Posts Tagged ‘Calderdale’

What a Show!

Saturday, June 18th, 2011

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Gordon Rigg Garden Centre floral display at the Todmorden Agricultural show

Regular readers will know that we’re based in the Pennine market town of Todmorden, and today was the town’s annual agricultural show.

View of the Todmorden Agricultural Show through the trees

It was held in the lovely setting of Centre Vale Park – surrounded by trees.

Incredible Edible display at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

There was all manner of stuff to see – a funfair and brass bands playing in the bandstand.

food stalls at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

lots of local food produce – pies, preserves, meats, fruit, vegetables, honey and cheese…

Pextenement Cheese stall at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

…and stalls selling outdoor wear & country attire…

outdoor clothing stall at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

There was some great vintage farm machinery on display.

vintage tractor on display at the Todmorden Agricultural show

red vintage tractors on display at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

The stars of the show, of course, were the animals!

horses on display at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

horses on display at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

Some were being judged, some were racing…

ram on display at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

sheep on display at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

goats on display at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

…and some were there simply to be petted or appreciated for their beauty…

pigs on display at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

…horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, birds of prey and bees.

various birds of prey on display at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

bird of prey on display at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

There was a really good crowd – young & old.

bulls on parade at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

There were some dark clouds and drizzle  in the morning and a few worried looks, but it brightened up nicely.

bull on parade at the Todmorden Agricultural Show

It was a really enjoyable afternoon – thoroughly recommended if you’re in the area this time next year!

Growing our own

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

"Growing our own" blog post banner

flat leaf parsley and coriander growing on a windowsill

This year we decided to grow more of our own – and we’ve got no excuse, as Todmorden‘s the home of Incredible Edible.

strawberries growing in a vintage terracotta strawberry pot

We have a variety of crops to look forward to in the coming weeks.

homegrown beetroot in vintage enamel breadbinhomegrown peashoots grown in vintage metal bucket

Most of them are growing in containers as much of our garden is paved with stone cobbles. It also makes protecting them from the ubiquitous slugs & snails much easier.

tomato plants growing in a vintage mini greenhouse

We use lots of the old galvanised metal ‘dolly tubs’, buckets and bins.

courgette flowers in a vintage metal dolly tub

The plants seem to like it!

potato plants overflowing from a vintage metal dolly tub just outside the kitchen doorpink stems of rhubarb growing out of a vintage metal dolly tub

Potatoes, beetroot, carrots, tomatoes, rhubarb, strawberries, broccoli, courgettes, squash, peashoots, salad leaves, a variety of herbs – and yes, those are figs.

tiny fruits growing on a fig tree

There’s still a little room for some flowers.

lilac coloured osteospermum growing in a vintage metal bucket

pink lupins growing in a vintage dolly tubpink lupins growing in a vintage dolly tub

Perennials like the hostas, astilbes and lupins return each year like old friends. Although this year’s harsh winter saw a few losses.

purple lobelia growing in a vintage metal bucket

red geraniums just about ready to flower

To these we add a few annuals – osteospermums,  lobelia and the like.

hosta leaves

pink fox glove about to flower growing next to a giant ribbed terracotta urnyoung purple shoots of astilbe plants

We’ve enjoyed working in the garden this year. We don’t think self-sufficiency is here just yet – but hopefully we’ll reap some rewards!

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Northern Lights

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

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Radiance lighting shop on Market Street in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

One of our favourite shops has moved.

strings of colourful bauble fairy lights in the window of Radiance lighting shop on Hebden Bridge

detail of handmade patchwork lampshade available at Radiance lighting shop in Hebden Bridge

Radiance, owned & run by Hannah Nunn re-opened in new premises at the weekend.

people at the 'shop-warming' of the new Radiance lighting shop in Hebden Bridge

We went to the ‘shop-warming’ on Saturday afternoon.

strings of colourful bauble fairy lights in the window of Radiance lighting shop in Hebden Bridge

She’s not moved far… about 200 yards in fact… but whether it’s 200 yards or 200 miles, moving a shop is a big job.

selection of items from various designer/makers available at Radiance lighting shop in Hebden Bridge

The new shop’s a bit closer to Hebden Bridge town centre – next door to Mooch café-bar on Market Street.

Exterior view of Radience lighting shop in Hebden Bridge next door to Mooch cafe

A few stone steps lead up to the enticing shop space – filled with her trademark handmade lighting…

Collection of Hannah Nunn's lamps at the 2009 Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at Spinningfields, Manchester

…along with a fabulous selection of household goodies by other designer/makers.

collection of hanging lampshades available at Radiance in Hebden Bridge

collection of items by various designer/makers available from Radiance lighting shop in Hebden Bridge

collection of items by various designer/makers available at Radiance lighting shop in Hebden Bridge

To the rear of the shop is an improved workspace for Hannah, with a wood-burning stove for chilly days.  She even has a loo and somewhere to make a cup of tea – something she had to cope without in the last shop!

Blossom Bill homewares available from Radiance in Hebden Bridge

fairy lights wrapped around willow and butterfly decorated pebbles

Detail of a colourful tissue paper bird, one of six along a string of fairy lights

For those of you unfamiliar with Hebden Bridge – and within reach – it’s well worth a visit. It’s one of our next-door neighbours town-wise, about 4 miles from Todmorden. It’s a pretty place, full of small independent shops and cafés – perfect for a day trip.

BLOG UPDATE: For more great pix and info about the new launch check out Hannah’s own blog!

Winter wonderland

Friday, January 1st, 2010

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footprints across a snowy field

Hope you all had a great Christmas.

close up of snow-covered red berries close up of snow-covered black berries

We’ve had picturesque, snowy landscapes in these parts…

cottage on Todmorden Edge in the snow

farm on Todmorden Edge in the snow

looking down on the railway line with grass in the foreground

…this meant lovely walks throughout the holidays…

flock of sheep in a snowy landscape

flock of sheep in a snowy landscape

..with crackling fires, hot tea & mulled wine on our returns home.

Statue of a bird and fir trees in a snowy landscape

It made this year’s Christmas very special.

snow-covered branches

snow-covered trees in Centre Vale Park, Todmorden

We remembered to take our camera out with us quite a lot and captured some of the stunning scenery…

Todmorden Town centre in the snow

snow-covered gravestones in Todmorden Unitarian churchyard

…and we even have a bit of action footage to share with you!!

Thanks for all your support & encouragement throughout 2009.

snow covered seed head and trees in the background

Wishing you all the very best for the year (and decade) ahead.

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Out & About… Spring

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

Spring has sprung in these parts – with the garden awakening…

…blossom on trees…

…ferns unfurling…

…daffodils in flower…

…chicks on the canal…

…bluebells in the woods…

…and lambs in the fields.

It’s a wonderful time of year, with signs of new life all around us.

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