01-FEB-2013
They think we're mad!
Sometimes places get a name for being a bit "wacky" they collect every alternative everything you could think of. Not that I have anything against alternatives in any form but they do tend to be a bit noticeable when gathered together in one place. Even the people who live in this town admit it. There are some great shops there and so today I went to do some window shopping, which failed miserably :) I came home through some of the narrowest lanes that Dartmoor has to offer but there are some wonderful sights to see across the vastness of the moor.
The whole experience must have had an effect on me..... but it's a bit of fun to start the month.
Have a great weekend everyone!
02-FEB-2013
Well mulled
I'm sure that the purists among you would say that proper mulled wine isn't bought in a bottle ready made but
created in a saucepan. If you'd seen some of the creations I've produced from a saucepan you'd realise that the bottled version is by far the best! Cheers!
The dust is genuine - the bottle got overlooked ;)
03-FEB-2013
Liverpool Lime Street
I had a hour to kill before going to the supermarket, yes I know on a Sunday what poor organisation, so I headed up to the Station which is now run by Dartmoor Railway as a Heritage site.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartmoor_Railway
They run a really good restaurant too so after taking a few photos and before the drizzle started I had coffee which was good and strong and a scone with butter - a perfect breakfast for me.
04-FEB-2013
Like headless...
I was multi-tasking today, "walking" Spike and gardening. The walking Spike bit consists of finding a bit of the garden he wants to sit around in and tethering him there and then I go not too far away to do bits of pruning. He usually manages to wind his lead round a tree or bush so I have to be on hand to do the unwinding. The sun came out and the chickens always take the opportunity to preen when they've found a patch of sunshine. I managed to get this shot of Sweetie and Snow appearing headless.... I know, little things..... :)
05-FEB-2013
Sculpture.
Lunch with a friend at RHS Rosemoor - what could be better - well nothing really. We both had to travel through hail and rain and I had 2 encounters with quite large snowflakes too. The sun did shine and we managed a brief walk to look at some of the sculptures being exhibited around the gardens and very impressive they are too. As you can see we had blue sky for a while - bonus!
http://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor
06-FEB-2013
Mum
I have been going through a suitcase full of old photos from both sides of my family. Sadly there are an awful lot of faces I cannot put a name to and have no one to ask. I have had some laughs and a few tears and also a few puzzles. This photo I guess was taken by my Dad in the mid to late 30's. There is nothing written on the back and I'm having a hard time making out what the letters are at the top right. But the biggest puzzle is that it has been torn off possibly a strip of photos. Who were the others of, why torn and not carefully cut? I'll never know.
07-FEB-2013
Red Herring
No I'm not advertising for them really though I've always admired both the name and their style. This is a new necklace from them - slightly Steampunk in design so it appeals to me a lot. Quirky rather than full-on Steampunk and no you won't be seeing me in a top hat and goggles.....although ;)
08-FEB-2013
Me
Having been feeling a bit under the weather for a couple of days I thought I'd get out in the fresh air for my SP today. I carried my tripod and camera and assorted props halfway up the garden to the summerhouse followed by all the chickens and one inquisitive cat. I had an image in mind and so set out my seat, props, tripod etc. and set the camera to interval shooting. 2 sets of 20 shots later I was thinking I'd completely got it wrong just because I felt a bit "fluey" (is that a word?) my SP needn't reflect that and all the shots were rubbish anyway. Smile I thought, that's what I'll do so with camera reset and shutter pressed I headed for my seat... didn't quite make it, as you can see ;)
Have a lovely weekend everyone.
09-FEB-2013
Seats outside
It's interesting and sometimes puzzling the things you find when you wander off where you perhaps shouldn't be. I should have been inside the kitchen of Belstone Village Hall, helping with the preparation of a curry supper... now you know why I was outside round the back of the hall finding... well all sorts of things really. The curry was good without my help ;)
10-FEB-2013
Mist
I had a very brief foray onto Dartmoor this morning. It was pouring with rain most of the time so I confess to taking photos from the car. Just opening the windows got me quite wet enough!
11-FEB-2013
Drain cleaning
We don't have much in the way of entertainment/excitement in Bondleigh so when something does happen the locals turn out in their.... umm 1's Well I was there too ;)
This blockage, being cleared by the Highways Dept was created by... the Highways Dept. Sigh! At least the stream won't back up and cause a flood as it runs about 3' from the side of the house.
12-FEB-2013
All the time in the world
I have to admit that it's difficult to choose from the great array of sweets here. This guy has been selling here at Hatherleigh Market for at least 15 years and has relieved me of quite a sum in that time - not that I buy sweets now of course ;)
13-FEB-2013
Painting
I visited a couple of my favourite Charity shops today, on the lookout for books and bric-a-brac and anything else which took my eye. The British Heart Foundation shop in Okehampton is a really good one and I was lucky to pick up lovely little painting in a huge gold frame. For £3.99 I feel I have a bargain. I doubt that it will ever appear on the Antiques Road Show but it will please me for a long time I'm sure.
14-FEB-2013
Something of everything.
Well not quite, it didn't snow!
15-FEB-2013
Me n Spike.
Spike and I enjoying the sun though still indoors of course. My fair weather cat doesn't like to get his paws wet or muddy!
Have a great weekend everyone.
16-FEB-2013
Primrose, Little Queen
Unusual, either love it or hate it flowers as the petals are brown with yellow edges. I thought I'd like the close-up shots I took as there is a good contrast between the colours but until I tried a B & W conversion the shots didn't "pop"
I'll have to try again another day to capture this colour combination.
17-FEB-2013
Let's go fly a kite
Westward Ho! beach. It was blowing what felt like a gale. So much so that I didn't hang around to see how the kite flying went.
I suspect they might be in South Wales by now!
18-FEB-2013
Daffodil
They have opened fully and are giving off that peculiar peppery smell.
I love the sunny yellow but there is such a lot of it I chose just a single stem.
19-FEB-2013
Sunset
I was lucky enough to find a gap in the hedge to take this shot. You do have to be quick off the mark!
21-FEB-2013
Dog
As this is his land I chose to stay in the car with the window wound up! I'm sure he's a real softy.......
22-FEB-2013
Sheepskin & Sequins
A bit of pre-weekend silliness in a effort to keep out the cold and just a hint of the new "do" colour too.
Have a great weekend everyone.
23-FEB-2013
Bound
Willow sticks and copper wire.
24-FEB-2013
Elizabethan Pop-Ten
Now playing the Bob Wills Anthology.
25-FEB-2013
Make a connection.
Well if you have to have wires about the place at least they can be bright ones!
26-FEB-2013
Spike
Apart from his harness he blends in very well with the surroundings. I have no idea where this large lump of white granite came from but it's certainly not on home territory here in our orchard. Spike finds it useful to sit on and watch all the creeping and swimming creatures in our tiny pond. Despite falling in it when a tiny kitten he still thinks that just maybe he can walk on water occasionally - short lead needed!
27-FEB-2013
There's always one.
The flock come through this gap in the hedge every morning, at least most of them do - I can just imagine the comments from the other 2 - hey look, she's stuck again - bit podgy round the middle - what can you expect from a white sheep?! ;)
28-FEB-2013
Front door key
Being a hoarder I can't resist keeping bits of ribbon, usually the pieces I cut from jumpers ( you know ladies, the bits we should use to attach a jumper to a hanger but rarely do?!)
and bits which hold the labels and price tags in lingerie - oh yes, I have lots of those! Just occasionally I find a use for some of them as here instead of a key ring a bunch of bows.
