More Sycamore

Sycamore

I've decided to find out about trees

White faced Black Spanish

More chickens from old 1870s bookplates

Haggis

Happy Burn's Night, inspired by a chip shop sign in Thurso. The Stewarts enjoyed a vegan version, with tatties and neeps. Kate would approve.

Lamb's Wool jumpers with real lambs

As seen on a  drizzly stroll round Helme, 2 cute lambs in teeny weeny jumpers, 3 french bulldogs in flourescent coats and a flock of lapwings

1st Prize at Birmingham

Mr Fitzwilliam's pets won prizes......

Chickens home to roost?

Looking round the huge gothic poultry house built in 1861 following the "Cochin Craze" set off amongst the landed gentry by Queen Victoria, who built her own ornate version at Balmoral. I liked the road sign too (not chicken related)....

Beacon Ring Hill Fort, Caer Digoll

Walk to Caer Digoll, Iron Age Hillfort near Offa's Dyke...we walked up the hill and it became quite bitter. As we got closer to the hillfort, the inner circle was planted with a dense  wood of small oak and beech trees, quite eery and atmospheric as we sheltered from the rain....

A Pair of Creve Coeurs

A pair of funny looking birds

White Crested Black Polish

My version of  delightful chicken artwork from old 1870s bookplates. The one on the right reminded me of someone.......??

Offa's Dyke

Great to walk a part of Offa's Dyke with Mum, we did another bit with Mum and Dad back in 1975! I remember staying at Chepstowe YHA. There was a big cedar tree outside and a skittle alley in the cellar. Not sure the hostel is still open these days!

Hoc Age

More doodlings from Poultry Cottage....Hoc Age apparently means "do this, apply yourself to what you're doing or pay attention!" 

There ain't nobody here but us chickens

Very lucky to stay at Poultry Cottage, a Landmark Trust property near Welshpool with brother Nick, his wife Sue and my mum.....the cottage was on Leighton Estate, a 19th century model farm featuring an enormous gothic poultry house. Our place (where the poultry keeper lived) was dwarfed by it!

RIP 2016 Quiz Answers

 Apologies to non-Huddersfield dwellers for no 6, and those who never ventured up a very, very steep hill to the pub at the top, until recently run by the remarkable Ron Crabtree, lately of The Sair Public House, Linthwaite, brewer of very strong ale....

RIP 2016 Quiz Recap

Slawit Gate and Date

Abandoned farmhouse above Slaithwaite with nice gate 'n' date...and a great walk with pals, Colne Valley Circular Walk....

News of the Stews

Farewell to 2016 from the Stews!

Retro Chic & Other Tat

This year's star Christmas gifts included a titchy case, a calendar featuring Welsh telephone and postboxes, a teapot badge with cup attached, a pop up retro telephone directory and a potato shaped scrubbing brush. Many thanks Julie 'n' Jez, Fay 'n' Sue B for class items.....