A Day to remember..............

It is remembrance day here in the UK.  It is a special day set aside to remember all those men and women who were killed during the two World Wars and other conflicts during the last Century.  Remembrance Day is also known as Poppy Day, because it is traditional to wear a poppy. They are sold by the Royal British Legion, a charity dedicated to helping war veterans.

Wreaths are laid beside war memorials all over the country. People also leave small wooden crosses by these memorials in remembrance of a family member who died in war.  At 11am on each Remembrance Sunday a two minute silence is observed at war memorials and other public spaces across the UK.
A national ceremony takes place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London. The Queen lays the first wreath at the Cenotaph. If you can find time please spare a moment today, to remember them and everyone else who has been affected by wars and conflict.  

Normal Business Resumes.............

Is it really 6 weeks since my last post.  The loss of my little chicken really threw me sideways.  I know it is silly and just a chicken but it took me weeks to get over the shock of loosing her, I think it was because I was not here when it happened. 

 Anyway moving on to happier things.  I finally got this lovely japanese crochet book from the states which is jam packed with such gorgeous patterns. 

 I have been addicted to making these very sweet covered coat hangers.  They are so easy to make and I think they will make very nice christmas presents.

I

I have the second book on order and hope to get it very soon.

Sad News........

Sadly my youngest Hen passed away at the weekend........ 

                                                         Blackie 2/5/2008 - 20/9/2010

I don't know why, and I feel so upset I was not here.  I have had a couple of days away and was going to post about my trip but that will have to wait until another time. 

Old for Newish............

The basket on my bike finally broke last week.  It is a very old bike and I am very fond of it.  I purchased it in 1982 when I was a student nurse and used to cycle to and from the hospital.

It was my birthday a couple of weeks ago and DH has been waiting for me to decide what he could buy for me, so I asked for a new basket for my bike, please.  My bike is quite old and I am not sure if it is made anymore, so finding the exact basket has been difficult.  We were out shopping this morning in our local town and DH got his eye on a basket in the window of a charity shop.  It was a snip at £10.00.  We were not sure if it would fit, but we decided to take the risk and buy it.  It fits perfectly on the bike and having a handle means if I want to go shopping it will be very useful detaching it . 

 I went out for a bike ride this afternoon to test it out, perfect........ 

We stopped of at the allotment on the way home and picked the last of the beetroot and some onions. 

Last days of Summer 2010.........

                                              Bamburgh Castle last weekend...........

Sunset this evening.......

Let the Autumn begin....the leaves turning golden and red, walking on crunchy leaves,darker mornings, garden fires, making blackberry jam, fruit crumbles, home made soups, beef stew and dumplings, pumpkins, fireworks, fluffy dressing gowns and slippers, hats and scaves, evenings spent watching tv and knitting, christmas lights.......    

Rose Hip Syrup..........

Following on from the post yesterday, the Rose Hip Syrup is ready.  It was a bit faffy to make but tastes delicious.

Two bottles from the above batch, its takes me back to when I was a little girl and we used to have it on rice pudding at school dinners. I'm showing my age now.  I'll have to make some rice pudding soon.

The End of August...........

Where has this past month gone, I can't believe it is nearly September .  I suppose if I look back it has been a busy month.  It is the peak holiday season, with the schools having their summer vacation.

Here is a quick look at what we have been up to.  The beginning of the month brought the tall ships race to Teeside, so we took a day trip to Hartlepool.  The sailing ships are so beautiful and graceful, I always like seeing them, also visiting the festival was the BBC " Bang Goes the Theory" team, we sat and watched a half hour presentation on how to make science fun, and it was.  

 

A week later we began our main holiday and took off in this Motorhome, destination Isle of Skye, I had not realised how far away it is and it took ages to get there.  We only had a week on the island but we managed to see most of it.  The weather was mostly good, a couple of very heavy showers, but within a few hours we were back to lovely sunshine again. The light levels are fantastic, there is so much open space, unbelievable. 

DH is a bit of a Malt Whisky connoisseur so a trip to a local distillery was in order.  Talisker is one of his favourite whiskies and it did not disappoint. 

This is the view just down from the distillery, now would that be just lovely to wake to this every morning.

What a view, fantastic. 

Wildlife everywhere, this little robin was used to visitors I think...

and the seals get hundreds of visitors each day.

The main town on Skye is Portree, with it's pretty coloured harbour houses, we had the best Fish and Chips ever, from the shop on the Harbour front.

 I took some wool away with me and whiled away the time travelling making some pretty pink bunting, which is nearly finished 

                                                    

and some liquorice allsorts...........

 The nights are cutting in now and it is rather chilly in the evenings,  I feel the Autumn nip in the air. The berries are turning red and we have lots of hips on our dog rose bushes.  So I am going to attempt to make some Rose Hip Syrup for the first time.   I shall let you know how I get on.  Back to work tomorrow  so normality alas returns .