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Sunday, October 31

Autumn

Leaves
by Elsie N. Brady

How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow. 

It's tidy up time in the garden and the vast piles of leaves need to be sorted and mulched and added to the compost. Remaining apples need picking and the exploding conkers need collecting. The colous in the garden are so autumnal and I really feel that we are getting ready for winter. Last night the clocks went back - and whilst it was nice to have an extra hour in bed this morning - the nights will be drawing in. Normally the hens go to bed around 6pm when it starts to get dark, but tonight I think they will be going earlier. The mornings are cold and they seem to enjoy their breakfast of porridge, layers pellets and grit - good to keep the gals happy!

Congratulations to Julie my neighbour picked your number out yesterday from my comments re my previous post.

Saturday, October 23

ABC Wednesday - O is for Orders being taken!

My Exhibition was a great success and I only have a few cards remaining. All are made with pressed flowers and top quality materials. Many here have asked about my work – I am selling the cards at a special rate of 3 for £10. Just e-mail denisebydesigns@googlemail.com with your address and I will post them off - I will send wherever. For outside UK I have a paypal account and will give details when e-mailed. I am also going to have a Give Away - I will pick a name from the comments - well somebody in the Nesbitt Household will! lol!

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Friday, October 22

Back soon!

Phew! It has been a hectic week - we had some excellent feedbck from the Pie Competition resulting in some new customers - appointments today regarding this - then tonight it is my exhibition which I have been working flat out for over a couple of weeks now - appologies for not getting round to visit many of you, I know you will understand! Looks like tonight should be well attended so will share more after the event!

Have a good weekend!

Tuesday, October 19

News – hot off the press!

 

UK - Supreme championship double for Leeds butcher at Great Yorkshire competition

19 Oct 2010

Supreme championship double for Leeds butcher at Great Yorkshire competition

Bentley’s Butchers, of Robin Lane, Pudsey, landed a supreme championship double when taking top honours in both the pork pie and sausage classes at the 2010 Great Yorkshire Pork Pie, Sausage & Products Competition in Bradford. (Sun, Oct 16).

Bentley’s Steve Martin has been bidding for several years to win one of the supreme accolades. He was reserve supreme pie champion in 2008 and put this year’s remarkable double down to the efforts of his entire shop team.

The championship-winning pork pie, which had earlier been awarded first prize and the Interbake Shield in the small pork pie class, received the Ted Jones Supreme Pork Pie Trophy, presented  personally by Mr Jones, a retired butcher from Wadsley, Sheffield.

He his wife Margaret have been involved with the Great Yorkshire competition since 1988 and both again acted as judges this year. There was also a product donation from William Jones Packaging, of Cardiff.

Bentley’s Butchers first prize thick pork sausage, recipient of the Ripon Select Foods Shield, went on to be crowned supreme champion, receiving a new trophy and product donation presented by Towers Thomson, whose Yorkshire base is in Mexborough. There was also a further product donation by W R Wright & Sons, of Liverpool.

For good measure, Bentley’s finished runner-up in the black pudding class, with the shop also highly commended for entries in other show classes.

The reserve supreme pork pie championship fell to the first prize large pork pie from Woods Butchers, of Carcroft, Doncaster, which received the Willis Hall Cup for Pork Pie Excellence. The late Yorkshire playwright was a great fan of the competition, judging on a number of occasions.

Woods is no stranger to success in the content, being chosen as supreme pork pie champion in 2005, black puddings champion in 2006 and reserve supreme pie champion in 2007. At this year’s renewal, Woods was also third in the small pork pie class

The 2010 reserve supreme sausage championship, recipient of the Devro Quaich, was awarded to the first prize Oris Shield-winning thin pork sausage from defending champions H Hofmann & Sons Butchers, who have a total of five butchers and bakers’ shop in Wakefield town centre and Normanton.

The business has been taking part in the Great Yorkshire competition since its inception, winning numerous honours over the years, including the supreme champion sausage and pie titles in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

This year, Hofmanns also won the speciality sausage class and Gordon Rhodes Shield with its pork and leek sausage, as well as finishing runner-up in three further classes – small and large pork pies and thick sausage.

The black pudding championship fell to Wharfedale butchers George Middlemiss & Sons, of Otley, while the champion beef burger came from Paul Flintoft Butchers, of Kippax, Leeds, the 2009 reserve supreme sausage champion. Both classes were sponsored by W R Wright & Sons, the latter for the first time this year.

A ‘New Kid on the Block’ awards category introduced for first-time entrants fell to Howgate & Farrar Butchers in Woodlesford, Leeds, with their third prize thin pork sausage. This brand-new class, designed to encourage fresh blood to enter the competition, was sponsored by Cleveland-based moulds manufacturer Jon Nesbitt Engineering, of Liverton.

H Weatherhead & Sons Butchers, of Pateley Bridge, champion black pudding maker in 2009, this year won the speciality cold eating pie class and the John Spencer Memorial Trophy with its pork, stilton and cranberry pie, also taking the runners-up prize with a second entry.

Last year’s speciality sausage class winner, competition debutant Parkin Butchers, which has shops in Epworth, near Doncaster, and Crowle, just failed to pull off a repeat victory when runner-up in the same class with its pork and chive sausage. Ellisons Butchers, of Cullingworth, came third with its speciality Toulouse sausage.

Mirfield butcher Shaun Fairweather was awarded third prize in the large pork pie class, Arthur Haigh Butchers, of Thirsk, finished third in the black pudding class, Weegman’s Butchers, of Otley, came third in the speciality pie class, and Sutcliffes Butchers, of Skipton,  third in the thick pork sausage class.

Headingley Farm Butchers finished second in the beef burger class, the third prize falling to Sharlands Butchers, of Paddock, Huddersfield.

The competition, organised by the Confederation of Yorkshire Butchers Councils, was being held for the 22nd year. It attracted 300 entries from 50 butchers across the county.

Joining sponsors and product donators in presenting the trophies were Confederation of Yorkshire Butchers Councils’ president George Haigh, of Meltham, Holmfirth, and John Taylor, president of the National Federation of Meat & Food Traders.

Among the judges this year was the 2008 and 2009 Great Yorkshire supreme champion pie-maker, Andrew Voakes, of Voakes Pies, Whixley, York. Having achieved the top honour for two consecutive years, the rules of the competition dictated that he must sit it out this year.

Also highly commended as finalists at the 2010 competition were:  Small pork pie – Ged Bell, York, J A Mountfield & Sons, Selby, H Weatherhead & Sons, Pateley Bridge, B and M Collins & Sons, Cleckheaton, and P & I Hopkins, Birkenshaw. Large pork pie - J A Mountfield & Sons, S & T Family Butchers, South Elmsall, Ged Bell, George Middlemiss & Sons, Otley, and P & I Hopkins. Speciality pie – Woods, Carcroft, Bentley’s, Pudsey, Johnsons, Thirsk,  H Hofmann & Sons, Wakefield, and George Middlemiss & Sons.

Thick pork sausage – Howgate & Farrar, Woodlesford, Wilkinsons, Doncaster, George Middlemiss & Sons, Ellisons, Cullingworth, and Paul Flintoft, Kippax. Thin pork sausage – Bentley’s, Ellisons, H Weatherhead & Sons,  Paul Flintoft, Weeggmanns, Otley, and Sutcliffes, Skipton. Speciality sausage - H Weatherhead & Sons, J & M Rowlands, Goole, Paul Flintoft, and Thomas of Helmsley.

Beef burgers – Parkin, Epworth, J B Wilkinson & Sons, Rawdon, Weeggmanns, Sutcliffes, and Andrews, Wetherby, 

Tuesday, October 12

Memes and Moors!

ABC Wednesday is now in its 4th year. I really enjoy the diversity, creativity and imagination of the posts which we see each week. Another meme I really enjoy is Friday 55 Flash Fiction, organised by G-man (Mr Knowitall). The idea is you write a story in exactly 55 words. If you want to take part pop over and let G-man know when you've posted your 55.It really is a hoot - do check it out. Last week my contribution came about when I had to drive over the moors to visit a customer!

He had been a bus driver for long enough to know what to expect when he was doing the moors run.True, he had powers of discretion and he had a mobile – yes there was always somebody there to help. Nevertheless as he pulled up at the bus stop there was something about those eyes!

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Here are the remaining photographs of my journey - Autumn in all its Glory don't you think?

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The North York Moors are on our doorstep - right now I can look out of the window and make out the faint purple of the heather giving out it's last show of colour as the autumn gives the golden hue to all around.

Monday, October 11

Action!

Today's Inspirational Quote:
"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live
your life so that when you die, the world cries and you
rejoice."

Kabir

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We have had a good weekend really. As ever the gloomy, misty, foggy weather was coastal, so on Sunday we headed over to Richmond, North Yorkshire. As we approached the town a motorbike overtook us and when we stopped at the traffic lights said to follow him for a place to have a cup of tea. We found ourselves next to the river and had a lovely rest. I did have a strange sandwich – no butter just dry slices of bread, a slice of meat and an onion! Oh well – good job I am on a diet! lol! Total lost so fay 6lb!

A busy week so best I get going and kick the day into action!

Friday, October 8

Friday Fun!

Friday 55 Flash Fiction is brought to you by G-man (Mr Knowitall). The idea is you write a story in exactly 55 words. If you want to take part pop over and let G-man know when you've posted your 55. This week my contribution ( a little later than normal) came about when I had to drive over the moors to visit a customer!

 

He had been a bus driver for long enough to know what to expect when he was doing the moors run.True, he had powers of discretion and he had a mobile – yes there was always somebody there to help.  Nevertheless as he pulled up at the bus stop there was something about those eyes!

 

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Here are the remaining photographs of my journey - Autumn in all its Glory don't you think?

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Tuesday, October 5

L is for...Late!

Phew! Life is very very busy at the moment!I am working every afternoon preparing for my exhibition which as I have mentioned is on 22nd of this month! As well as taking orders for Christmas Cards (some of my favourite landscape photographs of the village and North Yorkshire)I am having a sale of my handmade dried flower cards which are quite lovely even if I say so myself! I get so much enjoyment and satisfaction from creating such examples - mother nature really knows how do deliver such beautiful subjects doesn't she?







It should be quite a good evening - we are having a buffet as well as some drinkypoops and a raffle for the North Air Ambulance! However - if it is going to be a successful evening I had better get on with the preparations!

Watch this space!

Saturday, October 2

Making hay whilst the sun shines!

Well surprise surprise! We had wonderful sunshine today. Last night when I put the hens to bed they did look quite sad. Their feathers were quite wet due to the horrible weather we have had - but today they absolutely made the most of the sunshine and had a dustbath! Their deep clucking shows how much they enjoyed it!


Friday, October 1

Hungry?

Friday 55 Flash Fiction is brought to you by G-man (Mr Knowitall). The idea is you write a story in exactly 55 words. If you want to take part pop over and let G-man know when you've posted your 55. Pearl introduced me to this and this week I am using a new recipe – see what you think!

spagetti

Blitz a couple of slices of stale bread in the processor and place in large dish with water – mix until water is absorbed. Boil spagetti until soft. Rinse in cold water and chop into small lengths, place in dish. Add porridge oats and stir until absorbed. Finally add grit and layers pellets now serve!

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Yes it is the current winter food I am feeding the hens, a particular favourite of theirs along with rice which you can see Bev tucking into above.

Our neighbours are on holiday a nd I am looking after their hens and cats! (They do not share accomodation! lol) If you remember a few weeks ago we took our two broody hens over to try and encourage them to hatch some chicks. Bev did not succeed and was brought home. Mabel however succeeded and hatched one chick. This morning when I went over to let the hens out she was first out, together with her chick!

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Mabel is an excellent mother and will not allow the other hens anywhere near her chick. She will be staying over with the neighbours and raising her chick until further notice. We are not sure what sex the chick is – we will be able to tell in a few weeks when we will be able to choose a name.

The weather here is quite dire at the moment and it looks as though it will continue to rain throughout the weekend so it doesn’t look as though we will be venturing out on the motorbike. My study therefore summons and I will be locking myself away and working on more for my exhibition. October has arrived so I have 21 more days to get a collection together!