Cuerden Hall

Out and About

This is the face that greets you when you visit Cuerden Hall. I think He’s wonderful. You could miss him too if you weren’t looking up!  So glad I was.

It seems that Mr K and I are developing a new custom of visiting local farmers markets and old halls on Sundays and this one was another fine example. Cuerden Hall is currently used by The Sue Ryder Charity so we couldn't go inside but it is very interesting to look at from the grounds.

The gardens were all bursting into bloom too which made for a particularly enjoyable afternoon stroll.

Impressively the market itself had over fifty stalls and some of them were quite unusual. This carpentry stall caught our eye. The wooden flowers were amazing and we couldn’t resist buying some of the giant coloured pencils.

Mr K had a hog roast and I had a burger for breakfast (mmm.. healthy!) and we stopped to look at some of the birds of prey which had been brought to display.

As well as all of that, I managed to pick up some curtains for a pittance in a barn sale which was also in the grounds of the hall. They will make some nice cushion covers, a bag or even a skirt! What a great place.

As always – enjoy your weekend whether you are out and about enjoying Spring or relaxing at home. I intend to do a bit of both xx See you soon

Anyone for Dirty Carrots?

Out and about at Hoghton Towers.

Don't you just love a good farmers market? I do, especially when it's set somewhere rather special like Hoghton Towers. We didn't go in the hall this time but plan on going back as it was so beautiful. Hoghton Tower is a grade one listed building which was originally built in 1109 and rebuilt in 1565. It has had many distinguished guests including King James 1st, William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.
On this occasion we were there for the market and to look around the grounds. For a farmers market it was a good size. There were all the stalls you would hope for - several selling local meat, locally grown fruit and veg, jams and chutneys, homemade soaps etc. I treated myself to some lovely meringues and some gluten free chirizo. The vegetable stall had plenty of choice including 'dirty carrots' at the same price as ordinary carrots!! Presumably they attract people like me who would like to grow their own but aren't able to. They are the next best thing I suppose.

Anyway I couldn't resist a lovely string of onions to hang in the kitchen. They look so wonderful and are so very handy to have in. I especially love red onion gravy with my sausage and mash!

After stocking up on a few supplies we had a quick look round the grounds although the weather wasn't so great. (As you can see on the photo at the top - not the best day for taking pictures) We had worked up a healthy appetite by now, so we headed off to a local country pub for lunch and sat by this lovely roaring fire reading our latest magazines. A perfect end to the trip.

This weekend I go for part two of my sewing a skirt course and will be back on Monday to show and tell. Thank you for stopping by. Have a lovely weekend xx