Chums and chocolate cake

My eldest daughter has some friends round for the afternoon. She has duly baked and made her own lemonade too. Any excuse to get out the vintage tablecloths I say!

21 Again!

.......yesterday. Shared delicious home baked (by 13yr old) cake with lots of kids.

Enjoyed the sunshine taking a long walk with David..

We are lucky to live in a beautiful valley with some fabulous views.

And it's such a joy to be part of a great big family where you can share the children out. This is my eldest (soon to be 18) with my sisters youngest, (4 months.)

Resurrection

It's been a long time I know...but I was rereading my blog recently and thought, "what a good archive/diary for my family, even if nobody else ever reads it."
 I did get a bit sucked in to the whole reading of other blogs and then commenting because I was keen to see comments on my own and then before you know it, it can become a bit obsessive and extremely time consuming.
So here I am again and I am going to use this space as a place for documenting our goings on as a family and reminiscing from time to time. If there are any interested parties out there, you are very welcome to join us.

This is me and David after his graduation ceremony last weekend in Harrogate. He has just finished his M.Ed with Open University. It was hard work for him but well worth the effort. Aren't we quite the handsome couple?

 And here he is with the children...

Aren't we lucky??

An Apparition...

...I beheld today, in the form of a man. Wearing an old fashioned looking tweedy three piece suit, walking along the pavement as I drove past, close cut beard, thick dark hair. He was Alan Bates as Gabriel Oak in Far From the Madding Crowd.

He was beautiful. And seeing such beauty made my day and made my ovaries ping a little!

Stock Judging

Went to my brothers farm today as he was hosting his local Ayrshire Breeders Club in a stock judging event.

Basically, the farmer presents two or three classes of six cows/heifers and a guest master judge places them in order of merit. Everybody else judges them and those closest to the master judges placings win. There are mens, womens and junior categories.

Here is Sandyford Clover who was the breed champion at Cheshire Show last week.

These are some of  the views they enjoy from their home...

As children, we eagerly looked forward to stock judging events. They were usually held in the summer on four consecutive Friday evenings. It was a chance to try and win a few shillings and best of all there was always a reet good spread afterwards!

It was nostalgic for me today because it must be at least thirty years since I last had a go at stock judging. And yes there was a reet good spread. But best of all, I came joint first in the ladies judging!!! I was astounded, just going to show what a great stockman my father was and he taught us well.

Harvest

Tonight we enjoyed our first cucumber. It was not too big and a bit spiky but when peeled and sliced it was delish. We each had a piece of a shop bought one followed by a piece of this and God was it good in comparison. I only wish I had a few plants now and not just one.

We also shared a bowl of strawberries, (approx 2 each) Royal Sovereign from DT Browns. They are beautiful, glistening and just the right size. They are sweet with a hint of sharpness. I have never tasted a strawberry like them before.

The peas are coming on too and the french beans scrambling up the poles amongst other things. Growing at home has been much more successful for me than at an allotment. It is easier to keep on top of and whilst I have only a miniscule amount of space in comparison I have far fewer weeds and my plants are much healthier too. I have not been overwhelmed as I often was in the past.

Here is bigger son helping to water the garden

...as well as his little brother.

On a sad note, Reynard has paid us a visit twice in the last week and we have lost four of our hens, Edwina, Bunty, Dorothy and Maud. Maud was my favourite. Nature can be vicious sometimes.


P.S. My nephew (who is wearing the red shorts in my banner above ) has been poorly for several days and finally, after a lot of messing about, had his appendix removed the early hours of this morning. Have a good thought/prayer for him and his mum, my sister, who is expecting and has had several torrid nights with little if any sleep. Plus he has to stay in for several days for IV antibiotics as it was seemingly pretty bad.
Thank you in anticipation.

Another Grand Day Out

...at Cheshire County Show.

The sun was blazing and there was so much to see.

Here is my 9 year old niece who won 1st prize for best young handler of a calf.

I particularly loved all the different breeds of cattle, some are really beautiful. This Hereford bull was huge...

and this shorthorn bull was a lovely dappled colour..

These Dexter cattle have very short legs and resemble dwarves..

My brother won Ayrshire breed champion with Sandyford Clover but I didn't get a pic so read this link if you want to know more

Here's a large billy goat giving us the eye..

and we managed to spot the Queen bee in this brood chamber..

There was a stunning array of vintage vehicles. I loved this ambulance..

complete with leather interior.

Whilst the boys preferred the tractors..

The country crafts were fabulous. This willow basket maker had learned from his dad before him, they weren't on the internet but managed to make a living..

Areas of forest unaccessible to vehicles are still worked by heavy horses. The relationship between this horse and his master were amazing. He was so obedient..

Handicrafts there were aplenty but I didn't take photos. The children didn't want to linger. One stall with lovely pinnies and pegbags was Madame Sew N Sew. Well worth a look. I was spent up by this stage so had to be content with browsing.

It was a great day out and last night when watering my garden I spotted this cheeky little chappie helping himself to my bird feeder...

Forgotten this one when I posted earlier...

Showing cattle (and the partying that goes with it) is pretty exhausting work. I don't know who he is but he was sparked out completely next to his cow!