Five Go To Forde Abbey ...

Hello there! A huge "Thank You" to all those who kindly left a comment on my previous post. Although I did delete two comments as they were re-directing me onto a site to loose weight! I had left a comment on a blog about as a youngster not really understanding the term middle aged spread until I arrive in my 40's and now know only too well what it means! At the same time it was disclosed in the press that sites are storing information about us and sharing them with others. As Boris Johnson commented today in The Daily Telegraph nothing on the world wide web is private!

Anyhow, I digress as I always seem to! "Hello" to new followers too!

I am very, very behind with my posting. I have a few more posts about Half Term to catch up with. Luckily, this weekend we didn't get up to much as KP had to be at home revising for her school exams. We did manage to go out on Saturday morning to the shops as KP wanted some Converse type pumps. We also got roped into buying her two T-shirts and a badge with "I'm not listening!" on it. We apparently always tell her that she's not!

You see, I have waffled on yet again. I will now keep to the point (I hope). During Half Term we ventured once more to Forde Abbey. It is without doubt one of our favourite haunts when we're in Devon. Forde Abbey is just across the border into Somerset.

KP saw Twiglet, the shetland pony - who is 47 years old!

Wonderful, wonderful Forde Abbey.

I will let the photos do the talking.

KP had me on my belly to take these photos. She had taken one with her phone and immediately posted it onto Instagram. I think that's what she said anyhow. I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to technology whereas she is a bit of a wizard with it all!

The dogs enjoy it here too. Poor old Charlie, I think he'll have to be off to the vets tomorrow. He keeps getting a rash on his tummy. He looked to be suffering this evening but seemed a bit better when the OH gave him a bath with the antiseptic shampoo that the vet had given us previously. I suspect he'll be on antibiotics again.

KP amongst the buttercups - with her phone! She's never far away from it!

I wondered who Marcia was.

The fountain is turned on twice a day - usually at 1.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m.

We always seem to stay here longer than anyone else!

KP with George - who is off to the groomers later this week. It will be a costly affair with the pets this week then but, we wouldn't be without them.

There we have it - a whizz of a trip around Forde Abbey.

Until next time,

June.

A New Toy and Bank Holiday Weekend, Part 1 ...

Hello there! Many "Thanks" to all of you who commented on my previous posting and "Hello" to new followers. How you found me I don't know - especially bearing in mind that my posts are still not updating - Grrrrr!

Anyhow, moving on to the things that we got up to at the weekend - wasn't the weather just glorious, by the way - but before I do, a photo of Archie, our cat, sitting in the flowerbed where I had the audacity to try and remove some weeds from his favourite place to snooze! He's looking pretty disgruntled.

And here's my latest - push along. I was looking at eBay - I know I shouldn't - this one came up on a Buy It Now and I just couldn't resist it.

He arrived well packaged a few days later.

The house sparrow is still chirruping away noisily outside for most of the day.

After KP finished school on Friday we drove post haste to our little bolt-hole in Devon. On Saturday afternoon (after a stop at the hairdressers) we headed for Forde Abbey - on the outskirts of Chard. We have been here many times, it is one of our favourite haunts. We also visited Burrow Farm Gardens, Knightshayes - NT property and had a walk along the Tiverton Canal but I will discuss these in more detail in later postings.

I just loved these tulips.

We walked up to the statue we call "Black Beauty" and stopped at a nearby spot for a picnic.

I tried getting to grips with the cameras' Manual Settings.

The fountain is switched on twice a day - usually about 1.00 p.m. and then again at 3.00 p.m.

Playing some more with the Manual Settings - I got this effect. Although the colours are distorted I quite like it. The daffodils have been bleached to an almost translucent quality.

We came to the lake and saw a few ducks - then our attention was grabbed by Canadian Geese and their off spring.

Well, I snapped away, like a thing possessed. Aren't they the cutest little things - primrose yellow in colour.Both Mum and Dad were clearly the proudest of parents - standing by, watching and fussing.

 They got out of the water and were pecking the ground for food - still under the watchful gaze of Mum and Dad.

I was amazed as to how close I was to them. These photos were taken with my slightly longer than usual lens but I have not cropped beyond that.

After a brief sojourn on dry land they were ushered back into the water.

Before once again moving back onto terra firma. I had left a few pieces of bread on the grass for them. I don't know if this is Mum or Dad but whichever it was, it guzzled all the bread in no time at all, without sharing!

We must have been sat watching for about an hour. A wonderful way to while away the time. We will have to have another visit soon to see how the chicks are faring.

We then moved along to the Bog Garden. I once again played with different settings on the camera - I think I prefer the top photo to the bottom one.

The dogs came with us but Charlie was once again determined not to look at the camera.

All the camellias and rhododendrons were open but I only took photos of the camellias!

Remembering my photography class homework to create creative shots - KP posed by the fountain!

KP looking a bit smarter than normal with blow dried hair.

We were just about to leave when we saw that the fountain was being turned on again and saw this fabulous rainbow effect.

The metal work roof of the temple.

And the roofs reflection in the small pool within the temple.

There we have it photos from our trip to Forde Abbey. In the evening we went out to a local pub for a meal with our next door neighbours who came back to the house afterwards for a cup of coffee.

Whilst they were there - George, our cocker spaniel, seemed to have a fit of some sort - he kept running around in a circular motion - as if he was chasing his own tail but with a very dazed look on his face.

After a while he seemed to snap out of it. However, this strange behaviour was repeated. We were very worried. By the time that we were ready for bed - he had calmed down and seemed back to his normal self.

In the middle of the night I went downstairs to check on him and he seemed fine and has been alright since. So, let's hope, fingers crossed that everything is O.K.

I think I've rambled on long enough so without further ado, I will sign off.

Until next time,

June.