Country diary of a city lady ...

Christmas recycled

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 09:16:28 +0000

The emphasis was on recycled decorations for the Tatton Christmas party! The centre piece was a carved wooden vase found in the Oxfam shop. It looked as though it had been washed and had the appearance of driftwood but an enthusiastic rub with beeswax brought back to life the golden tones of oak.The individual table decorations were greenery from the garden gathered into a piece of sacking. The wreath was made of curled cones from last years diary and the trees from folding pages of a magazine; “The Garden” made the best one because it had lots of green pictures!
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Pumpkin bootees

Mon, 5 Sep 2011 09:58:22 +0100

A pattern collected by Vicky on her trip to NZ. It is so easy to do and so effective!
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Alderley Edge

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 08:50:34 +0100

What strange mysteries the Edge holds ! It’s intricate pathways and half concealed entrances provoke thoughts of wizards and witches. On what was the sunniest day of the summer, the hunt for mushrooms was in vain but it was pleasant to walk in the dappled shade .
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Arley Hall Gardens

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 09:12:01 +0100

The borders still looking spectacular; despite the weather being cold,wet and miserable since April.The flowers are packed closely together, leaving no room for weeds to grow.
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Lou and Simon

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 22:28:44 +0100

Fabulous day in a fabulous setting! More like midsummer than the end of April. After the ceremony in the Mansion, there was afternoon tea on the lawn; followed by a celebration in a marquee in the grounds of the old hall.
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Media City

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 08:07:40 +0100

Media City now nears completion, gardens with small arenas for filming soften the sharp edges of the numerous studios, Salford University, apartments and car parks. The BBC will move in slowly to buildings housing the latest technology, with space to grow and develop; away from the overcrowded south. Not all the staff made the move north, so there will be numerous job opportunities for electricians, technicians and all the media entourage. Already the whole place is vibrant and alive and lifting the whole area to a new level
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embroidery

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 09:51:05 +0100

A tablecloth embroidered for Simon and Lou’s wedding, later this month. I’d been embroidering it for ages but at the last minute only had time to do a small crochet border.
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April

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 08:52:29 +0100

April has been the best month for flowers, the sun has shone and it’s been as warm as a summer’s day.Everything that can has flowered and bloomed, to the best of it’s ability.
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Fanny Maria North

Sat, 2 Apr 2011 09:32:01 +0100

My great grandmother Fanny Maria North born 1850, her portrait painted when she was 16. The family moved round about that time from Shropshire to Bradford Manchester. In 1870 she married James William Platt, in Manchester cathedral.
The photo could be her in later years but who knows? There are so many photos of nameless people from the past. The three children I do know were some of her grandchildren Edwin, Edith and Doris.
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Border Morris Dancers

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 10:01:10 +0100

Just came across the morris dancers whilst out for a stroll. They are from the Welsh Borders. As agricultural workers they were poorly paid and to beg for money they blacked their faces so they wouldn’t be recognised and the rags were sewn to the inside of their coats, turning them round when they got to their venue. Certainly brightened up my journey and in the present economic circumstances it may happen more often!
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Fallen Oak

Wed, 9 Mar 2011 15:17:29 +0000

Garden volunteers at Tatton, clearing the last of the oak, which was felled during a Winter storm. The remaining stump will be made into a seat.
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Sewing skills

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:40:34 +0000

Bought this scarf at the Christmas market, just couldn’t resist it. It’s made of individual tiny circles of silk sewn into flowerets then stitched together, hours and hours of work and the colours blended together beautifully. The creator with all that patience works at the Market on the Fringe, The Old Powerhouse Llangollen. Must be worth a visit if you’re passing that way.
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Christmas 2010

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:37:33 +0000

This year’s Christmas cards, using CD labels and dried leaves from the garden.
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Garden Survival

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:24:41 +0100

The garden has survived despite three weeks of painter’s feet and a cold wet summer and a very harsh Winter. The bonsai quince and syringa flowered in early Spring, after spending the winter in a plastic cold frame. Both abutilon were lost but a kind neighbour,to whom I’d given a cutting, returned it but I’m not taking any chances I will keep it inside this winter. All the fuchsia which had grown above the height of the wall had to be cut back to ground level but nearly every one developed new growth, at the base. The loss of the abutilon meant some redesigning and a decision to fill it completely with tall perennials, which will flower above the wall.
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Heather Hike

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:56:15 +0100

August is a must to be out on the fells, as the heather is at it’s best. On the walk up to Fairbrook Naze on Seal Edge a rich purple heather perfumes the pathway and hills are covered as far as the eye can see.
I know we had a drought in Spring but there’s been lots of rain in August and it was surprising to see thelow level of water in Ladybower ; some bygone walls of past villages had emerged !

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Tatton Flower Show

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:34:27 +0100

Once again as the show came nearer the rain clouds began to threaten but there were spells of sunshine which was all that was needed to bring in the crowds. The show itself was smaller than last year, less of the small retailers, which was disappointing but maybe those that did come along were busier, certainly in the plant selling area. Hope sufficient money was made to enable the show to go on next year!
As to the dear within weeks they are back grazing on the new grass growing where the marquees had stood.
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Summer stroll

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:51:11 +0100

There’s something special about not knowing where you’re going, until you set off; just going where the fancy takes you or the weather dictates where would be wise. Today was a wonderful walking day blue sky, warm sunshine but just a slight breeze to keep the temperature cool. The woods almost have an Alpine feel, as the path is covered with the debris of conifers on the parched ground but the bluebells are most definitely English, with their long, fluted, dark blue bells - no Spanish invaders here!
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Antiques Roadshow

Thu, 20 May 2010 09:28:51 +0100

It all began fairly calmly, then the gates opened and the queue went back from the house to the car park. It all seems fairly sedate on TV but underneath is a hive of activity and QUEUES! Everyone can see an expert, if they are patient enough to wait and the “experts” are lovely and Eric Knowles and the “glass man” brought a nice light sense of humour and entertainment to the event. But it was a long day, as volunteers we were there at 8:30, given our lilac sash and then spent the rest of the day guiding people towards their experts. Amazed at what was brought in, out of the thousands of items 72 were filmed and will be shown in the Autumn. Now I know the BBC are trying to save money and there was a barbeque the evening before and chilli and rice for lunch but it would have been nice to receive a T shirt or even a keyring, for all our hard work
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Spring at Tatton

Wed, 5 May 2010 12:42:04 +0100

Tatton Park is looking exceptionally beautiful this Spring. The long, cold winter has delayed the early flowers and everything now seems to be blooming at once. Blue skies and warm sunshine have lifted everyone’s spirit and the season has begun in earnest.
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Sunshine all the way!

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:25:35 +0100

Sunshine all day to help cast off those cold winter blues and everything beginning to “green up”. Manchester only 45 minutes away, how lucky are we to have such a wildness on our doorstep ! Marred only by teams of the over, enthusiastic novices scrambling over the fellside in some sponsored Rotary Club “do” - why such large groups? why so noisy?
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