Traditional Sherry Trifle hits the heights!

A few weeks ago I was hoping that all my lenses together could get 1,000 visits per week.

Traditional sherry trifle has just got 897 visits on its own this week.! Obviously this is just a reflection of the season, but it's fun, and it shows how important the seasonal lenses are- so I'll try to learn that lesson.
It's a delicious recipe, which I'm actually going to make today, 23 December, to have with the family meal on Boxing Day.

Happy Christmas everyone!

Sherry trifle winning hands down!

My Sherry trifle lens is now getting over 250 hits per week- my best ever!
My total visits this week is over 1,300.

This is much higher than ever before, due to seasonal lenses. I wonder if I can keep this up after Christmas?

Enjoy the Boxing Day Holiday

Boxing Day is one of my favourite days of the whole year.

What to you like to do on Boxing Day?

I've written a web page offering lots of ideas about what to do on Boxing Day. If you would like to visit and leave me some more of your own suggestions that would be great.
Here's the link to my Boxing Day events page.

The British Royal Wedding

I just had to start a new Squidoo lens when I heard about The Royal Wedding.
It's very new, and I'll be adding to it over the next few months- or however long it is to the wedding ( the date is not yet announced.
I'm hoping The British Royal Wedding will prove to be a popular lens.

Trying to get to 1,000 visits

I know there are people out there who get 1,000 and more visits per lens per week, sometimes even 1,000 for 1 lens in a day, so my aim of getting to 1,000 for ALL my lenses in 1 week is pretty puny.
Still, looking back I can see that I was thrilled to get to 200 not that long ago!

This week I'm up to 836 this week.

I'm hoping some of my Christmas lenses, such as Enjoy the Boxing Day Holiday will come good.

How to make home made chocolate truffles.

I love  Chocolate truffle, and they are so easy to make.
Why not make some now, and if you can stop everyone eating them, put them in the freezer? You can take them out and package them in pretty boxes to give as Christmas gifts.

Christmas gift ideas- herb Christmas gifts

I think that anything herb related makes a great Christmas gift. It's well known that I love herbs, so that's no surprise.
If you want to give a Christmas gift that is healthy, makes you happy, and doesn't cost a packet, look at my Herbal Christmas gift ideas.

Tron:Legacy gift ideas

With the release of Tron:Legacy, the new movie from Disney, in movie theaters in the USA from 17 December, here's my choice of Tron gift ideas for Christmas.
I think there's going to be a huge rush for Tron:Legacy gifts, so think about shopping now!

Boxing Day- can you help?

I'm re writing my 2009 web page about Boxing Day.
I'm looking for events to add- any suggestions welcome.

Christmas in the Lake District

Christmas in the Lake District- I love it! Our guest house is closed, but we are always full with family and friends.
I always try to find lots of different things for them to do, so I've written a web page, Lake District Christmas to share all my inside knowledge and experience with anyone thinking about visiting the Lake District this Christmas.
Why not take a look- and maybe leave a message in the guestbook?

I need to reorganise this Squidoo blog

I've been writing about my whitemoss Squidoo lenses for some time now, adding them randomly to this lens.
I need to organis them more- the list on the right is incoherent! Over the next few weeks this WILL be sorted.
I've just realise that lots of my lenses are missing from here- for examaple,My Lavender Lens has not made on to this page. There's lots of work to do !

Updating my Wordsworth's lake District lens

I've decided that I need to improve my oldest lenses, so I'm looking at my very first lens Wordsworth's Lake District and trying to rewrite and reorganise it.
I've been given permission by my Twitter friend @stewyphoto to use his amazing photos from flickr ( with links and credits of course).
Take  look at Wordsworth's lake District to see how I've linked his great photos into the Wordsworth information.

My latest lens- the Diptyque Candle

If anyone is looking for a special gift, the Diptyque Candle is my top suggestion.

You can read about the Diptyque Candle by clicking here- this will tell you all about the histroy of the Diptyque perfumery, Paris, and the amazing luxury Diptyque Candle

I would love one of these if anyone is reading this who wants to give me a gift!

Planning a vacation to Barbados?

Barbados on a budget- this might sound strange, as the word has it that Barbados is a very expensive holiday destination.

It's certainly true that you can blow a lot of money on your Barbados vacation, but there are lots of great Barbados money saving tips to make your money go further.

I've suggested things to do on your Barbados vacation that are fun, a bit different, and that don't cost a fortune.

Personally tried, tested and recommended by whitemoss, these are great money saving Barbados tips.

New web page on Squidoo- Rum Butter

Cumberland Rum Butter- a very special Lake District Food.
I've written a whole article about Rum Butter,- the history of Rum Butter, how to make rum butter, where to buy rum butter- everything you could want to know about Rum Butter.

Rum butter is great at Christmas, but no need to wait till the mince pies and Christmas puddings are ready. Melt Rum Butter over baked apples right now!

I love purple- a new lens in honour of my latest purple star.

I love purple- it's true, I do! This lens is in honour of being awarded by 4th purple star on Squidoo.
Whilst writing it I realised that I am truly in love with purple.

I'd love for you to take a look at I love purple!

A New Purple Star for Wordsworth's Lake District!

Thank you Squidoo and EditionH for the purple star I got today for Wordsworth's Lake District.

I'm thrilled and happy!

Whitemoss SquidAngel lens

I'm collecting all the lenses I bless on Whitemoss- SquidAngel of the North.
I've used the Antony Gormley Sculpture as my image- it's only 60 miles from my home, and is probably the most famous sculture in the UK at present.
Please visit if you can.

Whitemoss is now a SquidAngel!

Great news! As of 1 September, I'm a SquidAngel for a month- maybe more.
I'm now flying all around Squidoo looking for great lenses to bless.
If you have any lenses you think might be worthy of a whitemoss blessing, please leave a message on Whitemoss- SquidAngel of the North.

Thank you.

Grasmere Blackberry and apple crumble now # 1!

Top lens right now is Grasmere Apple and blackberry crumble, - an up market crumble, perfect for using all those blackberries that are around right now,.

Grasmere is famous for it's gingerbread, and the "Grasmere" part of this recipe is that it has a hint of ginger in it.
Please take a look at the recipe try it, and leave a message- thank you!

Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District

My Top 10 lakes in the Lake District lens is doing really well just now.

I've added a YouTube video for each of the  Top 10 Lakes.

I had to leave out some lakes- Elterwater for one. Please let me know what you think- visit the Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District. today!

whitemoss gets to pick all 5 LOTD this week!

Yippee!
I won the draw to pick Lens of the Day for a week.
Picking 5 LOTD is much harder than I expected. There are lots and lots of great lenses out there, and I read hundreds, but when you know that the Squidoo community is all out there looking at your choices, it makes you a bit nervous ( well , it did me anyway!)
Also, I wanted to make the 5 all different- a good mix.
I hope everyone enjoys my pick this week!


Here is my pick for Lens of the Day for Monday. It's about the Border Reivers- if you don't know who they are, take a look!

A quiet week on squidoo

I've had a very quiet week on squidoo. A bit of updating, but no new lenses started. I'm trying to go round all my old lenses, some made in a hurry for the Giants challenge, and trying to improve them.
I've been updating 10 things to do in Grasmere, which recently got a purple star, and is now one of my highest lenses. I've added all the up to date info about what is going on in Grasmere right now.

Lake District Information

I think this Lake District information lens is a really helpful lens for visitors to the Lake District, yet for some reason, Google is ignoring it.
Ah well- I'll just keep going and hoping to get recognition for the Lake District information lens sooner or later....looks like later at present!

Why join Rocketmoms?

I've just updated my lens explaining why I joined Rocketmoms, and hoping that those who are thinking about joining might decide to give it a try.
Leave me a message if you are thinking about joining- I'll gladly reply.

New YouTube added to Brockstone Grasmere self catering cottage

Our guest, Graham Whyte, has posted these great videos of Brockstone self catering cottage on YouTube.
Why not take a look- leave a message too if you like!

Getting ready for Christmas

It seems early but on Squidoo people are saying we should make our Christmas lenses now, so here goes with two new lenses.
Herbal Christmas gifts

and
Scented Christmas gifts.

I've written about herbs a lot, so these lenses link to my interests- I've chosen things I like myself- lets hope others like them too!

Updating Lake District lenses, Grasmere Lakes Artists Exhibition.

The Lakes Artists Summer Exhibition takes place in Grasmere all summer.
Find more about this on 10 Things to do in Grasmere and 10 more things to do in Grasmere

From 31 July to 8 September, in Grasmere Village Hall.

Traditional Lake District Food

I was delighted to have a message on the lens from a local company delivering traditional lake district food locally from on line orders.
They are soon to go nationwide, so all in the UK will be able to get traditional lake district food delivered to their door.
How fantatstic!
In honour of this , I've updated my Traditional lake district food lens.

H P Sauce

H P sauce- an unlikely topic for a lens, but take a look, and scroll down to the Marty Feldman YouTube link if you feel like a laugh
H P Sauce - the Star of sauces

Not to be missed!

Sorrel herb, how to grow and use sorrel

I've just updated my lens on how to grow and use the sorrel herb.
There are lots of tips on how to grow and use sorrel.
I've added some new recipe links, and some articles about sorrel. Please leave a message if you visit.

The Ugly one now feels like Cinderella

My lens about celeriac,What the heck can I do with celeriac?, has received and Angel Blessing from skiesgreen!
Celeriac is known as "the ugly one", but now the ugly one has has angel dust sprinkled over it and now feels like Cinderella going to the ball.
Thank you Squid Angel.

Reviewing early Squidoo lenses

I've been working so hard trying to make new lesnes to reach the 50 needed for Giant Squid ( did I mention I made Giant!?) that my older lenses have been rather neglected.

I'm trying to go around then "fettling" them up ( as we say round here). In particular, the sidebar widget didn't exist when I wrote the early lenses, so I'm going aroung adding widgets everywhere.

Lenses I've refreshed today include White Moss House ( about my home, and business, White Moss House bed and breakfast, Grasmere, owned by William Wordsworth. )

I've also topped up a great recipe lens Grasmere Apple and blackberry crumble.. I

Whitemoss is now a Giant Squid!

I made it- Thursday 8 July, 2010- I got the email from Bonnie telling me I had made Giant Squid!
Brilliant!
Here is my lensography if you want to see all my lenses!Who or what is whitemoss?

Please take a look.

Do you play cards? Do your children play card games?

Here's a lens I wrote some time ago for Rocketmoms Session #3 Playing cards- a toy for life.
The gist of this lens is that if you play cards with your children, you'll have lots of fun together, they'll learn a lot, and they'll have a great skill to take through life.

I learnt to play snap and whist as a child. Most weeks these days I play bridge ( for fun- not too seriously). I still get so much fun from cards.
Cards, a Toy for life reminds you of the fun of playing cards.
Please take a look.

Barbados Vacation on budget

I love Barbados, but want to have a great time there without spending a fortune.
Here I share my money saving tips- Barbados money saving tips.

I'd love you to take a look at this and leave me a message.

Jamie Oliver Italian Food Hero seems popular

I wrote this lens Jamie Oliver, Italian Food Hero for a get cracking with Robbie and Bonnie Challenge,
I don't know how popular Jamie Oliver is in the USA, but he's proably the most populat chef here in the UK, and righly so in my opinion.

I love Jamie Oliver's programmes, recipes, and his campaigns to get us all eating better, but most of all I love his Italian food ideas, and was really impressed last year visiting his restaurant in Bath.

Anyway, see what you think -my Jamie Oliver lens is getting quite a lot of visits.

Karen Brown's Guides- find that special place to stay.

We run White Moss House , Grasmere ( once owned by Wordsworth) as a 4 star guest house. We are a special place to stay, but how do you find such places?
Well, try looking in Karen Brown's Guides. Personally checked out by Karen Brown and her team, based in California, the hotels and guest houses recommended in Karen Browns Guides are all small, personally run with care and love, and miles away from the big corporate, conference venue.
White Moss House is proud to be a Karen Brown recommendation.

Lens 51- Parlsey, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

The song Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and thyme, means a lot to me, and I actually grow all these herbs in my herb garden- it's my 51st lens!

Recipe lenses on Squidoo

I've started to make a couple of lenses, at Bonnie's suggestion, of Rocketmoms lens lists.

Here are two I've recently made-
Rocketmoms Cookie Collection, and Rocketmoms bread recipes..

If you have any lenses I could add to either of these collections, please let me know.

Lots of catching up to do with my squidoo lenses

I've been so busy making new lenses to try to get to the 50 mark by 30 June, so I can apply for Giant Squid.
Well, I've now made the 50 lenses, so now it's time to wait to see if I get accepted.
My 50th, and a very special lens for me is Castlerigg Stone Circle, about the neolithic stone circle just 10 miles from my home.

Also worth checking out is Ambleside Sports. This is a great Lake District day out, coming up soon.

My "about me" lens- Rediscovering and Remembering

I made this lens back in January, when I started thinking I might try for Giant.
It looks at the way I've gone back to the things I've always enjoyed, but maybe been too busy to follow.
Rediscovering and remembering is a very personal lens for me- hope you like it.

Making lots of new lenses for Squidoo

New lenses coming thick and fast!

Here are a few Cherry Blossom Parties was made for Rocketmoms Party assignment.

Also, I'm going to expand on my great love of herbs, by writing individual lenses on growing herbs , and herbal remedies and herbal recipes for my favourite herbs.

So far I've got lovage and sorrel finished.

Beatirx Potter Christening gifts

A great idea for a christening is a Beatrix Potter, Peter Rabbit christening gift.
Beatrix Potter Christening gifts come in all shapes and sizes- books, figurines, china and toys.
I've selected lots of great ideas

Here one I made for the "get cracking challenge"

The Challenge was to write a "local" lens- so here it is- done in one day! Bridge House Ambleside
Phew- I struggle to make a lens so quickly!

Bonnie has told Rocketmoms to get working on their blogs!

I admit it- I started a "Whitemoss on Squidoo Blog".....................and then stopped writing after a few days!
Well- I've made a resolution to keep it up to date- so here is my lens for Rocketmoms Session 7, challenge#2  "Four legged furry friends"- it's Mr Brock the Badger


From the comments I've had so far, I realise that the impression we have in the UK of the badger as a shy,gentle creature, is not held by those familiar with the American badger, which is a much more vicious creature!

Rocketmoms Session 7- a second lens!

This is the first time I've made two lenses in one week. Only 21 to go before I can apply for Giant !
My second lens for the "Fun with Food" challenge is Lakeland tea bread recipe,
 and here's a picture of my home made Lake Distirct White Moss tea bread.

Rocketmoms session 7

Well, I've decided this time to complete all 8 weeks. Can't believe its session 7- seems only yesterday I did Session 3 and graduated.

Here is my first lens for session 7, on Fun with Food.What the heck can I do with celeriac?
Please take a look and leave a message.

Beatrix Potter Christening gifts

A great idea for a christening gift Beatrix Potter gifts

Enjoy the great spring weather at Brockstone Cottage

Brockstone ,a very special  Grasmere self catering cottage, is available from 22 April . The end of April would be a great time for a self catering break at this cottage, which has the most fantastic  views.
Take a look at the Holiday-rentals website for prices and availabilty.

Silver Howe from Brockstone Terrace

Email me- sue@whitemoss.com for the very best offer for last minute bookings.

Looking down on Rydal Water form the terrace of Brockstone, Grasmere self catering cottage

New lens on Herdwick sheep, ther Lake District sheep

New lens today Herdwick Sheep

The lambs are usually born black- I've just seen one in my garden that is all black, with just white ears. very cute, but what was it doing in my garden?!

Grasmere, Rydal, Lake District walks

Some useful links for walkers . Or if you want to Hike.
Walks from White Moss, Rydal, Grasmere

or for a more detailed guide to Rydal Water, Walk round Rydal Water, one of the most beautiful short walks in the world.

Top 10 Lakes in the Lake Distirct

Just updated this lovely lens today.Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District.

Also going strong, just 4 days away from Easter in the Lake District

Still no sales from my first real sales lens, The Canon PowerShot 1200- but give it time!??

A unique personalised gift idea

This lens is one I made last year for Rocketmoms- I've just freshening it up.
Its A personalised photo bag, great ideas for a unique personalised gift at very little cost.

You just have to see the Daffodils

The daffodils are out- spme and take a look!

New Lens - a review of the Canon PowerShot 1200

I've done a review lens for my Ixus camera, known in the USA as the Canon PowerShot 1200
It's my first for the Tiffany Dow 52 week Amazon challenge.
I must admit- I was very challenged!
I love this Canon digital camera, so it was great to recommend it to others.
Hopefully now that I've done the first one, it will be easier to do more- we'll see! Watch this space.

Refreshed my 2 lowest lenses

Beatle and Beach Boys first albums
and
Playing cards- a toy for life

Were both lenses I made for Rocektmom. I've left them to stagnate, so I've now added 2 tiwtter links to the Beatles and Beach Boys, one for each group.
I've also freshened the card lens by adding another featured lens module.

I wend above the 300 mark, but now I've gone back to 294. Will just have to keep working at it.

Making progress on Squidoo!

Yes! Made the 300 visit to all my lenses in 1 week target. Not a lot by many people's standard, but one small step for man......
Just made a new lens Brockstone Grasmere self catering cottage, about our wonderful cottage.
I've also now got 4 lenses in the top 10,000.
It's a reminder that hard work is needed to keep this all going well.

Hoping to reach the 300 mark today!

Weekly visits are on the up- hoping to get to 300 today.Wordsworth's Lake District  is still top at 7,182- not as high as it has been in the past.
# 2 is Easter cookies and Easter Biscuits at 8,940
#3 is , Top 10 Lakes  in the Lake District , at 9354.
No more in the top 10,000 at present.

Aim- can I ever get a top tier lens for a month? Can I get at least 5 tier 2?

Visits to my squidoo lenses rising

I've now got 21 lenses, and the rise in visits is good- they must have started to refer around more, especially as I have been putting links in.
My Easter cookines and Easter biscuits recipe lens has started to rise- recipe lenses seem to do really well, and Easter is now just over 3 weeks away.

Total visits to my lenses now 270.

Payout money today for Jan $2.74.

I've just been on a learning curve.

As I now have two blogs, one for my B & B, and one for Squidoo, I have fallen at the first hurdle, and posted B & B blogs on the Squidoo one by mistake- not once, but twice!
I've also discovered that the simple task of switching the text from one to another is now simple at all.
Anyway, I'll now report on my Squidooing for today!
I've updated my old Beatles and Beach Boys  lens. It doesn't get much attention, so hopefully some TLC will move it along a little.

Sun and Special offers at White Moss House Grasmere.

Just in case you are planning a short break in April, if you would like to stay 2 or more nights midweek before the end of April, we are offering 10% off our usual rates. Hope to see you!


We seem to be having day after day of beautiful sunshine. Everyone is loving it- the fells have a sprinkling of snow on them still, the sky is blue, the lakes are still with wonderful reflections.
Why not take advantage of our special offer to come up and see the Daffodils that inspired Wordsworth's poem?

These are the daffodils in Dora's Field, Rydal, as they will look in a week or so.

We are offering 10% reductions on stays of 2 nights or more, midweek, from our opening on 26 March, until 30 April.

We are fully booked for the Easter weekend, and also for 15th, 16th and 17th,  and 25 th and 26th April.but do have rooms for most other dates. Why not email me ( sue@whitemoss.com) and make a booking?

Sun and special offer at White Moss, Grasmere.

We're having a great spell of weather here- sun, sun sun every day! ( I know, not everywhere in the UK is getting this great weather- we're lucky for once!)

Just in case you are planning a short break in April, if you would like to stay 2 or more nights midweek before the end of April, we are offering 10% off our usual rates. Hope to see you!

We are fully booked for the Easter weekend, and also 15, 16 and 17 April, but do have rooms on other nights.
If you are visiting the Lakes at Easter, this link might be useful.Easter in the Lake District

Wordsworth's Poem, Daffodils.

I've decided to keep track of my Squidoo lenses on their very own blog, and what better place to start than with my latest lens,Wordsworth's Daffodils ?
Many of my lenses are about Wordsworth's Lake District, and as the daffodils are ready to burst out in the next few days, this seemed a good place to start.
I publish the lens yesterday, sent a Squidcast and tweet, and was delighted that the first visitor was Wordswoorth fan , Sylvestermouse, who gave it an Angel Blessing!
Today it has reached  #34,954 #371 in "Local"- a great start.