Castles, rainbows, fairies and boars

We often find that the first night in the van after a longish break isn't always the best of sleeps for us - but I think a combination of already being tired, lots of fresh air and plenty of miles that we both slept for about ten hours straight - unheard of! But most welcome indeed.

We awoke with little slips of light sneaking below the window shields - tiny slivers of sunlight inviting us to wake up. Himself is very good, he gets up first, puts the kettle on and while it is rumbling away, takes Moss out for a quick pre-breakfast piddle and back for her biscuits just in time before the kettle starts to whistle a piercing shriek. I on the other hand stay snugged up in bed until the steaming mug of tea is handed my way - bliss. This Sunday was no different and as I slurped my tea, I took a cellphone picture of Moss chomping on her breakfast.

We'd promised ourselves that after breakfast we'd return to Leyburn for a proper look at the Campbell's shop, plus a couple of others which had been closed. We popped into several interesting places and came away with some lovely gifts for upcoming birthdays. 

However we soon became 'hill starved' and returned to the van, sorted out lunch and walking nibbles then set off. Our start this time was Redmire - a small hamlet with a now volunteer run and owned railway station. We crossed the rusty tracks down into a bumbling clutch of cottages, small fields filled with friendly sheep, kids toys and the odd escaped hen (they should be penned due to Avian flu). Our path took us along an ancient track, sunken deep below the hedges, filled with mossy stones, violets and daffodils and ivy-clad trees.

There were glimpses of Bolton Castle through the gaps. The castle has such a presence and seems to be visible from most of the valley, a lot of which is part of the castle's lands and unusually is still in private ownership rather than a trust and seems to have a vibrant and active summer of activities.

One of the little villages we bumbled through had an amazing tribute to those lost to covid - a small stained glass sign hanging up unassumingly - so touching.

A little further along (after we'd picked out way through a recently muck-spread field - urgh) we approached a rather interesting place - a typically quirky English sort of thing ... (and all I could think of was of Aril from Gnat Bottomed Towers! 

It was a rather imposing stone gate post complete with gargoyles at either point - one a crowned head atop what looks like a white rose of Yorkshire and on the other was a boar with magnificent gold tusks! What tickled us was the blue plaque above the metal door handle resplendent with boar, peacock, salmon and lions. Brilliant!

We also came across an ancient village cross with some rather mediaeval faces carved into the stone while the steps up to it were festooned with painted stones - most of them being cats!

Not far from the village cross was a very pretty cottage and garden and their wall was decorated with fairy doors and plenty of evidence of elf activity!

Our path took us up on to the side of the valley as we headed round towards the castle through newly constructed wetlands. Naturally boggy areas had been sympathetically landscaped to capture water and create habitats. Although it was very fresh, birds were already using and investigating the ponds. We saw coots, mallards, curlew, dunlin (we think) pootling near or around the site and as we sat with a mug of tea and a certain type of chocolate egg we watched buzzards over head and rabbits all 'twitter-pated' in the fields.

From this point the view ahead as we walked was the castle - oddly it seemed bigger from far away and as we approached it seemed less imposing although still large. 

The final stretch was along a disused railway pockmarked with many many rabbit warren holes - so so many!

Back at the van (eight miles later) Moss had something to eat and put herself 'to bed' in the cab while we took our boots off and agreed it was another really good day. 

Shame weekends are only two days...

Snow work

 'A snow day' was decreed by the boss and after cancelling today's volunteers - I have been working from home today. I am on with a photo-project for an exhibition in the event room at work. Over the course of a year I have taken at least a gazillion photographs and as part of an upcoming event some of the images are to be used as part of the display. 

Have you ever tried to narrow down said gazillion images to a select few? I eventually managed to choose 125 - sectioning them into seasons - then took them into work for a further pruning.  Well, that didn't happen either! 

So this morning I spent a fair bit of time turning all 125 images into montages, hopefully capturing the essence of the garden, the seasons, the weather and the fun (and hard work). I now have 20 montages which is a much more manageable amount to display. 

They will hang alongside empty seed packets, vintage and children's tools as well as sketch plans for a new ornamental flower bed to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. I think - if I can make it work - I will create a kokedama or two and add a couple of seasonal wreaths (a festive one for the winter section and an 'eastery' one for the spring zone) all of which will hang off branches attached to the walls. Well I can't say I have a boring job now can I!?😁🌱🔨

Right, I'll finish my lunch then get on with some garden designing - will be lovely doing good old fashioned paper and pencil type work! 

Enjoy the rest of your week xxx

Baby it's cold outside ☃🎵🎶

There's been snow over night - a soft wet slush and the garden is full of the sound of rain dripping and sloppy snow dropping off the trees. There is a bitter damp chill to the air - the sort that makes you pull your coat tighter around you and your toes curl with the cold.

Christmas, just like that, was over with a blink of an eye - this year is will continue to be a gentle spread out affair, the meal was on the eve, then my folks, Youngest, pressies and a shared lunch on the day. Now, during twixtmas, Eldest and his girlfriend and Youngest's girlfriend will return (restrictions and isolations permitting) and they'll find their gifts under the tree. A good excuse to make brownies, share stories and sip warm drinks around the fire with the family.

Himself, as I type, is in the kitchen making 'Sunshine Soup' - a butternut based thick and warming soup that we'll have for lunch. The scent of sautéing onions has drifted into the dining room where I am working and is rather enticing.

I'm painting - a birthday commission - won't show just yet as it is a surprise but I will share the first step ....

So, that is today in a nutshell, a quiet day at home, gently doing simple things which I have to say, I am rather enjoying and the best of it all? The complete lack of inane festive songs and jingles on the radio - aaahhh, yes bliss!

Hope your day is as kind and as loving xxxxxxxx

In which I mention walking, snow flakes, tasty treats, tree decorating and other similar festive asides

On Thursday,  after several postponements, social distancing requirements and the vagaries of the weather - I finally met up with National Trust rangers and an artistic researcher for a magical, wet and misty walk in the woods in Upper Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales. We were there to discuss an incredible joint venture.

We walked through Yokenthwaite Farm - already well known in the area for it's picturesque setting and the handmade porridge and granola business that originated from the farm. It now it is more widely recognised as being one of the more important farms in the latest James Herriot 'All creatures great and small' tv series.

The path took us up in to a straggly wood - now looking all the more sparse - not only due to the season but to the every increasingly prevalent Ash die back - a virus killing off all the native Ash trees across Europe. We were meeting to discuss a way of marking the demise and the long term loss such a large and statuesque tree has on the countryside.

It was a deeply interesting walk, mixing art with science, folk law and faerie stories, planning rejuvenation with installation, regeneration with public involvement and benefit.  It is going to be a long project.

As apprehensive as I am, this is something bigger than I have been involved with before and it is deeper with serious generational longevity and ecological significance - what a project to be part of. 

On a lighter note, our village trail on the theme of snowflakes is gathering pace (was a light flurry and now is becoming bit of a snowstorm!). It is lovely seeing all the decorations.

With 2020 being not a normal year (not that you need reminding) we have had to forgo our traditional festive wreathy day - the first time since 2004 we've not had one. This week, there is going to be a small (as in just myself, Youngest and GF) gathering and we are going to make wreaths and festive foliage ties. I usually just make for our home and a couple of special friends but this year I am going make as many as I can and gift them to those who can not get out to collect the greenery for themselves.

One of the traditions which happens every year during our festive wreathy making - a very dear friend, one who I dearly love, always brings a pepparkakor tree (a Swedish gingerbread) and seeing we were not getting together for the workshop, it was one more thing to mourn.

So you can imagine my delight when, on Saturday she unexpectedly turned up bearing the most beautifully gingery hot and spicy pepparkakor tree - she and her lovely partner sat outside, fingers wrapped around mugs of tea, while Himself and I sat at our doorway doing the same, as we had a sorely missed catch up.  Thank you wildaboutwords - your thoughtfulness still brings a lump to my throat xxxxx

Continuing with thank yous - thank you everyone who shared their festive bakes and recipes - they were amazing - some of you are prolific bakers (looking at you lovely lady) and if you are wondering what I am talking about - just follow this LINK to see some super tasty makes and bakes :)

Our next themed link up is this Friday and is 'Trees' - really looking forward to seeing your wonderful blogs xx

ps Talking of trees, I finally dressed mine this weekend, Himself brought in Treebeard (yes our chrimbly tree has a name and he lives freely in the garden) for me, I think we have had him frolicking in our garden for nine years now - he is looking little rough this year (mind you - don't we all?!) so I think his 2021 treat will be to be re-potted so he can spread his toes a little :D However, it is his time to shine - repotting can wait till warmer (drier) weather xx

The making of Millie

 A few weeks ago, I tentatively applied to be part of a textile exhibition (I know - a little preemptive of me you will think seeing I have only really started sewing since lockdown....) There were some criteria - quite specific ones. None of which I filled ..... so instead I wrote how the theme of the exhibition still affected us today - specifically Himself ** , I then pressed submit and hoped that I might be considered.

The beginning of this week not only started with a Monday but it was accompanied by a thud of post through the door. I had been accepted and I had two weeks to complete my exhibit.

Meet my Making Millie - a linen doll designed to celebrate and to acknowledge the working women in the linen industry and the hardship and health hazards they had to endure.

Printed on a linen tea towel - still made in the original mills of Scotland and Ireland - Millie is fabric doll waiting to be decorated and sewn together then posted back to Scotland where she will be part of the display.

It did not take long for me to decide to paint directly onto the fabric before cutting out, then once dry, to work in thread onto the painted areas building up detail.

Over the course of a couple of days, I gave the black and white linen print layers of colour - I very quickly learnt that linen does not behave like paper! Which is kind of obvious however, I still, even with careful addition of paint or water found that the fabric disregarded my caution giving me 'interesting' marks and patterning.

However, after possibly a third mug of tea and a severe looking at and probably a dozen sighs and furrowed brows, the linen and I came to an understanding and we began to cooperate.

I did a little research on line to see if I could find out a little more about fabrics and textures of clothing worn by the working class women however unsurprisingly all the photos were in black and white and predominantly the clothing saved and in collections from that era were from mostly the wealthier classes - unsurprising really, the poor would have worn their clothing until it fell off them and used as rags or would have been cut down to make children's clothing, leaving very little left. 

This thought - of clothing being used until it was no longer usable struck a cord with me - directing me towards the next stage of Making Millie ..... more to come.

 

 **.. and why specifically Himself? I'll explain later.

Sunshine, sketching and strolling

Last week, an artist friend and I spent a lovely several hours with a walking group as part of the Pendle Hill Project, a funded action project to bring people into contact with the landscape, re-training ancient skills, walking old boundaries, introducing the environment to newbies and reminding folk how to re-learn to love 'local'.

My friend invited me to go along with him as he had been a regular (only recently returning after a couple of major illnesses) as he knows I love history and walking. I took my camera (and sketch book of course!)

And joy of joys - the sun came too :) it was one of the nicest sunniest days we have had in aaaaaaages!

We walked with a couple of community rangers and a number of folk from a broad spectrum of life. The group soon spread out into smaller clusters, nattering and chatting as we followed an ancient boundary system with modern touches.

The village itself is full of wonderfully old buildings and has been used as a location for a television series. The houses are quite inspiring to sketch.

Both my arty friend and I spent a time drawing and taking photos for inspiration a bit later.

Although early in the season we were delighted to hear lapwings and curlews and their hauntingly evocative moorland cries. A sound that gives me such pleasure as it means that summer is on it's way.

Along the way we spotted some rather gloriously chubby toads - a bright yellow and deliciously russet brown one, which I gave a helping hand away from the road.

I could not resist a 'selfie'with my little buddy and we had a chuckle taking this photo.

Nearly five miles later, tired but rather happy, we shared cheese and pickle sandwiches and coffee - a rather good day out!  Did I mention the sun shone?? Well it did!