Who's a Good Boy?

Sadly, England isn’t known for its good weather and this summer our weather has been very mixed.  Mixed as in some good and some not very good at all.  So when the sun does shine the only place to be is outdoors.

Fortunately for us we have some beautiful countryside on our doorstep and mingled in there is a rich history of canals.  A walk along one of them was what we fancied this afternoon.

This stretch is part of the Rochdale Canal and runs from Sowerby Bridge in Yorkshire through into Manchester.  And that's a distance of 33 miles.  I thought it would've been more than that but that's what an information board along the way told me and I believe it.  Construction was completed in 1804.

See the fisherman up there tucked away in the shelter of one of the many old stone bridges?  He was as happy as Larry even though he hadn’t caught a thing all afternoon. This we know because William, having been an angler himself in the past, always has a little chat with the fishermen he comes across. 

The pretty view looking through one of those bridges.

It was a relaxing stopping and starting kind of a walk.  It was for Harley we did most of the stopping.  It didn’t matter. We were in no rush.

There’s plenty to see on a walk like this.  These pretty cottages have been renovated in the recent past and were still being extended and improved today.  A lovely little place to call home don’t you think?

Fluffy white clouds and blue sky reflected in the still-as-a-mill-pond water.

Along any canal you’ll find a mill or two.  This one, Fothergill Engineering, sports a very fetching clock tower.  Bit unusual that I think.

We had wandered quite a way so at this point we turned back towards home.

Dozens of grazing Canada Geese filled this field.

Harley is staying with us this week and next while Caroline and her crew are on holiday in Cornwall.  He was wandering ahead of me sniffing away at things as dogs do when I called him back to me.  I asked him to sit while I took his picture and he did!  I was delighted.  He did it more than once too.  Who’s a good boy? Harley is, that’s who!

Until next time,

Life is Full of Little Things…

… and here are the little things in my life from the last few weeks.

Something new.  I don’t think I’ve seen them arm wrestling before.  This was Nicholas’s idea.

Another day another garden centre.  Since he retired William has become a gardening fanatic.  I suppose that’s what retirement is all about.  All those activities that were once crammed into a weekend can now be indulged all day long if the mood takes him.  A visit to the local library? Another coffee and cake?  Yes, why ever not!

Last Friday was Charlie’s school sports day.  For the first time since he started school this event was held outdoors.  Rain stopped play the two previous years and the races took place in the school hall.  Not ideal but this year it was good weather all the way.  The egg and spoon race, the sack race.  Nothing much changes in primary school sports days does it?  I like it that way though.  I attended with Caroline who was still suffering the effects of a painful grumbling appendix.  How she stood for 90 minutes or so I do not know!   

One of George’s favourite jobs is deadheading this magnolia bush in our front garden.

He’s been deadheading this tree since he was only half the size he is now.

All three boys stayed overnight with us on Saturday night.  Their parents all had a rare night out and went for a meal together which was very nice for them.  However, on my menu was a stroll round the neighbourhood with the boys.

Friendly (most of the time) fighting broke out every so often.

The peaceful street became a war zone.  The boys became a Bomb Disposal Unit.  George was the officer in command and the other two had to follow orders whether they liked it or not!  -  The enemy is everywhere guys.  Stealth is the name of the game!  -  That’s what the leader said but I don’t think his men heard him.  As I recall the men had a very hard time with that order!

George tells his men what their strengths and weaknesses are.  Serious business.

Hunkered down discussing tactics.

I admired pretty gardens and took pictures.  I took this photo with my sister, Maureen, in mind.  Like me, she too loves poppies and lupins.

Charging back to base now.

Where it was bathtime, storytime and bedtime.  (Nicholas got his pjs wet through at bath time so he slept in one of grandad’s old t-shirts).

Almost up to date now.  Yesterday the weather was too good to stay indoors so William and I took a little trip over to Uppermill.  There we ambled along the canal towpath to the Lime Kiln Cafe.  They have a veranda overlooking the canal and it was very pleasant to while the time away there.  Until it rained that was!

Then we retraced our footsteps back along the canal towpath stopping to watch the ducks with their babies.

Leaving the canal behind we meandered through the little side streets lined with old stone fronted cottages.  One of the residents has a whimsical side to her I think.  These are her plants outside her front door.

  And on the windowsill.   Unusual containers for plants don’t you think?  They brought a smile to my face.

So, there we are.  It’s true.  Life is full of little things and I for one am not complaining.

Until next time,

Spring Flowers.

In search of spring flowers William and I took a trip to Bents garden centre yesterday afternoon.

We found plenty.  Pretty pansies…

.. pretty primulas all in my favourite colours.

I like the reds and yellows too.  William would choose these rather than the lilacs.

Bents’ is a humongous garden centre with everything it’s possible to need for a garden and then some.  They have a large home wares section too with both ornate and useful stuff.  Happily there’s also a very lovely restaurant.  Pricey I might add, but good quality food and they don’t scrimp on the portion sizes.

Now and again a treat is necessary.  We tucked into a cream tea with strawberries and clotted cream for two.  Very nice!

We both spent some time looking at the housey stuff then William wandered off and left me to it.  I found him sitting on this bench.  His feet didn’t reach the floor and he was sat swinging his legs like a little boy.  It was soo funny.  I couldn’t stop laughing!

It was Mother’s Day a week ago yesterday and these are my happy, sunny, spring flowers off the girls.

On Mother’s Day the kids all came round and I did some baking with the boys.   See the scales and Pyrex dish above?  They were wedding presents and are still serving me well after all these years!   In fact they’re so old they’re fashionable again.  I see things like them in magazines all the time.

I loved the book The Help by Kathryn Stockett  and last week I watched the DVD, courtesy of John and Lesley.  I think it stayed more or less true to the book.  I’d definitely recommend it.

Lastly my sock knitting is coming on a treat.  I was very happy with them until I noticed that I had done the cuffs different to each other.  Hence the third one on the needles – I’d like a matching pair and there’s sufficient yarn in one ball for three socks.  Shame there’s not enough for four!

That’s it for now.

Kathleen.

A Lovely Day

Yesterday morning was spent with my girls walking with our dogs round Watergrove Reservoir.  Set high up in the hills Watergrove is a popular spot for walking.

Summer must be drawing to a close for all three little boys are back at school now.  September already!  Much as I love it I’m not ready to give into autumn yet.  Happily for now summery weather is continuing. 

All the way round the res chatting and laughing, the girls and I had a good time walking together.  It makes me so happy that we all three enjoy being together.

When noon rolled around Caroline went off to collect Charlie, he’s just doing mornings at school for the first week and a half, Victoria went off to do her thing and I went off to do mine.

The thing I had in mind to do was grab my camera, drive over the tops and head for Cragg Vale where last Sunday morning on our way to Hebden Bridge William spotted this new tree carving.  I wanted to take a closer look.  It’s an interesting carving but I have no idea what it represents, some kind of folklore perhaps.  I’m hoping that sooner or later an information plaque will appear.

So whilst I was out I rambled up through the little country lanes.

This little outbuilding took my eye. 

Now used for the convenience of storing firewood, in the past I’m sure the residents of the nearby cottages used this outbuilding with its three separate cubicles for a completely different kind of convenience!

The cottages only have a very small outdoor space, the field is blocked off by a dry-stone wall, but I loved the way the owners, above, have made a container garden.  I wanted to get a better picture than this but that would’ve meant going right up to, peering over the wall and invading someone’s privacy.

Like I said in the title I had a lovely day.  Simple pleasures are life’s treasures.

Kathleen.

The Last Few Days.

Wednesday just gone was my oldest grandson, George’s, 9th birthday and I yet have to catch a good photo of him to mark the occasion.  I think I’d better put that at the top of my to do list. 

While Victoria took the birthday boy and three of his friends to the pictures I was in charge of Nicholas and Charlie.

It was a beautiful day so I took them to the park before we joined the birthday party at Pizza Hut.  Boys have lots of energy don’t they?  That’s all I’m going to say.

Friday found me in Manchester again, this time with Caroline and Charlie. 

Caroline wanted to go to a frozen yogurt bar she had heard about in the Spinningfields area.  We got the frozen yogurt from “Frurt” and took it to this superb seating area in the middle of all the office blocks, shops, cafes and restaurants that make up Spinningfields.  The big screen was showing the Olympics. 

The sun showered its rays on this little oasis of calm.  We were there just ahead of the lunch break workers and had a front row seat.

Walking back to the train station through Corn Exchange the big screen there had a full audience of Olympics enthusiasts.  It seemed to me like there was a holiday atmosphere in the air.  I suppose the sunshine and Team GB doing brilliantly helped things along no end.

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A couple of times just recently William and I have found our way to the local lake and sat outside the pub there.  It’s a great place to people watch, have a drink and, my favourite thing, watch the bikers come and go. 

               

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I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since the Olympics started.  William and I were down in Devon and he was reading about the success of the opening ceremony and now I’m off to sit in front of the telly and watch the closing ceremony of a very successful London 2012 Olympics. 

29 Gold, 17 Silver and 19 Bronze.  Well done Team GB!!!

Kathleen.