Buying the vegetables

We go for our 'morning drive' once a fortnight, just to stock up with the freshest vegetables we have ever found.
 We used to ride out to the nursery just looking and visit other local nurseries in the area but then, one day we decided we would collect the veg and fruit to take on holiday with us.
That visit set the trend the veg is soooo fresh .....
The nursery itself is just  a basic working nursery, no frills or gimmicks, straight forward plants, soil, pots etc.

 There are several shops to one side of Nursery, small businesses covering double glazing, fashion, wool & haberdashery, also a new shop just opened selling hand made fudge!!!

On the other side of the card park is a butcher's van and 'the house'.  The house at the side of the nursery used to be an old detached house with a workshop (or two) at the side, car repairs I think.  It is a really beautiful house now  ......

We bought up all the fruit we needed and then moved onto the vegetables.  
Then we decided to have a cup of coffee (and a piece of cake) in the cafe to the side of the nursery, I love this cafe/restaurant.  It is clean and the staff are very friendly and helpful.
As you can see PJ gives it the 'thumbs up'!  The cafe can be accessed from the nursery or from the front of the site, but we usually enter from the nursery.  There are easy seats situated around the cafe but one of my favourites is the corner opposite the nursery entrance ..........  Lots of artwork to peruse ......

We had a lovely drive home, English countryside in the winter sunshine .....

.. and down came the snow .....

Since Christmas I have been on a 'clean up or throw' splurge.  It happens every year ..... the Christmas decs go back into the loft and the room has to be tidied ...... and that which was buried is revealed ..... and all that space ......   I am sure I am not alone in this!

The tidying and cleaning takes preference over my online work and my craft creating ......

All the new resolve for 2015 goes out of the window ..... catching up is now the priority!  Then comes the day that everything is almost back to normal .....

AND WHAT HAPPENS?!?!

I have a really bad head cold, I feel lousy, my eyes and nose are streaming .... I don't think I need to go on ......


..... and now it's snowing!

A Tribute (post will be edited from time to time)

This is a Tribute to a Great Man.  'The World' will never know about him, but to those who knew him he was a great man.  Gregarious, kind hearted, giving ..... a great man.

Poppa went to meet his Maker at the end of December 2014, with his family by his side.  I found out this past week and I am devastated.
This man, his given names I never knew, welcomed us into his home and his heart.  I can only remember all the times spent with this great man as such happy, learning and fulfilling times.  He went to great lengths to make sure that his 'guests', and later calling us his family, were suitably housed and fed and secure.  I loved this man and thought myself truly blessed to be in his company, sitting at his table and could never, never, comprehend the lengths he went to ensure we were happy.
He was always patient with me, teaching me about traditions, food ..... always having time to talk.
One year he found out it was my birthday and organised a party in his garden for me.  Tables were laid out and food brought out to us, a wide variety and, after prayers, conversation was good, there was much laughter and in depth discussions.  Then the chairs and tables were set back and a drumming group were led in.  These men played all sorts and shapes of drums, the talking drum included.  They were dressed in national costumes and the drums were decorated accordingly.  How we danced in the shade of the orange trees to beating of the drums!!!  One of the best birthdays and something that is absolutely priceless.  But that is how Poppa was.

Another year we went back to his house and there was a beautiful cow sitting in his garden chomping on the hay.  It sat there so placid while the children and adults came up and patted it, ran round it, shouting and calling ...... it just carried on chomping.   'What do you call her Poppa?' I asked.  'Cow' came the reply!!!  I explained how, in England, we named our cows - Daisy, buttercup etc.  He was amazed, could not understand why.  The next day there was a feast at the Church and yes! you guessed it! Beef featured on the menu!

Such wonderful memories this great man gave me ..... such love .... he is sorely missed here in this cold place called England.

My thoughts and prayers are for his lovely wife, handsome sons and their wives and much loved grandchildren.  I pray that God will strengthen and comfort you all at this sad time.

Je m'appelle Charlie