Autumn Arrives

This week I have been gathering leaves and berries for a wreath making workshop I am doing with the Reception children at Kirkoswald school.

This is the wreath I have made for my front door.

Berries, sycamore keys and acorns

We found this empty bird's nest when we were stacking a delivery of new logs.

Look at the detail

There are still a few flowers in bloom. This white scabious looks majestic.

The purity of white

The blue salvia adds colour to the border.

Vibrant blue

A few zinnias have survived the light frosts.

This flower has an old fashioned feel about it

Look at this beautiful butterfly on the cosmos.

Usually the butterfly has flown away by the time I have got the photo

Views from a walk around Lazonby. 

Looking towards the Pennines

Looking towards Kirkoswald

These are exhibits from the Cumbrian Artists of the Year exhibition.

Moo

This artist is very talented.

An amazing sculpture

I visited Sedbergh a very pretty town.

Quaint narrow streets

Can you guess what these have been used for?

Potato mashers

These sheep were part of Sheepfest.

Reading his last wool and testament

A tribute to David Hockney

There have been some beautiful morning skies.

Mist over the river and a mackerel sky

Breaking news
My next blog will feature the Halloween display in the Artful Garden.

Allotment Fever

I have spent this week on my allotment trying to get it into shape. The weather has helped. We have had frosty mornings followed by warm sunny days, so I have had some long days digging. My main challenge was the strawberry bed that was riddled with couch grass. I had to weed using a fine toothcomb method and have now cleared the entire bed. I have planted some strawberries with space left for more.
It is wonderful to work to the sound of birdsong including a woodpecker that taps away in the field alongside the allotment. The birds are also nest building and keep taking in large beakfuls the coir matting from my hanging baskets.

A cleared plot

I have planted my potatoes both in the Artful Garden and on the allotment.

Chitted potatoes ready to plant

Planting potatoes after having applied a liberal amount of manure

I have also planted out some broad beans.

I have picked my first rhubarb from the Artful Garden.

Made into a delicious crumble

The damson trees are just starting to blossom. I hope the early morning frosts do not kill the blossom before it has time to set.

Delicate white blossom

There are some beautiful flowers in bloom.

Look at the detail

A delicate shade of pale yellow

I love this old shed. It belongs to the time when the allotments were first formed during the Depression when the villagers were very poor.

I love the bleached look of the planks

Not high enough to stand up in

These are flower arrangements I made for the bishop's visit.

Daffodils and iris

The Lady altar

Baabaara the sheep originally came from the Sheepfest in Sedbergh. Since then she has had body contouring, plastic surgery, a facial, colours and a complete makeover. She is hoping to be a pinup girl for Carrs Billington Lamb Feeds who have sponsored her handbag.

Does anyone want me to be their pinup?