tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47029223310737450252024-02-20T14:30:04.616+00:00Deerey me!Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-44169098417041380742013-05-28T09:44:00.000+01:002013-05-28T09:51:36.494+01:00all change!I started this blog just over a year ago, intending to focus on my progress towards redundancy and self-employments. Over the year I have been seriously distracted by gardens and cats and baking and now I actually am self-employed I think I need to focus on the sewing and craft side of my life. However, I have loved writing about the gardens I visit and the marmalade I make and the cute things our two cats do, so I have decided to keep two blogs!<br />
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My sewing and crafting 'work' blog and website:<br />
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<a href="http://deereyme.co.uk/" target=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Deerey Me!</span></a><br />
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and<br />
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My garden, cats, baking diary:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://deerediary.wordpress.com/">Deere Diary</a></span><br />
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I am sorry to have to redirect you, but there is a link on both blogs to the older posts here. I hope you enjoy the new formats!Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-12461826915147580702013-05-26T07:08:00.002+01:002013-05-26T07:08:41.097+01:00the Courts garden at HoltThere's a bright golden haze on the meadow...! Yes, I love a sunny day so yesterday Mark and I headed off to Holt to the National Trust's <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/courts-garden/" target="_blank">The Courts</a>. It is such a beautiful place - just the right balance between formal gardens with manicured lawns, ponds and channels of water, strangely shaped hedges etc and wild areas of buttercups and Queen Anne's Lace.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6DdNQabpFJCOFgYeFme1Hg6DB_QjFFe2DVlzin1D4hixSGuf6q8VqGIAWKujZyWJhlH1th2SLGAG3YdBjCROSWPxNqUkNGfL4ljUj2OYbjd3memvhmVIQzAVPuFPrAgu-KAO9du2Stw/s1600/courts1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6DdNQabpFJCOFgYeFme1Hg6DB_QjFFe2DVlzin1D4hixSGuf6q8VqGIAWKujZyWJhlH1th2SLGAG3YdBjCROSWPxNqUkNGfL4ljUj2OYbjd3memvhmVIQzAVPuFPrAgu-KAO9du2Stw/s640/courts1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Courts at Holt</td></tr>
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The vegetable and fruit garden is particularly fine; allium and violas snuggling between the rows of veg and blossoming fruit trees. I have long coveted a rhubarb forcer like this one (will add it to my Christmas list).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharEVCpNqlcWbX-DOKbAetNtrXmh6BV5uZJobWu_Hz7-IDYcyTfGsGjc5rVCZEfPSKEfFu4aNnuACL9ktfi557BXzkGrzHuisJltABWDrcP-5ghXvsb3uT10DZQ0XE4r1PRtN9S9kQysE/s1600/IMGP6323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharEVCpNqlcWbX-DOKbAetNtrXmh6BV5uZJobWu_Hz7-IDYcyTfGsGjc5rVCZEfPSKEfFu4aNnuACL9ktfi557BXzkGrzHuisJltABWDrcP-5ghXvsb3uT10DZQ0XE4r1PRtN9S9kQysE/s400/IMGP6323.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rhubarb forcer</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Courts at Holt</td></tr>
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It was such a lovely day, there were more visitors than I have seen there before - including several extended families picnicking in the less formal areas, and this little fella exploring the gardens and rushing up to anyone who would make a fuss of him...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqA5OTYHqocJFRHEl_hh1aH1f6Id6WDS_Ub85a23EQ7mSeMb6SOkw8tQ5-HU_e4ZadUymWDawUssh-X09PwE_-HssnNoJYT9wN2rohiC06uPBoHU5_4HsrwhiK0iWy-JMMpQHKXPIT_s/s1600/IMGP6293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqA5OTYHqocJFRHEl_hh1aH1f6Id6WDS_Ub85a23EQ7mSeMb6SOkw8tQ5-HU_e4ZadUymWDawUssh-X09PwE_-HssnNoJYT9wN2rohiC06uPBoHU5_4HsrwhiK0iWy-JMMpQHKXPIT_s/s400/IMGP6293.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">little black cat</td></tr>
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...what a garden to play in!<br />
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It was so hot and sunny, I had to do my English rose act in a wide-brimmed hat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjbrDilyHZY5SzvBfFaZIKH3m2eV2wcAr8o4lBD3CsOswr8gbzZZR22zMFyJvLwHp636LdEpPGmXp8860MesWQ9jbj4sKhSCWLCGIkH2WqnSfJqscDFhQKRUFdUtuGMMMsuIS_Gt0Bqc/s1600/IMGP6354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjbrDilyHZY5SzvBfFaZIKH3m2eV2wcAr8o4lBD3CsOswr8gbzZZR22zMFyJvLwHp636LdEpPGmXp8860MesWQ9jbj4sKhSCWLCGIkH2WqnSfJqscDFhQKRUFdUtuGMMMsuIS_Gt0Bqc/s400/IMGP6354.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">reflections of an English rose</td></tr>
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For a little shade, this tree was perfect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikNDKJWNa2VGSBBD0b4thFTc0e_g_mvrUWbs7Zoi0pRHFBGRi1a9EoZTSiC5m82C9C7zEd8ALO4F314YZghjF72SsDQvxgS0WKvCzp2nCJGXoFV7kqIsetZE9NwdRO5eGqEIsqsoXnE4/s1600/IMGP6281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikNDKJWNa2VGSBBD0b4thFTc0e_g_mvrUWbs7Zoi0pRHFBGRi1a9EoZTSiC5m82C9C7zEd8ALO4F314YZghjF72SsDQvxgS0WKvCzp2nCJGXoFV7kqIsetZE9NwdRO5eGqEIsqsoXnE4/s400/IMGP6281.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful tree at the Courts, Holt</td></tr>
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Even when we left the gardens, plants in the village were competing...this clematis montana seems set on world domination!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DmDh0FTkZ_wpSHQ2OBIF-907BojddX4AoON2Ob8zNkOxkcAk7nkZgA5YJ35ULiXg6MIwWy5SVzZYawdpo27P88JGcjjeUJ7PYVjQIW7IZc6Q4bZc4kPPm5gODWc3OWzUzoxx8abItlE/s1600/IMGP6362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DmDh0FTkZ_wpSHQ2OBIF-907BojddX4AoON2Ob8zNkOxkcAk7nkZgA5YJ35ULiXg6MIwWy5SVzZYawdpo27P88JGcjjeUJ7PYVjQIW7IZc6Q4bZc4kPPm5gODWc3OWzUzoxx8abItlE/s400/IMGP6362.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">clematis montana on a mission</td></tr>
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<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-82364244334763430222013-05-24T11:29:00.002+01:002013-05-24T11:29:48.931+01:00a little piece of art deco gorgeousnessQueen of teapot temptation, <a href="http://scrapiana.com/" target="_blank">Scrapiana</a>, had the most wonderful art deco teapot in her Etsy shop and I just couldn't resist!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">art deco gorgeousness in a teapot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGyeJbrCiQjZcp2Zg90VRrCoIK-Q9WD7iQ_Jb2N51AGu6atLkQoSfZYqc_SlC6x_T_UzA_CglqvRtvabYRELj8ZsQG8rl5j0s1hOGWEi-Am0DxKSpBPbxeZMaIj6qWSGti8FShsvQ-iM/s1600/IMGP6199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGyeJbrCiQjZcp2Zg90VRrCoIK-Q9WD7iQ_Jb2N51AGu6atLkQoSfZYqc_SlC6x_T_UzA_CglqvRtvabYRELj8ZsQG8rl5j0s1hOGWEi-Am0DxKSpBPbxeZMaIj6qWSGti8FShsvQ-iM/s400/IMGP6199.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">art deco teapot and cover</span></td></tr>
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The removable shiny thermal cover is pure genius.Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-38262933579461088142013-05-19T21:33:00.001+01:002013-05-19T21:33:06.194+01:00the American Museum at ClavertonAs threatened, here are a few photos I took today at the <a href="http://www.americanmuseum.org/" target="_blank">American Museum</a>. I am always tempted by the lovely tussie mussies, but resisted today as I still have a nice vase of tulips.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCQWK7Gn8KW0tbIGU4L0-M4t5LNRW2ng8ESErYiPS2xFPvP4Apm287_hmmnd95ViXGV4GVdMLuj1Alq2jQ4YCyYmNnuP9gOOQPzb4rfnJgF4JDIQuMz1dpFUV988cmPT5NpUEv8_y_DU/s1600/am+museum1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCQWK7Gn8KW0tbIGU4L0-M4t5LNRW2ng8ESErYiPS2xFPvP4Apm287_hmmnd95ViXGV4GVdMLuj1Alq2jQ4YCyYmNnuP9gOOQPzb4rfnJgF4JDIQuMz1dpFUV988cmPT5NpUEv8_y_DU/s640/am+museum1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the American Museum in Britain, Claverton</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPN6nd8UFBdWI-ZGixTEa6MLI4rZGtt28mWA6hKzY7Zq6qXKpNsX_HMO5shNVKvgQcexWtoM-UOYqaQMqnqWXXdIlLTcm-mxCQjb8rt6LLVI8XGf8sTtYWHP2Umu51qEK_6EKMSB7Uxc/s1600/am+museum2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPN6nd8UFBdWI-ZGixTEa6MLI4rZGtt28mWA6hKzY7Zq6qXKpNsX_HMO5shNVKvgQcexWtoM-UOYqaQMqnqWXXdIlLTcm-mxCQjb8rt6LLVI8XGf8sTtYWHP2Umu51qEK_6EKMSB7Uxc/s640/am+museum2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful views from the American Museum<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiAzTbrohCQpU38jiITKFnIjAn-XfGTHi5wXefrw8ZymF7nXR7onFBGSByDaSBKj17iPEaIR26M3ALWglkze6Wts1OYioDX90uXssXcb6tO14WiRBtAMD079WCef_wjSSAoLKPjwcrEs/s1600/am+museum3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiAzTbrohCQpU38jiITKFnIjAn-XfGTHi5wXefrw8ZymF7nXR7onFBGSByDaSBKj17iPEaIR26M3ALWglkze6Wts1OYioDX90uXssXcb6tO14WiRBtAMD079WCef_wjSSAoLKPjwcrEs/s640/am+museum3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring flowers at the American Museum</td></tr>
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Mark and I never can resist dressing up at museums and stately homes...have you seen this darn varmint?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UU5yGnFQBXGZQQPIfirLsDsNLvWrK9khS7rC6X_8RDhpWxuB6GC5iaGyhV2ICNOMDWqES-kTeMj8MK3s278d0IonTyuw29VN_qDiNeVFi8nDcEg6w-dLQLyvK86PDlSQqF3q0qkhhyphenhyphen0/s1600/MK+wanted1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UU5yGnFQBXGZQQPIfirLsDsNLvWrK9khS7rC6X_8RDhpWxuB6GC5iaGyhV2ICNOMDWqES-kTeMj8MK3s278d0IonTyuw29VN_qDiNeVFi8nDcEg6w-dLQLyvK86PDlSQqF3q0qkhhyphenhyphen0/s400/MK+wanted1.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">public enemy number 9 1/2</td></tr>
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To round off a lovely day I made my first ever tarte tatin - not hugely pretty, but jolly tasty!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsRwPSUQlDPdcmudiENXwg2AXBeKYSHNJs_EYCE5V7rF8FP_PU9z0bQ3cgb36JfVuJh69oTjQxFSCv2hyhGwPeTb6Hj7RHV70jqrgPCD0MsKRtMwe8UcxbP9y1cNhgU2NZpgDSS0Db9k/s1600/IMG_1450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsRwPSUQlDPdcmudiENXwg2AXBeKYSHNJs_EYCE5V7rF8FP_PU9z0bQ3cgb36JfVuJh69oTjQxFSCv2hyhGwPeTb6Hj7RHV70jqrgPCD0MsKRtMwe8UcxbP9y1cNhgU2NZpgDSS0Db9k/s400/IMG_1450.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my first ever tarte tatin</td></tr>
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Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-67984599507237889942013-05-19T08:46:00.001+01:002013-05-19T08:46:58.460+01:00all dressed in whiteThis year we managed to get to Lacock in the few weeks when it is entirely dressed in white. The terrible Winter has meant everything is a little later this year, but oh so worth the wait!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggF0l8bcBz63zIo7hgDTS8nuV3eEQPKcPJqa5KE8emJPp0R3BWjTpVpnI_YkCRV6a-02qY8H9xsDTg8CfYRBaLAmb9wk4DY8aWRMIjVA2iOUz6o6b4a_BJonUK7il4NTkOVgc1Mjca3Ug/s1600/white2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggF0l8bcBz63zIo7hgDTS8nuV3eEQPKcPJqa5KE8emJPp0R3BWjTpVpnI_YkCRV6a-02qY8H9xsDTg8CfYRBaLAmb9wk4DY8aWRMIjVA2iOUz6o6b4a_BJonUK7il4NTkOVgc1Mjca3Ug/s640/white2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacock Abbey in May</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOHKocCjs-thtNGTP_N8QImFZYFcSxQSf_XSzYC9DER162jjuNTXfkzVEvV94DHf8pHu75n8sZg-kAuz2lDT5o4cqJ4Lr28oolAMnXYb9rPqCp3vHNpjoval9qQmqNnB20mfdaIHel5Y/s1600/white1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOHKocCjs-thtNGTP_N8QImFZYFcSxQSf_XSzYC9DER162jjuNTXfkzVEvV94DHf8pHu75n8sZg-kAuz2lDT5o4cqJ4Lr28oolAMnXYb9rPqCp3vHNpjoval9qQmqNnB20mfdaIHel5Y/s640/white1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacock Abbey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The orchard had hints of fairyland about it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUky1s0zmmKe4o1saHhJIej_2itIj61Op_rW7fgvG8FvUYbjVR5VnKl7ippEp2bh4E-_tiTiSWAGqIZcwylqHGuCK_YgJhMVHks6ffF65mYTIS8tiy3geIKPWIFLwz9A-lriOFTuxiUhE/s1600/lacock+orchard+May.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUky1s0zmmKe4o1saHhJIej_2itIj61Op_rW7fgvG8FvUYbjVR5VnKl7ippEp2bh4E-_tiTiSWAGqIZcwylqHGuCK_YgJhMVHks6ffF65mYTIS8tiy3geIKPWIFLwz9A-lriOFTuxiUhE/s640/lacock+orchard+May.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacock Abbey orchard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It wasn't all white - the walled garden was a mass of colour!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYBxNG76RivODF_F5L-jllcBurybiPNUl3tp1v2MbXQsmZHMmCYnt0FLoaA9uqm7eYffgLRMQbN6hCGFaF_6Y2HO95uF4ADm0Sdqc-j13XZvcLM_GcOIaaPynca7AkA4lWgwa6oVZxM0/s1600/colour+lacock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYBxNG76RivODF_F5L-jllcBurybiPNUl3tp1v2MbXQsmZHMmCYnt0FLoaA9uqm7eYffgLRMQbN6hCGFaF_6Y2HO95uF4ADm0Sdqc-j13XZvcLM_GcOIaaPynca7AkA4lWgwa6oVZxM0/s640/colour+lacock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacock colour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div>
The hot house had some very exotic species...<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVRGrTCx4nWtPC_67gjoyzDKvG3SkoUuDQBM9K4GRBRqpdbtZ-fCWfkylMimV6-we0QMjF-1lW4cz3Jz81Ze1YYdkq318xUMBHKU0ln0-Mahoi5KB5gKVt5UqAnVSdp2mfo8vcZlzXpY/s1600/IMGP5954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVRGrTCx4nWtPC_67gjoyzDKvG3SkoUuDQBM9K4GRBRqpdbtZ-fCWfkylMimV6-we0QMjF-1lW4cz3Jz81Ze1YYdkq318xUMBHKU0ln0-Mahoi5KB5gKVt5UqAnVSdp2mfo8vcZlzXpY/s400/IMGP5954.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cat in the greenhouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
And Mark showed off his croquet skills.<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW2BH3gIQ5Gh-dJvAIJYu1z7CZiGiKaBTiFk8ytyNxoCyRaGK9HDaf2CYBeLnvzv6BzGrwfcxu0rOLAH03uttKdTmmBmATAZMOc0vWVFl4Mq35DqnY_2QeyWl0VS9_NDC4zJqKPjBbbY/s1600/IMGP5961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW2BH3gIQ5Gh-dJvAIJYu1z7CZiGiKaBTiFk8ytyNxoCyRaGK9HDaf2CYBeLnvzv6BzGrwfcxu0rOLAH03uttKdTmmBmATAZMOc0vWVFl4Mq35DqnY_2QeyWl0VS9_NDC4zJqKPjBbbY/s400/IMGP5961.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">anyone for croquet?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /><div>
We also went inside the house. Mark rather took to being a country gentleman, while I seemed more at home as a rosy cheeked scullery maid!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKOggENanwAri3q1O2tUTneGRF-1FF7mbDL12Bdi0UmB1GqxHA9R_KXLUI8Wh0LYxWX_pMCPdeOIEE2nF4i4qzv-VLrOXEX1G4F_uXCMlEOOxZ7hLGmvW4hIjEbVUBQIBLyuAbsF0szY/s1600/scullery+maid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKOggENanwAri3q1O2tUTneGRF-1FF7mbDL12Bdi0UmB1GqxHA9R_KXLUI8Wh0LYxWX_pMCPdeOIEE2nF4i4qzv-VLrOXEX1G4F_uXCMlEOOxZ7hLGmvW4hIjEbVUBQIBLyuAbsF0szY/s640/scullery+maid.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacock Abbey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /><div>
Now this is where I could see myself taking afternoon tea (but instead we went to St John's Hunting Lodge for warm cinnamon lumbs and Margaret's tea).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5iFzd789v9QdM7vlB5h7-C8qsgHjDeS5qs-fljbpf8d7WAtijHOMV8pmgbg5Kqzn-esa8v8J8VKR7RbCoNs9bFBNqyjm1tVu6udc69td0o-lLqVbJT2de96Swdhm2Kq5M8o2PznlcTw/s1600/IMGP6111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5iFzd789v9QdM7vlB5h7-C8qsgHjDeS5qs-fljbpf8d7WAtijHOMV8pmgbg5Kqzn-esa8v8J8VKR7RbCoNs9bFBNqyjm1tVu6udc69td0o-lLqVbJT2de96Swdhm2Kq5M8o2PznlcTw/s400/IMGP6111.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tea in the withdrawing room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /><div>
Back outside there was a display of falconry....such beautiful birds.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eJ3oDT3WYsEfISz5siSkITygYspmFWe7yZOFrMflIXJj8-LqrRtqUueyonI6-OekCXz0ZPPw7dlGnoFQ21kJSn3hUWib4Tnj53RRv5XmDAWv4OJb2aIFlxqUS3QVFnCdiEsFs4FfilY/s1600/falconry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eJ3oDT3WYsEfISz5siSkITygYspmFWe7yZOFrMflIXJj8-LqrRtqUueyonI6-OekCXz0ZPPw7dlGnoFQ21kJSn3hUWib4Tnj53RRv5XmDAWv4OJb2aIFlxqUS3QVFnCdiEsFs4FfilY/s640/falconry.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">falconry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today we are heading to the American Museum, so brace yourself for even more photos!<br /><br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-40114731373228435322013-05-18T08:46:00.001+01:002013-05-18T08:46:51.688+01:00too warm for gloves?Well most of the time it really is rather too warm for gloves, but they have other uses...!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IBwXUxC683u395yeNdoSB0zsVM-cFUYnQCfWzm21QViuywBFQacdkvF_6xtLmyguPhUQ8NKmuFCOtnkQhqeyL3QRs_HokC8mWrPQ8mOBufMXJi6J4jPkBY2lqnzrBDZ1-mAusrx3muM/s1600/glovedog2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IBwXUxC683u395yeNdoSB0zsVM-cFUYnQCfWzm21QViuywBFQacdkvF_6xtLmyguPhUQ8NKmuFCOtnkQhqeyL3QRs_HokC8mWrPQ8mOBufMXJi6J4jPkBY2lqnzrBDZ1-mAusrx3muM/s400/glovedog2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">glove dog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are lots of other creatures I want to try, but this one is for a baby, so no odd bits of woolly manes or button eyes; entirely chewable (and washable!).<br />
<br />
In the garden the gales have decimated the blossom on the cherry tree, but that gives the apple trees and choisya their chance to shine. I don't think I am the only one appreciating them either...bzzzzzz.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpUqyIjW8pU7CVYbE7cB_8mqLyJQhegzAcJDBUuTbQaj8dmtyjxI14jV_sCwAjFUwidzZfmumvitQxg49Xrbmn90Xhf_6smPLGfrI6go1wWryQ84Vd1cTzxKOs7exXy21JvlUkytFVds/s1600/bees+on+blossom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpUqyIjW8pU7CVYbE7cB_8mqLyJQhegzAcJDBUuTbQaj8dmtyjxI14jV_sCwAjFUwidzZfmumvitQxg49Xrbmn90Xhf_6smPLGfrI6go1wWryQ84Vd1cTzxKOs7exXy21JvlUkytFVds/s640/bees+on+blossom.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bees in the apple blossom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HJFHu2QhXOv0yPHjOOgskDpgqdVInqTOHDjpGkma0PFUeedKxmcXSijXuMRxLyKlDDZFWmOF7sLq9_Cbg3WrhfeSkgif8WqedAIsUV300FyQI5-MJoRxHS5GxwQ448YG5af2g11r2ow/s1600/apple+blossom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HJFHu2QhXOv0yPHjOOgskDpgqdVInqTOHDjpGkma0PFUeedKxmcXSijXuMRxLyKlDDZFWmOF7sLq9_Cbg3WrhfeSkgif8WqedAIsUV300FyQI5-MJoRxHS5GxwQ448YG5af2g11r2ow/s640/apple+blossom.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a Bath garden in May</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lovely walks with George along the canal too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjm7jPNKgUeOLVMYXmFeFC6hOYYy467sa5-2DZ1_JBV_hyY3aChJs8p2I8iVAP01NiCFqh0i9z-H3YQ4SI9ZewO8K-SJaj-Z37TLr-Ts1GzuO64RaM-ow2rzeGSDqUuBrxAaRyDHZPg8g/s1600/george+canal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjm7jPNKgUeOLVMYXmFeFC6hOYYy467sa5-2DZ1_JBV_hyY3aChJs8p2I8iVAP01NiCFqh0i9z-H3YQ4SI9ZewO8K-SJaj-Z37TLr-Ts1GzuO64RaM-ow2rzeGSDqUuBrxAaRyDHZPg8g/s400/george+canal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-71040025250878839982013-05-12T10:57:00.001+01:002013-05-12T11:06:05.113+01:00faces from the pastMy stepmother gave me a bundle of old photos my dad had kept; fond memories and faces of family members some of whom I never even met. I love the way these photos capture the times in which they were taken.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHaFH4QVmk5WAACLWypAKp2PTlOpxmY-v1MiAbENaeijmzad-6Eq1vjqA0TwQhMveB-OJ7j6mr5u0a3qIQ60kOebfKOSE_NRUZ7liA43FOW2kZZzFhDDRl5rV_p3tVVDYbnno-9Pdtgw/s1600/Scan+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHaFH4QVmk5WAACLWypAKp2PTlOpxmY-v1MiAbENaeijmzad-6Eq1vjqA0TwQhMveB-OJ7j6mr5u0a3qIQ60kOebfKOSE_NRUZ7liA43FOW2kZZzFhDDRl5rV_p3tVVDYbnno-9Pdtgw/s320/Scan+5.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my dad, aged 3</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqiiWrZkfMNsM9ok43zmYmXdrIoqWmWRcngjXlbHorEVrcmWoylmeVImUXMKamB1cJnhTKTkzy616vbDwW_HfuL01NB420VLo8mmUy-1hbvrQQBaSWI4jhpRIrCWBPKs1pSCCbH1KxYo/s1600/betty+mumma+grandad+dad+great+aunt+helen+1938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqiiWrZkfMNsM9ok43zmYmXdrIoqWmWRcngjXlbHorEVrcmWoylmeVImUXMKamB1cJnhTKTkzy616vbDwW_HfuL01NB420VLo8mmUy-1hbvrQQBaSWI4jhpRIrCWBPKs1pSCCbH1KxYo/s320/betty+mumma+grandad+dad+great+aunt+helen+1938.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my great aunt Betty, grandmother, grandfather (my dad in his arms) and great aunt Helen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI3B7Q1Uk6Ia8xeSFe3tNuyI6_sdknNikF5-5Oqh_tlHA0MH5AJsGzRLfP03dXdeXfBTLYsA6sA_QV242YjCRg11UcmJ0FpHPn3pDMGVETPrm3cUa7ZkKemxLPb2O2ZkCUuFzU2Tpu4s/s1600/dad+1938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI3B7Q1Uk6Ia8xeSFe3tNuyI6_sdknNikF5-5Oqh_tlHA0MH5AJsGzRLfP03dXdeXfBTLYsA6sA_QV242YjCRg11UcmJ0FpHPn3pDMGVETPrm3cUa7ZkKemxLPb2O2ZkCUuFzU2Tpu4s/s320/dad+1938.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my dad</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhne6VB14Dgv5Ct64qQOC1WV4TdU6FNA2AzBtFfFtsNh6lm9ujJFd_JzvBtZqlfu3j3ndgub61n1DohmYZxxqXKV3hDujYv0LiktZSpMVcvMZDPaaliRjnf2pUUs6y5T29YnXFGix476DY/s1600/grandad+arthur+yates+anne+boy+mumma+kenneth+mrs+yates+girl+helen+betty+sheila+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhne6VB14Dgv5Ct64qQOC1WV4TdU6FNA2AzBtFfFtsNh6lm9ujJFd_JzvBtZqlfu3j3ndgub61n1DohmYZxxqXKV3hDujYv0LiktZSpMVcvMZDPaaliRjnf2pUUs6y5T29YnXFGix476DY/s320/grandad+arthur+yates+anne+boy+mumma+kenneth+mrs+yates+girl+helen+betty+sheila+boy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">family picnic at Burnham on Sea</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qSexj-Xtv8Rm6N2UQ4nzkBNW5yJC0PC_gwhGfJr5gtivozl9xYCiHV5oVyLM7uWCs7ddBMmxntOmP_UoXGNbF0iEb4hMYOh-o4l50y7oPiQGVW0Blr6WSiofmRXNjdOLaXG03alA-bM/s1600/great+granny+jane+davis+nee+wolastone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qSexj-Xtv8Rm6N2UQ4nzkBNW5yJC0PC_gwhGfJr5gtivozl9xYCiHV5oVyLM7uWCs7ddBMmxntOmP_UoXGNbF0iEb4hMYOh-o4l50y7oPiQGVW0Blr6WSiofmRXNjdOLaXG03alA-bM/s320/great+granny+jane+davis+nee+wolastone.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my great grandmother</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-01GZ9nZKzZ8TE1sLOSeuFM327DEtPgOSnXy0JSlK9Pm1UiHa1JEsNER22Gr4WRa1RlMsjH7dVSGE16mc2qFtRB9gZlTwfKmKYtiRaVamurfVfy_MVC44WYEZovS0vkWNbsOaUaXFmg/s1600/great+great+aunt+mabel+great+great+granny+wolastone+mumma+dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-01GZ9nZKzZ8TE1sLOSeuFM327DEtPgOSnXy0JSlK9Pm1UiHa1JEsNER22Gr4WRa1RlMsjH7dVSGE16mc2qFtRB9gZlTwfKmKYtiRaVamurfVfy_MVC44WYEZovS0vkWNbsOaUaXFmg/s320/great+great+aunt+mabel+great+great+granny+wolastone+mumma+dad.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my great grandmother, great great grandmother, grandmother and my dad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My mum still mentions the parties she had on her family's house boat - telling me they never got too drunk because they lined their stomachs with milk! My mum is the one on the left laughing and my dad is standing (in the rather unnecessary seafaring outfit).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAUzYQGZa-p2VpUH6GGQPTdqXW6JydMPT09XctvGwyQwAR8ULcZ2FIVHZD5skCI9rqtNuxTRj_1-DJIidzYqYuKIcs6eppfMES4pHkCnXaR8s81nSRc7ijQXX7DhSSctNTMm9xBdgM1g/s1600/mum+and+dad+Avel+1951+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAUzYQGZa-p2VpUH6GGQPTdqXW6JydMPT09XctvGwyQwAR8ULcZ2FIVHZD5skCI9rqtNuxTRj_1-DJIidzYqYuKIcs6eppfMES4pHkCnXaR8s81nSRc7ijQXX7DhSSctNTMm9xBdgM1g/s320/mum+and+dad+Avel+1951+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">boat party</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My dad smoking a pipe (my mum made him give up smoking before she would marry him), a family friend and my grandmother looking as I have never seen her before!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvTxhK5neezZ5hA_dfnkdIBm9C6UC8Y1ILBIuyx-AlqirJOLFJRZynzLH3dSXaT6_TLwkcZIdh00GAoJvDbTRuvRRIhD58fWDGHcgCfU8Ezc0-4viSuGTUNUfTYvAK6hA8KG2qkqve_A/s1600/mumma+reg+thirkettle+dad+christmas+1953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvTxhK5neezZ5hA_dfnkdIBm9C6UC8Y1ILBIuyx-AlqirJOLFJRZynzLH3dSXaT6_TLwkcZIdh00GAoJvDbTRuvRRIhD58fWDGHcgCfU8Ezc0-4viSuGTUNUfTYvAK6hA8KG2qkqve_A/s320/mumma+reg+thirkettle+dad+christmas+1953.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas 1951</td></tr>
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My dad used to tell me stories about growing up with his twin sisters and the tricks her played on them.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMyVXGKYkdy7YffSWyc43VkSzmxkSqDXPBH56SGe5t0vBZM0f8UoAzaOGGU_V8D_trABfnjd5BVvmuZ-xON5vzbZvraRi1RhDM3sKPHZ1Lr5n_3I5jkxfvsJZ1acseaf07b1Qdewdk5w/s1600/mumma+sheila+anne+dad+1940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMyVXGKYkdy7YffSWyc43VkSzmxkSqDXPBH56SGe5t0vBZM0f8UoAzaOGGU_V8D_trABfnjd5BVvmuZ-xON5vzbZvraRi1RhDM3sKPHZ1Lr5n_3I5jkxfvsJZ1acseaf07b1Qdewdk5w/s320/mumma+sheila+anne+dad+1940.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dad with his sisters and my grandmother</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DtgWkpUH386JZXCZQsJn96Gq-zHfqfTS3qB5oUmvzEsDnGjUrtnAQkhyphenhyphenjGnyv6wUchDhaWImTNKHnErbI6PYJQ6Npc0NE4_JuPzbFwUPaTNPJyLX0sU6_05aEWhI4I8nczkVDnw2YsE/s1600/unknown+great+aunt+helen+mumma+grandad+kenneth+anne+vic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DtgWkpUH386JZXCZQsJn96Gq-zHfqfTS3qB5oUmvzEsDnGjUrtnAQkhyphenhyphenjGnyv6wUchDhaWImTNKHnErbI6PYJQ6Npc0NE4_JuPzbFwUPaTNPJyLX0sU6_05aEWhI4I8nczkVDnw2YsE/s320/unknown+great+aunt+helen+mumma+grandad+kenneth+anne+vic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbi70ZDuKaibfeOqxg_0CGUI8U4n1JZjMnc0NAmm_x3tB9nKMJK3iUkaDaX_e6Y_HV9nhZlyN-PWEZ9tLfQiU0cahvyVdyPJ-WticrsXUqgB-N4IuzFy41z3eY6TOCBSKtWy-Gat16LY0/s1600/Scan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbi70ZDuKaibfeOqxg_0CGUI8U4n1JZjMnc0NAmm_x3tB9nKMJK3iUkaDaX_e6Y_HV9nhZlyN-PWEZ9tLfQiU0cahvyVdyPJ-WticrsXUqgB-N4IuzFy41z3eY6TOCBSKtWy-Gat16LY0/s320/Scan.jpg" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my mum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then there is my generation capturing the 1960s and 1970s.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00TM6d_nkYELm0APAttLmJBfrU6KO0x8-ycxxgc5DyDyyBgh6Nu25jVQU9Kxp-aLsp3X85ZvZhA-QHY7AFSxvumr8mc4F3-Ya75aexCPc2IQyBug5d3vdCxeFDSt0Hffrq74Q-BNgX78/s1600/helen+andrew+sarah+and+paul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00TM6d_nkYELm0APAttLmJBfrU6KO0x8-ycxxgc5DyDyyBgh6Nu25jVQU9Kxp-aLsp3X85ZvZhA-QHY7AFSxvumr8mc4F3-Ya75aexCPc2IQyBug5d3vdCxeFDSt0Hffrq74Q-BNgX78/s320/helen+andrew+sarah+and+paul.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my sisters and cousin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WF-uYGq2Yi6UhIL-vjdK2-hj0sn9GSj684PPQk92Ka-OLjFJD3dpOZlijl6Iv-wPHzpRhFeDXTtLOg6RuGyZJo0BxFEzb3RJAQJ9Qk2IKdIXDJxyQMEqjq9RHtYljXvR0cmo8T85CQA/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WF-uYGq2Yi6UhIL-vjdK2-hj0sn9GSj684PPQk92Ka-OLjFJD3dpOZlijl6Iv-wPHzpRhFeDXTtLOg6RuGyZJo0BxFEzb3RJAQJ9Qk2IKdIXDJxyQMEqjq9RHtYljXvR0cmo8T85CQA/s320/me.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4e1wrT5q8IGv9SWu2NDSLbmLRiB2OHPt3U46pk5mfc6_mPe_7ohv_j1QUzUKw7pKXW9GCFT8rNn5wE30R0XENWRzb1BXgUrpDyoSkpoMIjOC48iGjdixnBLXbwvV8w56W_JKaGZuBpn8/s1600/helen+me+sarah+1969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4e1wrT5q8IGv9SWu2NDSLbmLRiB2OHPt3U46pk5mfc6_mPe_7ohv_j1QUzUKw7pKXW9GCFT8rNn5wE30R0XENWRzb1BXgUrpDyoSkpoMIjOC48iGjdixnBLXbwvV8w56W_JKaGZuBpn8/s320/helen+me+sarah+1969.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my sisters and me at my birthday party</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfzDRE7Eb_lVhEvoTd9o3BaGujCVN8bPKtZUdz1qAib3-tKJnUfUzfF0jpfhyHC49PacOeLNm7Q58SGKnNXy5MISKwx7MwioYtHMEvhL4H6msGeF6HeJHFe81KhR_UZknOlHMPw2mk-Y/s1600/me+1974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfzDRE7Eb_lVhEvoTd9o3BaGujCVN8bPKtZUdz1qAib3-tKJnUfUzfF0jpfhyHC49PacOeLNm7Q58SGKnNXy5MISKwx7MwioYtHMEvhL4H6msGeF6HeJHFe81KhR_UZknOlHMPw2mk-Y/s320/me+1974.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me...butter wouldn't melt!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-20184921632905305012013-05-06T20:47:00.000+01:002013-05-06T20:47:09.283+01:00days of sunshineLook, I'm sorry...there have just been too many months of grey dreariness for me not to go out with my camera now the land is drenched in golden sunlight. I can already hear the murmurs of "not more gardens", but you'll be glad of it when it rains from June to October!<br />
<br />
I know am a bit obsessed with our cherry blossom and the primroses that pop up in the lawn alongside the violets...but that's just the way it is.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OPo_di_jyKrI3Dqyh_h_3yu-yxLS9kckKXJN4FKIKlgOabr7geY2IAsYKzfg-9DTdTHRSkMSmrMX7boPkVh3GxwvvJ4tK4LSL-M42lXigWVeArUw66J0lhLx8s3loArOSl1e4rmYMlo/s1600/garden+rounded.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OPo_di_jyKrI3Dqyh_h_3yu-yxLS9kckKXJN4FKIKlgOabr7geY2IAsYKzfg-9DTdTHRSkMSmrMX7boPkVh3GxwvvJ4tK4LSL-M42lXigWVeArUw66J0lhLx8s3loArOSl1e4rmYMlo/s640/garden+rounded.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">garden blossom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Max seems to be somewhat in love with the garden just now too...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cedN8kpLk0yNBSyEqQxIkNht5NgvtmjNwj38t0gyAo-EPef0ZXgTce2-KqYMhI6rjfB9-id9rPvz99cKHJAw4r0X67quG0hhab7esGUQnTePbJYHzmbuuYz2NRnKyuqTYra7S5JnwuA/s1600/IMGP5811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cedN8kpLk0yNBSyEqQxIkNht5NgvtmjNwj38t0gyAo-EPef0ZXgTce2-KqYMhI6rjfB9-id9rPvz99cKHJAw4r0X67quG0hhab7esGUQnTePbJYHzmbuuYz2NRnKyuqTYra7S5JnwuA/s400/IMGP5811.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Every year I try to catch the grounds and orchard at Lacock Abbey when the apple trees are in blossom and the wild garlic is in flower and the paths are lined with fields of Queen Anne's Lace. Last year we missed it - there is really only a week or two when the gardens look like the setting for a celebrity wedding - and we are determined to catch it this year. This weekend there are hints of white, but it is still mainly vibrant green, so we will just have to go back next weekend!<br />
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The village car park was crammed full, but magically the grounds simply absorb people, so it is stays calm and peaceful. Mind you the Marshfield Farm ice cream place had completely sold out...ppfffhh!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0NJBK0c50EDo6jtypdBlM7NgL9-2eB0HyK6HrdkkN2Ht7VFOmJExvEE6WxiKUsmgzsIeRrakn9DoTWLAgQnPxSE0-j2XStANwrQloKIENMz6tt0UIvXqVpq3M6pNOWrWumGtH_89yXk/s1600/lacock+pond.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0NJBK0c50EDo6jtypdBlM7NgL9-2eB0HyK6HrdkkN2Ht7VFOmJExvEE6WxiKUsmgzsIeRrakn9DoTWLAgQnPxSE0-j2XStANwrQloKIENMz6tt0UIvXqVpq3M6pNOWrWumGtH_89yXk/s640/lacock+pond.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacock pond</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKt_Y4KTLlbxc0ICexn_7-lvp3thp9kuugeLIDVqVdEUzQG1v8PgFoo4HlCMYms2KYzJ29sWppQ_ByOp8uo7_MfaRpMll-CYu3ZvwSuXya4Ydp0_hv9CdsxxU16mjVCqflOR7Epq_x0I/s1600/lacock1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKt_Y4KTLlbxc0ICexn_7-lvp3thp9kuugeLIDVqVdEUzQG1v8PgFoo4HlCMYms2KYzJ29sWppQ_ByOp8uo7_MfaRpMll-CYu3ZvwSuXya4Ydp0_hv9CdsxxU16mjVCqflOR7Epq_x0I/s640/lacock1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacock Abbey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWx4scougUUu-Cqe2VQmWPQeYwMhN7IRQFDtY1KUfr7-gUb5MPz6-u22F9eCo7ZbQP9dvsXn9jsz6N7X-xftDboE7gX5_wHhTl-HKu8OfkLP3xiSq1gMAluhwebVgQwrZVzGQLFTjfIA/s1600/lacock+green.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWx4scougUUu-Cqe2VQmWPQeYwMhN7IRQFDtY1KUfr7-gUb5MPz6-u22F9eCo7ZbQP9dvsXn9jsz6N7X-xftDboE7gX5_wHhTl-HKu8OfkLP3xiSq1gMAluhwebVgQwrZVzGQLFTjfIA/s640/lacock+green.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacock Abbey gardens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHzMDa0sQxj4zGGjUSDDQWLUASqDnOzJSTdNmjeQ1EgfLv3R4f1B1AwdASqE_wo-Tt0rvBghRQqD5GFLj5Dis_DJ4m5P8uchgovsB_T5POnhmx-gwuHLQvu62fi3vNBbriZ5OgYbSmOk/s1600/tulips+rounded.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHzMDa0sQxj4zGGjUSDDQWLUASqDnOzJSTdNmjeQ1EgfLv3R4f1B1AwdASqE_wo-Tt0rvBghRQqD5GFLj5Dis_DJ4m5P8uchgovsB_T5POnhmx-gwuHLQvu62fi3vNBbriZ5OgYbSmOk/s640/tulips+rounded.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacock walled garden tulips</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I cannot promise not to take more garden photos this week, but next week there will at least be sewing too!Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-51558594615963691212013-05-05T08:39:00.000+01:002013-05-05T08:39:11.137+01:00there's no place like home<h3>
whether it is better to paint or to sew...that is the question</h3>
With all this decorating I am finding muscles I never knew existed and keep discovering sploshes of paint that have not come off in the shower; some interestingly coloured freckles to add to the natural ones. The house is really starting to look the way Mark and I want it to (well ok, the way<i> I </i>want it to look and Mark is ok with), but I think I need a break from decorating and I am itching to get back to my sewing machine. I have, therefore, decided that once I have finished the tiles and woodwork in the bathroom, I am going to wait a bit before I start on the three bedrooms (although one of them does need to be done before some very important visitors arrive in August).<br />
<br />
<h3>
beauty on my doorstep</h3>
We spent much of our holiday wandering around gardens (and tomorrow plan to see if the orchard at Lacock Abbey is in blossom), but sometimes it is easy to overlook what is right under your nose. I have plans for our garden: raised-beds, raspberries, more rhubarb, roses and even things not beginning with 'r' - but the garden already has a loveliness all its own and Spring suits it very well.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWu0Yq1tVmUFnnqNmolLKTxje-PXfhGZZ3RLcY-lrphd5CTdipt7wlDRVsHjttLl9P9xSn3t_Nx7gT1JWsbrNHG_48bNwF5I7AyGtoCYkKYxp3UrksN3KMS9aLF6kLMv7ytmkBjnawk8/s1600/our+garden+may+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWu0Yq1tVmUFnnqNmolLKTxje-PXfhGZZ3RLcY-lrphd5CTdipt7wlDRVsHjttLl9P9xSn3t_Nx7gT1JWsbrNHG_48bNwF5I7AyGtoCYkKYxp3UrksN3KMS9aLF6kLMv7ytmkBjnawk8/s640/our+garden+may+2013.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our garden in Bath</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The cherry tree at the bottom of the garden is really showing off at the moment...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPSlGCeCI7JVOu5jyyIpZEQpBbz4_UADG7cK_xIVi455Aex9M0pf4hOu7UUsL5udfvenLs1CLzDzyljBmZbPC5c1XDUOL13Atu6cgq3HG6nQzh2LXaYEKdKQ57_REBiNk-H8MJtDpB6s/s1600/cherry+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPSlGCeCI7JVOu5jyyIpZEQpBbz4_UADG7cK_xIVi455Aex9M0pf4hOu7UUsL5udfvenLs1CLzDzyljBmZbPC5c1XDUOL13Atu6cgq3HG6nQzh2LXaYEKdKQ57_REBiNk-H8MJtDpB6s/s640/cherry+tree.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our cherry tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
...and the cats are loving sunny days in the garden (although I do have to keep shooing them away from the sparrow hedge - luckily the loud bells on their collars seem to keep the birds safe)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyinFgRGnVdQfCEarC34Deo91K6V-9BTiCjcg6kYPULC9XQtdgcG2V_gTSWF4QkbMVEOXt70LQg6dPRmXxivYk24iyrgQGYG6KvVQcCFggsSmPqRVW_Xx5ikvi6SKcGgpypo1hP2q3kxs/s1600/cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyinFgRGnVdQfCEarC34Deo91K6V-9BTiCjcg6kYPULC9XQtdgcG2V_gTSWF4QkbMVEOXt70LQg6dPRmXxivYk24iyrgQGYG6KvVQcCFggsSmPqRVW_Xx5ikvi6SKcGgpypo1hP2q3kxs/s640/cats.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max and Rio, the cats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now the part of the garden formerly known as 'the jungle' is clear, Max thinks it is a wonderful place for a snooze. Actually we had intended to put down gravel there and add some pots, but have decided instead to plant spreading thyme and camomile and fill the gaps with chipped bark, so it is more cat-friendly.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAB0grT6JJ3QWR8tFp85GjSXNxvTMuDdE_UDbez446WdSNwZ1i_faEaQKYV13ZSfigtA0_1G4F5tylmwfv3tA_bZAlEi0WdmYX8F991D1EwGZ9bFJwejVLsyG0OT75JPA71NgyqAoGXzU/s1600/IMGP5781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAB0grT6JJ3QWR8tFp85GjSXNxvTMuDdE_UDbez446WdSNwZ1i_faEaQKYV13ZSfigtA0_1G4F5tylmwfv3tA_bZAlEi0WdmYX8F991D1EwGZ9bFJwejVLsyG0OT75JPA71NgyqAoGXzU/s400/IMGP5781.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max relaxing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
What is more, we are surrounded by beautiful countryside. At the end of our little cul-de-sac you look one way towards the city (the centre of Bath is just a 20 minute walk away) and the other to rolling hills. I really am spoilt, and feel hugely grateful to live in such a wonderful place.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguqNsllcTHxZnShXO0RKHquMHqVdXSuw_Yc2WxbvZYePWy_3psgRN8TeHG2KJURGrBrd5yNK1doynuLwte-LbdcauHmyhTxDiimZsBIqY2btulLWhcUciHpeEWF8CG3jsbXPXg0JIVuA/s1600/IMG_1434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguqNsllcTHxZnShXO0RKHquMHqVdXSuw_Yc2WxbvZYePWy_3psgRN8TeHG2KJURGrBrd5yNK1doynuLwte-LbdcauHmyhTxDiimZsBIqY2btulLWhcUciHpeEWF8CG3jsbXPXg0JIVuA/s400/IMG_1434.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking towards Swainswick village</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbNPl8qdnCTPv3Yr0zEqEivHZ8xZdTv-vK1vrjuyZzFT-xW2wvqqQqngJ78pkapoGTMQy84qjOfRqj35W4PLczS4onF5z86kmBT4GXP3tp5fWwXODw_5JMnPD9zfb1nSR5iWHGFfRDok/s1600/IMG_1436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbNPl8qdnCTPv3Yr0zEqEivHZ8xZdTv-vK1vrjuyZzFT-xW2wvqqQqngJ78pkapoGTMQy84qjOfRqj35W4PLczS4onF5z86kmBT4GXP3tp5fWwXODw_5JMnPD9zfb1nSR5iWHGFfRDok/s400/IMG_1436.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Woolley Valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
George and the horses</h3>
This week I walked George the spaniel the loop around and through Swainswick village and was somewhat concerned when, in a narrow country lane with high hedgerow both sides, we met a large horse and rider (only the horse was large). I have only been walking George for a few weeks and did not know quite how he would react to a horse. He has been fine with people, children, other dogs, ducks etc, but we had not met anything as big as a horse. Here, as my Swedish friends throw their hands up in horror, I have to confess to being rather scared of, not to mention very allergic to, horses. I just knew I couldn't be afraid because it would pass on to George (and maybe even the horse) and if the horse reared up it could be quite bad for me and George. The rider seemed anxious too, which didn't help my worries any. However, George quietly sat at the side of the road with an expression that said "horse? what horse?". The rider commented on what a wonderfully behaved dog he was and I thanked her...despite having no right to smugness, George being someone else's dog who I only walk one day a week.<br />
<br />
Feeling relieved, we carried on with me fairly skipping along, George's recently filled poo bag, swinging in my hand (I feel the need to make sure people see I am a responsible dog walker who picks up George's...er....little gifts). As we turned a bend in the narrow lane, we came face to face with not one, but <b>two</b> more horses!! Before my heart had time to sink, one of the riders called out "Is that George?". "It <i>is</i> George" I replied, somewhat surprised by his canine celebrity. Clearly my fears were unfounded as George seems to regularly socialise with horses and riders.Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-58863193806368080952013-04-28T10:57:00.000+01:002013-04-28T15:38:19.514+01:00a week in Broadchurch (that's West Bay to you and me)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXAgZfFdpXynmLXmZhblYXESebWQgDQB-x8jnMQukVASR957jOSBuEY1nFT7KRagMG1-iP2ovwWIc3DlmiNTmE4ZjXfc886V-feUpOWhn-wUVnR-7vIYRAlVO_CTKcXuv6rJ-XFYAoPk/s1600/IMG_1430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXAgZfFdpXynmLXmZhblYXESebWQgDQB-x8jnMQukVASR957jOSBuEY1nFT7KRagMG1-iP2ovwWIc3DlmiNTmE4ZjXfc886V-feUpOWhn-wUVnR-7vIYRAlVO_CTKcXuv6rJ-XFYAoPk/s400/IMG_1430.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broadchurch/West Bay in the sunshine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2suv0Rb34ETqg-4IqfYswCxp33qiCkgmmAW6bNOoNhjF-2R-b7ayQjKSSpqjJmhdy5S2BEtpDhdm1DZCaUdZ44XNLayJMPrAXVfmI-IkxUX4yVB7U7rU83joV3fJkfx7odoHcU1t9FY/s1600/IMG_1427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2suv0Rb34ETqg-4IqfYswCxp33qiCkgmmAW6bNOoNhjF-2R-b7ayQjKSSpqjJmhdy5S2BEtpDhdm1DZCaUdZ44XNLayJMPrAXVfmI-IkxUX4yVB7U7rU83joV3fJkfx7odoHcU1t9FY/s400/IMG_1427.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sea mist at West Bay/Broadchurch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
How sad is it that I spent my birthday evening watching <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/broadchurch" target="_blank">Broadchurch</a> on tv?? My excuses are:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>not enough space on our Sky+ to record it</li>
<li>we were in West Bay where most of it was filmed</li>
<li>I really wanted to know if I was right about the murderer (and I was!) and West Bay is Broadchurch mad at the moment, so somebody would let it slip!</li>
</ul>
<br />
I enjoyed the series a lot, although it took me a while to stop the "ooh look that's West Bay harbour...news agent...the Ellipse cafe and flats that over look our flat...and now they are in Clevedon - that's a long way to go to find a hotel!". What's more we had our farewell breakfast at the Watch House Cafe yesterday at the table next to <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0704351/" target="_blank">Pauline Quirke</a>, who is so pretty in real life - and I think it must have been her own dog used in Broadchurch as there was at least a very similar dog with her and her husband.<br />
<br />
Talking of breakfast, I am going to share my one and only food photo, to get it over with (I am trying very hard to battle my tea shop addiction). This was my birthday breakfast at the <a href="http://watchhousecafe.co.uk/" target="_blank">Watch House Cafe</a> in West Bay....yummy!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh4ymTV6kuadsIuJwDHy4ec6itruQIgOhudTXlxvQZIksH7zQd73rfRztfsmola1OCfFXr2TtIkFsZ4yJH8YrpVr9o5bo9XqH92TY68EjwOyxmcwwecyQxdMBKomnpvDe6AeuLa520rs/s1600/IMG_1348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh4ymTV6kuadsIuJwDHy4ec6itruQIgOhudTXlxvQZIksH7zQd73rfRztfsmola1OCfFXr2TtIkFsZ4yJH8YrpVr9o5bo9XqH92TY68EjwOyxmcwwecyQxdMBKomnpvDe6AeuLa520rs/s400/IMG_1348.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blueberry pancakes at the Watch House Cafe, West Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
From the Watch House we headed to the <a href="http://www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk/gardens/index.htm" target="_blank">Abbotsbury sub-tropical gardens</a>...one of my favourite places in the whole World. It was such a long, drab Winter I had forgotten how much I missed colour until we walked around the gardens. A sunny day and Spring wearing her fineries; a perfect day!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsusvsna5aMyAw5-eTLJECwl7_of9iHQbvxgQLNtTqBbUx0aj2BgUlCjfp6zdXNrQKtUHOsdqURTJQmUsS6je9skjPDJIZiv5GnyIuZMM-lNQ8EUxji9FfxKEjq44N09hg3NlZBPfmVQ/s1600/abbotsbury3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsusvsna5aMyAw5-eTLJECwl7_of9iHQbvxgQLNtTqBbUx0aj2BgUlCjfp6zdXNrQKtUHOsdqURTJQmUsS6je9skjPDJIZiv5GnyIuZMM-lNQ8EUxji9FfxKEjq44N09hg3NlZBPfmVQ/s640/abbotsbury3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring at Abbotsbury gardens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE3-KE75J6rBz1sPfAfxrVZA6TFEdS3mOOIdUv7bYGm2kzzp-XNfU4HHVtKYm2sZUr5GoxQJ4DoDN2HiysOE1KS_Da5b7DRe62wPlcn8ILL9v9HhoVtv9XPGvONdiD4z4fpQ26mzECUk/s1600/abbotsbury1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE3-KE75J6rBz1sPfAfxrVZA6TFEdS3mOOIdUv7bYGm2kzzp-XNfU4HHVtKYm2sZUr5GoxQJ4DoDN2HiysOE1KS_Da5b7DRe62wPlcn8ILL9v9HhoVtv9XPGvONdiD4z4fpQ26mzECUk/s640/abbotsbury1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbotsbury sub-tropical gardens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfv8-2aq24k2h24eDoRnS-fcLHcPdU8IhyphenhyphenzjqVdw3iKcCBCTPq1oyIjY5__zE_CwYn3svKeNzOSGovuViBMLxSD12W4fJYlW5191RcQ9oQYH0Gn4VPRrn27EQU6K8_WoqZdP3inieiuE/s1600/abbotsbury2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfv8-2aq24k2h24eDoRnS-fcLHcPdU8IhyphenhyphenzjqVdw3iKcCBCTPq1oyIjY5__zE_CwYn3svKeNzOSGovuViBMLxSD12W4fJYlW5191RcQ9oQYH0Gn4VPRrn27EQU6K8_WoqZdP3inieiuE/s640/abbotsbury2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbotsbury sub-tropical gardens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdu4aCZnnx7TaAkK8ja5awkrdHgL9SGU5ijkJyKHMJxrq4ZiRpZfFm19TaYxgLRWOfcWIo43Cg6_7zbX0NV7Gtn8wu4_jEvXMJRps39NL5gPknlyOImu-4LqahQ22FXQK1ttESe9cn8kY/s1600/abbotsbury+birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdu4aCZnnx7TaAkK8ja5awkrdHgL9SGU5ijkJyKHMJxrq4ZiRpZfFm19TaYxgLRWOfcWIo43Cg6_7zbX0NV7Gtn8wu4_jEvXMJRps39NL5gPknlyOImu-4LqahQ22FXQK1ttESe9cn8kY/s400/abbotsbury+birds.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">birds after tit-bits at the tea room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
We have Abbotsbury season tickets and went back later in the week, when it was really misty - everything was less vivid, but just as lovely.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoa2JFQt8tiHa8BfyCzJGfpbkJwYzSVYLSy0CHXvkNYz0W0wfir3iN5Sir-Q1v89CIyCF0FZur8CvCgd-XfwnJ4BcPsslZcKSAyiv1pgzrWCGM6Dm_QPAYBWB1N_SxVB3fEgSp6PLGkGc/s1600/IMGP5748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoa2JFQt8tiHa8BfyCzJGfpbkJwYzSVYLSy0CHXvkNYz0W0wfir3iN5Sir-Q1v89CIyCF0FZur8CvCgd-XfwnJ4BcPsslZcKSAyiv1pgzrWCGM6Dm_QPAYBWB1N_SxVB3fEgSp6PLGkGc/s400/IMGP5748.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tea rooms in the mist</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKElGsJn8E_fReaudAucy4zVIhoZRLy7KWh42-PrtHIxoEheyRFFEeEbjFpqr0ms_o-iWkdEfOWvns1PTQeO9Fl_mx_E4lBFXcGPy4xWNWGV4eFTqdeKVCghPFvF1N_T7rQ2koNl5OG0/s1600/abbotsbury+misty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKElGsJn8E_fReaudAucy4zVIhoZRLy7KWh42-PrtHIxoEheyRFFEeEbjFpqr0ms_o-iWkdEfOWvns1PTQeO9Fl_mx_E4lBFXcGPy4xWNWGV4eFTqdeKVCghPFvF1N_T7rQ2koNl5OG0/s640/abbotsbury+misty.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbotsbury in the mist</td></tr>
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As my birthday was such a lovely day, we decided to wander around the <a href="http://www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk/swannery/index.htm" target="_blank">swannery at Abbotsbury</a> before heading home. The cygnets won't hatch until the end of May, but it is such a peaceful place that it is wonderful for a gentle walk all year round (except the Winter when it is closed).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDVP_iU86B8Kg-2Fy6_aKclqD1DEUu33lXbjzlAalI1v1I0YacChzNppt5Py-Gf-DxGmRFX_Lc8TkbMbEyEcX3U1tuHJbGUSyzwwPMAiBbCjqIxa-86fssF9ZG-WNYiuniTIiMeFqbPs/s1600/IMGP5442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDVP_iU86B8Kg-2Fy6_aKclqD1DEUu33lXbjzlAalI1v1I0YacChzNppt5Py-Gf-DxGmRFX_Lc8TkbMbEyEcX3U1tuHJbGUSyzwwPMAiBbCjqIxa-86fssF9ZG-WNYiuniTIiMeFqbPs/s400/IMGP5442.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">path to Abbotsbury swannery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPcpfF1ki6Igvnl-uMii-yESackCs-FEkdqHKG-MtTKnsM9hyuVqAxTYlphLZfNM1AOuH7r2zB5jWn0dRRtXNmpbrdQuc22RP1fn7PZ2zMacDmA0DraY__0wZX91O6hP7-y9UZPZ3O_4/s1600/IMGP5517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPcpfF1ki6Igvnl-uMii-yESackCs-FEkdqHKG-MtTKnsM9hyuVqAxTYlphLZfNM1AOuH7r2zB5jWn0dRRtXNmpbrdQuc22RP1fn7PZ2zMacDmA0DraY__0wZX91O6hP7-y9UZPZ3O_4/s400/IMGP5517.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbotsbury swannery</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncRboUuEEMRdCO9zWJC5jXV90uh_guvoz30Idsb-HICyGq-WCbIaYB0dM_4wCpWDum4wm5oN0sOGn1ToIPM3JaFg0woilRWJp1cC204Pykbu6Wi5t7blcetnxpJG-mf74z0hBjk-UNHM/s1600/swannery1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncRboUuEEMRdCO9zWJC5jXV90uh_guvoz30Idsb-HICyGq-WCbIaYB0dM_4wCpWDum4wm5oN0sOGn1ToIPM3JaFg0woilRWJp1cC204Pykbu6Wi5t7blcetnxpJG-mf74z0hBjk-UNHM/s640/swannery1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbotsbury swannery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcXQDsl-yTTApavLv4sFA6uLICfWXMBYZtgJY4tHpszGhCwZ7403lr1DwvEVDEBVuB8woD2ZQcbVvp4ki7lcTRtVphg8ezy6oNJ8Kkv0_Csm1AV9qSYu8EtaNlnF6n4AR9pIcTVz9jNw/s1600/swannery2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcXQDsl-yTTApavLv4sFA6uLICfWXMBYZtgJY4tHpszGhCwZ7403lr1DwvEVDEBVuB8woD2ZQcbVvp4ki7lcTRtVphg8ezy6oNJ8Kkv0_Csm1AV9qSYu8EtaNlnF6n4AR9pIcTVz9jNw/s640/swannery2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbotsbury swannery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZpeifbIUvN9p6yVK8aiqxIfzOovczQk_shyphenhyphengdQk6NJknBtbeDdWRPh45IPkl1KBYiQH19LQ73_9AMz1ErcOtDQvXpFERthOoe2o8BoQ48Q0tjgNBo95xdVDNICu0A3I0b1cl7x8D-x0/s1600/abbotsbury+lambs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZpeifbIUvN9p6yVK8aiqxIfzOovczQk_shyphenhyphengdQk6NJknBtbeDdWRPh45IPkl1KBYiQH19LQ73_9AMz1ErcOtDQvXpFERthOoe2o8BoQ48Q0tjgNBo95xdVDNICu0A3I0b1cl7x8D-x0/s640/abbotsbury+lambs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lambs at Abbotsbury</td></tr>
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A quiet, gentle week, we took in Lyme Regis, <a href="http://www.visit-dorset.com/food-and-drink/mangerton-mill-tearoom-p395773" target="_blank">Mangerton Mill</a>, <a href="http://www.bennettswatergardens.com/" target="_blank">Bennett's Water Gardens</a> and <a href="http://www.fordeabbey.co.uk/" target="_blank">Forde Abbey</a> - enjoying the sunshine and walking off at least some of the calories.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilppNFR2Yb8Ul-j2WAvlsLbvZJTJlLFbIew7CCvuYKn5vj7gg6y6MLjg39MgedyJfYJDRO3POA9wQiYQ_245e34_NN5s5AImUH1EotaGbrztfv7hY0Kb3oxMXvNpI6pK-Kwtii7Xp1EtY/s1600/Mangerton+Mill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilppNFR2Yb8Ul-j2WAvlsLbvZJTJlLFbIew7CCvuYKn5vj7gg6y6MLjg39MgedyJfYJDRO3POA9wQiYQ_245e34_NN5s5AImUH1EotaGbrztfv7hY0Kb3oxMXvNpI6pK-Kwtii7Xp1EtY/s640/Mangerton+Mill.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mangerton Mill, Bridport</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTLGfq-_Bj9mIHgqsDtpbo14frxiDSBN35IS_mrnSirRiskP4znsHYfvzEV0V8nlgI8kjE6XNdVPGC-lII7mj7qiT-8WjWvS4v_pXmJ7ez9HWnpLsqWDaJaXpmV-82iwJWqBi8xgVSFQ/s1600/lyme+regis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTLGfq-_Bj9mIHgqsDtpbo14frxiDSBN35IS_mrnSirRiskP4znsHYfvzEV0V8nlgI8kjE6XNdVPGC-lII7mj7qiT-8WjWvS4v_pXmJ7ez9HWnpLsqWDaJaXpmV-82iwJWqBi8xgVSFQ/s640/lyme+regis.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyme Regis</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUC3hbjUvY0STBnu0LLhyM_G6giMyEZTTBIcJEZ5jvY2eptIsNw00z5z_fzOB2av-9axp8CT9-_y4ltvfM8MNtsLILXqes-6yRgysNAd3HW-zbTdtl-iwngCFXn9X0RZr_q0lxblWU0dQ/s1600/Bennett's+water+gardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUC3hbjUvY0STBnu0LLhyM_G6giMyEZTTBIcJEZ5jvY2eptIsNw00z5z_fzOB2av-9axp8CT9-_y4ltvfM8MNtsLILXqes-6yRgysNAd3HW-zbTdtl-iwngCFXn9X0RZr_q0lxblWU0dQ/s640/Bennett's+water+gardens.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bennett's Water Gardens (looking forward to going back when the waterlillies are out)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WB9FXQeGk6WM1GJdwc15LMvx27gPhc1K7bw2wfiREV1SntKMnv9iruR0JhO2NJIDPyuUosSfvLjB9JgXQV5Tv8TdKrJgJ02X492nD9G7ZPxmC_WuqVU1Zjo1g_4v_VU0JdawwwDEOyA/s1600/forde+abbey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WB9FXQeGk6WM1GJdwc15LMvx27gPhc1K7bw2wfiREV1SntKMnv9iruR0JhO2NJIDPyuUosSfvLjB9JgXQV5Tv8TdKrJgJ02X492nD9G7ZPxmC_WuqVU1Zjo1g_4v_VU0JdawwwDEOyA/s640/forde+abbey1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forde Abbey</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcKvxDkYybGdnQ4Aumn9-b9_Fg9Tw8YLaSg0MN2DnZorZYTBzJQrzpUJ90oU2abDZwPyQo8T953A2QmgFUjdmjO0EBSBBkCTzZgT9-5fTCP1mF2yrbv6fihIzjFqkGaIL7M3yeWfi1LY/s1600/forde+abbey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcKvxDkYybGdnQ4Aumn9-b9_Fg9Tw8YLaSg0MN2DnZorZYTBzJQrzpUJ90oU2abDZwPyQo8T953A2QmgFUjdmjO0EBSBBkCTzZgT9-5fTCP1mF2yrbv6fihIzjFqkGaIL7M3yeWfi1LY/s640/forde+abbey2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forde Abbey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IXeyCH9epFT1T4lP3Es92yuGp-is6_srlvKeLzj5TW2SQm0OT_iUaY2JEQhU7AxpfLJ0Kwx8FK_-MEDOi2vA379l1rwnWtgJ8RN4AvyQKq33aZ3M_vdlLEcnmAm6-XILN9dcyQMJkUY/s1600/forde+abbey3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IXeyCH9epFT1T4lP3Es92yuGp-is6_srlvKeLzj5TW2SQm0OT_iUaY2JEQhU7AxpfLJ0Kwx8FK_-MEDOi2vA379l1rwnWtgJ8RN4AvyQKq33aZ3M_vdlLEcnmAm6-XILN9dcyQMJkUY/s640/forde+abbey3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forde Abbey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkE901iOhtu85aA3yRdwcTA613dM-_Y0XbhinW94eL2dUw9h9n9UgbZ_58KBBZYMVqU6xDUlr-qfmMHYPdUfjZ4k4K5QBXwxuDLZS8pSqkcWKmATUu2pZbAbu8YcNDXU2BJ6leYIhQt8s/s1600/forde+abbey5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkE901iOhtu85aA3yRdwcTA613dM-_Y0XbhinW94eL2dUw9h9n9UgbZ_58KBBZYMVqU6xDUlr-qfmMHYPdUfjZ4k4K5QBXwxuDLZS8pSqkcWKmATUu2pZbAbu8YcNDXU2BJ6leYIhQt8s/s640/forde+abbey5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forde Abbey</td></tr>
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And now I think I should stop...as you are probably all gardened out, as Mark would say!<br />
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<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-50306388959618543302013-04-20T07:09:00.000+01:002013-04-20T07:09:22.814+01:00Do you really need to have children to enjoy crafts?I like to think my posts are usually quite light-hearted, but today I am afraid I really have to let off a little steam. There is a lovely little place in Bath, the Makery, that sells bits and pieces and runs sewing courses and I get their updates on Facebook. Yesterday their update was excitedly announcing a 'Mummy Mondays: a crafty night out for mums'. I assumed it was one of those things where someone has not thought through the name and it is actually open to anyone, so I queried it - only to find it really is only open to women with children but they are thinking of a separate evening when the childless would be allowed to attend!<br />
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Now I am fortunate to be sufficiently grateful that the 9 pound growth I had on my womb a few years back turned out to be benign and not the endometrial cancer the doctors suspected, to feel that not being able to have children is an ok price for being alive and fit enough to enjoy that life, but I know women who are torn apart by not being able to have children. For a business to think it is acceptable to segregate sewing evenings into those who can have children and those who can't is utterly heartless. Do they not realise what a slap in the face that would be for a woman already struggling to come to terms with not being a mum? Moreover, why should a woman not be able to chose not to have children, whether or not she could have them? Should a love of crafting be a deciding factor in whether or not to have children??<br />
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To be fair, this whinge is not entirely down to the Makery - there are are a number of groups set up for mums only, not to be...what?...tainted?...by the childless (perhaps they do not realise childlessness is not an infectious disease). I am forever being asked if I have children and when I say no I am reassured that I shouldn't worry as I am not too old yet (which actually, I think I probably am) and have I considered adoption? I generally feel my medical history is not their business, unless I am feeling particularly prickly (as I am today) and tell them just to make them stop going on about it. Fortunately, I have always considered having children, or not, a matter of fate. I really am so pleased for my friends when they have children, I love my nieces and nephews to bits and I thoroughly enjoy babysitting, but I think my life is bloody marvellous as it is...even without children.<br />
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I simply do not understand why there should be such an undercurrent in the world of crafts that sewing and knitting are things that only mothers do. Childless women, single women and...shock horror...even men can enjoy crafting too!Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-90136988457839180102013-04-17T12:17:00.002+01:002013-04-17T12:17:51.321+01:00Not a lot of blogging...or sewing, for that matter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is in way of an apology for not having updated my blog in a while. The decorating continues and I have had no time for sewing or photography or anything I think might be of interest. I won't bore you with photos of the kitchen, as I have only painted the walls white (rather than dark terracotta wallpaper) - I say only, but stripping wallpaper, sanding etc is really hard work; particularly when one's arms are just a few centimetres too short to reach over the top of the kitchen cupboards.</div>
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I have, however, been something of a style icon while carrying out all this work - classy knee pads (a gift from Mark, who is no doubt fed up with my whinging about my dodgy old knees)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEn0L6B9tvBGZCNdxlBEx9_n2sj1oGtd2Oc1xyedvCTD16-cUMtHzOJxAk_316jII9d7Lc1WH-bkQAut6SHMb2kh4mpjoaAmhqBm7JZWlpZwoxjr1pPyF00o1LgKRcO7pAyfwDeuVGytw/s1600/IMG_1322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEn0L6B9tvBGZCNdxlBEx9_n2sj1oGtd2Oc1xyedvCTD16-cUMtHzOJxAk_316jII9d7Lc1WH-bkQAut6SHMb2kh4mpjoaAmhqBm7JZWlpZwoxjr1pPyF00o1LgKRcO7pAyfwDeuVGytw/s320/IMG_1322.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">painting/gardening knee pads</td></tr>
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...and paint in my hair.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnRwpDKEhyphenhyphenSJ-IvUcWsprKaIJkxomnKwxysOSlsx-6Zi2jZAc4jFriO8frBLx8uHwK_sT1sK_kWqssFU2hbtlRNDjfjYped4PjdP9-Y9tJtB-1MfmBA3AmkALB28-VTlejWvEpr7igvo/s1600/IMG_1323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnRwpDKEhyphenhyphenSJ-IvUcWsprKaIJkxomnKwxysOSlsx-6Zi2jZAc4jFriO8frBLx8uHwK_sT1sK_kWqssFU2hbtlRNDjfjYped4PjdP9-Y9tJtB-1MfmBA3AmkALB28-VTlejWvEpr7igvo/s320/IMG_1323.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">white emulsion in my hair</td></tr>
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Not to mention a lack of makeup (not that you'd see it under that layer of dust).<br />
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<br />
I have, however, made a new friend. Meet George; we go for a walk together once a week when his mum is at work. He is such a sweet natured dog, but he did try it on during our first walk when he tried very hard to persuade me that he had little legs and couldn't walk very far or up steep hills. He also seemed more keen to sit in the cafe in the park, rather than walk. I do understand the inclination, but walking is what we have to do!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Yf1f5ERWlgoBuNng2sEpKSR5RRVGnGYlQc6VGjHBVKMFEHYNakOp2VdEgrCnAd20S2c6zaj9xVQLEfC8P8UmTX2oJ5hGKQfD0_1ngdL-k4s-iKRo9OYmrq__4Ft6QCN9t5n4JtNhLjg/s1600/IMG_1329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Yf1f5ERWlgoBuNng2sEpKSR5RRVGnGYlQc6VGjHBVKMFEHYNakOp2VdEgrCnAd20S2c6zaj9xVQLEfC8P8UmTX2oJ5hGKQfD0_1ngdL-k4s-iKRo9OYmrq__4Ft6QCN9t5n4JtNhLjg/s400/IMG_1329.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George</td></tr>
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<br />
We have had some lovely sunshine, although it is grey and drizzly now, so here is a pretty display of flowers on my stepmother's windowsill to celebrate the first hints of Spring.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Mc-WFz7k8JF3_EGM7M-lY_K-cuplSRh60iZ4ZRT66EklMGiZU1mXCkZsOdJxzv5RvgWe9tHioUh_G0x_pGkQKc0xbXc40MyB07niF_L9CJ-dfHrT4UIY59oGXdAvH01bec2-UJR6aLI/s1600/IMG_1337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Mc-WFz7k8JF3_EGM7M-lY_K-cuplSRh60iZ4ZRT66EklMGiZU1mXCkZsOdJxzv5RvgWe9tHioUh_G0x_pGkQKc0xbXc40MyB07niF_L9CJ-dfHrT4UIY59oGXdAvH01bec2-UJR6aLI/s400/IMG_1337.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring flowers</td></tr>
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<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-34047734120265487492013-04-06T22:46:00.002+01:002013-04-06T22:46:29.802+01:00a new work roomMy first week as a non-employed person has been a full one. I ache all over and am somewhat worn out, but our tired 1980s throw-back dining room is looking bright and fresh in white and 'chartreuse' (that's lime green to you and me). Mark and I took up the old pale blue and grime carpet to reveal the original 1930s parquet flooring, then I stripped wallpaper, sanded and filled and sanded walls, painted (three coats of each colour), oiled the floor and sorted the books...all my cookery books in just one book case - amazing! I do have a couple of bags of books to go to the charity shop, but have kept most, they are just sorted by type:<br />
<br />
<u>cookery</u><br />
international<br />
cakes and baking<br />
celebrity chefs<br />
Christmas<br />
healthy and vegetarian<br />
general cookery<br />
jams and preserves<br />
confectionery<br />
<br />
<u>sewing/craft/art</u><br />
stitching and embroidery<br />
quilting and patchwork<br />
toys<br />
bags<br />
general inspiration<br />
art<br />
miscellaneous craft<br />
photography<br />
<br />
<u>other</u><br />
gardening<br />
travel<br />
maps and walking<br />
pets and wildlife<br />
poetry<br />
<br />
I know it's a bit sad, but I like order.<br />
<br />
So here it is my new kingdom!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMddb7wbKyKEEoifaWushjFIqZIOV5RvWMin4MzEMC10EjEBd0PRkBZeiMKqXPR1rnYzYknPF1UyRpEeNj0ad4G-YE5DKYoDdHy6Vx9WM4TUOhT1g-AN3t2MyiRi9zH2El3Pa6WiiF0A/s1600/work+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMddb7wbKyKEEoifaWushjFIqZIOV5RvWMin4MzEMC10EjEBd0PRkBZeiMKqXPR1rnYzYknPF1UyRpEeNj0ad4G-YE5DKYoDdHy6Vx9WM4TUOhT1g-AN3t2MyiRi9zH2El3Pa6WiiF0A/s640/work+room.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">shiny new work room</td></tr>
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<br />
Of course it still has to be a dining room too...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkrbm6XVDBaENqCDkr8XGd8ho0wncKmuTS74gXMHndRQFpEXdLF_nOeeoycg5dKfmALjCB8xcKVrikFDq8YQmk4oh3RWRjPUZxUccFLGxtq8Y5qfx8oFMhb8NggKyLs0e_nowH1bguxc/s1600/dining+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkrbm6XVDBaENqCDkr8XGd8ho0wncKmuTS74gXMHndRQFpEXdLF_nOeeoycg5dKfmALjCB8xcKVrikFDq8YQmk4oh3RWRjPUZxUccFLGxtq8Y5qfx8oFMhb8NggKyLs0e_nowH1bguxc/s640/dining+room.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dining room</td></tr>
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One of the things I am most happy about is that my favourite painting ('perfect wave' by <a href="http://www.helencampbellartist.co.uk/" target="_blank">Helen Campbell</a>) is finally better shown off against a clean white background (I just need to keep the shelf below uncluttered).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTkBXts_DDeAzE9qtYXZReB-tLSCVxCHhImACagKLKY_oC1RcU-tfKUhoZiiWO9ajWiK_Qc_RMOz5ssV_ZRghWoSV7XwzTJaXu21zvgJj0bX7yy2pFpYufWvYnR1Ew1irU7nqL1XZJEs/s1600/IMGP5195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTkBXts_DDeAzE9qtYXZReB-tLSCVxCHhImACagKLKY_oC1RcU-tfKUhoZiiWO9ajWiK_Qc_RMOz5ssV_ZRghWoSV7XwzTJaXu21zvgJj0bX7yy2pFpYufWvYnR1Ew1irU7nqL1XZJEs/s640/IMGP5195.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">perfect wave by Helen Campbell</td></tr>
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The cats have been making the most of the mayhem, finding new places to sleep (that's my Bagpuss hot water bottle Rio's cuddled up with!) and making the most of a mirror on the floor so Max can admire himself.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY12pW5YiqtsNEM4lQNaVDdBa8aQdQ6xKo1c5ErN2JSV_ho-JQ395YePKv6-6mR6Rd4NHn7NkvRiON8uYzJqDpsUAi79XAoCQjATgrhbOEA4sUka5ykWyiAbBaWLQbS7QUeAhknBbnPo/s1600/cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY12pW5YiqtsNEM4lQNaVDdBa8aQdQ6xKo1c5ErN2JSV_ho-JQ395YePKv6-6mR6Rd4NHn7NkvRiON8uYzJqDpsUAi79XAoCQjATgrhbOEA4sUka5ykWyiAbBaWLQbS7QUeAhknBbnPo/s640/cats.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max and Rio</td></tr>
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After all this hard work, it was so nice to spend this afternoon with Alison, my lovely friend from choir. We had lunch at <a href="http://beasvintagetearooms.com/" target="_blank">Bea's Vintage Tea Room</a>, which never disappoints. We spent several hours eating and chatting as the sun streamed through the window (as most people know, I can talk for England, but luckily Alison is a very good listener) and the afternoon slipped away very happily. I now feel sufficiently re-charged to start decorating the kitchen on Monday!</div>
Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-55983391423596627222013-03-31T16:22:00.004+01:002013-03-31T16:22:52.433+01:00Happy Easter!I hope you are having a nice Easter break. Plenty of sunshine (and chocolate). A double celebration for me as it was my last day at work on Wednesday. I was prepared to be a bit emotional, leaving after 16 years, but so many people left this week, I think it was probably more strange for the few who stayed on. My team of four went out for lunch on Monday - my boss's treat - and Pauline and I were each given a bouquet of flowers and a card. I hadn't expected anything as so many have been made redundant already; it was very generous of the two staying on in my team. I also came home to find a parcel - a lucky cat teapot!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HCsATKKzfuCH6PmaNJWysIoNGZ_8C6YlWWJRRfoin4wrG1DAGzxyC4N33R2Uw7GRJpQq4VafOxCJGWtqm5mJGULa7ukPj5LAuitFBuZqx_AxY6StHeoIoDVJJkfyca3BfVT0dt5UQ0Q/s1600/IMG_1287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HCsATKKzfuCH6PmaNJWysIoNGZ_8C6YlWWJRRfoin4wrG1DAGzxyC4N33R2Uw7GRJpQq4VafOxCJGWtqm5mJGULa7ukPj5LAuitFBuZqx_AxY6StHeoIoDVJJkfyca3BfVT0dt5UQ0Q/s400/IMG_1287.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'sorry you're leaving' flowers and lucky cat tea pot</td></tr>
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I do think the stress/excitement must have got to me a little, as I woke up this morning (Sunday) realising that I forgot to go to the WI craft evening on Thursday night!<br />
<br />
Mark and I have been out to order fence panels and raised beds and planters for the garden, and we have stripped the wallpaper in the dining room and taken up the carpet - leaving the underlay to protect the original 1930s parquet flooring while I paint the room this coming week. I am hopeful that by next weekend I will be able to share photos of my new work room/dining room.<br />
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We did take a couple of hours out to help a friend affix a decal to her wall - aided and abetted by her two bengal cats!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sh04r3o5KuaJm15vm7DMcem97ICQT3vFV0_ezhnoIYJnO7fMlPIF4fHIHkxSmIC_cig9M7lZ1lel2bP3i5Z9uhOREgSLzbnqIh2WhC6PKmgGMw00pGtwinKHdlZMnSqG-3DZrrTLpo4/s1600/Leo+and+Ti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sh04r3o5KuaJm15vm7DMcem97ICQT3vFV0_ezhnoIYJnO7fMlPIF4fHIHkxSmIC_cig9M7lZ1lel2bP3i5Z9uhOREgSLzbnqIh2WhC6PKmgGMw00pGtwinKHdlZMnSqG-3DZrrTLpo4/s640/Leo+and+Ti.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">furry helpers</td></tr>
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We had been invited to my sister's house for lunch today, and I fully expected to be able to wow you with photos of her very grand house and gardens, and maybe even an Easter egg hunt, but she has a bad cold and has cancelled. Not wishing to waste the sunshine, Mark and I went to Westonbirt for a spot of exercise and fresh air. It is still cold (my friend Karen reckons we are actually living in Narnia - land of endless Winter), but the sunshine was very welcome. We went to the Silk Wood for a change (and the chance to cuddle a dog or too, as there are always loads being walked there), and discovered some unusual carvings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-wXmH9HB6OVQxPNjCyF84b-WhChpHIqLiCsh_hn6g8ESh_VqKxH3XSNd2wKNgeLZl6wD5yisoP2uugee1jzBfnndgxKRm3UP1ARifNFSO11cu5y8IDIWMGTbegHDHVxU8toIXBAjrz4/s1600/IMGP5156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-wXmH9HB6OVQxPNjCyF84b-WhChpHIqLiCsh_hn6g8ESh_VqKxH3XSNd2wKNgeLZl6wD5yisoP2uugee1jzBfnndgxKRm3UP1ARifNFSO11cu5y8IDIWMGTbegHDHVxU8toIXBAjrz4/s400/IMGP5156.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carving at Westonbirt Arboretum<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-EUrB8ZLgNBoNDxXt5nCWP3u1vMoVKKY7J1G3FrHl3Xqb21vAg0KzhradaqcewyVyod_Xm5tmGt5o-2f5q9gyZj2BNOwkywcTIa0FxDHAlaaY65Ad_XvjtQvanpiccOMbLcjoRNC7jA/s1600/IMGP5159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-EUrB8ZLgNBoNDxXt5nCWP3u1vMoVKKY7J1G3FrHl3Xqb21vAg0KzhradaqcewyVyod_Xm5tmGt5o-2f5q9gyZj2BNOwkywcTIa0FxDHAlaaY65Ad_XvjtQvanpiccOMbLcjoRNC7jA/s400/IMGP5159.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Westonbirt Arboretum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooAOcu4ewhvfmgIzHd4Zl3hOW-alb9pXnoQziFNfiUlo2sB6exDv5D5y8xzW1vdVQSYTT6oT-6N-TjrQ3SspSQj7cPdIiTZ6IhEyaVdX2CwsaLCKHm1Po31Bzif3pY1A0trAIhZeU3VM/s1600/IMGP5165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooAOcu4ewhvfmgIzHd4Zl3hOW-alb9pXnoQziFNfiUlo2sB6exDv5D5y8xzW1vdVQSYTT6oT-6N-TjrQ3SspSQj7cPdIiTZ6IhEyaVdX2CwsaLCKHm1Po31Bzif3pY1A0trAIhZeU3VM/s400/IMGP5165.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">strange carving in the woods</td></tr>
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Lastly I just want to mention my dad. He died 11 years ago today, it was an Easter Sunday that day too and the day after his 67th birthday. Amongst other things, he is my excuse for my love of ice cream - it's not my fault; it's in my genes!Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-27246009036920161552013-03-24T17:40:00.000+00:002013-03-24T17:40:57.239+00:00the teapots are taking over the asylum!This is my last week in proper paid employment. Last week saw my 16th anniversary in my current job and this Wednesday will be my last day. The Government announced we were closing soon after the last election and I have been anticipating my redundancy ever since. Sometimes it seems like a long time coming, and other times the years feel like they have flown by. I had said I would give myself the Easter weekend off before starting to sort out the house and decorate, but I am going to need Mark's help to move the bookcases (God bless Ikea!) in the dining room and take up the carpet - which means we need to be doing this while he is off work next weekend. In preparation I have been gradually moving fabric upstairs and books in to the hallway and living room...along with those teapots that had been secretly breeding in the dining room (the ones on the shelves in the living room are far more restrained...or perhaps constrained).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgCo70PwTrrStBrfZnANr5xtOKS9QuvimgBvqAtND8_50K5pAuHlaNpmoSXj5NaTVAca6AYbCp41iJOAIuNfZPt8av78_HLVg_sIXb7vugxgix9xS1VO-CbTpgHCBd7FMvzVY0RNDHc0/s1600/IMGP5144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgCo70PwTrrStBrfZnANr5xtOKS9QuvimgBvqAtND8_50K5pAuHlaNpmoSXj5NaTVAca6AYbCp41iJOAIuNfZPt8av78_HLVg_sIXb7vugxgix9xS1VO-CbTpgHCBd7FMvzVY0RNDHc0/s640/IMGP5144.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">teapot invasion</td></tr>
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I try very hard to keep the living room our one calm and clutter free space in the house (not easy given that Mark and I each had a house when we got together and had each accumulated many bits and pieces over the years and have had to squish two households in to one house). However, I rather like the Bulgarian drip glaze teapot and sugar bowl on the mantelpiece; perhaps they could stay there without risking upsetting the zen too much.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzrfXcUpvdEB5F4gnsCEJM48aU1z6mus7fjt87XiP8msunbBAjl1OzUQvxrMKOfYymHiZOS005YpQ2-cyq8n7c53GLjImT9jEiOqgSCjhwy1xHQU8SoCLQTuIICJRxtBqg7ChC3P33bI/s1600/IMGP5146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzrfXcUpvdEB5F4gnsCEJM48aU1z6mus7fjt87XiP8msunbBAjl1OzUQvxrMKOfYymHiZOS005YpQ2-cyq8n7c53GLjImT9jEiOqgSCjhwy1xHQU8SoCLQTuIICJRxtBqg7ChC3P33bI/s400/IMGP5146.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">was meant to be of fireplace, but cat got in the way - he's a total diva</td></tr>
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It is hard to believe that we have already had a major clear-out of books. Admittedly it has been mainly paperback fiction that went to the stall in the Guild Hall Market or to charity shops when we got our kindles, but I did also have a bit of a weed of cookery books too. I think I may have to be a bit tougher!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOBW9cIymXc7tkHige4fBz-YR_QPQloiLiOx_S6tu86F_d9sSHv9wN6-5UtzKq0ePUeW4o33pW6TwaNX6I_RWeWCK3NvvjhwNPILrMFRyfByk53KXphEvGEhL1lIL63-y9rLG0rokRto/s1600/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOBW9cIymXc7tkHige4fBz-YR_QPQloiLiOx_S6tu86F_d9sSHv9wN6-5UtzKq0ePUeW4o33pW6TwaNX6I_RWeWCK3NvvjhwNPILrMFRyfByk53KXphEvGEhL1lIL63-y9rLG0rokRto/s640/books.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">books, books and more books</td></tr>
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The cats have enjoyed nosing in to recently cleared spaces and finding new places to sleep.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i1JF4tOn8UArkQtXf1k-n3Gvme4_vrWRMXEdNJEaiPubyeAROFrJzUvQt5SR7wfOlO_KiN5hTr5ty7nb9Qh9kqBfjqYMwZD9EmAR1qVehZM8Y9wH6_Mam6ycDm0go1X3szGcceG5MMA/s1600/IMG_1283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i1JF4tOn8UArkQtXf1k-n3Gvme4_vrWRMXEdNJEaiPubyeAROFrJzUvQt5SR7wfOlO_KiN5hTr5ty7nb9Qh9kqBfjqYMwZD9EmAR1qVehZM8Y9wH6_Mam6ycDm0go1X3szGcceG5MMA/s400/IMG_1283.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max pretends he's a book</td></tr>
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Actually Max was a bit off colour at the end of the week and was refusing to eat. He has to have special food for his urinary tract problems, but even when I tried to tempt him with a little roast chicken or tiny bit of cheese he wouldn't even sniff it. When last year Rio was similarly off colour he started getting liver problems very quickly from not eating and had a few days at the veterinary hospital, so I rushed Max in to the vet to see if we could avoid that for him. The vet thought he might be getting over an infection and had got out of the habit of eating so gave him an appetite stimulant, and by the time I got him home he was meowing for food...and ate 2 1/2 dinners! We have been keeping an eye on him, but thankfully he seems to be back to his old, furry, purry self.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheI0nYKUWBR2_7T74Ri25Cpx1SRknNJqJRZYGZH_bsHNMBciUing8uVqouKP1bTFkMi6jy_FcbTu34vz1kYW5-PESK9wHF3R888srW2XC52Ofa5yfraM-EgkFeh3y1wlL8epG0LWO3cbU/s1600/IMG_1274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheI0nYKUWBR2_7T74Ri25Cpx1SRknNJqJRZYGZH_bsHNMBciUing8uVqouKP1bTFkMi6jy_FcbTu34vz1kYW5-PESK9wHF3R888srW2XC52Ofa5yfraM-EgkFeh3y1wlL8epG0LWO3cbU/s400/IMG_1274.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">furry, purry Max the cat</td></tr>
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So roll on my last few days at work so my new life can start - and I can get my teeth in to wallpaper stripping (not literally!) and turn the dining room in to an organised and beautiful workroom...that can still be a dining room when necessary. I know it is rather sad, but I am already looking forward to arranging my fabrics by colour and revisiting books as I return them to the shelves or let them go to new homes. What can I say, I like things to be orderly!</div>
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Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-12371831472052183342013-03-21T16:15:00.002+00:002013-03-21T16:15:58.845+00:00Spiced apple cakeI promised the Vikings my recipe for spiced apple cake - the one we had for breakfast, with clotted cream, last Sunday. So here it is:<br />
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225g softened butter<br />
225g light muscovado sugar<br />
225g self-raising flour<br />
2 level teaspoons baking powder<br />
1 teaspoon mixed spice<br />
1 teaspoon cinnamon (there is cinnamon in the mixed spice, but I like a little extra)<br />
3 large eggs<br />
3 large apples (I like to use Bramley), peeled, cored and roughly chopped - I like quite big pieces, but this is to your own taste.<br />
150g sultanas<br />
a large glug or two of cider or calvados<br />
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A few hours before you want to bake the cake (or better still, the night before) soak the sultanas in cider or calvados. If you don't have much time, warm them in a pan or in the microwave a little as it helps the sultanas absorb the alcohol.<br />
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When you are ready to bake the cake, pre-heat the oven to 180C (perhaps a little lower for a fan oven). Grease and line a 23cm diameter deep round tin, or equivalent square or loaf tin.<br />
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Mix butter, sugar, baking powder, spices and eggs in a large bowl. I usually use an electric hand-held mixer, but a wooden spoon does just as well. When well mixed, fold in the apple and sultanas. Tip in to the prepared tin and sprinkle sugar over the top - I think Demerara is nicest as it gives crunch, but cinnamon sugar is good too. Check the cake after 1 1/4 hour, by inserting a skewer - if it comes out clean, the cake is cooked. When <i>I</i> cook this it usually takes an extra 30 minutes, but I think the thermostat on my oven is a little low, and you don't want to overcook it and make it dry. It is quite a substantial cake and is unlikely to sink when the oven is opened.<br />
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Serve either warm or cold - nice with clotted cream or even custard for a dessert.<br />
<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-41459055721309552752013-03-19T08:08:00.001+00:002013-03-19T08:08:30.645+00:00gifts galoreStill in felt flower mode, I made a brooch for each of my Swedish visitors:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5Sf5CiT6sqfnhj2betMwfsWqa06O9YHeGbThUn_G2lQxXCtYpZnyBYzALUhBQoS8s-RdOREkoRrS92qx3bx4ewnS7s4lDbrWxdD_j2nz5ZK3q3-olmYqFPdSwTkvpHxxnQwTckcq6yA/s1600/IMGP5126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5Sf5CiT6sqfnhj2betMwfsWqa06O9YHeGbThUn_G2lQxXCtYpZnyBYzALUhBQoS8s-RdOREkoRrS92qx3bx4ewnS7s4lDbrWxdD_j2nz5ZK3q3-olmYqFPdSwTkvpHxxnQwTckcq6yA/s400/IMGP5126.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">felt rose brooches</td></tr>
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However, my small tokens of affection were somewhat over-shadowed by the incredibly generous gifts I received - all totally unnecessary (but really lovely!). Annika made me a tea cosy with Hampus (Irene's dog) and Zoya (Annika's dog) on one side and our two cats on the other - even Mark was wowed by the tea cosy and insists it is displayed in the kitchen. Annika also gave me some fabric and embellishments (you could say, haberdashery) for my stash and Irene gave me some sewing themed fabric and more buttons, while Anna-Karin showered me (and Mark) with sweet goodies...all yummy (we started them last night). Irene also keeps me stocked up with cardamom seeds, as here they are generally sold in the fiddly green pods - and there were even treats for Rio and Max (although Max is not allowed them because of his urinary tract problems, we have started sneaking them to Rio when Max is not around).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXNVbLl4KU5PzdzxLgdAjg3AQIoqfDZfYxYob-f_h3kOfOSHQhohbt4Kqvqzya9dzbk1aDFe5K6PuuOKldi05aHNHxeBkWMv2mnIPO6hXZlv5_8a-7HMqELXVO0zv_L1DQFAIIfbXOMA/s1600/IMGP5132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXNVbLl4KU5PzdzxLgdAjg3AQIoqfDZfYxYob-f_h3kOfOSHQhohbt4Kqvqzya9dzbk1aDFe5K6PuuOKldi05aHNHxeBkWMv2mnIPO6hXZlv5_8a-7HMqELXVO0zv_L1DQFAIIfbXOMA/s640/IMGP5132.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my friends really spoil me!</td></tr>
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I love everything, but - if I am allowed to say - the silver buttons made by Irene and Annika's father are particularly special. You can see where Annika's silver-working talent comes from; there are some photos on her <a href="http://quiltar-och-silver.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">blog</a>; you should have a look. I was trying to work out the best way to use the buttons so they can be appreciated and realised I have a small amount of fabric that was my grandmother's and I think I will try to make myself a vintage style fabric brooch with the buttons in the centre - a little something by which to remember our loved ones.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">silver buttons made by Irene's and Annika's dad<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-69940628095261815182013-03-18T08:58:00.001+00:002013-03-18T08:58:52.968+00:00Jane Austen and the Vikings<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;">It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a Swedish woman of good taste must be in want of a cream tea...</span><br />
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I have been something of a fan of Jane Austen since I was 11 years old. My favourite book is actually Persuasion, rather than Pride and Prejudice. Of course I cannot share Anne Elliot's distaste for Bath, and it used to be that I would picture Anne and Captain Wentworth as I passed the Assembly Rooms or the Pump Room, but I guess familiarity really does breed contempt. Well, not exactly contempt, but a certain tendency to take it for granted. This weekend my three favourite Swedish friends (referred to by Mark as 'the Swedish ladies') came to visit and re-opened my eyes to my adopted Georgian home town.<br />
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I live in Bath only because it is where Mark lives - he was born and bred in Bath and would be loathed to live anywhere else, whereas I have moved around so much, I am not tethered to a place. The Jane Austen link is merely a fortuitous bonus. I also am fortunate to have been given my godmother's tiny holiday flat in Dorset and when <a href="http://vastgotaspetsochtradgard.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Irene</a> last visited, we spent most of her visit there. It is just a short drive to Lyme Regis and we relived Anne and company's visit in Persuasion, walking along the Cobb, too scared to jump from the worn stone steps without a Captain Wentworth to catch us (not that that did Louisa any good!). So this visit it was Bath's turn for us to get all Austen-y. Seeing Irene's eyes light up as she spotted the colonnade between the Pump Room and Union Street where Amanda Root met Ciaran Hinds in my favourite adaptation of Persuasion re-charged my enthusiasm.<br />
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To save Mark from death by chatter, we decided to all stay somewhere other than my house. While looking for a reasonably priced B&B or apartment we stumbled upon Bath's <a href="http://www.bedandbreakfastonaboat.co.uk/" target="_blank">bed and breakfast on a boat</a>, which was both reasonably priced for the four of us and quite an adventure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4zjenCD30mTYF0S1xUwmEo30Tk-cXBxypjsjOkTYMgpqSYXnzgHeWNMFN2WfJ8QvqKCb8o-s6Tt7mBJrc8N2MrZfWUAgoNu_Jxxf3Y3UDSc-1kwHNZyP3Y-xziEyurOQ3BiN-pWtFc0/s1600/grand+cru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4zjenCD30mTYF0S1xUwmEo30Tk-cXBxypjsjOkTYMgpqSYXnzgHeWNMFN2WfJ8QvqKCb8o-s6Tt7mBJrc8N2MrZfWUAgoNu_Jxxf3Y3UDSc-1kwHNZyP3Y-xziEyurOQ3BiN-pWtFc0/s320/grand+cru.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bed and breakfast on a boat: grand cru</td></tr>
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On Friday Mark and I picked up the keys to the boat and were instructed on the important details and then went to pick up the Scandinavian crew from Bristol airport. It was very late when we got back to Bathwick and clambered aboard by torch light (electric/iPhone torches not the viking flaming variety!). When we arrived the boat was cosy, with a wood burner and central heating (although we didn't manage to keep the fire alight again during our stay and I slept Sunday night wearing two jumpers and a pair of slippers!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGtCMLPgEBu_qEwsbXum_im_IZ5ormaP66e_dMLqs-CUrCc83k3UHDzK-atW9WquwJligD2c3wp_yZ0_GPBPSj6UPisDpfIajlHxazJam6UBWA6r0zS-vCCl92q0MmoCCyqi_GgJh13g/s1600/IMG_1185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGtCMLPgEBu_qEwsbXum_im_IZ5ormaP66e_dMLqs-CUrCc83k3UHDzK-atW9WquwJligD2c3wp_yZ0_GPBPSj6UPisDpfIajlHxazJam6UBWA6r0zS-vCCl92q0MmoCCyqi_GgJh13g/s400/IMG_1185.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Cru</td></tr>
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The boat was cleverly arranged to make the most of the space available so the bed in Anna-Karin's cabin extended underneath the bed in Irene and Annika's cabin - the little steps to let my friends climb in to the high-level bed reminded me of 'the princess and the pea'!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">princess and the pea bed steps</td></tr>
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I confess I had very little sleep on Friday night. It was so stormy, the boat was knocked about by the wind and the noise and movement left me wide awake and worrying that the boat would come away from its moorings and we would wake to find ourselves miles away...or worse, up to our eyes in canal water. Needless to say all was well and Saturday saw us well breakfasted and on our way to the <a href="http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/" target="_blank">Roman Baths</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu0OxXd62NZKM7ntiA2oqA6H2sQXs3GYZTfnWkjW4iOabN9SrVfptLRB33ujInp5nj84B_yWtcKedeZ0ut77Ssnp28t7UbpEtzLx6AT-X-1WTgkCOs_NtPU_vwmaCyFpyONJ679ZCjok/s1600/Roman+Baths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu0OxXd62NZKM7ntiA2oqA6H2sQXs3GYZTfnWkjW4iOabN9SrVfptLRB33ujInp5nj84B_yWtcKedeZ0ut77Ssnp28t7UbpEtzLx6AT-X-1WTgkCOs_NtPU_vwmaCyFpyONJ679ZCjok/s640/Roman+Baths.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">artefacts at Bath Roman Baths</td></tr>
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I have been to the Roman Baths a number of times, but I always see something new - and with visitors, you get a different perspective.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vikings visit the Roman Baths</td></tr>
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The baths are beautiful and by getting there early, you can see it without the crowds (or queueing in the rain).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfu9d6uKNp5bZ5r-LpkAgxB6xiyXsRem8oBmXs9_5zdAuwB1bDwWAyeCRbcgOFqvatK1uhOs0UVdQArV2_aLj3DYDI4Avavlq_j1UojSS-TKgWc2yW8Ma6RJYwbqUqZsM5PM4y4zbN6Y0/s1600/Roman+Baths+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfu9d6uKNp5bZ5r-LpkAgxB6xiyXsRem8oBmXs9_5zdAuwB1bDwWAyeCRbcgOFqvatK1uhOs0UVdQArV2_aLj3DYDI4Avavlq_j1UojSS-TKgWc2yW8Ma6RJYwbqUqZsM5PM4y4zbN6Y0/s640/Roman+Baths+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bath Roman Baths</td></tr>
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Throughout the baths there are video clips projected on the stone to add atmosphere to the ancient site. My Scandinavian visitors were so absorbed by the way the lights were catching the donations in one of the pools, they didn't even notice the disrobing images projected on the wall!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">glittering treasure</td></tr>
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After the Roman Baths, we had a bit of a wander and popped in to the <a href="http://teahouseemporium.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bath Tea House Emporium</a> (as I have been raving about it for years) for a white peony tea and a yellow tea, accompanied by cake (jasmine tea and orange loaf, lemon drizzle and chocolate honey cake). Only Anna-Karin resisted sweet temptation - although that didn't last long. One of my favourite moments of the weekend was the expression on Anna-Karin's face when she found out there was a <a href="http://www.fudgekitchen.co.uk/find-us/shops/bath-fudge-kitchen-shop/" target="_blank">shop</a> in Bath that sells nothing but the fudge they make on the premises!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna-Karin raids the Fudge Kitchen</td></tr>
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Being something of a wimp, I decided that I needed to sit down for a bit and popped back to the boat. No sooner was my back turned than my friends scurried off to a traditional English pub! We met up again a little later and headed up through the city to the <a href="http://www.royalcrescent.co.uk/" target="_blank">Royal Crescent Hotel</a> for afternoon tea. I am a big fan of a traditional afternoon tea and had heard that the Royal Crescent Hotel's is one of the best. When I booked I asked if we could take tea in one of the lounges rather than the dining area and when we walked in, we were shown to a lovely lounge tastefully decorated, with portraits on the walls and a bevy of vases of cut flowers, overlooking Victoria Park with the city of Bath spread out before us. It was beautiful! We had been reserved a large sofa and two winged armchairs by an open fire with a low coffee table set for afternoon tea.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGL1oegXaSd_JtCFTxg80HiMmSXhofDWigCd1TLku8Q-342ipUjHjvqE8mXojQOW3xwk6H9Yyc6A_V9r5shINcRw-2NJeADFTEZKQBQb5XnCGHwW8SViZYz6vCk3bfGa_K-iEY0N8XYY/s1600/royal+crescent+hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGL1oegXaSd_JtCFTxg80HiMmSXhofDWigCd1TLku8Q-342ipUjHjvqE8mXojQOW3xwk6H9Yyc6A_V9r5shINcRw-2NJeADFTEZKQBQb5XnCGHwW8SViZYz6vCk3bfGa_K-iEY0N8XYY/s640/royal+crescent+hotel.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Crescent Hotel</td></tr>
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We were brought a three tier cake stand between two and a choice teas - I have discovered Anna-Karin and I are tea twins (which reminds me, I must get myself a bag of lavender tea from the tea house emporium). We decided to start with the bottom tier of sandwiches (smoked salmon, ham and tomato, egg and cress and cucumber), before moving on to the still warm scones and bath buns served with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and finishing with the sweet delicacies on the top tier (pistachio cake, meringue with raspberry cream, viennoise, chocolate/coffee gateau and tarte au citron). Actually, it would be more correct to say the top tier finished with us...as we were beaten by the extravagance of the tea. We had had an 'elegant sufficiency' and gratefully accepted the offer to box up the left-overs for us to take back to the boat. We were all admiring of the wonderful spread (although I suspect Annika was almost as admiring of the handsome young waiter!).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">afternoon tea</td></tr>
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The hotel was beautiful and the afternoon tea was out of this world, but I think what really made it special (apart from my fabulous Viking friends) was the staff at the hotel. It is a very grand hotel and I think we all felt a little as though we were fakes and would be thrown out at any moment, but the receptionist and waiting staff made us feel relaxed and at home and as though we deserved such special treatment. There was no hint of snootiness, just a genuine desire to make their guests' visit a happy and memorable one. When I booked the tea it had seemed like a one-off extravagance, but now I am already planning a return visit - perhaps in the Summer when we can sit in the beautiful garden.<br />
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We returned to the boat glowing with happiness, full and contented. Somehow when we had settled down in the temporary warmth of the fire-lighters and kindling (the logs were far too damp to catch) with a glass or two of prosecco, we still managed to put away most of the delicious cheese I bought from '<a href="http://www.finecheese.co.uk/shop-in-bath" target="_blank">the fine cheese shop</a>' on Walcott Street (another place where the helpful and friendly staff are as much of a draw as the gorgeous cheeses).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y1awlg22N92WshKk8dhCSuBeQOp4Jc5FhSAOSaaYbQfzzvdSsDu31RVEx1i1lRsEaKRuQEsVujMNk3oYxMYltptpLeMbFHcn0SgmayQRPZ_p7nGVkshT3sEO8ar1tcinXAGW_Swsp0o/s1600/IMG_1254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y1awlg22N92WshKk8dhCSuBeQOp4Jc5FhSAOSaaYbQfzzvdSsDu31RVEx1i1lRsEaKRuQEsVujMNk3oYxMYltptpLeMbFHcn0SgmayQRPZ_p7nGVkshT3sEO8ar1tcinXAGW_Swsp0o/s320/IMG_1254.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">home sweet home</td></tr>
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On Sunday morning we had a lazy breakfast of homemade calorie-free spiced apple cake and clotted cream, fed the ducks and then it was time to hand back the boat. Mark and I took away the bags while the vikings Jane Austened themselves up at the <a href="http://www.janeausten.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jane Austen Centre</a>. I so wish I had gone with them as there is a dressing up opportunity that wasn't there last time I went. I really hope Irene posts photos! The vikings then soaked up a bit more culture at the <a href="http://www.holburne.org/" target="_blank">Holburne Museum</a> and enjoyed a fresh salad at the garden cafe (always necessary for sea-faring vikings to prevent scurvy) and we picked them up to head back to the airport.<div>
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It has been a wonderful weekend, and I will have a load of happy memories...the 'blooming tree', the know it all Bath redhead pointing out our moorings on the map beside the canal until clever viking number 2 asked, "So we are not where it says 'you are here'?", the fudge obsession, the clotted cream appreciation society, the strange noise from the boat in the middle of the night and the kindly vikings who put in ear-plugs rather than disturb me at the other end of the boat, the vertically challenged viking unable to reach the switch on the ceiling lights...oh and so many more!</div>
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Finally, just one note to any would-be Mr Darcy types...whilst admiring Lizzie Bennett's fine eyes is a good thing, exclaiming about the beauty of Anna-Karin's eyes in the same breath as asking your girlfriend if her particularly bad batch of spots is due to the medication she had to take for her asthma a few weeks back, is not the way to get your favourite dinner cooked for you! However, I do have to point out that said would-be Mr Darcy can be quite gallant when he chooses, and responding to being told of the shop assistant who thought Irene was Anna-Karin's mother with declaring it is only because Anna-Karin does not look like she could possibly be more than 30 and that Irene does not look old enough to have the children she actually has was...well...kinda nice. </div>
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Right then, I'm off to buy acne cream...</div>
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Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-66609488292287815292013-03-10T18:20:00.002+00:002013-03-10T18:20:50.948+00:00the owl and the pussy cat<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The owl(s)</h3>
At the WI meeting last week Eirlys at <a href="http://scrapiana.com/" target="_blank">Scrapiana</a> showed us an up-cycled owl made from a baby sock. I liked the idea and thought I would see what I could do. The first one really didn't work; rather more odd Japanese cartoon than owl.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbplVEHMP9Md4tFoLGFIdSC9tsDSXsuZ3-Vcm8CnBFlStsAFFgw0nAIIk5Rf5HmV1tj1kPbJWPjzfK9mliUrBRYC_pQWM2aLBKi4fDMwD_l623Fu-D54ZilWnMzNH18ChD4gan5OnhCbg/s1600/IMGP5104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbplVEHMP9Md4tFoLGFIdSC9tsDSXsuZ3-Vcm8CnBFlStsAFFgw0nAIIk5Rf5HmV1tj1kPbJWPjzfK9mliUrBRYC_pQWM2aLBKi4fDMwD_l623Fu-D54ZilWnMzNH18ChD4gan5OnhCbg/s400/IMGP5104.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not a good owl</td></tr>
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However, I persisted and was much happier with the second owl - smaller eyes, closer together and a plain sock.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBSsw0P2GWzDo8jKKn1zk6es5zAWisgslx00I6om5czY_m3jyubdg53QklDWnWAndJiofUh4TFbfAxtj7yJIa0DBwZ8Ffp17ZZ0uUU2fKOeIUqU3X6v7_XpCDAFQMhtsmY9EV2J-DxFE/s1600/IMGP5103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBSsw0P2GWzDo8jKKn1zk6es5zAWisgslx00I6om5czY_m3jyubdg53QklDWnWAndJiofUh4TFbfAxtj7yJIa0DBwZ8Ffp17ZZ0uUU2fKOeIUqU3X6v7_XpCDAFQMhtsmY9EV2J-DxFE/s400/IMGP5103.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">baby sock up-cycled owl</td></tr>
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The third was...ok. I think I prefer the plain coloured sock, rather than patterned.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyx0c30uZ9I0drB4dkcGNWQIjDfvOlbO8-NnYwp4z3zligcs0t7cXWj_KcY-HSZr9FElb5o4I9IGqnsXoyIMPOo-yggNK4sr_Y-E2XzI0VO7TS7_VcO5FAfBYXJYhrkHAUsnZiKuax7M/s1600/IMGP5106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyx0c30uZ9I0drB4dkcGNWQIjDfvOlbO8-NnYwp4z3zligcs0t7cXWj_KcY-HSZr9FElb5o4I9IGqnsXoyIMPOo-yggNK4sr_Y-E2XzI0VO7TS7_VcO5FAfBYXJYhrkHAUsnZiKuax7M/s400/IMGP5106.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sock owl</td></tr>
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I am enjoying up-cycling and now just need to keep my eyes peeled for gloves and good quality socks (I boil wash them before sewing!). I thought the baby sock offcuts might make nice t-shirts for Ellen Mouse...<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The pussy-cats</h3>
Once again the cats have taken over my chair!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-r5uxLG330O2K_Knp6b9c8Umn0N9Y36bTpM4jSsnxss7J0Wb3t04IiiVMHazq1BfMmwouMdugq4Tn0_MDL0WU9AYnW0ln5ZO6fN13Rgx1BLjVZrX0nTkt-PWaV9_98KCTVVPbSEzFs8/s1600/IMGP5077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-r5uxLG330O2K_Knp6b9c8Umn0N9Y36bTpM4jSsnxss7J0Wb3t04IiiVMHazq1BfMmwouMdugq4Tn0_MDL0WU9AYnW0ln5ZO6fN13Rgx1BLjVZrX0nTkt-PWaV9_98KCTVVPbSEzFs8/s400/IMGP5077.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cats</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZBJwMZxQ6HDRlF47Imxavc8cLoncl1wT7WoYxWnTlGALOBHOPXfSholNsGy0UhrqsMzImgcZW6rymVNY2qG1PfTroh9bPynF0I0vZkt9dk0QK_7p447LI-s-tB7IxAFLfoBPM7giOms/s1600/IMG_1180b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZBJwMZxQ6HDRlF47Imxavc8cLoncl1wT7WoYxWnTlGALOBHOPXfSholNsGy0UhrqsMzImgcZW6rymVNY2qG1PfTroh9bPynF0I0vZkt9dk0QK_7p447LI-s-tB7IxAFLfoBPM7giOms/s400/IMG_1180b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snoozy cats</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Mothers' Day roses</h3>
Today is Mothers' day (at least in the UK) so Mark and I took my mum and his parents out for lunch, bought them jasmine plants and planters and I made them a card and a rose brooch each. I experimented with adding beads to the roses - I think a few beads look nice, but got carried away with the second one. The colours have not come out well - they are the top one was actually a pale lilac while the second was a rich pinky purple.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGeirbmjkEZrkhZgNai1KqSnf1R_wHijNoAwVEnFAe2UKf-4XNu3p3wnBnW64PLRG6jcXhyphenhyphenhFHoxIrJypgIPQaNp2JfX_KQdDXppd-34HCCyG34Yqce2SjFktw1txP3yzwKEHhDIas_s/s1600/IMGP5088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGeirbmjkEZrkhZgNai1KqSnf1R_wHijNoAwVEnFAe2UKf-4XNu3p3wnBnW64PLRG6jcXhyphenhyphenhFHoxIrJypgIPQaNp2JfX_KQdDXppd-34HCCyG34Yqce2SjFktw1txP3yzwKEHhDIas_s/s400/IMGP5088.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beaded rose brooch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxnOoqE4RJ626S_2q1Wk8k2CWR5FVUu_SGguqI1jzeuzjV62d-_zdNTf8q7GMqBkH_-BkVWjBG5arxhPWypZRZm0WfCXH18DMQPLXoCwpJM8-oAEe4pZ0ddkb68sqpD8_QTQ6JMNU4JQ/s1600/IMGP5090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxnOoqE4RJ626S_2q1Wk8k2CWR5FVUu_SGguqI1jzeuzjV62d-_zdNTf8q7GMqBkH_-BkVWjBG5arxhPWypZRZm0WfCXH18DMQPLXoCwpJM8-oAEe4pZ0ddkb68sqpD8_QTQ6JMNU4JQ/s400/IMGP5090.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beaded rose brooch</td></tr>
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Both mums seemed to have a nice day and liked their gifts...and yesterday my friend from choir came over lunch and bought me lovely flowers too! Anemones; one of my favourites.<br />
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<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-71619221077519918762013-03-07T16:20:00.001+00:002013-03-07T16:20:02.871+00:00Patch the dog<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Upcycling</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A while ago, Sue at work showed me a lovely book about making sock and glove toys and I treated myself to a copy ('<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sock-Glove-Creating-Charming-Cast-off/dp/1557885168/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362672121&sr=1-1" target="_blank">sock and glove: creating charming softy friends from cast-off socks and gloves', by Miyako Kanamori</a>), so when the hobbit make-up guy had to put off speaking at the WI and Eirlys at <a href="http://scrapiana.com/" target="_blank">Scrapiana</a> stepped in to talk about up-cycling, I was inspired to traipse around Bath's charity shops in search of bits and pieces. I found a nice pair of black gloves, which I have turned in to my new friend, Patch!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyd8aSkIv5aE3bJR9cyb1khX3Tw7cQjzsxeCPpkG-f-HwD92S4suIblcOf4_tbwnAVzTfaFG03W_PkKdolh5bKRMHbsFOxeaMA9CX4zb4mJ39iUiFCuSjwDrnR8Ydq4uDRPd4PZhlVGY/s1600/IMG_1182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyd8aSkIv5aE3bJR9cyb1khX3Tw7cQjzsxeCPpkG-f-HwD92S4suIblcOf4_tbwnAVzTfaFG03W_PkKdolh5bKRMHbsFOxeaMA9CX4zb4mJ39iUiFCuSjwDrnR8Ydq4uDRPd4PZhlVGY/s640/IMG_1182.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patch the up-cycled glove dog</td></tr>
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I don't intend him to be a design I sell, I just wanted to make him...for the hell of it. As I type I also have a charity shop jumper in the tumble dryer, hopefully turning in to felt...<br />
<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-23494317072870536702013-03-03T08:07:00.001+00:002013-03-03T08:07:57.389+00:00Everything's coming up roses<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Red Roses</h3>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The first roses are these lovely red ones that Mark brought me in the week - for no reason other than he thought I needed cheering up!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeqaYE_PHhb6s1Ni_Jsjgm6DWc2vVERsKCyah23ZQEfXZJIOzacbsQX82kKVq7KKv_vIfJ-ICs9vGKO4eDVODRRd0RzU5sxovoaZj1Zawe_3XUgMs_jveDJLqywkqRh7JeNqefhXCnFY/s1600/IMGP5028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeqaYE_PHhb6s1Ni_Jsjgm6DWc2vVERsKCyah23ZQEfXZJIOzacbsQX82kKVq7KKv_vIfJ-ICs9vGKO4eDVODRRd0RzU5sxovoaZj1Zawe_3XUgMs_jveDJLqywkqRh7JeNqefhXCnFY/s400/IMGP5028.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">red roses</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieS_7JRhLGxg3sLQrAgghERfzL9XWVnZ1soMXGvFGTTt9cMZXzKNhyz6gfIEHBgrEd4owiB74o8MIv0equebAoriqZ20u6yx8cXvf1MaFFs3uiHEvR1QAveSrMGvmnWjDaEo4k19empiQ/s1600/IMGP5016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieS_7JRhLGxg3sLQrAgghERfzL9XWVnZ1soMXGvFGTTt9cMZXzKNhyz6gfIEHBgrEd4owiB74o8MIv0equebAoriqZ20u6yx8cXvf1MaFFs3uiHEvR1QAveSrMGvmnWjDaEo4k19empiQ/s400/IMGP5016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ah, must be love!</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
More roses: felt flowers with the Bath WI</h3>
I really like the <a href="http://thebathwi.com/" target="_blank">Bath WI</a>. It is very unlike the traditional image of the Women's Institute (somewhat elderly ladies singing Jerusalem and snoring through boring slide shows). I suspect I am one of the older members and, although sometimes I do feel like I am the only 40-something woman in Bath who does not have children, it is really relaxed and a good laugh. While there are groups of friends who understandably want to catch up, everyone mingles. No matter who you sit next to, you can pretty much guarantee they will be interesting, friendly and chatty. So now I have the monthly meeting on the first Wednesday of each month and the WI book club on the third Wednesday of every month and in the last week of the month the WI craft evening.<br />
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Thursday's craft evening was with Eirlys at <a href="http://scrapiana.com/" target="_blank">Scrapiana</a> - she of the teapot I was drooling over last week! It was such a nice group of women at <a href="http://www.jikajika.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jika Jika</a> (which was lovely - really nice airy place, the coffee was delicious and I was eying up the food - I think I must go back there with Mark for something to eat sometime) and Eirlys is really good at showing you what you need to know and helping if anyone got stuck, but all without feeling like a teacher. It was more like an evening out with friends where we just happened to learn to make some really simple but effective felt flowers. I had a couple of rather low days in the week (I blame that bout of flu/chest infection and the prednisolone after effects) but came away from the evening later than I had expected, with a big grin on my face - some lovely people and a bit of cutting, stitching and gluing is clearly the best medicine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0uLmAaOZxXLPqHHvBZD_obWmdQ03bvQZD-Ut0ELwAStUS5Gaxne2byXfC6jK4OVaRNy78Tovcu0YzodhpJeneuoOU1VKxv9VjMnouONnaZkQcmUtUjjVY7iO59HX4WL9pdXfeILa4No/s1600/IMG_1166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0uLmAaOZxXLPqHHvBZD_obWmdQ03bvQZD-Ut0ELwAStUS5Gaxne2byXfC6jK4OVaRNy78Tovcu0YzodhpJeneuoOU1VKxv9VjMnouONnaZkQcmUtUjjVY7iO59HX4WL9pdXfeILa4No/s400/IMG_1166.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">some of the WI crafters</td></tr>
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These are the flowers I made - and was allowed to take home:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3n3MpGBBgKGNGTtdbRC_lYM2X171CWhxQBpM9BhSUYH2AKwwuEZ_xGizdCWJQ9UZlFq_6c1J-dxA10XYK1BBgPqGbY_coBrTDL3ktbsQYbTbwnN-AVfQ1WbntSBDNCeom2s6Waw638ak/s1600/IMGP5039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3n3MpGBBgKGNGTtdbRC_lYM2X171CWhxQBpM9BhSUYH2AKwwuEZ_xGizdCWJQ9UZlFq_6c1J-dxA10XYK1BBgPqGbY_coBrTDL3ktbsQYbTbwnN-AVfQ1WbntSBDNCeom2s6Waw638ak/s400/IMGP5039.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">felt flowers</td></tr>
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The blue and green roses at the front are a spiral cut from a circle of felt and rolled up. Rather than going in to details here, have a look at Betz White's piece about them in her beautifully named '<a href="http://blog.betzwhite.com/2008/08/little-this-and-that.html" target="_blank">stitch beautifully...tread lightly</a>' blog, as she was Eirlys' inspiration for the roses.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpWmbIliXfin0_DY0D2W8UNhWAGpApRoT4ufw3LwuC1vOZtJeC4lYlnlIIBF47AmqntT85poHgK37hTsPeHdxFf73WZyqk7HyoDfzNC5jI43uvCzGXk-x5DUCWt_xBSkr1gjUbKSYtGQ/s1600/IMGP5043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpWmbIliXfin0_DY0D2W8UNhWAGpApRoT4ufw3LwuC1vOZtJeC4lYlnlIIBF47AmqntT85poHgK37hTsPeHdxFf73WZyqk7HyoDfzNC5jI43uvCzGXk-x5DUCWt_xBSkr1gjUbKSYtGQ/s400/IMGP5043.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">loopy felt chrysanthemum</td></tr>
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Eirlys also has a lovely <a href="http://scrapiana.com/2012/03/08/mothers-day-chrysanthemums/" target="_blank">Scrapiana</a> blog and there is a tutorial on making the chrysanthemums - really easy; give it a go! (and check out the rest of the blog while you're there - there's loads of lovely stuff). Incidentally, Eirlys is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">showing people how to make felt </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">chrysanthemums at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/130320073806826/" target="_blank">Craft Tea Party</a> at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreenParkBrasserie" target="_blank">Green Park</a>, Bath, for <a href="http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp#.UTLzeI55pUQ" target="_blank">International Women's </a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp#.UTLzeI55pUQ" target="_blank">Day</a> on Saturday 9th March, 2-5pm. A £5 donation to Oxfam (Eirlys is donating her time and materials) will see you making and taking home your very own brooch (as well as a nice warm feeling for helping a good cause). Contact her through her website <a href="http://scrapiana.com/">scrapiana.com</a> if you would like to reserve a place, there's a phone number on her classes page.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKasxL0a_ZJCqd_5f9No_3mgH676jJGu4-ceVH2jn6NewtVzU7KOkGL5DnTPsxMOaDJxROhbMWrJvUDGC7fHZDJDiXgMwwKvZIc2naRSfaD9D01i_8Dq-RwTuL7qTKo5TjFnHxnj5bTRM/s1600/IMGP5041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKasxL0a_ZJCqd_5f9No_3mgH676jJGu4-ceVH2jn6NewtVzU7KOkGL5DnTPsxMOaDJxROhbMWrJvUDGC7fHZDJDiXgMwwKvZIc2naRSfaD9D01i_8Dq-RwTuL7qTKo5TjFnHxnj5bTRM/s400/IMGP5041.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">felt pompom-esque flower</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The final style of flower we made comes from <a href="http://mantua-maker.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ruth Singer</a> who has lots of creative pieces on her blog and has written a book called '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=ruth+singer+sew+it+up&tag=googhydr-21&index=stripbooks&hvadid=9533512760&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1982412119961355500&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&ref=pd_sl_2ovrezv9fk_e" target="_blank">Sew It Up</a>' (which I just ordered on Amazon!), and I understand she has another book due out soon.</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shabby chic Ellen Mouse</span></h3>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thursday's flower making has encroached in to my other sewing, and my latest Ellen Mouse has taken on something of a shabby chic air! Her little flower brooch is made from tiny remnants from the <a href="http://whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/mill/index.php" target="_blank">Silk Mill</a> at Whitchurch in Hampshire.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt2AEK4mGrU1cs65Csp29MiqteOv_Sn-hYbAW4UvEgoWxfu8krLIudT1unTWfDrzsEOpcJy_fLAJj-GZn0D1sGKvsTtASzI6Gx60qzCbRvW9RjaCpjJxmejaC9RUWezMDQtwNOGUE3AM/s1600/IMGP5034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt2AEK4mGrU1cs65Csp29MiqteOv_Sn-hYbAW4UvEgoWxfu8krLIudT1unTWfDrzsEOpcJy_fLAJj-GZn0D1sGKvsTtASzI6Gx60qzCbRvW9RjaCpjJxmejaC9RUWezMDQtwNOGUE3AM/s400/IMGP5034.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">shabby chic Ellen Mouse</td></tr>
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I got a bit carried away, and this Ellen even has frilly lace smalls!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj-iqfE5ZVf5WPPq6w0ff_O-bmgwoUGQLyBTA828rxAtAjKqXFTdmQPoIDwY_P1VQ3aS-wmaOIlyfTodlmABH85-h50L_OVdMS2Fwfc4EDroxScfhPRgBstM01ceJ3863169dfd1bbTU/s1600/IMGP5036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj-iqfE5ZVf5WPPq6w0ff_O-bmgwoUGQLyBTA828rxAtAjKqXFTdmQPoIDwY_P1VQ3aS-wmaOIlyfTodlmABH85-h50L_OVdMS2Fwfc4EDroxScfhPRgBstM01ceJ3863169dfd1bbTU/s400/IMGP5036.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">frilly mouse knickers</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Garden flowers</span></h3>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yesterday turned out quite sunny so took the flower and mouse photos in the garden, and was amazed at how far out the Spring bulbs and blossoms are.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The dwarf flowering cherry outside the kitchen window is starting to blossom and will soon be beautiful. It always makes me smile, not least from memories of sniggering with my sister at the garden centre where my mum asked the young chap watering the plants, "Excuse me, do you have a small prunus?" How he kept a straight face when Helen and I were failing to smother our smutty double-entendre guffaws I'll never know!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQCIGdOARzlS749pWgc1pSzTVsJUw5xAqAyZNOyfbpva7yXr_R4j59MQt5uVZ0cYyn2VfaJw_wdb1BKa-5GMPol9ulnxk0XFDHO4BUzjte9biM-isxFn0R5-1j5qb5d_lUnIhe7h9Y1k/s1600/IMGP5044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQCIGdOARzlS749pWgc1pSzTVsJUw5xAqAyZNOyfbpva7yXr_R4j59MQt5uVZ0cYyn2VfaJw_wdb1BKa-5GMPol9ulnxk0XFDHO4BUzjte9biM-isxFn0R5-1j5qb5d_lUnIhe7h9Y1k/s400/IMGP5044.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a small prunus</td></tr>
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The crocus are taking over the garden, like a miniature version of the day of the triffids!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTVbn5gHZBmOfxHYCyv69C9yuvTAtg-nRhB4xkaQzwNCkyPCSlPbvuyYwgYI-KSD432Po0nzrnI9Hxu47U-12sf4-MwvwSKuFYWlT8PAl8ft58clhUFhJipXN64GDXIUYhBjldrf9zfs/s1600/IMGP5047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTVbn5gHZBmOfxHYCyv69C9yuvTAtg-nRhB4xkaQzwNCkyPCSlPbvuyYwgYI-KSD432Po0nzrnI9Hxu47U-12sf4-MwvwSKuFYWlT8PAl8ft58clhUFhJipXN64GDXIUYhBjldrf9zfs/s400/IMGP5047.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">purple crocus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3Tft8K5h8_MwXHWNoVkky-bH5Uu79PioEf88RJFKXBqLgRZ7VhnbA3ovX2iIl0pprX_BG4VCEQHqgO2S8-IANDMHyBxwN7cGZCQMYfuLEWBV3PH5LO3zpbFEBXZ8KC_fIy2-xMNr0_s/s1600/IMGP5048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3Tft8K5h8_MwXHWNoVkky-bH5Uu79PioEf88RJFKXBqLgRZ7VhnbA3ovX2iIl0pprX_BG4VCEQHqgO2S8-IANDMHyBxwN7cGZCQMYfuLEWBV3PH5LO3zpbFEBXZ8KC_fIy2-xMNr0_s/s400/IMGP5048.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">miniature triffid</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The daffodils are almost out, but at this point the cats decided I was not paying enough attention to them and Rio once again got in the frame.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiixdG8aG2kV_fWqITU7HXr2A96vPtd-zuQn8APxkMauedMF-8ytiwe-3scqjeMQTtsX-BdOozsElw09uq-FpEs0enz-Pfjc8z05m295-DFX2LAdvJ_xJZP12kC7kntffdqHMRTceSZc/s1600/IMGP5050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiixdG8aG2kV_fWqITU7HXr2A96vPtd-zuQn8APxkMauedMF-8ytiwe-3scqjeMQTtsX-BdOozsElw09uq-FpEs0enz-Pfjc8z05m295-DFX2LAdvJ_xJZP12kC7kntffdqHMRTceSZc/s400/IMGP5050.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cat and daffodil</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0RBG95mPzPfkngB0kZenfJB157bVP-spZQeWoIk8nqT0aT-asUEUn5ug4wI3bSkkdarXtMo9iLR9guQsjEMXDCjiQ9-lgC0Zsq3q8j_Pf69jPa2DZwAB5VK2AUgFUwodmG-uWtxmK98/s1600/IMGP5056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0RBG95mPzPfkngB0kZenfJB157bVP-spZQeWoIk8nqT0aT-asUEUn5ug4wI3bSkkdarXtMo9iLR9guQsjEMXDCjiQ9-lgC0Zsq3q8j_Pf69jPa2DZwAB5VK2AUgFUwodmG-uWtxmK98/s400/IMGP5056.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rio the cat</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1oz6P4ibahyB19m1tjTlOPeo6NRTcVSIC6ibc3AWgTX58Z48GyOSUfSeDaJ3DxQ8MHaq-p3FUh8Gi8UJbfonGD_q2zB3X6_GZFZvbALTdqC2H9vj8v8KdLub4JeCkWpr98Zp7u6ieAc/s1600/IMGP5063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1oz6P4ibahyB19m1tjTlOPeo6NRTcVSIC6ibc3AWgTX58Z48GyOSUfSeDaJ3DxQ8MHaq-p3FUh8Gi8UJbfonGD_q2zB3X6_GZFZvbALTdqC2H9vj8v8KdLub4JeCkWpr98Zp7u6ieAc/s400/IMGP5063.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max the cat</td></tr>
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The miniature daffs at the bottom of the garden, under the big cherry tree are farther along.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4GihOy_FHsLnAMwr5zVKyNEq4LlqH723DqLYQmOab9hHIzzzxJSCmFpJhG_shRTiqxFeSe2qiCKWfZA1z7MdxbfzSpAE6xL4JpBTWGlEA8mDFmM5NUziZl2xdEXjJ7QFcPDNK7mQhqM/s1600/IMGP5058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4GihOy_FHsLnAMwr5zVKyNEq4LlqH723DqLYQmOab9hHIzzzxJSCmFpJhG_shRTiqxFeSe2qiCKWfZA1z7MdxbfzSpAE6xL4JpBTWGlEA8mDFmM5NUziZl2xdEXjJ7QFcPDNK7mQhqM/s400/IMGP5058.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mini daffodils</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I do hope the birds use the bird box this year - it is now nicely weathered and quite high up, away from the cats.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_ue_CHAVoTkAcb1dv1fonRUrdWdFaQ_nN0H_Ur-l_A8N2ycaBQyMErBEja7iI17cLBCNb2MHHrZJ9i7GOYVu3vsu0G7Urt0Fj5f9ISXpJAcoYf2v2siJP6QOfIuA8c4222UWqEoSrIM/s1600/IMGP5059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_ue_CHAVoTkAcb1dv1fonRUrdWdFaQ_nN0H_Ur-l_A8N2ycaBQyMErBEja7iI17cLBCNb2MHHrZJ9i7GOYVu3vsu0G7Urt0Fj5f9ISXpJAcoYf2v2siJP6QOfIuA8c4222UWqEoSrIM/s400/IMGP5059.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
A walk around Bailbrook</h3>
As it was so nice and sunny yesterday, Mark suggested a bit of a walk. There are lots of nice walks from our house and we chose the walk up through Bailbrook, past the '<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/tin-church-becomes-listed-building-1548742.html" target="_blank">tin church</a>'.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8G697uE69Jq8N-NVvusTPrknqyq714lp0Nm-fmMxy1SQs9aPu4otg-eq3l7NELAkrkl_-wO8F2xR9bskD1AtGPqUWynhCi0UyVar_7nP2Oej52MAe5zPm1KQmy4HORrXQ-OMsVGGdWY/s1600/IMG_1168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8G697uE69Jq8N-NVvusTPrknqyq714lp0Nm-fmMxy1SQs9aPu4otg-eq3l7NELAkrkl_-wO8F2xR9bskD1AtGPqUWynhCi0UyVar_7nP2Oej52MAe5zPm1KQmy4HORrXQ-OMsVGGdWY/s400/IMG_1168.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bailbrook, Bath</td></tr>
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It must have been so noisy when it rained during services!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLtUENT2Z9nxmlRMAdgvkW315ip7VvMVAuz6TJAMQ4KXDw1TNfw5bO65cKn5v_ClGGq2Nr3cDBu93QcPTjL7QlrqatVIE9uinZmHbKvcFvxPXpIdQhfgugONy49xTzBjtB5UQQaJa2a8/s1600/IMG_1170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLtUENT2Z9nxmlRMAdgvkW315ip7VvMVAuz6TJAMQ4KXDw1TNfw5bO65cKn5v_ClGGq2Nr3cDBu93QcPTjL7QlrqatVIE9uinZmHbKvcFvxPXpIdQhfgugONy49xTzBjtB5UQQaJa2a8/s400/IMG_1170.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bailbrook tin church, Bath</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Along the lane the banks were covered with drifts of snowdrops - hard to see the detail in the photo; sorry I only took my phone.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2UpqBVOppCuquqtcpbV7pequs3L45ydaztrq2EaLMltlzfiBnjXAZOgi-w7IbdysM2zuJ2zpU7KuyPcGC5SPuYBFNCJehCf-TG9naA7PKpTSWAn0yMIChV0lWZQD2Y0Di0D5gzvV5hs/s1600/IMG_1171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2UpqBVOppCuquqtcpbV7pequs3L45ydaztrq2EaLMltlzfiBnjXAZOgi-w7IbdysM2zuJ2zpU7KuyPcGC5SPuYBFNCJehCf-TG9naA7PKpTSWAn0yMIChV0lWZQD2Y0Di0D5gzvV5hs/s400/IMG_1171.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bath snowdrops</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFlOWLaov1akxUoNR5NcZXtSTzW6e5aYmvfU4x7FkwKKR8p0GAQoKN6qAR2V4jyezO96oIQiiQUK7yVyq3lQ9zPrq5hYvI9AUHIOrc92IsrpOl_OKH8mYWqKiopBbmN_VYaxg11CBYEU/s1600/IMG_1172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFlOWLaov1akxUoNR5NcZXtSTzW6e5aYmvfU4x7FkwKKR8p0GAQoKN6qAR2V4jyezO96oIQiiQUK7yVyq3lQ9zPrq5hYvI9AUHIOrc92IsrpOl_OKH8mYWqKiopBbmN_VYaxg11CBYEU/s400/IMG_1172.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snowdrops</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Cornish Fairings</h3>
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All the exertion called for some baking - Cornish fairings (melt 100g butter with 100g golden caster sugar and 2 tbsp golden syrup, then sieve in 175g self-raising flour, 2 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp mixed spice, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda. Mix well and dollop teaspoonfuls onto a lined baking sheet. Squish down the dollops a little with the spoon and bake for 8 to 10 mins at 180C in a pre-heated oven. Cool on a wire rack.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvizOw0mPcWznmrRNxkCeLfwJBkp4ilCPYT9vS0_CTMLvZWWzhdJ_eJ2ozMM2LLDWFf0CBzn6KIS7m7lPUFu7YWHmcW4hD-2hQ0AemFRhyphenhyphenZCIhUURdnqJ7lkamjF40V739p13x92Xce0Q/s1600/IMGP5022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvizOw0mPcWznmrRNxkCeLfwJBkp4ilCPYT9vS0_CTMLvZWWzhdJ_eJ2ozMM2LLDWFf0CBzn6KIS7m7lPUFu7YWHmcW4hD-2hQ0AemFRhyphenhyphenZCIhUURdnqJ7lkamjF40V739p13x92Xce0Q/s400/IMGP5022.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cornish fairings</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today I am torn between putting time in to my part-finished quilt and making some more felt flowers...I would like to try adding some tiny beads. A cup of coffee first and then I'll decide.</span><br />
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<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-7425295747535808932013-02-24T16:38:00.001+00:002013-02-24T16:38:32.930+00:00The everyday tale (tail?) of catsI often sneak in to my blog updates a few photos of our two cats, Max and Rio...some may call it padding, but I like to think of it as legitimate distraction from the things I should be getting on with. Our cats are brothers from the same litter. They were part feral and Mark took them in when they were very young kittens. They were quite poorly and the vet wasn't sure they would survive, but with Mark's love and care they both thrived.<br />
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When Mark started seeing me, quite a lot of years ago now, they instantly accepted me. Rio sat demurely on my lap and let me stroke him and Max draped himself brazenly across my chest in a frankly floozy like way. Now I am their first port of call for food, being let out first thing in the morning (we keep them in over night) and generally to pander to their every whim.<br />
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In return, both cats like to help me with my work. Rio takes responsibility for communications:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmtIeQRe218ZrwUmmu6eqeRosPvSPZuh_rhf2RJabEnaew5yWH7OQKbsOHG6t6_3KNOAl5_gulgvhvcronOTJTro5G-qBhU9gSygRuD0HqYwv5yvbDVdZ0vEso_DJanEQezQcBowoFsY/s1600/IMG_1156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmtIeQRe218ZrwUmmu6eqeRosPvSPZuh_rhf2RJabEnaew5yWH7OQKbsOHG6t6_3KNOAl5_gulgvhvcronOTJTro5G-qBhU9gSygRuD0HqYwv5yvbDVdZ0vEso_DJanEQezQcBowoFsY/s400/IMG_1156.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rio attempts to contact other types of life</td></tr>
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Max is in charge of packaging; checking boxes personally for size and quality:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyecyLjpAnX-49fRYwqNpbubq6QfWDp80eZYlTGmfz9Hd-KYdNISk1DnHfVKxrcK_KIUoNMyCEYBfakzTk8nRyjtteBHaSIQ-mtO2nPHXS-ZRZQigLISR6OWKnaIvNSWVkPRfdBs_ek8/s1600/IMG_1157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyecyLjpAnX-49fRYwqNpbubq6QfWDp80eZYlTGmfz9Hd-KYdNISk1DnHfVKxrcK_KIUoNMyCEYBfakzTk8nRyjtteBHaSIQ-mtO2nPHXS-ZRZQigLISR6OWKnaIvNSWVkPRfdBs_ek8/s400/IMG_1157.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max tests cardboard boxes</td></tr>
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...and when I try to sew, they make sure I do not want for company:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hiegc6erTHOEikbH1kzRtCSdFQTWH8NPeycxwp1DF-gYN7gLPOxm8-Bxy7qXuCctvpcpjCtkz6XY2mhucWL-WDwGN6EjjEgpxj1JhS_JHA-BAjptZ_SrwmOCVJ_PLtHzTfC9bBwlIYY/s1600/IMG_1162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hiegc6erTHOEikbH1kzRtCSdFQTWH8NPeycxwp1DF-gYN7gLPOxm8-Bxy7qXuCctvpcpjCtkz6XY2mhucWL-WDwGN6EjjEgpxj1JhS_JHA-BAjptZ_SrwmOCVJ_PLtHzTfC9bBwlIYY/s400/IMG_1162.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cats at work</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8olaCIsmkEJjV2rOtn3eQ3j4OnPME7hAKyb8U2KMtObyHFVmZglJrrbTzj5LY6WwgrjtwOsjUfwhLQI8pqgRUljFpmTshNRCPyOER0eiQ2YAwx6wpAlDHLRjf6Tzjkv_4qV8Loq3rqBs/s1600/IMG_1164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8olaCIsmkEJjV2rOtn3eQ3j4OnPME7hAKyb8U2KMtObyHFVmZglJrrbTzj5LY6WwgrjtwOsjUfwhLQI8pqgRUljFpmTshNRCPyOER0eiQ2YAwx6wpAlDHLRjf6Tzjkv_4qV8Loq3rqBs/s400/IMG_1164.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">purry snores abound</td></tr>
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With support like this, surely it will be no problem making my business a success!<br />
<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-52023312686508651482013-02-23T07:03:00.000+00:002013-02-23T07:03:29.796+00:00Tea pots and turtles<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Tea Pots</h3>
I am a bad, bad woman! I am being made redundant in just five weeks' time and I am then going to give myself a few weeks to get the house decorated and the garden sorted out, and even when I do put my energies in to a business, realistically it is going to be quite some time before I get any money coming in...and even then I am not kidding myself that it will be a lot of money. The point is, I need to live as frugally as possible to make all these dreams possible. I do not need to buy more teapots! Is there a dodgy gene that makes an otherwise sane(ish) woman yearn for another teapot...when she already has...ahem...thirty? However, despite all the sensible reasons not to buy another tea pot, yesterday I did anyway. Now, before you judge me too harshly, please bear in mind that it was in a really cute shop (<a href="http://www.charlieboots.com/ethical-clothing-and-accessories-news/" target="_blank">Charlie Boots</a> in Bath - sells mainly local handmade items, but also has some vintage), it was reduced big time in the sale, it was vintage Bulgarian and utterly beautiful and the price I thought would have been reasonable for the tea pot was actually for the whole tea set....one tea pot, one sugar bowl, six cups and sauces and six tea plates. Now I ask you, how could I walk away???<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FMFGchg_DidbDfNEHuD6FBsZwMgqNM8gTwABO85sONu9yl82-fVYv-Wf2L0vD4dEI7r77j1WlvfP1OBhJZcu-ycLbo3DM58FXefU4CzG-9jkffA7x3V-fD5zVjKypezLx3k1CeZ0Q6Y/s1600/IMGP4993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FMFGchg_DidbDfNEHuD6FBsZwMgqNM8gTwABO85sONu9yl82-fVYv-Wf2L0vD4dEI7r77j1WlvfP1OBhJZcu-ycLbo3DM58FXefU4CzG-9jkffA7x3V-fD5zVjKypezLx3k1CeZ0Q6Y/s640/IMGP4993.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bulgarian drip-glaze vintage tea set</td></tr>
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The particular joy is that it was so cheap I will have no qualms actually using the tea set. The downside is that the shop is almost opposite the <a href="http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/findus.aspx?store=Bath" target="_blank">Kath Kidston</a> shop where my fabricoholic took over when I saw a marked-down remnant of the Stanley the dog print cotton fabric, in blue...ah well.<br />
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I do sometimes worry - well, maybe not actually worry, but certainly wonder - whether these...urges...are quite normal. I understand from women's magazines that it is more usual to lust after handbags and shoes (and pasty, young actors who, to me, look far too young, underfed, pouty and somewhat girly - give me Russell Crowe any day! But I digress.). I mean, I was just having a bit of a google to see if I could discover the age of the tea set - no luck, so if anyone has any ideas, please let me know - and discovered a lovely Etsy shop, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ilovelilybelle" target="_blank">I Love Lily Belle</a>, and I have to confess it was almost like ceramic porn! Talking of which, for weeks now I have found myself drooling over the most gorgeous teapot from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Scrapiana?page=1" target="_blank">Scrapiana</a> on Etsy.com. It's a Brown Betty and I love it. I can picture myself chatting in the kitchen holding the newly warmed tea pot in my arms...phew...I have to stop now!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyRkqP5uu2PUIPBk6YKUnJDXm1Qm6FKR20uJMF423XLpHtr7btA4VH6E86RyDXoso2L6Mqmh9fekBHxNvAxvV8egg678-Sk5qx6LLIrux3RWscmNa6FxmdZkBfp81mZPEl8Jcc2rLW60/s1600/il_570xN.415497961_qq07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyRkqP5uu2PUIPBk6YKUnJDXm1Qm6FKR20uJMF423XLpHtr7btA4VH6E86RyDXoso2L6Mqmh9fekBHxNvAxvV8egg678-Sk5qx6LLIrux3RWscmNa6FxmdZkBfp81mZPEl8Jcc2rLW60/s400/il_570xN.415497961_qq07.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Betty teapot from Scrapiana at Etsy.com</td></tr>
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The temptation with this is that Eirlys, who runs Scrapiana, lives very near me, runs the Big Bath Mend (at the Museum of Bath at Work on the last Wednesday of every month) and is running a WI craft class next Thursday where I will be learning to make fabric flowers...how will I ever stop myself asking whether the tea pot is still available, whether I could pick it up to avoid postage charges, whether we could negotiate a lower price if I didn't have the accompanying teacosy. Stop it! I need to remember that this teapot costs almost as much as the whole tea set I bought yesterday, that I really do not have space for more teapots, that I don't need it. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">But I really, really want it...!</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Turtles</h3>
I have made another turtle. Sadly, it is for a five year old little boy who is bravely battling cancer. It makes me so sad to think of all he is going through and all the worry his family faces, and I am really touched that when offered a gift from his granny he wanted one of my bits of sewing. His sister has an <a href="http://deereyme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/theres-mouse-loose-about-this-hooouse.html" target="_blank">Ellen Mouse</a> and he didn't want to be left out. The turtle will head to its new home this weekend:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2daTixekg_QHu_fQ0IwIad34HZJoR-e0YejKDliTWZvr2FcHTW6qpemMayT0HD8_wllTd4MtFNU4bgQmUbx0SLILnplBV40i_M9IpjsNmvwDikfLvHuOU4QW0r39f3R-SeuRUSIv6PM/s1600/IMGP5009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2daTixekg_QHu_fQ0IwIad34HZJoR-e0YejKDliTWZvr2FcHTW6qpemMayT0HD8_wllTd4MtFNU4bgQmUbx0SLILnplBV40i_M9IpjsNmvwDikfLvHuOU4QW0r39f3R-SeuRUSIv6PM/s640/IMGP5009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">patchwork turtle</td></tr>
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I am mainly self-taught when it comes to the sort of sewing I do. I did a bit of dress-making at school and at home with my mum, but quilting and soft-toys and bags and the like is something I picked up from a few books and trial and error. Consequently there are probably better ways to sew together fabric hexagons, but I find the patchwork shell of the turtle rather fiddly - can't believe people make entire quilts that way! I was also distracted as our friend Jamie (Smiffy's Plumbing and Heating) had popped over to have a look at our boiler and we had a nice cup of tea, homemade lemon slices and a catch up. In fact, I was so distracted that I when I turned the turtle's body the right way out, I realised I had forgotten to put the head in the seam before I sewed it! (I also realised that when I made a similar turtle for Mark's mum, I put the back legs on the wrong way round...oops!)<br />
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When I start my business, I probably will not make many toys - or at least not many different models of toys - because of the need for a CE Mark. There is a lot of testing and documentation for each design and I am not convinced there is enough added value to make it worthwhile. Ellen Mouse has proved so popular, I will keep her in my portfolio - and I am still hopeful I can come up with a Briony Bunny variation I am happy with, that will be sufficiently similar to Ellen to make the testing and documentation a little easier, but doubt I will do more...although, maybe a rag doll?<br />
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<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-5134967137724741822013-02-17T15:40:00.000+00:002013-02-17T15:40:12.928+00:00I talk to the trees...I do talk to the trees. Actually, sometimes I even sing to the trees. My eldest sister and I used to go to Westonbirt Arboretum in the Winter every year - just the two of us. We would go off-path, hug trees and sing Simon and Garfunkel songs (very badly indeed). I guess our lives have become busier and we are more likely now to mooch from tea shop to tea shop for an hour or two, rather than walk and sing in the trees all day. We need to restart the tradition.<br />
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So today I went to Westonbirt with Mark and his parents. A wonderfully sunny day, there were too many people for me to get away with singing or tree-hugging, but it was lovely feeling the dappled sun on our faces, spotting the buds so full of promise, listening to the birds and...<br />
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...enjoying a grand Sunday lunch of sausage and chips!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_QYWGCj81C9Cnj0eSs3wwIO6ay23tAIuVfS_JhNCiLJFT9AmwNbHFW1gSAzXfT1S5N_CkQECqBPXpIZMsB3O1scmvShRNQytQJ6s0MbaX4I0KkFMjvkHrtpWVyRXlWHPYgSscLPqQLE/s1600/IMGP4971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_QYWGCj81C9Cnj0eSs3wwIO6ay23tAIuVfS_JhNCiLJFT9AmwNbHFW1gSAzXfT1S5N_CkQECqBPXpIZMsB3O1scmvShRNQytQJ6s0MbaX4I0KkFMjvkHrtpWVyRXlWHPYgSscLPqQLE/s400/IMGP4971.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sausage and chips for lunch</td></tr>
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I love seeing the early Spring bulbs fighting their way through the drifts of leaves that fell in the Autumn; it feels like a triumph over adversity.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTK6wNYBi3YWtRAwz4EfrCwu53cZuuOC2qy_FWl3mFpNzmSsdptjFuqMQpqW4WkrjuPGt_BodZsUZLn89UM1pBp3xqUEC-DXqa6THl4YrUhTX4POvlH_89_275xHOg-3XLXaCbVcIhss/s1600/IMGP4972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTK6wNYBi3YWtRAwz4EfrCwu53cZuuOC2qy_FWl3mFpNzmSsdptjFuqMQpqW4WkrjuPGt_BodZsUZLn89UM1pBp3xqUEC-DXqa6THl4YrUhTX4POvlH_89_275xHOg-3XLXaCbVcIhss/s640/IMGP4972.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snowdrops and Autumn leaves</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRklGmmqYXLfZxueIsGOS6Sga-w1Qe08wwvK3Wu3-y8Dp4OQxvANPVY5Ehi2bQ-0xkPY2mS-yp9EAECKEPcpp-s62ZXNsKKvL4Yxkr06tH7SaGml2tzFcoWwAAIXU0QIK98LLIaQ_alY/s1600/IMGP4974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRklGmmqYXLfZxueIsGOS6Sga-w1Qe08wwvK3Wu3-y8Dp4OQxvANPVY5Ehi2bQ-0xkPY2mS-yp9EAECKEPcpp-s62ZXNsKKvL4Yxkr06tH7SaGml2tzFcoWwAAIXU0QIK98LLIaQ_alY/s640/IMGP4974.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fair maids of February</td></tr>
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I love the way the low Winter sun catches the bark of the trees.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTn7ikZ0fX2_DiSESKi6BV85tNtBcR0I4E4b0046rATJtCEajCkxlf2o5rOru1fClYyHIJ9n09EzRgpZY0vw0YPJpZEO0ZVk_N0ovzRuwRuTbzqb3a8xe8hh1e71DHEo4CgLBOAOWbKs/s1600/IMGP4978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTn7ikZ0fX2_DiSESKi6BV85tNtBcR0I4E4b0046rATJtCEajCkxlf2o5rOru1fClYyHIJ9n09EzRgpZY0vw0YPJpZEO0ZVk_N0ovzRuwRuTbzqb3a8xe8hh1e71DHEo4CgLBOAOWbKs/s640/IMGP4978.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cedar tree bark</td></tr>
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I love the way the sun catches the vivid yellow petals of the witch hazel - like a Winter fiesta!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzRXcr_orIfq3qFsViukfspmVB7IVEnuSMZj-z9DloQNIZLRXtUFe8iWzmDWa_c-jB93Cjy2SODPSFChjROehmyLXUBZLGH0eLR2fY_tX2sBKg_sU8GfR8cnFAyqJVTXnGXcgaL948pM/s1600/IMGP4980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzRXcr_orIfq3qFsViukfspmVB7IVEnuSMZj-z9DloQNIZLRXtUFe8iWzmDWa_c-jB93Cjy2SODPSFChjROehmyLXUBZLGH0eLR2fY_tX2sBKg_sU8GfR8cnFAyqJVTXnGXcgaL948pM/s640/IMGP4980.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">witch hazel pom-poms</td></tr>
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I love the way carrying (and using) a camera allows me to distance myself from the rest of the world; watching from a distance is so calming.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVL8mnQRUCFiAFA8h8IapFYE8v1pOwUShRS-GStbK6TeuHmxwsNSXv3cpzDjlNSe6r6CCiCkkKKkUsRlI33W2BD5hCfl71jV1cwiXjVMh-ZR09kzs3IjV4gQ95wSSd2qw1xcDgfXhT0Y/s1600/IMGP4982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVL8mnQRUCFiAFA8h8IapFYE8v1pOwUShRS-GStbK6TeuHmxwsNSXv3cpzDjlNSe6r6CCiCkkKKkUsRlI33W2BD5hCfl71jV1cwiXjVMh-ZR09kzs3IjV4gQ95wSSd2qw1xcDgfXhT0Y/s640/IMGP4982.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">walking a few paces behind<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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I love catching sight of little splashes of colour as the natural world starts to wake up from Winter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqf0vKFdnNapGyJ411G0sF7R7bfbwZe8IdnbGLU0kCO9KlV71roAtUhMRVvnMioVEX4FHVXQaWgDYQAxdIT3weO9T76ct2VHLYaSEuxynIL_Rjh5ADtvDBMqJ8OnBYzjnVKDw1POs7mv8/s1600/IMGP4987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqf0vKFdnNapGyJ411G0sF7R7bfbwZe8IdnbGLU0kCO9KlV71roAtUhMRVvnMioVEX4FHVXQaWgDYQAxdIT3weO9T76ct2VHLYaSEuxynIL_Rjh5ADtvDBMqJ8OnBYzjnVKDw1POs7mv8/s640/IMGP4987.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">signs of life</td></tr>
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I think this will be Mark and me one day. An elderly couple sitting companionably on a park bench, watching the world go by.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TvfHrhq8KjIBVymDjMp4kYYumCqcZFm4Ls52n09k1MdN9oeqpaHDhT9dq_BO6f_nWKPjaWBAqbcE6pexDjiOkTlgPFmlZxL6An_9TIBLmUCWykvKGKmN7huRNDiMCPMsTaviFTkF0CE/s1600/IMGP4991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TvfHrhq8KjIBVymDjMp4kYYumCqcZFm4Ls52n09k1MdN9oeqpaHDhT9dq_BO6f_nWKPjaWBAqbcE6pexDjiOkTlgPFmlZxL6An_9TIBLmUCWykvKGKmN7huRNDiMCPMsTaviFTkF0CE/s640/IMGP4991.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sat on their park bench like bookends</td></tr>
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<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4702922331073745025.post-82137099385356421152013-02-16T21:27:00.000+00:002013-02-16T21:27:16.549+00:00I do believe in fairies...I do, I do!A quiet week - still a bit croaky and wheezy but getting better. Decided a bit of fresh air might help the healing process so Mark and I set out to see the new sculpture trail at Lacock Abbey. A series of wire mesh fairies and dragons and the like. There were clearly a lot of visitors making the most of some hazy sunshine, but Lacock is one of those magical places that can absorb a crowd without feeling crowded. Just as well, as I am not good among crowds (unless they are the host of golden daffodil type when wandering lonely as a cloud).<br />
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As we walked through the wooded gardens we came across a number of timid fairies; some resting on tree stumps and others floating amid the trees. I really like the way you can see through the figures - makes them all the more other-worldly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVHVCy0iZi1M_TtoIv5SBP7tOc707L1vA9-_eKY6XD9t7RC1BG5VM8D2G2aiMinNHbio2qd3B6PsCcjuHN_Q7MQj8qS3A6gQ-ialGRNPQFCB-BcsWP8XNtv0eikOJtIdHdYGJf3rd554/s1600/IMGP4933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVHVCy0iZi1M_TtoIv5SBP7tOc707L1vA9-_eKY6XD9t7RC1BG5VM8D2G2aiMinNHbio2qd3B6PsCcjuHN_Q7MQj8qS3A6gQ-ialGRNPQFCB-BcsWP8XNtv0eikOJtIdHdYGJf3rd554/s640/IMGP4933.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fairy at Lacock Abbey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgUz265yqbCJHWokwxoWAq8_5FXmosct8d08Db_oSrFNujtSMUR-gzlL20CVTkP7f4SjD_s0SWE0InSY4r3W5YiH1iVAPxQ5Q-C_IebagzsmclTiQyDg5mxV_LLATFqtadp9TsDMbe-Q/s1600/IMGP4948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgUz265yqbCJHWokwxoWAq8_5FXmosct8d08Db_oSrFNujtSMUR-gzlL20CVTkP7f4SjD_s0SWE0InSY4r3W5YiH1iVAPxQ5Q-C_IebagzsmclTiQyDg5mxV_LLATFqtadp9TsDMbe-Q/s640/IMGP4948.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacock sculpture trail<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyYq1TO0Q34r4eB_Wn-Yv6ewmz22kBB5VhK-FFrHyCp1YVP4cDXDCZFrPDh2747pK-srNhPEzkFrfUZ-QKCJoZQAwapcPlkQxBy6Y7njqXtYwfrETrWpw-7M6rGKhMGn5bgWtvu7POLc/s1600/IMGP4932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyYq1TO0Q34r4eB_Wn-Yv6ewmz22kBB5VhK-FFrHyCp1YVP4cDXDCZFrPDh2747pK-srNhPEzkFrfUZ-QKCJoZQAwapcPlkQxBy6Y7njqXtYwfrETrWpw-7M6rGKhMGn5bgWtvu7POLc/s640/IMGP4932.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a fairy holding a fairy...cool!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As we followed the path, we came across a rather splendid dragon...I could definitely imagine having one of these in our garden!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAmYrf0F3V1QCXzRmNkjhFQUWIwfDQHxBdpTLOjfimeGtUChhyphenhyphen5U4beJyEvA8Jk_OJ-ccujHuA8cJ5beq0VjIL-ax0vZni5cOi0Q6tBUjqBrkMjS24MemYNp1lTUQBV4UHST08M4Z0Ms/s1600/IMGP4930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAmYrf0F3V1QCXzRmNkjhFQUWIwfDQHxBdpTLOjfimeGtUChhyphenhyphen5U4beJyEvA8Jk_OJ-ccujHuA8cJ5beq0VjIL-ax0vZni5cOi0Q6tBUjqBrkMjS24MemYNp1lTUQBV4UHST08M4Z0Ms/s640/IMGP4930.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">here there be dragons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In the centre of the cloisters there was even a unicorn!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLeXl_AzfyYtush-1ov6ttiJqUyWaxM_heI5uE34_GKQGc5rwaf9H89yAzZH3YZc6tUAx93vA4jjQHxuhVS_2SdaLiTTEbnwVAp_QLRqdT3qrOpn7tx6U1ZmnY29RM6pALu0F-g5PqTGM/s1600/IMGP4952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLeXl_AzfyYtush-1ov6ttiJqUyWaxM_heI5uE34_GKQGc5rwaf9H89yAzZH3YZc6tUAx93vA4jjQHxuhVS_2SdaLiTTEbnwVAp_QLRqdT3qrOpn7tx6U1ZmnY29RM6pALu0F-g5PqTGM/s640/IMGP4952.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">unicorn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now, I get the mythical creatures and the figure reading and the monk...after all it is an abbey...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoRbxUnEIevOlfPpibybyGLN0r7ZAZIYLjAZW4fpbofYHsvDoT_grmMQU3UF90Fgwoy98JghahZdJ0pgBAob0EUVMsxAVbgkFmoAwbRxzu4w3Z2dsYSjCE3umKaSB-dBKzM_EWgY1rqM/s1600/IMGP4921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoRbxUnEIevOlfPpibybyGLN0r7ZAZIYLjAZW4fpbofYHsvDoT_grmMQU3UF90Fgwoy98JghahZdJ0pgBAob0EUVMsxAVbgkFmoAwbRxzu4w3Z2dsYSjCE3umKaSB-dBKzM_EWgY1rqM/s640/IMGP4921.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lost in a good book</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeKHTPHm3mvEBCBJ9FLcwUzO9P9RLm7f4Qur8KMknv8xg6VQ9qJ6zVYChp0pYZEsCQX_aKuWjlM0ms_lcXlGU2vGuxn0PZV80MbT6JBAC_TQ0CPjp5izEgLhpxwejjR4tJ5Ek8jZk_xs/s1600/IMGP4954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeKHTPHm3mvEBCBJ9FLcwUzO9P9RLm7f4Qur8KMknv8xg6VQ9qJ6zVYChp0pYZEsCQX_aKuWjlM0ms_lcXlGU2vGuxn0PZV80MbT6JBAC_TQ0CPjp5izEgLhpxwejjR4tJ5Ek8jZk_xs/s640/IMGP4954.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ghostly monk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
...but a motorbike??? Huh?!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQdIbcLGoI-UXTx2gTtpjTfPr0AcT9eWcLDoHbyxCR-gEKmeNLWTY_njNCGxqYPnZezUrRn1lpiSB32L4-_NHfDJniIrl2k1PDdW5oQm4k3yH81-_9uomHVWgFO0wjyoLsgm7H5wC28g/s1600/IMGP4957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQdIbcLGoI-UXTx2gTtpjTfPr0AcT9eWcLDoHbyxCR-gEKmeNLWTY_njNCGxqYPnZezUrRn1lpiSB32L4-_NHfDJniIrl2k1PDdW5oQm4k3yH81-_9uomHVWgFO0wjyoLsgm7H5wC28g/s400/IMGP4957.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a motorbike?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
However, it was a lovely day for a walk and the woods were showing hints of Spring.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMly_Yyus2Of6UlvvwQJCF4y0GoXqJ7SSRZ2cIT5gQdllvrHIHAbk7OhP6SV-MW1Ph8ooJShWD_LlqZNvPlp-HqYcQLa2w5IoXDxqOXtfz0RldN_Hd5c-yJISdFKQcaWZtbAsZN3hl-w/s1600/IMGP4960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMly_Yyus2Of6UlvvwQJCF4y0GoXqJ7SSRZ2cIT5gQdllvrHIHAbk7OhP6SV-MW1Ph8ooJShWD_LlqZNvPlp-HqYcQLa2w5IoXDxqOXtfz0RldN_Hd5c-yJISdFKQcaWZtbAsZN3hl-w/s640/IMGP4960.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snowdrops and sunshine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRUL6Mf1MXsSzcG9iJBApZV61mxmhY1ZKAx2qOFzrJu_6NZild0_-LAXD-jALyLxZ9p3KEXRO5jCYo31MrXYGrZ58ziZs0DsxJLusKKLh4TFQYzZVubn4qfX9lClClzIu6d8mG9voVkQ/s1600/IMGP4961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRUL6Mf1MXsSzcG9iJBApZV61mxmhY1ZKAx2qOFzrJu_6NZild0_-LAXD-jALyLxZ9p3KEXRO5jCYo31MrXYGrZ58ziZs0DsxJLusKKLh4TFQYzZVubn4qfX9lClClzIu6d8mG9voVkQ/s640/IMGP4961.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snowdrops</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6zS2DhtpOpFarqDk1_Hr0hPJf2Qsbd1gOJRlObrfQhwOAttV48XQScr-N5fRcq5njH0cO9EZazirHO-SRe_0QdzLcFxhW0ISI0ShqYB9x9Sy7U7PnLu5ecSnxbJKrCZfGmzLgJrkujg/s1600/IMGP4966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6zS2DhtpOpFarqDk1_Hr0hPJf2Qsbd1gOJRlObrfQhwOAttV48XQScr-N5fRcq5njH0cO9EZazirHO-SRe_0QdzLcFxhW0ISI0ShqYB9x9Sy7U7PnLu5ecSnxbJKrCZfGmzLgJrkujg/s640/IMGP4966.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">crocus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0-1YbP0GB07nbuIlO7dE0zZNEo45bKXGogDKhObY1mMtY5O9nqyBuJ06BD3WMtkxz3GiJ396f4mplV6IiH3-V9Mb0I1Kaz4pNiJ4qwN2uDhhnrzYb8MIltEVMw6-WXpGEozf_kxqW8I/s1600/IMGP4939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0-1YbP0GB07nbuIlO7dE0zZNEo45bKXGogDKhObY1mMtY5O9nqyBuJ06BD3WMtkxz3GiJ396f4mplV6IiH3-V9Mb0I1Kaz4pNiJ4qwN2uDhhnrzYb8MIltEVMw6-WXpGEozf_kxqW8I/s640/IMGP4939.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">woodland stepping stones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSiGN4GzVjCyRTWlDVJp4LVzG0FY6JWiEkqBjt0I7h_koHfaDXvZDfjpi8WcDmP5Jn5EIZNgHf1XUF9JhWIP_qLw8a0w4VJUtYDwJChVpB-XiVfdv6QkfuVEsCwbHNeJGyKuAnPzZFqw/s1600/IMGP4943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSiGN4GzVjCyRTWlDVJp4LVzG0FY6JWiEkqBjt0I7h_koHfaDXvZDfjpi8WcDmP5Jn5EIZNgHf1XUF9JhWIP_qLw8a0w4VJUtYDwJChVpB-XiVfdv6QkfuVEsCwbHNeJGyKuAnPzZFqw/s640/IMGP4943.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">umbrella of light</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGV8OSwxl1J3R7AsPAuKU_WetMdxeQeR6Dr4fRz6Rwee9GSD5crgujRif8wpeH0EHu-QlL9yuLNZ1JTwkDadqW14h5vcwnx6f_625oPwEZAB9SPEWhyUcaKvfWySMRhmuCu2VNO9W1HIs/s1600/IMGP4945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGV8OSwxl1J3R7AsPAuKU_WetMdxeQeR6Dr4fRz6Rwee9GSD5crgujRif8wpeH0EHu-QlL9yuLNZ1JTwkDadqW14h5vcwnx6f_625oPwEZAB9SPEWhyUcaKvfWySMRhmuCu2VNO9W1HIs/s640/IMGP4945.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pond life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0TCxc8KMMsxQ_9xaIp0JCRpji_hE9QK_bk9tf5ByzhkHQEFB2N3i-lCHBYQ_Cp1wK7jc31J7-azmyLh7-foE9qI0gjgAchm-i7knFzfcyOsU1ao2JTle-d3INGXqBbtwjvIgLh4JgEE/s1600/IMGP4936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0TCxc8KMMsxQ_9xaIp0JCRpji_hE9QK_bk9tf5ByzhkHQEFB2N3i-lCHBYQ_Cp1wK7jc31J7-azmyLh7-foE9qI0gjgAchm-i7knFzfcyOsU1ao2JTle-d3INGXqBbtwjvIgLh4JgEE/s640/IMGP4936.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">woodland walk at Lacock Abbey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEjPTz6ovFNwge56m09FHwPlzKdiAe9OU-fYRw2FQZRxj7TQqTOEkUFHdKav1y3BMWtRr-qZlxNNFP8w2AymQCpKVQ4IYnpA6Pa3gpl-ppqSSa64TnEoHPTFaS0tO9Zk1vxvHZ405RIA/s1600/IMGP4935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEjPTz6ovFNwge56m09FHwPlzKdiAe9OU-fYRw2FQZRxj7TQqTOEkUFHdKav1y3BMWtRr-qZlxNNFP8w2AymQCpKVQ4IYnpA6Pa3gpl-ppqSSa64TnEoHPTFaS0tO9Zk1vxvHZ405RIA/s640/IMGP4935.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacock Abbey gardens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05p3qqEw562flBo1DnI6U3x1MdXz7ZAitXjkCj6COT14EBR-iIKu9ndTcAQS3V7Uk9qKwBeJttLga7cRoGf_1rzzm_ibMINC7VvQOspzFUlweRtj0D58hyv6RJ9nw_f2skkZJqETM7TE/s1600/IMGP4922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05p3qqEw562flBo1DnI6U3x1MdXz7ZAitXjkCj6COT14EBR-iIKu9ndTcAQS3V7Uk9qKwBeJttLga7cRoGf_1rzzm_ibMINC7VvQOspzFUlweRtj0D58hyv6RJ9nw_f2skkZJqETM7TE/s640/IMGP4922.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snowdrops and crocus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I have been grumpy all week, but a splash of sunshine, some fresh air, trees, snowdrops and a fairy or two turned me almost human again. Tomorrow we are going to Westonbirt Arboretum for some more of the same medicine (although the fairies there are somewhat better hidden!).<br />
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<br />Sue Deerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412389648867666959noreply@blogger.com6