29/09/2016
hawthorn's September Scavenger photo-challenge
A photograph inspired by a word, words inspired by the photos - September's Scavenger photo-hunt list - enjoy!
Ripe haws on the hawthorn tree.
Web
Strings of dew-beads lightly weigh down
the finest gossamer threads.
Picture taken last month in Galloway,
on an early morning walk before the boys got up.
Blade
Himself has a selection of 'big-boy-toys'
Himself has a selection of 'big-boy-toys'
and they seem miraculously appear
when I ask him to cut/drill/sand something for me.
Most recently - cutting slate to turn into mug mats.
Thanks love.
Filigree
An Indian metal punched bowl tea-light
throws the most beautiful flickering glow.
As the day shortens and autumn then winter takes hold,
I rely on candles to bring light into our home.
Travel
Our summer holiday this year
meant using ferries to enable us to reach our destinations.
Travelling over water made our break so much more magical.
Bright
This image originally decided that it would like to be used for 'filigree' -
This image originally decided that it would like to be used for 'filigree' -
I loved the way the grass criss-crossed the ice making a delicate pattern.
The photo then decided it would like to be earmarked for 'blade',
then, finally it settled for 'bright'.
Happy:)
Asleep
A couple of Thursdays ago, I was working in a walled garden,
weeding and edging the vegetable beds.
The night before there'd been heavy rain
and in the cool early morning sunlight,
there - between the flowers of a kale plant,
a number of wet bumblebees slept on.
Float
A number of years ago,
whilst visiting Anglesey,
we crossed the Menai Straits during a period of high tides and strong onshore winds.
This little island look less inviting than usual
and appeared to be barely floating above the high waters.
Autumn
Ripe haws on the hawthorn tree.
The hedgerow fruiting trees seem to be more laden than usual,
and in this autumnal light, they seem to glow vibrantly.
Fur
Years ago, when our boys were little and our previous dog was young,
we'd been caught out in a hail storm.
We dashed for cover and waited until it had passed.
While we waited I noticed and was fascinated by the dog's fur which had splayed outwards.
New
A new beginning.
A newly weeded bed.
I love that 'before and after' look.
#photo-challenge #inspiration #photos
#photo-challenge #inspiration #photos
`
27/09/2016
The next step.
Uni.
Just typing that word triggers an uncomfortable swell of apprehension and pride with the accompanying welling up of tears. A quick blink to wipe them away - I can't be seen to be a 'soggy eyed' mum now can I?
But I am.
I am compensating for that impending leaving-of-the-nest-by-the-first-born by frantically getting everything ready for him. He rolls his eyes when, for the hundredth time, I ask if he has packed this or packed that. He sighs loudly when I insist he jumps in the car to purchase last minute thisiese and thatsisies. But - bless him - he humours me and we get on with my demands. He has matured so much this last year and is happily ready for the next step.
I shall miss him. We all will.
I also had a need to give him something from me that he'd use ... so these last few evenings I have been knitting like a demon possessed. He now had a reversible beanie - dark charcoal grey one side and olive green with charcoal stripes on the other.
He put it on straight away and grinned at me - phew.
I have one more secret little thing for him to take away to uni,
but like you - he shall have to wait until I complete it :)
Excuse me - I feel the need to dab my eyes again.
25/09/2016
Well, what did you think?
Busy.
Busy.
Busy.
Heavingly squashingly busy.
Good for the stall holders.
Good for the organisers.
We left early.
The best bits?
The yarn-bombing outside
and the Embroiders Guild's display.
Beautiful.
22/09/2016
Things as they stand
I feel to have dropped off the blogging radar recently. Sorry. Hopefully have my blogging mojo back.
Those who know me, know I recently have been through a rubbish time. It has taken a bit sorting out in my head and I've made some changes. On the positive side I have rediscovered my love of crafting and have picked up both the crochet hook and knitting pins again, fallen back in love with gardening and have started volunteering in a walled garden, all this plus the incredible support of my family and friends - I am starting to feel whole again. Thank you x
With my new found crafting drive and a birthday gift to make, I roped Himself in and asked him to cut four slate mug mats (bless him - he does put up with a lot!)
He not only cut them (with the noisiest stone cutter imaginable) but he rounded off the corners and bevelled the edges too!
Those who know me, know I recently have been through a rubbish time. It has taken a bit sorting out in my head and I've made some changes. On the positive side I have rediscovered my love of crafting and have picked up both the crochet hook and knitting pins again, fallen back in love with gardening and have started volunteering in a walled garden, all this plus the incredible support of my family and friends - I am starting to feel whole again. Thank you x
With my new found crafting drive and a birthday gift to make, I roped Himself in and asked him to cut four slate mug mats (bless him - he does put up with a lot!)
He not only cut them (with the noisiest stone cutter imaginable) but he rounded off the corners and bevelled the edges too!
A morning mug of tea with a friend and her visiting pheasant family supplied the inspiration...
Sitting at my table, listening to music,
I found time soon flew by
... and by the end of the afternoon,
I had four little slate mug mats,
ready for a special friend's birthday :)
Oh yes, the little 'anti-scratch-feet', they just had to be heart shaped :)
Was she happy?
Oh, I think so:)
Happy Birthday WildaboutWorld!
xxx
14/09/2016
Tales from a hot day
The angle of the sun forces me both to squint and revel in the unseasonable heat. Sweat runs quietly down the side of my face taking me back 'home*' where the day's heat seeped through to my very bones, warming me both inside and out.
The moorland spreads out before me disappearing into a heat shimmer and molten sheep. They pant and cough harshly with an uncomfortable mixture of warmth and a heavy lung worm burden hindering each breath.
I am walking and waiting and filling my time while Eldest volunteers up in the Dales. I can feel warm air filling my nostrils and lungs and it is only 9am.
Boots on and haversack shouldered, we - Moss and I, set off towards a small village down in the valley below. It appears we are the only ones on the hills as we walk along a quietly babbling stream. The sound of the water on the rocks calls to the dog who gratefully throws herself into the tepid flow. Our walk all the way down is punctuated by watery stops and a swimming dog.
The sky lark, meadow pipit and the occasional screaming swallow are the only sounds around me as we follow the path. I am warm - not in a I-can't-cope sort of way, but in a warm-and-defrosted-at-last sort of way where I can feel my bones are no longer chilled and my skin prickles under the fierce autumn sun.
Moss - who failed as a sheep dog - still has residual aspirations to be the working border collie she thought she was ... In sheep festooned fields I have to be careful either to have her on a lead or be ready with a sharp word. If they suddenly bolt - it triggers an automatic rounding up response. Today is different, the sheep are too hot to care and Moss just chooses to look at them sideways with head held low as we pass by.
The path runs on and on, over styles, through gates, round hills and most importantly - alongside streams. I don't run, I plod. Moss pants and wallows.
Strange. This late heat, it is September now and as I walk I can see sweltering red and dripping faces and sun-seared pink shoulders of hot fat women and their thin baggy trousered sweaty husbands.
We reach the village - it is full of day trippers in shorts slapping on suntan lotion. It is busier than I like and we leave as soon as we can. Our path turns upward on to an old drovers track, I can feel the rise of the road as I shorten my step and deepen my breath. Moss' tongue hangs down thick and pink almost to her knees as we both notice the distinct lack of water in this half of our walk.
We trudge on, the busy day trippers are left behind as they all stay in the village by the cafes and river. We on the other hand wade through airless air, shadeless sun and up a steepening track.
Finally the track ends, I spy a thin and hard hawthorn providing meagre shade in the field ahead, we are not fussy - this shade looks luxurious and deep and cool. It is not but is still wonderful.
We sit, share water - Moss is not keen on lemon flavoured tepid bottle water - I muse I'd never had her as such a connoisseur... I knit. She sleeps. We sit for an hour. Only one other pair of walkers trudge by, I can feel their pain as they pass - their shoulders are boiled lobster pink and their faces shiny and flustered. I knit a row or two more - time to find Moss a stream to wallow in.
Shouldering the haversack again - it feels heavier as do my boots. My feet had been let out and my toes dug themselves into the grass, being re-shod doesn't really agree with them today.
The sun is still fiercely shining as I think I catch the sound of distant thunder ... I stop - listen, thunder? Not sure. We carry on, the dog is hot, her paws are heavy and her head down. I offer her my water again and this time she drinks.
We trudge up and over the crest - finally we can see the tarn where the outlet stream calls us to cool off. The last three quarters of a mile seems so very slow and long as we approach.
Moss does not need inviting twice to lie in the stream. She stays for 20 minutes. I wait with her as I watch hot sheep cough and as equally hot walkers plod along the track I have just left.
The sun blazes down as huge heavy thunderous clouds built up. I still need to meet Eldest - another hour away. Reluctantly we leave the languid stream as Moss recovers her bounce and wag.
Later, as we drive home Eldest and I listen to the thunder as the clouds boil and grow hiding the sun. Moss sleeps on the back seat.
*I was born and grew up in southern Africa
The moorland spreads out before me disappearing into a heat shimmer and molten sheep. They pant and cough harshly with an uncomfortable mixture of warmth and a heavy lung worm burden hindering each breath.
I am walking and waiting and filling my time while Eldest volunteers up in the Dales. I can feel warm air filling my nostrils and lungs and it is only 9am.
Boots on and haversack shouldered, we - Moss and I, set off towards a small village down in the valley below. It appears we are the only ones on the hills as we walk along a quietly babbling stream. The sound of the water on the rocks calls to the dog who gratefully throws herself into the tepid flow. Our walk all the way down is punctuated by watery stops and a swimming dog.
The sky lark, meadow pipit and the occasional screaming swallow are the only sounds around me as we follow the path. I am warm - not in a I-can't-cope sort of way, but in a warm-and-defrosted-at-last sort of way where I can feel my bones are no longer chilled and my skin prickles under the fierce autumn sun.
Moss - who failed as a sheep dog - still has residual aspirations to be the working border collie she thought she was ... In sheep festooned fields I have to be careful either to have her on a lead or be ready with a sharp word. If they suddenly bolt - it triggers an automatic rounding up response. Today is different, the sheep are too hot to care and Moss just chooses to look at them sideways with head held low as we pass by.
The path runs on and on, over styles, through gates, round hills and most importantly - alongside streams. I don't run, I plod. Moss pants and wallows.
Strange. This late heat, it is September now and as I walk I can see sweltering red and dripping faces and sun-seared pink shoulders of hot fat women and their thin baggy trousered sweaty husbands.
We reach the village - it is full of day trippers in shorts slapping on suntan lotion. It is busier than I like and we leave as soon as we can. Our path turns upward on to an old drovers track, I can feel the rise of the road as I shorten my step and deepen my breath. Moss' tongue hangs down thick and pink almost to her knees as we both notice the distinct lack of water in this half of our walk.
We trudge on, the busy day trippers are left behind as they all stay in the village by the cafes and river. We on the other hand wade through airless air, shadeless sun and up a steepening track.
Finally the track ends, I spy a thin and hard hawthorn providing meagre shade in the field ahead, we are not fussy - this shade looks luxurious and deep and cool. It is not but is still wonderful.
We sit, share water - Moss is not keen on lemon flavoured tepid bottle water - I muse I'd never had her as such a connoisseur... I knit. She sleeps. We sit for an hour. Only one other pair of walkers trudge by, I can feel their pain as they pass - their shoulders are boiled lobster pink and their faces shiny and flustered. I knit a row or two more - time to find Moss a stream to wallow in.
Shouldering the haversack again - it feels heavier as do my boots. My feet had been let out and my toes dug themselves into the grass, being re-shod doesn't really agree with them today.
The sun is still fiercely shining as I think I catch the sound of distant thunder ... I stop - listen, thunder? Not sure. We carry on, the dog is hot, her paws are heavy and her head down. I offer her my water again and this time she drinks.
We trudge up and over the crest - finally we can see the tarn where the outlet stream calls us to cool off. The last three quarters of a mile seems so very slow and long as we approach.
Moss does not need inviting twice to lie in the stream. She stays for 20 minutes. I wait with her as I watch hot sheep cough and as equally hot walkers plod along the track I have just left.
The sun blazes down as huge heavy thunderous clouds built up. I still need to meet Eldest - another hour away. Reluctantly we leave the languid stream as Moss recovers her bounce and wag.
☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀ ☼ ☀
Later, as we drive home Eldest and I listen to the thunder as the clouds boil and grow hiding the sun. Moss sleeps on the back seat.
In the absence of the video I took of the dog wallowing
(blogger grrrrrr keeps inserting it upside down?!?)
Here is a screen shot of her the correct way up
(from the same video - explain that blogger ...)
11/09/2016
In which I waffle about felt, feet, baking and friends
Remember these?
After they'd sat around a little while, I thought it would be prudent to add some felt 'feet' to their bases so they wouldn't scratch the table surface.
Then, inspired both by my mini success and by my friend -Angela, who is crafting wonderful goodies for her daughter while she gets ready for uni, I did this ...
Eldest found a simple slip of sea-washed wood whilst we were on holiday and decreed it to be used as a mug mat and he'd take with him to uni.
He dried it off and used it daily until it mysteriously disappeared ... I may have been responsible ...
I am the first to admit I am not very adept with hand sewing but managed to do a wobbly outline of the Outer Hebrides, dated it 2016 and glued a small star indicating the spot (Balranald Bay) where the driftwood was found.
When the drift wood mat 'reappeared' in time for the next tea break he was initially a little flummoxed at it's added base, however when I explained what I'd done, he seemed genuinely touched.
I do have a plan for something else he can take with him while he is in halls of residence. Just need to get started!
In the meantime, I must get baking - I've got visitors tomorrow - it promises to be a bloggy-filled afternoon as Susan from Granny Smith's Quilting, Jak from Jak's Tales , hopefully Lovely Lady from Threads through my Life and I are getting together and will no doubt there will be an awful lot of nattering and nibbling :)
Snip-snip-glue bosh! Job done.
Then, inspired both by my mini success and by my friend -Angela, who is crafting wonderful goodies for her daughter while she gets ready for uni, I did this ...
I am the first to admit I am not very adept with hand sewing but managed to do a wobbly outline of the Outer Hebrides, dated it 2016 and glued a small star indicating the spot (Balranald Bay) where the driftwood was found.
I do have a plan for something else he can take with him while he is in halls of residence. Just need to get started!
In the meantime, I must get baking - I've got visitors tomorrow - it promises to be a bloggy-filled afternoon as Susan from Granny Smith's Quilting, Jak from Jak's Tales , hopefully Lovely Lady from Threads through my Life and I are getting together and will no doubt there will be an awful lot of nattering and nibbling :)
09/09/2016
September's Scavenger photo-challenge list
I'm SO glad I did!
Not every one replied in time but don't worry -please still send your suggestions in and I'll add them to November's hunt ☺.
I have omitted 'My own choice ' due to such a goodly amount of new words to hunt, this option may make a return in November. Without further ado - let me introduce you to this month's words to hunt ...
A photograph inspired by a word, words inspired by the photos - September's Scavenger photo-hunt list - enjoy!
Remember to think laterally, interpret as YOU fancy, be it a current photo or a favourite one from your past. We'll reconvene and post our words and photos from Friday 30th September - have fun!- Web
- Blade
- Filigree
- Travel
- Bright
- Asleep
- Float
- Autumn
- Fur
- New
Last month's link up tool worked beautifully so I will be adding that on Friday the 30th too, so don't forget to add your link once you have posted your photos - it is the best way share the fun of your pictures and stories ☺
07/09/2016
Sunday ramblings and meanderings and wafflings
Sunday was a strange humid day with a sluggish breeze and heavy clouds when we set off for our walk. It was a 'fall-out-the-back-door-and-on-to-the-hills' kind of walk. Our village shelters in the lea of a large soggy lump of a hill and our path traversed it's boggy moorland shoulders. The 'water engineers' were keen to release the trapped puddles from the rutted path, encouraging them to flow down towards to the stream.
Mud and moorland made way for dark forests and secret pathways. We stepped into the gloom and had to wait for our eyes to adjust and as soon as they had, we could see it was a place where fungi and spiders quietly hid.
Lemon shortbread - steaming hot and straight from the oven, mugs of tea and my boys 'n me of course.
Thank you for all your lovely comments, they do mean so much to me, xxx namaste
04/09/2016
August's photo round up
I started this post yesterday, sitting slumped on the settee having made the most of a wet and miserable Saturday. We'd been on a major 'get-stuff-ready-for-school /uni' drive as well as buying a wardrobe for Youngest.
That turned out to be a full on tetras-style-shifting up two floors which culminated with finding the wardrobe was 10cm too tall for his pitched roof. Gah.
Himself managed to correct the situation which required a close encounter with a circular saw. It still took some very careful manoeuvres to get it to fit ... and if we were ever to move - we would definitely have to leave the wardrobe in situ!
Any hoo - back to the photos.
You lovely lot have done me proud again! Such a wide range of interpretations and stories - you keep getting better and better :)
Wild About World - a late entry (but if she wasn't, I would think something was amiss!) had a glorious selection and my favourite was her 'Blue', I fell in love with the evocative shades of faded blue wooden panels.
Susan - Granny Smith's Quilts - certainly thought out of the box. I loved her 'Green' she made me smile with all her road signs. I thought the UK has quirky place names but she found some really interesting ones near her home in Australia.
Tess from Driftwood also had a brilliant selection and my favourite was her final offering - My Choice - ethereal and mystical, while Jak's Tales once again had a lovely collection featuring her very beloved 'Jak-the-cat'. My favourite was her 'Favourite', I was there to help to polish off that delicious feast! I know a lot of work went into the preparation and it was a real visual feast too:)
Fil produced a cracking list of photos and stories - I was intrigued by her image for 'Eye' of the Janus Figure on Boa Island, County Fermanagh, looks almost 'Easter-Island-ish'.
Lovely Lady of Threads through my Life definately takes the 'award' for the most thought-out-of-the-box pictures and I fell immediately for her 'My own choice' - of the heron on her porch - AmAzING!
Julie also had aN excellent selection and I loved her clever way of combining two choices with one image ... Blue and Feet -nice one!
Sadly missing this month was my Eldest - his mind is on other things - like uni and volunteering.
And on another note ... I've reached for my paints recently.
I'm bit rusty, will need more practice - yay!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to watch Poldark .. yum
That turned out to be a full on tetras-style-shifting up two floors which culminated with finding the wardrobe was 10cm too tall for his pitched roof. Gah.
Himself managed to correct the situation which required a close encounter with a circular saw. It still took some very careful manoeuvres to get it to fit ... and if we were ever to move - we would definitely have to leave the wardrobe in situ!
Any hoo - back to the photos.
You lovely lot have done me proud again! Such a wide range of interpretations and stories - you keep getting better and better :)
Wild About World - a late entry (but if she wasn't, I would think something was amiss!) had a glorious selection and my favourite was her 'Blue', I fell in love with the evocative shades of faded blue wooden panels.
Susan - Granny Smith's Quilts - certainly thought out of the box. I loved her 'Green' she made me smile with all her road signs. I thought the UK has quirky place names but she found some really interesting ones near her home in Australia.
Tess from Driftwood also had a brilliant selection and my favourite was her final offering - My Choice - ethereal and mystical, while Jak's Tales once again had a lovely collection featuring her very beloved 'Jak-the-cat'. My favourite was her 'Favourite', I was there to help to polish off that delicious feast! I know a lot of work went into the preparation and it was a real visual feast too:)
Fil produced a cracking list of photos and stories - I was intrigued by her image for 'Eye' of the Janus Figure on Boa Island, County Fermanagh, looks almost 'Easter-Island-ish'.
Lovely Lady of Threads through my Life definately takes the 'award' for the most thought-out-of-the-box pictures and I fell immediately for her 'My own choice' - of the heron on her porch - AmAzING!
Julie also had aN excellent selection and I loved her clever way of combining two choices with one image ... Blue and Feet -nice one!
Sadly missing this month was my Eldest - his mind is on other things - like uni and volunteering.
And on another note ... I've reached for my paints recently.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to watch Poldark .. yum
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