genialgemsandothergabblings

 We went across to Burscough today for the opening of the V.I.P Charity shop that is replacing the one at Hesketh Bank . Firstly to show our support and wish everyone well on the new venture. It was looking amazing and Sam the manageress has done a great job. People were flocking in to see what was on offer. Secondly it also gave us chance, while we were there, to take a look at the old Wharf side area on the canal and see what has been done with the site. It was great to also find a Canal Heritage weekend going on with displays and stalls, traditional Lancashire Clog dancers and Morris Dancers. Even the the threat of heavy showers was not putting them off. We had our  lunch at a lovely little tearoom with a scrumptious cake display to tempt us. I then found a shop selling Italian made clothes and gifts where I picked up a lovely Baby book that I can record my little Grandson George's first years in. Its beautiful inside I also spent some money on  the most...

 Two blog posts in as many days but we had a busy weekend and I wanted to share a few of the pictures we took on the Open Day. It seems to get bigger and busier every year and the roads leading there were packed with cars queuing, Luckily for us ,we could arrive on our boat and moor up just a 15 mins walk away and so  that way, we do not have the car admission price to pay of £15. There is so much to see and do with all the stalls ,shows and animals on display,Peter tended to gravitate to all the foodie stalls for tasters! I enjoyed seeing the animals and birds of prey which were all being very good with all the noise and fuss going on around them.  Back on the boat later we were feeding swan families and a rather unusual duck with 9 ducklings after some research we think she might be a female mandarin duck. There is a male living further up the canal. The weather stayed good, rather muggy and warm towards the later part of the day and lots of little f...

 Summer Walks in the local country lanes have been enjoyed, in the last week or two of this beautiful sunny warm weather, by us both and it has given me the opportunity to indulge in some photography. I was so delighted to be able to find a Woodpeckers nest hole high up in an Old Oak tree and went back daily to see how things were going .The parent birds were constantly back and forth to feed and I was able to capture them and the young as they put the head out of the hole to have a look at the big new world they would soon be emerging into. The early evening when we were on our walks was so peaceful and there was wildlife to be seen everywhere. Local pathways Beautiful summer scene Loads of Nettles left as habitat for caterpillars Chickens in their lovely field of buttercups Hello World! A beakful of grubs for the young Parent woodpecker near hole Cheeky chaffinch  Over the weekend we took a trip out, as the weather was so nice, t...