Z

Time And Tide Wait For No Man

2009-11-03T20:19:00.013Z

The most frequent dreams I have tend to involve water, particularly heavy seas and tsunami experiences. On several different occasions I have dreamed of a beach location, the image of this place is etched in my mind. Id like to think the beach existed and is out there waiting for me to find it one day. Now I know what your thinking, really its not Sandsend :-)

Sandsend Row Reflections

2009-10-30T19:43:00.004Z

Dawlish Fairies

2009-10-28T21:21:00.015Z

These two lovely fairy pictures were bought during a family trip to Dawlish over twenty five years ago. Having decided to post them on my blog I sparked a long discussion between my Mum and brother Mick as to how old we were when we actually bought them. I think it was Michael who first got me interested in mythology and fantasy books. Not surprisingly, The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien comes top of my all time favorite reads.

Beautiful Autumn Colour Without A Sniff Of Fiery Red And Orange

2009-10-27T22:00:00.014Z

The flower that's climbing round the drain pipe and the daisy were snaps from the Raithwaite estate in Sandsend. The lovely white and yellow climber could be Solanum jasminoides 'Album' but i'm no expert on these matters.The evergreen Viburnum is planted just outside my front door and was a propagation success from my dad who seems to have the knack when it comes to getting new plants for free. The large showy mophead Hydrangea was spotted whilst taking a stroll through the local cemetery, I've not seen many of the white flowered variety in the surrounding area, mostly the colours tend to be blue, red, pink and purple. I think I've read somewhere that the colour depends on the PH of the soil.

Is a walk out of the question?

2009-10-25T13:43:00.000Z