PREPARATIONS FOR THE VILLAGE SHOW

The village show is next week and one class which is always hotly contested is Scones. So, I've been scouring the recipe books and decided to fire-up the Rayburn (more of that later) and try out a recipe.







The category this year is Cheese Scones, first batch above. The look a bit pale, but they smelt amazing, unfortunately the taste was pretty bland. So I shall have to find another recipe. I'll keep you posted on how they go.





I decided to make use of Jonny's camera to show you the scones, then I pushed the boundaries and attempted a fish-eye photo of my kitchen ...









Centre-stage is my beloved solid fuel Rayburn. It is wonderful, most of the year, providing endless hot water, central heating and cooking facilities. I tend not to use it during our brief summers, simply because it cooks the cook. It wasn't too bad today because we only had it on for a couple of hours.





This really is the heart of our home and humans, cats and dogs are drawn to the warmth of the Rayburn and the cosy feel of the kitchen.





The Produce section of the show is tricky. We probably have three really good onions, but they want four, a couple of weeks ago I had fabulous runner beans now we will struggle to find six really good ones, the flowers in the garden are past their best, and so on. But hey, it is all about the entering not the winning so we will enter as many classes as we can, simply because it is fun.





On the day of the show there is a wonderful feeling of fun and energy in the village. Friends gather to view the exhibits, drink cups of tea and eat slices of home-made cake, buy raffle tickets, bid in the produce auction, and catch up with people we don't see very often. It is delightful and very English.





Right, time to get back to those recipe books - cheese scones, biscuits, lemon curd...

Sewing Camp This Week

I spent most of June getting organized and decluttered. July is going to be for digging in and getting things done. I've arranged the weeks as follows:
July 9-Sewing Camp
July 16-Photography Camp
July 23-Art Camp
July 30-Sewing Camp II
I usually go to the John C. Campbell Folk School to attend a week-long camp, but it just didn't work out this summer. So I thought, "But there's no reason why I can't make my own camps and learn about things I'm interested in." So that's exactly what I'm doing and am pretty excited about it.
I thought about being in 'class' all day, but with my other household duties, that's not possible. So I'm giving over 1 1/2 hours in the morning and the same in the afternoon for a total of 3 hours a day for camp. I should be able to get lots done in that time. I'll report back at the end of the week and let you know.
This morning I was able to get the panties almost finished and should be able to do that this afternoon.
This is the list of things I hope to accomplish during the two sewing camps this month.
1. Make girls' crossover dresses and panties
2. Make 3-4 pillows for the couch
3. Finish all repairs in basket
4. Make girls' white linen birthday dresses
5. Make blue ticking flowers and attach to a brown canvas purse
So that's my plan for this week's Sewing Camp.

A First and a Triple

St. Patrick's Day was our first 50 degree day! Only a light breeze from the NW. Good day for a ride.

I decided to check out the trail from Manawa to Xtreme Wheels. Well, the big snow bank was gone along the power plant railroad siding. It was replaced with lots of trucks and other equipment. Derailment just outside of the gate - loaded coal train. At least (from what I could see) no cars of coal were dumped.
Visited at the shop and started back to Manawa. Riding the trail bike, it was a good day to check out trail conditions. First stop was the Wabash Trace. Only rode a couple hundred down the trail, but the surface was solid. Verdict - ridable without damaging the trail surface.

From the Trace, I rode on over to the Lake Manawa Mountain Bike trails. As usual, I started riding West Sidewinder (this is the trail that dries quickest). That trail was completely ridable. (See Photo)
Next, I rode along the river to the log crossing. While the trail was soft, my tires only left tread marks, no half-pipes. The river is very high, but still in its banks. Wanted to check the "ditch" areas. The ditch just after the log crossing is under water. (See photo)
I think this spring we will have a early start to our riding season. With all the snow we had over the winter, the frost never penetrated the ground.

Looks like we can have another day of riding today before the bottom drops for the weekend. In the 60s today (with winds kicking up in the afternoon). Tomorrow is forecast is for rain, changing to snow and high in the 30s.
It was nice well it lasted...

Sunset, with con trail

Sunrise: 7.37 a.m.
Sunset: 4.15 p.m.

DIRT!!!

Weather is good and heard the trails are open. So, today I headed to the Reforestation Camp near Green Bay. Yesterday I picked up a trail map - some 10+ miles of singletrack/doubletrack.
Now, it has been over 3 weeks since I have been able to ride some dirt. Getting very frustrated and bad case of withdrawals.
Had a GREAT ride today. The trail difficulty level is just right for me. As I started out, I found some sections challenging.
Later during the ride, I found myself riding better, even anticipating the trail. My speed came up. Feeling good, considering I had never ridden the trail.
The early section of the trail is more difficult. Thinking of riding the trail again tomorrow - with all that I have learned about the trail today.
I need to comment about the trail system signage - its great. I did not get lost once. There were signs for the singletrack loop with direction arrow. When trails converge, there were mini kiosks on posts with trail maps. Today, I gave the trail an "A". Damned, it was great to be in the woods, on dirt!

Happy New Year!

This is how my day started. In jail. Hope your day began on a better note...
Mom's playing judge and official photographer for Shanti here. After lots and lots of work, we eventually...
get to play! Finally, Mom and I drive home and then...
Ma dressed me up AGAIN! (And they worry about my manic moodiness - what's up with that?) Well, there you have it - my #1, top-of-the-list resolution. If I'm gonna wish evfurrybuddy a Happy New Year in a jaunty frame of mind...
I gotta be nekkid kids! Au naturel! So now, here in my buffest buff, I send you a resounding Rrrrrowwwwwl and all my bestest wishes to you for a...

Memorial Weather

Both high camps have been receiving lots of new snow over the past couple of days. Memorial Day itself put drifts up to 50 cm deep around camp. High winds (40-50 mph) pasted the wet snow to most surfaces. The general forecast, at least initially, looks better for early-June. Hopefully we'll avoid the all too common "Junuary" weather pattern.
Climbers have been unsuccessful in reaching the summit for almost a week due to weather and avalanche concerns - although challenging conditions have been welcome training conditions for climbers with their sights set on even loftier peaks.
Stop by the Climbing Information Center in Paradise for the most current information on the mountain. We're open everyday at 06:00 - come on up and talk to us early, the Paradise Inn is open again for the season and they do serve espresso!
See you on The Mountain.

Gretton - Rockingham and back in the snow again

With Marta, but setting off after 10 am.6.5 miles

Same route as the last two walks, this time with lunch in the Rockingham tea-shop. The weather was much clearer, and sunny later, so that we were quite warm.

Looking back up West Hill

Brenda the goshawk (just over a year old) and her human.

Dalek of the apocalypse

And a headless one, at that. Another in the City of Edinburgh Libraries' wonderful dalek series.

Got Snow on da Brains!

"Pss psst pss pss..."Avalon: "Huh? I didn't get that.""Pss psss psss pfsss pssnnowww"Avalon: "What you whisperin' about?""Look into my eyes... the pictures below are reflected in them hee hee! I've been on a nostalgia jaunt!"
Isn't it bootiful? Someday, you'll be in a snow show hahaha! Ho ho ho!

(Mom: this is an old photoshow and there are way too many pix in here, so don't feel you need to watch whole thing - you get the drift, hah! Hope our pals in the midwestern states are doin' okay with all the snow you've been getting... we're thinking about you.)

Nene Way 6 - Irthlingborough - Thrapston

With Marta. Just under 10 miles. Wet all day, muddy underfoot in places.

Action . . .

Wet - a day for testing your outdoor gear.

Ready for the pole? The trekking pole . . .

Not many photos, and I'm not entirely sure we appreciated what views we saw. Lunch at Woodford in the Dukes Arms, where they even had a wood fire in the bar. Oh August in England . . .I ♥ underwater walking.





We set off from the football ground, and found our way to the lock nearby and followed the towpath. Slightly off the official route maybe, but near enough as we soon saw the signs. We followed the river bank past the Frontier Camp, until we reached a Nene Way sign near a footbridge, pointing away from the river and uphill across fields - recently harvested and sticky with mud. We walked round the edge of these fields - it was slightly less sticky. Eventually we emerged, several inches taller and with worked-out leg muscles (I wish) into Little Addington. We walked through the village, and almost decided to wait for half an hour in a bus shelter, along with copious quantities of swallow or martin droppings, either for the rain to stop or the pub to open. No, we carried on, womanfully.





We left the village loop road, and shortly after we joined the Irthlingborough - Woodford Road we turned off to the right and followed a path back down to the river. Over a couple of bridges and through a gate which gives access to anglers' cars, and past the marina and disused railway track, and the path becomes a road leading to the old Ringstead Station. At the T junction we turned left towards Willy Watt Mill and Woodford. The pavement is raised about the road level here useful if the road floods, and has recently been improved with non-slip planking.





At the mill, which unfortunately doesn't run to a cafe for wet walkers, we found the Nene Way path leaving a track to the right, before you reach the bridge over the dismantled railway. It crosses the disused railway line and turns right again shortly before Glebe Farm.





We crossed this field diagonally, passing some wet and uninterested cows grazing there, and continued following the signs until we reached Woodford. Hunger had to be heeded, so we went to the Duke's Arms. Good food and even a fire helped us begin to dry our clothes slightly.





From Woodford the signs took us between groups of houses and through a stile into a field. The path takes you diagonally downhill to the bottom of Woodford Shrubbery, then through the woods. When we came out of the shrubbery we should have turned right and right again to get back to the Nene. We did make a slight deviation, but were soon back on track.





Then we followed the river for a short distance, crossed the dismantled railway again, and headed towards Denford. The church is slightly to the right of the lock we were aiming for.





At the lock we turned left and the path led us across fields towards the A14.

Crossing the A14 under this viaduct.

The path goes east under the viaduct, doubling back west to make its way across fields to where the road bridge into Thrapston crosses the river near the Woolpack Inn. Was the rain starting to ease off?

I swear it's not quite so black over Bill's mother's! Ever the optimist.

My verdict on the wet weather gear - coat not really effective, waterproof trousers ok, but encourage condensation, boots dry inside, though some water got in via my socks I think. A long time since I've been wet all day like this.

My Class Photos

Here are two photos of mine on display for the end of the week Show & Tell at the John C. Campbell Folk School. I'm particularly proud of the one with the girl in the doorway watching the contra dancing.
One of the ladies who was dancing in the picture bought two of them! Yipee!
The one lying down is a sunflower bud covered with dew. It's a really good macro shot but kind of generic. I like the dance one much better, because it captures a moment of time that will never come again. I'll always be able to find another sunflower bud.