The former Lancaster & Skerton Cooperative Society building, designed by Paley & Austin and completed in 1901. It has since been converted into shops and a bar, with apartments above. I think it's a great building, and I love how the changing light makes different details stand out.

Lancaster Millennium Bridge and St George's Quay

Steps made from Accrington Nori bricks.

No work yesterday, so I spent an hour peeling and pickling a surfeit of garlic.

It needs best to sit for a week before use. I often feel that way, too.

Wine vinegar

Water

Sugar

Sea salt

Black pepper corns

Pink pepper corns

Dried chili

Chili flakes

Bay leaves

Dill

and my secret spice mix

Peel, trim, blanch the garlic

Sterilize jars

Bring mix to boil then simmer 2 minutes

Put bay leaves, dill and pink pepper into the jars

add the garlic

pour over the mixture, having cooled for 5 minutes

Put lids on

Cold water bath for 30 mins

Store in fridge for up to 30 days

Blue and green garlic

Sometimes garlic changes color when pickled. It's normal and not poisonous or harmful.

I saw so many butterflies today in one place. Joy.

I see the sea.

No matter the season this tree makes me think of cascading fireworks

Some people whom one meets are just delightful. To be in their company is like seeing these flowers in the afternoon sunshine.

Inside the Atkinson shop. An almost bewildering array of excellent tea and coffee, as well as some essential gear for the home barista.

Roasting is done on the premises.

Also, it's a B Corp company with high ethical standards.

This line to Carlisle hugs the coast. It's a delight to travel.

Damsels flies on the canal.

Japanese anemones form a peaceful and joyful cluster.

Fall is my season

Obsessed with the color change

And the crispy air

Some tea stains. So treated them and laundered. Stains all gone. But now there are different ones. Re treat and re wash. I wonder if there will be an improvement!

Giant magnolia petals

Took this a few years ago after visiting Kew Gardens. There's a face to be found. No prizes except a feeling of smugness 😁

The work of seconds with a bolt cropper and someone's treasured bike is gone.

Nobody sees anything. It's a shame.

Corollary - use a U bolt lock, or tie a wolverine to the frame if you leave your bike for even a few minutes.

P10+

Visione invernale. Winterly vision. Cameraphone. Bologna Centro Storico. Bologna Downtown. Dicembre 2021

There are several types of hydrangea. This is one of my faves.

I found all these locally in my favorite shops. Get some baubles, a length of tinsel, a glass pot the size of a large flower pot, a string of 50 leds, and this is what you get. Twinkly in the corner.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Friends made me a card and I wanted to share the joy.

Peace on Earth and goodwill to all 🙏

I wasn't expecting to see snowdrops yet, punctuating winter's progress. They give me hope.

The big companies have reduced the numbers of independent brewers considerably. It does the industry no good at all but increases big corporations' profits.

Eton Mess came about after someone at Eton College dropped a pavlova and gathered it all up again. Allegedly.

I didn't drop this (honestly) but my scrambled egg was a disaster.

I didn't go to Eton, btw 😅

These roof slates are old, thick, and heavy. The roof timbers must be very strong.

My favorite mannequin has gone on vacation, and the windows have been dressed with these lovely clothes. Northern Dye House now operates from this store on Brock Street.

They make 'proper good clothing'. From their website:

"The Northern Dye House is a no-nonsense hand dyed clothing company based in the heart of North West England. We design and create beautiful hand dyed, unisex streetware for everyone."

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A knackered Ferguson tractor in Whangamomona. The tyres look good enough to be revived with new tubes, and some TLC for the motor and running gear should produce a workable tractor, ideal for a small holding.

Not sure what the big bolt on the ground is for, but I can see why one might keep it handy - you just never know when it might be useful!

Rising in the Lake District National Park as a series of streams, it flows rapidly downhill to the north of Kentmere where the River Kent flows into the Kentmere reservoir. The reservoir was built to regulate the river flow, which benefited the mills located further downstream.

It's that time of year again when the bees are out, foraging and gorging. Here's one of several bees that were busy on this clump of mint.

If you look carefully, you can make out the bee's white tail.

More information, here:

www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/be....