Kestrel, Nature and I am off....

We went and sat on the rocks for lunch today... and look what turned up....he was quite close so a GREAT opportunity for photo's

He was hovering for a while - amazing site

Soaring - looking for his next morsel

He was eventually rewarded - sorry this is a little blurry but he flew past us with his lunch

(not sure why I am calling this bird a "he" ??)

Then we got home and nature was at work again in the greenhouse. A small bee had got caught in a spider's web.... he only actually has one leg caught, but it is caught good. As far as I know - he is still fighting.

Nature is an amazing thing - and to catch in on camera is one of hubby's favourite things

P.S I am off to Boston tomorrow - so see you when I get back

If you go down to the Sea today...

We treated ourselves to fish and chips at Sennen Cove tonight...and we saw

:: A shark ::

...or two. They were quite far out, so pictures aren't that good but here is evidence.

We also saw:

:: Two pairs of Gannets ::

Diving for fish for their dinner too

:: One very small baby fox ::

On the side of the road - he quickly dove into the hedgerow so we couldn't get a photo

:: A Buzzard ::

Lots of life - which was lovely

Coming along nicely...

Today, hubby fixed the wires for our baby apple tree's...well one of them anyway.

This is our Braeburn

The Bramley is not quite big enough...but does have two apples on it!

This Sunday I have been...

:: Making Muesli ::

This is actually the 4th batch I have made in the past few weeks and we are LOVING it.

So now the story behind the muesli:

Over the past few months, we have been on the search for a muesli we both like. We bought some of the mainstream brands, but found them either FAR too sweet, or too much dried fruit.

One day, we were both wandering around our local Farm Shop and spotted a rather scrummy looking muesli - full of oats and nuts and seeds...this was what we have been looking for. So we picked up a packet and along with our lone jar of Red Onion Marmalade made our way to the till. £10 later....yes £10 people!!!!! we were walking out the shop dumbstruck.

The Muesli was lovely (it bloomin' should have been for £7.50!) but we couldn't help but wonder how difficult it was to make ourselves...we certainly couldn't afford another packet of that...EVER!

So with a little research on t'internet... I came up with a recipe (and it is VERY close to that which we paid a small fortune for)

Recipe:

100g Butter (or oil)

2 tbsp Honey

2 1/2 tbsp Maple Syrup

300g Oats

about another 100g of mixed seeds and nuts. I use Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Brazil Nuts (chopped) Almonds (chopped or slivered) and Pecans (if I have them)

Some recipe's include sugar also, but we don't like ours too sweet

Melt the Butter and syrup/honey

add all the other ingredients and mix together so it is ALL coated really well

Toast in a 160c oven for about 10 mins - keep an eye on it and stir mid way through

Remove from oven and leave to cool completely...it will crisp up. Once cold, transfer to your vessel of choice.

Enjoy! (I like mine with a little milk and a chopped banana)

Today...

:: I have done a little gardening...weeding to be precise! ::

We think those enormous plants are teasels - we didn't plant them.... any idea's?

:: We picked more of our lettuce ::

This is about the 4th week we have had fresh home picked lettuce, and we are loving it. Yes - I said WE, Kenny is even having some in his sandwiches. Time to sew some more I think

:: We admired our growing crops... Tomatoes ::

:: Green Beans ::

of the dwarf kind

:: Spring Onions, Chilli's, Sweet Peppers, Strawberries ::

(all in there somewhere)

:: Baking ::

Sour Cream Coffee cake

I did it...

:: I raced for life ::

:: I raced for my friend Clare ::

who sadly has ANOTHER operation next week

:: I raced for my Dad ::

who has his MRI scan in a couple of weeks and will find out what treatment he faces

:: I raced for my friend Linda ::

who has been "clear" for a good few months and hopes she stays that way - and whom I will see in a couple of weeks when I visit Boston.

:: I raced in the memory of my mother in law ::

who sadly lost her battle 8 years ago

it wasn't a record time - but I did it and I will be doing it again next year

Thanks to EVERYONE who sponsored me. Along with the HP Company Matching scheme I raised £370