In a Vase on Monday - Clematis Rule OK?

Its going to be really hot today...yesterday the temperature was up to 26 C in the back garden, and we had lunch in the gazebo.  Today I went out straight after breakfast to pick some flowers, as last night they all looked a little overcome by the heat.  Cathy is having a party for Annabelle...so here are some arrangements to join in with her festivities.  Do go and see what Cathy has come up in the way of inspired vase this week.

I picked the material for my first vase, and quickly brought them into the kitchen and put them in a jug which I had filled with water earlier on...and they looked so right in that white jug, that the vase I had planned on using is back in the cupboard.

The Clematis in this one is Comtesse de Bouchard, and she is supported by lavender, Pittosporum Garnettii, Achillea Millefolium Lilac Beauty, a tall marjoram, Sanguisorba Officinalis 'Pink Tanna', some 'pompom' seed head of Phuopsis stylosa and Stachys Byzantina, which was given to me by Diane last year.  Even with its really small flowers nestled in grey woolly calyxes the Stachys are attracting many bees.

For my smaller 'vase', I chose this stone looking one....again a Clematis and a few herbs:  Clematis viticella pupurea plena elegans, some golden marjoram flowers, and the flower head from Bronze fennel.

Erodium pelargoniflorum 'Sweetheart'

Our gardening club has 'blossomed' in the last eighteen months.  The need to raise more funds from visits to member' gardens and plant sales, to pay quality lecturers has really enriched my gardening interest.

Recently I bought a little plant raised from seed by Janet called Erodium pelargoniflorum 'Sweetheart', a 'storksbill' .  Geraniums are commonly called cranesbills!  It was just a little more than a plug plant size, and I decided to pot in on and have it as a little specimen on the patio.  Since the slugs seemed to be attracted to it, it found its home on top of the stone patio table.

This evening the little plant was displaying both its sweet little flowers, which have five white petals with rose spots and veins, and also its great seed heads.

 I know that dead heading really does promote more flowers, but  I have been watching the candelabra arrangement of the seed pods form over the last few days: green topped with red at the tips are the 'Storks' bills'.  I am enjoying looking at the details of the flower buds too...

I hope that it will overwinter...

Sourdough Millet Bread and Buns for the weekend

I felt like baking some more sourdough, but I just did not feel like getting too far ahead in baking through the recipes in Perfecting Sourdough.  I still have some millet flour left over from trying this recipe some months ago and also now have some millet seeds.

Jane Mason has a good Sourdough Miltet Bread recipe on her website Virtuous Bread.  I based my dough on this one, but used 75% wholemeal and 25% white flour for the wheat flour, of course the rye sourdough starter and the millet four.  I refreshed the starter just after lunch, and by 8 pm it was pretty active so I finished off the kneading etc at about 9 pm, and set the dough in the fridge to rise.

This morning I took it out, let it hang around whilst we had breakfast, then shaped it and left the loaves to rise on parchment lined baking sheets, covered in plastic bags.

For the buns, I incorporated the dregs of the fruit and fibre cereal moistened with a little milk, and added a chopped up banana.The raw buns were pretty soft and not too easy to shape, but the ended up looking rather rustic and charming.  These will form the basis of our breakfast tomorrow...well only a bun or so each!

I thought to add some whole millet berries to decorate them, and had these soaking overnight.

By the time the bread was out of the oven, I was ready for my morning coffee...and the 'baker's bun'.  It tastes delicious....

Pottering around Haworth

Its such a lovely village...at every opportunity, we made sure that either on the way out, or the way back from walks, or just for a spot of lunch, shopping, or supper, we found time to walk up or down the main street of Haworth.  We had Sunday Lunch at the Fleece Inn, visited the Black Bull, and a couple of other hostelries..all very nice.

The tourist information office is right at the top of the hill, and after about five pm the street was completely quiet!

We used many of the local shops, and the newly opened organic shop provided us with some lovely sourdough rye bread, and I came away withe some provisions for my home baking too!  Well those are my favourite souvenirs...

There was everywhere beautiful views of the rolling hills, and it was worth having a little look down some back alleys!

There were lovely planters and hanging baskets, and great windows to do window shopping..which is why we then spent further moments visiting the shops.

In Daisy Days I found a lovely coat, a sort of mid season coat in bright Irish woven wool by Avoca!  The assistant was really friendly, and when I asked to take some pictures, she was most accommodating. There were some lovely British Artisan made items...but the assistant was quite surprised when I showed her my hand knit West Yorkshire Spinners Socks, after she asked if I would like to but some Yorkshire Wool Socks.  They were machine knitted, and some were from the exact same yarn as mine!

I loved these clocks....I think I am going to have to add one of these to my wish list!

There were lots of other lovely craft and art shops.....

Its well worth popping into the Tourist Information Centre, though our apartment had every leaflet and map you could wish for.  We enjoyed a self guided walk around the Village, and was pleased to find a beautiful old Farmhouse right in the Village.

Of course we visited the Bronte Parsonage, the Church, spent a day on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, and walked the Railway Children Walks to Oxenhope and to Oakworth.  Mr S  loves both the Railways Children Films, and had not long finished reading the book too!

 Perks' cottage

Three Chimneys

Even if you have never heard of the Railway Children, the circular walks take you through lovely peaceful countryside with abandoned cottages, streams and beautiful skies.

At Oxenhope Station, we had a rest on the platform, enjoying tea and cake, and admiring the steam train, and lovely planters which the local guides are looking after.

On a late afternoon walk we tried but failed to get to the Bronte Waterfalls...we are sure to return...as compensation we came across this lovely area of orchids on the road side just above Lower Laithe Reservoir.  By the time we got to the Reservoir we felt a little too tired after our visit to Cliffe Castle, so turned back from there.  Next time this would be a day walk with packed lunch, books, etc!

Haworth Holiday Apartment

We had to bring forward our September holiday, and now that I am up to date with all the chores, its time to post about this.  The first thing I would like to mention is the lovely accommodation we enjoyed in a Grand Home just on the outskirts of Haworth.  Libby's Place  is a first floor apartment, is everything a couple could wish for.  It is so quiet, with lovely views, and has very ample rooms beautifully furnished.

I just wondered what treats we had in store when we were shown up the stairs by the owner.  The door to the apartment in on the ground floor, where there is room to leave shoes and hang up clothes, and has this lovely private staircase up to the first floor.

The king size four poster bed comes with top quality pure cotton sheets, and down duvet and pillows.  Bliss...just like home! We had taken some just in case, but they remained packed.   The room was beautifully furnished,

and the views out of the window ever changing depending on the weather..but straight down there would always be interesting bird activity around the many feeders.

The lounge was comfortable, light and airy...

and the kitchen open plan to the side was very easy to use and very well stocked with nice crockery, cutlery etc.  We decided to leave the fold down dining table up most days, as sitting there drinking long lazy cups of coffee, I loved to peer into the trees watching out for the various birds including the nuthatches just about ten feet from the window.

The shower room had a large shower so we were very happy with everything.  It is strictly no smoking inside and in the grounds, which is something we love too!

We enjoyed the walk into the Village, and only moved the car one day, when we visited Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley.  Julie and Nick were very welcoming, and except when we met them in the village or saw them topping up the bird feeders, or doing a spot of gardening, we were completely quiet.  Julie can be contacted on 01535 645651, or 07719 649971  for bookings.