Sunday 17 March 2024

Day 77 - March 17th

After a very rainy start to the day, this afternoon we decided to go for a walk using our Walks App.

We started our walk at Rye House Gatehouse at Hoddesdon. 


Rye House Gatehouse dates back to 1443 and is part of one of the first brick built houses in the country.


The Gatehouse is all that remains of what was once a fortified manor house with a moated enclosure.


The inside of the property, which is free to visit, is only open on a few days during the year. By coincidence today was the first day this year it was open so we were able to look around inside and also climb to the roof where, as well as getting a great view of the surrounding countryside, we also saw up close the impressive  ‘barley sugar twist’ chimney.


After looking round the Gatehouse we walked the short distance to the RSPB Rye Meads Nature Reserve.




We walked round the reedbeds and wetlands areas on the raised walkways and  popped into several of the bird hides which overlooked the areas of open water.









We have noticed that it seems quite common where there are underpasses for these to be decorated with graffiti and thankfully those we've seen are quite professionally done.

Leaving the nature reserve we then headed towards Stanstead St Margarets on the New River Path. 



On reaching Stanstead St Margarets we were greeted with the most beautiful pink flowering cherry trees which looked stunning in the sunshine.




We then headed back towards Rye House walking alongside the River Lee Navigation. 


The stretch of water at Stanstead St Margarets was extremely busy with lots of boats moored and several cruising but the further we got from Stanstead St Margarets it got quieter and the walk back was really peaceful.

Saturday 16 March 2024

Day 76 - March 16th

Today Lara bought her first car.

Friday 15 March 2024

Day 75 - March 15th

Today is Comic Relief Red Nose Day so I decorate some cakes. I made similar cakes when I first started this blog in 2009 and thought I'd make some more. Previously I used red glace cherries for the noses but unable to find any in the shops I had to resort to Smarties and M&Ms this time instead. Do you know in a tube of Smarties you only get 1 red Smartie???

Thursday 14 March 2024

Day 74 - March 14th

Scrapbook time.


Wednesday 13 March 2024

Day 73 - March 13th

A few weeks ago my Mum gave me a pot of hyacinths. Today they are in flower.

Tuesday 12 March 2024

Day 72 - March 12th

Nothing changes! Tux still likes to drink from the tap.

Monday 11 March 2024

Day 71 - March 11th

 
Yesterday was Mothering Sunday and I was spoiled rotten with lots of flowers.



Sunday 10 March 2024

Day 70 - March 10th

Today we joined our walking group for a muddy, circular walk of Clophill & Chicksands Wood including a short stretch on the Greensands Ridge Way.

During the walk we passed St Mary's Old Church, Clophill the ruined Grade II listed building and a scheduled ancient monument. In 2010 The Clophill Heritage Charity was set up by a group of local volunteers and successfully raised funds to save the old building from further decay and when we visited it was looking very well looked after.



The section of our walk which took us through Chicksands Wood was very wet and muddy and it rained for most of our walk.







All in all it was a very wet walk, but we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Saturday 9 March 2024

Day 69 - March 9th

Today we made our first visit of the year to Wrest Park. 


Everywhere was looking lovely and particularly the Italian Garden which this season has been planted with beautiful red daisies.






We spotted the resident heron although on this occasion he wasn't in his usual spot.






As well as the usual swans, ducks and Canadian geese we also saw an Egyptian Goose which we've never seen before at Wrest Park.





We saw several of these plants in the borders and were curious as to what they were Google says it is an Oriental Paperbush (Edgeworthia Chrysantha)


In the meadow we spotted our first cowslips of the year.... 


.... and the heirloom Petticoat Daffodils which English Heritage have planted in recent years at some of their sites to try and save from hybrids and non-traditional varieties.