Nature

Isn't nature a wonderful thing?

Knaresborough

This weekend was great weather wise, so still on the quest for autumn colour we set out into Yorkshire....and ended up in Knaresborough.

And yay! at last a sunny day with some autumn trees!

We visited Mother Shiptons cave too.

 

The petrifying well

Old Mother Shipton herself

 

 The Viaduct

deer at Studley royal

Autumnal pictures

I got my wish for a dry day....but not very bright and a distinct paucity of autumnal trees! But this is what I got in the garden...  


the Acer in the garden again...

 



 

Barnard Castle.





Autumn

Ok, so a month ago it felt like autumn had arrived too early, but today I enjoyed the crispness in the air and last night it was great to cozy up in the sitting room with the heating on and candles burning. I am back to eating porridge for breakfast and soup for lunch and it's that time of year when I have to get very inventive and find as many different apple recipes as I can so as not to get bored...I predicted a good crop and boy I was right!

I'm hoping for a dry weekend to give me chance to get the camera out and take some pictures of all the beautiful trees with their autumn colours...the last couple of weekends have been too wet.

The Acer in the back garden, I love this tree!

I took a walk to the post office earlier....I had my iPod on with Bombay Bicycle club playing away like I was in a movie and it was the soundtrack! I often think like this (I know...I know!)...but my life is generally pretty dull and I have a fertile imagination! Actually I spend way too much time in my head..if i could only get out of my head and live in the real world....well who knows what could happen!

Dreams can be very interesting when examined in daylight. They are often mysterious, confusing or just plain weird! But last night I had a dream that was very clear...I was on my way to do something for myself (the exact details escape me now) when someone turned up needing my help. I helped them at the expense of my activity and when the dream was over the feeling of being shortchanged was very strong. And yet in life I do it all the time, put others and their needs before my own. Part of it comes from being a mama bear and part comes from being a caring woman with a desire to heal. But part of it is also unhealthy and something that I really need to work on....well that is what I have taken from the dream any way....

Special day number 2!

Today was the second day of a celebratory weekend....the family gathering to mark my baby brother's 30th birthday! We went to the Wensleydale Heifer http://www.wensleydaleheifer.co.uk/


The weather was diabolical, but there was a cozy welcoming log fire, great food and family....and when we left the sun was shining.

Edward wearing cappucino froth!

the birthday boy

this has to be a fire hazard!!!!



Special day number one

Today I was officially a 'special friend', kinda like a godparent for a Humanist naming ceremony. I met Jo (as I have met many wonderful women) through my antenatal teacher training. We have become good friends, I love her wicked 'blokey' sense of humour! After a very dramatic birth with her first child Henry her pregnancy with baby number two was not surprisingly a bit of a roller coaster! But she managed beautifully and on the 18th December last year, Rosalind made a gentle, dignified entry into the world. She is the most adorable little treasure with huge, deep, brown eyes and a smile that would melt even the hardest of hearts! Today was her naming ceremony in Minerva's temple at Harwick park.  http://www.durham.gov.uk/Pages/Service.aspx?ServiceId=6239

I was jelly legged as I read my part of the poem that we three special friends had been asked to read, but as promised I wasn't heckled!! It was a lovely way to celebrate and welcome such a special little girl to the world, thank you Jo and Mark for asking me to be have a role in the day and in Rosalinds life.

The weather was at least mild and dry (between two very damp ones!)...specially ordered for the special day!