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Wednesday, December 30

Y is for Yule.


 December has certainly been a busy time for the village. We were encouraged to apply for council funding to help with the purchase of some christmas lights and a tree. Whilst we have lived in the village for 25 years I have never known of  a village christmas tree. For a few years there was one at the local pub but this hasn't been the case for the past few years.

The town council received some funds specifically for Christmas decorations - we were the only village without any form of Christmas display and as other communities had been given funding in the past we were optimistic our application would be approved - which it was. The town council supplied the tree and lights and the borough council provided funding for the icicle lights and electrician's fees. All work had to be super approved etc. so we were really pleased with the results. There was a lot of decisions to be made, organising etc. The choice of light colours and style fell on my shoulders but I knew it had to reflect the traditional village idyll - I think it did.

The lights were installed and on November 28th were switched on at our Christmas Coffee morning.
Another first for the village - a visit from Father Christmas. My friend Karen and I organised this event which was a success bringing funds for the Village Hall.

No sooner had we tidied away from the event, it was time to celebrate yet another first. The village hall Christmas meal. As I have shared here in previous months, I have been involved with village hall activities as I am now back on the committee. These events whilst raising funds have really brought the community together. All our events have been supported by the village. People attend and or supply prizes and baking ingredients. We decided to cook a meal for the residents of the village - a traditional Christmas dinner and for those who couldn't attend - a meal would be delivered.

We had a wonderful day - December 9th Karen and I cooked for 30, 12 delivered. Another neighbour provided entertainment so we had a sing song after the meal and a bingo session. It was a great success - we'll do it again in 2016.

Another first - with some of the proceeds from our fund raising events we paid for children under 12 to go to a pantomime. Parents paid a reduced ticket price - partly subsidised by the funds  and we paid for the transport.

Not long after this I fell ill with the dreaded Christmas cold - which I could deal with, the dreadful chesty cough was another matter. It left me feeling really drained and with no energy for any Christmas preparations. Fortunately it was just Jon and I on Christmas Day so I didn't have the pressure of cooking for 8 people.




I bought a small turkey crown and piece of pork - it kept us going for 3 days! I prepared the vegetables knowing I had sufficient again for subsequent meals. Whilst I enjoyed our Christmas dinner during the period of my cold I lost my appetiti but found salmon sandwiches were a godsend and happily tucked into them on several occasions.


Our new member of the family remember?



I think it's safe to say she has had an enjoyable Christmas - certainly better than what was on the cards if we hadn't taken her in.





Bing and Sadie have had an enjoyable time too - 



Their daily adventures on the beach ensure they sleep well!



2016 approaches - a lot to look forward to...........
 Watch this space.

Y for Yule (ABC Wednesday)

Monday, December 7

Lagging behind.

I don't know where time has gone but one thing I do know is I do not sit around.

Wednesday, November 18

S is for seasonal.



I go to a pottery class every Tuesday - a few weeks ago I started preparing my Christmas project - tree decorations. I am selling these at our Christmas Coffee Morningon 28th November. As I was making them yesterday my friends in the pottery group were buying them. I have another batch which I have glazed waiting to be fired, ready for next Tuesday's class when I will add decorations and embellishments. Planning in advance is the key - so in January I will be planning for February - a Valentine theme I think.



Like any crafter I have a stash of bits and bobs. I have piles of blank labels so I am making gift tags, again to be sold next Saturday.

Busy all the way - I have a supply of card & paper arriving today for a wedding commission I want to deliver before the end of November, so a quiet day should see me get this underway, then it will be a case of clearing the decks and having a day with the picallili, pickled onions and pickled egg preparation for 28th.

We are kicking off the weekend with a wreath making session on 27th in our village hall. I think about 20 are coming - lunch (my home made soup) afresh bun from our local baker and all materials provided £10 per person - a good price I think. This is the wreath we will be making....


So......back to the grindstone next time it ill be T for Treats...watch this space.

S - my ABC Wednesday contribution - floow the link in the right column to see more fun posts.

Sunday, November 8

R is for Rudolph!


Hello, Rudolph here,
Santa and the elves are very busy in the workshop getting ready for Christmas. He has heard there are some really good boys and girls in and around Liverton Village so he has decided to come and visit. He has a new reindeer who could do with some
practice night riding so this would be helpful.
If you or any of your friends would like to meet Father Christmas he will be at Liverton Village Hall on Saturday 28th November, at about 12 noon.
If you or any of your friends would like to write to Father
Christmas I know he has some elves in your village—drop your letter off at Waterside House, Scotsfield or The Police House—they will get to Santa in time for his visit.
See you soon—don’t forget to leave me some nibbles
on Christmas Eve.


Tuesday, November 3

Q is for Quiet......but not for long.





Last Friday, 30th October I organised a breadmaking workshop at our village hall. It proved very popular with 22 joining up. It was led by a local baker, Ed of Backyard Bakery. He discussed his philosophy with us and we had a great morning. We all came away with some bread which we baked at home as we only have one oven in the hall.

I made soup for lunch and it was great to see everybody getting along and having fun. There was a range of people attending - neighbours, people who had heard via facebook and a few of my friends from pottery class.

Saturday was our Pumpkin Fest. Children carved their pumpkins, we served refreshments/lunch, guess the name of the wizard, guess the weight of the pumpkin,  traditional skittles and a raffle.



The proceeds from both events gave us a total of £420 for our fundraising.

We are currently working alongside the Town Council to secure funding for Christmas Tree lights. Usually the village pub has a tree but past years have seen this not take place. At a local council meeting we were invited to discuss the lights in the borough. Our village have none so as they have been given some funding they encouraged us to submit a bid - which we have done. We feel the tree should be outside the village hall as this is the focus of the village. Watch this space as we await results. The decorations and tree need to be in situ by November 20th so when I say quiet, I may be this week (and I have a cold) but life will once again get bust very soon.

ABC Wednesday Q for Quiet.

Monday, October 26

P is for Pottering.

Pottering is an understatement - I have been up to my eyes. Last Friday was our village Harvest Festival - ofcourse I baked for England and helped with serving etc at the supper. It was a lovely service - as we are a farming community the fact that everything "was gathered in" made it more of a celebration.











I am now set to baking for this approaching event - I will be trying out a pumpkin pie recipe for a desert. We always have a pie of the month so Pumpkin pie it is. I am also making a batch of soup.





On Friday we have a breadmaking workshop ran by our local baker - lunch is provided in the price - hence the large quantity of soup on the go.

P is also for pickles which I am churning out - pottering????? Hmmmmmm!

Wednesday, October 7

M is for Mo!


Last year when we said goodbye to our beloved Ella who had such a good long life with us, we said we wouldn't go looking for a replacement.
Just before we went away we had a regular visitor - this little tortoise shell cat. I have named it Mo as iMo is a name suitable for both male or female. Mo sleeps in the chimneara and is always so hungry. Am taking Mo to the vet to get her checked over and determine what sex she is.

ABC Wednesday M is for Mo.

Tuesday, September 15

J is for Jemimah Puddleduck - and friends














Can you find - Mr McGregor? Goldilocks and the 3 bears? Mrs Tittlemouse? The Gamekeeper? The Stig? Mr Clark the Handyman? Mrs Tiggywinkle?

ABC Wednesday - J


Tuesday, September 8

I is for Incident.


The Scarecrow festival continues to attract visitors to our village. There are 26 various displays including the scarecrows themselves. We devised a voting form for visitors and residents to tour round the village and award points. Winners will be announced on Saturday.



On Sunday we had an incident involving our very own Mr McGregor.....




The horses in the field next to our house found the straw stuffing too good to be true! So they ate it!
Mr McGregor is currently undergoing surgery - he will be back for the weekend!


ABC Wednesday I is for Incident! lol!

Thursday, September 3

H is for Hedgehog

Busy busy here with the Scarecrow Festival approaching. The theme - for those who wanted to follow a theme was characters from Beatrix Potter. My friend Karen chose Mrs Tiddi-winkle! Wow!



I am late with my ABC Wednesday contribution - but now you know why!
Organising an event is hard work - but when people take the time like Karen did - it makes it all worthwhile.

Friday, August 21

3 cakes.



One of my friends was organising a family re-union and asked me to bake some cakes.

Coffee Walnut



Double Chocolate




Strawberry with mascapone. Home made raspberry jam and cream to sandwich together.



Thursday, August 20

F is for faffing about and fund raising.







Last Friday we had a scarecrow making night at the village hall. The night was intended to give people an idea for making their own scarecrow for our village scarecrow festival.
Each group made a different part of the scarecrow then me joined them all together.

We made the scarecrow in about 20 minutes - people went away feeling it was something they could manage - which is what we wanted.

Tonight 4 members of the committee are meeting up for a brainstorm session - watch this space!

ABC Wednesday (late) F