Halifax Borough Market.

The Borough Market looks really festive at the moment, all dressed up ready to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Max Crossley's Under the Clock stall.

Let's hope we don't need those umbrellas!

Lily-of-the-Valley.

I absolutely love these tiny flowers..the scent is so powerful! They look so pretty in this little glass vase which my friend gave me once to put snowdrops in. The purple thing, is a beautiful blown glass bird, in case you were wondering!

Power Cut!

Oh how we rely on elastictrickery! So when it disappears, we're all at sixes and sevens!  It all felt very Jane Austen carrying this candle stick up to bed....and removing make up by candlelight, well... LOL!!!

Bathing just by candlelight. Oh and yes, I do like lotions and potions and lovely soap...current favourite being a Poppy scented Portuguese soap....

Forget-Me-Not.

These beautiful blue flowers are a joy to see..they self seed all over the vegetable patch, I really don't mind at all!

Parsnips.

We pulled the first of the parsnips which have been growing all through the winter...I was amazed at the boinginess of the roots!! They reminded me of the Mandrake plants in Harry Potter!

Ladles at the ready!

Pea and Mint soup....so easy to make..looks beautiful and tastes like early Summer in a bowl...

Chop up fresh mint and thyme leaves. Gently fry an onion, add frozen peas, season to taste.

Pour a glass of white wine over the peas, then add chicken or vegetable stock.

Bring to the boil.

Blitz with a handblender when the peas are just cooked through..you need to keep the bright green colour. You can stir in creme fraiche or cream for a richer soup.

Ladle yourself up a nice bowl full and serve with a sprig of mint...EASY PEASY! ;-)

Flying piggy pendant.

Pretty flying pig necklace.

Sally Pigtails rose.

I had to buy this rose...Sally Pigtails...what a great name! It looks like it should have a pretty bloom too.

Bluebell time...

I love bluebell time...longer days...more time to do things "after tea"...it's become a bit of a ritual, annually placing bluebells in this bluebell jug. And they smell soooooo wonderfully English. These are actually from my garden..because of course, you shouldn't go picking wild flowers! I do remember my childhood days of the 70s when we would come home with buckets of these magical blooms...I was enchanted, even then.

Saltaire Arts Trail.

We went to Salt's village, Saltaire near Shipley for the Arts Trail..a really exciting and different way of exhibiting art...open houses as mini galleries in this old mill workers' village...loved it!

Guerilla knitting on the lions outside one of the college buildings provided a touch of fun.

Each participating house was adorned with red bunting...made it easy to spot them, and lots of fun tracking them down on the map!

It did feel a bit cringey and awkward at first...with cries of wipe your feet to the children and don't touch anything! But there were lots of people attending and the house owners and organisers were very welcoming so it made it ok..we were fascinated to be allowed inside these quaint cottages and see a snapshot of their owners' lives amongst the art. We'll definitely go next time..and much earlier as there was lots we didn't get chance to look at!

The streets have charming names taken from Titus Salt's family and business partners...all very interesting. Some beautiful little gardens...shows what can be achieved even on a small scale.

Cobbled street.

Dear Blossom.

They wanted to cut down these trees in Halifax town centre..so glad they didn't, they're beautiful.

These cherry trees are at the top of my garden..I liked the contrast between the dark branches and the white bossom.

When the blossom falls it's like confetti..so pretty.

Trophies.

My football mad son's haul of trophies form his presentation evening..he was awarded the Most Improved Player of the Year for his team!

Baked cheese in a box.

This is such a delicious but easy starter or finisher to a meal.take one of those cheeses that comes in a wooden box...this brand is very good...

Pierce the camembert cheese and pour over a little white wine, sprinkle with thyme.

Replace the box lid and bake in a hot oven for about 20 minutes until the cheese is gooey.

Dip in toasted pitta or crudites..yummy!

Red Pepper Bistro

Another yummy meal at the Red Pepper Bistro.

http://www.redpepperbistro.co.uk/

Thai Trio: crab and coconut cake, wonton, prawn skewer and a deep fried quail's egg...really delicious with the dipping sauce.

Grilled Halloumi skewer, couscous and mint yogurt.

Really friendly staff, so welcoming we had a lovely birthday party celebration with the family.

Birthday baking.

My little boy is football mad!

Got my eye on the cherry ones...

Cake and culture.

We visited the Leeds City Art Gallery again today...the tiled room cafe has some very nice cake in really interesting surroundings!

Caramac and Ginger cake and a very pretty Flat White....art? Oh yes we looked at some art too! ;-)