Showtime

Last Saturday I visited the Cumberland Show in Carlisle. There were some beautiful Clydesdale horses on show. The manes and tails are decorated differently depending if they come from Scotland or England.

Ribbon plaited mane

The English tails are plaited and the Scottish tails are cut

The owners put talcum powder on the horses feathered feet and as the horse walks there is a shower of white dust.

Known as gentle giants

A rare sight

No messing with this bull.

Big and beefy Simmental

Pretty Jersey with big eyes.

Jersey calf

Shepherds crooks on show.

Crook heads made of wood or horn

An enormous modern tractor.

Huge wheels

An old tractor.

Vintage tractor

History of the tractor

In the craft tent there are various children's competitions. The decorated spoon.

I love the Gru character from Despicable Me

Vegetable art.

Oh la la Mr Butternut squash

Flower heads floating in a vase.

Dainty arrangement

Walking around the show was a man on stilts. The ground was very uneven.

Sooo tall

This cow produces dairy ice cream.

What is it's milk yield?

It was Appleby horse fair the week before last and there were a lot of round top caravans making there way back across Hartside.

These caravans are always beautifully decorated

The delphiniums are all in flower. They come in many shades and hues.

Pale blue

Gentle blue

Mauve

Royal blue

I have started to harvest mini cucumbers.

We are picking several cucumbers each day

I am going to make elderflower cordial from flower heads, lemon, water and sugar.

Delicate lace like elderflower

Bobby Barley is very excited about the world cup. A friend bought him a new hat.

Go England

Boozie Floosie has been in rehab but I am not sure how successful that has been. She is still clutching a bunch of grapes and rumour has it that she lost her wine glass in a drunken revelry at the local pub.

Love the orange shoes such bad taste