A Scarecrow festival....

     .....in the village of Elford only about 15 miles from home.

     There was about 90 of them, hidden or set out all around the village.  you were supposed to pick your favourite 3....impossible.

    These were some of my top 20....ish.
       Cream teas, sandwiches BBQ and cakes were been sold in the streets, and even the parish church took part.

    It is one of the prettiest little churches, all tiled and colours everywhere, as well as a large congregation of scarecrows.

     Might even copy this idea to smarten up an under-dressed little tree by my conservatory.

    Not sure it would have been Sara's idea of an afternoon walk as some of them were a bit scary, watching you when you least expected them......

     There is also a large walled garden by the church, that was when the rain started, and it was full of people and excited children, so it is a perfect place to go back to on a warm quiet September afternoon when all around is quiet!

The last bank holiday weekend....

     .....before Christmas!
Looking at the weather forecasts, we decided to stay around home+all the girls were busy and no-one seemed to want us around-well me and Joe...maybe, but him and his phone....possibly not.
     We spent Saturday at Lichfield....the food festival.....I had seen it advertised and was expecting nothing more than a larger farmers market.

Turned out to be brilliant!

It stretched through the whole city, up and down both sides of the river as well as all through the market square and up through the main streets.

Lichfield is full of interesting old buildings as well as a magnificent cathedral. 

So some of the day was spent strolling and admiring as well as eating....

Despite the gloomy predictions, the weather was beautiful.  Just right for sitting on the river bank people watching.

Bought himself....

....a selfie stick, bright pink, very manly....

     ......forgot to take it with him when we went away on Thursday.....left it on his dressing table, and forgot to pick it up.  I bought a new pair of sandals from the same place, I wasn't too sure I would wear them, but bought them anyway.  I didn't forget to take them with me, but I wore them so much that I have worn out the heels, we did quite a bit of walking, but we could have done with a few more days in Cheshire.  Maybe a return trip in the future?

It's still raining....

     ......and I'm still sorting, getting there, slowly but surely....

     .....putting all my paper bits together, ready to make my album....

       .....arranging all the presents to go to London one weekend.

The rest of the bits can go up in the loft for now.  While we decide what to do with 45 pretty glass vintage dessert dishes, 100+ metres of decorative net! shoe box full of ribbon and 3 large illuminated signs that look so pretty in the photographs etc etc.

And why does it make me so tearful putting it all away.....after such a lovely time we had?

     And if that flaming dog shouts to go out one more time....I rush down cos he sounds desperate.....he stands by the back door ....shouting loudly.....as soon as I open the door, he does a quick sniff check......to see if it is still raining.....and rushes back inside to wait a bit longer.

Repeat every half hour, or until it stops raining....

It was warm and sunny....

   ....when i woke up.
Thought I'd get my inside jobs done and then get gardening.  I had bought a few bits to eke out my pots a little longer.
Too late, its raining heavily now.  I need to get my days turned the other way round if I am going to make the most of the sunshine.
   Still, I won't have to take Joe for a walk now, and at least I got my tomatoes staked up, fed and watered, and I don't have to water the pots now either.

          ....... bought myself a cat the other week.....

         ....he stands on the bench and looks for mice, I love his expression.  I've kept him out of the sun, cos I'm sure he will fade.....

....but now he needs an umbrella, rather than a sun screen.

At least I know where the cat is, unlike the dog, who has gone missing, a few drops of rain, and he's gone into hiding.

He doesn't know it yet but we are going away for a few days tomorrow, camping, and he....

IS COMING WITH US....

No title needed....

Doing nothing....

    ....very exciting today, so just a look back to last weekend, and the wedding party Sara had organised on the Saturday night....

We had a hog roast, a hand tie and a piper as well as a 4 man ceilidh, that soon got everyone up and dancing.

Now back down to earth, and where on earth do we keep that dress?    

After a day of torrential rain....

    ......the sun is back for a glorious weekend (I hope) so as soon as possible I am heading to the garden centre sale for some late blooms to restore some order to my battered and neglected little garden.  Darsh is heading to London to take his brother to the air port so I have luxury of an at home weekend.

      Spotted this picture at the Lammas Market last weekend....

         ......what are you going to look like when you are old and grey Charlotte?  Paul commented that you'll never find out if you don't stop working so hard!

Selina and Pete are heading back down today in their new car....

.....driving all the way from Scotland down to Bristol ready for work on Monday.

Never, ever have I seen my little old dog so excited to be home, even yesterdays downpours didn't dampen his doggy delight.

Tah-dah....

 

     .....just how beautiful did she look?

Nearly there....

......the wedding is only a couple of days away, we 

  

Uh-oh....

    ....words or photographs, but I can't have both, so things are looking a bit disjointed.
Packed, loaded and into the car, a good few hours travel, supper under the Forth road bridge, and we were arriving in Saint Andrews.