Where did 2017 go?

As I sit here vegetating on the settee I am thinking about Burns Night - January 20th in our case. We haven't even had our Christmas dinner and January is on my mind. I guess this is part of being an organised type of person - or a mad woman? We have had another successful year here in the village with the various activities, workshops, walks, fund-raisers and festivals. I have been involved with. We have made a healthy profit, secured a couple of grants and give-aways which mean the hall is being re-decorated as we speak and new carpets on order.
We will be planning 2018 in the New Year, developing what has worked and trying out new ideas we are toying with. As always, all we do is a team effort, each of us bringing some different aspect to the grand plan. I always say treat people as you would like to be treated - it's all down to how we are with others - and other people have helped us take our efforts to a level where we have received recognition.

As ever I have plans for the new year - will they work? will they happen? I'll know this time next year!

Watch this space.

Happy Christmas and best wishes for a healthy, happy 2018.

My Bauble

Slightly off-focus but the baubles arrived......so pleased with mine.
I think I will be doing some more over the next few days/weeks. I loved the atmosphere of the pottery where I collected the baubles - so many opportunities and creative ways to idle away the odd hour!

Watch this space!

Christmas Baubles

Yesterday we had a workshop in our village hall. The potter provided bisque baubles which we painted with ceramic paints and glazes.

As we speak they are being fired - I am so excited!

Can you guess which is mine?

October 22nd - Catching up.

I an having a day off today - a hectic yet rewarding weekend. Saturday saw one of the busiest coffee mornings in the village hall.
We always like to try out new ideas - well new to us anyway. We held a Baking Contest! From working with other village hall groups we have good relations with our local W.I. One of these days I'll join, but Cynthia and Anne agreed to act as judges and what an excellent job they did too. We had 5 entrants - all from the village. £2 per submission - some entered more than 1 category and winners received a tea for 2 voucher at our local tearoom, together with a wooden spoon and teatowel. They were all really excited - so next moth we will have another competition - savoury theme. Cheese scone.
The appleas have been prolific and as we were holding a cider festival on Saturday night we kept the apple theme running through the day. One neighbour baked some apple pies and another neighbour gave us some leeks he had grown. We took leeks, and apples to our butcher who made them into our very own Village sausages. They flew off the shelf and sold out. Definitely do this again next November's coffee morning.
In our local co-op one of the workers told me about his hobby of making cider! He was really keen to be involved - basically a couple of months ago i dropped off a few carriers of our apples which he and his pal turned into the most delicious cider I have ever tasted - it was so popular last night at the Festival!
Life slows down this next week and today my feet are certainly up!

September 5th

It's raining today - my new plants therefore are happy. Once we have better weather I'll be planting these out. I visited a friend's garden a couple of months ago and was inspired by her use of grasses amongst the dwarf conifers - I have plans.

The patio - the mammoth task of de-weeding took over the entire weekend - got to the stage of actually lifting off the paving slabs to ensure all roots were removed. Again plans for re-sealing with a mixture of sand/cement together with a weed prevention membrane type of thing.

Serious weeding in the far corner of the garden. Amazing lengths of nettle roots pulled out on Sunday - using these in a green solution for plantfood - came across a very interesting article re stinging nettles here

Bev together with the other 2 gals continues to give us regular eggs - treat today of mealworms.

Jon did a wonderful job on cleaning the Rayburn. I think this will be lit today or tomorrow - coal ordered so I think Summer is leaving us, certainly looking at the falling leaves scattered everywhere.

Off to a presentation this afternoon - remember I asked for votes?
Watch this space!

September

The East Cleveland Scarecrow Festival 2017 was a great success with new villages joining in. I am humbled to be honest and am now referred to as "The Scarecrow Lady!" It could be worse I suppose!

The Scarecrows appeared in Liverton Village - Liverton Mines - Skinningrove - Carlin How - Loftus - Easington - Boosbeck. Guisborough experimented and will join in next year as did Marske by the Sea.

Liverton Village Hall needs votes!

http://www.teessidecharity.org.uk/

A real David and Goliath story.
Liverton Village Hall is through to the final 15.
Please help us by voting for us and sharing the link with your friends and contacts.
We are really up against the big boys!

Denise

Meet Betty!

(I am on the left!)
I notice the last time I wrote anything here was May. I seem to get my nose down to a task and when I emerge the days, weeks, even months have passed - well flown by to be precise.

It's Scarecrow time again - our village kicked off the whole East Cleveland Scarecrow Festival last Saturday, 29th July. Our new mayor visited and we raised £800+. A fabulous day!

May so far......

All 3 hens are layin an egg a day.

 We have visitors - some days but not all.

 Joan and Dot continue to grow.

Had some nice weather - a spot of sunbathing.

Foraging for worms.

A favourite spot in the field next to our house - usually around 4pm

Noodles for lunch

Library campaign continues 

Local school on our campaign

Planning for 2017 Scarecrow Festival has begun

Bing continue his healthy eating campaign - a frozen bottle of milk

 Our eggs have featured in most meals.

Not your standard jam!

Healthy discovery in the back of my cupboard.

 Healthy eating continues..

  Coffee morning and lunch recently raised £462

So...........busy as ever!