Remember, remember the 5 November...

Guy Fawkes

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators

Remember, Remember the 5th November, gunpowder, treason and plot...

So says the old nursery rhyme. Bonfire Night is not just about parties, fireworks, hot sausages and potatoes and sparklers. It has its roots in English history.

Check out the images above, showing Guy Fawkes and all of the Gunpowder Conspirators. Also for a more indepth insight to the Gunpowder plot and the people behind it check out these fantastic web sites:

http://www.gunpowder-plot.org/

http://www.gunpowderplot.parliament.uk/

http://www.gunpowderplot.co.uk/

Most of all enjoy your Bonfire Parties and stay safe!

Happy Halloween

Thank's to Mary for her positive comments about my blog.

Happy Halloween to all!

Have fun and remember the turning of the seasons!

More posts soon....

Its been a while

Well I haven't submitted a post for months now, since June/July, and its nearly the end of October, but seeing as how nobody seems to read this blog anyway I don't suppose my posts have been missed. Decided to write a few words and add a few piccies as we are going into a nice time of year... All Hallow's Eve (which I always think sounds rather better than 'Halloween'), Guy Fawkes Night and of course Christmas, so I think I will add some rather autumnal/All Hallow's Eve pictures, thoughts and jottings. So if anyone out there who is interested in this blog reads this - hope you enjoy it!

The Birth of Chivalry!

"A knight should be bold, fair, courteous and well-mannered, generous and loyal, not foolish or rash, and should speak fairly without discourtesy. A knight should be all this, and also proud and fierce to his enemies, and kind to his friends."

Durmat, lines 12129-36, c. 1210-1240

Chivalry - The Doctrine of Love!

"...And, indeed, he seems to me

Scarce other than my king's ideal knight,

Who reverenced his conscience as his king;

Whose glory was, redressing humand wrong;

Who spake no slander - no, nor listened to it;

Who loved one only, and who clave to her."

Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Dedication - Idylls of the King (1859)

Chivalry

A knyght there was and that a worthy man

That from the tyme that he first bigan

To riden out, he loved chivalrie,

Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie.

Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,

And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre,

As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse,

And evere honoured for his worthynesse.

Geoffrey Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (c. 1390)

I just love lavender!

Lavender

Lavender - I absolutely adore it. I found some lovely images above. I wanted to write a bit about the history of lavender, myths, crafts, etc., and in my search for something to say I googled 'history of lavender' and found some quite excellent web sites, so instead of me telling you about lavender and all its wonderful good points I set out some most excellent web sites which cover everything from the history, to the different varieties grown and to arts and crafts and herbal uses for lavender. The lavender farm web site is an actual farm, as you will see, run by Nigel Walker & Frances Andrew, check out their web site first - its excellent. Also check out Wikipedia's info on all things lavender - again excellent. So, enjoy your journey around all things lavender!

The web sites are: http://www,lavenderenchantment.com; http://www.lavenderfarm.com; http://www.auracacia.com and http://www.joys-of-lavender.com. There is also a very good blogspot at http://theherbgardener.blogspot.com.

Tatania - Queen of the Fairies

Tatania,
Queen of the Fairies

“…When thou hast stolen away from Fairyland, playing pipes of corn and versing love…”

“…Why art thou here, come from the farthest steppe of India?”

“…And never, since the middle summer’s spring, Met we on hill, in dale, forest or mead. By paved fountain or rushy brook, Or in the beached margent of the sea. To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind…”

“…Set your heart at rest; The fairyland buys not the child of me…”

“…And, in the spiced Indian air, by night full often hath she gossip’d by my side, And sat with me on Neptune’s yellow sands. To fetch me trifles, and return again as from a voyage, rich with merchandise…”

“Not for thy Fairy Kingdom. Fairies away!”

“…Come, now a roundel and a fairy song; then for the third party of a minute, hence; Some to kill cankers in the musk-rose buds, some war with rere-mice for their leathen wings. To make my small elves coats, and some keep back. The clamorous owl nightly hoots and wonders at our quaint spirits. Sing me asleep; then to your offices and let me rest…”

(Excerpts taken from William Shakepeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream)

I Believe in Fairies!!!!

A Grand Day Out - Its what its all about!!!

My blog is all about pretty things, arts, crafts and all beautiful things...

This tea cup with the peacock on, what a find - how lovely to find a set of these for sweet, afternoon tea!

This purple gown is gorgeous and would make any girl feel really special.

I just love these two imagines - vintage, shabby chic at its finest.

Pretty Girls, Pretty Dresses & Fairy Princesses!

I'm afraid I cannot help myself, where pretty dresses, beautiful, flowing material, and floral head dresses are concerned - its the ultimate in girlie stuff and its what makes us all feel special to dress up in such fabulous gowns and accessories and really feel like 'Cinderella' for just a short while. I found the following images and just wanted to share them with you all...enjoy!!!

Cake Decorating - An Art form!

Yummy! These are fabulous cakes I found on-line, they look too good to cut into and eat - you just want to look at them and enjoy them visually!

Prayers can't be answered unless they are prayed!

Prayers can't be answered unless they are prayed

by Helen Steiner Rice

Life without purpose is barren indeed -

There can't be a harvest unless you plant seed.

There can't be attainment unless there's a goal,

And man's but a robot unless there's a soul.

If we send no ships out, no ships will come in,

And unless there's a contest nobody can win.

For games can't be won unless they are played

And prayers can't be answered unless they are prayed.

So whatever is wrong with your life today,

You'll find a solution if you kneel down and pray,

Not just for pleasure, enjoyment and health,

Not just for honours, prestige and wealth,

But pray for a purpose to make life worth living,

And pray for the joy of unselfish giving,

For great is your gladness and rich your reward

When you make your life's purpose the choice of the Lord.

The Language of Flowers

The Language of Flowers (taken from special edition volume published by Pastimes)

The Victorians formalised and expanded the language of flowers to provide every sentiment and occasion with a floral code. However, this practice has its origins much further back in history. By Shakespeare's time, flowers conveyed messages that were well known to the girls who were the life equivalents of Peridta in A Winter's Tale and Ophelia in Hamlet.

The need for a code arose because the freedom enjoyed by today's young lovers was denied their predecessors. Suitors were not always approved of, in which case the tiny, discreet pimpernel would bear the message, 'assignation', or the less discreet rose or red tulip would say, 'I love you'. The message back was not always encouraging, a striped carnation would convey 'refusal', or worse, the frog ophrys would mean 'disgust'. Receiving that would take a lot of getting over! One's knowledge of this language had to be extensive. Some flowers had radically different meanings, depending on the colour of the one given, and the scope for error was alarming. Fortunately, little handbooks were available for the Victorian suitor to make sure he got it right.

Behind this floral code was a less easily detected but fascinating tradition stretching back into antiquity, in which flowers and plants featured prominently in myth and folklore and were greatly prized for their powers of healing and protection.

What is it about flowers?

What is it about flowers? We all love them, we grow them in our gardens, we send them for special occasions, we hold them as brides, we place them on graves. They make us cry, they make us smile. We love their colours, which is like nothing that can ever be reproduced in our material world. The red of a rose will never be matched in a paintshop or at an artist's easel. God-made colours in a world dominated by man.

A very good friend of mine is travelling from Australia to Alaska to undertake an Alaskan Flower Essence course. Dr Edward Bach of England back in the 1930s discovered by using sunlight and water he could collect the essences of flowers and preserve them and use these precious essences to make people better. Flower Essences are for sale on line and in health food shops, I myself have used them. Dr Bach collected five specific essences and called them his 'rescue remedy', you can get it now in drop form or a special mouth spray - I used it a lot when I went for my driving test - it helped a lot! There is a calming, pleasing thought that the 'magic' of the essence of a flower can help to steady your nerves and make you feel better.

For centuries women had embroidered, cross stitched and needlepointed their way through many flowers. You will find flowers in most tapestries on the walls of many stately homes, castles and manor houses. Beginner cross stitch kits often use a simple flower as the way to get the keen learner going. Flowers are on books, cards, wrapping paper, silk scarves, curtains, window nets, we put flowers in our hair when we marry, they are used in folk festivals, Wiccans adorn themselves with them - we simply love flowers and have them as a part of our lives. It was something I thought of and so I thought I would share with the rest of you. You sit and think a while about just how often and how many times you see, buy, stitch, use flowers - they are all around us.

The Birds I met!

The Beautiful HARRIS HAWK!

















The stunning Golden Eagle!

The wise old Eagle Owl!

The Regal Bald Eagle!

Birthday Treat!

Had a fantastic birthday last weekend, and had a special birthday treat from my parents which was a falconry day at Warwick Castle. I have always wanted to do falconry so I went along to Warwick (my favourite place) and had the most amazing time with some stunning, impressive birds. The Bird of Prey experience at Warwick Castle is run by the most excellent people at www.hawkexperience.co.uk so check it out if you are interested, also check out Warwick Castle's web site which is listed on my blog.

I held a Bald Eagle called Sydney who was heavy but stunning, I also held a juvenile Bald Ealge, who didn't have the recognisable white head as juveniles don't get the white head until they are holder. I also asked a very impressive Golden Eagle called Mouse an unusual name I know but he was a beautiful bird. I then flew two amazing birds an Eagle Owl and a Harris Hawk who was called Patience - she was amazing and my favourite bird. She was so elegant and silent as she swooped through the air.

Although the Bird of Prey experience isn't cheap (£80 participant and £30 spectator) it is well worth spending the morning handling and flying these amazing birds. I know dear bloggers that this doesn't really come under the heading of blog topics that I want on A Grand Day Out but I had to share this lovely day that I had.

I post some photographs next so that you can see how beautiful these birds are.

Crochet - Creative Joy!

Crochet

A little background - Crochet is a process of creating fabric from yard or thread using a crochet hook. The word is derived from the Middle French work croc or croche, meaning hook. Crocheting, similar to knitting, consists of pulling loops of yarn through other loops. Crochet differs from knitting in that only one loop is active at one time, and that a crochet hook is used instead of knitting needs.

Some images of crochet. A creative form that I am keen to learn.

I tried knitting but didn't feel totally inspired, although I know it can be very creative, but crochet has always appealed to me.

Some lovely images of many different ways to crochet - I never realised until I started looking at how much variety there was in crocheting!

The crochet room above is simply wonderful - very inspiring!


Yummy - crochet fun!

A simple, colourful, pretty crochet garland!