Monday, 26 December 2016

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas has taken so long to arrive and yet, it went like it had never arrived!
However, the day was still filled with festivity from the moment the church clock struck midnight!

As soon as my family and friends came back from midnight mass, we cracked out the hot chocolate at 2am and hung the gingerbread decorations on the tree!



There was an awful lot of them!
I also forgot how large the tree was and how many presents there would be!


Going to bed (if only for 4 hours!) the house was still buzzing with excitement and when the sun rose, I was up and making porridge for everyone.


Might as well start the day off right!


The presents were as usual opened in a flash and with only a handful left, it was anyone's guess who they might be for!


With the chicken in the oven...


and the vegetables on the go...


the table was delicately set and very soon after, it was time to eat!


I was stuffed by the end of it!


And I even made a couple of new friends; Sock Bird 1 and Sock Bird 2!


I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and I hope New Year will be the same!

Saturday, 24 December 2016

Grass Wood Nature Reserve

Christmas Eve and the weather couldn't be windier!
Fortunately where my friend and I were, it didn't rain at all for the duration we were out walking round Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Grass Woods Nature Reserve.


It's a lovely little wood. Only down the road from Grassington village, it was peaceful and felt fairly remote.


Whilst walking through this small piece of woodland, we came across a very tiny limestone pavement, not too similar to Malham Cove. Or so I have been told!


After a couple of enjoyable hours, we thought it best to have lunch. So off we went to Grassington to find a cafe or a tearoom. We found such a pleasant tearoom called The Retreat Cafe and Tea rooms. It was so pleasant, we found ourselves staying there longer than any of the other customers!


It was such a large burger I ordered and the cake was just as big and as delicious!
I would definitely go back there!

Saturday, 17 December 2016

Decorating the house

Today, we finally decorated the house! Better late than never I suppose!
I started in the sitting room this year and worked my way to the tree.
I started with the paper chain, that was entertaining to put up!


Doesn't look too bad really!

Next up, was a makeshift pine cone garland for the mantelpiece. In the evening when it is dark, you can really see the tiny fairy lights light up and sparkle the pine cones and baubles!


Moving into the hall, I noticed my friend had already put out part of the knit-ivity she has been working on.


My favourite decorations are the bells...


and the robins...


and the mistletoe...


and this tree in general!


Finally I reached the tree!
The lights were a nightmare as you can well imagine! The size of that tree is unbelievable, it is so bushy!


Not long to go now!

Friday, 2 December 2016

Christmas at Beamish

Yesterday, a group of us went to a special event called Christmas at Beamish. It was truly magical!
All of the town was lit up with traditional Victorian styled lighting, and to see the trams lit up was fantastic! Beamish went all out and I was transported back in time to witness classic street carol singers and merchants with stalls in the park.


As we waited to enter the museum grounds, cups of tea were bought and drank gratefully.


We didn't have to wait long before we were allowed in. A stampede of people rushed in; I was only too happy to be on the shoulder of one of my friends!

The town was worthy to be on the front of a Christmas card; with the trams brightly lit and the Christmas tree standing tall, it was a wonderful sight.


The whole town was so beautifully picturesque.


After looking round the shops and the small market in the park for present idea's, traditional coal stoked fish and chips were beckoning!
We had to wait well over an hour for them but golly, they were worth it!


Once eaten and cleaned up, we allowed for the rather large portion to settle whilst listening to a small choir in the Pitt Village church.


Back in the town, I bought what I thought would make great Christmas presents and admired the scenery yet again.


It is just so stunning here at Christmas!

Before heading home, a much needed cup of tea was needed and I was more than welcome to drink it!


Tuesday, 29 November 2016

Christmas in York

Today, I went into York with a friend to do a spot of Christmas shopping. I have been incredibly organised this year which is a first!

Once in York, we had a browse around the Christmas market to have an idea of the sort of things there was available. It didn't take long, there weren't many people around to squeeze past to look at a certain stall!


Nearing lunchtime, we thought it best to head to our favourite tea room on the Shambles to beat the hungry crowd.
The large all day English breakfast looked very appetising!


It was delicious! Especially the toast!

After a very large lunch, we investigated some of the other usual shops we were so familiar with, when we came across Coppergate. The hanging baubles suspended in the air from strings of lights looked magical.


Back on Parliament street, we continued with our shopping, and I'm pleased to say, I managed to buy most of my shopping  today!


Saturday, 26 November 2016

Autumn at Potteric Carr

Still in the height of autumn but on the very edge of winter, a trip to Potteric Carr reflected just that. With the sharp bitter wind battering the reed beds, tucked away in the woods were the colours of autumn.


It was the opening day of the reserves new visitor centre. From the outside, it looks like a deluxe hide!
After a short walk round the woods, we warmed up with a coffee.


It is now a very lovely, bright cafe.


After my much needed coffee and my friends tea, we carried on with our walk.
arriving at one of the hides, outside the old Kingfisher cafe, we admired the autumn sun on the trees and the reeds.


After a couple of hours and a few more hides later, we arrived back at the cafe for some much needed lunch. The first thing to grab our attention was the sausage sandwich and a side of home cut chips.


Delicious!

Heading back out into the reserve, we realised how beautiful every pathway and every view was.


Autumn is such a colourful time of year.
Round Huxter Well Marsh, were some fun looking highland cows. The best wild lawn mower nature will ever have!

Running back to the visitor centre, we waited in the cold, dimming light for the starling murmuration to begin.
Whilst catching a glimpse of the sunlight dancing through the long grass.


The murmuration happened, much to our disappointment, in the lowering evening mist. Only parting shots of the starlings were seen but nothing, unfortunately, worth yelling about.

The mist created some wonderful sights though!


Monday, 31 October 2016

RSPB Leighton Moss

Over the weekend, I went to RSPB Leighton Moss with a friend. It was their birthday get-away.
Besides the weather, we had great fun and saw quite alot considering it was late October and the hype of summer was long gone.


We went up on Friday evening and stayed in a cute little b&b called Plantation Cottage. There are only 2 rooms in the b&b which surprisingly wasn't awkward. We almost had our own personal service!


Bright and early on Saturday morning, we had a full English breakfast, cereal, toast, coffee and the trimmings and went straight out to the reserve.
It was incredibly misty!


But that didn't stop the wildlife from getting on with their day!
I never realised how large swans were until I saw them flying across the lake...


The picture isn't great but they were moving and there was alot of mist!

After a few hours moving from hide to hide, we started to feel a bit peckish. We headed back to the visitor centre and browsed their menu in the cafe. We weren't particularly hungery after such a large breakfast, so we settled for a fruit scone each!


The were delicious!
Near the visitor centre was a Huge viewing platform.


It was massive!
And the views were quite spectacular considering the mist was still lingering.


Down the path from the platform was a rather large spacious hide. This was the best spot to see the very elusive water rail, which is a small wading bird who's call sounds just like a squealing pig.


Soon it was too dark for us to do see much, so we headed back to the b&b.
Down the road from the b&b was a pub called The Ship Inn. We jokingly called them The Ship Out as they were out of most things on their menu!
Besides that, the food was very tasty!

Before leaving the Plantation Cottage Sunday morning, we waved goodbye to comfy room...


and the handsome looking horse!


On Sunday, we thought we would investigate the other hides RSPB Leighton Moss managed. These hides were overlooking morecambe bay a mile or so down the road from the main reserve.

We were hoping to watch the tide come in but it turns out, we were completely in the wrong place!


It looks bare of wildlife but trust me, it was full of it!
I must admit, they do have some very nice hides!


Discovering there were no free parking spaces in the reserve car park, we went up to Eaves Wood for a bit of a wander. It was an incredibly peaceful wood, the air filled with birdsong.


Heading back to the reserve, hoping to find a parking space, our patience was rewarded; there was only 1 available space!

Failing to see the Beaded tits on Saturday, we tried again...


However, it was a bit late in the day so we never did see them.
Sunday was the same as Saturday; same hides, same birds but a completely different adventure!