Skywatch. September harvest.

We are having gentle September weather with misty mornings and fairly low light levels.

There is plenty to harvest in the veg garden.

Beans, beans, beans.

Escapee courgettes have turned into giant marrows and squash have infiltrated the space for other crops. Some un-named squash climbing up the sweetcorn.

 I find what has been hidden underneath as the leaves die back.

I've been making chutney with an assortment of fruit and veg, plums, marrow, figs, onions, you name it, it's in the chutney! Rather an eye-watering mix as it bubbles on the hob, but by Christmas I'm hoping it will taste rather good!

I've looked in vain in the small garden pond in search of my merry band of newts. Not one to be seen since the visit of the grass snake. I'm very miffed.

Here's my sky seen in the water to share with Skywatch Friday.

Yorkshire Dales.

We managed to fit in a few walks before we came home, a short stroll up the road with family. (Wee One with cotton wool in her eardrums to keep out the wind!)

Harebells are one of my favourite flowers.

We walked  through the fields down towards the river.

The narrow stiles are tricky for some!

Everywhere looked wonderfully green after the burnt-out summer that we have experienced in the south- west of England.

Wensleydale Agricultural Show

Back 'home' in Yorkshire for the Bank Holiday I had to cut a swathe through the small front garden to access the door. We hadn't been there for many months and everything was overgrown.

Ripened figs hung over the boundary line of the garden. Great! I could pick enough to make some jam to enter in the local agricultural show.

The recipe is from my mother's farmhouse kitchen book, using dried figs which you soak overnight. I cut the fresh figs into much smaller pieces than the recipe suggests. It sets easily and turns into a lovely deep red jam.

The Wensleydale Show on a dry, sunny Saturday, was busier than ever this year. Good weather brought the crowds and extra fields had to be used in order to park all the cars. 

The care taken in displaying the vegetables always amuses me. (I'd left a neighbour to pick my veg while we were in Yorkshire. When I returned I discovered 'courgettes' that had turned into marrows that would have given some of the Yorkshire competitors a run for their money!)

There is something for everyone. 

I always enjoy the children's section with their edible necklaces and miniature gardens.

Hoorah, Wee One got second prize in the handicraft section! (Oh dear, thinks our boy, I hope I'm not going to have to wear it once the show is over. Not to worry, the items in this class are being donated to the local dementia unit.)

Our grandson much prefers looking round the poultry marquee.

I LOVE ducks and hate to see them in cages.

I used to keep Khaki Campbells and am tempted to do so again. Only the knowledge that foxes would be only too keen to take them makes me hesitate. This call duck was very beautiful.

I'm always impressed by the involvement of children in all aspects of the show. They have a real enthusiasm and pride in what they do and I'm aware that long before they reach adulthood they will have acquired considerable knowledge and expertise. 

This lad knew everything there was to know about his father's road worker's truck.

He gave Himself a blow-by-blow account!

This curious little tractor was used in America to move up and down the rows in vineyards.

The carthorse had a lot of attention

and I liked the work-wear outfit.

One of my favourite events in the main ring is the carriage driving, there is so much to enjoy; the smartness of the rig and driver, the  relationship of horse and owner and the skill involved.

This is Linda Jones  with Tiger Lily.
Don't they look grand!

At the end of the show there was terrier racing which kept everyone amused. After a series of heats the final race was won by Barney, a smooth fox terrier, second a Lakeland and third another smooth, Barney's relative. I have had two smooths as pets and they are a joy. They are an endangered breed so I do hope that Barney's success will revive some interest in keeping the breed alive.  

It was a great day out!

Skywatch Friday in the Yorkshire Dales

It's still summer - just, and we were in Yorkshire with the family for the August Bank Holiday. As often seems to be the case when it's an official holiday the weather was a bit 'glichy', one day fine, another day not. Above the outfall of the beck the plywood letters spelling out the dale were still in place, erected by the villagers when the tour de Yorkshire cycle race took place earlier in the year. They were placed to capture the attention of the cameramen as they swept up and down the dale in their helicopter. I doubt the letters will last the winter, the weather hereabouts can be cruel!

Looking down on the village where my parents lived.

Sharing a watery sky with Skywatch Friday.