Wind, Rain and Rosy Glows

The weather has turned cold and some of the sunflowers in the Artful Garden were broken in the gales. I was hoping to keep them so the birds could feed off the seed heads.

I have continued the weed the gardens and I will soon have to plant the tulips and daffodil bulbs which should have already been planted by now.

Many of the leaves are turning the russet colours of autumn even the strawberry leaves.

Rosy red strawberry leaves

I found this empty bird's nest in the honeysuckle when it was pruned. I hope it's owner returns next year.

The beautiful construction of a bird's nest

I am still picking runner beans and raspberries but as the weather turned colder everything is slowing down.

I still have yellow and red chard growing in the garden but it has now gone to seed.

Glowing golden chard

Vibrant rosy red chard

There have been so many apples this year and with the strong winds many have blown off the trees so in places we have a carpet of apples.

Crabapples

The feverfew is still flowering, it always looks so bright a cheerful.

Fried egg feverfew

I saw these Belted Galloways on a trip top North Yorkshire. They look as though they have a white bandaged around their middles. Sometimes the 
white line is not so defined.

White stripe

This was a lovely view across the fields on my way to Garrigill.

Stunning view

A long and winding road

Another moody view from the top of Hartside.

Captivating

This monument has been erected next to Hartside cafe.

How far to Penrith?

This pouffe cover is my first attempt at knitting. I am very pleased with it.

Top

Side view

Cherie the Ooh La La Bird has had surgery on her neck and has gone for a seaweed wrap to try and prevent further damage.

Cherie recovering in my kitchen

Jam, Jelly, Raspberry and Relish

This past week we have had variable weather and I have been harvesting and tidying up the flower beds in both my home and the Artful Garden. Quite a lot of the summer bedding plants are still flowering so I am reluctant dig these up until they get destroyed by frost, which in Cumbria could happen any time.

Radiating purple asters

Small Asters 

Bistort Spires

Bonny Blue delphinium

The nasturtiums are still thriving.

Nasturtium jewels

I collected the Kentish hops from my trellis and have hung them up on the beam in my kitchen. This year I have a longer garland with more hops.

A hop garland with a beautiful aroma

This white foxglove is beautiful.

Foxglove bonnets

I am picking several punnets of raspberry's every other day. I have made raspberry jam and hot tomato relish with the last of the peppers and tomatoes from the greenhouse. Also I made rosemary and mint jelly. crabapple jelly and damson cordial all with ingredients from the garden.

Glowing crabapple jelly

Damson cordial  - yum

For the first time this year I am making wine. My Victoria plum wine is in the demijohn and I have started making some damson wine. It is very much a case of experimentation as all the recipes for wine making differ in the process and ingredient quantities using the same amount of fruit.

Bubble bubble

Whilst on my trip to Glasgow last week we visited the Royal Yatch Britannica.

The binnacle compass is very regal.

Royal binnacle can you see the crown?

This is the 1930's ocean racing yatch the Bloodhound that won many races and several of the royal family are experienced yatchmen. 

Racing yatch

All the bedrooms on Britannica have single beds except for one room where there is a double bed that Prince Charles asked to have on his marriage to Princess Diana.

The Queen's bedroom

The crew bedrooms represent your rank.

Captain

Officer

Seaman

The state dining room was superb. It took 3 hours to lay the room out for a banquet, all the cutlery and glassware was measured to ensure it was in the correct position.

Come dine with me

The engine room was immaculate.

This was meticulously clean

Yes you can get a daimler on a royal yatch as long as you have a winch and pulley system and a few centimetres of storage room to spare.

Maybe we should have bought a mini

There was a hospital and a dentist surgery on board the yatch.

Just lie back

The laundry room was fascinating, shirts were changed several times a day.

Steaming up

How about this for a shirt press?

Press on

In this years Cumbria in Bloom competition Kirkoswald won several trophies and the Artful Garden got a mention as 'the fun garden on the corner.' There is a lovely picture of Boozy Floosie on the Kirkoswald in Bloom website. Boozy is running to Ravenghyl Stores in Kirkoswald for some liquid refreshment.

Search for 2013gallery.koinbloom.co.uk and look at the summer photos 

Looby Loo and Charlie Barley have decided to have a change of scene. 

Looby Loo and Bobby Barley relaxing after an afternoon of eating apples

Unfortunately the Ooh La La Bird has migrated  as she had a serious neck and wing injury caused by torrential rain. She hopes to return. 

This cloud looks as though the edges are torn.

Ragged clouds

Musing in Museums

This last week I have been on holiday in Glasgow where I spent the day in the Kelvingrove Museum.

Wonderful architecture

There is such a variety of things to explore and feast the eyes on, some things are more frivolous than others.

Welly Dog

Beauty can be found around ever corner.

Art Nouveau beauty

The light fittings are a wonder to behold and far better than the modern energy saving bulbs.

Crowns of light

In the prehistoric section there were various dinosaur skeletons. 

Balance is not my best attribute

This hogback stone grave dates back to Viking times. It was called hogback as the shape resembles a hog's back.

Primitive carving

I found this Viking ladder fascinating. The skill and craftmanship is inspiring when you think of the primitive tools they had to use.

A ladder to the stars

African masks are symbolic and use an amazing variety of recycled materials in their construction.

What message is revealed in this face? 

No longer politically correct but full of humour are these postcards about the characteristics of females. No prizes for guessing that they must have been composed by men.

Women rule OK?

This wonderful gesso panel made by Margaret Macdonald shows an incredible skill using this medium.

Stunning craftmanship

Having just started to learn to knit I loved the retro look of this machine knitted cardigan made by Kid Knit.

Knit one

The ingenuity of people is always fascinating. The first mail boat sent from St Kilda in 1876 used this method. The wooden boat held the letter and postage stamps which were sealed inside a cocoa tin. Also supplies were requested by this same method.

St Kilda mailboat

The hippo has the biggest mouth of any land animal. It can open it's mouth 150 degrees.

Open wide

This butterfly has lovely wing patterns.

Wonderful camouflage

There is always something interesting to see when you visit a city. This lovely sculpture was on the front of a building. This type of artwork is from a time gone by.

Two beautiful ladies

I love street performance. How does this man stay vertical without any help?

Golden marvel

On the day we left for Glasgow we were up early enough to see the sunrise. 

Golden delight