Carrots and Clock Towers

It's been a while since we last wrote and I've probably forgotten most of what we've been doing ! Nan has gone back home now for a well earned rest. We had a lovely time with her - we had a day out with the other Quaker children at a pottery painting workshop followed by a picnic in the park. We visited Hill Top Farm a few times to fly Ella's new kite and go on the swings. We went to the park at Birdingbury and a school festival to see some vintage cars. Nan told us all about Lauren's fabulous performance in Chicago too.

Bob and Jan were away for a week, so we fed the pheasants every day while they were away. All nine of the eggs hatched, but unfortunately we didn't get to see the baby pheasants. They were hustled quickly into the fields behind the house.

Ella and Karl also went to wind up the church clock while Bob was away. There is a fantastic view from the top of the church tower, but Ella didn't want to go out onto the roof. She climbed all the stairs to the top though. Here is a picture of the clock mechanism in it's glass case.

Imogen had a birthday last week, so we were invited over for birthday tea and a play.

Yesterday we went to the school in the next village for their fete. We also visited our friend Nora for a cup of tea and a chat. It's her 82nd birthday in a couple of weeks, so we're planning a birthday lunch for her.

Tom is in fine form. He is enjoying our temporarily open plan kitchen. Here is a picture of him emptying the dried pasta onto the floor, encouraged by his sister...

The vegetables are doing well - we've harvested our first lot of carrots, which are delicious. The courgettes have flowered today and the potatoes look ready to flower soon. Ella and Tom have been enjoying the strawberries and last week we made a pear and blackcurrant crumble from our blackcurrant crop.

Today we are travelling to nanna and bampa's for a fortnight's visit. The kitchen is being knocked apart next week, so we're leaving Karl to it !

Gardening and Goldfinches

The birds have been busy in our garden during the last fortnight - we have been visited by baby goldfinches feeding on our thistle (nyger) seeds. Bob and Jan have a pheasant nesting in one of their flower borders. She's sitting on 9 eggs and seems very unfazed by Bob mowing the lawn around her.


We went to visit my friend Jane last week. She has a webcam in her blue tit box and we saw 4 babies in the nest. Unfortunately our blue tits have abandoned our nest box, but we're hopeful for next time.


Our vegetables are coming along well. We've been eating our salad leaves and rocket for a couple of weeks now. The potatoes are doing very well and should be ready in the next few weeks. We're hoping for a bumper crop of strawberries too - lots of little green strawberries have appeared in the strawberry planters.


Last week we visited Imogen and Cameron for lunch and a play. We also went to the library, hairdressers and the dentist. Non brought Ella and Dylan for lunch and a bounce on the trampoline too.
Next week my friend Sue is due to visit, with her dog Elvis. Nan is also coming on Friday for a couple of weeks. Ella is counting down the sleeps until she arrives.. We are also looking forward to hearing how Lauren enjoyed her stint as Roxy Hart in her Uni production of Chicago.
Tomorrow, Aunty Sandra celebrates her birthday, so...

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday Aunty Sandra,
Happy Birthday to you !