late autumn colour

My but the weather has been funny this week. 

High winds and rain one day, blue skies and sunshine the next.

The plants in the courtyard garden continue to surprise me as I watch and wait to see what it holds.

This climbing rose has been in bloom since early May and continues to bring forth fresh flowers daily, it is a delight and the fragrance divine.

I have no idea what it's name is but I call it Glory. 

I love the way it looks when waterlogued.

This sedum was a survivor when I recently cleared out a small bed which had become overgrown and crowded. I'm not sure if I like it but it can stay until Spring.

I added a photo of a bee enjoying a pretty white Cosmos "Pop Socks". 

I planted several Cosmos in containers this summer and they have been very popular with the bees and butterflies.

Walking up Back Lane yesterday I noticed that here too nature was bringing changes to the landscape.

Earlier in the year the Hawthorns had been brimming with white blossom, now bright red berries entice the birds, beneath the trees the ferns are slowly turning adding contrast to the ancient dry stone walls that enclose the fields.

Wishing you pleasant Autumn days with plenty of blue skies and sunshine and a calm and peaceful week ahead.

Joining Angie @Letting Go of the Bayleaf 

for Mosaic Monday # 98.

seasonal changes

We recently discovered Channel 5's documentary series "Our Yorkshire Farm" and have been captivated by the Owen family and their home, 2000 acre Ravenseat Farm. high in the Yorkshire Dales.
Parents Amanda (The Yorkshire Shepherdess) and Clive are raising 9 children (ages 1 through 16), over 1000 Swaledale sheep, a herd of 40 cows as well as assorted horses, ponies and dogs.
With the changing of the seasons, over three series, we've seen the children grow and learn new skills around the farm. 

From lambing to shearing to mending ancient farm equipment, restoring drystone walls, raising chickens and catering to passing hikers with hearty cream teas.
I took these photos in 2013 when we rented a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales village of Low Row which as it turns out is only about 10 miles away from Ravenseat Farm as the crow flies.

Here in Derbyshire the seasons are changing too.
Our farmer neighbour has been out cutting the wild meadows behind our home, making haylage for horses. As he no longer needs it for his own animals he sells it to raise money for his favourite local charity.
The view from our bedroom window.

This is our first Autumn here and I've been looking forward to seeing the fall colours as the landscape is quite different to what we've been used to seeing in Normandy. 

We are due some hot weather in the coming days according to the weatherman and so far the trees are remaining decidedly green, maybe next month will see a colour change.

beef in ale

We've had the occasional grey rainy day and some mornings are quite chilly.

On days like these there's nothing better than a hearty homemade soup or casserole to warm this English girls heart.

Joining Angie for Mosaic Monday # 96

always looking on/searching for the bright side

To quote Monty Python I am "always looking on/searching for the bright side of life" so I could quite easily have rustled up a very pretty mosaic of beautiful flowers to share for Mosaic Monday this week.
Like this.

It's been a funny couple of weeks since I last blogged, although I can't really put my finger on why.
The weather has been pretty unseasonal for a start, with howling gales and rain.
Plans for working in the garden have been put on hold as the tail end of Hurricane Laura kept us indoors and with Hurricane Lorenzo heading our way this Bank Holiday weekend looks set to be a washout too.
Still, ever optimistic we’ve treated ourselves to a beautiful new bench so that we can sit and enjoy the view should the sun peek out at anytime.

Covid-19 related lockdowns and quarantine are very much in the news.
The UK government is making so many U turns it's almost impossible to keep up with what can and can't be done, which countries are safe to travel to (not that we have plans to travel) when/where masks must be worn etc. etc.
Our nephew and his girlfriend finally got the keys to their first home together last week but because the town where they and the rest of our extended family live is in lockdown we can't go and visit them. Seeing photos and mini videos on whatsapp just isn't the same.
A post on a local FB group from a Reiki therapist starting once more to offer treatments had me reaching for the phone to make an appointment.
During the pre treatment chat she went over Covid related health concerns and it came as a bit of a shock to learn that as I turned 70 in June I am classed as "elderly and vulnerable" and according to the UK Reiki Federation cannot receive Reiki at this time.
I haven't wanted to share much about the situation regarding our house in Normandy since starting this new blog however as there has been a flurry of viewings in August, albeit with mixed results, I thought I'd bring you up to date.
One agent reported back, regarding some British clients who had seemed very keen to visit Le Presbytere, with what she called the best/worst excuse for not making an offer.
The client pointed out, in all seriousness, that " there are cows in the field behind the house, everyone knows that where there are cows there will be flies and if there are flies we wouldn't be able to eat out in the garden"!
The agent told me that she couldn't resist suggesting to them that if they thought that was a problem then looking for a home in the middle of the Normandy countryside was perhaps not a good idea.
Earlier this week one couple from the Netherlands did make an offer after a second viewing however in less than 24 hours they had retracted their bid as they have chosen another property that suits them better.
Needless to say their decision has left us feeling a bit deflated as we find ourselves back to square one but still looking on the bright side ..............

Linking to Mosaic Monday #94

with Angie

@ Letting Go of the Bay leaf

Looking and learning

It’s been quiet around here since our visitors left, a lot of time spent indoors dashing out into the garden, between rain showers, to potter around.

I’m still learning about the plants growing out there and making tentative plans for making some changes before winter.

The young man who I thought would be available to help with my ideas hasn’t had much time to spare from his other landscaping duties so I spend my time keeping things tidy and nurturing tender new plants to hopefully plant out later in the year when the heavy work has been done.

This is how my garden has been growing this week.

things that happened this week

Before I launch into what happened on Darley Moor this week I think I'd better explain about the bread crusts and curly hair reference in last week's post.

Lorrie @ Fabric, Paper and Thread  and Sallie@ A Full Time Life  both told me that they had heard this tall tale too whilst some other visitors were puzzled and wanted to know more.

When my sister and I were growing up during the 1950's our Mother always encouraged us to eat the crusts on our sandwiches. She told us that if we did our hair would grow curly but I think I figured out quite early on that that old wives tale just wasn't true! 

It was just something that mothers would say to make English kids finish the meal.

Now for a little roundup of some nice things that happened this week despite the rain and not being able to go out into the garden or take more than a quick walk down the lane very often.

Monday was the SP's birthday. I had hoped that we might drive up the road a little bit and visit the gardens of Chatsworth House, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire but after considering the pros and cons we decided to avoid any possible crowds and stay home instead.

I did have one small surprise for him though, a gift from Peak Brewery @ Chatsworth Estate.

A case of their finest ales was delivered by a chauffeur driving a Mercedes just before lunch and was very well received by the birthday boy.

Another thing to celebrate this week although on a much smaller scale was the delivery of an item of furniture which we ordered way back in January but which had been delayed because of lockdown.

We have sofa in the family room at last!

And finally, Friday was National Fish and Chips Day in the UK. and we enjoyed this favourite British meal that evening, with many thanks to the Darley Dale Fish Bar.

So, how was your week?

Linking to Mosaic Monday # 83

with Angie 

@ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

what I have acheived during lockdown

It's been almost 10 weeks since lockdown began in the UK and although there has been some "easing" since 10th May and there is talk now of "a roadmap" to get us out of it the SP and I are still self isolating here in the Barn.
I was chatting on line with friends from my scrapbooking group recently and the topic was "what have you achieved during lockdown"?

The "achievements" ranged from "done a lot of baking", "scrapped a lot", "learned how to cut hair", "worked out with Joe Wicks" (he's the Body Coach on UK TV Channel 4), "home schooled the kids", "gardening",  "continued to work from home" to "not very much"!

Gardening has been my main pastime although I have baked some cakes, of the banana & walnut loaf and lemon drizzle cake variety and done some scrapping.

I am still trying to identify the plants that I have inherited here and I have to admit that I'm not doing very well.
I recognise some of the easier ones of course, clematis, roses, hostas and geraniums others have me guessing.
I have thought about getting one of those apps for my phone which tells you what the plant is, from a photo that you take. Have you tried that? Did it help?
I guess the main thing I've achieved and not really through choice is a curly head of hair, something my mother strived endlessly to achieve for me as a child.

She would be so proud.
Eating all those bread crusts has paid off eventually it seems.

Linking to Mosaic Monday # 82 with Angie @ Letting go of the Bayleaf.

this was the week that..............

The hawthorn bush with seats beneath the shade

For talking age and whispering lovers made.

Oliver Goldsmith, The Deserted Village 1770.

And every shepherd tells his tale

Under the hawthorn in the dale.

John Milton, L'Allegro 1631

Moving back to live in the UK was a big decision for us to make and we looked for a long time for a place to spend the rest of our days. We finally narrowed down the choice of counties to three. Herefordshire, Derbyshire. and Yorkshire with it's National Parks, wild landscapes and rocky coastline was a definite frontrunner.

There is a saying, which I truly believe, that says "if it's for you it won't go by you" and that was certainly the case with our new home here in the Derbyshire Peak District.

The countryside surrounding us is breathtaking and this week has looked even more beautiful because the Hawthorns are blooming.

Not just in our own garden but especially in the lanes and fields bordered by centuries old dry stone walls.

This article found on the Derbyshire Life magazine website is fascinating if you'd like to know more abut dry stone walls in this county. Here. 
I've been asked if I painted the watercolour header of the barn above.
I wish I could say yes but I'm afraid not but I did create it using  the wonderful "waterlogue" app on my phone. 
Here is a collage of a photo of windchimes, hanging from a branch of a hawthorn tree in my garden and a "waterlogue" version of the same photo.

In hawthorn time the heart grows light.

Algernon Charles Swinburne, Tale of Balen 1896

Yet walk with me where hawthorns hide

The wonders of the lane.

Ebenezer Eliot, The Wonders of the Lane.

We had fun this week joining others members of our family for a Zoom Family Quiz Night. Nine of us took part, with ages ranging from 20 to 83, our nephew did a great job choosing questions which suited all the different age groups.

It was such good fun and is set to become a favourite Saturday night pastime during the extended lockdown I'm sure.

The SP and I have volunteered to host the event in two weeks time which with google's help should give us plenty of time to come up with enough questions to keep them all playing along.

What have you been doing this week to pass the time, I wonder?

Linking to Mosaic Monday # 81

hosted by the lovely Angie

 @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

UK lockdown. Day 52.

Yesterday was day 52 of the UK lockdown.
The "Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives" message from the Government has now been amended to "Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives".
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted this message.

"Everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus by staying alert and following the rules.This is how we can continue to save lives as we start to recover from coronavirus.#StayAlert "

The Senior Partner and I have been self isolating since we arrived back in the UK, only leaving home to shop for essential food supplies. 

We've been shopping at some of the local family owned businesses which have stayed open. A small 7/7 convenience store; butchers who will deliver if you can't use their click and collect service and an excellent deli called the Sticky Fig.

Yesterday garden centres were allowed to open to the public as long as all the social distancing measures were in place.

So, we headed to one nearby to purchase some house plants, aromatics for my herb garden and bags of compost so that I could get my hands in some dirt.

Later that afternoon I chatted with a neighbour who had also been out to buy plants (standing 6 feet apart of course) for her garden and we laughed at how excited we were to finally be able to work outside.

I came across this handsome chap at the garden centre but at that price sadly had to leave him behind.

Happy gardening.

Joining Angie @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf for Mosaic Monday #80, see you there.