Tuesday 25 January 2011

So, What Happened To The Chooks?

By the time we came to move, we were sadly down to only two chooks - Sunday and Roast. Radar took poorly and died in the autumn. In Spring, one of the Modern Game over strained when laying and had to be killed. The other Modern Game, appeared to pine for her and kind of slowly went down hill after that, over a couple of months.

On New Years Eve, Sunday and Roast got boxed up, packed in the car and headed north. After a few days, Roast disappeared. We are not sure whether a rat got into the hen house at night, although there was no physical evidence of this, or whether she made a bid for freedom, I don't know. I keep still half expect to see her in the garden as if nothing at all has happened.

Sunday has taken a good week or more to settle in. She is not quite the bottom of the pecking order, but it must be a fall from grace for her. However, she is seeming to get more settled in her new home. She has sussed out that the compound is bigger for her.... and that there is a huge garden beyond that in which she can roam and peck all day.

This is Sunday on the far side of the compound, thinking she is living the high chook life!

Sunday has 8 new sisters in her new flock. Here are two. I don't think they have names.

Here are a few more. You can just see Sunday - the white thing - on the upper left.

As with all posts of chooks, Rhinog must get a mention! Rhinog has been having lots of fun since he moved. Not only has he a huge garden to play and run round in, he has House Fairies (cats that live in the house and are not allowed out) to play with and watch their every move. He and the cats are getting used to each other. Rhinog is being good with them, at worst all he does is try to follow a selected cat around the house. Oh and pinch their supper when he thinks they have finished and no-one else is watching. It's very tiring business!
Here Rhinog is, surveying his new garden, and his new feathered friends.
Rhinog and his human Grandad are in the process of adopting each other. They both happily take each other for a walk each day and come back pooped. It must be fun as Rhinogs paws and tummy get dirtier and muddier after each walk.........


Monday 24 January 2011

A Walk and a Green Granny

Mary-Jane and I went for a walk this afternoon. We only went as far as the outskirts of the nearest village. It was on a back road and no where near as much traffic as the A595. There was no path, but this doesn't matter too much in daylight on a fairly lightly used road. I wished I had taken my camera....... next time!

HK has bought a few more things into the house, including all the DVD's. He has also unearthed my kitchen/baking utensils and trays etc, just no-where to put them in the kitchen.

I didn't make it to the new knitting group either. The day was busy, so I thought it best not to go. Will try harder next week!

The last few days outings have caught up with Mary-Jane today, she has had some good naps. On Wednesday she is due to have her second lot of immunisations, so I'm preparing for her to be kranky and feel rough for a couple of days. The Calpol is at the ready.

I want to get cracking and knit her some things - hats, gloves, bootees, cardis/jackets, dresses and cloths. Everything!! I have ordered Debbie Bliss - The baby knits book. However, I am determined to finish The Yarn Gatherers take on a Bactus (am half was through the decreases) before I start anything else. The yarn for this was a leaving gift from Jeanette, who own Yarn Gathering of Stone. It is a Begere de France, Paris I think it's called, in a shade called Granny. It's green. Just like a Granny Smith apple!

Sunday 23 January 2011

Ennerdale and Wasdale

Today, being Sunday, is the newly instated 'Family Day', where HK, MJ and I do or go somewhere as a Family. It's time set aside to be spent as a Family. The day started off very well with family cuddles in bed. This was too cute an photo opportunity to miss! MJ seems to like these cuddles although still looks bemused at times, but all the same like to have Mom and Dad close by.
We first headed off to Whitehaven to get some diesel from Morrisons - what a nightmare it is to get off that forecourt, believe me! We then headed off for Ennerdale. Ennerdale was lovely, but we never got quite close enough to the water to park up. All the signs kept on saying 'Ennerdale 1 mile or 1.5 miles or half a mile'. We just never quite got there. Bit of an odd journey. The road was single track and in some places had grass growing up the middle of it. HK said it was something like 'The Hills Have Eyes' so we kept our eyes open for home made stingers......

Apparantly we should have gone through some gates..... I think next time we may need a guide to tell us which gates and where.....

From Ennerdale we drove over Ennerdale Moor, then dropped back onto the A595 (eventually). Somewhere we picked up and followed a sign for Wasdale.

After a bit we got to Wasdale and got close enough to Wast Water to park up. We couldn't really walk MJ in her pram as the only walking place was on the road. Although it wasn't busy at all, we didn't fancy doing that. However MJ had her bottle and a look round.


Wast Water is, I think, and I need to check on this info, the deepest or it's not known how deep it is in places. It is also the darkest lake, due to the type of rock (my geology needs brushing up as well). The water indeed does look black.


When I downloaded the photos, I showed Dad, who kindly informed me that if I'd been stood a bit further down the dale then I would have seen a very famous view. Namely the three biggest peaks in the lLakes - Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Kirkfell. I'm not a 100% that the third is Kirkfell, something else that I need to find out. So I'd like to say that at least one of the peaks in this photo may be one of the three biggest peaks in the lakes. I so need to learn, early days yet, there is lots to learn!
We have decided that before we go out for a drive again, that we will try and plan in advance where we are going to go and whether it is pram friendly. We also thought about taking a picnic with us. Can't wait, roll on next Sunday!









Saturday 22 January 2011

A Jolly to Penrith

Today we went to Penrith. We got there just after 12. I did take the camera, but didn't quite get to taking any pictures, next time I shall.

I had lunch (omlette and chips followed by a take on an individual lemon meringue and ice cream) at the three crowns tea rooms. Very nice, recommdable. Afternoon tea - yes, cream scone and a brew was had at a place called Eden. Again recommendable.

Among the shops we (Mary-Jane, Mum and me) went to were a Indigo and Penrith Crafts. We picked up knitting supplies in Penrith Crafts - a knitting pattern and a Rico Knitting booklet, both for things for MJ, and a big ball of Rico Pompon yarn (in yummy purples and greens) to make MJ a pram blanket.

We also went to another shop - Just Sew - can't wait to go there again. They are one of a seemingly few shops that sell dress fabric and sewing patterns. I could have spent a fortune (if I had a fortune to spend!) The had alsorts of fabrics. The cotton dress fabrics have my name on a lot of rolls! When I have more time and space, I want to start dress making again. I was sensible today and didn't buy anything, despite lusting after at least half a dozen things, as I just don't know when that time and space will happen.

I am starting to give serious thought to going to a knitting group next week. I roughly know where one is..........

Catch-up with New Beginnings

Right, I'm back, with new resolve to write regularly and lots of stories to tell. Time is more permitting as well, as Mary-Jane settles fairly early in the evening, following that I'm not sat in front of the idiot box all evening.

On the 11th January, HK, Mary-Jane and I moved to West Cumbria. The whys and the wherefores are for another time. We are here and starting to get used to it, although in reality I think it will take a while, but we are being as positive as we can. Getting out and about lifts my spirits as much as cuddling up to HK in bed at night.

Onto the first photo - all the photos are a bit random - I made these decorations in the days running up to Christmas. They were inspired by an idea in HobbyCraft. They are very easy to make. Cut two heart shapes out of felt, I used a baking cutter as a template. On one piece, sew some buttons of your choice. Sandwich the two heart together, with some wadding or stuffing. Sew together with some thick embroidery thread, including some pretty ribbon to hang the finished thing with. Ta-da. Simples, in the words of a cute meerkat!

I'm trying to go for a walk most days, weather permitting. The fresh air is so good for MJ. This is a view of the River Calder, about a mile away from home, in the village of Calder Bridge. Calder Bridge is rather lovely. Ennerdale is about 8 miles away. I'm not quite up for an 8 mile walk (and that's in one direction!) yet.

Last Sunday, we went for a walk around Whitehaven. It was a fresh, sunny January day, so here is me being rather windswept after a walk around the harbour. We tell Mary-Jane that we have to strap her into her pram otherwise the big seagulls will swoop down, take her and carry her off to sea. She just looks bemused back at us.
Mary-Jane, about two months ago. I do like this picture. I tell her that when she wears this outfit, she turns inot a polar bear. Here she looks like a scary polar bear. I think she will grow up with some weird ideas - but lots of imagination!