Winter nights

Its freezing here and last night it was frosty too. I was tempted to wear my socks in bed. Husband bravely offered to warm up my side before I got in. No hottie bottle could be found. An extra quilt was needed by any of us who had chilly toes....and they can be made in all sizes...so there's no need for anyone to shiver in bed...You can see the design of this one on the 'gifts' page.

Hearts and Stars

I sometimes think I should try to make more contemporary art pieces. But then I go to a quilting shop and there I see a  little hanger. American folk art of the log cabin period has a powerful appeal. Is it years of watching Little House On The Prairie, snuggled up on the sofa with  my lovely girls which makes me  secretly love long skirts and frilly petticoats all worn with boots? Maybe, and I can't resist a heart shaped wire hanger either... so look on the smaller gifts page and see my log cabin folk art hangings....now where's my long denim skirt and suede boots!

Berries

The hawthorn bushes are hung with fantastic ruby jewels. Today the berries stood out against the bright blue sky, strung together like like beads on a string. The pheasant as returned from his summer seclusion and he has a new wife. Well actually he has several new ladies in tow, wives, girlfriends, casual relationships...who knows as they all wear the same dress... he is too shy to photograph, but Jane can feed him by hand. Barney finds his Springer instincts are too much for this and will chase him, even if it is very slowly these days!  What a beautiful day on the common after so much rain.

Visitors

We have a rat living in the garden, well very near the back door really. Often we see him in the afternoon, pottering around the bird feeder. We tempted him with jam  spread at the entrance to the humane trap, we would like him to move somewhere else....and in the morning we found we had had a visitor.... husband set  him free the first day, then a few days later he was back...Was it the same visitor, how can we tell? Shyness made him curl up, both wore exactly the same prickly jacket in the same size and colour...who knows how big the family is too!

Leaves

  On our walk this morning Barney and I saw some amazing leaves. They come in all shapes and sizes, but the colours are the most beautiful thing. From the highest point of the common I could see and misty grey of Lincoln cathedral and in front, the flame coloured leaves of a young horse chestnut tree. Every day is different, best of all is seeing the barn owl.... and here's Barney, off on some doggy quest which I as a mere mortal can never understand.....

Owls

Most months we have tawny owls in the garden. One wonderful summer we had baby owls roosting in the willow tree. They squeaked and shouted throughout the day, wouldn't go to sleep and were always hungry. We could visit them by walking under the hanging willow branches and they would look down in surprise. Recently husband and I had a holiday in Ironbridge. We visited the Jackman Tile Museum. Here are some owls we saw. Now I badly want an owl on the roof.....real, pottery, carved , I don't mind, they just have such a presence! 

New Neighbour

Looking out of my kitchen window  I realise I have a new neighbour. She is a most glamourous lady and today wears a very fashionable pair of strippy tights in brown and yellow. Her legs are very long and slim, the kind of legs I'd love to own. Actually she wears four pairs of tights.... and I think she will become a yummy mummy next year...