Hazel's Birdbaths!

Celebrating Hazel's birthday with a walk round the local park and visit to the Co-op. We were going to Chester but it looked like rain. Turned out fine so we could have gone. Now planning a visit to the AiWei Wei show in Manchester. Hazel's in the garden now planting out some shrubs she got the other day. It was her sisters birthday yesterday so a joint pub lunch over in Marbury and then a wander round the garden centre.

Marbury Picnic

Nice day for a picnic in Marbury Country Park. Met up with old chums Tone and Pene. Lovely walk in the bluebell woods. The sunshine really brought out all the colours. The park was packed but thankfully the woods were very quiet. Hazel put her bird app on and discovered gold cap, wren , collar doves, blue tits, great tits etc. close by. Picnic under the dappled shade of the cherry tree - the blossom landing on our sandwiches from time to time! Went to the garden centre which was also very busy. hazel bought a couple of plants and gave one to Pene and Tone. Home for tea and biscuits.

Marbury and The Broken Cross

Nice sunny day again and more like July than April! Went out with Stella and Brian again to Marbury Country Park and had a picnic after a walk n the woods to see the bluebells which were just beginning to bloom. Better next week probably. Park was full but easy to escape the crowds. Then to Winnington to the garden centre to buy some herbs and looks at stones and rocks for £6 each. Archie has about 100 in his back garden!. Then to weird warehouse nearby that sells bankrupt stock or slightly damaged packaging returns from Amazoom etc. Hazel got a lot of crafty stuff, brown paper, fabric paint, hooks, wrapping paper etc. going cheap. I found a roll of stickers with bees on to decorate my envelopes. Then home for a welcome cup of tea. Later went to the Broken Cross pub for a drink and pub grub. The place has improved since we last bought a dry curled up sandwich there about 15 years ago! its been through a couple of managers since then. Very nice squeaky cheese burger and fries. So much for the diet!

Walk In Marbury Park

This mornings wanderings around Marbury Park and garden centre. Hazel got some pansies for the hanging basket. Nice walk along the lake - laughing at ducks. Pleasant sunny Autumn day - felt a bit overdressed with a scarf. Not too muddy despite all the recnt rain. Saw a white squirrel. The bird hide was packed with twitchers showing off their longest telephoto lenses. We couldn't see much - a few coots in the distance. Back home to discover an idiot van driver parked right in front of our parking space.

Marbury Country Park

Nice wander round Marbury this afternoon with Hazel and Archie whi is home for a few days. Went to get the Xmas tree and some plants from the garden centre and then a slow walk round the lake and the bird hide - spotting robins , blackbirds and twitchers! 22nd Dec. 2022.

Archie and Meriel Visit

Lovely to see Archie and Meriel for the weekend. We were worried about the trains but they were fine thankfully. Went to the garden centre at Marbury to buy some plants for Auntie Audrey's and Hazel's birthday next week. Having an early celebration. Nice take away curry last night and watched DVD that Meriel bought me for my belated birthday - The Duke with Jim Broadbent and what's her face? Very funny and charming British film - the sort they rarely make anymore.

Marbury for Picnic

 This mornings walk and picnic in Marbury woods/park with old chums Tone and Pene Eve. Also went to the garden centre nearby.  Surrounded by delinquent baby squirrels whilst eating our sandwiches.  Then over to Hazel's Mom and Sisters to say hello and wave from safety of front garden

Marbury Country Park

 Nice walk around Marbury this morning.  Joined the twitchers in the bird hide and amused by the dangling squirrel.  Lots of blue tits and finches, ducks and moorhens. I think I saw a mouse scurrying through the undergrowth - might have been a small bird.  It was cold and grey.  Car park was full but luckliy we found a space in the road by the Garden Centre.  Hazel bought a few plants for Mothering Sunday (next week )  and some potting compost.

Sunny Ponds

 Sunny walk around the park at Anderton - around the fishing ponds - dazzled by the light!   Hazel also went to the garden centre at Marbury to get some Xmas presents and a plant for her Mom who's birthday is next week. We also bought a small xmas tree in a pot so that we can plant it back out into the garden after crimblemess. 

Marbury and Garden Centre

 Friday morning walk over at Marbury Country Park which wasn't too crowded for a change.  I think it gets busier at weekends so Friday is a good day to walk in the woods and by the lake.  A friendly twitcher who socially distanced in the bird hide we sat in told us he was looking out for the bittern - a rare and shy bird that he'd spotted and photographed before.  He showed us a photo that was very impressive , of a bittern blending in very well with the brown reeds.  Also some lovely shots of kingfishers he's seen at the very spot we occupied.  Mind you, he did have a very large and expensive looking camera with a telephoto lens about a yard long!   Afterwards  we wandered over to the garden centre as Hazel wanted to buy some plants for her Mom and sister.  The walled garden was full of Xmas trees.  We were tempted but will buy one nearer Christmas when hopefully they will be a little cheaper.

More Walks

Marbury Garden Centre

Nice walk over Marbury way. A bit nippy but the rain kept off. Found a communal orchard. Hazel got some plants from the garden centre which was empty. Then to Granma and Audrey's to collect bread and milk and give them some plants. Had a quick chat before the drizzle set in. Said hello to Bob from the boot sales who was visiting a sick friend nearby.