Visit to Bygone Times and Heskin Hall

One of my favourite places to go shopping is Bygone Times. It is an antiques and collectables centre based in Eccleston near Chorley, Lancashire. It’s a unique shopping experience where you can find everything from vintage clothing and furniture to collectable memorabilia. Think of going to your grandparents or great grandparents houses and you will get an idea of what you can expect to find there.

Sometimes I go with a plan of what I am looking for and sometimes I like just ‘mooching’. This time I did have a few things I wanted to look for which I was successful in finding. I also found something I had been looking to find for a number of years so I was extremely happy.

I went to add some more vintage celebration cards to my collection. I think these postcard styles are beautiful and less wasteful than the cards you buy today. I would love to be able to send this style instead. I was also looking for a bone handled butter knife as when I used to use one at my grandmothers I remember it being a lot easier to spread evenly.

I also found a scrapbook kit at such a bargain price I could not leave it there.

Although Bygone Times sells mainly homewares you can find a small amount of vintage clothing and I saw this cardigan on a mannequin which I knew would go perfectly with a dress that I have.

The main thing I was overjoyed to find was this crocheted granny square blanket. I have been searching for one for about 5 years. All the ones I had seen where either too small, I didn’t like the design or I felt it was too expensive. This one is the size of a double bed and cost £20 which was an absolute bargain in my eyes.

As we did not have to rush back home to walk the dog and Craig and I were feeling hungry we called in to Heskin Hall which we had seen on the way to Bygone Times. (There is a café at Bygone Times but following the Covid rules they are only doing a takeaway menu and there is no outside space to sit). There was also a shopping village at Heskin Hall as well as a tea room.

The hall was closed so we went over to the tea room. We had to wait about 5 minutes for a table outside which was fine. The menu is a typical team room menu of sandwiches, soups, salads and cakes. The food was delicious. I had a simple afternoon tea which consisted of half a sandwich, a slice of cake and a cup of tea. Craig had soup and sandwich. The soup was cream of Cauliflower and we both decided to have ham and cheddar cheese sandwich. Both came with side salad, coleslaw and a handful of crisps. The portions were just right for me and even Craig was satisfied. It was wonderful to be able to sit in the sun and have somebody else provide food. It has been the first time we have eaten out since we went away for my birthday last September.

We had a wander around the shopping village but I would say it was more geared up for gift buying or special occasions than everyday shopping though there was a butchers and a deli on site.

All in all we had a wonderful and relaxing afternoon and I am already looking forward to going back in a few months once hopefully all the restrictions have been lifted. My mother in law has expressed an interest in going but wants to wait until everything is fully open.

Happy Homemaker Monday -26th April 2021

 

I had a lovely weekend, shopping and catching up with friends. It is wonderful to be able to go out and enjoy someone else bringing food to you in the sunshine. It is also good to be able to tentatively make plans to visit places and meet friends. This weekend we have a barbecue to look forward to.

The weather

Around the House and Garden

I will be planting some seeds, I know I am a bit late for some of the things I had hoped to plant but I have been a bit lazy all round and I need to give myself a kick up the backside and sort myself out. I have fallen behind with the zone cleaning of the rooms. I have written a to do list for this week which should be manageable.

On the menu

I did not do a menu plan last week as I was frustrated with Craig for not wanting what was on the plan so I left it to him last week. Needless to say it was a disaster and we ended up eating more convenience food than I liked and later as he would have to buy what he needed. Craig admitted defeat so I am back with a menu plan, but I doubt if Craig will allow me to stick with it. I might just tell him to sort himself out if he feels like it.

Monday – Honey Chilli Chicken

Tuesday- Salt and Pepper Chicken wings and loaded potato skins

Wednesday – Spaghetti Carbonara

Thursday – Chicken Parmigana

Friday- Liver & Onions

Saturday – Chinese takeaway with Brother in Law and Nephew

Sunday- Barbecue at friends

It will be nice not having to cook this weekend again. I think it is about time other people got involved with the cooking.

What I will do to relax

As I have a lot to do around the house there won’t be as much time to spend relaxing though I intend to make time. I have to finish the book for my Friday book club and I still have about 100 pages left to read. I will also continue working on my Courthouse step Knitted blanket.

What I am watching

Our Yorkshire Farm – I love watching Amanda and her family on their farm. The kids are the stars (especially Sid and Clemmie). I could not however live as remotely as they are.

The Great British Sewing Bee – I doubt my skills will ever be up to the standard required for appearing but it is a good way of learning.

Hope you all have a good week.

Re-decorating Emma's bedroom

 

Emma has wanted to re-do her bedroom for a few years now but wasn’t sure how she wanted it until this year. I admit, I have tried to dissuade her from removing the fitted wardrobes as I was using the spare one to store my seasonal clothes and the dresses I wore for formal Masonic occasions. However, she decided that they were taking up too much room and she wanted them out. That was the easy part and the part we could do. I had to drag the suitcases from the loft and store my clothes in them, which Craig will hate as it means that he will have to go into the loft more often.

There was aertex on the ceiling and that needed to be smoothed out. When the plasterer came round he asked when it had been done. It was before we moved in so over 20 years ago. Then he surprised us by saying that there might be asbestos contained in the aertex and if we wanted him to sand it down then we would have to get it tested. Now, how many people know that aertex may potentially contain asbestos, I certainly didn’t and the other plasterer who did some work for us never mentioned it either. The alternative was just to board over it so it wouldn’t be disturbed and was a lot cheaper than getting the testing done. I have since found out that although aertex may contain asbestos the risk to health is minimal. By then we had already agreed to having it boarded and skimmed which was the quicker and cheaper option.

Once the plaster was dry then it was hanging wallpaper and painting. Emma wanted a feature wall with white brick effect wallpaper and then lilac painted on the rest of the walls. That took a weekend and several coats of paint to complete.

The new carpet was fitted on the day she had arranged to pick up her new wardrobe from Ikea, or should I say I had to pick it up as the boxes would not fit in her car. She had not realised initially that the wardrobe was not available from the two that were closest to where we lived and I ended up driving to Leeds to collect it. It wasn’t too long a drive there and I have to admit I did enjoy just driving and listening to my audio book. It has been a year since I last drove any distance and I surprisingly missed it.

Emma wanted to get back into her room as soon as possible and the wardrobe was built by bedtime. The next day she then spent sorting out her things that had been stored in my craft room and putting them where she now wanted them to go.

She is very pleased with how it has turned out and it looks bigger without the wardrobes. And I am pleased that I have my craft room back.

A short video of the completed room

Happy Homemaker Monday 12th April 2021

 

Things are starting to ease with regards to lockdown. Non-essential shops, hairdressers and gyms reopened and pubs can serve drinks outside. I am waiting until the weekend before I go near any non essential shops but I will have to take Matthew to the Barbers tomorrow as his hair desperately needs cutting. I know it will be a few weeks before I can get an appointment as my hairdresser has decided not to re-open. Local hairdressers are prioritising regulars. 

The Weather

After a cold spell last week things will be getting a bit warmer towards the end of the week

On the Menu

Monday - Stir fry

Tuesday YOYO (You're on your own)

Wednesday - Chilli in a giant yorkshire pudding

Thursday - Fish Pie

Friday -  Gammon, Egg and Chips

Saturday - Honey Chilli chicken

Sunday -Roast dinner

From the camera

Houses from a walk we did around Lymm. These are in the centre of the village and although very pretty I would not like to live there with all the visitors.

 My first clothing make for 2021. A pintuck blouse to go with a pair of beige trousers for work. It was straight forward to make though I did have an issue with the pintucks because I did not have any fabric markers and had to 'eyeball' the folds.

To relax this week

I will read and work on my blanket. My aim is to do 30 minutes a day so that I can get it finished before summer.

Linking up as usual with Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Wishing you a great week.

The Tolkien Trail

 

Now that the 'Stay Home' order has been lifted we decided to spend the Saturday of the Easter weekend doing a new walk in an area that isn't that far away from us but we have not really visited. A work colleague told me about this walk as her family do it quite often as their son attends the school that the walk takes you near.

The walk starts at the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley. There is no car park apart from the pub so parking can be an issue. We ended up parking just outside of the village on the main road and walking back into the village.

The Tolkien trail is 5 1/2 miles (9km) long and is in one of the most glorious valleys in the country.

You start in the village and following the map we had downloaded we set off to the first point which is Stonyhurst College. A building has been on that site since the 13th Century with the main building originating from the early 17th century and was mainly extended in the mid 19th century when it was one of the foremost public schools in the country. The link to Tolkien is that he stayed in one of the buildings whilst he was visiting his son. The view from this building may have been the inspiration for the view from Tom Bombadil's house.

Stonyhurst College.

You then walk down to Hacking Wood where you cross a bridge before meeting up with the River Hodder.

This was Matthew's and probably Penny's favourite part as Matthew loves to throw stones into water and Penny loves to chase them in. We spent about 1/2 an hour doing this and Penny never stopped. Both Penny and Matthew seemed rather reluctant to move on.

Herons are apparently a common sight on the river and we were lucky enough to see one.

Cromwell's Bridge

One thing that I can never get used to is when a public footpath takes you right through the middle of a farm yard. I always feel as though I shouldn't be there even though I can.

After walking through the farm yard we rejoined the river and came across Hacking Hall which was built in 1607. Nearby used to be a ferry service that was operating when Tolkien was there which may have been the inspiration for Buckleberry ferry in the book.

The next landmark was an aqueduct going across the river. Matthew informed us (even though we already knew) that an aqueduct carried water across a valley whereas a viaduct had either a road or a rail track on it.

I will admit that I found the last 1/2mile hard going. My energy levels plummeted but they were soon revived with a lemon meringue ice cream which was available from a little shop called Millie's back in Hurst Green village.

It was a lovely walk and surprisingly not as busy as I thought it would be for a bank holiday weekend. It is one we definitely intend to do again, especially once the pub (The Shireburn Arms) is re-opened and we can enjoy a meal after the exercise. It was also wonderful to be out and about instead of being at home. I am looking forward to when we decide to go out again.

Happy Homemaker Monday 5th April 2021

 It has been the Bank Holiday weekend with both Friday and today off work which has been much needed. We are still a form of lock-down but we could go and see my parents and go a bit further afield to take the dog for a walk which broke the monotony of the few places we have been able to go to these last few months.

The Weather

Today was been bright and sunny but decidedly cooler than last week. The rest of the week is looking like this;

On my craft pile

Still working on my courthouse steps knitted blanket. I am on the third row of squares now and hope to have the row finished by the end of the month. I haven't touched my paper piecing quilt or my cross stitch. I have cut out the fabric to make a top to wear for work.

Looking around the house / garden

For once I feel on top of everything in the house. The gardener has returned after the winter and the garden is looking a lot tidier than it did last week. I can see signs of spring with my peonies starting to peep through the ground and leaves starting to grow on the bushes. I have bought a couple of hanging baskets to put in some horse shoe plant holders I had made many years ago and they are so colourful and bright.

From the camera

A couple of pictures of the baskets in the garden.

On the menu this week;

Monday - Chicken and Hash brown burger with corn on the cob

Tuesday - Mushroom pappardelle with garlic bread

Wednesday- Fish chowder and crusty bread

Thursday - Swedish Meatballs, Mash potato and gravy

Friday - Fajitas

Saturday- Pulled pork ( did not do the other week)

Sunday - Baked spiced salmon with green beans

Linking up with Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy week.#