Goldfinches

Nineteen years ago to day I made the big trek north on the train with two cat baskets and an overnight bag. John was already here. He had come up a while before to find us a rented house and Elizabeth had been here for several weeks as she had started college.

On the whole it was a good move although the employment situation hasn't worked out quite how we would've liked and the city has declined over the years. However it is a good place to live with beautiful countryside just a bus ride away. We still have  reasonably good public transport and can get out and about when we want too.

We spent just  over a year in the rented house and then moved three doors down to our own. It was meant to be temporary until we had proper jobs. We are still here. Elizabeth  moved further north when she went to university and stayed  in the same area and is  now married. We have gained an allotment, many more bears, the cats that came with me are here no longer alive and now take up a space in our little garden. What was once a bare yard is now full of pots full of flowers and bushes and the birds visit. I spent a morning this week chopping down shrubbery  and tidying things up for the winter. 

It's all looking a trifle bare.

We have treated the finches to a rather posh feeder. It is taking them a while to get used to it. One brave chap has tried it out.

These made there way to Scotland during the week to help keep my sister warm for the winter.  I have made so many pairs now I could almost knit them in my sleep.

It's that time of year again and most of what I am making is secret!

This week

I visited the allotment on Sunday and took two visitors with me. Heather and Moley Mole had a good look around because they had not been before. And then discovered the raspberries.

We took them home to eat on our breakfast yoghurt. John had been tidying up and has grassed the pathways between each bed.

They are covered to protect them from the birds. As Sunday was apple day we paid a visit to the apple orchard and had a delicious lunch that were apple themed. This is an annual event and we noticed there were not very many apples for sale this year due to the poor weather.

There has been an event this week in Bradford we popped along during interval of the classical concert at St George's Hall.

It all looked very pretty. Other events are planned over the winter.

Both John and I have colds. Hope they don't last too long!

livestock produce and ...

rain again.  But not too much luckily. The cellar dried out quickly from the heavy rain last week.
We have had loads of gold finches lately just a couple on the feeder here

But one morning I counted 19 on the telegraph wires. I think that is the most I have seen in one go. They seem to like the wet weather and are often out feeding in a shower.

Mousie was about too. The neighbour cats seem to know he is around and I am surprised he has lasted this long.

I like to think he is the same one.

John has grown cucumbers this year and very tasty it was too.

The other weekend we went down to Centenary Square for the curry festival some children were playing in the mirror pool

On a warm sunny afternoon it is full.

Tia has been up to no good! This was meant to be hanging on the door knob.

John left it for me to see the evidence.