tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76118867037128174302024-02-19T07:36:54.938+00:00Notes from a Devon VillageHi! I live in a small village near the coast in the beautiful South Hams district of South Devon, UK with my two Newfoundland dogs, Amy and Ben. This is an account of rural life as experienced by the three of us, with weekend visits from my townie husband!Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-19426772882318126772010-10-25T19:14:00.000+01:002010-10-25T19:14:35.768+01:00Not in the mood latelyJust haven't been in the mood to post to this blog lately. I think it's because here is where I loved to write about life with Amy and Ben ... and of course now it's just Ben and I. Amy has left such an enormous hole in our lives I think we're still trying to come to terms with her absence. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDNHR0tUu9glyAGpns0h0DzHhyhd0_ThLFcmgqZVC2zgzCUXCOrl4RtbrNdyrQcMG97bxglrrNOIuBZv-wDagd6hC_ISW6oEk9r8iiDteXpp45S99Av-iSBE1lqwbT3sG-9CWZY5AZHBO/s1600/IMG00240-20101016-0934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDNHR0tUu9glyAGpns0h0DzHhyhd0_ThLFcmgqZVC2zgzCUXCOrl4RtbrNdyrQcMG97bxglrrNOIuBZv-wDagd6hC_ISW6oEk9r8iiDteXpp45S99Av-iSBE1lqwbT3sG-9CWZY5AZHBO/s320/IMG00240-20101016-0934.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
We're feeling like this! I took Ben up to Start Point last week - we walked all the way round which Amy hadn't been able to do for a very long time. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0mRR1r16kckWA_u39_hK9KlgolTcdgSVAv4IF8wHhiwfNgG20RKnR4NHP7frwOKFb8GFQ1J3jSPCINHfWho0N8X-0nStxfhn7ND-Z_fLi6EAQ-BpmQmIE6b4WKP0L60idSIhuo4lET0C/s1600/blog8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0mRR1r16kckWA_u39_hK9KlgolTcdgSVAv4IF8wHhiwfNgG20RKnR4NHP7frwOKFb8GFQ1J3jSPCINHfWho0N8X-0nStxfhn7ND-Z_fLi6EAQ-BpmQmIE6b4WKP0L60idSIhuo4lET0C/s320/blog8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But as we climbed up towards the ridge we came to this point ...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGIa2Sbuimu1D7jWy3_9vh34R8rXgbS_6d_0ykxo7rKObVGop3Ycqo0VboGIAVhUST8J6SghKsNi6wJQG1dq9nQBmuDe_YCk7-RCjb4k0uG41m2Drjk_OLvkQ-Z_bvBm7AVMYlwcfH1He/s1600/blog7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGIa2Sbuimu1D7jWy3_9vh34R8rXgbS_6d_0ykxo7rKObVGop3Ycqo0VboGIAVhUST8J6SghKsNi6wJQG1dq9nQBmuDe_YCk7-RCjb4k0uG41m2Drjk_OLvkQ-Z_bvBm7AVMYlwcfH1He/s320/blog7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">... and the enormity of her absence took my breath away. Amy wasn't part of my life for very long - just four and a half short years. She was crippled when she came to me, and deeply unhappy - which she showed by withdrawing into herself, growling and biting (yes really) when I tried to show her life was worth living after all. Perseverance paid off and over the course of about a year she became the most loving and loyal companion I could have wished for. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lQu8Lr8Yu6kJ0aSuIRIZB7X4Y2kF7B0ds7qpME-sLoTXDNOhkFVNKBski5kHH0eNvgNayfWcyVPChJ28jZidwysUmr3EmbF1RiLXoGpV55JdSXiPGOx9uJHOl3-fegK_HPFb4IslA0_i/s1600/Amy+happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lQu8Lr8Yu6kJ0aSuIRIZB7X4Y2kF7B0ds7qpME-sLoTXDNOhkFVNKBski5kHH0eNvgNayfWcyVPChJ28jZidwysUmr3EmbF1RiLXoGpV55JdSXiPGOx9uJHOl3-fegK_HPFb4IslA0_i/s320/Amy+happy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">That's not to say she was perfect - far from it! She was the most stubborn, self-opinionated and frankly greedy dog I have ever owned. She knew what was due to her as the most beautiful (in her opinion!) newfie that ever there was! But she simply loved people, bustling up to all and sundry (particularly children) and collapsing at their feet in the hope of a tummy tickle. Not to forget of course that she did once save a child's life, bringing a little girl in from the sea, in her long-ago youth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBhKJaNxI6QKr1GULQTxYu06aE5enDercb9X-zSEHg4DxqGb42bFn7WuqlCxdwI6z-S0wUFh93GWB98MYyT7b7ukLpKQanT-hxxLLRtPzpZThG4h_SFfWEnBm9-9nOyOC5GH7X-6bNnqS/s1600/100_3644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBhKJaNxI6QKr1GULQTxYu06aE5enDercb9X-zSEHg4DxqGb42bFn7WuqlCxdwI6z-S0wUFh93GWB98MYyT7b7ukLpKQanT-hxxLLRtPzpZThG4h_SFfWEnBm9-9nOyOC5GH7X-6bNnqS/s320/100_3644.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Amy was also the only dog I have ever owned that would look admiringly at her own image in shop windows! In fact she adored shopping. She never had to be tied up outside a shop, but would wait for me as long as patience lasted - and if I took (in her opinion) too long then she'd bustle importantly inside to come and find me and tell me to hurry up! I remember leaving her outside WH Smiths once, and coming out to find a total stranger tugging on her lead ... impossible to steal ... she wasn't going to budge an inch without me and at 147 lbs, no-one could make her!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So I've been immersing myself in work - which I love - not forgetting of course that the "Bustle" of Bustle and Sew was named for Amy ... and won't be posting here again for a little while.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Meanwhile you can keep up with some of the news (and the odd photo of Ben which creeps in occasionally) on <a href="http://www.bustleandsew.blogspot.com/">Bustle & Sew</a>, and I expect I'll be back again before too long with some new photos and stories about life here in Devon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-4383381673211990512010-09-12T19:06:00.003+01:002010-09-12T20:38:46.720+01:00Been Away...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUBayZPR6o1TJ2Vbw6LT4LIp7E8psMIMgVmr3hK1FfnXHF8xiWgiCg8xQ-SOKlTwSXHO5LyKYfltjaM_X-zLDVv_wckdZkNcA-b-GM1AA1ZteysAH59ybrOW7zaDWzHj-okegGgxXpe76/s1600/100_8139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUBayZPR6o1TJ2Vbw6LT4LIp7E8psMIMgVmr3hK1FfnXHF8xiWgiCg8xQ-SOKlTwSXHO5LyKYfltjaM_X-zLDVv_wckdZkNcA-b-GM1AA1ZteysAH59ybrOW7zaDWzHj-okegGgxXpe76/s400/100_8139.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This picture, for me, depicts the two sides of Istanbul we saw whilst staying in the city last week. There is the modern city that has grown up around the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Although these are ancient and beautiful, their impact is subsumed by the noise of busy traffic, clanging of trams and crowds of tourists. Then there is the human side of this beautiful city, traditional Turkish culture, bazaars, music, and the all-important family life. Food is very important here, as people grow (or fish for!) the freshest of ingredients to incorporate into yet another wonderful dish enjoyed at leisure surrounded by friends and family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlQqm5RyNoDEvtb0aQHV-puQ2hhW3ROByQyz2I9-NvD73nhO_cAp5-yqkZRRAJ3QZ888fcJiq0lyn5EzuJygoZ43sxsWwbqTY-xPmhZYF_LEjjTSxX4GPl1pw4ZU6njmqo6odFOK9wgvN/s1600/100_8051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlQqm5RyNoDEvtb0aQHV-puQ2hhW3ROByQyz2I9-NvD73nhO_cAp5-yqkZRRAJ3QZ888fcJiq0lyn5EzuJygoZ43sxsWwbqTY-xPmhZYF_LEjjTSxX4GPl1pw4ZU6njmqo6odFOK9wgvN/s400/100_8051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The city's skyline is truly beautiful, and I could only imagine how overwhelming it must have seemed to visitors a thousand years ago when most of us lived in mud or wooden dwellings. This view was taken from inside the Hagia Sophia looking out towards the Blue Mosque.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0ztebzhhJC02sctBPS562FXzd0UhC0Ic6KC1sodoFhpOSOXEH9InW9R_UcI9_wdfm-ZY-fnej_-9pKiVgqKCC1YEBOTjkO77wqupuktXQlATlDIMvzxL_MIhf0D5w-hM5hweh0-ZGy_s/s1600/100_8042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0ztebzhhJC02sctBPS562FXzd0UhC0Ic6KC1sodoFhpOSOXEH9InW9R_UcI9_wdfm-ZY-fnej_-9pKiVgqKCC1YEBOTjkO77wqupuktXQlATlDIMvzxL_MIhf0D5w-hM5hweh0-ZGy_s/s400/100_8042.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The wonderful Byzantine mosaics - over 1500 years old, and preserved by being covered in plaster when the building was used as a Mosque.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBM2OKK1dd52FXyvBjQr2Ab-lmDQKjMcKUXovnEEE8sXq-gW3DsLlntt8tDQRaOsdBn2IbVGS2wqu3oUm0u35bir-gUdnX1yFLkp467oNp9G-vfApUT4VSN8WOSktmKTNBotIa5puZMjl/s1600/100_8143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBM2OKK1dd52FXyvBjQr2Ab-lmDQKjMcKUXovnEEE8sXq-gW3DsLlntt8tDQRaOsdBn2IbVGS2wqu3oUm0u35bir-gUdnX1yFLkp467oNp9G-vfApUT4VSN8WOSktmKTNBotIa5puZMjl/s400/100_8143.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And I'm rather proud of this picture which I took in the old cistern beneath the city - constructed in the sixth century it supplied water to the old city before the Ottoman empire. There are now walkways so tourists like us can view this huge underground space - more than 300 marble columns and a vaulted roof about 20m high (I'm guessing here but it was amazing!). The lighting was rather dim so I rested my elderly camera on the handrail for the long exposure, clutching it tightly so that it didn't join the large fish in the water below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We had a wonderful time - a great way to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, but soon it was time to return home, to be reunited with our furry friend who spent the week in his favourite kennels ....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcvucReCPwQfyarIVPvjIfoCvQC3-8hH95IzG0pAlHhRZ5vo6mWGVA23WGYmU5OwxgTa0rI7y1LTMEMPQyOe29oKBmY7m7OdpEFqKXtWC89dfcSA5WzP-R8XaPtQ7n1ZbEVc177jvTpuz/s1600/100_8184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcvucReCPwQfyarIVPvjIfoCvQC3-8hH95IzG0pAlHhRZ5vo6mWGVA23WGYmU5OwxgTa0rI7y1LTMEMPQyOe29oKBmY7m7OdpEFqKXtWC89dfcSA5WzP-R8XaPtQ7n1ZbEVc177jvTpuz/s400/100_8184.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And who joined us on a picnic in the warm September sunshine at Mill Bay today. Lovely to go away, but nice to come back too...!</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-34417268010988967252010-08-29T12:01:00.003+01:002010-08-29T17:04:25.530+01:00Gone away ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzA3V-0ERf8yTXX38airqtZpUilONMB98Y0hAEuenrMZFuSAF-3wECcCSzVTZrGL1sQBI2066bdLc6UKlsJX9L0sQ6KFZMaH3GQTkXVlkou5rG_7wyYaqeqgT-8cmF8UbcflnBneNw4cw/s1600/IMG00117-20100815-1524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzA3V-0ERf8yTXX38airqtZpUilONMB98Y0hAEuenrMZFuSAF-3wECcCSzVTZrGL1sQBI2066bdLc6UKlsJX9L0sQ6KFZMaH3GQTkXVlkou5rG_7wyYaqeqgT-8cmF8UbcflnBneNw4cw/s400/IMG00117-20100815-1524.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">When Amy left us the summer seemed to fly away too. Ben took to moping on his bed and I missed terribly the round warm weight that used to settle heavily against my feet when I sat upon the sofa with my knitting or embroidery. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">But .. after all .. Amy would not have wanted us to be sad forever. She had a tremendous zest for life, grasping every opportunity (especially if it involved food!) that came her way, and fortunately she slipped away so peacefully at the end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So Ben and I decided to pick ourselves up and take ourselves out - on one of our favourite walks - around Snapes Point just across from Salcombe. We set off from the carpark across fields that had already been cut ..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggy6icdRcGrgZg6ks2jJlvFEGAb8-BQWQnUnAoQe3KwP3KofxhDqQeyJWAXuNhQkbbZAJKvNSDUu7GRs8HSx0NULW6YZCDmK75utJUo-PtKiLF73hrILBL8XmN5u-2uhXmOaOlsUW9iuzF/s1600/snapes+pt+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggy6icdRcGrgZg6ks2jJlvFEGAb8-BQWQnUnAoQe3KwP3KofxhDqQeyJWAXuNhQkbbZAJKvNSDUu7GRs8HSx0NULW6YZCDmK75utJUo-PtKiLF73hrILBL8XmN5u-2uhXmOaOlsUW9iuzF/s400/snapes+pt+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Close to where earlier in the year we watched the spring lambs at play. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPM36Lr6z-cVdEOgkVKEwK3Xj7Gg7CdTVcKbz5DG9U1KTbRrY9LpDK6FhTDtqLMv1OMDL19x4hOkfcXzp3Bq93BtqHznIjaEkl2x2UK686bd9L8m3JgdmCmCtZDry9E1KYS2iV4vb-QPT/s1600/snapes+pt+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPM36Lr6z-cVdEOgkVKEwK3Xj7Gg7CdTVcKbz5DG9U1KTbRrY9LpDK6FhTDtqLMv1OMDL19x4hOkfcXzp3Bq93BtqHznIjaEkl2x2UK686bd9L8m3JgdmCmCtZDry9E1KYS2iV4vb-QPT/s400/snapes+pt+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The day was overcast, but warm </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqE9Rl2f-edCVPrWO5XaD41M89yYi0lMYVzMj-aH_svF7o6FAJBa-ygwlspB-_lzl4HO1AiIHVgvtE-70qBYQu6sBnm_MFRyXM9vYEO20oGNyCmaCmJy_di_j2XKDyC905awL04wyz_fVL/s1600/snapes+pt+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqE9Rl2f-edCVPrWO5XaD41M89yYi0lMYVzMj-aH_svF7o6FAJBa-ygwlspB-_lzl4HO1AiIHVgvtE-70qBYQu6sBnm_MFRyXM9vYEO20oGNyCmaCmJy_di_j2XKDyC905awL04wyz_fVL/s400/snapes+pt+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">and there was plenty of activity on the water. Sounds of gulls crying, and outboard motors chugging along floated across to us from the Salcombe side of the creek .. the sound of the motor is so ubiquitous on the water now, I wonder how Salcombe sounded before the outboard became so widespread..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tTa0rTYJ8qd3RzRrlTJR9la0mBJ6a2nDPso_GWuxAstsXVxnbpi80iV1qhvfgJYuDUa8CkHmgomPboAv-UC0W7yS7rShyphenhyphenATXAEoTWm9_IZEskCRElOi3hITQSaQCVBmXA08iLhdENNcw/s1600/snapes+pt+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tTa0rTYJ8qd3RzRrlTJR9la0mBJ6a2nDPso_GWuxAstsXVxnbpi80iV1qhvfgJYuDUa8CkHmgomPboAv-UC0W7yS7rShyphenhyphenATXAEoTWm9_IZEskCRElOi3hITQSaQCVBmXA08iLhdENNcw/s400/snapes+pt+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The long walk was clearly doing Ben a lot of good - he cheered up and began to act much more like his usual impatient self. Doesn't the lane look autumnal? Check out the wind-sculpted trees - it can be very wild up here in the winter months.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWqt6-qgv44AFqpmT4yYdvdPtH0wEjuwjwSHV1HhRFYPoVXqLLuhfNRUcVg-cLRrw2RSeTMEAE0VsORj5ZB52sOSMaimS2jTVBcEH-AENBkz1k8jmyYIWji19XwkcoCDyD3ZQwQNrmLc7/s1600/snapes+pt+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWqt6-qgv44AFqpmT4yYdvdPtH0wEjuwjwSHV1HhRFYPoVXqLLuhfNRUcVg-cLRrw2RSeTMEAE0VsORj5ZB52sOSMaimS2jTVBcEH-AENBkz1k8jmyYIWji19XwkcoCDyD3ZQwQNrmLc7/s400/snapes+pt+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Signs of autumn in the hedgerows - jewel-like haws and beautiful star-shaped ivy fruits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBfJNnu9Ni-9Vu-eiXOiEWMqPhYkoYd4zV2I1yWpAGRD4Y2FtbvXFuxknbnOxWyzt0GZ07M8cVWx-U0REvGYN-vBKpMdLbUyfTCN0aRqC1BmDhv7qtyo8qjGhLLZq9p7wzDAA6bC6BAe1/s1600/100_7974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBfJNnu9Ni-9Vu-eiXOiEWMqPhYkoYd4zV2I1yWpAGRD4Y2FtbvXFuxknbnOxWyzt0GZ07M8cVWx-U0REvGYN-vBKpMdLbUyfTCN0aRqC1BmDhv7qtyo8qjGhLLZq9p7wzDAA6bC6BAe1/s400/100_7974.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And fruits in our garden too. I am not at all fond of apples and always worry that, even after giving as many away as possible, as well making some chutney and also jellies, a large quantity from our ancient trees either go to the birds or for composting - seems such a waste. But this year ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoK5xXBpJ7bqhIs8qd68jHJUhZs0DNOIvZDlM67zvxf3kPBsev2nam5izjGEi1xfQ-1OmYLKWZpST7qd0V5KqOwGfGIcCNE6Sce9sSg7-yWGK-sNXw4kcgUFdgyYiXwi-PrKJFnjb6GHLq/s1600/100_7977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoK5xXBpJ7bqhIs8qd68jHJUhZs0DNOIvZDlM67zvxf3kPBsev2nam5izjGEi1xfQ-1OmYLKWZpST7qd0V5KqOwGfGIcCNE6Sce9sSg7-yWGK-sNXw4kcgUFdgyYiXwi-PrKJFnjb6GHLq/s400/100_7977.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">... the surplus are going for juicing courtesy of GreenJane - and we'll have some lovely juice to enjoy at Christmas. It's the end of one season ... but the beginning of another... autumn leaves, bonfires and fireworks, choir and lunch-club, soups, casseroles and hearty warming puddings.... frosty mornings and toasted toes in front of the fire ... life goes on and though, like the summer, Amy has gone away now, she'll never be forgotten by her family here in Devon. </div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-48423160961873549262010-08-15T10:45:00.000+01:002010-08-15T10:45:59.657+01:00Farewell Amy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIPj3cbLEEKqmHj7gbA3MG-aPSPZ537JMv03EsxwIBkp6HCJ-4y0YnVXhKN1u9zwVf0ZTXwTjjC7Xv4Qbl23I3tRbfwFMllq5JNvVKy0GDRadOMeCwdHVrzlRYrWWcIiMtEcX_cfehtIk/s1600/amy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIPj3cbLEEKqmHj7gbA3MG-aPSPZ537JMv03EsxwIBkp6HCJ-4y0YnVXhKN1u9zwVf0ZTXwTjjC7Xv4Qbl23I3tRbfwFMllq5JNvVKy0GDRadOMeCwdHVrzlRYrWWcIiMtEcX_cfehtIk/s320/amy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amy </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">June 2000 - August 2010</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She was a much-loved friend to us and mum to Ben.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-15258423820777216162010-08-02T10:29:00.000+01:002010-08-02T10:29:46.433+01:00Lions of Bath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY_AHUbVGhWcaPuzQteQHFvOLI_exZo3fY9i1FRwNJwX4qjY1MWxcOF6uYQXYAE1gjRwNNMuAtJJuMOvWPsVscWX5TrncaIo9oDdmVc35en4cTezFJTB8cmBGemzJyZvJfsrAu_zXz1bD/s1600/bath+jul+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY_AHUbVGhWcaPuzQteQHFvOLI_exZo3fY9i1FRwNJwX4qjY1MWxcOF6uYQXYAE1gjRwNNMuAtJJuMOvWPsVscWX5TrncaIo9oDdmVc35en4cTezFJTB8cmBGemzJyZvJfsrAu_zXz1bD/s320/bath+jul+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We had a great time in Bath at the weekend. As usual the city looked elegant and well-kept. There was even a gentleman painting the details on the lamp posts in bright and shiny gold paint. He was explaining to a couple of tourists that he was a volunteer - the council painted the whole post black and he picked out the scrolls and swirls and the city crest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We paid a visit to the Salamander - one of our favourite pubs .. and spent quite a lot of time in bookshops (spot Townie Husband above). And slowly I began to see .. lions! Yes, quite apart from the usual lions on pillars, posts and memorials, there were multi-coloured lions, each about 3ft tall, all over town. In the parks, shopping centre, pubs and pavements ... even on scaffolding!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6NOZbwzYdxA8Ay_4P4hV7hM4cOvZQJwlT4TlsPV0XyZsNyFS__OIn2oZCUvWEfOAwAq47CuxlmIptvUJBCSf7mHnwzpjo8KKZVE5DHTBjsBPKgWSvvR7O8Jd2ej7OnbDTW4WNKXSnOcr/s1600/lions+of+bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6NOZbwzYdxA8Ay_4P4hV7hM4cOvZQJwlT4TlsPV0XyZsNyFS__OIn2oZCUvWEfOAwAq47CuxlmIptvUJBCSf7mHnwzpjo8KKZVE5DHTBjsBPKgWSvvR7O8Jd2ej7OnbDTW4WNKXSnOcr/s400/lions+of+bath.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I only had time to take photos of a few - every one was different and each had his name on a little plaque by his paws. (I think Dandelion at the bottom left above was one of my favourites - he looked so friendly). It turned out that they're all part of a public art initiative and you can read all about it <a href="http://www.lionsofbath.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfiLGA6Ub7mqRAEFFGxU-IkVlf7vUk88KGfZUCMCDE4j2L11NNw8UOnnTlB_3qFMSze_Mto_KUZj2TFqEYbFSLfd0qvW10WzgslwM-aHJOlyklxuuY8VGWm8D7dz16OVC4u0NMvr2149v/s1600/100_7844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfiLGA6Ub7mqRAEFFGxU-IkVlf7vUk88KGfZUCMCDE4j2L11NNw8UOnnTlB_3qFMSze_Mto_KUZj2TFqEYbFSLfd0qvW10WzgslwM-aHJOlyklxuuY8VGWm8D7dz16OVC4u0NMvr2149v/s320/100_7844.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Also did some shopping .... will post more on <a href="http://www.bustleandsew.blogspot.com/">Bustle and Sew</a> later! Orders to pack first - and poor neglected (ha ha think not) newfies to cuddle.</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-47954290608591705002010-07-18T20:32:00.005+01:002010-07-19T14:38:10.242+01:00Today the weather is ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwJ6W1U2WGct4vqIgqvkcKKqYEsVEDfoj42-5Hsgu9VPhpslVkuRL6IO06-uuRSjw0me55kHtqTKmZcbXDbjz671-vIrIzvSAj0Y6T6BMpSzkDGwb3VsYcQIBQAdATormbVNoJfZWp9TM/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwJ6W1U2WGct4vqIgqvkcKKqYEsVEDfoj42-5Hsgu9VPhpslVkuRL6IO06-uuRSjw0me55kHtqTKmZcbXDbjz671-vIrIzvSAj0Y6T6BMpSzkDGwb3VsYcQIBQAdATormbVNoJfZWp9TM/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Sunny!!! Yes, after the wind and rain we've been experiencing over the last few days the sun has finally emerged to dry us all out. All over the village people have been out in their gardens repairing the damage - my sweet peas were nearly horizontal and the last of the roses were blown away in the night .. but if it stays warm then everything will soon start to grow again and we really did need the rain.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhwqnbN-2ltGAsl9WJQYK0GdOOa_yh6hcQQwHPQr5Uco7HfeMf0pikawdNVLPvgUvdRCzQSTcJ1r2IJKcEP3w2bxtZwsKOze8a3_a14_bfMx4elfqcxO2g9GzB4mVEUIG-52EhNkk4wVw/s1600/100_7774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhwqnbN-2ltGAsl9WJQYK0GdOOa_yh6hcQQwHPQr5Uco7HfeMf0pikawdNVLPvgUvdRCzQSTcJ1r2IJKcEP3w2bxtZwsKOze8a3_a14_bfMx4elfqcxO2g9GzB4mVEUIG-52EhNkk4wVw/s320/100_7774.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">The sweet peas are wonderful this year ... I'm picking a bunch this size nearly every day ... it's important to keep picking so they keep flowering. Their fragrance is wonderful - I keep a vase on my desk and can smell them now as I'm typing. Next to the jug of sweet peas in the picture above is a jar of sea-glass or mermaids' tears, mostly found on the beach at Lannacombe - our favourite.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEYtqZUc_CH68KVUdMlITkdpZ4YK4So8_sNjJat7rYdUb3VXZpD_ISMUqmQAsHtitWNh0_kxMYgNcT-LTyMV9Q5ibMeNsPSROkUSLQgR_iWgCYLik4rpPjVG6Z4vGPu-Xgys096leiDBS/s1600/100_7771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEYtqZUc_CH68KVUdMlITkdpZ4YK4So8_sNjJat7rYdUb3VXZpD_ISMUqmQAsHtitWNh0_kxMYgNcT-LTyMV9Q5ibMeNsPSROkUSLQgR_iWgCYLik4rpPjVG6Z4vGPu-Xgys096leiDBS/s320/100_7771.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">And Lannacombe is where, after a nourishing lunch of cheese sandwich and homemade elderflower presse, we headed off to ...</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitt33oNnTsJwx2l2iLe9op5q_tURKZJhTR-1Qa-vCUDIXQmmnFlUVJvwjhwN82ENwqDPZblAZywLt2AJVkmvWRyT5-taVLm7wTPkAm02S_6DxXM51ewyP1ghDqjnNvvDzM0xh5aq9LuMpI/s1600/100_6933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitt33oNnTsJwx2l2iLe9op5q_tURKZJhTR-1Qa-vCUDIXQmmnFlUVJvwjhwN82ENwqDPZblAZywLt2AJVkmvWRyT5-taVLm7wTPkAm02S_6DxXM51ewyP1ghDqjnNvvDzM0xh5aq9LuMpI/s320/100_6933.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Ben loves to charge around pretending to be a pirate's dog (after all his kennel name is Mileoak <strong><em>Captain Jack</em></strong>!), whilst Amy is happy to simply sit in the sunshine and soak up the atmosphere (plus a large amount of seawater and sand into her fuzzy coat!) Feels like we've waited a long time for summer this year .. let's hope the warm weather continues now.</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-51601773550087898332010-07-06T14:35:00.005+01:002010-07-06T14:43:57.707+01:00Busy times in the village<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzQVxrdt4m_9UQ07zHF5rZp1v99R_4KK4ntBN4DtBbsDAwJ5CpSwbOTLkwdcPTnXrDKRilbdb4o_sMIHl3Jhg08ahejhRp9Rj4WJ39W1Jq8iAJbbc1DXwklLXPyUKrutCcEmSM0y-hjF9/s1600/strawb+ad.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490786482072042962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzQVxrdt4m_9UQ07zHF5rZp1v99R_4KK4ntBN4DtBbsDAwJ5CpSwbOTLkwdcPTnXrDKRilbdb4o_sMIHl3Jhg08ahejhRp9Rj4WJ39W1Jq8iAJbbc1DXwklLXPyUKrutCcEmSM0y-hjF9/s320/strawb+ad.jpg" /></a> We're all so busy at the moment! There seems to be a fete nearly every weekend, caravans have appeared all over the place and our gardens need all our care and attention if they're not to run riot when our backs are turned. Then of course, there are dogs to be walked - and in my case at least two separate walks a day - one very small and gentle one for Amy, who, since her nasty turn at the weekend can now only manage a few hundred yards - and as many vigorous expeditions as he can persuade me to agree to for Ben who is eager to demonstrate to all and sundry that he is young, fit and definitely the most handsome dog in the village (in his opinion!).</div><br /><div align="justify">I did wonder if it was kind to ask Amy to walk, even such a short distance, but on reflection I think it's better for her ... a little gentle exercise is good, and I'm anxious to keep her mind active, happy and involved... simply sitting on her bed is no sort of life - I think. Anyway, although she missed Stokenham fete last Saturday, it's Chillington's turn this week, and maybe, just maybe she might be fit enough to attend.</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Oh .. and the picture at the top ... I've been helping Green Jane out at her Pick your own farm - it's a very responsible role weighing the strawberries and taking the money. And ... she is paying me in fruit and veg - wonderful bliss. </div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-18277163926056363192010-06-16T16:51:00.005+01:002010-06-16T17:15:25.574+01:00If you go down to the woods today .....<div align="center">... you might have seen two large black bear-like dogs enjoying the fresh air and warm sunshine. We headed off to our woods, just 5 minutes walk from home.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSZBk4VNHmedqp3_0Ih9Sr2FdbnkrbJdTC7w3_Zra6q9ydo3j8s9aqNvuFiiusHb8yTtT1EGQ8SYI01E0g0x9Ai1aylYd9SL35osWWOaSfoy9fyvmfD8RQD6pbi4gzOooLoQ_WXtOpTzq/s1600/100_7503.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483402804437748866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSZBk4VNHmedqp3_0Ih9Sr2FdbnkrbJdTC7w3_Zra6q9ydo3j8s9aqNvuFiiusHb8yTtT1EGQ8SYI01E0g0x9Ai1aylYd9SL35osWWOaSfoy9fyvmfD8RQD6pbi4gzOooLoQ_WXtOpTzq/s320/100_7503.jpg" /></a> The sky was blue and the sun was shining when we reached the gate</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIZvRBw3gGRN3QX9h22yK1MAe2jomP4c5bZS20HXRll7Gjtm1QzzehaaewkNlp_33cw0dTdkCbMe1Bntb85hyMWfdzdiOHy2zeQndJqFJK-YTapneSRmgOIUFr-jpY6T0OZP6VYnF5Fg_/s1600/100_7504.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483402796295413874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIZvRBw3gGRN3QX9h22yK1MAe2jomP4c5bZS20HXRll7Gjtm1QzzehaaewkNlp_33cw0dTdkCbMe1Bntb85hyMWfdzdiOHy2zeQndJqFJK-YTapneSRmgOIUFr-jpY6T0OZP6VYnF5Fg_/s320/100_7504.jpg" /></a> Which way shall we go today?</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzkubqPf59eRLC0PvlfQWyg5gdhm17hmHKpoaQEcWBpriP2r2ILcmX_79zgTFgusXSOm9lAA3Gox88jZvSFjr1s8t0Dp84PGVTwrlAyxHLdNIFu0l5GstYlrIVMlfHvOBAvvNHO07plcM/s1600/100_7505.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483402787404557858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzkubqPf59eRLC0PvlfQWyg5gdhm17hmHKpoaQEcWBpriP2r2ILcmX_79zgTFgusXSOm9lAA3Gox88jZvSFjr1s8t0Dp84PGVTwrlAyxHLdNIFu0l5GstYlrIVMlfHvOBAvvNHO07plcM/s320/100_7505.jpg" /></a> Amy chooses the path ... but is quickly left behind.</p><p align="center"><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMTTz5f6Lb4LNMYvD-CMrkiSr3yWDjSa-4000eHf0vDrvTMZt7Ds2N8WfnFDOzL1R96SFN5abBjqCl7PrV_aoCVXQ_LlrSsBzuNYJZW4Ohqqr9Sa8lFJFlFNFl0MRw4_Yem6Ldk8s4_ou/s1600/100_7513.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483402783129781938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMTTz5f6Lb4LNMYvD-CMrkiSr3yWDjSa-4000eHf0vDrvTMZt7Ds2N8WfnFDOzL1R96SFN5abBjqCl7PrV_aoCVXQ_LlrSsBzuNYJZW4Ohqqr9Sa8lFJFlFNFl0MRw4_Yem6Ldk8s4_ou/s320/100_7513.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">Wait for me!! </p><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483401324249366754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic45T3E0W_kc5BToQY2gmBwFCxCVOLFDkHFP1TrKmtEjPRdBZvPeaQIllX05rNcQLQVdis5P-VqoCM6A95kAXosAFBjPzNc6UNqM7MCEi6fwD4UnWawyVx1vU1URvOpiM4-W-57nUgv3DE/s320/100_7534.jpg" />The orchid glade</p><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483401333391970418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5nI0eROvFjjGfh4UO92uk-rqWutAkv4V7WVULrCB8_N6dQoIMmJMO0Gxyqwf2Ik7EdPWcjrjiTkikuXSAOY0Mrd_I1-PLfNwfX9-hSdrfBTBwq8EAew7XxzZRsFU2nvlVgDRgpXmTTno/s320/100_7529.jpg" /> I think they're Lesser Spotted - the common sort - but very lovely anyway.</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJHwDYQsH84A5U3bDlIwxEsaiCZGAPMwyKYW2t86MT-bO8HOKZegXZ0VGXfKUwiMJsB-qF6yx7Xiy0vQG5JCLQ7pmnFRvM0PHhNaNtmr0Nrl8bAZDeVCg7Zk8vAlgvGidVYEvfzv7ri2-/s1600/100_7545.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483401318057549986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJHwDYQsH84A5U3bDlIwxEsaiCZGAPMwyKYW2t86MT-bO8HOKZegXZ0VGXfKUwiMJsB-qF6yx7Xiy0vQG5JCLQ7pmnFRvM0PHhNaNtmr0Nrl8bAZDeVCg7Zk8vAlgvGidVYEvfzv7ri2-/s320/100_7545.jpg" /></a> Come on girls! (Ben is such a poser)<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMG8o4esV12TlE2NX9rlCxbTLuPk7UQOnomMZyOPR_XlinDoqnnFCFwxioFXEBp-nK38Fq1sg-KYz7SXwWnU0iQhtiIMWVlxmaVsDVxIMYKg5X_tXYu34URPC6YokdAOrClruVJrgDorG/s1600/100_7553.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483401311283951362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMG8o4esV12TlE2NX9rlCxbTLuPk7UQOnomMZyOPR_XlinDoqnnFCFwxioFXEBp-nK38Fq1sg-KYz7SXwWnU0iQhtiIMWVlxmaVsDVxIMYKg5X_tXYu34URPC6YokdAOrClruVJrgDorG/s320/100_7553.jpg" /></a> Look - what's that? Is it a wolf?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGTSaH4J_QGmO4wQPcOachd07HUMw0a8k8BouPT0a0mmhmjT6LqLHGURSx-MHe7u4ox4peVP5WUii1BtX7KkmPaS0FzfgeQVdh1OaVuMjaj3uzg25AXNgOd7MG_Pahw4YFzQwRKnJSzdN/s1600/100_7558.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483401302434433266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGTSaH4J_QGmO4wQPcOachd07HUMw0a8k8BouPT0a0mmhmjT6LqLHGURSx-MHe7u4ox4peVP5WUii1BtX7KkmPaS0FzfgeQVdh1OaVuMjaj3uzg25AXNgOd7MG_Pahw4YFzQwRKnJSzdN/s320/100_7558.jpg" /></a> Last one home's a sissy!! </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="justify">A lovely, gentle afternoon's walk in the shady woods - perfect for Amy, though I think Ben will need another outing this evening!</div></div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-7458884869793067092010-06-13T13:16:00.009+01:002010-06-13T21:05:27.039+01:00Blissful Blossom!<div align="justify">When I first learned Amy was so ill I didn't think I'd want to carry on with this blog for a while - the idea of recording life during her final months seemed simply too painful. But now, having lived with the knowledge of her illness for the past couple of months, I feel differently. I want to keep a record of this, the very last summer the three of us will ever spend together, and make sure we enjoy every single moment. </div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482232201969644578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMGk_DCBK9JGdtwZpWR6Ua-WfnaGuvjL6ijGqpwpxXH-cKomR9GrMpF0TGCCgWWM0tfaTgyRAmd7wDg70nO8_hu9Z4mcE4QWHRJVLHOrS_Cat6pDQqU69FzQ-6ncp0h5UrRnUNCuKtY7V/s320/amy.jpg" /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I think it's helped that she is keeping very well (the photo above was taken only a couple of days ago). She's on much stronger medication now which is controlling her pain and has recovered from her operation. She's returned to being the Amy I love so much and it's tempting to think that she'll be fine. But although vet is very pleased (and surprised) by her, he has warned me that I mustn't expect to keep her through the winter. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><para><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">So.... for the moment we are carrying on as normal ... and here in Coombe Leigh when the elderflowers are out normal means .... homemade elderflower cordial. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9iXNsHeTgJlxhpMg7Sbyx7uXUjSnrcbxaD2rhQoPvs4qt9vtRMuPUME-coL79xn2GCz2XtKh4rEYZ1NJmXEA9psWJ_SS-alWyei1TVMYU_g0lAtHunXMDs1cLbEy0d7v0BoN5wNfi0h6/s1600/elderflower+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 319px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482232196100755698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9iXNsHeTgJlxhpMg7Sbyx7uXUjSnrcbxaD2rhQoPvs4qt9vtRMuPUME-coL79xn2GCz2XtKh4rEYZ1NJmXEA9psWJ_SS-alWyei1TVMYU_g0lAtHunXMDs1cLbEy0d7v0BoN5wNfi0h6/s320/elderflower+1.jpg" /></a> We have our own in the garden. I don't pick them all - leaving some to become berries for the birds in the autumn, but I do gather a good few handfuls.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWrFSrKNfbYPEQagYHZEEZjwhyA6wh2RGWsWC4XH1tiA-McwIVV0Y9GoNUuKClxLQGeGz9DcKXPCnjn8IltAcUyn5S2DlaeF4tEXm-9p8XFJRw2OTE5MM8eJIcJn9SKjWwWVmi-dXIanu/s1600/elderflower+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482232191361888610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWrFSrKNfbYPEQagYHZEEZjwhyA6wh2RGWsWC4XH1tiA-McwIVV0Y9GoNUuKClxLQGeGz9DcKXPCnjn8IltAcUyn5S2DlaeF4tEXm-9p8XFJRw2OTE5MM8eJIcJn9SKjWwWVmi-dXIanu/s320/elderflower+2.jpg" /></a>For each pint of water add the juice and grated zest of a lemon, 1lb sugar, 2 teaspoons cider vinegar and a dozen heads of elderflower.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT08GqwDOdFkZfCNCiTOR-bii9Hw2uwK2JX0fbNt0IondXiry959vHewU4W2aBOwvqHZ7IVWg0oNNlsnM-OSP_atwHWEwfLhAfMm2EVggwh77HM5M6ybN8hZjDJDoao4FVsDJR8tL-kSDz/s1600/elderflower+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482232185692217042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT08GqwDOdFkZfCNCiTOR-bii9Hw2uwK2JX0fbNt0IondXiry959vHewU4W2aBOwvqHZ7IVWg0oNNlsnM-OSP_atwHWEwfLhAfMm2EVggwh77HM5M6ybN8hZjDJDoao4FVsDJR8tL-kSDz/s320/elderflower+3.jpg" /></a> Lemons always remind me of holidays in the Mediterranean ....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99C8MSlmfzi2J8nUpnK9lfe_0OCacqhnkKpL10nBtkAtaicpzzDGTTX2BolI9dVYYITwKGTAXoz2BkTgBpY8eVugjqhgNGMGHFlLJjtpqKxlEw41bRU14H7_9hvwKw-ZFino3ZMb3J_Rf/s1600/elderflower+4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482231601142601186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99C8MSlmfzi2J8nUpnK9lfe_0OCacqhnkKpL10nBtkAtaicpzzDGTTX2BolI9dVYYITwKGTAXoz2BkTgBpY8eVugjqhgNGMGHFlLJjtpqKxlEw41bRU14H7_9hvwKw-ZFino3ZMb3J_Rf/s320/elderflower+4.jpg" /></a> Can't be bothered to grate .. always grate my fingers! So I use a peeler instead. You have to boil the water and sugar together then pour the mixture onto the elderflowers, lemon and vinegar. Stir well ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBOUeVsp_quMfI210JynBXA6S6o4HbuWlQg96LtNX3Luuo3y978WY4_9ajauGNrSn-zPjsCg8Dj1Ay-z5yDwih7RT0nhDVyM6BRUXyNAt0TOtoxTP3Gho6eB8oXuHN0xZWSXnATRfvsYL/s1600/elderflower+5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482231594562612834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBOUeVsp_quMfI210JynBXA6S6o4HbuWlQg96LtNX3Luuo3y978WY4_9ajauGNrSn-zPjsCg8Dj1Ay-z5yDwih7RT0nhDVyM6BRUXyNAt0TOtoxTP3Gho6eB8oXuHN0xZWSXnATRfvsYL/s320/elderflower+5.jpg" /></a> Leave to infuse for 24 hours .. the kitchen smells wonderful!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Yc-oWxvWfSJVFtSfw4x8zSkz0uBGrgR4WhFQVwGsw2rKc52xCr5smMkIjgdofR4NXTBFFci1nFr9T4UOUB1zuASHieILkhNntUggWk2XCrE1zQhBflrTytTnA_BJ7KInbmnbGSSfbjtL/s1600/full+bottles.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482231582958831074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Yc-oWxvWfSJVFtSfw4x8zSkz0uBGrgR4WhFQVwGsw2rKc52xCr5smMkIjgdofR4NXTBFFci1nFr9T4UOUB1zuASHieILkhNntUggWk2XCrE1zQhBflrTytTnA_BJ7KInbmnbGSSfbjtL/s320/full+bottles.jpg" /></a>Then bottle in sterilised bottles. Yes, they are wine bottles .. it was no hardship to empty them ready for the elderflower! The cordial has to be kept refridgerated even before it's opened, but it does keep for up to 3 months in the fridge. The taste of summer! </div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-70634262729936361122010-06-11T16:34:00.008+01:002010-06-11T16:48:04.268+01:00In the garden..<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYdjSVOrFjdFG1NtRPAda47-gV7pt7JXiKdGXqtLQBPdd7JK5eRwsKh7Lb1rN7XcU-dtTZBK3nrWHuGElKOuV7kLLIb9V4KEuVs_zwlmu8Rv8r2rk_v44K3muskkseYjfwFPpOid_b0j4/s1600/100_7433.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481540816968089186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYdjSVOrFjdFG1NtRPAda47-gV7pt7JXiKdGXqtLQBPdd7JK5eRwsKh7Lb1rN7XcU-dtTZBK3nrWHuGElKOuV7kLLIb9V4KEuVs_zwlmu8Rv8r2rk_v44K3muskkseYjfwFPpOid_b0j4/s320/100_7433.jpg" /></a> It's been so nice to be outside over last few weeks. The newfies and I love to sit in the gazebo until quite late on these long, warm evenings, and then Ben and I often go for a final walk up through the woods whilst Amy snoozes gently on the cool slates of the courtyard. I love this time of year when everything seems so full of new life and potential. The lanes are especially lovely at present - although the bluebells are over, the cow parsley froths along the verges, ragged robin and willowherb peek through the grass and the dog-roses are just beginning to bloom in the hedgerows.<para><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">In the garden we have geraniums in the old stone trough ....</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481540802511726178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhP7ZOrSK1kmNdM-MwB0-eX1tlQ7ZTeQ2hZ84mDKXzbBuRxponL82x8eleUcl75hrBa9cjXaTcdxGxHdVtoHzctEQQ39p45sHEVT3hsby6gK2Qcumxm-kdX8jeeQtHQWRJSP6UIBmP7Sh2/s320/100_7445.jpg" /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Sweet peas and scabious in the apple crates...</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481540791260124626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SLAuwTk1s67EiP2DMBNwloCxSc7jSVTlEjUJ1L4NE5beLCOaqoMrml1guPRkMhP1srSVdO4GYhw0c2x13n55LlipPtfn7LaGctfh7TfqNWXSGujDEhml2nc47JmJLdg1K-YHVMePOGKO/s320/100_7446.jpg" />and a newfoundland dog in the lavender ....(!)</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4u9_XIKZiXv99NzhJrh8Al5A-sLrhc8KU2qZeZtEfGzDGZDzyT2l2gJJ9Vmi-g_znkeUFKObqhyQMaYm3cRYNqSEhmDyttZbpFQRnqUsBvzmWrm495JkZ1VicXFF5BYn5a1NrkJzgh1eZ/s1600/100_7424.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481540809097228354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4u9_XIKZiXv99NzhJrh8Al5A-sLrhc8KU2qZeZtEfGzDGZDzyT2l2gJJ9Vmi-g_znkeUFKObqhyQMaYm3cRYNqSEhmDyttZbpFQRnqUsBvzmWrm495JkZ1VicXFF5BYn5a1NrkJzgh1eZ/s320/100_7424.jpg" /></a>Yes, it's Amy .... if it had been Ben it would have been an action shot of him crashing THROUGH the lavender. Happy days !!</div></div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-39592462917731121262010-06-06T10:42:00.004+01:002010-06-06T10:54:33.186+01:00Amy is ten today!!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELDPwADH-Z1tybj25Dlq7-2Kii0OJr38O-eFQAHjJI0AdvaEESCxKAm4zcUUy-DoxnE9rMfz1oUQQ9Ey5i07tSBtTyWzubHe9Q_WlBF0t5H6kmlikouD7kfAJbbLVZpopxaIpxxAXGmW4/s1600/102_6430.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479596366726056658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELDPwADH-Z1tybj25Dlq7-2Kii0OJr38O-eFQAHjJI0AdvaEESCxKAm4zcUUy-DoxnE9rMfz1oUQQ9Ey5i07tSBtTyWzubHe9Q_WlBF0t5H6kmlikouD7kfAJbbLVZpopxaIpxxAXGmW4/s320/102_6430.jpg" /></a><span style="color:#990000;"> Happy Birthday Amy- 1o today!!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#990000;">Seem here with my daughter - one of her biggest fans</span>.</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-29274529979314528262010-05-23T20:26:00.003+01:002010-05-23T20:45:45.532+01:00Bluebells and the beach!!<div align="justify">Amy has been put on stronger medication and as a consequence is feeling much more like her old self again. Her operation wound has now fully healed and so we decided to go to the beach. It was just like old times .... the excitement barely contained... the anxious lookings out of the car windows ..... the exuberance when the road to Mill Bay was recognised ... and then .. the rolling on the sand in sheer joy at being alive and on the BEACH!!!<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PLwNay2RswYSDJC_qDN7gcV45fPATp25iF3KUicrzYLNJIQ15-g2jUWUVFN25GlVxH3KJIdgj2phmlwrBzRYjvD1aCb67gJNoxgcgQbq2PxBDBD4dzC3EZsK16q_amqCANGc2z8JmHFz/s1600/100_7044.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474551261741592834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PLwNay2RswYSDJC_qDN7gcV45fPATp25iF3KUicrzYLNJIQ15-g2jUWUVFN25GlVxH3KJIdgj2phmlwrBzRYjvD1aCb67gJNoxgcgQbq2PxBDBD4dzC3EZsK16q_amqCANGc2z8JmHFz/s320/100_7044.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSxvpG8oiic0F8rWxv0QUB6UfhCQvrhFI-8NAjsiiXbqN7uiJxu2YGavd8h6EOHw5gqo62E3MLHrABVDWSORUix2gWJmafVIjkxYM7kxoAMACJUG2M7OjuZGGt8eVqSrYnTaB4r-hk9lF/s1600/100_7054.jpg"></a>Then of course there had to be swimming .....<br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6jvLJBOy4_pSzqrkIOtzeVr3z3eZdLSGpui8DAog8lCOvj79ZLWamI_g2Be86U7tQUd2VaCOrfvsvSKSHPQnhQD5KPbPOvu5FayfC0xD76foIHfK41ZaTsnSgjrvghzsjzKtHAGvM9KC/s1600/100_7062.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474551245613532706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6jvLJBOy4_pSzqrkIOtzeVr3z3eZdLSGpui8DAog8lCOvj79ZLWamI_g2Be86U7tQUd2VaCOrfvsvSKSHPQnhQD5KPbPOvu5FayfC0xD76foIHfK41ZaTsnSgjrvghzsjzKtHAGvM9KC/s320/100_7062.jpg" /></a><br />But soon the old lady was tired .... she can only manage about 20 minutes or so now ... so she was told to wait in the car, parked in some lovely cool shade, while Ben and I went off to look at the bluebells. After all, she couldn't manage <a href="http://http//notesfromadevonvillage.blogspot.com/2009/05/tiptoe-through-bluebells.html">this walk last year</a>, so I know it's impossible for her now.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2s3A_MN6iZNEWd7t1B5hinYXCmUlDsympgwnGgLvMoIHcjNZdHMcMT2U953YR92GCvfeZ6JPG8On5cq5xcp2VsNCeEVblHM3ZviimKFZbsT8QQtxDP_GYjdh300dfayg-3pl3jEudRPf/s1600/100_7064.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474551238706801714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2s3A_MN6iZNEWd7t1B5hinYXCmUlDsympgwnGgLvMoIHcjNZdHMcMT2U953YR92GCvfeZ6JPG8On5cq5xcp2VsNCeEVblHM3ZviimKFZbsT8QQtxDP_GYjdh300dfayg-3pl3jEudRPf/s320/100_7064.jpg" /></a> She watched us go ...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeqJJ4lMgMk6yXWGGR1RFfd-vMA3nie2Z027UCekhith8z8cIpyk5XH8xAwb3hHgozqBwdP0EjqZfd6l0798gKS0_v9JXbheVnviK5eHAI4bnZEF_e_qHUgsY8lrbb3DwkNPsH-5ZqZF6/s1600/100_7071.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474551229498233314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeqJJ4lMgMk6yXWGGR1RFfd-vMA3nie2Z027UCekhith8z8cIpyk5XH8xAwb3hHgozqBwdP0EjqZfd6l0798gKS0_v9JXbheVnviK5eHAI4bnZEF_e_qHUgsY8lrbb3DwkNPsH-5ZqZF6/s320/100_7071.jpg" /></a> You can't tell how steep the path is here - but it is VERY steep indeed. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lW_0tV-qy8PPd754OSfJJMtgqAlfLOlKbMqumhc1BupOiYYQTJ0w3hgWw4yemkzz0CZGjjeU-9IiLF0ivh2cLKgUWlO1lbFyn0c46Cej91VZq1bkOBpT4VHIeHg3WqrwwetWewBNRuS7/s1600/100_7086.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474550324121323426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lW_0tV-qy8PPd754OSfJJMtgqAlfLOlKbMqumhc1BupOiYYQTJ0w3hgWw4yemkzz0CZGjjeU-9IiLF0ivh2cLKgUWlO1lbFyn0c46Cej91VZq1bkOBpT4VHIeHg3WqrwwetWewBNRuS7/s320/100_7086.jpg" /></a> It's worth it when you reach the top .... the bluebells were lovely ... but we were only just in time I think, another week and they'll be over.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XiNzf_8Ttsq9hUAPrnTVcFZAq-SQwI6L0UczSKsOSa3L38hZJHSUXKG6i06SajjttqPokwpNJza-rn45y2xs_7ySicjAMPJD3H16rwuvF_tmQT55nM1yxyV4UdgtUUcZT7chciGqog9k/s1600/100_7108.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474550311375126066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XiNzf_8Ttsq9hUAPrnTVcFZAq-SQwI6L0UczSKsOSa3L38hZJHSUXKG6i06SajjttqPokwpNJza-rn45y2xs_7ySicjAMPJD3H16rwuvF_tmQT55nM1yxyV4UdgtUUcZT7chciGqog9k/s320/100_7108.jpg" /></a> But so, so beautiful .. these are the true English bluebells, much more delicate than the cultivated Spanish bluebells, and a much deeper, richer blue.. carpets stretching away up the hill ...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLA242kx2RypK4SIwtsbe2jL7fevbNXOYn3YyGNqcgqmWGs4VOYkS_j2SmT12Ce4hJbeyruoKNvNBnSfDDyfsQCVzdiX6BI_svwkY2amChZ9uGMXCpk7QDCDV8f2uKXR3k1Jd7sJaFdOG/s1600/100_7117.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474550298638570594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLA242kx2RypK4SIwtsbe2jL7fevbNXOYn3YyGNqcgqmWGs4VOYkS_j2SmT12Ce4hJbeyruoKNvNBnSfDDyfsQCVzdiX6BI_svwkY2amChZ9uGMXCpk7QDCDV8f2uKXR3k1Jd7sJaFdOG/s320/100_7117.jpg" /></a> And the view back along the beach where we walked with Amy earlier.....<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfYwXgX3E2ZLu8ozmSHJ1J-DeE5J5vmNTkDAxVTB-UJ0fEdaddpWb301oHeI6cwICux7nyOBxyG15mgjCcEx5cnyo2SVY-VE2uKfSFlrPFI-8VBWR3uf4Nip6PHvn0dlXziCJ1OaefHSK/s1600/100_7118.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474550294245257538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfYwXgX3E2ZLu8ozmSHJ1J-DeE5J5vmNTkDAxVTB-UJ0fEdaddpWb301oHeI6cwICux7nyOBxyG15mgjCcEx5cnyo2SVY-VE2uKfSFlrPFI-8VBWR3uf4Nip6PHvn0dlXziCJ1OaefHSK/s320/100_7118.jpg" /></a> A truly glorious afternoon. And so nice to be out with Amy again. The vet is very pleased with her, he's talking about the possibility of her being with us for the summer ... that would be wonderful ... keep your fingers crossed for her.</div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-57264971739137861752010-04-23T19:23:00.006+01:002010-04-23T19:37:15.586+01:00A summer morning ...<div align="justify">Found this account in one of my notebooks when having a bit of a spring clean. Jotted it down a couple of years ago ... tells the story of an early summer's morning here at Coombe Leigh when Ben was still very young and Amy was still fairly active.... </div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463400991487714978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8q_SqtApzg_pRbhsypfFlyZpXhXPFARf2aPWAYo7sbgCM7A6TfVO7y6-7gwyZqpKwHBCa_MuEoOxK_CkkoM0AW4pONuY2zWoCdfJSNLCT7T5a8AGgRjTS1joUXYgGRIbFP3FDN0-USnUh/s400/100_3403.jpg" />Wake early, sunlight streaming through the crack in the bedroom curtains. A light breeze, sounds of birdsong - a bright sparkly morning early in summer. A morning to leap out of bed - no more snuggling under the covers, that's for dark, damp November mornings. Now it's June and the world outside is calling ... come on out and join us.</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">So I swing my legs round, feet to the floor, and tiptoe across the bedroom. Mustn't wake the dogs yet ... try to get dressed first - but no - Ben has the ears of a bat and he hears the tiny noises I make on my way to the bathroom. A large, black, furry face appears at the top of the stairs, eyes bright with love and anticipation. Downstairs I hear Amy stretch and yawn - the game's afoot and my cover's blown. So I dress as quickly as possible - canvas trousers and cotton shirt - thrust my feet into a pair of well worn sandals, forget to brush my hair - and we're ready to go .... </div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Downstairs a squirming mass of dog-flesh awaits me. Eyes bright with excitement, pink tongues lolling and tails quivering. I struggle past them to grab their leads from the hook. "OK dogs," I tell them, "we're off!" Immediately excitement turns to frenzy and Ben leaps through the door as soon as it's opened - then in his mischievous way waits for Amy to lumber up the steps, then pounces on her. Having put a stop to his nonsense and helped the old lady up the stairs, I pause to take a deep lungful of the fresh, cool air. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojixSp5N-gFtkoJpXYPqRwEi_K6g7VKkMTXXFGeh3YWPVCDheqYkhGwNwKJgBBZcMhqYSglkKD2j7Kzj-mNxunzLQHOMv1LooFq6O5gR-_t24gybH_VMlS3IFQZ42oWgwfy7wmkKlILkv/s1600/100_3429.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463403267990843682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojixSp5N-gFtkoJpXYPqRwEi_K6g7VKkMTXXFGeh3YWPVCDheqYkhGwNwKJgBBZcMhqYSglkKD2j7Kzj-mNxunzLQHOMv1LooFq6O5gR-_t24gybH_VMlS3IFQZ42oWgwfy7wmkKlILkv/s400/100_3429.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify">This is, I think, the best part of the day ..... a new beginning, full of potential - let's swim!!</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-88095940020655430672010-04-23T19:10:00.003+01:002010-04-23T19:16:19.828+01:00Happy Birthday Ben!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXWD9UNr4c0n3E2wrLstiljxLDUNS8udEd7WpEV71CAdsSG1hyuwp22mNOTm7LKmeaHNPSUxXo5CpreIzhvzq1Bzi1_qG86_68qnVdyH-ZsZnqaPnyKLH-s681nKxZtKx1-oAQEzGcHwI/s1600/102_6539.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463398294957924482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXWD9UNr4c0n3E2wrLstiljxLDUNS8udEd7WpEV71CAdsSG1hyuwp22mNOTm7LKmeaHNPSUxXo5CpreIzhvzq1Bzi1_qG86_68qnVdyH-ZsZnqaPnyKLH-s681nKxZtKx1-oAQEzGcHwI/s400/102_6539.jpg" /></a> <div align="center">3 years old today</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-18750487267850226532010-04-11T14:45:00.005+01:002010-04-11T14:56:50.993+01:00Some stories just have to be told ....<div align="center">"Hey Mum, look at me! Look! LOOK!!" </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BCZL4JMICdYw5Og8NcKsKrnqQfYyjd2g2PW5K2M_MGzw7HY65_2_xwM17WX9bYbkymUNnvtlNu7ZQTGhVPI2ErrFE4WRsyuZYJQ_PR2w_gEyViR3fO2ZiqeJGI_5RCfvpXQhjP7UtKrJ/s1600/hey+mum.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458876805112116018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BCZL4JMICdYw5Og8NcKsKrnqQfYyjd2g2PW5K2M_MGzw7HY65_2_xwM17WX9bYbkymUNnvtlNu7ZQTGhVPI2ErrFE4WRsyuZYJQ_PR2w_gEyViR3fO2ZiqeJGI_5RCfvpXQhjP7UtKrJ/s400/hey+mum.jpg" /></a> "My fur has patterns like yours! Don't I look great? Aren't I handsome!! Look at me Mum! MUM!!"<br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6TLe4oC1nKgdY0XJojfHe3u6ho-AVAK_bChdj7UCSomphr2LWyC9eI_ugVhPY15eZ_p4ITgPWvMGAq58Zgglr9VMFSQDVYkoEui2-FaIBKo3HiF0e7ETIK442PUssIwSq819ieXYVEkJ/s1600/painted+ben.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458876815667259042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6TLe4oC1nKgdY0XJojfHe3u6ho-AVAK_bChdj7UCSomphr2LWyC9eI_ugVhPY15eZ_p4ITgPWvMGAq58Zgglr9VMFSQDVYkoEui2-FaIBKo3HiF0e7ETIK442PUssIwSq819ieXYVEkJ/s400/painted+ben.jpg" /></a> "The boy's a fool!" thinks Amy</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwWIALCSn0T_2fnTkSb0q84Np6CFAXX9ZEtuMfTu142fGFM5fzoplqBSSrGBZuGqrR0L1YpyYw8LmnSHO7_QSY84fgaEGhv07XkWbHdzDY6pqlvId1nX5EmpZwjYFieXM8AYdBHN_HOpc/s1600/fool+says+amy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 326px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458876823140235858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwWIALCSn0T_2fnTkSb0q84Np6CFAXX9ZEtuMfTu142fGFM5fzoplqBSSrGBZuGqrR0L1YpyYw8LmnSHO7_QSY84fgaEGhv07XkWbHdzDY6pqlvId1nX5EmpZwjYFieXM8AYdBHN_HOpc/s400/fool+says+amy.jpg" /></a><br />Some stories just have to be told! </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">And the moral is ... don't let your dog help with the painting. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Amy is doing OK, very lethargic as you can see from the photos, but still enjoying her life albeit at a very slow pace. </div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-55361024895487159052010-04-04T18:03:00.003+01:002010-04-04T18:14:31.398+01:00Taking a break ...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYpzWYH4Huq4nyYNFSNgX-ktHoVaKWRrsWQu0oObbgIiY5xFRXQQn64QOfVOV6GWW4QKPbUrkUkg_tmCvSqnzA1tp7LjVF800dhPOUeOpQtduyZKFfAOBZmGIKDBVAPtS_qV6IolBSGjk/s1600/blog7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456330532115471586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYpzWYH4Huq4nyYNFSNgX-ktHoVaKWRrsWQu0oObbgIiY5xFRXQQn64QOfVOV6GWW4QKPbUrkUkg_tmCvSqnzA1tp7LjVF800dhPOUeOpQtduyZKFfAOBZmGIKDBVAPtS_qV6IolBSGjk/s400/blog7.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I won't be here for a little while. This is because just at the moment I can't bring myself to blog about life with newfies. I am expecting very soon to have only one newfie as Amy is very very ill. She won't be with me for very much longer - and yes, that's definite.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCHAmiiu3dFbir-NVv6XbgDiD8prm6-2SDpPmCgUtwX0FxMyrSck_vsGmrILtqbNn7EZWcqf2cITbzZtFbKT8l1al7QPpS__5rLDqvtnq-hyGoeiazbPPSuXCbkyxOCCx1el1hI3XpLKW/s1600/100_2380.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456330595569712962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCHAmiiu3dFbir-NVv6XbgDiD8prm6-2SDpPmCgUtwX0FxMyrSck_vsGmrILtqbNn7EZWcqf2cITbzZtFbKT8l1al7QPpS__5rLDqvtnq-hyGoeiazbPPSuXCbkyxOCCx1el1hI3XpLKW/s400/100_2380.JPG" /></a></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">She has hemangiosarcoma - a particularly aggressive form of canine cancer with a prognosis of 1 - 2 months. So Ben and I need to come to terms with saying goodbye to her ladyship. I don't know how either of us will manage without her ... Ben in particular has never known life without his "mum." The picture above was taken in his very early days. Even then he had to copy and do exactly as Amy did. We're concentrating on making sure her last few weeks are happy ones and we'll be back later in the year.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxTXdx5seMYbkjC2Qsn_Yzg7Wy4C2EFTW8zGX8Q8FxFBw6Xzfjh_Wm9UQiyZdV-ei1FRmF166qHYmaptPb8tT-MMgG__yALNwzkSDyN8o6d2IwA6Lai2ML7fxOYm_u6v2uuLO_z_wdomO/s1600/100_3358.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456330619870035250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxTXdx5seMYbkjC2Qsn_Yzg7Wy4C2EFTW8zGX8Q8FxFBw6Xzfjh_Wm9UQiyZdV-ei1FRmF166qHYmaptPb8tT-MMgG__yALNwzkSDyN8o6d2IwA6Lai2ML7fxOYm_u6v2uuLO_z_wdomO/s400/100_3358.jpg" /></a>See you soon .... and you can still catch me on <a href="http://www.bustleandsew.blogspot.com/">Bustle and Sew</a> if you're into crafty goodness.....Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-67792295848807624222010-03-01T09:19:00.006+00:002010-03-01T09:46:12.349+00:00History on a shelf ...<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf39WAxcw26-Sy3kE2yQ1vQG9iO1FZ-DOPtU4S5sa9M_dcwBHI6wekLpaKrZ0E7PxeCaywdai_DMmCLKHFU4ey4wkkVu-yTLwhuHu-hNPFZXfgWEGL_xaffu4TaXJ1KnHQLlO20oU5RmU/s1600-h/mantlepiece.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 419px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 189px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443593954417405586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf39WAxcw26-Sy3kE2yQ1vQG9iO1FZ-DOPtU4S5sa9M_dcwBHI6wekLpaKrZ0E7PxeCaywdai_DMmCLKHFU4ey4wkkVu-yTLwhuHu-hNPFZXfgWEGL_xaffu4TaXJ1KnHQLlO20oU5RmU/s400/mantlepiece.jpg" /></a> So glad the forecast storm missed us here in Devon, but so sorry about the devastation caused in France .. and the Chilean earthquake too - the news is all bad at present it seems. It's at times like this that I retreat indoors to snuggle down safely within my own home. Last night, just before I switched off the bedside lamp my attention was caught by the bright vase of daffodils on the mantlepiece. I then took the time to really look at the items on there and realised that they were part of my history, with so many memories attached to them.....</div><br />Here they are from left to right...<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#336666;">Moongazing hare</span></em> was bought for me by Townie Husband on one of our first trips to Devon. We weren't in the South Hams, but stopped for tea up on Exmoor. I saw this little hare in a gift shop and he went back to buy for me as a surprise present.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#336666;"><em>Hyacinth embroidery </em></span><span style="color:#000000;">was <a href="http://www.bustleandsew.blogspot.com/">created by me </a>in February as I loved the bulb I had planted in a teacup so much.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#336666;"><em>Crown floral china </em></span><span style="color:#000000;">is my most recent purchase. We went to Dartmouth on Saturday afternoon. While husband was watching the rugby I took the opportunity to wander around the town and popped into the little antiques market. I was very taken with the antique hyacinth glasses, but my bulbs are all over now ... and then I spotted this piece of china. Amazingly it is not damaged at all. I think it probably dates back to the 1930s - the green pot seems the right colour for that era. I think the colours are wonderful and it looks great on the mantlepiece. Note to self - must remember to dust it well!</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#336666;">Jar of sea glass or mermaids' tears</span></em> as these pieces are sometimes called. These memories are too many to count, all mixed up together - our local beaches - hot and crowded in summer, bleak and beautiful in winter, tides in and out, dogs running - Susie, Ben and Amy - Rosie and her boyfriend, paddling in wellies, in bare feet .... too many to count and all stored away in one jar of glass.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#336666;">Moonphase pewter clock</span></em> was a treat to myself when I first came here. I spotted it in a little shop in Kingsbridge and one day ..... well, it's important to know whether the tides are spring or neap!!</div><br /><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#336666;">Dartmouth pottery jug</span> </em>- from Dartmouth of course!! There is so much Dartmouth pottery here, and I love these seagull pieces. In the jug are some early daffodils from Greenjane. She is a local grower who supplies many of our restaurants with beautiful fresh vegetables, flowers and eggs throughout the year. She now supplies our Lunch Club and the cabbages are so fresh they squeak when you cut them!!</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#336666;">Silver plated shell</span></em> - brought back from a holiday in Cephalonia. That was the year I got prickly heat and all my exposed extremities were covered in itchy red bumps. Not a good look! But the shell is lovely.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#336666;"><em>Birthday boat!</em></span> Made by a local potter (who has since retired) for my husband's 50th birthday. He was in denial which is why the boat reads "49+"! </div><p>History on a shelf. And Amy is better again! So life is good here in Coombe Leigh. </p>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-33171772931498196552010-02-14T17:44:00.003+00:002010-02-14T17:49:32.616+00:00On the mend ...<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVWiMNIDyWN6KZ723VNgJRqmjIeQ4GL-wlOz_wCezJMt1IShQiZdiL0jDZoRxMuDcDUe3XuqcTweu_QWDZs3tDeXI-bSe3oAzrxCw4KQfWRDpMlhZLUzAnSTMY9AprylBPae3ZD9gag68/s1600-h/15+Train+home.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438156717455789026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVWiMNIDyWN6KZ723VNgJRqmjIeQ4GL-wlOz_wCezJMt1IShQiZdiL0jDZoRxMuDcDUe3XuqcTweu_QWDZs3tDeXI-bSe3oAzrxCw4KQfWRDpMlhZLUzAnSTMY9AprylBPae3ZD9gag68/s320/15+Train+home.jpg" /></a> Update from Chillington Animal Hospital .... her ladyship is on the mend. Amy has indicated that a little white fish poached in milk, possibly some minced steak and some of her favourite doggy choc biscuits would be well received. She has also managed a gentle walk down to the playing field and back. </div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-23004930375999778562010-02-11T19:36:00.005+00:002010-02-11T19:50:15.418+00:00Get well soon Amy!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lh56kUeOxL6f2DGCO2YKU6tAe4B_ygdmNbGT55MBKt8oBPrBpAqUQiE7LmXwUu1Rr8xlg7Kxb35-G3Pi3V2zwf0T-wwU7xrgOwVkn2wufQlfeK_z1NDf9odBBSczZ8HTcBkR55p7ho1o/s1600-h/Amy+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437075184338691922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lh56kUeOxL6f2DGCO2YKU6tAe4B_ygdmNbGT55MBKt8oBPrBpAqUQiE7LmXwUu1Rr8xlg7Kxb35-G3Pi3V2zwf0T-wwU7xrgOwVkn2wufQlfeK_z1NDf9odBBSczZ8HTcBkR55p7ho1o/s320/Amy+1.jpg" /></a><br />Amy is not well. She has hurt her back and simply lies on her bed whimpering in spite of the vet's best efforts. She reminds me now of the picture I took when I first had her ....<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeL7O7aGSrFQTV8ZdZ3QwQMiqpKsvnyqJkrHUz96yXh0Muex5P5CDtLA9qvjTGwoS-8R0eQWNIP-Kic-dWl3kVgxbSoFFY0QHtgBjcjtPnFec1LTh-nDlJcKuHuYQ9Xjd2_WsGevn_ujP8/s1600-h/100_1896.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437072684147210914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeL7O7aGSrFQTV8ZdZ3QwQMiqpKsvnyqJkrHUz96yXh0Muex5P5CDtLA9qvjTGwoS-8R0eQWNIP-Kic-dWl3kVgxbSoFFY0QHtgBjcjtPnFec1LTh-nDlJcKuHuYQ9Xjd2_WsGevn_ujP8/s320/100_1896.JPG" /></a>That was 4 years ago .. her coat was such a mess that it had to be clipped very short and she was so unhappy with life - this photo tells the whole story.</div><div></div><br /><div>But these days she's not in any pain with her crippled legs and is a great favourite in the village, taking a starring role at the village fete with her own stall .. "Guess the weight of the dog." Here she is with a young friend at last year's fete...<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxmPRC4Faw7LR4xjuhrnJ-FyhAFE3NksnZqR3ZWBVpKdGJHTnDGbs-4AcFyhaV375x7rmAvDlgcCFEHLKqntNbhSE8z9ZugUU5Gp6sEKQRBNlrjMzDh3spltk-ql63Hmoj7abNQAhGd4A/s1600-h/100_4982.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437073883519859362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxmPRC4Faw7LR4xjuhrnJ-FyhAFE3NksnZqR3ZWBVpKdGJHTnDGbs-4AcFyhaV375x7rmAvDlgcCFEHLKqntNbhSE8z9ZugUU5Gp6sEKQRBNlrjMzDh3spltk-ql63Hmoj7abNQAhGd4A/s320/100_4982.jpg" /></a><br />Now not even a gentle push of Ben's nose can make her smile. The vet says she will get better with plenty of rest and love. Hmmm.... she did manage to nibble on a little chopped chicken tonight... perhaps she's turned the corner. Get well soon Amy!<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBhKJaNxI6QKr1GULQTxYu06aE5enDercb9X-zSEHg4DxqGb42bFn7WuqlCxdwI6z-S0wUFh93GWB98MYyT7b7ukLpKQanT-hxxLLRtPzpZThG4h_SFfWEnBm9-9nOyOC5GH7X-6bNnqS/s1600-h/100_3644.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437072690153358306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBhKJaNxI6QKr1GULQTxYu06aE5enDercb9X-zSEHg4DxqGb42bFn7WuqlCxdwI6z-S0wUFh93GWB98MYyT7b7ukLpKQanT-hxxLLRtPzpZThG4h_SFfWEnBm9-9nOyOC5GH7X-6bNnqS/s320/100_3644.jpg" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-41881864266540031372010-02-07T20:23:00.008+00:002010-02-07T20:54:34.150+00:00A weekend away .... and a walk at Blackdown Rings<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9D89lMPpzLaUYc4YbaXjh6KF6dvN47fxDK2s1hHNrrKgpPs55Leb4QCTXsf8u8Zyi4zIojTxATXQm-ApaawFblH01K8xTHhzNpseq-VQ_F1iqHbjFkIbNItrDwj9wk5y1pShLZ8k_30c/s1600-h/100_6065.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435603068773989122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9D89lMPpzLaUYc4YbaXjh6KF6dvN47fxDK2s1hHNrrKgpPs55Leb4QCTXsf8u8Zyi4zIojTxATXQm-ApaawFblH01K8xTHhzNpseq-VQ_F1iqHbjFkIbNItrDwj9wk5y1pShLZ8k_30c/s320/100_6065.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify">It takes a very special occasion to lure me back into a big city, but last weekend was Rosie's 21st birthday, so to Bristol I went. The ungrateful canine pair went happily off to their <a href="http://http//notesfromadevonvillage.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html">luxury holiday accommodation </a>(not even a casual wave of a paw as they fell over each other in their haste to enter their temporary abode - huh - after all I do for them!) Then, after spending the night in a strangely empty and unhomelike house I boarded the Cross Country train at Totnes. The actual journey is only an hour and a half, and the section of route where the train runs alongside the sea at Dawlish is magical - a treat in itself.</div><br /><div align="justify">The hustle and bustle at Bristol station is always slightly disconcerting to a country dweller like myself, but over the past few years I've learned to navigate the tunnels and stairs with confidence, soon locating Townie Husband just outside the ticket barriers. Then into a taxi to be whisked off to our hotel at Avonmouth - overlooking the famous suspension bridge.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Clifton village yielded an interesting afternoon's shopping (me) and one or two nice pubs (him)<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD01lK4EL-HyMh-yr9Srfn4Xl_AROMdyImKW5tJuXe3ubgBg47b5Z-LyBhiEqMIyG_LTVA0-EP5tuftw7USJ1q9EB3VTmkLzubsXbJdnLsjaqF3dJIDFtU1voErLCuSAFP75fkStqqGRgZ/s1600-h/100_6046.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435600377550142370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD01lK4EL-HyMh-yr9Srfn4Xl_AROMdyImKW5tJuXe3ubgBg47b5Z-LyBhiEqMIyG_LTVA0-EP5tuftw7USJ1q9EB3VTmkLzubsXbJdnLsjaqF3dJIDFtU1voErLCuSAFP75fkStqqGRgZ/s320/100_6046.jpg" /></a> A florist's shop. Great to take a photo, but the prices of the blooms were, I thought, horrifyingly steep. Still, guess these are city prices....</div><br />Then came the sightseeing. A very exotic resident was spotted enjoying the view - spot the golden giraffe below!!<br /></div><div align="justify"></div><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M0E6EQ-Vm75y7hjUkX2eaMgsWJzkFsH3qiEIqzbTSVrb7Ci1j_g9cqvFFURd6FrNbaOGXcybDddchFcwGjacAlNYrEtlcHe6U2s4HCKNHWali2AI19hLhQ9U0YilN2Ogd3ck5QfI5fZj/s1600-h/100_6056.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435600387592050930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M0E6EQ-Vm75y7hjUkX2eaMgsWJzkFsH3qiEIqzbTSVrb7Ci1j_g9cqvFFURd6FrNbaOGXcybDddchFcwGjacAlNYrEtlcHe6U2s4HCKNHWali2AI19hLhQ9U0YilN2Ogd3ck5QfI5fZj/s320/100_6056.jpg" /></a>The view was well worth enjoying - it's hard to imagine how 19th century engineers could construct such a bridge without the machinery we have today. And indeed, how Isambard Kingdom Brunel could conceive such a design - after all it was created to take horses and carriages over the Avon Gorge, but today carries many thousands of cars across the gap.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRs71nel8RCHchyphenhyphensaA9QVxczEe9PM5q2W8vV6-rluEmxFF5T9GPIrtJFy9O7Yzhamn-l9TybhzerIzhq_sbiQsyazjqo_9f_quVks7tSC-C6IDLIu7ZLNBxseaP1CosRveiIPGr-nWBsiK/s1600-h/100_6067.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435600389254813186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRs71nel8RCHchyphenhyphensaA9QVxczEe9PM5q2W8vV6-rluEmxFF5T9GPIrtJFy9O7Yzhamn-l9TybhzerIzhq_sbiQsyazjqo_9f_quVks7tSC-C6IDLIu7ZLNBxseaP1CosRveiIPGr-nWBsiK/s320/100_6067.jpg" /></a> Clifton Bridge and the Avon Gorge</p><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRJHSnX0dD1DqPKE8EhAQ8vF31VtgYDnLs0855YGZigb1j7iCZz89j1_FASmNO-A_EkCVnBmAHN7e47Jyr0ogu2qpEgDIFU1PTUrD9hz6qNK89Au19FDiyXvoutOERb48tlrVth8z-yxu/s1600-h/100_6102_00.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435604898290948290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRJHSnX0dD1DqPKE8EhAQ8vF31VtgYDnLs0855YGZigb1j7iCZz89j1_FASmNO-A_EkCVnBmAHN7e47Jyr0ogu2qpEgDIFU1PTUrD9hz6qNK89Au19FDiyXvoutOERb48tlrVth8z-yxu/s320/100_6102_00.jpg" /></a><br />Then yesterday I took the dogs up to Blackdown Rings. It's an Iron Age Hill Fort, on top of which a Norman motte and bailey castle was constructed. The views across the countryside are stupendous, though the hill itself doesn't appear very high from below. It's a great walk as Amy can potter alongside me while Ben can charge around playing at being a Saxon hunting dog (or something similar). And there were no sheep yesterday either which meant I could relax too.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">When we've had a lot of rain the ditches fill with clear, cold peaty water which the dogs love to splash around in .....</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwI1mO7rs9QnsFiyJhhUKrjfipOctpdfLKO4glqlCwV_BwMP6pnenWh4btDsyfhQegirSg3tmL9xlMY9XI6d9_enpIDtpm8-9cg3Kdou4_eeO9mUviG8Pl0iUEcmy8M8p5AjHRHl_VepV/s1600-h/100_6108.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435604904437837746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwI1mO7rs9QnsFiyJhhUKrjfipOctpdfLKO4glqlCwV_BwMP6pnenWh4btDsyfhQegirSg3tmL9xlMY9XI6d9_enpIDtpm8-9cg3Kdou4_eeO9mUviG8Pl0iUEcmy8M8p5AjHRHl_VepV/s320/100_6108.jpg" /></a><em> "Last one in's a sissy!" says Ben</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TlniCRCeLybRBsiwDlViYHYmoDy4e04qGuKaU9Nyv0FV_caA1Tx4PV_DEG58KbqpfXu3maTwuhwP6SZFjh7TJLA8RQxLsH-wIxQ0cIe5uYf8eRxk1PXyMlNYF0r2EWxZwHDgHhv8iBPT/s1600-h/100_6109.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435604907553177106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TlniCRCeLybRBsiwDlViYHYmoDy4e04qGuKaU9Nyv0FV_caA1Tx4PV_DEG58KbqpfXu3maTwuhwP6SZFjh7TJLA8RQxLsH-wIxQ0cIe5uYf8eRxk1PXyMlNYF0r2EWxZwHDgHhv8iBPT/s320/100_6109.jpg" /></a><em> "Not me!" says Amy (spot the bow wave!)</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDg0cEW6LfeSkIGNWnAmUn8Gz7c3pAT6eX4FoF8iVM1_-KEv5-E7lFDWfaeUHfU7u0Au-vIH_ZXDWBGHnz5OMj0MfJdTrFPxAS8L-waQ_OKoJv1LAZNL6KnFu80SugVIVl3sWvDEN7R4HP/s1600-h/100_6110.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435604916930437186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDg0cEW6LfeSkIGNWnAmUn8Gz7c3pAT6eX4FoF8iVM1_-KEv5-E7lFDWfaeUHfU7u0Au-vIH_ZXDWBGHnz5OMj0MfJdTrFPxAS8L-waQ_OKoJv1LAZNL6KnFu80SugVIVl3sWvDEN7R4HP/s320/100_6110.jpg" /></a> <em>"Come on Mum, it's lovely!"</em> </div><div align="center"><br /><em></em> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">But I didn't. Guess that makes me the sissy then! </div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-36177185904220040782010-01-24T17:17:00.004+00:002010-01-24T17:21:07.548+00:00Bustle along over to Bustle and Sew!<div align="justify">Just to say that I'm having a draw for a free giveaway over on <a href="http://www.bustleandsew.blogspot.com/">Bustle and Sew</a>. Here's the post .... why not mosey along over and enter for your chance to win the Dormouse Tea Cosy to keep you pot nice and snug on these cold winter afternoons! </div><br /><strong><em>Alice in Wonderland comes to Devon ....</em></strong><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430337984354021954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VlkEiB0L4sorAR_dFm8CCCgDeUS8fhGtWLhgXtmeJCXOcQJQlR68Qmqxk4-1GQ2A4n9pk5t7QK8Z1yr1xF9DyBJ8-06KZ4IIVkW9lSgnMpgcpT7wOCQ0RkC7TalKmtNPOcoE3znwEYc/s400/scan0001.bmp" /><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Here in Devon I'm feeling a bit Alice in Wonderlandish! My National Trust magazine told me that Disney are creating a new film version of the story and that some of the scenes are being filmed at Antony, a beautiful 18th century house not too far away from here. (Sadly Johnny Depp, who plays the Mad Hatter did not visit Cornwall ...) The dreamy image above is taken from the magazine - but my favourite bit was always the Mad Hatter's Tea Party ....</div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430348066530264578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPi7YhfHtn9ulZfd94wiHNUdnR1sdrjxU_2lD0KapPmkY6H_i3x94_aKu8H3NSEmlBsWS8tlAwHyhCKFRHfyXGPEpDxni3nSn6-RLLxhE8wLsI0BoTj0Tg3ZvswUc2VVJytAMu_otwto/s400/alice+in+wonderland.jpg" />I always used to feel very sorry for the little dormouse being stuffed into the teapot and just lately have been creating with a dormouse theme, both knitted.....<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3P3f49CCS2ClqOrr1hwttFYVucnprcsNtk_TXU7OmYs2xSe8sd12ga2GUSIe721Cn3YNEzhvJjtaFtjeDDv-wcOOTRC6hyphenhyphenLMNguGLwkX9PvYNLWjfJKVoBKGFWU8epov_sraW8mvVF68/s1600-h/cornish+blue+dormouse+2+500w.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430349145352931314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3P3f49CCS2ClqOrr1hwttFYVucnprcsNtk_TXU7OmYs2xSe8sd12ga2GUSIe721Cn3YNEzhvJjtaFtjeDDv-wcOOTRC6hyphenhyphenLMNguGLwkX9PvYNLWjfJKVoBKGFWU8epov_sraW8mvVF68/s400/cornish+blue+dormouse+2+500w.jpg" /></a> and applique ....<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HhLIVcedl6R_9V7E_fh76uo1X9x68vZuw0xWT4EXtYMZd7UKeEqHprOtjTJxdFVKnKX6Jsr2HF2UXxO2IFowyo2MmSbLYE7unbYTxhm6xl-dhwRsSoQ-9hbUowX5soL-3ekLeRl_iig/s1600-h/100_6033.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 324px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430337981341187490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HhLIVcedl6R_9V7E_fh76uo1X9x68vZuw0xWT4EXtYMZd7UKeEqHprOtjTJxdFVKnKX6Jsr2HF2UXxO2IFowyo2MmSbLYE7unbYTxhm6xl-dhwRsSoQ-9hbUowX5soL-3ekLeRl_iig/s400/100_6033.jpg" /></a><br />The teacosy above was one of the working projects for my book which will be published in the spring. In this design the dormouse hasn't quite made it into the teapot, but is comfortably settled in a rather pretty teacup instead. The cosy is my favourite vintage linen of course and the teacup is appliqued feedsack fabric. The embroidery is really straightforward: straight stitch, lazy daisy and stem stitch.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff0000;">To thank everyone who's visited my blog over the last few months I'd like to offer you the chance to win the teacosy above. I won't ever be making another one and won't be offering this design for sale, so whoever wins it will receive a real one-off! If you'd like to enter the draw (it's free of course) then please leave your details in the form at the top of Bustle and Sew. If you already subscribe to the newsletter then I'll enter you into the draw automatically. </span><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Everyone who enters will receive a free pdf pattern to work the little dormouse.</strong></span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span><br /></div></em><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I'll close the draw at midnight (GMT) on Valentine's Day and will let you know the results very quickly afterwards. </div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-49651966859983408232010-01-16T14:56:00.004+00:002010-01-16T15:12:59.884+00:00A bad dose of the sniffles<div align="center"> When feeling like this ......</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427353975245241346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMhuYi2hyphenhyphenakM_k2yAIh_1Un8jYsctwExh2esWcYAPl-4D8aV3yJUU8RipwmwJvN6sI_rFHVV0GINPv8h3vYEiOT9PkOTK6u0vg7AXo-d52OsmxwT3El5wkOhqXEfUkTVSdXkmDrLrslCp/s320/001jancal.jpg" /> <p align="center">Keep warm ....<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427353462736803858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTcnvWJjbL4cwO1VA33bZEJ6-A-w95sedl0IT9u3KT-r9-i_qk482hUp1aZL7R0eqwtJUfhhLRAOrS_5TAANfhYA3nUfUXBCW870UCVHmDqhXy8ZLZBGwswF53PjeacVIDj8NhqygLRlv/s320/100_4214.jpg" /> Drink lots..</p><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.rangebuzz.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/hot-chocolate.jpg" /><br />Gentle activity ....</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCjhdEyhXhqI07XMd-Ei98eoZ83T95otMRhDEA0uB_4Rr2y9cEVAwNjjTAA_gINgOpI4QPYAhsTMmwku4Qt-KuPZXzYUytYwplpoZeq8S10JzmOKDqUuBxICAk6Qxk-2JnaLNx5gv_Ywx/s1600-h/100_4212.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427353457379802722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCjhdEyhXhqI07XMd-Ei98eoZ83T95otMRhDEA0uB_4Rr2y9cEVAwNjjTAA_gINgOpI4QPYAhsTMmwku4Qt-KuPZXzYUytYwplpoZeq8S10JzmOKDqUuBxICAk6Qxk-2JnaLNx5gv_Ywx/s320/100_4212.jpg" /></a><br />And you'll soon feel better!</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-40705455103038580482010-01-13T20:06:00.006+00:002010-01-13T20:29:35.177+00:00No snow at Salcombe!<div align="justify">Snow, what snow? No snow here!! Sorry the rest of the UK is cut off from us, but we're enjoying some (relatively) warm sunshine here today.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426319321278592290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8q1PGVHIg579VFr57Cza7Sa8BJ-rGiBAf-kxlDMgSisGkYqeskRSG0-5GxrsASWTbtaHp7DWNbqitQXdxWUeYEBXF9-oJb5OwSKX4Ajenq9Xm3AFiEMN66QlwqcI13fQzosCg-MRHFTXY/s320/100_5965.jpg" /> The car's thermometer told me it was 11 deg C in the sunshine as I drew up in the car park at Snape Point, just above Batson Creek. We set off down the track ...</div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdWl3QmE3YDHp9eQwRp9r8GLLSzJ_RyI2sTFPyFrqXdIcolJRFslNMgd0gPQ3EG7nJe_EBcg-h69fZgcU6swipv-3hK0Zigzs84B5D8FEyB1TtNKCPjixr0qM2_bPEnzv2Lmgp7RNvOaM/s1600-h/100_5974.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426319335069607858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdWl3QmE3YDHp9eQwRp9r8GLLSzJ_RyI2sTFPyFrqXdIcolJRFslNMgd0gPQ3EG7nJe_EBcg-h69fZgcU6swipv-3hK0Zigzs84B5D8FEyB1TtNKCPjixr0qM2_bPEnzv2Lmgp7RNvOaM/s320/100_5974.jpg" /></a> The hedges had been trimmed and below us in the valley a bonfire smouldered, but we didn't go down to investigate. I love this walk, normally we trek right around the point, but it's been so wet lately that I decided to stay on the track. The views across Batson Creek to Salcombe are beautiful and so I kept stopping to take photographs .... </div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcddjH9nDLSVfXEl5RyGcZt55MZixXu6okLqwgDRC97drwUXg-fcKuYNETaxRadEcdU6loLBGo3NgqSP1iM_Xppm5Be_d11fX-GDuccd6U83Az5EOaYMi-HZFR93Vgo80lELny-A0XCNMa/s1600-h/100_5998.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426321522776228434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcddjH9nDLSVfXEl5RyGcZt55MZixXu6okLqwgDRC97drwUXg-fcKuYNETaxRadEcdU6loLBGo3NgqSP1iM_Xppm5Be_d11fX-GDuccd6U83Az5EOaYMi-HZFR93Vgo80lELny-A0XCNMa/s320/100_5998.jpg" /></a> Which made Ben very impatient. He doesn't see the point at all.</div><div align="justify"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrqOu22Dwf6Oo6xo84NDCvz15WalJb7V_-20oWq02bfehhD7qa5GoJBj7bV60NNil15lntJnbzGXGa5LJoxHLoOVS-gtHr9U3ioelMNE0R4Pn-Zh2eyCbIEGVe648QCm5T4I7E2mSKoQb/s1600-h/100_5982.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426321518249438898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrqOu22Dwf6Oo6xo84NDCvz15WalJb7V_-20oWq02bfehhD7qa5GoJBj7bV60NNil15lntJnbzGXGa5LJoxHLoOVS-gtHr9U3ioelMNE0R4Pn-Zh2eyCbIEGVe648QCm5T4I7E2mSKoQb/s320/100_5982.jpg" /></a>You can just see the bottom car park at Salcombe on the left in this picture, with all the masts of the boats that have been put into winter storage. The pontoons you can see are crammed with boats during the summer season.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimvbHSaPZjGuNVgtcA6ppgnBGC7B0i6f4qdah46oGsbGmsg1fuvuJtbddC_FGmjR7WLS5HUPyTbZHDp_qL0_dshATBPKxZu8AXzULwtKuP4N3WMxEofewGqYPKvWau-Gls6PICxWPgXhY/s1600-h/100_5991.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426321506689685938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimvbHSaPZjGuNVgtcA6ppgnBGC7B0i6f4qdah46oGsbGmsg1fuvuJtbddC_FGmjR7WLS5HUPyTbZHDp_qL0_dshATBPKxZu8AXzULwtKuP4N3WMxEofewGqYPKvWau-Gls6PICxWPgXhY/s320/100_5991.jpg" /></a><br />Salcombe was bustling though, we could hear traffic and the sound of hammering from one of the workshops. I didn't take Ben down to the creek as I knew the path would be pure liquid mud. Here in Devon we do very special extra-slidey mud and I've ended up on my bum more than once in the past. With a drive home and a visit to Morrisons en-route I didn't want to be walking around covered in mud, so I refused to go down through the gate.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoaqbqEpCYXwFSCDW-Y238YPLVpgXqAW_JAf4Gcq1dYuu3YdT5lgBjbath_H_3kYBrnrP5UDjmt4N_LEylaZik4xJiqBXdPrYxDiy-DCxYi8sTdWEp-5KuY47qawevjvjsF22VlgQfbzI/s1600-h/100_5994.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426321504127217554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoaqbqEpCYXwFSCDW-Y238YPLVpgXqAW_JAf4Gcq1dYuu3YdT5lgBjbath_H_3kYBrnrP5UDjmt4N_LEylaZik4xJiqBXdPrYxDiy-DCxYi8sTdWEp-5KuY47qawevjvjsF22VlgQfbzI/s320/100_5994.jpg" /></a><br />Instead I took this very artistic (I think) photo looking out to sea. Looks like a holiday brochure!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmam2swb_pfND8_rsMMK5htjbGcvbUYG1PeWQGH0hRiyqQBFuskvq8YwVuIDSJm_8s_wfx_jB5DzxG08ROA2bjGRNyVTL6Aqvajlgek4Ku4FskQ9_2XVpcozSw8FBqSPgiBCj5p6i5Z6FC/s1600-h/100_5997.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426321495347878770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmam2swb_pfND8_rsMMK5htjbGcvbUYG1PeWQGH0hRiyqQBFuskvq8YwVuIDSJm_8s_wfx_jB5DzxG08ROA2bjGRNyVTL6Aqvajlgek4Ku4FskQ9_2XVpcozSw8FBqSPgiBCj5p6i5Z6FC/s320/100_5997.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><p>"Ha!" says Ben, "I'll take my revenge. If Mum won't take me down to the creek then I'll wallow in this muddy puddle instead."</p><p>And he did! The end.</p>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-49386696658996957952010-01-06T18:27:00.004+00:002010-01-06T18:39:47.595+00:00January brings the snow .....<div align="center">January brings the snow..... makes your feet and fingers glow.<br />Makes those newfies feel so good ... walking in our frosty wood.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5wsCMxYcPcz4F5YPDijtmNOQCEvSMOlymKJaPaFR5GuFuTRxFP8s1EkokZTn8f55A0X2rYjsf9wG7KCjAswZt3NH1UtXWX2VJP02MQXBs0VkCNVkSI9XKzTfYbXxTaUDqLWXubsFKPuJ/s1600-h/100_5907.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423696577309182306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5wsCMxYcPcz4F5YPDijtmNOQCEvSMOlymKJaPaFR5GuFuTRxFP8s1EkokZTn8f55A0X2rYjsf9wG7KCjAswZt3NH1UtXWX2VJP02MQXBs0VkCNVkSI9XKzTfYbXxTaUDqLWXubsFKPuJ/s320/100_5907.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a>Ben and ..</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1CgkB2WXW2XlwahtJZev6SG9yBLhgkwP0cHGsxlFavOt_E8K5S0VG7wUZJPU81qormo9_uJbJxeGPayzjkvpZbYgdDmFcnJKtjSpLaFGiSCti8O9pvCCrTGNamME7U21P8atY9n37AV0/s1600-h/100_5912.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423696576329694722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1CgkB2WXW2XlwahtJZev6SG9yBLhgkwP0cHGsxlFavOt_E8K5S0VG7wUZJPU81qormo9_uJbJxeGPayzjkvpZbYgdDmFcnJKtjSpLaFGiSCti8O9pvCCrTGNamME7U21P8atY9n37AV0/s320/100_5912.jpg" /></a> Amy (this one's rather good, I think) She looks very wise (which she isn't!!)</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNy7cNQObxl_EiUcF1LClS4fnVJBYwu0ODrYFgucFTlAqXlE7nB61hs_QES9ncfwrO4mck7DTSTDoLV8debU0igXKsUlzNvMgNCBFype13DrcYtzgRJLtpUtnRfvKf7v2L3MlyGVIiOI8M/s1600-h/100_5893.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423696568614581170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNy7cNQObxl_EiUcF1LClS4fnVJBYwu0ODrYFgucFTlAqXlE7nB61hs_QES9ncfwrO4mck7DTSTDoLV8debU0igXKsUlzNvMgNCBFype13DrcYtzgRJLtpUtnRfvKf7v2L3MlyGVIiOI8M/s320/100_5893.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a>"Are there wolves in these woods Mum?" "No, only big black bear-dogs!"</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gd3XoZCX_nCZpG5dvwkUzvIpjm2EZRyRKO1dtmGfyajqwLdqZPtTOu_yLHzlR1QPPyH2mcSaBFwyQMyQ-2H6twCiKwHEDBQplDKDwXk0wCUEztOiv1GYHx_U8WIvOBpRfSW-arw1aI_U/s1600-h/100_5900.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423696564607845458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gd3XoZCX_nCZpG5dvwkUzvIpjm2EZRyRKO1dtmGfyajqwLdqZPtTOu_yLHzlR1QPPyH2mcSaBFwyQMyQ-2H6twCiKwHEDBQplDKDwXk0wCUEztOiv1GYHx_U8WIvOBpRfSW-arw1aI_U/s320/100_5900.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a>Soo pretty - and so unusual for us to get snow here in South Devon.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXMWDXJg3TevS6fTM-8A6sbiqXzOY9P6AOpwVQcionDvEJ-8Hn7uoAXNEvT9IC648OSpOFKR2h8WRiWvgj84oqYeSjQbfJ-Cnt19x_mgwECCy2e2jzIVWPoOdXpyo7H60qCcuTYoK2nEF/s1600-h/100_5878.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423696559120204450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXMWDXJg3TevS6fTM-8A6sbiqXzOY9P6AOpwVQcionDvEJ-8Hn7uoAXNEvT9IC648OSpOFKR2h8WRiWvgj84oqYeSjQbfJ-Cnt19x_mgwECCy2e2jzIVWPoOdXpyo7H60qCcuTYoK2nEF/s320/100_5878.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a>Our House<br /><br />Found this poem when browsing - describes perfectly the situation here at Coombe Leigh. </p><p align="center"><span style="color:#990000;">The Month After Christmas...</span><br /><br />'Twas the month after Christmas,<br />and all through the house<br />Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.<br />The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste<br />At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.<br />When I got on the scales there arose such a number!<br />When I walked to the store<br />(less a walk than a lumber).<br />I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;<br />The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,<br />The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese<br />And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."<br />As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt<br />And prepared once again to do battle with dirt---<br />I said to myself, as I only can<br />"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"<br />So--away with the last of the sour cream dip,<br />Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip<br />Every last bit of food that I like must be banished<br />"Till all the additional ounces have vanished.<br />I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.<br />I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.<br />I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,<br />I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.<br />I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore---<br />But isn't that what January is for?<br />Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.<br />Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!<br />~Author Unknown </p><p align="center"><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>H A P P Y N E W Y E A R!</strong></span></p>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611886703712817430.post-56627393228874243982009-11-05T14:02:00.008+00:002009-11-05T19:05:50.968+00:00Start Point with Newfs<div align="justify">I could have blogged about the bonfire last night .. our fireworks here in Chillington are famous - and justifiably so, we feel. Amy used to adore fireworks, she'd gaze upwards in wonder and her eyes would sparkle with reflected stars. But now she doesn't see so well, and fireworks have lost their magic for her. So I decided to give her a treat she can still enjoy and this morning took both dogs down to Start Point. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">This is a great walk for them both as Ben can bound up and down the cliffs pretending to be a mountain lion, while Amy paces sedately at my side. We were the only people there which was great ... and the dogs couldn't wait to go through the gate.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9OQwSJfmg_CudRikNEAQnct6iGmTKN9yab6ECFk_FT5kcS4hLnGtvf67T0qg1FpCN2XbcHv_xAztQWEK-HzDZc51IBi7MiI4PuB4IxldEfMmaJZlHNkPOXn5FpGxOpQHQXvCGwLRazup/s1600-h/blog1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400621769041871602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9OQwSJfmg_CudRikNEAQnct6iGmTKN9yab6ECFk_FT5kcS4hLnGtvf67T0qg1FpCN2XbcHv_xAztQWEK-HzDZc51IBi7MiI4PuB4IxldEfMmaJZlHNkPOXn5FpGxOpQHQXvCGwLRazup/s400/blog1.jpg" /></a> Before WW2 the narrow road down to the lighthouse didn't exist - it was constructed by US forces to drive their jeeps up and down to the point.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWzXiRtf-IHx1W6MQI-TUW-G3b9_rP2TfywrjC30XwDArNSFBQ08k4PLzMkZt0f196qhaDoRIIjur2WUGwHMAMFi_5dceGO9Evqf4HmIELsvqwMnjbeo-MVR1uhyX3vIAyyLM62TQO2uT/s1600-h/blog2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400621765529800370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWzXiRtf-IHx1W6MQI-TUW-G3b9_rP2TfywrjC30XwDArNSFBQ08k4PLzMkZt0f196qhaDoRIIjur2WUGwHMAMFi_5dceGO9Evqf4HmIELsvqwMnjbeo-MVR1uhyX3vIAyyLM62TQO2uT/s400/blog2.jpg" /></a> Now it's a great newfie track!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4XDHu69yzs9eRPWzLcqa5DKMCJPAZS7NG2bdZ6lqCSsHvz9fd_HR3rlw5oKDkjzqjqDFRI5kuZPtyOJjCOX9B-6akm96S4-CxQLYAQjsWNsWckU8fl7jkbc6f3VD2bGGxhBYvhb-WeGw/s1600-h/blog3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400621754637875794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4XDHu69yzs9eRPWzLcqa5DKMCJPAZS7NG2bdZ6lqCSsHvz9fd_HR3rlw5oKDkjzqjqDFRI5kuZPtyOJjCOX9B-6akm96S4-CxQLYAQjsWNsWckU8fl7jkbc6f3VD2bGGxhBYvhb-WeGw/s400/blog3.jpg" /></a> Very moody and atmospheric - the lighthouse just peeping out from behind the jagged rocks. Last night its beam made a dramatic backdrop to our display as it strobed across the sky behind the fireworks field.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAp0-43KVPxtmFvEEuQ5O8vtDBa4dPDod4z3mYZ6MIZ_QfOb3E8ir6qe_GUYwn0O_SIyE4HKLOn_UDztrkrZAQpNgTTK96uYWeCJ7ks7bhxjlC5Rz2jNXBgC4W3fST1Jxnz4JwCJ_P4ne/s1600-h/blog4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 109px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400621756149023730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAp0-43KVPxtmFvEEuQ5O8vtDBa4dPDod4z3mYZ6MIZ_QfOb3E8ir6qe_GUYwn0O_SIyE4HKLOn_UDztrkrZAQpNgTTK96uYWeCJ7ks7bhxjlC5Rz2jNXBgC4W3fST1Jxnz4JwCJ_P4ne/s400/blog4.jpg" /></a> Looking back towards Start Bay - a wonderful panorama. I tried to put three photos together, but it didn't really work very well. Just look at the colour of the water!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwZeUPKo3_EGwjhBfEw9TZk1DaxfrfCl5YDRDy_rJJ4mjJGt226OKiqhr7smxQbsALbw_JKu122kTngHIslN0rvIBpRRDfM_Z617AvFrjkxS4-p3D15DyK6qiWksBYkc6ZfEIthQGAz6T/s1600-h/blog5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400621405144732482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwZeUPKo3_EGwjhBfEw9TZk1DaxfrfCl5YDRDy_rJJ4mjJGt226OKiqhr7smxQbsALbw_JKu122kTngHIslN0rvIBpRRDfM_Z617AvFrjkxS4-p3D15DyK6qiWksBYkc6ZfEIthQGAz6T/s400/blog5.jpg" /></a> Ben always knew he was a superstar!! He definitely made the most of this photo opportunity!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpQZfnlRYgEuDTKxMukPlnlvMbXLY71_Y2-F8b6K-W0sU4PjJKWKAcf3l8uAA8EsIysFhxcsd4fRzOEWcI4xqeRAk2AEygEY2Ks1GBCm8wTAKqnw49q4keJnqgAwEaKL9hHRn-0SxXh9o/s1600-h/blog6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400621398486638898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpQZfnlRYgEuDTKxMukPlnlvMbXLY71_Y2-F8b6K-W0sU4PjJKWKAcf3l8uAA8EsIysFhxcsd4fRzOEWcI4xqeRAk2AEygEY2Ks1GBCm8wTAKqnw49q4keJnqgAwEaKL9hHRn-0SxXh9o/s400/blog6.jpg" /></a> Then he tried to continue along the coastal path. But I had to say NO as Amy simply can't manage this walk any more. Another time, Ben.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGIa2Sbuimu1D7jWy3_9vh34R8rXgbS_6d_0ykxo7rKObVGop3Ycqo0VboGIAVhUST8J6SghKsNi6wJQG1dq9nQBmuDe_YCk7-RCjb4k0uG41m2Drjk_OLvkQ-Z_bvBm7AVMYlwcfH1He/s1600-h/blog7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400621394539118498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGIa2Sbuimu1D7jWy3_9vh34R8rXgbS_6d_0ykxo7rKObVGop3Ycqo0VboGIAVhUST8J6SghKsNi6wJQG1dq9nQBmuDe_YCk7-RCjb4k0uG41m2Drjk_OLvkQ-Z_bvBm7AVMYlwcfH1He/s400/blog7.jpg" /></a>Ben is making sure Amy's OK. They do love each other!<br /></div><div align="center"><div align="justify">Then home again. Maybe later we'll go and examine the bonfire and see if it's still smouldering. </div></div></div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07428082800675241347noreply@blogger.com2