A bit of sunshine

Like today, yesterday we had a bit of sunshine so after hanging out the washing I decided I had to clean out the chickens.  A very nasty job when it is so wet everywhere but I haven't done it for two weeks so had to get on.

I did a pretty good job, scrubbing the floor clean and putting new straw in the nest boxes.  I think the chicken will be happy

Then I rewarded myself with a trip to Marlborough - had to visit the new Sea Salt shop there!

Jonathan and George were clearing out the river bed.  Because it's spring bourn, the river dries out late Autumn and winter so it's a chance to clear fallen wood.  Once a year the village has a river cleaning day when we all go out with bags and litter pickers and clear everything up, but when a chain saw is needed Jonathan is often called upon for help.  For bigger jobs they get a gang together and, frankly, it's an excuse for them to play together but they do make everything look really nice.

Brian left of his decorating to help!

Helene has sent me some photos of the hearts we will be making on Saturday.  I gave them to everyone for Christmas presents a couple of years ago but may be tempted to make some more - they're really pretty:

When I got back from Marlborough I got my washing in off the line......and put it in the tumble drier - it was as wet as when it went out.

Dark Days

No - nothing bad has happened, I just can't get over how dark these November days are!

I just went out at a quarter to five to shut the chicken and geese in, and I had to come back for a torch!

Earlier Reuben and I went out for a long walk.  When we got out the back door I saw we had a lot of partridges visiting our chickens!

We went down to the drier and up the track to the top where we met a falconer who exercises his birds up there.  He told me that people have been using falcons for hunting for over 4,000 years.  He didn't seem to recognise me so I reminded him of when he brought his birds over to show George and Victoria years ago.  "Oh yes", he said.

When I got this picture out to scan it Jonathan said "that's not the same man".

Fair enough.

Anyway, we continued on to the trig point from where on a bright day you can see for miles and then on to Rogers Wood.  There used to be a pair of cottages up here and Diane in the village can remember she used to have to walk up there to pick up the children and walk them back down to school.  There was no electricity or running water so when they built the (what used to be) council houses at the bottom of  School Lane the family were moved there.  They hated it because it was too much like living in a town!

Alongside Rogers Wood I saw some deer tracks

 

so walked on towards Hashams to see if I could see them.  I did,  too far away to take a picture but I watched them run across the fields to the other side of School Lane.

 

We got to Hashams

and then Reuben and I walked back and down the track by our house - by now, about 3.30pm, it was starting to get a bit dim

So now we're back, not planning on going out tonight so all there is to do is what an awful lot of crafty bloggers do (I saw almost the same picture in Attic 24!) - sit in front of the fire and knit my blanket!

Autumn

We had a busy, happy crowd at pitch and stitch on Tuesday - Dorianna brought in some jewellery she had made at a workshop:  it was lovely and made out of scraps including felt and lace:

I told everyone about our latest decorating disaster.  Jonathan decided to buy some new furniture for our spare room.  He kept on and on and on about a website where we could get a new wardrobe which was on sale.  For quite a few days I didn't take much notice but then he started getting frantic saying 'the sale ends at midnight -we have to buy it tonight or we'll miss out'.  So we did.  And a month later the sale is still due to end at midnight. 

In preparation of the new arrival, we dismantled the old fitted wardrobe which of course revealed a wall a completely different colour from the rest of the room.  It had been 15 years since we decorated the room so I was a bit concerned we wouldn't find the right colour.  Jonathan said, "It'll be fine.  We'll just look at the room very carefully then go to Lambourn stores and get the same colour".  We looked very carefully, went to the shop, selected the colour, came home, painted the section of wall and it wasn't fine at all, it wasn't remotely the same colour and looked vile.
Now we are in the process of repainting the whole room.

After Pitch and Stitch I went for a walk with Reuben - I can't believe how many leaves are still on the trees.

 Now the cattle have gone in the barn for the winter, Reuben can run across the field chasing rooks as much as he likes!

Yesterday we held the first of our Christmassy workshop - the elves are back!!

There was an awful lot of stuffing going on!

A Day in the City

Having seen all the pictures of the poppies at the Tower of London I've been dying to go.  My nose was particularly out of joint the other morning when Rueben had an upset tummy and I spent 2 hours cleaning up after him.  With a few minutes to spare before pitch and stitch I had a quick look at facebook and there was Sandra grinning back at me with a sea of poppies behind her!

After a lot of umming and ahing yesterday I finally decided I had to see them and so this morning George and I caught the train to London.  I had planned every year to take the children to London but it never happened so this was George's first time.  I'm not saying he's a country boy but when I asked him what he really wanted to see he said "just the sights, you know, Piccadilly Square".  I said we'd go there after Trafalgar Circus.

Anyway, we visited lots of places, George was thrilled to hear the tolling of the muffled bells of Westminster Abbey and we saw the Houses of Parliament with Big Ben and then the London Eye behind. 

But the real thrill was the Tower of London - it was spectacular and very poignant:

Beautiful!

 

We ended the day in Kensington where I wanted to do some serious shopping but ended up trailing after George while he bought new bits of wire from Currys!!



 

 

 

It's been a long haul!!

I know a lot of you will want to know this so:

Yes - that's him pulling off his L plate!!
Out to supper tonight - and guess who's driving!!!