The year of the plough

Last Sunday Robert and I went to Epworth to the Year of the plough. We have been in the past with friends and family but we went on our own this year and were fortunate enough to have a lovely sunny day. The first thing to see when you arrive is the marque's with the stalls selling the home made crafts, cakes cards, jewelry, toys, knitted items etc. One of the stalls sold leather belts and dog collars. Robert was impressed with a rather nice studded coller ideal for Tommy our big black dog. He has a coller already but Robert seamed to think he needed one for best when he goes visiting and thought he may like a new one. we didn't want to walk round with it all day so if it was still there on the way home it was meant for us. There was an artist there making glass panels to hang on your windows. they were colourful and the idea is WHEN the sun shines it will reflect in the room I fancied one of these again if they were there on our way out it was meant for us.

As shown in the picture above the next thing we saw was a lady making traditional corn dollies as they are called I would love to have a go given the time, very clever. There were lots of different old plough's from hand driven to horse drawn then on to steam then engine. They were all given an measured area to use there skills of ploughing and prizes were given to the best. We do not know who won they were all winners to me, they take it very seriously and it is very interesting. Robert was helpful telling me about the things he knew and his memories from when he was a lad. The old harvest ma was of great interest it must have been a great wonder in those days. With all our technology nothing surprises us so much any more.

The cut corn goes in at the top corn comes out at the front int sacks (can't see sacks in this photo) Chaff out at side (under the ladder) straw out of the back where its picked up with a pitch fork onto a conveyor belt and is pushed tight into neat bails.

One of the measured area's of ploughed land.

There were lots more besides ploughing, people with ferrets, a large marque with chickens this was for the best of breads, green issue information, recycling bins, Morris men dancing, big brass band, the beer tent, lots of burger vans, ice cream, vintage cars and moter bikes, raffles and try to knock tins off a stand with bean bags stalls. There were donkey rides and Robert was going to take a photo of them but in this sad time we live in was afraid he would be in trouble for taking a photo of children having fun. There was also a large crowd around the puppet show as you will see in the photo above, I'm not sure all the people knew it was a Christian group but what a way to witness. They used popular songs changing the words to tell of Jesus love for us and what a friend we have in him. I hope or should I say pray it touched someones heart

There saw also a small fun fair this old merry go round was most popular. There was hook a duck Robert wouldn't let me have a go on it, and small rides for the children. There were a lot of people with their dogs, all very well behaved Tommy would have loved it we will have to take him next year. We had Cornish pasties for lunch sitting on the bank soaking up the sun for half an hour. As we headed back to the car we called in the model marque. Miniature fair grounds, farms, stalls with old tea tins, tools, sheep sheering equipment anything to do with farming. We went back to the leather stall and there was one or two collars left so after phoning Fallon for the size of Toms old coller we got him one and what a handsome dog he looks in it he will be the talk of all the local dogs. I got my glass hanger for my window but resisted the cake stall who had a few cakes left. It was a great day and one spent with Robert again lovely.

Some of the crowd watching the Morris men