Tatton Park

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to spend the weekend with friends in Alderly Edge, Cheshire. It was a lovely weekend and the weather was perfect so on the Saturday we visited Tatton Park which, in the 1958, became a National Trust Property.

The house has a very interesting history. You are not allowed to take photos inside the house which is a great shame as it was full of wonderful artifacts.

Above is a view across the park....and below are some of the deer which you see roaming freely.

This is one of the secluded little lakes which is home to some ducks.

The other side of this lake is a Japanese Garden, that is reached via the bridge below.

Another view of the lake surrounding the Japanese Garden.

I was not expecting to see an African Hut in the middle of garden. It was built during the war to remind Maurice Egerton of his estate in Njoro, Kenya.

The gardens are so colourful and all the spring flowers were begining to bloom.

There were plenty of butterflies and bees to be seen...not sure if you can see the one I tried to get in my shot!

I'll save the photos of the kitchen garden for another post.

Archives:
2009: Silent Saturday-end of the day
2008: Meme- Music
2007: Witty Wednesday-8

Long time no 'see'!!

Thank you to all my blogging friends for all the nice comments and emails to check that all is well with me. After being a dedicated blogger for three years, I suddenly felt that I had very little to say. I found the winter months so depressing and I virtually went into hibernation- a bit like my tortoises!!!
Currently I am staying at Beccy's Killiney (Dublin), where I have been for 10 days. The idea was that I looked after the grandchildren so that Beccy and Joules could pop over to Bristol, for 2 weekends, to help two of Beccy's oldest friends celebrate their big birthdays.
We were all rather worried about about the volcanic ash but the first weekend ran smoothly.

This weekend I think we got a bit complacent, Beccy was actually staying here . Her friend booked the castle for the weekend, complete with swimming pool! All went well until we heard this morning that her flight home this evening was cancelled. She tried to get on an earlier flight but that was full. She has now heard that there is no morning flight tomorrow so they are going to book a car and drive to Hollyhead and catch the ferry across. Well, that's the plan.....
Now I'm due to return home tomorrow evening and I won't know until the morning whether my flight will be operating. If it does then I will have to leave for the airport before Beccy gets home. You see it's beginning to get complicated and the sad thing is it's my grandaughter's birthday tomorrow and quite naturally Beccy is very upset she won't be home when the children get up. Mollie was actually very good about it and thought it was funny her parents were stranded....or maybe she was just being brave!

Ben and I went down to the beach this morning for a walk, it was very pleasant and the sun did shine, although you wouldn't think it by the photo (my bad photography!)

My eldest grandson, who turned 17 in March, had his first driving lesson this afternoon. I was amazed when the instructor told me he would get Dillon doing 'hill starts, reversing, and turns' I certainly don't remember doing that in lesson one! Anyway he came back after a 2 hr lesson, having thoroughly enjoyed it. The instructor thinks he will need about 3 weeks of lessons before he can practice with his parents, so I'm looking forward to the time when he can drive his poor old grandmother about...that won't do his street cred any good whatsoever!!!

I couldn't resist taking a picture of Dillon sitting the car (sadly not too clear) and that's the instructor standing by the door.

I'm not allowed to put it on Facebook but I thought I would risk it on my blog as he doesn't read it!

Well that all my most recent news, time will tell whether I manage to get home tomorrow. I know my mother will not be too happy as she has a hair appointment on Tuesday, but hopefully Embee will be able to take her! Are you reading this Embee???

Barbara's Oat Biscuits (Cookies)

Last month my friend Barbara, winosandfoodies who is a brilliant cook and just happens to have been featured as 'Cook of the Week' in the Courier Mail, Taste magazine section,

mentioned a recipe for Oat (Cookies) Biscuits and how easy they are to make. I'm always looking for easy recipes so I decided to give them a try. My first mistake was not taking another look at Barbara's picture of the biscuits to remind myself not to over cook them. Also I think I might have been a little generous with the golden syrup as it was the end of a tin!!!

However, even overcooked they make a delicious crispy snack with a cup of coffee!!

I should mention they are not for those on diets, except maybe for the oats!!

OAT COOKIES (BISCUITS)

150 grams sugar

2 tablespoons golden syrup

150 grams butter

2 tablespoons milk

150 grams porridge oats

150 grams self raising flour

METHOD:

Heat oven to 180C

In a saucepan - melt sugar, syrup, butter and milk over a low heat until dissolved.

Add oats and flour, stirring well.

Place teaspoons of mix onto baking paper lined tray.

Bake 10 - 15 minutes.

Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from tray.

So Barbara, sorry not to have done your biscuits justice, I will make them again and hope to get it right next time. You can see why I would never, ever, be featured in a food magazine. I might, just, get a mention in something like this though !!!!

Archives:
2009: Witty Wednesday-83
2008: Fun Monday-52 What's in my Bucket!
2007: Despondent

Remembering the Sun

A couple of days ago we had some much needed sun and a lovely sunset.

Archives:
2009: Fun Monday-101 Bookworms
2008: Hooray for Integrity
2007: Good Neighbours

Fun Monday # 153 Do I have a favourite room !!!!

Some of you may not have been around at the beginning of Fun Monday back on 22nd January 2007. In fact it wasn't even called that on the first Monday when we all posted the view from our front doors. Who would have believed it would still be running all these years later. It was intended to be an easy show and tell and I think you would agree this has been achieved, even if we have re-visited quite a few topics.

Now for today's task that has been set by Janis who says:

...here is what I dreamed up! The big question is ....What is the favorite room in your home? Tell us why and show us a photo if you can.

I'm not sure I really have a favourite room, well actually that is not true but I'm not showing you a picture as it's my mothers bedroom and it wasn't fit to be photographed. This is a room that overlooks the back of the house, is quiet, and catches the afternoon and evening sun. Originally I planned to use this room as my retreat and a cosy sitting room in winter.

Our sitting room is where I tend to sit and watch TV during the evenings.


I did not tidy up so I apoligise for the room looking messy.

I also spend a lot of time in my dining room at the main computer, (you might have noticed I keep my laptop by my chair in the sitting room!)

No prizes for guessing that I enjoy playing Farmville, Cafe World, Fishville and Lexulous!!!!
When we downsize, I'm hoping to have a conservatory and that would definitely be my favourite room!

Anniversary Links
22/1/07
21/1/08
19/1/09

Archives:
2009: I'm so excited
2008: Fun Monday-51-My Bedside Drawers
2007: Who's the Birthday Girl!

Winter Wonderland

These are my last few snow pictures (well I hope we've seen the last of it!)

These first two photos were taken from our top bedroom, some 50 feet from ground level. You get a good view of the neighbourhood from here.

Below virgin snow, the postman soon made it look messy!

We saw quite a few animal prints in the snow, some were clearly birds, but not sure if this was made by a cat or fox. As we have walls and fences around the back it had to be a good climber!

We thought we'd seen the last of the snow after a mild weekend, but this morning we woke up to a snow storm which left a dusting of the white stuff. It soon turned to rain and is now completely disappeared.

Will this be the last of it I wonder????

Archives:
2009: Worm Works
2008: Electronic Arts Redwood City
2007: Don't you just love Garfield

Fun Monday # 148 What's in the Christmas mail!

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date! The snow we had last night had to be cleared and it took me about three hours and I now have backache so I'm glad to be sitting down and taking a rest. Oh and today is the Winter Solstice so it's the shortest and darkest day of the year. Roll on the lighter evenings not that we'll notice it for a couple of months!

Right down to FM.

Today Faye is our hostess and she says:

Your assignment, should you decide to play, is to share some of your favorite holiday mail that you've received this year. Possible categories:

Best All Around Card

Most Meaningful Message

Best Kid/Pet Holiday Photo

Best Family Newsletter

Most Humorous Card

As it's Christmas this is what I'm going to concentrate on...
For the best kid picture I've chosen this one of my youngest grandson. I pinched it from Beccy who posted it on facebook and I thought it would make a perfect Christmas Greeting. I just love the expression on his face!

Although I get news letters from friends I don't get any family newsletters; however, I do get some hand made cards which I love...

Ben made me smile...look what he has written in his card....now when I was staying with them last month he actually told me he wanted to stay in Dublin for Christmas and he's got his wish as his dad has some work commitments and they can't come until 28th. I think this might count as a meaningful message!

The other card I'm going to show came from my blogging buddy Daffy I love her blog and she supplies me with a lot of my material for my Witty Wednesday posts (not that I can share everything she sends ;))

I was thrilled to get this card so thank you very much Daffy.

Well that's all I can come up with today. I'll come visiting soon.

Archives:
2008: Winter Solstice
2007: Christmas Greetings
2006: Winter Solstice

It's snowing

I saw on Facebook that less than an hour ago my niece's daughter had commented that it was snowing. She lives less than 2 miles from me so when I looked out of the window this is what I saw. So instead of going to bed I had to try taking a couple of photos.

Not very good but hopefully I'll get more tomorrow in daylight.

Archives:
2008: Music for Granny
2007: Hand Art
2006: Menu for Hope -3

My brother's new home

On Monday I took my mother to see my brother's new bungalow, my sister-in-law is brilliant, she has already started decorating one of the bedrooms and they were very well organised considering they haven't been there very long. My brother has started to cut back some of the trees and he has plans for the terraced garden, come the spring.

Archives:
2008: Witty Wednesday-77
2007: Fun Monday-46 + Menu for Hope 4th Year
2006: Catching Up

Made with love!

Sam made her granny a necklace for her birthday and it arrived yesterday.

These photos don't do it justice. It's a very pretty little pink heart with a chain of little silver, pink, blue and gold beads with a magnetic clasp to make it easier for my mother to secure.

Archives:
2008: Secret Ornament Swap
2007: My secret ornament surprise
2006: Well done Sainsburys

A December Sky 2009

As I went outside to put the recycling for collection on Tuesday morning at around 7am the sky was looking very pretty. I rushed back inside to get the camera, and hoped the neighbours wouldn't think I was mad if they saw me outside in my PJ's on a cold December morning.

It didn't last within an hour the sky was cloudy and we had some rain!

Archives:
2008: Witty Wednesday-76
2007: Fun Monday-45
2006: Lunch a la barbara (winosandfoodies)

A Birthday Boy

Now I wonder who this is trying on some winter warmers!

You probably guessed that it's my youngest grandson and today he's celebrating his 9th Birthday.

He is always very reluctant to let me take a photo, but yesterday evening his mother had to attend a meeting and I was left in charge at home. So after a bath and hair wash, which he does himself, I managed to snap this picture just before he got into bed. For once he went straight to sleep, instead of finding reasons to come back downstairs. He thought today would come more quickly if he went to sleep early!

Happy Birthday Ben
I hope that you are going to enjoy your special day
Lots of Love Grandma xxx

I would also like to wish all my blogging friends a very Happy Thanksgiving

and

I also hope Sam and Fred enjoy their weekend in Las Vagas.

Archives:
2008: Now we are eight
2007: Birthday Boy Ben
2006: Happy Birthday Ben

Post from Dublin: Avoca Handweavers

Today Beccy and I decided to take a trip to Avoca Handweavers to have a look around the shop and visit their cafe where we had the most delicious hot chocolate.
In the picture below Beccy is posting to Flook on her new iphone!

A not very good picture of the entrance

A random shot in one area of the store.

I noticed this cute little sheep under one of the tables.

Beccy did a little shopping, and as we walked back to the car I took a couple of pictures of a little stream that looked quite pretty.

Archives:
2008: Getting Worried
2007: Postcard from San Francisco-5
2006: None