SIGNS OF AUTUMN

On my walk today I could see the changes in the trees and hedge rows, even the garden is loosing it's sparkle.The trees are turning yellow and I was amazed at the amount of leaves falling  in August.
Do you remember the post about my mystery flower.....

This was posted in April,I still do not know what it is.....

This is what leaves look like today,the flowers were gone by the end of May,replaced by Rhubarb looking leaves that turn red in the Autumn. I am still open to any suggestions as to what it is.

Autumn colours in the hedge rows.

There were loads of ripe blackberries,I will be gathering these at the weekend to make jam and jellies.

Toadstool, giving a splash of colour in the brown leaves.

A Great Tit,looking as surprised as me at the fallen leaves.

The trees turning yellow,this usually happens in September,not August,hope it is not a bad omen.

I am of to the hospital tomorrow for my check up .This time I am seeing a back specialist,just hope he is not holding his clinic in the place I had to go to last time...THE CLINIC FOR AGE RELATED ILLNESSES.!!!!!!

OOH MATRON

When I first started my blog I knew nothing about computers or blogging,my daughter showed me how to get started and explained that I needed a sign in name.I chose "Matron" because it reflected an older woman and my past career,honestly,nothing more innocent than that.!!!
A few days ago I received an email from windows live,telling me someone had made me their friend on a chat site and wanted me to contact her.Thinking it might be someone I knew,I opened the email and went to her site.OMG !!! It was a porn site.!!
How on earth did she find my details???
I blocked her from contacting me again and reported it as spam,but what worries me ,is if my name is on her list of contacts.
John suggested that if she had seen the name "matron" on my blog,it might have given the wrong impression ( only a man would think of that !! )a sex mad matriarch ? instead of a rather boring old fashioned  pensioner.!!
Has anyone else had problems like this ??,I do not know how to stop it happening again,unless I change my name  and email address.All advice will be most welcome.

OLIVER KAYAKING.

A few weeks ago I went with my son and grandson to a lake in the mountain to watch Oliver practicing his kayaking.I am not a water sports fan but it was great watching my G son practicing an eskimo roll,though I was worried that he might not come up again.!His dog Archie came as well and loved going on the kayak,as you will see in the photo.

 THE LAKE

STARTING THE MANOEUVRE

GOING....

 GONE....

 COMING UP.....

ALMOST THERE....

MADE IT.!!! DAD WATCHING,JUST IN CASE.!!

ARCHIE,THE SEA DOG.

OLIVER EARNING HIS POCKET MONEY,HELPING TO CLEAR A DRAINAGE SYSTEM AT THE CASTLE.

Some of you will remember this picture of Oliver and Granddad from a previous post.I can not believe how fast he has grown and changed since this picture was taken.

Not a lot happening at the moment to make an interesting blog post, so forgive me for indulging in this post dedicated to my Grandson.

GOODBYE EDDIE.

At 8.30 this morning the falconer from the bird of prey sanctuary in the Burren came to collect Eddie.
John is very up set,he would have liked to have kept the owl and it was a tearful goodbye,but Eddie is going to a far better place where he will be with other owls,he will be much happier.

This is the last picture,just before he was put into the transport box,he looks sad and worried,I should have taken a picture of John,who looked much worse!!

On a more cheerful note,the next picture is Annie the mule enjoying a roll in the sunshine.

These next ones are of a friends donkeys,mother and daughter.

All for now,will have to take John out somewhere to cheer him up.

TIME TO MAKE JELLIES.

At this time of year I start getting my jam making equipment out of storage.The hedge rows are brimming with free goodies to make delicious unusual jams and jellies.
We will make the usual blackberry jelly,but I love to do the more unusual ones which make very welcome gifts for my friends and family.
I use the following recipe for ROWAN (mountain Ash ) jelly,it is excellent used as a relish with cold meat and game and is one of my favourites.

2 pounds of ripe berries ( washed )
2 pound of cooking apples or wild crab apples (wind fall apples are good for this too ) washed ,bad bits removed and roughly chopped.

Simmer the berries in one and a half pints of water,till soft.
Simmer the apples in one pint of water,till soft.

Strain both extracts through a muslin bag,measure the liquid and add one pound of sugar to each pint.
Bring to the boil then boil rapidly untill setting point is reached.

Pot and cover. If I am giving these as gifts,I cover the lids with red check (gingham) material and make pretty labels. This jelly turns out a lovely dark pink to red colour and has a piquant flavor that compliments cold meat and game.

ROWAN (MOUNTAIN ASH.


The second recipe is for ROSE HIP jelly.
This is has a delicate scented flavor and has a deep orangy pink to red color,depending on the colour of the hips.
3 pound of apples ( crab or cooking )
1 pound of rose hips
Wash, then just cover with water and simmer  till soft. do the fruits separately.
I mash the hips a bit at this stage to extract as much colour and flavor as possible.
Strain through muslin bag, and add 1 pound of sugar to each pint of liquid.
Bring to the boil then boil rapidly till setting point is reached.

This jelly is lovely on scones with cream,a change from strawberry jam.I have it for breakfast spread on hot toast.

Hope you have a go at these,I guarantee you will love them.
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This picture was taken on my walk yesterday,it amused me.I know butterflies feed on nectar for energy but this butterfly took on more than it could cope with.!!
Enlarge the picture and read the label.

THE WEDDING

Well I am delighted to have my broadband back but it is not any faster.!!
Yesterday we had the wedding,the day started with rain and we were convinced the wedding would be spoiled because of it,but just as the bride was about to leave for the church the sun came out and stayed out for the rest of the day.
The priest was the brides uncle and gave a wonderful ceremony complete with jokes,he had the whole congregation in hysterics.One of his jokes was quite risque,from a Catholic priest. ! He started with a joke about a little girl at a wedding,who asked her mother why the bride always wore white,the mother replied that it was because it was the happiest day of her life.The little girl then asked why was it then that the groom wore black.!! The priest then turned to the groom and told him he would try and make the day happy for him.Then the service started,at the end ,the priest finished with his naughty joke about a nun,it went something like this--
A nun gets into a taxi,she is being driven along when the driver asks what she would say if he kissed her.
 The nun says,that it would depend on his answer to two questions,was he a catholic and was he married.
The driver says he is a catholic and no,he is not married,so the nun says YES.the man gives her a big sloppy kiss and then drives on.A short time later the man starts crying and the nun asks what is wrong.The man says he is sorry for what he did as he had lied,he was not a catholic and he was married.
The nun said she would forgive him,her name was Kevin and HE was just going to a fancy dress party.!!

The wedding party then came back to the Castle for the photo shoot and the sun still shone for them,thank goodness,then we all left for the hotel and reception,a good time was had by all,wonderful meal,lots of live music and dancing.
There was only one mishap,the cake got damaged in transit to the hotel.!! I was not responsible,I do not know who did it,but the patching up of the cake can be seen quite clearly,unfortunately.After all my hard work.!! 

I am recovering today,having a rest,will catch up with all your posts tomorrow .