Paperwhite Narcissi in November 2011

 Paper white Narcisii, can be grown in water with a bed of fine gravel or teeny stones to brighten up the dreary days of Winter. These were bought me for my birthday in August. I planted them out about 5 weeks ago, bought them in when they were about six inches in height and just showing a bud.

These are so beautiful

They have grown so tall

Within the week these flowering daffodills had grown another five or six inches and now have 40 small individual heads, some ten to one stem. The smell is wonderful. There are more buds to bloom along the stem, this is the first year I have grown them, but now I shall grow them every year they are so lovely. Thankyou Zoe, for the lovely gift.

Sunday walk on Beacon Hill 2011

 Sunday walk to Beacon Hill started off here , up the lane past the farm, and onto the public footpath.

So many rabbit holes under the hedgerows in the bank

View from the top of the hill looking towards pye green tower

We made our way around the Wood facing Hopton

Long afternoon shadows of the two of us

around the hill almost facing stafford

Over the stile to the side of the gate



So lovely i ran down the hill



Back to where we started

Sunday walk took us to the top of Beacon Hill, with a flask of brandy laced tea,, it was so cold  and Blustery we sheltered out of the wind and  it warmed us up nicely.We were out for at least an hour and a half thats about 3 miles we covered. Starting at the top of Beacon Farm, up to the top of Beacon Hill, keeping to the edge od the fields we made our way around the hill. Good views of Stafford, the Chase, the Wrekin .We had warmed up now, the wind had dropped a little and it was lovely to take photos of our walk. Nice to get out, such nice walks right on the doorstep, if only we make an effort. Always worth it.

Town Lights with Naked Sunday November 2011

Off to Town to see the Christmas lights , but mainly to see Naked Sunday playing on stage in front of a good sized crowd, who all seemed to enjoy it as did we. They played a good set, starting with Rocka doodle do, and their Christmas single on C D Tinseltown tonight. For the first time katie Teitge joined in with the vocals on stage, and the duo sound sounded really good. The single is to raise money for research into spina bifida, and also for the local St Katherines hospice.

                                                        Once again Naked Sunday make the papers

                                                         Naked Sunday at Town lights

 The crowd await the band, Tim Wedgewood is the compere from radio stoke on screen

                                          The creative streak in Martin comes out in this great hat

                                                 Mr and Mrs Stanyer playing about with the hat

Martin creatively made a most superb hat, well done martin on always coming up with something different, and this last picture shows the baby who all the cds and hats have been made in memory of. My lovely baby Elizabeth Fay Stanyer who died aged five weeks and one day with spina bifida.Not forgetting Lynne , Dans mum and my friend and Katherine Hospice.

Craft page a month November 2011

Well how time flies, already it is the end of November nearly and time for my Craft page a month. I seem to have done quite a few crafts, so here are some photographs of the things i have made.

 Another Noahs Ark Blanket , this time for a little family member called Luke, my 3rd cousin age 2.

 I made yet another random striped blanket to go with my collection and Teddy to go with it.

 This brooch idea was sent to me by my pal in Canada , this was made for Laura with Dance material.

 Gary and i made this wreath , using our old Christmas decorations to make a Jolly Wreath.

                                                A Star wreath , made from bits and pieces.

                                                            A finger Puppet Peppa Pig for Laura.

                                                A Garland out of wire and wool with raffia and 2 necklaces.

    
                                                 A vintage Brooch with button for Laura.
I got quite a lot done this year in the craft line, lots of different things and creative things, So pleased most of all with the Christmas Garlands.

The meaning of Advent

Today is the first day Of Advent. There are four Sundays in Advent 9or season of waiting) before it is Christmas Day, Nov 27th, December 4th the 11 and the 18th of December.
In western  Christianity,  Advent begins on the fourth sunday before Christmas Eve.
It is a tradition to prepare Christians for the Birth of Jesus Christ. Many Christians observe a Season of prayer and prepare spiritually, some with fasting, others with the opening of Advent calendars and chocolate, so two different contrasts there.
This is followed by Anticipation and Joy , in remembrance of Christs Birth to the virgin Mary in a lowly stable in Bethlehem.

The lighting of Candles symbolizes the light of the world and the saviours birth, each sunday a candle is lit, the final 5th candle is lit on Christmas Eve.
This year I have one Advent Candle marked into segments to  light each night, when the children were small i would make an advent candle wreath with foliage and stand it in the hearth, around each candle would be tied a tartan ribbon, a red candle we would light on Christmas day. On a sunday we would sing the old advent carols to the programme Songs of Praise, especially the advent hymn Oh come Oh come Emmanuel associated with Advent. Mainly both children would enjoy the opening of the advent calendar, working out who would have the first sweet from the calendar so they would get the last one on Christmas Day. So tonight still to Songs of Praise i shall light the candle yet again and sing the old advent carols.

Remembrance Day November 11th 2011

November the 11th marks the ending of the Great war of World War 1, when the armistice was signed ending the war with Germany. Now we remember all other wars that have been fought throughout the years, the young men who gave their lives that we may live in peace.
On this day in 1915 on the 11th day of the 11th month, my Great Grandfather William Henry Sockett Private 14319 of the 9th Pioneer division, South Staffordshire regiment was killed in  France.
He was a brave man, one of many who gave their lives, but particularly poignant to us as a family, my Grandad another W H S ockett, spoke of his bravery.
The story is as follows, hearing the cries of his wounded comrades,my Grt Grandfather ran to their aid, and in so doing he was greatly wounded by a German shell going off, he died of his wounds some hours later.Had he lived his name was to be bought forward in dispatches for his gallantry.
He is buried at Erquingham Lys churchyard in FRANCE. He was only 39 years old and left  behind a widow sarah ada and 6 children .
We have visited the war memorial at  Alrewas, an imposing monument, recording the dead  from many newer wars, The falklands, Irelands troubles, Iraq, Afghanistan to name but a few. It is a meeting place for all who have lost family, but saddest of all are the empty walls, because looking at them you know they are for the soldiers whose names will one day be enscribed on those empty spaces. The first world war was said to be The War to end All Wars, but sadly it has not.
So on this day we remember all of our Armed Service personnel fighting, wherever they may be, the lost and the fallen.
The poppies symbolise the fields in France known as flanders fields and the poppies flanders poppies, like the blood that was shed they serve as a reminder that we MUST Never Forget.
For in some corner of a foreign field lies a part that is for ever ENGLAND.

November afternoon walk over The Chase / remembering Sam 2011

Autumn over Cannock Chase

 What could be nicer than an afternoon walk over Cannock Chase in the Golden Autumn sunshine. We saw four deer , this time unexpectedly and in a different spot, they just sprang in front of us, i got a hazy picture, they are very fleet of foot.

These prairie like grasses looked soft in the light but were quite tough to touch



Four Deer in the distance across our path



Beautiful blue sky bought back memories of Sam our Dog

Our Sam, in his heyday, with me over the Chase for a walk, and a fuss, he wasn't the best behaved Dog in the world, he could be very antisocial against other Dogs, he pulled on his lead, barked and frightened off the Deer. But Oh how i miss our very own Sam to walk with over the Chase, everytime i see someone with a Dog i think about him. He may not have been the best behaved Dog in the World , but he was certainly one of the most loved and missed. On days like this especially.

Vintage rosy themed finds fri 4th november 2011

Enjoying a trip into town with my daughter, we decided to have a look in the thrift shops, and whoopee, right up my street i found a lovely rosy pinafore, albeit with a rather shocking pink tea pot on it, ideal for when i am cooking. Then dear daughter found me a lovely ribbon bowl with a rose on it for my hall to put my keys in, a very pretty piece of german pottery, next was a wonderful royal stratford piece bone china, a rosy posy flower vase. All the items cost but one pound each....Bargain.

Ribbon rose german china

Royale Stratford Bone china flower vase

Rosy kitchen pinafore

It was lovely to find so many pretty things , and also time for a nice pot of tea for two at number 15 restaurant in town. CHEERS!!We all like a bargain.

oaty cookies recipe November 3rd 2011

This is from our home written recipe book

Ingredients all mixed in the bowl

In the oven

All cooked golden brown yummy

It was a dreary day and so i made tyhese oaty cookies in the warmth of the kitchen, wwith the radio on. Jenny arrived just in time for a nice hot cuppa tea and pronounced them delicious. That will  do for me, high praise indeed.