WICKER HARES AT HARLOW CARR GARDENS

We came across these two mad hatters at Harlow Carr Gardens, Harrogate

The auriculas were colourful in the auricula theatre

ots of beautiful alpines in the alpine house

CITY'S WON - OH DEAR!

Just heard that Manchester City has defeated Manchester United - poor Robert!

EVENING MEDITATION

God grant you peace,

to achieve peace

to radiate peace

to extend peace

to live in peace.

LITTLE WHITE RABBIT VISITS WETHERBY & RIPON

On his way to Harrogate Little White Rabbit called at Wetherby for his lunch and Ripon for afternoon tea, then on to Harrogate! He gets around.Both Wetherby & Ripon are famous for their race courses.

CLIMB CLIMB UP SUNSHINE MOUNTAIN

  Do you know the following verse? It is a chorus from Sunday School days

Climb, climb up sunshine mountain heavenly breezes blow

Climb, climb up sunshine mountain faces all aglow

Turn, turn your back on doubting look into the sky

Climb, climb up sunshine mountain you and I.

WEEKEND IN HARROGATE UPDATE

We are now back from our weekend in Harrogate. Unfortunately the weather was not too good this time but we managed a lovely walk through the woods from Harrogate to Harlowe Carr RHS gardens on  Saturday afternoon. The gardens were full of colour, tulips everywhere and I am pleased that I actually saw the Auricula Theatre full of beautifully scented and colourful auriculas. The Spring Show finished early yesterday because of the heavy downpours. The floral displays lived up to expectation. We have taken a lot of photographs which I will endeavour to download this week. Little White Rabbit enjoyed his first flower show so look out for him, he also enjoyed a meal at Bettys famous tea rooms!

HARROGATE

Harrogate here we come again!  It is the Harrogate Spring Show and we are once again off on our travels. We enjoy visiting Harrogate. We will, no doubt, visit the RHS Gardens (my husband is a member). We might even go to the Turkish Baths. Sometimes we travel by train to Knaresbrough. This will be Little White Rabbits first trip. Hopefully back Sunday. In the meantime here is a tongue twister for you:

Sure the ship's shipshape, sir.

THE OPEN ROAD

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good fortune, I myself am good fortune,

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,

Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,

Strong and content I travel the open road.

(Walt Whitman (1819-92) from "Song of the Open Road", USA)

BLUEBELL TIME

It is wonderful to walk through the woods at this time of the year, the sight and scent of the bluebells can't help but cheer

ST TERESA'S BOOKMARK

Let nothing disturb thee,

Nothing affright thee,

All things are passing,

God never changeth;

Patience endureth,

Attaineth to all things;

Who God possesseth

In nothing is wanting.

Alone God sufficeth.

(St Teresa's bookmark)

SPRING GARDEN

These pictures were taken in our friends garden in Nantwich on Sunday. The flowers beds were very colourful, full of Spring flowers. I liked the colourful violas.

OLD MACHINES

Some more pictures from the Steam and Steel weekend

Steam Powered Boat

 

 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY TUESDAY 24 APRIL

Better than a thousand useless words is one word that gives peace.

STEAM POWER

Here are a few pictures taken in Wales at the steel and steam weekend. The trains ran from Llangollen to 

Carrog

.

Tornado

MESSAGE FROM BEYOND! SAFELY HOME

Whilst sorting through my picture albums I decided to take out some of the pictures to put with others of a more similar nature. On taking out one of the photos I found this poem behind it!

I am home in heaven, dear ones,

Oh so happy, and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty

In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief are over!

All the short, dark struggle past;

I am now at peace for ever,

Safely home in heaven at last.

Do you shudder at yon' picture?

All the horrors of that hour!

Ah! but Jesus was beside me,

To sustain me by His power.

And He came Himself to meet me,

In that way so hard to tread;

And with Jesu's arms to cling to,

Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,

For I love you dearly still;

Try to look beyond earth's shadows,

Pray to trust our Father's will.

There is work stil waiting for you,

So you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth;

You shall rest in Jesu's land.

When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you home;

Oh the rapture of the meeting!

Oh the joy to see you come!

BUSY WEEKEND AND INFO OF NEW ZEALAND ANCESTRY

Hi, I have had a busy weekend, starting Friday. My son and daughter in law came down from Durham, they are now back in the UK after their trip to New Zealand. I have been sorting through loads of old photos, I have literally hundreds and have been meaning to sort them out for ages. On Friday we went to Ikea to buy a large container to accommodate all the albums. I have managed to sort through quite a lot but still have many more to sort through. On Saturday we went to a steam event in Llangollen where we saw Tornado! I will put photos on blog later in the week. After viewing some of the trains, old cars, model railways etc we had to get back to Chester for the football match which Chester actually won which takes them up in the League! After the match we went for a chinese meal in Parkgate which is where Emma Hamilton was born (Lord Nelson's mistress!),

Today my son found quite a lot of information out about an ancestor of mine who emigrated to New Zealand in 1842. (Thomas Maddock). He travelled from Gravesend to New Zealand on the sailing ship Sir Charles Forbes - setting sail on 1 May 1842 and arriving 22 August 1842. Apparently there is a place in New Zealand named after him "Maddock Bush". My son found a lot of interesting details on the internet. I will try to contact my relatives there.I have two pictures of him.

Keep visiting - I will put photos on as soon as possible.

OH TO BE IN ENGLAND NOW THAT APRIL'S HERE

Oh, to be in England

Now that April's there,

And whoever wakes in England

Sees, some morning, unaware,

That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf

Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,

While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough

In England - now!

And after April, when May follows,

And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows

Hark! where my blossomed pear-tree in the hedge

Leans to the field and scatters on the clover

Blossoms and dewdrops - at the bent sray's edge

That's the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over,

Lest you should think he never could recapture

The first fine careless rapture

And though the fields look rough with hoary dew,

All will be gay awhen noontide wakes anew.

The buttercups, the little children's dower,

Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower.

(Robert Browning 1812-1889)

MORNING SONG

When I was a child I was taken to Sunday School twice a day. I enjoyed singing choruses and still enjoy doing the same today. The one I have in mind this morning is called 'In my heart there rings a melody' do you know it? If so sing along:

In my heart there rings a melody, there rings a melody of heavenly harmony

In my heart there rings a melody, there rings a melody of love.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Sweetest Name I know;

Fills my every longing, Keeps me singing as I go.

(We always followed the above by going straight into the following chorus):

Wonderful, wonderful, Jesus is to me; Counsellor, Mighty God,

Prince of Peace is He. Saving me, keeping me, From all sin and shame;

Wonderful is my Redeemer, Praise His Name!

Enjoy your day!

LITTLE WHITE RABBIT CLIMBS TREE

Little White Rabbit was quite adventurous at the weekend

THE LAND AWAKENS

Awake, the land is scattered with light, and see;

Uncanopied sleep is flying from field and tree:

And blossoming boughs of April in laughter shake,

Awake, O heart; to be loved, awake, awake!

Robert Bridges (1844-1930) from 'Awake' England

MORNING MEDITATION

You Lord God are 

Strength for my task

Light for my way

Peace for my mind

Power for this day

Presence with me now

Love for alway.

(David Adam - Celtic Prayers)

VIOLETS

I was impressed by the number of violets I saw growing in the hedgerows on our recent walks. Violets have been cultivated and used in cooking and medicine for thousands of years. They are low growing perennials that are closely related to Pansies. Violet leaves and flowers are often used as garnishes in soups and for a festive touch in punches. The petals can be candied and used to garnish cakes, fruits and pastries. The leaves can be eaten and can be added to green salads.

 Violets are bound to Venus and water. The most well known use magically seems to be that when mixed with Lavender in a sachet, it makes a strong love combination. Carrying Violet flowers on the person brings good luck and putting the flowers in dream pillows enhances prophetic dreams and divination.

MORE ADVENTURES OF LITTLE WHITE RABBIT

Little White Rabbit was quite adventurous and wanted to show off and climbed some of the scaffolding.

Here he is showing Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny where the hens live

Oh look what we've found, two freshly laid eggs for our tea, we could have an egg and spoon race!

Let's have a look at this dolls house

After a lovely weekend it was time to go home, Goodbye chickens, Murphy, cats, Gill & Alan see you soon, we hope.

MORE RABBITS VISIT CAE MAWR!

The rest of the rabbit family heard that Little White Rabbit was staying at Cae Mawr and so they decided to hop along and here they are enjoying a day out.

LITTLE WHITE RABBIT VISITS BARMOUTH

Our journey continued to Barmouth with its beautiful big beach. Barmouth is a bustling town with plenty to entertain the young and old. Barmouth is the starting point for the Three Peaks Race in which participants sail from Wales to Scotland and climb the three highest mountains in the UK, Snowdon, Scafell Pke and Ben Nevis.Barmouth is home to the Fairbourne and Barmouth Railway track which was originally laid in 1895.

Little White Rabbit looked at the donkeys and decided he wanted a ride on one.

Can you see him? He is very small compared to the donkey

 

After his donkey ride he decided it would be fun to sit in the hole in the Donut stand

But oh dear, look what happened to him next

Splat, right on his face, will he live?