Autumn is progressing apace, with rain and winds on a regular basis. During a quiet spell we went to collect crab apples from this old tree, it was smothered in apples this year. I made Crab Apple Jelly and Crab Apple & Mint Jelly. I really did not like the latter, the jelly was very perfumed, the mint was too strong I think.

One of the last blooms in the garden, I must look into getting more colour into the garden around the year, it's lovely in the summer but goes over very quickly. I am also in the process (very slowly mind) of digging up the entire lawn, next year will be serious vegetable gardening around here!

It is also that time of year when wrapping the shoeboxes is in full swing. http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/

I try to do a couple in the evening, a very energetic lady collects them and there is a community push to fill as many as possible. I wonder if there will be as many this year whilst people are worrying about their own finances.

Last week I popped into Worcester to get some birthday presents - October is heavy with birthdays in this family! Well I managed to miss my bus, and with an hour to spare I made a bee line for a little quilting shop I know - The Cotton Reel. So anyway, can't get out of there without buying something - no not possible, so here are the stockings I decided to make for the nieces and nephew. I cut them all out last night ready to sew. I shall embroider their names on the top and embellish with ribbons and buttons. Can you see the gorgeous ribbon at the bottom - Love Never Melts. AAaahh! Christmas plans ahead, mincemeat, Christmas cake and more sewing = I really love this time of year.

I have been enjoying this blog very much lately - http://blueberrycottage.blogspot.com/ I'm going to find a Pumpkin to try the Pumpkin Cookies, they sound delicious.

Bits & Pieces

There has been much talk in blogland about homemade cleaning products. Some talk of being 'greener' and with some it is a cost issue. At the same time though I have read a few bloggers comment that they could not use homemade washing products because they cannot believe it cleans as well as bought box powders, or that they like a fragrance. Well this is what I have used for ages, it's cheaper, convenient - and it works!

The M27 rootstock apple I planted earlier this year has given me 7 apples this year which I am very pleased with, hopefully it will go bananas next year (not literally!) It is 'James Grieves' and a very nice apple to pick of the tree as I walk past.

Last night tea was delayed as I caught a glimpse of a balloon coming very close to the house. We get them all summer but this one was close. The photos are taken after they have skimmed over our house - over the hills and far away.

The Birds and The Bees (Butterflies too!)

Today has been one of those glorious September days, you know the sort I mean, one that is even more precious because the days will soon be short and cold and there is a certain expectation in the air of change to come. I was so pleased to see bees in the garden today, they have been a rare sight this summer.

My buddleia was a busy place today. Unfortunately it has got to go - to make way for more dwarf apple trees. I will be planting another one on the front garden though.

I did title this The Birds and The Bees, so here are Gucci, Chanel and Dior enjoying an afternoon on the lawn, while we took opportunity of the weather to dismantle, clean and overhaul their house.

Tomorrow is forecast to be another fine day so I am going to try and get up to the top of the village where I have spied a Crab Apple tree which is dripping in little golden apples. I look forward to making Crab Apple Jelly, Mint and Apple Jelly and anything else I can think of!

First of all may I say a big thank you to Teresa at Honeycomb cottage for giving me this award


and also Tracey at funkeymonkey for this one

As far as I can see the rules are the same:-

1. Put the logo on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you
3. Nominate at least seven other blogs
4. Add links to those blogs
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.
On Simply Being
A Life Full Of Blessings
Codlins and Cream
faerie nuff
Lucy Locket
Contemplating Change
home matters most

Should any of you ladies not wish to participate that is fine by me, I just wanted you to know that visiting all your blogs is a pleasure. There are many more of course, the world of blogging is such an interesting and inspirational place, and I am thankful to you all.

Now back to photos.

Chatsworth House, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, it will be more in the public eye as the film The Duchess hits the screens, I am sure it will be a huge success here and across the pond.



The day was beautiful, sunny but not too hot. The interior of the house is magnificent, just as I remembered it from years ago. Being very keen Austen fans we know that this is the house that Pemberley was based on in Pride & Prejudice, we could just imagine the divine Darcy strutting around the place! If any of you have the chance to visit I would urge you to do so, it is one of the finest houses in England.
http://www.chatsworth.org/

This is a photo of the side of the house, unfortunately we couldn't take one of the front, but open the link and take a look at just how impressive the approach is!

DD wanted to visit the Blue John mines, one of the reasons we went to the Peak District, we all duly climbed and trudged down deep into the earth, although many photos were taken only a few came out, and here they are

It was quite an ordeal coming back up from the depths! but apparently it was worth it. This particular hill in the Derbyshire countryside is the only place on earth where Blue John is found. I could only afford a small ring for dd, it is tucked away to be found in her Christmas stocking. Take a look at the website - there is a good little video there.

http://www.bluejohn-cavern.co.uk/

We have enjoyed our 'holiday' at home, relaxing and seeing friends etc. On Wednesday I went to see Mamma Mia - which is hysterical, well worth seeing for a good laugh! Anyway we decided to take an overnight trip to the Peak District, eldest daughter wanted to visit the Blue John Mines and we all wanted to see Chatsworth - I will post about those over the weekend. Our overnight stop was in Castleton - in the Hope Valley. Such a beautiful part of the country - and Castleton was very picturesque, as the following will confirm!

Miners cottages by the stream




Peveril Castle overlooks the village - we will walk up the hill next time we visit!





The Market Place






A view up the lane to one of the caverns





Lots of quaint little cottages to see.





Bargate Cottage B&B. This was a great place to stay. The rooms are cosy and comfortable, and the breakfast was very enjoyable. The hostess is super and I hope we get to visit again, maybe next year.

http://www.bargatecottage.co.uk/



The cavern in the village has a rather cheeky name, apparently Queen Victoria visited it and there was an attempt to change the name - but it didn't happen. Take a look a the website:-

We have decided to stay at home this year and have what I think is being called a 'Staycation'. One of the local attractions is Witley Court, and in all the years we have lived here we have never visited - so we put that right the other day. Witley Court was one of the premier country houses of the Victorian period - but was devastated by fire in 1937. It is now an amazing ruin, but with one of the best fountains in europe - apparently!

Up to the main entrance with its tremendous columns, and into what was once an amazing entrance hall. In the Victorian age Lord Dudley was the owner, and often was host to the aristocracy, including the Prince of Wales, giving sumptuous parties. At Christmas it is said that he had the Christmas Tree in the 69ft ballroom hung with precious jewellery, from which the lady guests could choose a piece to take home with them! That's my kind of party!





When you go through the house to the back you catch a glimpse - and then

Dudley commissioned the leading garden designer W A Nesfield to provide him with a suitably grand srrounding, and James Forsyth created the magnificent fountain 'Perseus and Andromeda'. The main jet in this fountain reaches at least 90', and there are lots of smaller ones, all pumped from a nearby pool - in turn supplied by a reservoir over half a mile away and 100' above house level. I had been looking forward to seeing this amazing structure - but in reality it exceeded all expectations.

As if this is not enough there is something else worth seeing at Witley - and that is the Church.

http://www.greatwitleychurch.org.uk/
Although a tiny parish church it is said to be the finest baroque church in England - please enlarge the photos to see the exquisite detail, I was lost for words.

At last a couple of days of warm (even hot!) sunshine. I took my cup of tea out into the garden this morning and spent a couple of hours weeding and cutting back. I am slowly clearing a bed so that I can put in some dwarf apple trees and David Austen roses.



When it got too hot I came in bringing these beauties with me.

I have over the years accumulated a few things that were starting to clutter my kitchen, so I have recently bought a cupboard which fits perfectly behind the back door in the utility room and all my 'stuff' is organised on it. The two recent additions are a new-to-me Kenwood, the previous one blew up trying to knead bread dough! and a Kenwood slicer, I love this! I can bake 4 loaves, slice and bag them and put them in the freezer, or slow cook a ham, slice and freeze for sandwiches, hash or ham with parsley sauce.




Efficient but not pretty! So here is a picture of one of my favourite things. This little dairy cow sat on my mums butter dish until it got smashed.

Second daughter played with her camera today and took these artistic shots.

Clever hen - chewing



And the other two!

They enjoy our company more than anything else, and certainly more than our Marrans did. They are Warrens and we have the three, which I thought would be enough for our needs. They have today each laid an egg for the first time. Second daughter has an affinity with them for some reason, going as far as to proclaim herself 'the hen whisperer'.!!!

We only have a small lawn to keep them on but so far it has not been trashed, we move the ark everyday. I decided on the Boughton Ark from Forsham Cottage Arks - this one:-

http://www.forshamcottagearks.com/poultry-housing/cat-prod-boughton-chicken-housing.htm

It's swish hen housing, a bit pricey but very good.