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.

Back Home For a Few Days ...

Hello there! After a busy first week of the Easter hols we returned home for a few days of relaxation.

Having been out and about in the sunshine and hoping that Spring was just around the corner we discovered that it was once again turning cold and it even began to snow.

This is Ruby the cat glaring at us through the dining room window - "How can you sit in there eating warm home made soup when I'm sat out here"! There is such a thing as a cat flap in our house or should I say, a cat hole as the flap has been removed by the dogs! This is not to be used by Ruby if she can get a human to attend to her bidding!

"I'll just stare them out, they're bound to let me in eventually!"

"What's wrong with these people, I'll just have to miaow loudly - that should embarrass them to open the door!"

"I'm not impressed with my humans!"

"Right, I'll just have to scratch at the door, as the dogs do!"

Look at all that scratching on our patio door - it's not as bad as it looks in the photo - promise!

Kids and technology - the phone is permanently attached to KP these days - for skyping friends, games, apps and photos. I just use the phone as a phone and send the odd text.

We were only home for a couple of days before we whizzed off down the A303 once again to our base in Devon. More on that in later posts.

Until next time,

June.

Cats and Dogs Amongst Other Things ...

Hello there! Many "Thanks" for your comments on my last post. I was supposed to be attending my Photography Course this morning but the College phoned this morning to cancel as the tutor was unwell. Having not been well myself this week - I will go into details later, I hadn't taken any photos other than the last two of George, returned from the groomers - having lost his Elvis quiff and looking a bit more than sorry for himself.

So, in order to generate a post with some photos of it I went around the house, as you do! I snapped away at various things animal related mainly cats and dogs, of course!

The rabbit above was a present from me to KP and sits on a small wall shelf in her bedroom with her Just William and Michael Morpugo books and have you spotted the book "To Be A Cat". Not that we're all animal mad in this house!

A further photo from KP's room.

In the spare bedroom on the bed - what else, a cat!

A closer inspection.

Again in the spare bedroom a bookshelf - and another cat!

And now, to a new / old dog. A recent purchase from ebay!

Isn't he a grand old fellow! His face is so full of character.

A smaller version! Another ebay purchase.

George - back from the groomers. With a dog treat in hand I can keep him still, he just watches the treat. Charlie, on the other hand, who had also been to the groomers can't be mollified by the thought of a treat, he just jumps up and down like mad trying to steal said treat from my hand, hence no photo!

The expression says it all "What have they done to me!"

Anyhow, as mentioned earlier in the post this week to a certain extent has been a bit of a write off. On Saturday I had been unwell and had to go to bed - I had a frightening pain across my chest, I really thought that I was having a heart attack. On Monday I went to the doctor's, the pain was really bad. They performed an ECG and said that there didn't appear to be any problem there and that my blood pressure and everything else was OK. The doctor diagnosed a duodenal ulcer and suggested some medication.

Readers of this blog will know that last year I was very ill made worse by my bad reaction to medication prescribed by the dentist and subsequently the hospital. What I didn't tell you, I was embarassed to mention at the time but that the medication as well as causing me a rash caused some of my hair to fall out.

It has just started to grow back and people who wouldn't know me wouldn't say that it looked as if I had lost any but I know and what I now dread is the new medication as the side effects could be - wait for it, a rash and hair loss. I have taken two of the tablets, I didn't want to but the pain is immense and so I have to. Only 58 tablets to go! I just hope that I have no bad reaction this time. I just couldn't bear it!

Anyhow, you may think - too much information but, I know that you are a caring and understanding community out there.

Tonight, KP is off for a sleepover at a friends. I fancy a trip to the cinema.

Until next time,

June.

To Selborne We Go ...

Oh, it's got mighty cold this weekend! I think we're in for a cold spell! We had thought of going down to Devon this weekend but with one thing or another by the time it came round to Friday night the thought of driving to Devon proved too much after such a hectic week! Not even the lure of Devon could keep my tired eyes open! Having had such a hectic week meant that a lot of the housework had been ignored during the week and Saturday was taken up with catching up with those boring hoursehold chores! Where does all the dust come from! Most of it from those pesky animals - who of course, we love and adore but not when you have to hoover twice daily!

Today, we thought that we would go to Selborne and walk through the woods at the back of Gilbert White's house - see http://www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/ We followed a zig zag path created by Gilbert White and his brother in 1753! It took us high up with a fantastic view of Selborne!

Before our ascent up the path we saw this friendly horse who came up to the fence to say "Hello!"

The view of Selborne from the top of the zig zag path. The terracotta building to the bottom left used to be the home of Gilbert White!

Trees bore catkins! Isn't this a sign that Spring is on its way!

Somebody found a rope swing!

We walked further into the woods. It was rather muddy in places and yours truly nearly went arse over a few times! Very slippy slidey it was!

It was also bitterly cold and so there aren't as many photos as normal as I wanted to keep my gloves on!

George found some water - nothing new there! He relished the walk - so much mud and water!

Just out of the woods and we saw these old petrol pumps!

Back to the warmth of the house but not before stopping off at our local M and S for a nice cake to have with a hot cup of tea!

Little Ruby was fine this week - no more fits thankfully!

Despite the weather getting colder most of the cats have been outside!

Ruby and Archie being the only fair weathered cats!

Had to have a visit to the dentist this week as one of my wisdom teeth has been causing me a lot of problems!

I don't really do doctors or dentists - I'm just a gibbering wreck just at the mention of the words!

I'm glad I went though but I have to go back for another appointment and that is not going to be so nice!

Hope you all had a good weekend! Thanks for your comments on my last post!

Be Back Soon!

June.