A round up....

I've been on holiday.....

....a beautiful Dales Barn...

.. in the Yorkshire Dales. Swaledale to be precise. It's my favourite Dale and we've visisted a few. It's rugged and quiet,

lots of flat bedded rivers to

... walk beside and skim stones into. Waterfalls to admre and picnic beside.

... just don't mention the midges.... polka-dotted arms just aren't attractive....and believe me they itch!

Haymaking was in progress when we arrived...

Can you see the tiny, little people ?

Apparently, it was the first opportunity they'd been to get the hay in and did they work..... from first light until quite dark, getting the hay into the barns before it was forecast to rain on the Friday. (It didn't! Horray for weather forecasts!).

Farmers often combine through the night here to get the oilseed rape and wheat in but Swaledale is the only place I've seen people actually out in the fields raking up the crop as well as the tractors too-ing and fro-ing. Some of fields were on impossible gradients too, you could easily imagine the tractors just toppling over and descending down the slope.

Whilst we were away the allotment went beserk... before we went away we picked, pounds and pounds of runner beans. Loads of courgettes, peas..... Shall I just say that I'm pleased that I have a jam pan so that I can make chutneys, pickles and jams. I'm also quite excited about being able to make cakes with courgettes.... we haven't tasted it yet. I'll let you know!

I need to say a BIG thank you to everyone who placed orders in the shop even though I wasn't going to be able to despatch anything until the following Monday (... and I'm afraid it took me slightly longer than Monday to catch up - but everything is back to normal now. (Allowing of course for the unforeseen.)

I also need to need to say thank you to everyone who joined in the giveaway and I'm sorry if I didn't get to reply to everyone. But, according to the 'Random Number generator' the winner of this ;

is;

and number seven (according to the order they were received in my mailbox) is; Kelly. So, congratualtions Kelly and if you'd like to e-mail me your address I'll get this pattern sent off to you. I hope you enjoy making it.

Comments

[dottycookie]

It sounds like a lovely holiday. We had a beach one this year, and that was lovely, but I'm itching to get back to the Dales or the Lakes for some walking next time!

[Andrea]

Congratuations Kelly.
Lovely countryside, I have never visited this part of the country before. Must put it on my 'to visit' list. I do have quite along list too.

[Wild Rose]

Hi Julia,

Oh lucky you! I love the Yorkshire Dales and walked most of them over the years that I lived in Harrogate. Swaledale has always been a favourite because of its rugged beauty. I once stayed with my family in Reeth and I remember the smell of woodsmoke and the early morning mists. Now I'm feeling homesick....

Enjoy your weekend.

Marie x

[Dolores]

Congratulations to Kelly! Glad your holidays were enjoyable.

[Kelly]

looks like you had a lovely holiday, i'm really pleased i won your giveaway, i'm off to email my address now!