Hesket Newmarket Show 2024 (II)

As well as the industrial tent, there was of course all the stock entries and the world famous Hesket Newmarket terrier race!  But first some artwork....

and some of my baking ....

Stock...

Ready for go....

Terrier racing....

..and for Red, it was all too much! 

Hesket Newmarket Show 2024 (I)

After such an awful summer we were blessed with most gloriously sunny day for our local village show. Another splendid day and lots of entries by the Garners and friends, in the Industrial tent. 

I won the cup for most points in the tent, as well as in the Floral Art, and Art and Photography. Molly won the most points in the Baking section (we may be eating cake and sausage rolls for a while), and Tom did really well gaining recognition for his digital art and a first for his item of headwear - and a lot of comments! Tom's partner Natalie came all the way from Northern Ireland for a prize with her lemon curd while Molly's partner Will made some gorgeous Anzac biscuits. Our friends Pam and Matt won prizes in floral art and photography respectively. 

Given the year and the recent storms I was well impressed with my sweet peas and sunflowers - given that the sunflowers had, until the day before, been laid on the ground as the kept blowing them over!  

Top right - a flower arrangement with cones and candles gained a first with the flowers just sitting in small jam jars. 

5 blooms and foliage gained a second and berries and foliage in a jug a first. 

Some of Molly's entries ...

..and Tom's.

See below for an explanation! 

So with 9 firsts, 15 seconds and 4 thirds ...not a bad day for me ...more photos in the next blog! 

Drumburgh Nature Reserve

Yesterday we grabbed a sunny interlude between gales and rain, for a walk at Drumburgh.

Colours of Autumn.

Poplar Hawk Moth caterpillar. 

Looking across to Skidddaw and the Northern Fells.

The boardwalk.

Cranberries.

Bog Rosemary.

The return path ...

One of the few butterflies we saw - Peacock.

Water Lily in the sun. 

 

Whin Rigg and Illgill Head

Another day on the fells ...this time down west. We parked at the disused quarry on the road round Irton Pike and headed up from that little quarry through the woodland and out onto Irton Fell. A boggy path onto Whin Rigg and ok ish views - the cloud was down on the big tops but we had decent views at lower levels. A reasonable breeze but not too windy. Heading along the ridge towards Illgill Head we passed a couple of lovely tarns with unbranched bur-reed. Along to the summit of Illgill Head for lunch, where we hunkered down behind the small cairn before returning. the highlight on the return - finding Stag's-horn Clubmoss....and some Chanterelles for tea! 

A Gatekeeper - first one I've seen this year. 

On the way up Whin Rigg ...with Yewbarrow to the right of centre.

Rocky and Rowan (look at that tongue) on Whin Rigg. 

The ridge along to Illhead.

Unbranched bur-reed.

And Illhead. 

Looking down over Waswater.

Looking down the screes.

Yewbarrow.

The cloud came down just after we left. 

Stag's-horn Clubmoss...not common.

A lovely strand of Stag's-horn Clubmoss. 

Chanterelles.

Giant's Causeway Fused Glass Panel

Always wanting to try new things ..and I wondered how this piece would come out. Taken directly from one of my photographs of the Giant's Causeway, Click here  and here for the trip, the piece represents a close up view of the columns, where the sea was splashing onto the concave tops of the basalt columns. 

I learnt a lot during the process - as you always do when you push yourself and thanks to Roxy again, of RD Glass, both for her patience and letting me work in her studio and for her expertise firing the piece. 

Half way through construction....

The finished piece ...and detail below.

The previous pictures were with of the glass held up against a window, but it looks good just laid on white paper, so I can mount it using stand offs on a white board. 

Knott Rigg and Ard Crags

A breezy morning, so a refreshing walk up Knott Rigg and onto Ard Crags. The heather, as I have said before, is beautiful this week. Great views. 

Sail Fell.

Looking along the ridge and down Newlands Valley.

Spectacular heather aand rocks...the Bilberry leaves are just beginning to turn orange. 

Looking back along the ridge with the fells behind Buttermere in the distance. 

Rocky doing a controlled down as a tempting Raven appears on the horizon - Raven chasing is his favourite occupation! 

On the look out!

Moss Force in full flow after yesterday's rain. 

Somerset Levels Quilt

Something of a change on the artwork front - a piece of patchwork and quilting based on the Somerset Levels. All the fabric is hand dyed and I was pleased I could still patch a curve! I really enjoyed the hand stitching too and doing a smaller piece meant it got finished and I didn't get bored! 

The 'pieced' textile.

Finished...and details below.