Happy Holidays for Quirky Bird Gardeners

Now we are on holiday it's time for us to relax, chill, have some nice days out and catch up with things at home. Monday was a day at home, working through the big list I've accumulated of "stuff" to do. Anything from getting help to get the last of the big plants into the greenhouse for winter to cleaning the house and doing some baking. 

Getting through the apples frm the nursery, only 2 thirds to go! So far I've stewed and frozen boxes of them, made an apple and rasperry pie two weeks ago. Today I made apple and cider bread, apple cake and apple and bramble muffins, all very seasonal

On Tuesday I had some pampering and a hair cut, definitely the way to start a holiday! Then Bracken and I went for a walk up Tinto, one of our nearest big hills. The weather was perfect for it and we had good views. An hour up which I was happy with (first hill walk since January) a seat at the top to enjoy some snacks and then a quick walk back down. Really enjoyed it, good to get some proper walking done again. This is the start of my training for my charity climb challenge up Ben Nevis next year!

Coulter fell with snow on it from Tinto

Give me your snack, go on, I've finished mine, Bracken, Tinto

On Wednesday we headed south to Penrith to visit two of our favourite places, Larch Cottage Nursery and The Brunswick Yard. It's a bit of a trek but if we do both it is well worth the journey. If you are in the area, do visit both. It was the last open day for the Chapel garden this year at Larch Cottage and finally we weren't working and were able to go. It was lovely to have a wander round and enjoy the amazing chapel built for the owners wedding. We managed to only buy two items from the Brunswick Yard, which was very restrained of us! But we did enjoy coffee and cakes for lunch in their excellent cafe. See the link below for details of where to find these great places to visit. You can also follow the link to read a previous blog about another visit we made there.

A visit to Larch Cottage

Larch Cottage Nursery

The Brunswick Yard

Acer palmatum 'Hondoshi', Chapel garden,
Larch Cottage Nursery

Acer palmatum 'Koto no Ito', Chapel garden,
 Larch Cottage Nursery

Inside the chapel

Clematis seedheads, Larch Cottage Nursery

Fading roses

Late afternoon and time to head home

But before we do, time to walk Bracken

He's spotted something

Surely it's too cold for a paddle

Our purchases from Brunswick
yard, the bottle is decieving, it's
2 feet high!

Heading north, but not to far on Thursday we visited Wallace Monument near Stirling. It's 21 years since I was there and David has never been, so good to go back. We were lucky with the weather too and had fab views all around. A god work out climbing the 200 and odd steps but worth it for the views. East all the way to Edinburgh, south to Stirling castle. west to Ben Lomond and north along the Ochils. You can visit the website here National Wallace Monument for more information on visiting.

The winding twisting loops of the River Forth 

You can see how many times the River Forth loops backwards and fowards in this photo

Ben Ledi

Stirling castle

The Ochil Hills

Walking through the woods below the Monument

Friday was a day at home catching up with that long list of things to do, including cleaning the car, watering greenhouses, sorting through piles of stuff, lists of admin and making apple chutney with the last of the apples. It goes very well with cheese and pate and I don't think it will last long!

Apple Chutney

On Saturday we were back at the nursery with a stand at the Whitmuir Art and Craft Fair. It was lovely to catch up with people and sell a few things. We will also be at the Christmas fair, which is over two days this year, on the 1st and 2nd of December, 11am to 4pm. We'll have gardening gifts, gift vouchers and mistletoe for sale. Wee you there!

On Sunday we had a great day at St Abbs head which will appear in another blog soon. It's been a relaxing break so far, with long lies, leisurely breakfasts, lovely days out and catching up at home. Looking forward to lots more of the same interspersed with nursery visits and work there.

Have a great week.


#Larchcottagenursery #thebrunswickyard #nationalwallacemonument #whitmuirartandcraftfair

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