Glitterball Tree

It's been a proper Autumn day, bright and cold, just how we like it and especially good for our treat day.

We dropped off some orienteering equipment at Pete's house in Baildon first thing and then we were on to Harlow Carr and lunch at Betty's Cafe.  We decided to have 'dinner at lunch' to avoid cooking later in the day and followed it up with our favourite sweets, Tony a vanilla slice and a raspberry macaroon for me.  Then it was to the shop for stocking fillers and to stock up on tea before wandering the garden shop where we again spent too much money, but it was treat day!  I made a quick visit in to the garden to find a blip.  The sun wasn't very high in the sky at this time so much of the garden was in shade, but I did like this rather fine tree with its glitterballs, part of the evening's GLOW entertainment, which we have tried and failed to go to twice for various reasons!  Maybe next year.

From Harlow Carr we moved on to Harrogate as I needed to shop for gluten free canapes for our street travelling Xmas Soiree.  Basically, we begin at the bottom of the street, spending half an hour in each neighbour's house who is taking part.  The hosts provide canapes and we bring our own drinks.  Halfway up the street savoury changes to sweet, and we finish at the top at R and J's house.  R's idea and great fun.  It means no one household has a huge amount of food and drink to provide.  I really did not want to make gluten free canapes but sourcing them has been difficult until Tony pointed out that COOK is in Harrogate and just ten minutes away from Harlow Carr, perfect!  We also called in briefly at Duttons for Buttons to see if they had any mixed button bags for the twiddlemuffs, sadly not although I did get a box of pink ones, back to Hobbycraft I think.

There was unfortunately an accident in Bingley on the way home, so we had to drive around the houses to get home and have a welcome cuppa.