tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51205744992280304782024-02-07T10:39:45.848-08:00Soaps and RosesCharlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-76529742984618844442020-06-12T09:11:00.000-07:002020-06-12T10:39:21.158-07:00View From My Window<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Over these past few months during the lockdown, I have been very thankful to have a garden to enjoy. Of course Working From Home means that a lot of the time the garden is only experienced from the inside looking out. </div>
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Something that Evie indulges in, when it is just not warm enough for her to venture outdoors</div>
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and she can frequently be found surveying this view of the garden from her perch in the back bedroom.</div>
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Even though I am not outside, the scents of the garden filter through indoors, bringing the essence of the garden inside.</div>
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Gertrude Jekyll roses bloom prolifically </div>
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outside the kitchen windows</div>
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and at the French Doors,</div>
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where they are entwined with honeysuckle and under-planted with lavender.</div>
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A view of the little courtyard, outside the backdoor - a suntrap and perfect for my morning cup of coffee at the table surrounded by roses.</div>
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Birds have flocked to the hanging bird-table under the rose clad pergola, feasting on the sunflower seeds and bringing their young fledglings when they leave the nest,</div>
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completely unperturbed by Evie as she lies beneath in the shade on a hot day.</div>
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The restrictions on travel have meant that there has been no possibility of trips to the coast, but I can stitch the scenes of my favourite places and imagine the salty tang of the coastal air as I stitch. This scene is the view across the lough of Cribb Island from Delamont Park.</div>
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The garden is calling though, so stay with me as I get ready to take you on a little tour outside.......</div>
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xxx</div>
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<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-48168245063182521712020-04-22T14:09:00.002-07:002021-04-27T01:52:41.057-07:00Spring 2020 - Trials and Tribulations<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It is incredible how much the
world has changed since I wrote my last post. It seems very surreal. I had been
told several years ago to expect a change in the way we live – especially that air travel
would not remain easily accessible for all, so that it was important to be
based where you needed to be. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YOFcxmpFULiHZaBykPwtTwRst_1IG5-nC_NE0PCTfaGWgTFfRiMFx7xdjkQ8cIYjDGCWjm_V5mhYLXiyvESbONMKfH2PgYnSVtdp3nG3OY7ns6C08ZcejfsJNsJumIG8a79v3KuosA9e/s1600/20190613_224454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YOFcxmpFULiHZaBykPwtTwRst_1IG5-nC_NE0PCTfaGWgTFfRiMFx7xdjkQ8cIYjDGCWjm_V5mhYLXiyvESbONMKfH2PgYnSVtdp3nG3OY7ns6C08ZcejfsJNsJumIG8a79v3KuosA9e/s320/20190613_224454.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">To be honest, I have been practically
self-isolating for years and live a fairly simple life – between home, the
garden and the allotment, with only the occasional jaunt away and a close-knit
circle of friends. Therefore, the lockdown has not been as difficult for me as
I can imagine it is for those with no outside space to enjoy and who are
separated from loved ones. I do miss my little trips out and about, but of
course, the reason behind the lockdown is a constant concern and anxiety,
especially when loved ones are classified as high risk and so every cough or
headache is treated with suspicion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Whilst a trip to the shops has
become a traumatic experience, I cannot help be glad though that there are benefits to
the shutting down of the way of life as we knew it. The skies are clear; there
is a sound of silence (apart from Ron - the new neighbours diminutive but vociferous Jack Russell), </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">and birds singing and the hum of bees, </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">instead of the
distant drone of traffic on the motorway. With less traffic the pollution
levels have dropped. Nature is quick to recover from the abuse that humans have
been increasingly inflicting upon her.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVl-O_tMlcI5feG3HSXHiVoiFYvHyFmm82Ax7FrWN6YknHcsc2Jigd3iyhvJrwIY2J4ha0cEMJ2qQeqv8vkh10RjftDgrWGRgWARVtZ3-NrOO9RBMcWw1A8KYwx2Hx9y7QV82aCWw2xpb/s1600/20190613_224340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="665" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVl-O_tMlcI5feG3HSXHiVoiFYvHyFmm82Ax7FrWN6YknHcsc2Jigd3iyhvJrwIY2J4ha0cEMJ2qQeqv8vkh10RjftDgrWGRgWARVtZ3-NrOO9RBMcWw1A8KYwx2Hx9y7QV82aCWw2xpb/s320/20190613_224340.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Although the days and weeks are
passing with stitching projects and planned activities cancelled; including a long
anticipated workshop to learn how to make a willow wigwam (for my plants – not for
me to live in!), the timing of which fell on the exact weekend that the lockdown began; lots
of little events have still happened that differentiate the days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As the welcome arrival of Spring has
brought the sunshine, the garden has been tended and is flourishing. The
absence of a tedious commute means that there is more time to stitch and the
opportunity to be outside close to Nature, rather than cooped up in a dusty, stuffy office inspires
my creativity and so several stitching pieces - some with a Spring theme have now been
completed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8WPlFehilYYOL_NglOEl6AF-SD_b9EGpyq8QhkMr1lFTjI2BQPsjeSqp5mlMpnWSBaHYAxcUsNLhOur53p-DxVk1BLvWEuBiPsv8TiL9MBzWj4lJpSTRwMdukqS9U1NpqWhVg3Ms-CH7/s1600/20200422_180127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8WPlFehilYYOL_NglOEl6AF-SD_b9EGpyq8QhkMr1lFTjI2BQPsjeSqp5mlMpnWSBaHYAxcUsNLhOur53p-DxVk1BLvWEuBiPsv8TiL9MBzWj4lJpSTRwMdukqS9U1NpqWhVg3Ms-CH7/s320/20200422_180127.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">"White Narcissi" is a design by Caroline Zoob, with a few personalised additions to cover a mistake!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocwebkZRC3krZua9PH3Yz5DCH5MvckC5zxb8G23nQ3ZJjyLAZNWmVJQRr8q6p1rjQo8Mfm_9jG7j3HtYLmW4B9nbITrWdvBKRt8zbZyIuBMKJFWRHYnjoK14-WwE02ercMWIGOyCiJ2ws/s1600/20200422_175951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="1600" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocwebkZRC3krZua9PH3Yz5DCH5MvckC5zxb8G23nQ3ZJjyLAZNWmVJQRr8q6p1rjQo8Mfm_9jG7j3HtYLmW4B9nbITrWdvBKRt8zbZyIuBMKJFWRHYnjoK14-WwE02ercMWIGOyCiJ2ws/s320/20200422_175951.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Bunny in the Daffodils" is another Caroline Zoob design</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiPT_NvL6VujMjI0rn4yJgWaPGKCvujHTe5JEzH3bwJ8YRwsPxnp_2uA9VRsXp34ICBQjWx0bAPDKWeHZo5sqGY8Bdxbcvc9QOEaVdK2U-O_pV0WrHZr7BLWJGCW6ooA2L9NWZdC0lpDg/s1600/20200422_162616.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiPT_NvL6VujMjI0rn4yJgWaPGKCvujHTe5JEzH3bwJ8YRwsPxnp_2uA9VRsXp34ICBQjWx0bAPDKWeHZo5sqGY8Bdxbcvc9QOEaVdK2U-O_pV0WrHZr7BLWJGCW6ooA2L9NWZdC0lpDg/s320/20200422_162616.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"Hello Spring"</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxJJ2M9NM5Dks3a8OosyWif5qrj5cWfjENHCpHnkD__Gq7zkTuAkrO7cANAn2QQlznHM9qCU3lQLH3T5MRJVvb0NCQ9hwO9gsdzE_6iXleRneLme_u0aq_0Do5bNaRyKowNghLORsEe1_/s1600/20200422_162357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxJJ2M9NM5Dks3a8OosyWif5qrj5cWfjENHCpHnkD__Gq7zkTuAkrO7cANAn2QQlznHM9qCU3lQLH3T5MRJVvb0NCQ9hwO9gsdzE_6iXleRneLme_u0aq_0Do5bNaRyKowNghLORsEe1_/s320/20200422_162357.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">is a little lavender cushion of my own design, inspired by both Caroline Zoob and Nicki Franklin.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There has also been the uncalled
for excitement of a new addition to my household. Not a particularly welcome
one I hasten to add. The sunshine and arrival of Spring has breathed new life into Evie and she has discovered a joie-de-vivre more suited to a young kitten than a seventeen year old cat! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Yesterday she arrived home – jumping through the open window, with a new
playmate, which she was thrilled to show me as she placed him at my feet. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKvbJd7MFy6V3DZiEBXqnjm6h7nCuvOOIL_eG2auAcC1kKeD4WVx-4SrIZK9o02yqjli6wYltfjvd9Whmy7LuPgNLoUYv_ol_bnpKv8lBpXe-u8xbWyay_8o9beeX9hG2EpfdkraErlJH/s1600/20200421_163050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1424" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKvbJd7MFy6V3DZiEBXqnjm6h7nCuvOOIL_eG2auAcC1kKeD4WVx-4SrIZK9o02yqjli6wYltfjvd9Whmy7LuPgNLoUYv_ol_bnpKv8lBpXe-u8xbWyay_8o9beeX9hG2EpfdkraErlJH/s320/20200421_163050.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">At first glance, I thought he was
dead, then his nose twitched and the next thing Evie and her new friend – Jerry,
embarked upon a game of chase around the kitchen. I had the presence of mind to
shut the kitchen door into the main house, before ascending hurriedly onto a
chair, and shrieking loudly as Jerry headed in my direction. I tried commanding
Evie to catch him and continue the game outside, but to no avail. Jerry wasn’t
hanging about and dived under the sofa. Evie was disappointed in his poor sportsmanship
and lie down to wait for him, before getting bored and wandering off outside to
see if she could find a relative of Jerry’s who did want to play with her.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">However, this was only round one
and after my frantic calls for help were answered, Evie remembered her new
playmate and with the sofa now relocated to the centre of the room, another
game of chase took place with Evie in gleeful pursuit. I had managed to hurriedly
block up any other potential hidey-holes that Jerry might think of exploring,
but unfortunately for Evie – and definitely Me, luck favoured Jerry as Evie
dislodged the breadboard that I had placed to block off the gap alongside the
range cooker. Jerry saw his advantage and took it at speed, with Evie trying her best
to squeeze in after him.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The range cooker is one of those
large Smeg appliances, so it was no easy feat to drag it out, but regardless of
the horrendous damage we were doing to the floor, we succeeded and Jerry took
another dash around the cooker; (more shrieks from me and mayhem from Evie)
before he ran below the cooker again…… and then disappeared!! Honestly – he completely
vanished! Gone! </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A major operation took place to
tilt the cooker forward – more damage to the floor ensued. It was a mystery as
to Jerry’s whereabouts, but Evie remained beside the cooker with her gaze
riveted to the underneath, which was now at a 45 degree angle. With little
regard to Health and Safety, I peered at the underside of the cooker, and
noticed to my horror – a tiny gap in the metal casing on the front, bottom right side – just the perfect size for a mouse called Jerry. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">That is unfortunately where the
story pauses, as from his escape into the innards of the cooker, Jerry has not
been seen again. Evie strolled off in disgust while I digested the carnage in the
kitchen. The repercussions of Jerry’s bolt-hole are significant as I am not
enamoured at the prospect of a mouse in my cooker – dead or alive. Traps are
now positioned around the kitchen in the hope that Jerry will be tempted with
some Green and Black chocolate – however if he doesn’t materialise soon, the
chocolate will have melted and there is an even greater concern that Jerry’s
corpse may need to be extricated before it starts to decompose. How we can even
begin to dismantle the cooker is another problem that I do not want to
contemplate at present. So, as Evie spends another few hours frolicking in the
flowerbeds trying to find a replacement / companion for Jerry, I considered moving into the summer-house and the baking of another batch of Sunflower and
Fennel bread was put on hold! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUOJang9rIjIzfb0mGbl_OJ5XJsXvuJZyBRrvfaBHuzVrnAYp4xC1O4bJYS6lM61NYvQd8uj9P0vG35adFvMKmC9ZwTfgekdacuBUOYpm6LzDtowiJLYo56tQuF83-7Ymh5D_YAvrx94y/s1600/IMG_5916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUOJang9rIjIzfb0mGbl_OJ5XJsXvuJZyBRrvfaBHuzVrnAYp4xC1O4bJYS6lM61NYvQd8uj9P0vG35adFvMKmC9ZwTfgekdacuBUOYpm6LzDtowiJLYo56tQuF83-7Ymh5D_YAvrx94y/s320/IMG_5916.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Another fine mess!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The saga developed further this evening when after hearing some information from Oracle Ann at the allotment - that a mouse will die soon after coming into contact with a cats saliva, the cooker had to be dismantled right away. After a lot of mess, stress and a bit of huffing and puffing, a very stone dead Jerry was indeed retrieved from the darkest crevice of the cooker casing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOqP8jv9X5jieyNH8wzmG1QeRclbXobhBTzcwY1SvHgXT8tj6SE9DqNvhLfXGEP7rRnz26lPlP823WNslAZ0pK2nBEIffje_nnnxGqeX1gDfiBxbG-6Qn6ZgOOZH4rziN_gNqdL3ykCkm/s1600/20200422_204958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOqP8jv9X5jieyNH8wzmG1QeRclbXobhBTzcwY1SvHgXT8tj6SE9DqNvhLfXGEP7rRnz26lPlP823WNslAZ0pK2nBEIffje_nnnxGqeX1gDfiBxbG-6Qn6ZgOOZH4rziN_gNqdL3ykCkm/s320/20200422_204958.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Evie was a bit put out by all the commotion and has skulked off into the night to console herself with another hunt for a friend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">xxx</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">PS; I had already written this post and was about to publish it when I heard the sad news that one of my dear fellow allotmenteers has suddenly left us this morning. I hesitated as to whether to publish this today, but I know Bobby would find it amusing - so I will dedicate this little story to him. He was a Character, who really loved Nature and had more lives than a cat (but sadly today they eventually ran out). His knowledge of gardening and sense of humour will be sorely missed in our little allotment community. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoUnHpimNxcv_U140cbjweoUynNGdHpWi5b-mKAZ6mD8J0eWLci3NvjspaeN_C38p4gva0KHiauZpaKQX21fwVacWmwYZXT78-fd7bVtGNK0WJAsoC4OT8j2NTCxwh456eEhCgyUnM4ve/s1600/IMG_0067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoUnHpimNxcv_U140cbjweoUynNGdHpWi5b-mKAZ6mD8J0eWLci3NvjspaeN_C38p4gva0KHiauZpaKQX21fwVacWmwYZXT78-fd7bVtGNK0WJAsoC4OT8j2NTCxwh456eEhCgyUnM4ve/s320/IMG_0067.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bobby's plot</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">X</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-79276975355651160092020-02-18T13:47:00.000-08:002020-02-20T01:05:30.685-08:00Tales from the Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIGRcwc34pTuqOmRZ61Pii3kdkvmGmZ_z8S9kaoFAffDF_ArEsTImTMej1VUjnrOryMv9pZpXeL38bg-neZJSro3X5vSL1A9kqbbf2fsYZV3r-tfdPqUMuIMka7mffPdzT4wiuZHxLQVb/s1600/IMG_2590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIGRcwc34pTuqOmRZ61Pii3kdkvmGmZ_z8S9kaoFAffDF_ArEsTImTMej1VUjnrOryMv9pZpXeL38bg-neZJSro3X5vSL1A9kqbbf2fsYZV3r-tfdPqUMuIMka7mffPdzT4wiuZHxLQVb/s320/IMG_2590.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Hello again World! The second month in
a new decade! It is a quite some time since I posted on the blog. To be honest,
I rather lost the enthusiasm for blogging, and indeed anything involving technology, preferring
instead to spend my time doing things and not sitting in front of a screen.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have also been feeling somewhat
jaded with modern day life and the temptation to escape to a hobbit hole in the
woods is very tempting (check out Dan Price who really does live in a hobbit hole in
Oregon). However I discovered that even Dan Price has a smart phone and records his thoughts and
activities on-line! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQ9hlF9RN7kSTVu-OLppTAn84uRDfVEx6hvqwpf89L9vsYTq4RLaFM7H0V9N-FRdk9sf-NFNnvpFljBOGKd_DPOvM1aCJ2yJyugGKfq8e1Gq3lzkuugWsHFiOXPcvWQAkORjwHgSbox40/s1600/IMG_2490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQ9hlF9RN7kSTVu-OLppTAn84uRDfVEx6hvqwpf89L9vsYTq4RLaFM7H0V9N-FRdk9sf-NFNnvpFljBOGKd_DPOvM1aCJ2yJyugGKfq8e1Gq3lzkuugWsHFiOXPcvWQAkORjwHgSbox40/s320/IMG_2490.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Therefore, I have decided that with a few change</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">s I shall
pick up again and continue blogging and capturing pictures and thoughts of my
simple life at La Petite Maison, (including tales of Evie and the other
wildlife); the good life at the allotment and my stitching journey.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9_O0m2L-w5nuTkH1g4Xm75h34SkWrjHleOMf1aBxRrs7i6Qr5boWUuVfuJYIkWCOvUO-11M64iOWh__yW56hjKqsL42NOlOjCAdOtCnwkfHd7dtuLSC64SjcGfcAsE1QUP51cwGg26UC/s1600/20190623_161439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9_O0m2L-w5nuTkH1g4Xm75h34SkWrjHleOMf1aBxRrs7i6Qr5boWUuVfuJYIkWCOvUO-11M64iOWh__yW56hjKqsL42NOlOjCAdOtCnwkfHd7dtuLSC64SjcGfcAsE1QUP51cwGg26UC/s320/20190623_161439.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">To start this year off, even though it is rather belated, I must
show you some of the images of the garden in its summer glory last year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSyRBsGxGmZFJr2bKb-far2_QhgPMVi2Q9xNe03HVhRkdohjdDZYbstOFQ9Vp2vzM0tNkBSUXf5V1562hzTBfr03FvOhrSkJLUV4RNf08rIo3XY1gdkrylXoz0rFwXnO9bIGJuJh8KFyv/s1600/20190623_161251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSyRBsGxGmZFJr2bKb-far2_QhgPMVi2Q9xNe03HVhRkdohjdDZYbstOFQ9Vp2vzM0tNkBSUXf5V1562hzTBfr03FvOhrSkJLUV4RNf08rIo3XY1gdkrylXoz0rFwXnO9bIGJuJh8KFyv/s320/20190623_161251.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The garden has become
a haven of wildlife; in the warmer weather, butterflies fluttered by and a hedgehog caused a trip hazard as he went about his nocturnal meanderings. The hedge is full of little songbirds that flit all around
the plants and trees, singing cheerily. Last year, two young blackbirds that we named
Laura and Hardy clowned around the half coconut on the feeder </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFtZz2AdyVVSnt4mwpoFPGZtYgw3gl7H-DcgVVFuDCDjK8YiYnsWHbV2kq5HDLgZpw_vhG_PlnSgyawrjG_R00Hs4shN2gyPEPPJdZIyfhQ3b7BJxBdaFPQM6JloYX5tIYhlLTcizHs2d/s1600/20190623_163345+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1227" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFtZz2AdyVVSnt4mwpoFPGZtYgw3gl7H-DcgVVFuDCDjK8YiYnsWHbV2kq5HDLgZpw_vhG_PlnSgyawrjG_R00Hs4shN2gyPEPPJdZIyfhQ3b7BJxBdaFPQM6JloYX5tIYhlLTcizHs2d/s320/20190623_163345+%25281%2529.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and a large family
of long-tailed tits swooped and fluttered amongst the roses </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-h7NcgyZmQtP_kLEZheQs4qHHNuXmNEA5ptY-KY-vBTipB14SPb7Bw0ulcg_qQF-CEdGBs6OFAqcd-8lJfVKWzxYGl9PSjvSqn41FizsEl-5JPwRG8JT5WTr0Hg4qiccIJz-ESydNI-A/s1600/20200218_173346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-h7NcgyZmQtP_kLEZheQs4qHHNuXmNEA5ptY-KY-vBTipB14SPb7Bw0ulcg_qQF-CEdGBs6OFAqcd-8lJfVKWzxYGl9PSjvSqn41FizsEl-5JPwRG8JT5WTr0Hg4qiccIJz-ESydNI-A/s320/20200218_173346.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and around the garden,
undaunted by my presence in their midst.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0JtVPLb9L4lyYQ4m1iE6gQEHlnyaW3UchLYeFJW5ETPTKue0w-jxvNsk8c4v-G7lELbqfLTGHK1F9sAqJ-mGs0v_hZ8UKgHCXjCLgbrViDTTB1l7nL2LL1uYEbRCqTlDvP10eLFiZiAZ/s1600/IMG_2682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0JtVPLb9L4lyYQ4m1iE6gQEHlnyaW3UchLYeFJW5ETPTKue0w-jxvNsk8c4v-G7lELbqfLTGHK1F9sAqJ-mGs0v_hZ8UKgHCXjCLgbrViDTTB1l7nL2LL1uYEbRCqTlDvP10eLFiZiAZ/s320/IMG_2682.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The ponds became home to several
frogs </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVvA66qhIlH3PPY1UbVUfsXF_ZHJEsEblyJT0Vz2ulBRQ5YHJi0p__H7ndm9tLFAbkqdbYBf8VwfmyZfqoaaJ_XhjXMZD-PcGt7Ia1MEB3ufvVI5bGpAi_A6BuXnuYJd3xupLcifefS_q/s1600/IMG_2681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVvA66qhIlH3PPY1UbVUfsXF_ZHJEsEblyJT0Vz2ulBRQ5YHJi0p__H7ndm9tLFAbkqdbYBf8VwfmyZfqoaaJ_XhjXMZD-PcGt7Ia1MEB3ufvVI5bGpAi_A6BuXnuYJd3xupLcifefS_q/s320/IMG_2681.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and I kept a close eye on them, noting how interested Evie became
suddenly as she uttered several high-pitched little cries of excitement when
her sharp gaze discerned the form of frog, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ga9tcBpX-uyBmKr8b58GiHToH_dfDtuDH-_GXZz8BOE9yZQvNVcnkdBbeOh6oTGaRy7NI5a-hECCNnKzBChG3NEmSqzLT3MHw06tQPs-GxSl8ulGWfeAGgEyyQSFV4v4PQJF2sn0_gfR/s1600/IMG_2794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ga9tcBpX-uyBmKr8b58GiHToH_dfDtuDH-_GXZz8BOE9yZQvNVcnkdBbeOh6oTGaRy7NI5a-hECCNnKzBChG3NEmSqzLT3MHw06tQPs-GxSl8ulGWfeAGgEyyQSFV4v4PQJF2sn0_gfR/s320/IMG_2794.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">even though the ferns and crevices </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvWz1UIIygczYv_I3Px3K4JmhrrDlBKLGijPPOzB7uFwb2jlphY-mcadfqRH0mHvURaKfArNuO9AI9eWwYLyPYxrkc532fN7aK98nOsyVEk9Z0SE0YutI0cCkHpS9tGL-oIWqssQQkq8I/s1600/20200218_172703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1438" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvWz1UIIygczYv_I3Px3K4JmhrrDlBKLGijPPOzB7uFwb2jlphY-mcadfqRH0mHvURaKfArNuO9AI9eWwYLyPYxrkc532fN7aK98nOsyVEk9Z0SE0YutI0cCkHpS9tGL-oIWqssQQkq8I/s320/20200218_172703.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">camouflaged their
presence to all but the most eagle-eyed predator.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">During a day trip out to Glenarm
walled garden with Tara and Tineke, we discovered a water feature full of the
tiniest little frogs. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVG2i2wzTDaaLzKFZZsdhr5u9QELGj79uit_NiWVxQ2Px7fKJy0j6T8zWrroA3EBFpO_NDxalYbC0ArpHSofqnqApussHMdgpbPuTLOwRbVf-1Tl-S5O3mZpps63YBvYVck7Q5A_0FKJ2v/s1600/20190629_073233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="407" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVG2i2wzTDaaLzKFZZsdhr5u9QELGj79uit_NiWVxQ2Px7fKJy0j6T8zWrroA3EBFpO_NDxalYbC0ArpHSofqnqApussHMdgpbPuTLOwRbVf-1Tl-S5O3mZpps63YBvYVck7Q5A_0FKJ2v/s320/20190629_073233.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">They were so adorable I was tempted to bring a couple
home with me to live in the trough where once <a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-end-of-summer.html">Freddie the frog</a> resided happily under
the miniature waterlily… before he mysteriously disappeared……!!! Naturally, I
left the tiny creatures behind to enjoy their lives in the magnificent walled
garden, safe from a cat with a penchant for catching frogs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0oN0BfWkXnKa05WJTgLARFg6RC1o9lNmBuh_AxjfVbZVrs2P-4xLKfuYD7j4RG1Pu3IXYWmW2kpJH34EeqWVAztD_bLQ6_4SZI148zbgYmJy5_1ZVSB6TJn3aAvYVOWQwaDBJ7QVhW9r/s1600/IMG_2697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="1600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0oN0BfWkXnKa05WJTgLARFg6RC1o9lNmBuh_AxjfVbZVrs2P-4xLKfuYD7j4RG1Pu3IXYWmW2kpJH34EeqWVAztD_bLQ6_4SZI148zbgYmJy5_1ZVSB6TJn3aAvYVOWQwaDBJ7QVhW9r/s320/IMG_2697.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The garden frogs kept Evie
occupied, until her attention was drawn to the corner where the half-coconut is
located. Sometime previously, I had been watching the birds feeding upon the
coconut when between their visits I spotted the nose and whiskers of a mouse
peeping through the top of the willow screening before running down the feeder
and nibbling the coconut. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ff1wCmXDkkUdoVI7F4L-Nzhc1ydEmQ3x9LAz6F40mNEuDtjoXqlrbYH_uPKAVh4bZsT-PxZ_8vP-DK9grJqHryajGOd4vYIlaaKjkPf-WWTdykCzOCDOBwvmZXwMbJARxCoOgIXgq17X/s1600/20200218_120200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="544" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ff1wCmXDkkUdoVI7F4L-Nzhc1ydEmQ3x9LAz6F40mNEuDtjoXqlrbYH_uPKAVh4bZsT-PxZ_8vP-DK9grJqHryajGOd4vYIlaaKjkPf-WWTdykCzOCDOBwvmZXwMbJARxCoOgIXgq17X/s320/20200218_120200.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I named him “<a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-arrival-of-spring.html">Tarzan the Treemouse</a>”. With the coconut located high off the ground, he had no need to risk
his life in descending from the hedge and trees where he lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXURHON9A6Jp_YigBrjRhGpU5EZ_1zIfyYhPrCyD4mHwSmIHkd-vHLG9a2VdnwjSwObBAkAbkLj-xUXOTivusvcjDHkw9-L6va8xKiooLFFK-W39iGVMBFsbO7_HDK2TJ5nh30JnJK5GcX/s1600/il_570xN.1923895737_fu1x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="570" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXURHON9A6Jp_YigBrjRhGpU5EZ_1zIfyYhPrCyD4mHwSmIHkd-vHLG9a2VdnwjSwObBAkAbkLj-xUXOTivusvcjDHkw9-L6va8xKiooLFFK-W39iGVMBFsbO7_HDK2TJ5nh30JnJK5GcX/s320/il_570xN.1923895737_fu1x.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">(No doubt he lives in a little
mouse house similar to one between the covers of the Brambly Hedge books!)</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Until of course, the coconut was
eaten, by which time he had become rather a rather rotund mouse with a large
appetite to satisfy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist068SPzIn3oj1f3PKxc0G2NQ7uUsn7AcTjK_BHJxHTvlSjcz0cnfqtwrmMZE41qeq7ODnkyVMyZ2YnzyXrhyphenhyphen_r1oN2T801RKXz8ErLwiZRKEJeN0YGfZZMbNWTWUQzbiSI2KXtxWv_N3/s1600/IMG_2597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist068SPzIn3oj1f3PKxc0G2NQ7uUsn7AcTjK_BHJxHTvlSjcz0cnfqtwrmMZE41qeq7ODnkyVMyZ2YnzyXrhyphenhyphen_r1oN2T801RKXz8ErLwiZRKEJeN0YGfZZMbNWTWUQzbiSI2KXtxWv_N3/s320/IMG_2597.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As I sat stitching in the sun, Evie lay close by,
motionless, her ears pointing forwards and eyes fixated upon the daring Tarzan who
gazed boldly back at her at as he foraged around, confident that his escape
routes were Evie proof. Poor Evie spent hours staring at him waiting hopefully
for one wrong move and the opportunity to pounce.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo92yuaRXDx1K_kbutMmhVGAYQ2aZHJWprSrnK4Pn4Fz1iaz7cys3F7yunfE_5nw6mX-K80bYQHmRHvDIANcAvzfMgAWbchHxIo4yWyMNQkGyByB9vIGtJJNwhIfFQWh7AnVIzoK6sN4x/s1600/IMG_2699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo92yuaRXDx1K_kbutMmhVGAYQ2aZHJWprSrnK4Pn4Fz1iaz7cys3F7yunfE_5nw6mX-K80bYQHmRHvDIANcAvzfMgAWbchHxIo4yWyMNQkGyByB9vIGtJJNwhIfFQWh7AnVIzoK6sN4x/s320/IMG_2699.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Unfortunately, for Evie, she has
recently become the vulnerable one, and no longer feels secure on her own in
the garden. As I drank my breakfast coffee and gazed out upon the misty
morning, the bristly grey muzzle of a dog fox suddenly loomed up close on the path outside
the window. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgFGbnZ0cvOiosSmA04udAEdw2hDNGmv9QBgxS4C04txJoC2AAxjsKJ54JT3avysbn8EQ0Dl6fjdtLLoW1TOOgAvJgKT2pzoSXqkn3CZBIl8LIQB5wD1VzyxtCG9nznbLEYWuBTHqoOWT/s1600/IMG_2511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgFGbnZ0cvOiosSmA04udAEdw2hDNGmv9QBgxS4C04txJoC2AAxjsKJ54JT3avysbn8EQ0Dl6fjdtLLoW1TOOgAvJgKT2pzoSXqkn3CZBIl8LIQB5wD1VzyxtCG9nznbLEYWuBTHqoOWT/s320/IMG_2511.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The fox now known as Reynaud has only been visible on a couple of
occasions, but Evie is well aware of his presence. The added terror of the
neighbours trespassing Jack Russell has not helped matters either and so Evie
has adapted from being Hedge Cat to House Cat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcfJ_MrotRTMLUI1tdNvKcRCI3ZPnHodTQxYIDAygkNDmPJR5y9NmcwOCWG8q481yay_Srw_p-9qsmRSDfOYkpQRk2IhCXMBxUuNYUtDpUqJdh9J6ulxC1z4bt8YkL3Hg_J-0Z97InyqR/s1600/IMG_2397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcfJ_MrotRTMLUI1tdNvKcRCI3ZPnHodTQxYIDAygkNDmPJR5y9NmcwOCWG8q481yay_Srw_p-9qsmRSDfOYkpQRk2IhCXMBxUuNYUtDpUqJdh9J6ulxC1z4bt8YkL3Hg_J-0Z97InyqR/s320/IMG_2397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Today although it is cold and despite the tumultuous weather we have had recently, there is a hint of Spring in the air. Fresh leaves
have formed on the roses and there is the promise of new beginnings. Perhaps this is why
I have been moved to begin writing again.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There is a lot to catch up on –
the latest developments from the allotment and of course lots of creativity with
my stitching and soaps. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgQx5r5EViFmQBS0Lyx_NIpDU-KCQmeQoAQcL8BvTxbF49m4Vt67PgVc0ibUMoyNtL3dCuCprtI7llOoWLir0xaZ0F3w_9nYAHcF9qSnrMUI2YMhQ-hhJTtohBMa5Cl7hy-gdyGCBZtGa/s1600/20191214_182908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgQx5r5EViFmQBS0Lyx_NIpDU-KCQmeQoAQcL8BvTxbF49m4Vt67PgVc0ibUMoyNtL3dCuCprtI7llOoWLir0xaZ0F3w_9nYAHcF9qSnrMUI2YMhQ-hhJTtohBMa5Cl7hy-gdyGCBZtGa/s320/20191214_182908.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As the season begins to change, I
shall finish this post with a more appropriate seasonal photo of the last of Caroline
Zoobs 2019 subscriptions designs, “The First Skate” that I stitched last
December.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
xxx</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-84573118442775124882019-07-27T12:33:00.003-07:002019-07-28T00:28:45.010-07:00A Glimpse of Paradise<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-align: justify;">Whilst the rest of the UK has
been basking in long hot sunshine, the weather here has been less predictable.
Unlike last year, we have not had the cloudless blue skies and balmy sun-drenched
days.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25P2MXFt4N9BG5jU5u40s19e6736z_T1_Y4pNxOxQWfGXEw_Rr28pCxdm0QcPWYswuOj_6d7WV9X_FdNVb7YERID8EtgHG6yf1_ke4LqKTatc3ySsk_pZKPfxKvfPlpMPK5VQbHiYVPNV/s1600/IMG_2583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25P2MXFt4N9BG5jU5u40s19e6736z_T1_Y4pNxOxQWfGXEw_Rr28pCxdm0QcPWYswuOj_6d7WV9X_FdNVb7YERID8EtgHG6yf1_ke4LqKTatc3ySsk_pZKPfxKvfPlpMPK5VQbHiYVPNV/s320/IMG_2583.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Cephalaria Gigantea in the garden)</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">However, this week the
temperature on the barometer rose and the sun shone in a sky free of clouds.
The heat was intense, making energetic activities and even stitching
impossible. A trip to the coast was called for.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We drove through the County Down
countryside, the sunshine intensifying the vibrant colours of the scenery. It
really was a beautiful afternoon.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Topping the brow of a hill, I
felt a vague unease, as I noticed a thin grey line on the horizon. My heart began
to sink as we got closer to the coast and the grey line of sea mist grew
darker, spreading thickly inland and blotting out the lovely sunshine. I tried
not to let my frustration show and suppressed thoughts of the other alternative
way of spending the late afternoon, </span><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">sitting relaxing in the garden with a cool G&T,</span><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGPZb_q-aJPNU9iPFHiQo-AYYC1zuDfZD3HRlj8JNNLLP1KPh9XCS4AbgrlWd9BpkmkByXg1mjonYKE8Z7fuiKcSHaROpHXUEeJo1g5PIfpeiKcw7ixPG1tNG1GFnhlqUszIgE5C9lOUZ/s1600/IMG_2590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGPZb_q-aJPNU9iPFHiQo-AYYC1zuDfZD3HRlj8JNNLLP1KPh9XCS4AbgrlWd9BpkmkByXg1mjonYKE8Z7fuiKcSHaROpHXUEeJo1g5PIfpeiKcw7ixPG1tNG1GFnhlqUszIgE5C9lOUZ/s320/IMG_2590.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">enjoying the scent of the roses and the warmth of the sun on my skin. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Trying to look on the positive, I
thought of breathing in the sea air and the change of scenery, even though the dark
cloud cast a gloomy shadowy across the surrounding fields and hedgerows.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB3k2-D0x460jMuqegdprpkUVBOEtDvT-5jDMp6j8LqF7RPNl2lJgJ5dlOZdTod61tP5ZqlgRMm-b2P51hS2h-XkBUYcM_nfSPD49dDkCcsq4Tv9_50k5rRMnk0_n6wIkkJWOc95ePXmh/s1600/IMG_2702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB3k2-D0x460jMuqegdprpkUVBOEtDvT-5jDMp6j8LqF7RPNl2lJgJ5dlOZdTod61tP5ZqlgRMm-b2P51hS2h-XkBUYcM_nfSPD49dDkCcsq4Tv9_50k5rRMnk0_n6wIkkJWOc95ePXmh/s320/IMG_2702.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Parking at the verge above the
little bay, my attention was instantly drawn to the wildflowers scattering the
verge around the fence-line</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbhqpsNf9Hw4JntNDESz1gki9Tm22TdPG_facYK1ie7G_O_YQieweI_vYh6oVn_TwTr6ziJFJrS604lIWqgOSBQFzq3dLR8NwHjhMa9WSqGciPb7PPFwXzdvhrxyCgX1xgmvb0Ydmh3dS/s1600/IMG_2703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbhqpsNf9Hw4JntNDESz1gki9Tm22TdPG_facYK1ie7G_O_YQieweI_vYh6oVn_TwTr6ziJFJrS604lIWqgOSBQFzq3dLR8NwHjhMa9WSqGciPb7PPFwXzdvhrxyCgX1xgmvb0Ydmh3dS/s320/IMG_2703.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and I momentarily forgot the chill in the air as I
captured the images for potential stitching projects. Thoughts of picking the flowers did not enter my head - they belong outside with the bees and butterflies.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFu55lYQBbnLmOwITumotV26gDf7F87McvbkHxo4BwyKZudoivYNit0tSGJ4iWqWupUpbTO-v-ont7Fo3vINIBMgI5DB_Qke_iFv9SEuro2-yf9DDbRSUtZoUULmP_qCb61M2huVxuo4O3/s1600/IMG_2710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="1600" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFu55lYQBbnLmOwITumotV26gDf7F87McvbkHxo4BwyKZudoivYNit0tSGJ4iWqWupUpbTO-v-ont7Fo3vINIBMgI5DB_Qke_iFv9SEuro2-yf9DDbRSUtZoUULmP_qCb61M2huVxuo4O3/s320/IMG_2710.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We descended down to the bay and
strolled slowly along the sand. I watched a heron standing close by in the
shallow water’s edge and suddenly became aware of the light glinting off the
sea. Looking up, I saw sunbeams filtering through the clouds and to my joy; the
clouds began swiftly dispersing and fading away to nothing. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VlB-x6la9jzEDAvDOoUWak85hpm9zIzO_-1TrghzUGd0e96a-9A0zzSOCoDj5BAo0jZDWw3ipn-2IuJWwN7PIlT4Z7mQvEiiM69GzkIXukAKQhl2IdmET532e65aGWRa-9CRYaQIXMbp/s1600/IMG_2705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VlB-x6la9jzEDAvDOoUWak85hpm9zIzO_-1TrghzUGd0e96a-9A0zzSOCoDj5BAo0jZDWw3ipn-2IuJWwN7PIlT4Z7mQvEiiM69GzkIXukAKQhl2IdmET532e65aGWRa-9CRYaQIXMbp/s320/IMG_2705.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The beach lit up in
the delicious sunshine </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZfsFH4QNgan9G4qa3-i-LDLmVwVF-H694-4lG54FDyKF5AIMq_f14F5XL57VAWSdDWu39ierRMsV4K6vN5w2tv9wFkDDUC6K7T_OwqwpLhytpq606KCfyhuI6C_NmZxLjduFLlB5l3rc/s1600/IMG_2718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZfsFH4QNgan9G4qa3-i-LDLmVwVF-H694-4lG54FDyKF5AIMq_f14F5XL57VAWSdDWu39ierRMsV4K6vN5w2tv9wFkDDUC6K7T_OwqwpLhytpq606KCfyhuI6C_NmZxLjduFLlB5l3rc/s320/IMG_2718.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">and the world was transformed again.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The bay was deserted apart from a
woman walking her dog, although in the distance the sound of children playing
amongst the rocks, mingled with the cries of sea birds and the
thrum of a boats engine far out at sea. At the far end of the beach, we passed
through the wooden kissing gate and along the narrow path leading up towards
the wildflower meadows.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgML7UO0QMVaIbGsbirNQ3zo_xQINaBr08T9w-lCJS8NsgnlVwtRZzybiGw-aZvFOi6LcZB2kOum8h0JauagnqXZQCoIDMDDhl1iEjlri30DFSRYlOC6Jy7b7os9iymPlFhDymh5Zeh2qk/s1600/IMG_2707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgML7UO0QMVaIbGsbirNQ3zo_xQINaBr08T9w-lCJS8NsgnlVwtRZzybiGw-aZvFOi6LcZB2kOum8h0JauagnqXZQCoIDMDDhl1iEjlri30DFSRYlOC6Jy7b7os9iymPlFhDymh5Zeh2qk/s320/IMG_2707.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Near the top of the path, the shady scrub and small trees that bordered each side ended </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjv-qxo9kn6pCzFCt6m7whXSi6S4n_danJpwgj4XH-hUFqiepYOKrMhJse04YEbtbI9pARXXIqiEZRyDct-2Q9Jg651wjrfKMEZ2Je-lKemFQgDAr1M1uYuXh6_Wer2iY3Nqa6S7ILBa9Z/s1600/IMG_2785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjv-qxo9kn6pCzFCt6m7whXSi6S4n_danJpwgj4XH-hUFqiepYOKrMhJse04YEbtbI9pARXXIqiEZRyDct-2Q9Jg651wjrfKMEZ2Je-lKemFQgDAr1M1uYuXh6_Wer2iY3Nqa6S7ILBa9Z/s320/IMG_2785.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and we emerged into the bright sunlight. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyFbzlBlctkE2W3TU71CKWYr_ZZFeMY27N6H16WAj6g5BTuNwi1O8gqccsik9ABtKW410uvNeqevbuFQKSjRk-RfNfM8tD9g2YawbpklMKD-PvrmbeNJ6gEEwKp3pLBCbuMMlQTMuPpL6/s1600/IMG_2720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyFbzlBlctkE2W3TU71CKWYr_ZZFeMY27N6H16WAj6g5BTuNwi1O8gqccsik9ABtKW410uvNeqevbuFQKSjRk-RfNfM8tD9g2YawbpklMKD-PvrmbeNJ6gEEwKp3pLBCbuMMlQTMuPpL6/s320/IMG_2720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I gasped as I beheld the most glorious sight </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIs40Rlysrh8B7_zzNLRH3hXtuYUBIj7UilmUj_jvhGeDcaSL42Q7NpmONRXQ4QFXWmXzcKW1Yj0Rfp91-jkxsIspxPP2icL918g7xDWt0UVj_fR3GLtK5h0UPT8zyaR13pMwiS_JYbFW/s1600/IMG_2727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIs40Rlysrh8B7_zzNLRH3hXtuYUBIj7UilmUj_jvhGeDcaSL42Q7NpmONRXQ4QFXWmXzcKW1Yj0Rfp91-jkxsIspxPP2icL918g7xDWt0UVj_fR3GLtK5h0UPT8zyaR13pMwiS_JYbFW/s320/IMG_2727.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">that made me feel as though I had walked straight into paradise.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoKFMiOlN9C-SQZW36ZZNbHxkk9xZ0jN8MFBeP-U4DavBHh2eOP5WIDKw3TD-KZf1987e3hx8DYi1JDjEam0D2xO3N5BXsW0bibVtZg2hwsLkb81h_Nogc0vT01XcH3pY6gy5kZn1bwCG/s1600/IMG_2729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoKFMiOlN9C-SQZW36ZZNbHxkk9xZ0jN8MFBeP-U4DavBHh2eOP5WIDKw3TD-KZf1987e3hx8DYi1JDjEam0D2xO3N5BXsW0bibVtZg2hwsLkb81h_Nogc0vT01XcH3pY6gy5kZn1bwCG/s320/IMG_2729.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">An abundance of jewel coloured wildflowers scattered profusely across the meadows surrounded us as far as our eyes could see, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nx4HtMbl_C_HuxyK-suBMGt5EVZUndgGz19lgRlLQAiJkxDH6uWtykE0a-j7kUVOH48Pi20315sCcd_Q9pj3SLjptBDnwdrczYYZ7GxMZQFWIugUG4KRn7NaTg0WmlqVu8YXj8Kl2ZOB/s1600/IMG_2728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nx4HtMbl_C_HuxyK-suBMGt5EVZUndgGz19lgRlLQAiJkxDH6uWtykE0a-j7kUVOH48Pi20315sCcd_Q9pj3SLjptBDnwdrczYYZ7GxMZQFWIugUG4KRn7NaTg0WmlqVu8YXj8Kl2ZOB/s320/IMG_2728.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">stopping only where the horizon met the blue of the sea </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IvqrOqhi4Rex2kZfp2lVHluoz-YBRoIUI3NErEClRE75SgDv4oIuAiPuconE8N4mQ-AV8bFWOalRolPG1OM398eLaPvHU_9jDCYgBTRAix-aLgfYcxYejA8n9Ct-xpAJCsmoTJBQbVz2/s1600/IMG_2731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IvqrOqhi4Rex2kZfp2lVHluoz-YBRoIUI3NErEClRE75SgDv4oIuAiPuconE8N4mQ-AV8bFWOalRolPG1OM398eLaPvHU_9jDCYgBTRAix-aLgfYcxYejA8n9Ct-xpAJCsmoTJBQbVz2/s320/IMG_2731.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and the sky. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWInhphfDFYKFb1_4RFiyiianXZj7ZwFrxe3k-bSQ_p8qSK6RGfdWkjffq7IWLRevZwMHmDoQAZlSfnws51u7QX7qb2T4jkIINqAbofSJqueaCJOdVUVpzi-p-4C7Gp-o2IG2kKmHPN2sj/s1600/IMG_2721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWInhphfDFYKFb1_4RFiyiianXZj7ZwFrxe3k-bSQ_p8qSK6RGfdWkjffq7IWLRevZwMHmDoQAZlSfnws51u7QX7qb2T4jkIINqAbofSJqueaCJOdVUVpzi-p-4C7Gp-o2IG2kKmHPN2sj/s320/IMG_2721.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JPhSQRkqqf2AxMPSKDffIVVyTA0qRSUP6W_g9gW9G6cNLsNR0dmcOb2ZjGcEgySnRHxBgQenmEx6yFCL_s5iS1hg6j6sasJ1BH8PC5OBjFT5yjsWojLesW3bLxFmbQEVc9Nn4xBwusBe/s1600/IMG_2722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JPhSQRkqqf2AxMPSKDffIVVyTA0qRSUP6W_g9gW9G6cNLsNR0dmcOb2ZjGcEgySnRHxBgQenmEx6yFCL_s5iS1hg6j6sasJ1BH8PC5OBjFT5yjsWojLesW3bLxFmbQEVc9Nn4xBwusBe/s320/IMG_2722.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZUnPUB3iXRJHWlxrZy8KdVxVw-OwLrToeRRZZSn9tAc1DP7-1jY6XIyyvHbQDlk1DQsrB-q5TgJS5S3Zlkdr73CXZ9y5OcaIWNhfAPB2IajnVQFpTe8vU_Y_HhLOkLuPfexNXzWFayPy/s1600/IMG_2737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZUnPUB3iXRJHWlxrZy8KdVxVw-OwLrToeRRZZSn9tAc1DP7-1jY6XIyyvHbQDlk1DQsrB-q5TgJS5S3Zlkdr73CXZ9y5OcaIWNhfAPB2IajnVQFpTe8vU_Y_HhLOkLuPfexNXzWFayPy/s320/IMG_2737.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">It was truly one of the most beautiful sights</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis31CS01UXASMWt2ukGS084UsDzx62jMShyrSjVrnvByhBxLzGkXyNoU9Oc_AM4tJFr8MaayNh_vSV7_E37gffuVfzYLsjHq1kqLfhWfWAYUU5BLQsx8u4XwcpkCE5k9wcybTegrsu-OVR/s1600/IMG_2745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis31CS01UXASMWt2ukGS084UsDzx62jMShyrSjVrnvByhBxLzGkXyNoU9Oc_AM4tJFr8MaayNh_vSV7_E37gffuVfzYLsjHq1kqLfhWfWAYUU5BLQsx8u4XwcpkCE5k9wcybTegrsu-OVR/s320/IMG_2745.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> I have ever had the privilege
of seeing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlLW8ldPV9jjIcBEJMXiAg5jDQxD4qdCbpusidFOXFCXquMg304rPQM6elCogywOObGz1Tlm52gE-YK7ObtqLEHZdTTXyOQ26-bg397AY8FeQXhyzgeOGLlDRiFq4Y0ecQa318Xv3SJRV/s1600/IMG_2746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlLW8ldPV9jjIcBEJMXiAg5jDQxD4qdCbpusidFOXFCXquMg304rPQM6elCogywOObGz1Tlm52gE-YK7ObtqLEHZdTTXyOQ26-bg397AY8FeQXhyzgeOGLlDRiFq4Y0ecQa318Xv3SJRV/s320/IMG_2746.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Swallows and swifts flew low
overhead </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqds3p4KpMfp-T0WTNb3VjeU8IxbwXqYrTelVTra-3w-fbfMlj4B618kCFjarDkP4_7QSyb6nYyDe1_YNMFCpw5FDAamYnHBocn94e-dGM-0ATxdzoZQ_vgUygl-f0UsV9RJPaI3c7MAu/s1600/IMG_2733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqds3p4KpMfp-T0WTNb3VjeU8IxbwXqYrTelVTra-3w-fbfMlj4B618kCFjarDkP4_7QSyb6nYyDe1_YNMFCpw5FDAamYnHBocn94e-dGM-0ATxdzoZQ_vgUygl-f0UsV9RJPaI3c7MAu/s320/IMG_2733.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and feathery grasses brushed our legs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7hoGJ-nTC4isGcWRDS0dIi7kE0zqP3j8EAMcIzo_U41Wf_wKQpKjnnhNTwup2Ckt_qHbaN8QTNPQMC1f7ssE7t0HSpsezqju0fRKiG0yLDpPh_75_ZABHnaeTxXvhWB1cdyk3t0F-Hql/s1600/IMG_2732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7hoGJ-nTC4isGcWRDS0dIi7kE0zqP3j8EAMcIzo_U41Wf_wKQpKjnnhNTwup2Ckt_qHbaN8QTNPQMC1f7ssE7t0HSpsezqju0fRKiG0yLDpPh_75_ZABHnaeTxXvhWB1cdyk3t0F-Hql/s320/IMG_2732.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> as we made our way through the wildflowers, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegEQYjD8d1ZaBNo5IKAGCWcnqNMqfbMyEmjPLbwcGi-FuXTIFewZLzwDB4-plAgRT3I-eQdcR8N1gg4WwZHjwnflzdiMo59SkL-gXQrxM6ZEqMjkaHJce_FaKkBInqXgeVQJdbZu-BIxK/s1600/IMG_2735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegEQYjD8d1ZaBNo5IKAGCWcnqNMqfbMyEmjPLbwcGi-FuXTIFewZLzwDB4-plAgRT3I-eQdcR8N1gg4WwZHjwnflzdiMo59SkL-gXQrxM6ZEqMjkaHJce_FaKkBInqXgeVQJdbZu-BIxK/s320/IMG_2735.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">treading carefully for fear of trampling on precious orchids</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOAof9p9jULIP3zk6pYEL2fNPd6aUwZ2zUhhYBxwOqP7Eh-x6EoboqI7TyszmVEmOaxGMqhJH3R-f8SUxrDoqnf7GhoElOyNIwdSFGxN8p2Up-HFrgtjOGDlsU29PsaKhTMmjkUPFEJUu/s1600/IMG_2736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOAof9p9jULIP3zk6pYEL2fNPd6aUwZ2zUhhYBxwOqP7Eh-x6EoboqI7TyszmVEmOaxGMqhJH3R-f8SUxrDoqnf7GhoElOyNIwdSFGxN8p2Up-HFrgtjOGDlsU29PsaKhTMmjkUPFEJUu/s320/IMG_2736.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> or the huge bumblebees
that feasted on the clover at our feet.</span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8hnD-hySx_TGgBn0rOGXPFP4Z78ADoJrpwGDu5UOLSPF9KGNyQZfsd7PS8EIzf2_FaKZDcj2sYFVPNw3Y6oIDMWpypTN7KQVxXFSWv0uiKLdeMANKa2EpSABkua9AN15cTVY6L4J7Si6/s1600/IMG_2756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8hnD-hySx_TGgBn0rOGXPFP4Z78ADoJrpwGDu5UOLSPF9KGNyQZfsd7PS8EIzf2_FaKZDcj2sYFVPNw3Y6oIDMWpypTN7KQVxXFSWv0uiKLdeMANKa2EpSABkua9AN15cTVY6L4J7Si6/s320/IMG_2756.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxQ4LpBhfT6Tynypsxlpl_aRzZ8TCpPsaXofQY9vX0Jd9O46bFJoORwkEcJd1_vrN1j8ZYONPRRSFNq4qP9xobM8JiTrfnsZeTCl0OKs_apdgfyoaPYOZV5foRRPeBtF35tuNWbTSsXrW/s1600/IMG_2757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxQ4LpBhfT6Tynypsxlpl_aRzZ8TCpPsaXofQY9vX0Jd9O46bFJoORwkEcJd1_vrN1j8ZYONPRRSFNq4qP9xobM8JiTrfnsZeTCl0OKs_apdgfyoaPYOZV5foRRPeBtF35tuNWbTSsXrW/s320/IMG_2757.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nfPlFYVG3clS0xRj3lpZoA0DEuPZDdIE751tn8UsT6uyQu9HFtAA2xaCJvjvFj8EvEamZ3_KO0yxEOkNri6E-fP3kH9MUPsqFphxlx0Z459eNh02Hdf87W9UayCA9GoAH4W6rtmv0178/s1600/IMG_2762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nfPlFYVG3clS0xRj3lpZoA0DEuPZDdIE751tn8UsT6uyQu9HFtAA2xaCJvjvFj8EvEamZ3_KO0yxEOkNri6E-fP3kH9MUPsqFphxlx0Z459eNh02Hdf87W9UayCA9GoAH4W6rtmv0178/s320/IMG_2762.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There were wildflowers everywhere we turned</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSVxSn3Zb4xV-Pz_VIA6zbqcSdJlZED0b62LaItEICihe_X2cGTZ9Qj9Cvaj6gszdSe3S5-v5bHyi6akmT1JIPDFyiIAuIRNg8WCYzynz-ACjI6ev9HYEJ1S5Ie3MXahR128LQk-kSRJL/s1600/IMG_2764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSVxSn3Zb4xV-Pz_VIA6zbqcSdJlZED0b62LaItEICihe_X2cGTZ9Qj9Cvaj6gszdSe3S5-v5bHyi6akmT1JIPDFyiIAuIRNg8WCYzynz-ACjI6ev9HYEJ1S5Ie3MXahR128LQk-kSRJL/s320/IMG_2764.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
framing the horizons</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy6ls0eEC1YEZulbkTXq6j47Y1pSSWQR25m3ZhiP1A61AfWbY6NQzXaCC2LXQy46qvDB8SOoEhpuelaMPKRPMG4wK-D0os1AaB4i0Hd2UTX7FwnnWm8vzMrACs0ooWykxbN07ULiVx0KA/s1600/IMG_2747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy6ls0eEC1YEZulbkTXq6j47Y1pSSWQR25m3ZhiP1A61AfWbY6NQzXaCC2LXQy46qvDB8SOoEhpuelaMPKRPMG4wK-D0os1AaB4i0Hd2UTX7FwnnWm8vzMrACs0ooWykxbN07ULiVx0KA/s320/IMG_2747.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
from every aspect.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP0JWiuweEPbPQOhjZAYYQ6J73Tx5_f6UrgonXciJWFLQXPvDzywatkz1MN_vFboN3ujwLcfcdsFjuhiMHejBwJUwHk2cF4n9EjRfjj0kP7CaT9JX4l46XWxNe1_tCIVpzADY5s94ZPa-/s1600/IMG_2748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP0JWiuweEPbPQOhjZAYYQ6J73Tx5_f6UrgonXciJWFLQXPvDzywatkz1MN_vFboN3ujwLcfcdsFjuhiMHejBwJUwHk2cF4n9EjRfjj0kP7CaT9JX4l46XWxNe1_tCIVpzADY5s94ZPa-/s320/IMG_2748.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJYD5exWuoDVxYpPDUXNrzQgrxzQe-JR1uaX2OzftR65fmPjz2lXOFvkiFA-sDXNy1S4w6f2fGGO1cvZf5MiQ2PZFHD8XEFiKwyZrz6_ynlWwocp3K4dOelBSUfPXm4kJxkgrnOF5RIB6/s1600/IMG_2769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJYD5exWuoDVxYpPDUXNrzQgrxzQe-JR1uaX2OzftR65fmPjz2lXOFvkiFA-sDXNy1S4w6f2fGGO1cvZf5MiQ2PZFHD8XEFiKwyZrz6_ynlWwocp3K4dOelBSUfPXm4kJxkgrnOF5RIB6/s320/IMG_2769.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Birds Foot Trefoil, wild carrot,
orchids, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51XThA6Rp5Op6GDVR2nt6ekzgqBOZzHtMZrVHGb-gteaE0Fz1vdxxcm3pQ_fI9SpEvdtVjLfBAs-G-uX9fOtfB4uLt3cO4xxawsFp8cBe8s2D3qTw4ro-F0B5GV_dJ77UsnGiesIN_W21/s1600/IMG_2760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51XThA6Rp5Op6GDVR2nt6ekzgqBOZzHtMZrVHGb-gteaE0Fz1vdxxcm3pQ_fI9SpEvdtVjLfBAs-G-uX9fOtfB4uLt3cO4xxawsFp8cBe8s2D3qTw4ro-F0B5GV_dJ77UsnGiesIN_W21/s320/IMG_2760.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">wild thyme, clover, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfh-6knGb_RIUtvXjKQcyIGMCPH8TgtfsJz1UEASDSWTFHXGdcaZNmB1CdTmmspABWxWlVmDh8tPDjj0VJ2c-Rhe0c54YqaBaMAnfZwXx3AwRQVB5GGWhNQnV14f4QDAsOEWmWIqVeVSO/s1600/IMG_2753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfh-6knGb_RIUtvXjKQcyIGMCPH8TgtfsJz1UEASDSWTFHXGdcaZNmB1CdTmmspABWxWlVmDh8tPDjj0VJ2c-Rhe0c54YqaBaMAnfZwXx3AwRQVB5GGWhNQnV14f4QDAsOEWmWIqVeVSO/s320/IMG_2753.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">scabious and poppies were just a few of the myriads of flowers in the
meadows.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECxqCPN_XC6mza4mKhyp7P-rHl0Nc239bIB5kYfNnCck5Jv8DwAo1AOTWTk1umTEZoeqdwann2Op5WU2XSJOsg3xaRDEABWmqg92pJ_nvCGLAmRKvVXR3cwIB7r8dCk9Ka4hmTZ_d0RAW/s1600/IMG_2772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECxqCPN_XC6mza4mKhyp7P-rHl0Nc239bIB5kYfNnCck5Jv8DwAo1AOTWTk1umTEZoeqdwann2Op5WU2XSJOsg3xaRDEABWmqg92pJ_nvCGLAmRKvVXR3cwIB7r8dCk9Ka4hmTZ_d0RAW/s320/IMG_2772.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;">As the sun sank lower in the sky, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMd18U39MhMqG-7UZ-tDiVbHoCmShbwyKxxdgw5WO8nmqEwx3q__pbEwL_6TtEUGlYaZwKPWzYXo-IF9tG-1uzBiszvxt3lhLKQW3do3p6Ck-9pxt8xMewfjSxjJkIi_xw334wHrQFqkDr/s1600/IMG_2773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMd18U39MhMqG-7UZ-tDiVbHoCmShbwyKxxdgw5WO8nmqEwx3q__pbEwL_6TtEUGlYaZwKPWzYXo-IF9tG-1uzBiszvxt3lhLKQW3do3p6Ck-9pxt8xMewfjSxjJkIi_xw334wHrQFqkDr/s320/IMG_2773.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;">and we made our way reluctantly back to the car, a herd of bullocks moved towards us curiously,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZCfV4Jws4RkoZQ3PA5BOP9RFDLaKKXUWmCfABl44gAMC83e73ikHidiA2UStfo6K_0zkNcZnyy0vaQp7uEim6pYEwdZBQTl3Oh49pjrzqBiPynDkktB4LF_8shf4bpM25PraSSEtAFzz/s1600/IMG_2775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZCfV4Jws4RkoZQ3PA5BOP9RFDLaKKXUWmCfABl44gAMC83e73ikHidiA2UStfo6K_0zkNcZnyy0vaQp7uEim6pYEwdZBQTl3Oh49pjrzqBiPynDkktB4LF_8shf4bpM25PraSSEtAFzz/s320/IMG_2775.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;">the swallows swooping low all around catching the flies</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrd0LeFOZUuFzylZykEXG-q2_hRTm2Un6A_gTxRm9-GhWzmnkXhLlSJPJNVrLYsKpFPFECvccnmwg2o-G9U-Ezw0N1I4QrginiI8t5AIJDDmhXcCRgwYLvZRhChGDAGygwzZP00XwGZdKm/s1600/IMG_2780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrd0LeFOZUuFzylZykEXG-q2_hRTm2Un6A_gTxRm9-GhWzmnkXhLlSJPJNVrLYsKpFPFECvccnmwg2o-G9U-Ezw0N1I4QrginiI8t5AIJDDmhXcCRgwYLvZRhChGDAGygwzZP00XwGZdKm/s320/IMG_2780.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;">that rose from the disturbed grasses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRDu9nZOBlUtgjBWeJ-vaQ_0rQn8-JJMNLAW3kImB7hpej5WP3s5K-gjRir7VQGuawCPyvJcFtzcJPU8Qav5QmSpVVysFMhg_2PAQ7MI7NpFt0lrIbu3-qdCeyr-ST2SlNXf5f7mc7wza/s1600/IMG_2781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRDu9nZOBlUtgjBWeJ-vaQ_0rQn8-JJMNLAW3kImB7hpej5WP3s5K-gjRir7VQGuawCPyvJcFtzcJPU8Qav5QmSpVVysFMhg_2PAQ7MI7NpFt0lrIbu3-qdCeyr-ST2SlNXf5f7mc7wza/s320/IMG_2781.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We left the meadows and walked back down the path through the scrub.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPwhzXyk7wrZ_mA6VQEaCnl0q8Vq_4zUqqlpZ9aCNJCaDEMOmMuQc71PF3re3UPF5GjKmie6504fyMznXJW37GEhBIY0MP4AtTbYEwPj7xPg-RdwQjM4Fx_iikmPQqFVNOioXirFaCTeO/s1600/IMG_2782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPwhzXyk7wrZ_mA6VQEaCnl0q8Vq_4zUqqlpZ9aCNJCaDEMOmMuQc71PF3re3UPF5GjKmie6504fyMznXJW37GEhBIY0MP4AtTbYEwPj7xPg-RdwQjM4Fx_iikmPQqFVNOioXirFaCTeO/s320/IMG_2782.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Walking back across the beach, a
hawk flew up from the sand in front of us.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4gUGElT16pZt4b3nY6oi0Jg0EWREjPp-6nhXLbtzvp8_UFKMMtdXLaU0Lq3mOgxXWoG_bJAzGeqkIsHxZJEs488ziWn9ynNEpJZoa1MIe9TX2rIRSZCVu2AJ_BttkWq362jbW375qibP/s1600/IMG_2788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1600" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4gUGElT16pZt4b3nY6oi0Jg0EWREjPp-6nhXLbtzvp8_UFKMMtdXLaU0Lq3mOgxXWoG_bJAzGeqkIsHxZJEs488ziWn9ynNEpJZoa1MIe9TX2rIRSZCVu2AJ_BttkWq362jbW375qibP/s320/IMG_2788.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It was an enchanting place,
that I was sorry to have to leave, but the meadows as they looked that evening will remain etched on my memory,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yVHaX3izd1zadAnMr7PmcToGakxSlKTFC1wOWhzurIXF47fYUhITFhmyxP4L69I_BfTWiGn4qEdVUWgKlt3CBjt-ojEO3KNuWB6mx_k2565vq0GAroDjkMkhYF46Ic0Bbbl66sekCinX/s1600/IMG_2730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yVHaX3izd1zadAnMr7PmcToGakxSlKTFC1wOWhzurIXF47fYUhITFhmyxP4L69I_BfTWiGn4qEdVUWgKlt3CBjt-ojEO3KNuWB6mx_k2565vq0GAroDjkMkhYF46Ic0Bbbl66sekCinX/s320/IMG_2730.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and of course, with
lots of images to inspire several stitching pieces, I know I will be re-living my happy time
amongst the wildflowers.</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">xxx</span></div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-30663393455044903712019-07-17T14:30:00.000-07:002019-07-17T14:31:42.016-07:00Musing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdWz0TUyApVH0C3f_Qr_3H91PequfHyaIrTcyFixvWeUhkCwoY0C_YGgo6CA1A_CtJAOQU_wq7JGY_naqHxmyrDfpArYj9CiSORF_ujnTJt8YxAJHCtfM4tKqjq1Vn5W9boWWUf0jx_y9/s1600/20190623_163550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdWz0TUyApVH0C3f_Qr_3H91PequfHyaIrTcyFixvWeUhkCwoY0C_YGgo6CA1A_CtJAOQU_wq7JGY_naqHxmyrDfpArYj9CiSORF_ujnTJt8YxAJHCtfM4tKqjq1Vn5W9boWWUf0jx_y9/s400/20190623_163550.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Summer is now well underway with time seeming to fly by faster than ever. Evie sits calmly on the bedroom windowsill in deep contemplation, watching lazily as I try to keep up with all my activities that leave me with little time for writing about them.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I promise myself that on the next rainy day, when it is too wet for gardening or allotmenting, that I will finish the posts I have started. News about the allotment and the garden; days out and about;<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
my latest stitching and creative projects,</div>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7VYmpiZdSQzNbEcyRvjYmQ0AdPLq-DNgUJD8E_b1vIaA2i_uEScSlda9ldONsPdEMMYOD8do-6gDEDUuD_MfJSY9NZGUrvEI0nMfko8btX2BGc-iYcWTdTEtTsqQVFz-2_7w2lE_mrMQ/s1600/IMG_2564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1374" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7VYmpiZdSQzNbEcyRvjYmQ0AdPLq-DNgUJD8E_b1vIaA2i_uEScSlda9ldONsPdEMMYOD8do-6gDEDUuD_MfJSY9NZGUrvEI0nMfko8btX2BGc-iYcWTdTEtTsqQVFz-2_7w2lE_mrMQ/s400/IMG_2564.jpg" width="342" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
such as "<span style="text-align: center;">The Conversation";</span></div>
<br />
but then I get sidetracked with catching up with everything that has been put on hold while the sun shines and hey ho, before I have even finished, the weather has changed and the garden needs tidying again after the latest battering from the wind and rain and so it goes on...... </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Tomorrow is another day - </div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
xxx</div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-90510828848638753262019-06-19T14:39:00.002-07:002019-06-19T14:46:04.062-07:00An Evening Stroll<div style="text-align: center;">
In contrast to last summer, the weather this month has been abysmal - predictable only in being wet. Sun hats gather dust and linen dresses hang forlornly in the wardrobe. The roses in the garden bloom and then turn sad and sodden as a deluge of water descends suddenly out of the sky.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The sky above the valley was leaden grey, but peering out of the upstairs window, I saw sunlight on the horizon, spilling over the edge of the blanket of clouds. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgCoACGLCIN9NbzPGICC2PkXocSVTBQvZqYDzFzOvhxwcsvmrk8W4uVg-nVGDT1ZR8kkxZ5_vZPpn8o8dktUBbNFDG6hyphenhyphenGVGvU4rMm9b0BwE4EVBaHllcslcIGww1TfvFUVydfm3ThbHY/s1600/IMG_2549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgCoACGLCIN9NbzPGICC2PkXocSVTBQvZqYDzFzOvhxwcsvmrk8W4uVg-nVGDT1ZR8kkxZ5_vZPpn8o8dktUBbNFDG6hyphenhyphenGVGvU4rMm9b0BwE4EVBaHllcslcIGww1TfvFUVydfm3ThbHY/s320/IMG_2549.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On a sudden whim, we left the valley behind and headed to the coast, for a walk along the disused ancient railway track that runs along the bay.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX7IcwRjwIai0pmxSzU-U1MAW6roGkp2CLm8QpgzH2gDx5DQ6_FinmAtJEzgJZApIQqXPnuBTXEQj5ctrUS8XRX3ptWSVpvont5FvjZ3bnKIv-_0S08wAo-ir94fkXGg54gWv1O1EsEhyphenhyphen/s1600/IMG_2543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX7IcwRjwIai0pmxSzU-U1MAW6roGkp2CLm8QpgzH2gDx5DQ6_FinmAtJEzgJZApIQqXPnuBTXEQj5ctrUS8XRX3ptWSVpvont5FvjZ3bnKIv-_0S08wAo-ir94fkXGg54gWv1O1EsEhyphenhyphen/s320/IMG_2543.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The lane was lush and green, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IaolXIyTaKBoSXtYlWfX_8KZbQyhqwrHmZinl7gu9LCU0hJPWD1JbFJmzWkm1MqqOSx9neBGp4_cLWxYD2YEfK-pSs9hbOiB-K3RCBz8pqH0KjUqt_vUfDvFwNq9wqMhhGVujjxAvYlb/s1600/IMG_2541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IaolXIyTaKBoSXtYlWfX_8KZbQyhqwrHmZinl7gu9LCU0hJPWD1JbFJmzWkm1MqqOSx9neBGp4_cLWxYD2YEfK-pSs9hbOiB-K3RCBz8pqH0KjUqt_vUfDvFwNq9wqMhhGVujjxAvYlb/s320/IMG_2541.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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with huge ferns, cow parsley</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuA3dLVD2PXUkYbzYLhiqdHEnwXR2NpvFgN_MrEHSUTlyVoW0EYNqDjhGWlGNK1TFLgTt_xa6U7a97m0Br1cARbx0qTzu0cpWmQ5VUr-mD0CdZo5N1mC_cKvLI_8WnHQF266fPvKsX6kd/s1600/IMG_2551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuA3dLVD2PXUkYbzYLhiqdHEnwXR2NpvFgN_MrEHSUTlyVoW0EYNqDjhGWlGNK1TFLgTt_xa6U7a97m0Br1cARbx0qTzu0cpWmQ5VUr-mD0CdZo5N1mC_cKvLI_8WnHQF266fPvKsX6kd/s320/IMG_2551.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and dog roses on either side of the old track.</div>
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The sunlight touched the tops of the trees and parts of the lane were in shade, but the air was fresh with the salty scent of the sea.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-XswYZ957zrhCgPvi0HMkv0oKUNEU3wlXuA970Ac8HCtNXEaHijTKCom_OSOW2RQQRAhyphenhyphenvOY4SvLSG-_yiev4WkG5YqPLO11G7Y3tiCr6tz3Bogs4pJq9cheQRFT85jK4Gb0Okbi6334/s1600/IMG_2553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-XswYZ957zrhCgPvi0HMkv0oKUNEU3wlXuA970Ac8HCtNXEaHijTKCom_OSOW2RQQRAhyphenhyphenvOY4SvLSG-_yiev4WkG5YqPLO11G7Y3tiCr6tz3Bogs4pJq9cheQRFT85jK4Gb0Okbi6334/s320/IMG_2553.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Sea birds cries carried on a warm gentle breeze and there was the low drone of Bumble bees as they buzzed amongst the vetch and clover</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdAv0An7FyG7_s4pKYwdPlAZkWfgmBiAvJxaiclOmSdjfcnwAahzEwnqSWabylfzjevpRV3JCL5iyE9JnAsEkEl8h20i-bcRuGsEpetwlPdDTIF9KNegSFchOgrPajiz4mdxMsuZtg4a5/s1600/IMG_2544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdAv0An7FyG7_s4pKYwdPlAZkWfgmBiAvJxaiclOmSdjfcnwAahzEwnqSWabylfzjevpRV3JCL5iyE9JnAsEkEl8h20i-bcRuGsEpetwlPdDTIF9KNegSFchOgrPajiz4mdxMsuZtg4a5/s320/IMG_2544.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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and the wildflowers that brushed our ankles.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzizC6VWe8gukatK4aLryFlUXKwTAyVBUc312g0nvYyBhGmWZaaxFEyczxOAo5MOe124VA4YqCNS_pA709zkD564bCgmg-PDQDVKPWmewDFvnFK3JHQ39UL_LKU8wyrv2MoXvfSxXJSv_A/s1600/IMG_2545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzizC6VWe8gukatK4aLryFlUXKwTAyVBUc312g0nvYyBhGmWZaaxFEyczxOAo5MOe124VA4YqCNS_pA709zkD564bCgmg-PDQDVKPWmewDFvnFK3JHQ39UL_LKU8wyrv2MoXvfSxXJSv_A/s320/IMG_2545.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The tide was out</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTf8C7pETy6yd5hNRw5REZcE-77gdrVn4Sf9c4eUrhj7zh9yCZA6y4Oh3AM6gHy1EiNYr9dXYpMOaYNlMkVYQjgW6_LwlSMkYAFmZktJl9cdSLMdFKjw7wb44XMCMiEGycY7todSFr0sc9/s1600/IMG_2546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTf8C7pETy6yd5hNRw5REZcE-77gdrVn4Sf9c4eUrhj7zh9yCZA6y4Oh3AM6gHy1EiNYr9dXYpMOaYNlMkVYQjgW6_LwlSMkYAFmZktJl9cdSLMdFKjw7wb44XMCMiEGycY7todSFr0sc9/s320/IMG_2546.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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and a tangle of grasses sloped down towards the shore</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkAT52r0PpVn-AG-hfZ8-5HHCRyeBcPq49FycvsXMxnJND-76vWHJ8ORuMK15vvl2wgQmtuUZ0CzTEVP16Wg6ADVoJqn_kiFVooI2mh4ASJCHMfpdCbL1VvD9Sk19m0MAc07wbl3aHFjl/s1600/IMG_2547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkAT52r0PpVn-AG-hfZ8-5HHCRyeBcPq49FycvsXMxnJND-76vWHJ8ORuMK15vvl2wgQmtuUZ0CzTEVP16Wg6ADVoJqn_kiFVooI2mh4ASJCHMfpdCbL1VvD9Sk19m0MAc07wbl3aHFjl/s320/IMG_2547.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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from where there was a beautiful view of the Mourne Mountains.</div>
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At last a glimpse of summer, even if it was only for a short while!</div>
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<br /></div>
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xxx</div>
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</div>
<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-91532605856353682452019-05-30T14:24:00.001-07:002019-06-02T02:33:08.229-07:00The Arrival of Spring<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "segoe print";"><i>My garden of flowers</i></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "segoe print";"><i>is also my garden of dreams.</i></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "segoe print";"><i>The thoughts grow as freely</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "segoe print";"><i>as the flowers</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "segoe print";"><i>and the dreams are as beautiful.</i></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzrraGXAOev-qzFTDtBJrgsOY4dPixLPC5wCJu7-0ajUBFbACKrt3J5Y4MLL_ZWGIsi_9G6c5gVwyaN7gWXNa_KfZuNH6fK22KiYrOK-liJMhm3ArJ68XgUmv_3ZJbohdwQGVajoRuraZ/s1600/IMG_1265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="1600" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzrraGXAOev-qzFTDtBJrgsOY4dPixLPC5wCJu7-0ajUBFbACKrt3J5Y4MLL_ZWGIsi_9G6c5gVwyaN7gWXNa_KfZuNH6fK22KiYrOK-liJMhm3ArJ68XgUmv_3ZJbohdwQGVajoRuraZ/s320/IMG_1265.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Time has
flown by, since the workshop at Lucinda’s. It </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">was a fabulous day enjoyed by all. Sunshine and
stitching; daffodils, daisies and old linen; bees and beehives; vintage
teacups, and of course great company.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Following the
workshop came an invitation to afternoon tea, where as well as the daintiest
little sandwiches and most delicious lemon drizzle cake, there was the
opportunity to meet Dr Lynn Hulse – a skilled embroiderer from the Ashmolean
Museum. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">With so much
inspiration and ideas for new stitching projects, it was difficult to know
where to begin first and I got rather side-tracked with making a little
handmade paper book </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3PlHrV_asYSihuVZRgL-OngVAOfvOWe6qYpkDNio63zLLXiCYpSXz7tRbgSfTEd3WXH8A9UbKt5ZM1Uv4-qXzFi8XhVphesCpxOoVGM8VDwNMQaf5eNa1E8kcJOHpRLpViuf5dThQZmZ/s1600/20190406_083453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3PlHrV_asYSihuVZRgL-OngVAOfvOWe6qYpkDNio63zLLXiCYpSXz7tRbgSfTEd3WXH8A9UbKt5ZM1Uv4-qXzFi8XhVphesCpxOoVGM8VDwNMQaf5eNa1E8kcJOHpRLpViuf5dThQZmZ/s320/20190406_083453.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">containing stitched flower illustrations and a short
description of the folklore and symbolism of each flower. </span></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLgv9SynO9BkSpHU5X2sEhrvyRd0YEtpqWmzem7MoEemxQzQ1MALPAZa3lX_tE5wdIsaASHBLyQM8BDRVVoYriBgbeOeu0fsL8Y8YLS4bP3CihY1LsjCZle1f4momCxe_8ZG-mP1tzeit/s1600/20190406_084045+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1287" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLgv9SynO9BkSpHU5X2sEhrvyRd0YEtpqWmzem7MoEemxQzQ1MALPAZa3lX_tE5wdIsaASHBLyQM8BDRVVoYriBgbeOeu0fsL8Y8YLS4bP3CihY1LsjCZle1f4momCxe_8ZG-mP1tzeit/s320/20190406_084045+%25281%2529.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I had not quite finished with stitching
daffodils, and the Spring Garden that we stitched at the workshop developed
into a simple meadow scene where white daffodils grew wild amongst the tall grasses.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlvFfySKx0wKTOJnPg-xfotqGF4LOOgCHpEv3NzidDUs6H5Tm-cMPzTshEz-LbQiY-5kEGpmzbfNEGIf7mLe1sr2c3np2l4f20ZtO4DLPYYsj1nLKHZhFkVPHQdpTYf5PcQKSuyTX3Ncw/s1600/IMG_2344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="1600" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlvFfySKx0wKTOJnPg-xfotqGF4LOOgCHpEv3NzidDUs6H5Tm-cMPzTshEz-LbQiY-5kEGpmzbfNEGIf7mLe1sr2c3np2l4f20ZtO4DLPYYsj1nLKHZhFkVPHQdpTYf5PcQKSuyTX3Ncw/s320/IMG_2344.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As Spring finally arrived, stitching
was put to one side and my attention turned to the garden. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The warmer weather brought
on a flurry of growth, however t</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he cold winds and frost seemed to have
affected my precious Cornus Kousa “Miss Satomi” and I had to finally accept
that there was no hope for it and that it was dead. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnivSUjVEX2FxB_OMiQr9wNHaM5VTmGMnYE1GUpg193JuahSvYYJG3PauVl_IzWA29qwd64LDO-_73e88pB_1HO42FBlryLf4So9bgu2V3lhtzmpksbh_VGQls6WSHuv1XvXSGeRdH-WdE/s1600/IMG_2352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnivSUjVEX2FxB_OMiQr9wNHaM5VTmGMnYE1GUpg193JuahSvYYJG3PauVl_IzWA29qwd64LDO-_73e88pB_1HO42FBlryLf4So9bgu2V3lhtzmpksbh_VGQls6WSHuv1XvXSGeRdH-WdE/s320/IMG_2352.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In contrast, the Cornus
Kousa “Aurora” flourished and produced a stunning display of beautiful white
flowers that flutter in the breeze like scraps of the finest linen.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ni2U5L_6QShbTAKBfwZjVCqPUTqXezud4ufEuJ10g7QBNty4bmS7hN_BhYYV-bHXRKDTh2Ldd_9gIIo9dkgGRxDmttDqGVz8OnziuuE_yxAQusQhy8pM9v-kCOsvT9cBh_gLn8Cr7aZ0/s1600/IMG_2380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ni2U5L_6QShbTAKBfwZjVCqPUTqXezud4ufEuJ10g7QBNty4bmS7hN_BhYYV-bHXRKDTh2Ldd_9gIIo9dkgGRxDmttDqGVz8OnziuuE_yxAQusQhy8pM9v-kCOsvT9cBh_gLn8Cr7aZ0/s320/IMG_2380.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The roses surrounding the back of the
house are heavy with masses of blooms, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_q9Kpt4CY_5NbxTFS0vExMaqU0jVyF1cVYZvhbWA3oRXlKQNPLW7utS-LOISbyFMo-cNF2I9W56zgCNlthjX4lNBu-yXbVN-UZvUvT8BGUEPYobmv1yquRkIhyphenhyphenbLaucDLTmq6FxQKewQ/s1600/IMG_2440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_q9Kpt4CY_5NbxTFS0vExMaqU0jVyF1cVYZvhbWA3oRXlKQNPLW7utS-LOISbyFMo-cNF2I9W56zgCNlthjX4lNBu-yXbVN-UZvUvT8BGUEPYobmv1yquRkIhyphenhyphenbLaucDLTmq6FxQKewQ/s320/IMG_2440.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">almost obscuring the windows,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_CjGLx1xVI7ZThJhppHXxG3bHkBq7gIILMGuStxRKTcA1wofriki0UYOujnmAGTT-ygz-VdihaQ65lkXKsl1bwFHO6SzLlTtO7phGmEiDEOBvHgmPhE_yi0w-C7Znin__tFKFQYwdRWR/s1600/IMG_2363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_CjGLx1xVI7ZThJhppHXxG3bHkBq7gIILMGuStxRKTcA1wofriki0UYOujnmAGTT-ygz-VdihaQ65lkXKsl1bwFHO6SzLlTtO7phGmEiDEOBvHgmPhE_yi0w-C7Znin__tFKFQYwdRWR/s320/IMG_2363.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">while the purple alliums below them have
survived Evie’s onslaught in her determined endeavours to track down a mouse</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: '"calibri"';">and now feature</span> </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOIjixsz-e4JaeDqlY-mI5qfBA-0GJ0v49QMA27HGusSVZhITcqUF4A2he8J1rPm6UIKl5BsLGy8ILMaE7u7R68yvI4SYy6Tww560i2XgzNUD9Dg6VH8vsutr9n4G2bSO25LYDKdm9Okd/s1600/IMG_2434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOIjixsz-e4JaeDqlY-mI5qfBA-0GJ0v49QMA27HGusSVZhITcqUF4A2he8J1rPm6UIKl5BsLGy8ILMaE7u7R68yvI4SYy6Tww560i2XgzNUD9Dg6VH8vsutr9n4G2bSO25LYDKdm9Okd/s320/IMG_2434.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFpxELKzc0fsVPhYwGz31Gx-VW_c-KX2k0NvawLKa3u7HhqHReJf7NUwaAUtbTsg03HCOCKJE4DIcPhqp8t7BPlzV0uESZrAjVRzey_JO6bRa9p3bhn9wLDpndOpp9PkjSN3Cx-GI-Bs3/s1600/IMG_2359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> in my latest embroidery.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The hedge at the back of the garden has
been home to several little nesting birds – including blue tits, great tits and coal tits. </span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span>
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<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">As
they fledged, the air has been full of tiny smidgeons of feathered baby birds</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span>
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<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">appearing
to fall straight from the sky and then be tossed around the garden</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKifP7u88JDfDx_SMyvFkeCuKbLtMkEFEhfcpBbKAnsv6EdZAnQhwH_r99wM9g6fENyKMwYVDX9FFxGxKMkqgTWiX4PwMzGjDD9shAB8AEIn97n8TUW9GF5mLGL7NT_q95Ttt_BLS-OgVt/s1600/IMG_2458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1385" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKifP7u88JDfDx_SMyvFkeCuKbLtMkEFEhfcpBbKAnsv6EdZAnQhwH_r99wM9g6fENyKMwYVDX9FFxGxKMkqgTWiX4PwMzGjDD9shAB8AEIn97n8TUW9GF5mLGL7NT_q95Ttt_BLS-OgVt/s320/IMG_2458.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: '"calibri"';">from perch</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkrCyZmxzrbvbpW9iXJLXH2RgoG7ImXl2TdzYSLqBDhhDZhqCCQvwgyQAMX3L1lP2aYZj_ptwQ_cNzpPms4AJJMbWyvVSbPXS9yo1ja2DMKy28m5N6mPu3_lCz1uuq6tsjHkQfg641-Wg/s1600/IMG_2460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1261" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkrCyZmxzrbvbpW9iXJLXH2RgoG7ImXl2TdzYSLqBDhhDZhqCCQvwgyQAMX3L1lP2aYZj_ptwQ_cNzpPms4AJJMbWyvVSbPXS9yo1ja2DMKy28m5N6mPu3_lCz1uuq6tsjHkQfg641-Wg/s320/IMG_2460.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> to perch by the wind.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQzJ5a_nCcaQInr_9NCgRtT237fZ4ZfZN-X9WOUjgVG2HWICcA1IxPIJ-CSWv4u0cwP55NO0a58gsD86G2Z3QARwd62lRGoZDT-d78duEyau1R6skayLh4I1BSKotk2q2WdbQzxgMu6cZ/s1600/IMG_2364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="1559" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQzJ5a_nCcaQInr_9NCgRtT237fZ4ZfZN-X9WOUjgVG2HWICcA1IxPIJ-CSWv4u0cwP55NO0a58gsD86G2Z3QARwd62lRGoZDT-d78duEyau1R6skayLh4I1BSKotk2q2WdbQzxgMu6cZ/s320/IMG_2364.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Over the past few
days, two young</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGCLiQ1UFy0eGEYplDu1Itk7nltLdCdWWWlVsx70gGJSbqOfLrIMJ14w08iIW6Bxxz836Sx06jdhX30eiY1TitQv5hBb0m9FLAw6YlO8xxx3DmWtomMuH519G-9yd2IL38f2TwA6-WGHj/s1600/IMG_2358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="851" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGCLiQ1UFy0eGEYplDu1Itk7nltLdCdWWWlVsx70gGJSbqOfLrIMJ14w08iIW6Bxxz836Sx06jdhX30eiY1TitQv5hBb0m9FLAw6YlO8xxx3DmWtomMuH519G-9yd2IL38f2TwA6-WGHj/s320/IMG_2358.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">male </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">and </span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETbq0KGzFHmU5ILCotkAEapWI3kvZcupv5hBi-7laCF0-9BEfeecFuq7ZOOeXNBpqQ5ROIGd3vuaW5Np3ymO8mfjyby6lszEBzF43J81Iz1dB3tsTWJ4wJmcGpqyEkF6VDg0iCrhAgONW/s1600/IMG_2378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="795" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETbq0KGzFHmU5ILCotkAEapWI3kvZcupv5hBi-7laCF0-9BEfeecFuq7ZOOeXNBpqQ5ROIGd3vuaW5Np3ymO8mfjyby6lszEBzF43J81Iz1dB3tsTWJ4wJmcGpqyEkF6VDg0iCrhAgONW/s320/IMG_2378.jpg" width="184" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">f</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">emale blackbird siblings have been entertaining us
with their antics and clowning. Jostling and squabbling with each other and
feeding voraciously on the half coconut hanging from the bird feeder. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It seemed
appropriate to name them Laura and Hardy!</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZJAU2Yqq9hAKQWg0v3p3i5WuVUDDtZUSHmeVBsfZy-oC9eIwZT7UpUsZx7RBlS1FwNOuj2phUMR4ovtC3EHO1Z-5kI5unF-51NltGQ2HKYqerS0XlImqdV-8qcN-fiaC0D5DXfJ-j0CZ/s1600/IMG_2422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="1600" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZJAU2Yqq9hAKQWg0v3p3i5WuVUDDtZUSHmeVBsfZy-oC9eIwZT7UpUsZx7RBlS1FwNOuj2phUMR4ovtC3EHO1Z-5kI5unF-51NltGQ2HKYqerS0XlImqdV-8qcN-fiaC0D5DXfJ-j0CZ/s320/IMG_2422.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The birds are not alone in their liking for the coconut feeder -</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1m5yUtOPbmsogWfBX3frBs6M1OCOEHADIS8Kcwj7HBbafIbaWUhXGVZ34ibITG-7XYLo6hcwJQD_ttz6d6RWynCaD1RI09Pum6Npspne04xrWyhbzfenhHRMWj0rnSuaFggZ-S9n5Xe0v/s1600/IMG_2448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1m5yUtOPbmsogWfBX3frBs6M1OCOEHADIS8Kcwj7HBbafIbaWUhXGVZ34ibITG-7XYLo6hcwJQD_ttz6d6RWynCaD1RI09Pum6Npspne04xrWyhbzfenhHRMWj0rnSuaFggZ-S9n5Xe0v/s320/IMG_2448.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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the little mouse that had caught Evie's attention has found a safer way to feed...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHt6h1chb6EF7pulD_QcKFEEyV1p8aafgxVxtqLlR_Fd8UEbOuvwZ9SrYa3VOgBRfPo4oQ32hXqP2zu-e7Mb5WJVW_ssHcJCj-edteZQ62bKXOEJ8RKEON2xX_B7txABWgQgGcG1ps5Zl/s1600/IMG_2450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1094" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHt6h1chb6EF7pulD_QcKFEEyV1p8aafgxVxtqLlR_Fd8UEbOuvwZ9SrYa3VOgBRfPo4oQ32hXqP2zu-e7Mb5WJVW_ssHcJCj-edteZQ62bKXOEJ8RKEON2xX_B7txABWgQgGcG1ps5Zl/s320/IMG_2450.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
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much to the surprise of the next young bird that flew down for a feed. </div>
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Lots has been
happening too at the allotment, but that is for another day….</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">xxx</span></span></div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-12413827627795291412019-03-05T12:16:00.001-08:002019-03-05T12:20:42.635-08:00Dreaming of Spring<br />
<div style="border-image: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It happened when I
was otherwise engaged….</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Stitching….</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-image: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQvD6gXjINF51cFYwCw1SKIE3mMWA2uC3kuFhFhmqX-s0-TH6Nv7SGDdRqqpKfL1O0XbblcDc-0o66OJoBhsemTO4o-ZaFZnVUStN5zYFgkNdncjyuhlzSQnYmLC7zbKBqTICpwHkYvS0/s1600/IMG_2314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="1600" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQvD6gXjINF51cFYwCw1SKIE3mMWA2uC3kuFhFhmqX-s0-TH6Nv7SGDdRqqpKfL1O0XbblcDc-0o66OJoBhsemTO4o-ZaFZnVUStN5zYFgkNdncjyuhlzSQnYmLC7zbKBqTICpwHkYvS0/s400/IMG_2314.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";">“Dreaming of Spring”</span></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The first of Caroline
Zoob’s Stitchery Journal pieces.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">(Based on the style
of Vilhelm Hammershoi).</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";">I was also busy
stitching daffodils and daisies,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO3uoRDTWc7XT8W0gMN-SwLRHfow5r2J_XerceUaBe_HkUQKm5tIEfczIowzFg4HneHEr3CnlDDFMhC2YN7-ZyCV4sp7LfERILmmlXW8jcFsRcfTyw6H8x4ocZE_oATDN4vNerxkUukTp/s1600/20190210_151005+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO3uoRDTWc7XT8W0gMN-SwLRHfow5r2J_XerceUaBe_HkUQKm5tIEfczIowzFg4HneHEr3CnlDDFMhC2YN7-ZyCV4sp7LfERILmmlXW8jcFsRcfTyw6H8x4ocZE_oATDN4vNerxkUukTp/s320/20190210_151005+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">a simple fresh seasonal
design for “The Spring Garden” workshop at Lucinda’s.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";">Suddenly I realised that
Spring had arrived early.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-image: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6BYP5_N_5oiJltkufbpvwttkI2fHw-9cGi13HycWAZD5URfHYXdKARQ-bYW4WR1dXyXOvTXMR3kDLat_0Y5SJ4WGMZF3OiWfN6K11w58TWE1LqrN033efx0OSQ2X65lG2hJkBotSaWDN/s1600/IMG_2317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6BYP5_N_5oiJltkufbpvwttkI2fHw-9cGi13HycWAZD5URfHYXdKARQ-bYW4WR1dXyXOvTXMR3kDLat_0Y5SJ4WGMZF3OiWfN6K11w58TWE1LqrN033efx0OSQ2X65lG2hJkBotSaWDN/s320/IMG_2317.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Through the window, I
saw yellow catkins swinging from the gnarled and twisted branches of the Corkscrew
Hazel trees in the garden.</span></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-image: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8DsRvetGIRAQbcbWvxoITOuBqK9gT0nFEP4miR2h7uR7PNkpy86ttOPO4y7Eq5QiAH8jKl3Pvy_iA2UQeQjU126BBUNBc8KZWZl8WSv_wgtoj6V8G8WBARR2uOAuxKP0lXm8WD857ASj/s1600/IMG_2310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8DsRvetGIRAQbcbWvxoITOuBqK9gT0nFEP4miR2h7uR7PNkpy86ttOPO4y7Eq5QiAH8jKl3Pvy_iA2UQeQjU126BBUNBc8KZWZl8WSv_wgtoj6V8G8WBARR2uOAuxKP0lXm8WD857ASj/s320/IMG_2310.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It seemed no time at
all since we walked through the forest kicking at the brown leaves that lay
decaying beneath the trees. </span></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgtFs_rYuIZj0RzC18qCG8gOVa3uD018HvWZxrtkc-nliPKim0gneyce3SNjW0sXucLDLk6tdApSapcvtdiJBFPAGDKJSskY6PGw_JFUis4l5bhX3_-6tLlIRCNccEdteldkphMzwUF6V/s1600/20190304_201618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgtFs_rYuIZj0RzC18qCG8gOVa3uD018HvWZxrtkc-nliPKim0gneyce3SNjW0sXucLDLk6tdApSapcvtdiJBFPAGDKJSskY6PGw_JFUis4l5bhX3_-6tLlIRCNccEdteldkphMzwUF6V/s320/20190304_201618.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Now we were walking
through woodland with clumps of daffodils providing bright splashes of colour
in the shady light below the trees.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPiaLtqA9zSbOXQmTmx7jNDsIpmdicuGopflv3YgEionaci1oPefhpdpSO8KxBq9uqN0E0KrhX2oWNgl-vI7Ci23uPPufypOB8-iHGAhaMNF2tmVOd9SmPmf0bnlXOpm72K72AMCvh7Qi/s1600/20190225_211304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPiaLtqA9zSbOXQmTmx7jNDsIpmdicuGopflv3YgEionaci1oPefhpdpSO8KxBq9uqN0E0KrhX2oWNgl-vI7Ci23uPPufypOB8-iHGAhaMNF2tmVOd9SmPmf0bnlXOpm72K72AMCvh7Qi/s320/20190225_211304.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";">Although the
stitching is complete, there are still touches of paint to add to finish off; however,
this will have to wait as the garden and allotment are beckoning. New growth is
flourishing and the new gardening year has begun already.</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";">xxx</span></span></div>
<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-22256463988558966302018-12-31T11:21:00.000-08:002018-12-31T11:26:17.031-08:00Another year.....<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9z2bi3ewLXmUbvit_KYjzeOHW3lhPYMlJnboStSglVS096jhKFHDoD6biSIB7ppwCTVpMUflpwY021iXlJhEGfkbkneQrt_OKnC-Srqd2MwKis2xaEj6zbg_8621LoNbUOuZz1SJIE38l/s1600/IMG_2301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9z2bi3ewLXmUbvit_KYjzeOHW3lhPYMlJnboStSglVS096jhKFHDoD6biSIB7ppwCTVpMUflpwY021iXlJhEGfkbkneQrt_OKnC-Srqd2MwKis2xaEj6zbg_8621LoNbUOuZz1SJIE38l/s320/IMG_2301.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As the sun sets over Dundrum Bay and the Mourne Mountains, thus another year draws to a close.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrSebROqUGMk1zyuFSx4gt92QjUTqd-SxFFZldHxTO6OvFpaA2Izj2npLibtMwWvZ2eb5iHxlJ9lA_t3wmYaak7CU3AdDEwDNfN6VlBspWcnci4Fxlzh6MRVPLah82zTpAGikDLblE-aX/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrSebROqUGMk1zyuFSx4gt92QjUTqd-SxFFZldHxTO6OvFpaA2Izj2npLibtMwWvZ2eb5iHxlJ9lA_t3wmYaak7CU3AdDEwDNfN6VlBspWcnci4Fxlzh6MRVPLah82zTpAGikDLblE-aX/s320/IMG_1533.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This has been a year with a lot of</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl0hntQunBWkCbJnR1jLJR9IetHMSJt_4NKA0HdG-ca3R4vtNcwI4XpFhB5Jp0kG3mkhE7-uKtwRbUN7UR6UAmR-b9hoYbsFM-ePD4Bn6D06eZdodT_v3_3RQ0VS2aIKx4yjSvkfYbSj-/s1600/IMG_1561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl0hntQunBWkCbJnR1jLJR9IetHMSJt_4NKA0HdG-ca3R4vtNcwI4XpFhB5Jp0kG3mkhE7-uKtwRbUN7UR6UAmR-b9hoYbsFM-ePD4Bn6D06eZdodT_v3_3RQ0VS2aIKx4yjSvkfYbSj-/s320/IMG_1561.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sunshine</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49W2KOwyhOSXhY1OEURgu6h9J71800GUm-pAiXTEhdXpatI-adUkEo_kU-5RjIKSwN9w4CSXZVGormubQMe_3pi2CmnzBMNmN0tcBKK7TJku7YqceIY-u0FQZxMrzQLCzEECiNibf3NXv/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49W2KOwyhOSXhY1OEURgu6h9J71800GUm-pAiXTEhdXpatI-adUkEo_kU-5RjIKSwN9w4CSXZVGormubQMe_3pi2CmnzBMNmN0tcBKK7TJku7YqceIY-u0FQZxMrzQLCzEECiNibf3NXv/s320/IMG_1888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJvdCsb3S4hj2n584VfHrVPvnyBTeezXds-G-2ZkstnYzEIbe2YsHt18WBqP3asUQ04CIgsX2COX1z_ka4yhE2tIOlt8iiJQI-feEzWhmTcVnR_NXfNi1hr-mV_quUk8ssPKU-nZ4jqS6/s1600/IMG_1779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="1600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJvdCsb3S4hj2n584VfHrVPvnyBTeezXds-G-2ZkstnYzEIbe2YsHt18WBqP3asUQ04CIgsX2COX1z_ka4yhE2tIOlt8iiJQI-feEzWhmTcVnR_NXfNi1hr-mV_quUk8ssPKU-nZ4jqS6/s320/IMG_1779.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">a lot of Stitching.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have not had much time for blogging recently and an unhappy incident when I accidentally deleted
all the photos that I had taken over the past few weeks did not help matters.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Most annoyingly, the
photos were those I had taken of the annual Christmas at The Barn event at
Lucinda’s last month, including embroidery pictures that were sold and of which
I now have no record. It was most careless of me.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Photos too of a
glorious autumnal day where I captured amazing scenes of the local Northern Irish
countryside for future stitching purposes. All gone!</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sadly, this year’s
Christmas at The Barn was the last one that Lucinda will host at her home. The
tiny winding country lanes and muddy field for parking are not really conducive
to the hordes of vehicles and people that made their way to Lucinda’s,
undeterred by the heavy rain that fell.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">However, this does
not mean an end to the event - as next year, there is an exciting plan for the
event to be held at the nearby beautiful <a href="https://www.larchfieldestate.co.uk/">Larchfield Estate</a>.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There will be a lot
of stitching and some new soaping ideas to prepare for this, but in the
meantime and between commissions, I have indulged in some stitching for myself.
After a moment of consternation when I “ran short of twist” – (just like Miss
Potter’s “Tailor of Gloucester”),</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoJSDC_Pi4dccazHpiANe4DsCzx1bnx7_PTccP22ambJuDNj9kRYALtRh0cokbgXMBBF7sbSlqS8NnM3Xj_C7rmK5PtMzYp2VgHZ_fmjs07q8xz_IBUVgHwzL6W2YTh9vlKF3Kv-SdFgr/s1600/IMG_2283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoJSDC_Pi4dccazHpiANe4DsCzx1bnx7_PTccP22ambJuDNj9kRYALtRh0cokbgXMBBF7sbSlqS8NnM3Xj_C7rmK5PtMzYp2VgHZ_fmjs07q8xz_IBUVgHwzL6W2YTh9vlKF3Kv-SdFgr/s320/IMG_2283.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">I have finally been able to complete the Bucket of Foxgloves</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNywNWnXEl-K-GUmDyFaEMzPCY-T8KREIwPGiguKcA0Dat-JU2nkuTrdQZM_IZYd3Am0jih5Olgfy-aIJ9Wwrzko-E_dnVLaRyPl8UWUlYsO9j-CSEGH0tY3cwjh9XcYufMpgQXXzYUWcz/s1600/IMG_2279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNywNWnXEl-K-GUmDyFaEMzPCY-T8KREIwPGiguKcA0Dat-JU2nkuTrdQZM_IZYd3Am0jih5Olgfy-aIJ9Wwrzko-E_dnVLaRyPl8UWUlYsO9j-CSEGH0tY3cwjh9XcYufMpgQXXzYUWcz/s320/IMG_2279.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> designed by Caroline Zoob </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GXK_NRqd7kaxWBfZB8P1MJejG5d0oOMOFWg-Ak49L7vUXei8sRQlbeRJcb1IVnCGYeH_lqSc_JD1IxwoGkUAxjMsNJ_nGGkvVbNr2POOC4-QvpNuUApuXaCrRJAUL1AZx90zEWtvRQJt/s1600/IMG_2277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GXK_NRqd7kaxWBfZB8P1MJejG5d0oOMOFWg-Ak49L7vUXei8sRQlbeRJcb1IVnCGYeH_lqSc_JD1IxwoGkUAxjMsNJ_nGGkvVbNr2POOC4-QvpNuUApuXaCrRJAUL1AZx90zEWtvRQJt/s320/IMG_2277.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and which is now framed and in
place upon the fireplace mantel in my bedroom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VWHYgqXBaidXVzTYDNJfCjyx6FRtiWDc7t4pKQv8UISN_Utljepxhi-wzA6BgVJOEby8BJnoSh_fopTgulAXGDqmc1PAx7qMGOzIIME5xWwGhAWyj7JlixecT14sbFb4bH4tRhAZ3G_O/s1600/IMG_2280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VWHYgqXBaidXVzTYDNJfCjyx6FRtiWDc7t4pKQv8UISN_Utljepxhi-wzA6BgVJOEby8BJnoSh_fopTgulAXGDqmc1PAx7qMGOzIIME5xWwGhAWyj7JlixecT14sbFb4bH4tRhAZ3G_O/s320/IMG_2280.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy New Year everyone and Happy Stitching!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
xxx</div>
</div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-78832157973038653312018-10-29T14:56:00.001-07:002018-10-29T15:06:26.472-07:00Distractions<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The annual “Christmas in the Barn”
event is approaching fast and I am in a slight panic, as there is still so much
to do and not a lot of time. There have been plenty of distractions over the
past few weeks meaning that I have been dashing from one thing to another and accomplishing
little.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWLvqzgkwMWeYM0uDHvagIOXZ-I-G9xiqQRuovvRBSLnMPZIBzKoMf-vJAswwLV7nMKC0VhoeLfCu0mesOqmUh_oyp49S9tcub8Y4ORBr6cm7F3z5GfrH9aKxT3rh6FgKmJYiYbh8ZJzs/s1600/IMG_2213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWLvqzgkwMWeYM0uDHvagIOXZ-I-G9xiqQRuovvRBSLnMPZIBzKoMf-vJAswwLV7nMKC0VhoeLfCu0mesOqmUh_oyp49S9tcub8Y4ORBr6cm7F3z5GfrH9aKxT3rh6FgKmJYiYbh8ZJzs/s320/IMG_2213.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">All of my sewing and soaping is painstakingly
handmade by me, and takes time to create. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQZNAVxthp29HMBvp8fBN1SP-xPGaZvty-SmFdkNB68KcuMCigRhsdl-dGpgavq4N9WEP9xRkMTFCM-OLFaDXSksm9T9xRLr-fCXemlcxHBsiUXaX554hAVb70DU71jVsneo2ZsjJkgFM/s1600/IMG_2214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQZNAVxthp29HMBvp8fBN1SP-xPGaZvty-SmFdkNB68KcuMCigRhsdl-dGpgavq4N9WEP9xRkMTFCM-OLFaDXSksm9T9xRLr-fCXemlcxHBsiUXaX554hAVb70DU71jVsneo2ZsjJkgFM/s320/IMG_2214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There have been no
little elves to help me with wrapping soap, writing labels and making the boxes for the soaps and lavender hearts.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWvqerUbwJLRfd1cFBkSEVNcSJXaOofI3-CB4375LpfO0eFyK17v9-yMeCInOsM2y_iP6qldCbVkOyH3rMsQTAR1DY1ZgtUiWP3eo7kvsVTJhKgIAqc90GcL49csoATuTFtYw_GS5VVsG/s1600/IMG_2208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWvqerUbwJLRfd1cFBkSEVNcSJXaOofI3-CB4375LpfO0eFyK17v9-yMeCInOsM2y_iP6qldCbVkOyH3rMsQTAR1DY1ZgtUiWP3eo7kvsVTJhKgIAqc90GcL49csoATuTFtYw_GS5VVsG/s320/IMG_2208.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Recently however, I was woken
abruptly during the night by an unnerving sound, which after a few heart-stopping
moments I realised to my consternation was the noise of a mouse!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpZwAFfpM8QmsvjFM3qeXmKYN7OhZ1wvdoX4Pz5RDF-UTF1N3TKIsLEfr8dfkTJ2TIY-Zv9l29c2F7QyEHUheJjr__OU9f90i1mIah0DQZ3QZwjuhgu0QHUUVvuDF9dCwF5iXDZu2cwZ5/s1600/IMG_2220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpZwAFfpM8QmsvjFM3qeXmKYN7OhZ1wvdoX4Pz5RDF-UTF1N3TKIsLEfr8dfkTJ2TIY-Zv9l29c2F7QyEHUheJjr__OU9f90i1mIah0DQZ3QZwjuhgu0QHUUVvuDF9dCwF5iXDZu2cwZ5/s320/IMG_2220.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The sounds of gnawing
and scratching between the ceiling in the downstairs front bedroom and the upstairs
floorboards</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW88H3SruDnjPKGZT3s2adexVn3W6tLLrkRE8NBgXlLXxIpIZDu8zleF7mn1bzpTihsBXg45xalWBFF8reUE7BfKQ1HGNjhrNq8NznyazFwgL0E9k05DxJ1IXFDSvpJZTBMi6bcbZZK_z/s1600/IMG_2219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW88H3SruDnjPKGZT3s2adexVn3W6tLLrkRE8NBgXlLXxIpIZDu8zleF7mn1bzpTihsBXg45xalWBFF8reUE7BfKQ1HGNjhrNq8NznyazFwgL0E9k05DxJ1IXFDSvpJZTBMi6bcbZZK_z/s320/IMG_2219.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">indicated that this mouse intruder was not helping with my
stitching like the mice in “The Tailor of Gloucester” but was instead intent
upon <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">eating my house</span></i>.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">With horrifying thoughts of the
house burning down due to nibbled electrical cables, I raced upstairs to where
the noise was coming from. Evie (who is a formidable mouser) lay in her bed, eyes
half closed, sleepily listening to the noise – her nose twitching slightly and
ears pointed, but astute enough to know that the mouse yet so close was in
reality unreachable. The gnawing grew louder undeterred by my footsteps. I rapped
sharply on the floorboards with my knuckles. “Be Gone!” I sternly commanded the
mouse. Amazingly, the noise stopped immediately!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Incredibly, (and thankfully) from
then on there has been no further sound of the mouse, though I lost a lot of
sleep lying awake listening, until finally a couple of days later I found the petrified
corpse of a mouse on the back doorstep, for which Evie was undoubtedly responsible,
despite her innocent demeanour.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_b4Vx1ySvKphQ5-MxyjJ6qhfL08Zk2NP7-KGmA3F6EVAwdX6TmLVZu_38c3_Q-AVGcSWqDr3AJO6v5eC8xF_d62dxAcyCX7KMd1Ywdms1tV-JEWtdhWLpkG4TMMZbGPvNQT_RHtwtkpx0/s1600/IMG_5918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_b4Vx1ySvKphQ5-MxyjJ6qhfL08Zk2NP7-KGmA3F6EVAwdX6TmLVZu_38c3_Q-AVGcSWqDr3AJO6v5eC8xF_d62dxAcyCX7KMd1Ywdms1tV-JEWtdhWLpkG4TMMZbGPvNQT_RHtwtkpx0/s320/IMG_5918.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Evie’s penchant for mousing was
the cause of the next incident that distracted me from my preparations.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmGd55IhbUon-g3BJKomFoSmgesjmb3OKUQKAfIL1g038FvkgZIjdd_l0ZWUhy6DVn0Y-l_e5QiJLaF6UTkZQ4UBynCp5xCu76yzNB1L4iT02yF-3yO1tMvp3qmeUdCiebKzA7-LguvKl/s1600/IMG_1890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmGd55IhbUon-g3BJKomFoSmgesjmb3OKUQKAfIL1g038FvkgZIjdd_l0ZWUhy6DVn0Y-l_e5QiJLaF6UTkZQ4UBynCp5xCu76yzNB1L4iT02yF-3yO1tMvp3qmeUdCiebKzA7-LguvKl/s320/IMG_1890.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">An unusual and marked reluctance
to leave her bed one Saturday morning puzzled me. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqS3iHgBPLOlqA4lkrzdvoyFtst9c78fIvurPynfqB0XhBkMQ7nR9V63y2NJaHoosnkG1EYHBo83E6KJUfwepM8yi4HrSsTL4BpyTukHfP5sraKoNScqPIn0XN98GQs3m_LVHnhWc9MTlO/s1600/IMG_2189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1355" data-original-width="1600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqS3iHgBPLOlqA4lkrzdvoyFtst9c78fIvurPynfqB0XhBkMQ7nR9V63y2NJaHoosnkG1EYHBo83E6KJUfwepM8yi4HrSsTL4BpyTukHfP5sraKoNScqPIn0XN98GQs3m_LVHnhWc9MTlO/s320/IMG_2189.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">At first, I thought it was
because the weather was cold and miserable, but as the morning progressed, she still
showed no inclination to come downstairs. Concerned that she hadn’t eaten, I
coaxed her out of bed. There was a heartrending miaou of pain and Evie limped
towards me holding her front left leg stiffly into her body.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A hasty visit to the vet ensued –
Evie wailing and hyperventilating in distress in the cat box and me hyperventilating
and babbling incoherently – thoughts of the cause of <a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.com/2015/07/missing.html">Evie’s previous injuries</a>
at the forefront of my mind. The nice vet soon had us both calmed down, Evie
pretending to be brave and act as though there was nothing wrong.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The vets examination produced an
unexpected finding - a deep gash on her left shoulder that I had not noticed
before. The explanation was alarming. Evie had grown overconfident in her
mousing and this time had taken on more than she could handle. She had picked a
fight with a large rat, which had viciously inflicted multiple bites upon her resulting
in rat bite fever. Whilst Evie appeared to have lost this fight, it is
debatable as to the state that the rat was in at the end of fight.</span></div>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uJ1RubSGyCQeHJOsXon3zz0Sl3kkw4X_eE50Iznj40nxlOCiD6E-Ppt_ROqvbSfmVwKoLR6Lq1ua_Zr4_MZAjSWDGaewG9QY0oWPcZHaGHjAOSKNu2IM69rg7fBvU8xkK6GTUkIadrM7/s1600/IMG_2194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1510" data-original-width="1600" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uJ1RubSGyCQeHJOsXon3zz0Sl3kkw4X_eE50Iznj40nxlOCiD6E-Ppt_ROqvbSfmVwKoLR6Lq1ua_Zr4_MZAjSWDGaewG9QY0oWPcZHaGHjAOSKNu2IM69rg7fBvU8xkK6GTUkIadrM7/s320/IMG_2194.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Happily following a painkilling
injection and antibiotics, Evie has recovered, although she prefers now to
remain indoors and keep me company as I sit and stitch. At an estimated fifteen
years old, (76 in human years) she has probably realised that “she can’t do
what she used to do” – as the young physiotherapist told me when I had just
turned 40, making me feel like I was in my dotage.</span><br />
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1hGWvxbr-Jl6Akn2lCHujlLpIhsSEQAGHAwnLEpf1CVBorsPG4l8U8SbifmMtRXVVU6YTzwKleMUzNMECnxchuLJ2r0zCeK47Utw_J5j88oWFT88Bg_mc0jICPg7wdDsQGp72taI1lEL/s1600/IMG_2196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="1600" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1hGWvxbr-Jl6Akn2lCHujlLpIhsSEQAGHAwnLEpf1CVBorsPG4l8U8SbifmMtRXVVU6YTzwKleMUzNMECnxchuLJ2r0zCeK47Utw_J5j88oWFT88Bg_mc0jICPg7wdDsQGp72taI1lEL/s320/IMG_2196.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">To alleviate the stress, I
indulged myself in stitching a lovely embroidery design from Caroline Zoob that
I had intended to keep until after the Barn event. </span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWWLC_O8KTecMI-kmVcnljmtvHFIH8dlMmVRPoOsuNBXPTUpK7XpkvBX3k3fBZS3bw4ypf_bbN_dXb1bbEBqYJnZQEi9FIctvN_LICaXRFKmcf8mWyl5CNNCN2YnS1GvS3tlly-3RexX0/s1600/IMG_2197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWWLC_O8KTecMI-kmVcnljmtvHFIH8dlMmVRPoOsuNBXPTUpK7XpkvBX3k3fBZS3bw4ypf_bbN_dXb1bbEBqYJnZQEi9FIctvN_LICaXRFKmcf8mWyl5CNNCN2YnS1GvS3tlly-3RexX0/s320/IMG_2197.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A Bird in the Oak on
antique French Linen.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMMCzeRILx-7B8D2o6N8O4ma1LcJYK5q5R9puS8W7Z9-3It5Q3oGG7R3194Ems7UXe1yNkBmXz7eQNWVnq0aQ9aP5yMtDpzXEDDYo5AwYYEezuXJLKdwBLAXDDotCrG5dEnMkKJ6quoN0/s1600/IMG_2198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMMCzeRILx-7B8D2o6N8O4ma1LcJYK5q5R9puS8W7Z9-3It5Q3oGG7R3194Ems7UXe1yNkBmXz7eQNWVnq0aQ9aP5yMtDpzXEDDYo5AwYYEezuXJLKdwBLAXDDotCrG5dEnMkKJ6quoN0/s320/IMG_2198.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Enjoyable that it was to do,
completing this embroidery has been mere procrastination and although I can now
admire it in my hallway, I still have heaps of preparation to do for “Christmas
in the Barn”. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The stress has
returned.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">xxx</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-85935880692202475802018-09-17T01:02:00.002-07:002018-09-17T03:05:51.445-07:00Lavender and Linen<div style="text-align: center;">
Visitors to La Petite Maison frequently comment on the fragrance of Lavender - both outside and indoors.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z5Wra0i28uhDy1GacPOzRxVD7G_5HjW5PP3qR3A_sBQiVMitB-AZ8hEODY80qGB2sy8_21kVQXaN7nNb9k2TxAWflo2MBVygPiuHb66-z5NpF-lwjjIBATbBDHrCDkedxReVx6VnLuzR/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z5Wra0i28uhDy1GacPOzRxVD7G_5HjW5PP3qR3A_sBQiVMitB-AZ8hEODY80qGB2sy8_21kVQXaN7nNb9k2TxAWflo2MBVygPiuHb66-z5NpF-lwjjIBATbBDHrCDkedxReVx6VnLuzR/s320/IMG_1835.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
They hasten to clarify that it is not the cloying sickly lavender smell associated with chemical air fresheners or cheap perfume, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2H2pCBVkRwqcQIzQGScuH7lXlhGgg0YddJ7jylQOKHRjP6Wg0d8BOq2PrgrPM0_rkfKtGRwmAlSubZXpdpFh83WT7GeCMrOfYriAOVYTrG0iN0QdF8OQGGeVGWPtwxFRbXoe_FVcWlkS/s1600/IMG_1834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2H2pCBVkRwqcQIzQGScuH7lXlhGgg0YddJ7jylQOKHRjP6Wg0d8BOq2PrgrPM0_rkfKtGRwmAlSubZXpdpFh83WT7GeCMrOfYriAOVYTrG0iN0QdF8OQGGeVGWPtwxFRbXoe_FVcWlkS/s320/IMG_1834.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
but the dusty pungent herbaceous scent experienced when walking through a lavender field on a balmy evening,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_DmXJv_wMDwI4MMHNmzdT2goh-rduOXdBt0IrnQMDlsN2Q9pnrd8cgDVybHylLTdrIeg4gbfM3neCFo1XpAbF8CuRIgZnMP6x794tk5lfLiXrpuykQ1vdIIpBr7rgGYuFcaUKlGRwZrI/s1600/IMG_1472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_DmXJv_wMDwI4MMHNmzdT2goh-rduOXdBt0IrnQMDlsN2Q9pnrd8cgDVybHylLTdrIeg4gbfM3neCFo1XpAbF8CuRIgZnMP6x794tk5lfLiXrpuykQ1vdIIpBr7rgGYuFcaUKlGRwZrI/s320/IMG_1472.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or a rosy morning </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYD_0VG6TC43yPI8OJyCxO7QTALarlal7FMpNX-AFlJBPViJulIY7j1GXOe-EUKzRBzc_V5hZhbp1R__UkFNSANeesQIDceelZwfVEI4C2wiCyowCxbb-2KVuWXLA5S-Hogj-HLeo70DM1/s1600/IMG_1324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYD_0VG6TC43yPI8OJyCxO7QTALarlal7FMpNX-AFlJBPViJulIY7j1GXOe-EUKzRBzc_V5hZhbp1R__UkFNSANeesQIDceelZwfVEI4C2wiCyowCxbb-2KVuWXLA5S-Hogj-HLeo70DM1/s320/IMG_1324.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when the dew is still wet on the grass.<br />
<br />
In the garden, the Regal Splendour lavender in the chimney pots leading to the seating area could have come straight from a Mediterranean Hillside.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgGDLpoF9v6L2SJ_aY-3TNBHGzFvU0lqKR_KxWURY6GPNn1KqeteeOJ5k3VdadJ66kHZAprYzbadJy5pirPZU22iPXGUQQdJng5BNUxsMNk94HR5wMHO1NdJ_Q-pdY2wXSHk5UTZY83aP/s1600/IMG_1329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgGDLpoF9v6L2SJ_aY-3TNBHGzFvU0lqKR_KxWURY6GPNn1KqeteeOJ5k3VdadJ66kHZAprYzbadJy5pirPZU22iPXGUQQdJng5BNUxsMNk94HR5wMHO1NdJ_Q-pdY2wXSHk5UTZY83aP/s320/IMG_1329.JPG" width="240" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Grey / blue flowers of Lavender Augustifolia edge the back walls of the house, mingling with rosemary and fennel and the roses that clothe the walls -</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbViLZUqv19rTU6TgwE2rIvhAdI0GlAhHKlqj_5Es2SagUZ-2nwzxqVsGwEFFwPbmEmkX0H91vvkNMqxk3hYnouTmWKgO6urcVojBpRSi71wL42SnTouIEyB_BbGN-FrIlWeZLGtb4ho7x/s1600/IMG_2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbViLZUqv19rTU6TgwE2rIvhAdI0GlAhHKlqj_5Es2SagUZ-2nwzxqVsGwEFFwPbmEmkX0H91vvkNMqxk3hYnouTmWKgO6urcVojBpRSi71wL42SnTouIEyB_BbGN-FrIlWeZLGtb4ho7x/s320/IMG_2004.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
such a contrast to the way the house used to look with the lean-to-boiler house that adorned the back wall, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oPbcg6xSD1L4TMX_NK7BgG1WAS9CO2JHOsI5n3aDIYXTYCzf-adqswuu4AQcvnrmSnJj0Jaugvjs-fjWqhCByhOJJBYBPXIkV3xu8E5HBjiwN60pO4fTekicwhgPpM9_AJsvylaYy8c4/s1600/IMG_1341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oPbcg6xSD1L4TMX_NK7BgG1WAS9CO2JHOsI5n3aDIYXTYCzf-adqswuu4AQcvnrmSnJj0Jaugvjs-fjWqhCByhOJJBYBPXIkV3xu8E5HBjiwN60pO4fTekicwhgPpM9_AJsvylaYy8c4/s320/IMG_1341.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before I rescued it from it's tired and dilapidated state.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkBSS-8YSe6aN_b1vmPWHXfQhJ-UMNF7jcLF9toaGkABzBchrEGxst4PKLLcJeWMart_tlMj0aP2CFtkJ5zwo2eWgQslKnZhJoJIxDz11bt5vbZseQMOKLvHL17VN1iiNkpxXbLUjOz7d/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkBSS-8YSe6aN_b1vmPWHXfQhJ-UMNF7jcLF9toaGkABzBchrEGxst4PKLLcJeWMart_tlMj0aP2CFtkJ5zwo2eWgQslKnZhJoJIxDz11bt5vbZseQMOKLvHL17VN1iiNkpxXbLUjOz7d/s320/IMG_1338.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Lavender and nepeta now line the gravel paths leading to the back door, the flower spikes gracefully swaying in the summer breeze, whilst</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAjqSgNQFP1ZWgni5eqN18gRYk4AMyhCe6COUxbDn6ZtmMkNIBBBor6uFtwoBw_V-ldOPFe6UpN7tTJMfYnyvUT7sZFQnImsDZY6COAVgCjB5kpXJ0TpFqbEsVzEvmotZvxf_ITKHX_9P/s1600/IMG_1327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1228" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAjqSgNQFP1ZWgni5eqN18gRYk4AMyhCe6COUxbDn6ZtmMkNIBBBor6uFtwoBw_V-ldOPFe6UpN7tTJMfYnyvUT7sZFQnImsDZY6COAVgCjB5kpXJ0TpFqbEsVzEvmotZvxf_ITKHX_9P/s320/IMG_1327.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
lavender and sage flop over each side of the reclaimed sleeper steps outside the French windows - releasing a heady, woody, pungent scent when brushed past on the way up to the grassed area.</div>
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After a sunny day, the lavender has been picked and brought inside to dry in bunches; harvested in phases, so that the bees still had access to a constant supply.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ISBeSFWYDlfuv0HN5J_vcSKoRnZxuLDX30ba55kT4g1rZw9kCDQkLUUXgI0ZHBE_cmdObap7IaKNCWas_Wc2K3mt9a0kfWWLweYPgeiLOHPFicbYDDpDyhWixf2ToJhB28Oi99YkdSo3/s1600/IMG_1429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ISBeSFWYDlfuv0HN5J_vcSKoRnZxuLDX30ba55kT4g1rZw9kCDQkLUUXgI0ZHBE_cmdObap7IaKNCWas_Wc2K3mt9a0kfWWLweYPgeiLOHPFicbYDDpDyhWixf2ToJhB28Oi99YkdSo3/s320/IMG_1429.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This years heatwave has also created an opportunity for gathering rose petals </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZi8CeXuaRgI1kzbsstApQxVqHSZCWOaq3McnwSe1XqG5Q6r00g7N9T5EWvRcU67fu7f5HTUQmsIlXLTmjJeItwRs3j-7j6FTnhZh5jTUqjtaBQZF7HqDgoaFZ0Sdiz5VzdTBV6R1bwn1/s1600/IMG_1589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZi8CeXuaRgI1kzbsstApQxVqHSZCWOaq3McnwSe1XqG5Q6r00g7N9T5EWvRcU67fu7f5HTUQmsIlXLTmjJeItwRs3j-7j6FTnhZh5jTUqjtaBQZF7HqDgoaFZ0Sdiz5VzdTBV6R1bwn1/s320/IMG_1589.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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that dried in the sun almost the same day they flowered. </div>
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As a result over the past summer months my home has been full of the scent of lavender and rose petals,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwvbj0lrrzUlRBwRxSUqT3Qe2bJEWPTii8dvSO3ZcKfXj2xgtDR3H5eL9XABPMx1ZxUzxPqtQwJTmf25bXTJLZnD9RzV30jMAu-CNAzK46fr5ZtR_C9Bavl2o5_OhFKLIK4VLGiWGJVPe/s1600/IMG_2032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwvbj0lrrzUlRBwRxSUqT3Qe2bJEWPTii8dvSO3ZcKfXj2xgtDR3H5eL9XABPMx1ZxUzxPqtQwJTmf25bXTJLZnD9RzV30jMAu-CNAzK46fr5ZtR_C9Bavl2o5_OhFKLIK4VLGiWGJVPe/s320/IMG_2032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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some of which I used to fill a cushion that I made from antique white linen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2K6wP2cY72Dx_hQtAHjR9SycwvH-PziOV_dhoCZRBPREjMxFfOxCTVKR5rq81tOK6p1EQ3UsrAKJdGh3l-70h-lln74BnE1VhimsBQU0D2VavCr2Vnq-YmazV3yuBvilpLKnxPpFmNHY/s1600/IMG_2038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2K6wP2cY72Dx_hQtAHjR9SycwvH-PziOV_dhoCZRBPREjMxFfOxCTVKR5rq81tOK6p1EQ3UsrAKJdGh3l-70h-lln74BnE1VhimsBQU0D2VavCr2Vnq-YmazV3yuBvilpLKnxPpFmNHY/s320/IMG_2038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also stitched a Summer Bouquet with hollyhocks, foxgloves and daisies onto freshly laundered and lavender scented French linen - </div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">(the beautiful design was courtesy of Nicki), </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7cqK8DFeeZYr8yIGoj-ZFWVpsZf3S22VzvoOy183cC4AJjrspW636sVS7V6bS3VGnZx06W8uCh6lnZwh1QV6sk2_9uT98ExCHI8wf2UxRz2jMRGOYtxCqVjkV2KRUHeBVe_n7A_0TTy3/s1600/IMG_2029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7cqK8DFeeZYr8yIGoj-ZFWVpsZf3S22VzvoOy183cC4AJjrspW636sVS7V6bS3VGnZx06W8uCh6lnZwh1QV6sk2_9uT98ExCHI8wf2UxRz2jMRGOYtxCqVjkV2KRUHeBVe_n7A_0TTy3/s320/IMG_2029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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and sewed it into a lavender filled cushion. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkIUuygOoR7SLh3cSLtVmT__ONsY8I4msZaoDiTwKOIaGlRCpVu20RDAzTe0zutrotQOPnHrvPIkJray_vaKFdD2LioxH7zauhqL5pnNfzqiHkPCNBE78ijeFteTCNFfrYDbrrf-t2u13/s1600/IMG_0050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkIUuygOoR7SLh3cSLtVmT__ONsY8I4msZaoDiTwKOIaGlRCpVu20RDAzTe0zutrotQOPnHrvPIkJray_vaKFdD2LioxH7zauhqL5pnNfzqiHkPCNBE78ijeFteTCNFfrYDbrrf-t2u13/s320/IMG_0050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some of the dried lavender is ground and used as an ingredient to my handmade herbal soap - carrying the lavender fragrance throughout the house.</div>
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As the days shorten and the evenings close in, the scent of summer lingers on through the dried lavender, the woody fragrance combining with the seasonal autumnal smell of kiln dried wood burning in the stove.</div>
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November is approaching fast and Lucinda's "Christmas in the Barn" event. I am wondering if I have enough dried petals for all my projects. Already I am making plans for next year to plant an entire bed with lavender at the allotment.</div>
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xxx</div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-43336282798349670752018-08-28T15:16:00.000-07:002019-04-03T13:28:20.994-07:00Seasons Change at The Allotment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfexxVXn5J2n5_irgZDSpUMtW1l3KSYKyTUe1oPdozACqKVQS6EqIzVLx7ajg8vei_XTH1JrHL9rbsjD3aCV2_H5KDFnxTBk1-sC6XuSKUd543Fn45DGnKgWNix0-vz0pmaB2oV7aa3nh/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfexxVXn5J2n5_irgZDSpUMtW1l3KSYKyTUe1oPdozACqKVQS6EqIzVLx7ajg8vei_XTH1JrHL9rbsjD3aCV2_H5KDFnxTBk1-sC6XuSKUd543Fn45DGnKgWNix0-vz0pmaB2oV7aa3nh/s320/IMG_1806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The allotment has an autumnal feel about it now.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPOvchml-69BhATGtJZIR6vH2daWYywUAF9tlbQLQEzhtfTxiwbi5CsYYHMAkY0EbZIKSb7NyHNCBjznDA6YwiXW-rZ9Qm1PjdINhCMZHzXR_hTqMarx62iEFNWvSyy98Lfwp6idrC58A/s1600/IMG_1896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPOvchml-69BhATGtJZIR6vH2daWYywUAF9tlbQLQEzhtfTxiwbi5CsYYHMAkY0EbZIKSb7NyHNCBjznDA6YwiXW-rZ9Qm1PjdINhCMZHzXR_hTqMarx62iEFNWvSyy98Lfwp6idrC58A/s320/IMG_1896.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fruit trees </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHonEmDJ-iB1UPp_EAYQ7qT7D-Eko3psCzCL9cLbBUj4Y7LpOcrGeukn4t1qxRA0R7iW4iLCl3wo4vQFKBnYaZyZHdtK3H5SHfeblxOojGBcFv-0TnpitVkUBf7ksmkOo0IhG_XAliZIw/s1600/IMG_1950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHonEmDJ-iB1UPp_EAYQ7qT7D-Eko3psCzCL9cLbBUj4Y7LpOcrGeukn4t1qxRA0R7iW4iLCl3wo4vQFKBnYaZyZHdtK3H5SHfeblxOojGBcFv-0TnpitVkUBf7ksmkOo0IhG_XAliZIw/s320/IMG_1950.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">that a few months ago were dripping with blossom</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLI6l9qdE5YWqPAuofC-Zb8VCLPDHqVtBaI8WuAHtTFCQojGwJGnOpIaD5NjrePM3g7BvlfXkTBj6cRVnWyCyKBnuXTJaNcBEDvyj8XDXmUOrrizTiAJn4wIo7bflai14P0-PI7L-HqDB/s1600/IMG_1895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLI6l9qdE5YWqPAuofC-Zb8VCLPDHqVtBaI8WuAHtTFCQojGwJGnOpIaD5NjrePM3g7BvlfXkTBj6cRVnWyCyKBnuXTJaNcBEDvyj8XDXmUOrrizTiAJn4wIo7bflai14P0-PI7L-HqDB/s320/IMG_1895.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">are now heavily laden</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySEInWQfw16KYzQZLmhoWIV088cEymJDWJxLerks3pJhw96_O117G3pGm-hG3GIoRGJy0GK_GpgMsm6X5cbPVPq_xlqnUcg7tOuOORQ7q23taYReSKkPgFanN9-1doRTwSKEoJCmlUXbd/s1600/IMG_1897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySEInWQfw16KYzQZLmhoWIV088cEymJDWJxLerks3pJhw96_O117G3pGm-hG3GIoRGJy0GK_GpgMsm6X5cbPVPq_xlqnUcg7tOuOORQ7q23taYReSKkPgFanN9-1doRTwSKEoJCmlUXbd/s320/IMG_1897.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> with fruit, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHBiGQKRNHiCq2xP301dxn-mOxXQ1YrqsaVyWaDaVvl8i4CRTM0WxlsisRo1AdG0d8wVrr5U2HXxRBD-UtkbP8ux4X9BMgYBYZW53kj93KFNJTtI_wNAeyokJfoq7jam2fw17s4xrV928/s1600/IMG_1919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHBiGQKRNHiCq2xP301dxn-mOxXQ1YrqsaVyWaDaVvl8i4CRTM0WxlsisRo1AdG0d8wVrr5U2HXxRBD-UtkbP8ux4X9BMgYBYZW53kj93KFNJTtI_wNAeyokJfoq7jam2fw17s4xrV928/s320/IMG_1919.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">their branches drooping beneath the weight of apples</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQ2yJaao6c9r5dlVKiBxcZXJu0DMPzBAWflC4UxL9z8qVQT55-2iEuG2dv-f8PgENM6cgWfjXXuSaAajPUsVxoFWFBFoVOOJBJXHWidAYuZg-V01CE-DdoDLWeczHx6dLGyJc66_cuqEl/s1600/IMG_1906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQ2yJaao6c9r5dlVKiBxcZXJu0DMPzBAWflC4UxL9z8qVQT55-2iEuG2dv-f8PgENM6cgWfjXXuSaAajPUsVxoFWFBFoVOOJBJXHWidAYuZg-V01CE-DdoDLWeczHx6dLGyJc66_cuqEl/s320/IMG_1906.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and pears.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3zRpJ8pgS5Q24SCDcbA1ih30ruVDwtYulCT3OftlvDHGOFzJsQBd1-KE9KIuqdXPiVwbiNr8p0yRIP8cHAQQ3NjRQj1bNdpxNaw3BtATUKNRSUScBsuE8NHqYQ8JIt6GKVuTwBNGScom/s1600/IMG_1908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3zRpJ8pgS5Q24SCDcbA1ih30ruVDwtYulCT3OftlvDHGOFzJsQBd1-KE9KIuqdXPiVwbiNr8p0yRIP8cHAQQ3NjRQj1bNdpxNaw3BtATUKNRSUScBsuE8NHqYQ8JIt6GKVuTwBNGScom/s320/IMG_1908.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">Teasels </span><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">and </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91s6sWxgbWuDst70041xdY_utjd_NNmeEEojHw3KGjVHuo5hy2PLPVhafjQ4nmZ31hFwigvsaxJ8vw_wNtTNyFbgYVATQCxNcoojGLlE9V-TbLk5dBRZLgxRmQ7_YIbDkG3LZVzgwptUL/s1600/IMG_1937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91s6sWxgbWuDst70041xdY_utjd_NNmeEEojHw3KGjVHuo5hy2PLPVhafjQ4nmZ31hFwigvsaxJ8vw_wNtTNyFbgYVATQCxNcoojGLlE9V-TbLk5dBRZLgxRmQ7_YIbDkG3LZVzgwptUL/s320/IMG_1937.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> yellow-headed Sunflowers</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgxVwvj3wiUXSxjn_A6R7jhEUdT389knm3su8Gcz01-9Ylqj848J9HeO3bbqz7TrYbIiFVu26AGRGd6UwuW9Lg6bNkXDEg_z66PA0g8FGcJOqe4FeyFnkGl4BImb-DqEOgoMV3WNg-z34/s1600/IMG_1902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgxVwvj3wiUXSxjn_A6R7jhEUdT389knm3su8Gcz01-9Ylqj848J9HeO3bbqz7TrYbIiFVu26AGRGd6UwuW9Lg6bNkXDEg_z66PA0g8FGcJOqe4FeyFnkGl4BImb-DqEOgoMV3WNg-z34/s320/IMG_1902.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCKc5uVr6jYBJ5Q4Vy4ML72bkP5wFrYjP9Mp71bVwWPTnh9J6dPr97yCmpH0BBGX2p_EjVcxdgI0PdiqvLD3GAyEO20qtdI2V6us7VSDY5eKHnOVRz28Rc-JEfFluR28iexBQrwCkPmuh/s1600/IMG_1942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCKc5uVr6jYBJ5Q4Vy4ML72bkP5wFrYjP9Mp71bVwWPTnh9J6dPr97yCmpH0BBGX2p_EjVcxdgI0PdiqvLD3GAyEO20qtdI2V6us7VSDY5eKHnOVRz28Rc-JEfFluR28iexBQrwCkPmuh/s320/IMG_1942.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> have grown tall </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXD2PUYcjvZow1dVPkqxDLglKby4YCNeo-5SBSYtA-6awDq5W1eDstdb_3yQv6fVIXNyLCeL9ekNRjz8HRUF7YGaPipWsgq4DGLx2W7muR8gzm1zQyXkE99OU1CIvu-X1psEwRoU5OoFbA/s1600/IMG_1944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXD2PUYcjvZow1dVPkqxDLglKby4YCNeo-5SBSYtA-6awDq5W1eDstdb_3yQv6fVIXNyLCeL9ekNRjz8HRUF7YGaPipWsgq4DGLx2W7muR8gzm1zQyXkE99OU1CIvu-X1psEwRoU5OoFbA/s320/IMG_1944.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">along the winding brick edged path</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC9YlzRI2KpPl43Q28K2TSZy5sb107qNyM41qSyNwWKCw5rCD5Lun26fafgZE8L64fWsCa-svT_nttBsqpI6_NUSaxIupxqZGBJnrchg-Sj8MdKxc8sspWqAO4ILUP1t7-mqi9WySMpB_/s1600/IMG_1909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC9YlzRI2KpPl43Q28K2TSZy5sb107qNyM41qSyNwWKCw5rCD5Lun26fafgZE8L64fWsCa-svT_nttBsqpI6_NUSaxIupxqZGBJnrchg-Sj8MdKxc8sspWqAO4ILUP1t7-mqi9WySMpB_/s320/IMG_1909.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">and beside the French beans</span><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXR4FO54lP_qCXUm5UkdS5rSVJE72SnmCSf7hzHvOZaUVdl_n7XEgXcZKrS3p8grFE8g5NzH2f6NCBdt_2pkz3JZuywQJ_9FO1eHgljnU3hwqutup-OKMeDgdfN48nn02Lw7biN1EsTsxr/s1600/IMG_1938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXR4FO54lP_qCXUm5UkdS5rSVJE72SnmCSf7hzHvOZaUVdl_n7XEgXcZKrS3p8grFE8g5NzH2f6NCBdt_2pkz3JZuywQJ_9FO1eHgljnU3hwqutup-OKMeDgdfN48nn02Lw7biN1EsTsxr/s320/IMG_1938.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> climbing their hazel wigwam.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7B3VJDe2UDPwg8gpGgefTqllrF7t2dY0kbn6ys5eOnZIhi3hOQmUilkxNYVP6Ex67GJb0gwhFeCFN1dQ0lsWz6AkualeaQ1zvAyi-wmD_RM-whnu7GKB_I1JENcjA2Hu-UVBmKvFoF46/s1600/IMG_1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7B3VJDe2UDPwg8gpGgefTqllrF7t2dY0kbn6ys5eOnZIhi3hOQmUilkxNYVP6Ex67GJb0gwhFeCFN1dQ0lsWz6AkualeaQ1zvAyi-wmD_RM-whnu7GKB_I1JENcjA2Hu-UVBmKvFoF46/s320/IMG_1915.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Yellow and orange flowered Calendula</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLkXeMnonF0us_meGVuPr8ENZYl2o5pg_EmITCdYaQPWSOoOgA-mNLxfDeADy7c_aKJGt8UxBUhUwNmDvlkfAAmUxghUpLJ2WwoExWREyYLi9bA38xQLMD60cWNOp8ohyphenhyphen_T5lV8EPbEu4/s1600/IMG_1916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLkXeMnonF0us_meGVuPr8ENZYl2o5pg_EmITCdYaQPWSOoOgA-mNLxfDeADy7c_aKJGt8UxBUhUwNmDvlkfAAmUxghUpLJ2WwoExWREyYLi9bA38xQLMD60cWNOp8ohyphenhyphen_T5lV8EPbEu4/s320/IMG_1916.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> planted in amongst the vegetables create a vivid splash of colour,
like the Nasturtiums that tumble and trail over the narrow paths at the top of
the plot </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMrS3amY0xHOkqsyIxgV6QcqQhlRspTfivEDuEyHa8fjno_kUMQDafOfMvnIHV2PSyUXCXV_ayhMbnEG9kagZF2T-hZyrC4AYwCnYKPzpeKlaoDIqXTOfEREooIy25_jNFmnpV2pAuZLP/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMrS3amY0xHOkqsyIxgV6QcqQhlRspTfivEDuEyHa8fjno_kUMQDafOfMvnIHV2PSyUXCXV_ayhMbnEG9kagZF2T-hZyrC4AYwCnYKPzpeKlaoDIqXTOfEREooIy25_jNFmnpV2pAuZLP/s320/IMG_1674.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">alongside the scented herbs Rosemary, Fennel, Dill, and Lovage.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPva8Zq3H0mDYnu2IoQro_hNNFWFShLceisICVYkFFkgZWf0ay1A3jyqNww0FHRpuTDSKw9COjpDuxG7Ky-adb55QLzciwm16633Fw4uBYtLAdOWI7DsuBwlmFXzMseEZyTMla59Gj5RW0/s1600/IMG_1677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPva8Zq3H0mDYnu2IoQro_hNNFWFShLceisICVYkFFkgZWf0ay1A3jyqNww0FHRpuTDSKw9COjpDuxG7Ky-adb55QLzciwm16633Fw4uBYtLAdOWI7DsuBwlmFXzMseEZyTMla59Gj5RW0/s320/IMG_1677.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The beautiful creeping thyme,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHmmyxFqe50iCPkMTNb21DQ3VU6L65Xd_ztd3Pl0CVQBNmBga9kvQzTDiBbh0vEv9dReot51FwL7PC7VQA7bYP_Mw_fgVonMM7xowi11sQL4lo2__e-m7x3YTOzxo2cQon_ElvLNGf-Kz/s1600/IMG_1683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHmmyxFqe50iCPkMTNb21DQ3VU6L65Xd_ztd3Pl0CVQBNmBga9kvQzTDiBbh0vEv9dReot51FwL7PC7VQA7bYP_Mw_fgVonMM7xowi11sQL4lo2__e-m7x3YTOzxo2cQon_ElvLNGf-Kz/s320/IMG_1683.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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on either side of the path,</div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-2YGzOqrbSc0ALnwHBEVlQjWd_bsA0LJjqWpXMigyo8mobzOqIC_eV05KUGPHT8AoHatIrrxCNWLTc0_gwHRj1kNyW8I_OCPOmveTcIyCAn7kOdeLwQhRv5ED1flN1ORMn683aLXLIp5/s1600/IMG_1422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-2YGzOqrbSc0ALnwHBEVlQjWd_bsA0LJjqWpXMigyo8mobzOqIC_eV05KUGPHT8AoHatIrrxCNWLTc0_gwHRj1kNyW8I_OCPOmveTcIyCAn7kOdeLwQhRv5ED1flN1ORMn683aLXLIp5/s320/IMG_1422.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> – much loved by the bees </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">(and home to a little frog), thrived in the hot sun and so has fully recovered from the harsh winter weather at the start of the year.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1_mBAOgtlzjs664mXkkmHjHOtYum5p0vQf_zwusdEWq5ykG6_PV0nR862jagAYsFX7SEriKsHUIrXBTIFgZgxQFPpmVjh_m6Hq3xn4OKIeOyS0UGZBbWhZBsuQL3xzT6aJjVXRmyM3Au/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1_mBAOgtlzjs664mXkkmHjHOtYum5p0vQf_zwusdEWq5ykG6_PV0nR862jagAYsFX7SEriKsHUIrXBTIFgZgxQFPpmVjh_m6Hq3xn4OKIeOyS0UGZBbWhZBsuQL3xzT6aJjVXRmyM3Au/s320/IMG_1952.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "\22 \\22 calibri\\22 \22 ";">Sweet peas still carry their blooms</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "\22 \\22 calibri\\22 \22 ";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uHYX7PCsTEPJkCTkVCjJgdh5lipWvNm73-VbadV0o8a-22yNsWddY96jA16jlweYTd0Ghmd2lubKojrQWCA8kkFr2yFwSkjU7jA_Aq0POHh0wncFvhIqop0CBW1hBnKto7MLAfG14b4C/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uHYX7PCsTEPJkCTkVCjJgdh5lipWvNm73-VbadV0o8a-22yNsWddY96jA16jlweYTd0Ghmd2lubKojrQWCA8kkFr2yFwSkjU7jA_Aq0POHh0wncFvhIqop0CBW1hBnKto7MLAfG14b4C/s320/IMG_1965.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 \\22 calibri\\22 \22 ";"> as they climb the willow </span><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">and </span><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">hazel </span><span style="font-family: "\22 \\22 calibri\\22 \22 ";">supports</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "\22 \\22 calibri\\22 \22 ";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80wRQG7l5O4w0sRVe2y3zekSY2PsBXe3NhVfK1ZhHyTPlL7px4a31DwQWEz81lZqXz22aOjy2nRb6kVKT71yNTsPG1t_3dX2znFMxZhyphenhyphenAE_caRY3qgu1tOGf7PJ2nyTstVUYAHs8nqiWn/s1600/IMG_1694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80wRQG7l5O4w0sRVe2y3zekSY2PsBXe3NhVfK1ZhHyTPlL7px4a31DwQWEz81lZqXz22aOjy2nRb6kVKT71yNTsPG1t_3dX2znFMxZhyphenhyphenAE_caRY3qgu1tOGf7PJ2nyTstVUYAHs8nqiWn/s320/IMG_1694.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"> and opium poppies </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr2TtDGBlISCdIEv5Pc_YMfEPIIUIbjIVNODC4fssSdUXekpV7CLWeA7w8_0gbozK1Guk4wJT13ihJtsLLrjts1Fl9PVNqfuoU_LBy6C79K5UtUZcajHT85vEFEaeIaIrwvcrFCsTLcG2/s1600/IMG_1776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="1600" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr2TtDGBlISCdIEv5Pc_YMfEPIIUIbjIVNODC4fssSdUXekpV7CLWeA7w8_0gbozK1Guk4wJT13ihJtsLLrjts1Fl9PVNqfuoU_LBy6C79K5UtUZcajHT85vEFEaeIaIrwvcrFCsTLcG2/s320/IMG_1776.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">have grown randomly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOMJW_GtvHygD60aB-5V6osM04nHoPEnZeAmcYKWsqXt9ZUoo0WsLg4lvhG9LGKvGh2bdK3SpTgaftRfXUd3Q20QJ29sBHEknawHPFJ2g_ZZMhedY4mBvJfgzSecSA5eHFjKwzk-T5zgw/s1600/IMG_1671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOMJW_GtvHygD60aB-5V6osM04nHoPEnZeAmcYKWsqXt9ZUoo0WsLg4lvhG9LGKvGh2bdK3SpTgaftRfXUd3Q20QJ29sBHEknawHPFJ2g_ZZMhedY4mBvJfgzSecSA5eHFjKwzk-T5zgw/s320/IMG_1671.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> in the herb beds.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KHbPJ5Lbst2PksM-pGSr9jM1onXlDxJ7N4ve94GJo4lNZssO1GR_w5VOmUKxVBvpbpzmafJQyZRzmx7gFTG0TCHZ4iFkb3j9KnILV2QIlnwI2NrrMLcLMvr7DddniHusT0UL7dQ-2rdz/s1600/IMG_1930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KHbPJ5Lbst2PksM-pGSr9jM1onXlDxJ7N4ve94GJo4lNZssO1GR_w5VOmUKxVBvpbpzmafJQyZRzmx7gFTG0TCHZ4iFkb3j9KnILV2QIlnwI2NrrMLcLMvr7DddniHusT0UL7dQ-2rdz/s320/IMG_1930.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Pumpkins and gourds
are forming, </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAF4-vnnWui9N2jvkbkG5-4HU98frnmQotCY6E3lTkZYSfIAJHL_D7_pMUKf4pJULlZvP8J2OJfm1iPmJh_cOlRwUSVxk8bhg7EOYviUsY104iELSqbq_dLeJF3fy9N3STq8nYj0_Fm9c/s1600/IMG_1907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAF4-vnnWui9N2jvkbkG5-4HU98frnmQotCY6E3lTkZYSfIAJHL_D7_pMUKf4pJULlZvP8J2OJfm1iPmJh_cOlRwUSVxk8bhg7EOYviUsY104iELSqbq_dLeJF3fy9N3STq8nYj0_Fm9c/s320/IMG_1907.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">although their large leaves do not compete with the huge leaves still
borne by the rhubarb.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47UROlBhLGeC40y2cDLg5FVNQj58B3lAQk4ahiuCgWod3aPomOre0EGIbosIibkvmO8ww90pw073CvG1u99Ko1SLDP58yu2loT1AMEN2PFCD-A269afdnmv19Jh-IFblTXTqQzAFe3WAS/s1600/IMG_1570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47UROlBhLGeC40y2cDLg5FVNQj58B3lAQk4ahiuCgWod3aPomOre0EGIbosIibkvmO8ww90pw073CvG1u99Ko1SLDP58yu2loT1AMEN2PFCD-A269afdnmv19Jh-IFblTXTqQzAFe3WAS/s320/IMG_1570.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The harvest of blackcurrants
and gooseberries was early this year – a bountiful crop of the tastiest fruit,
little of which made it home, but was instead picked and eaten immediately on
the spot. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Recently planted autumn
raspberry canes have already produced large berries that are on the verge of
ripening.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5MVwQFZ4LDS8yt-w4aHCKt7MdQgbB0pS17vq5yqOg4I1CWfGz2_OUnywzJmGNQqvgoSCtZW9M1ImsIfkKAJwg5QEJrUwMpgQHhrATFQ7EXoqUmWtTNjd-e1l-Dh0meOnfd1cqPDq0UZP/s1600/IMG_1684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5MVwQFZ4LDS8yt-w4aHCKt7MdQgbB0pS17vq5yqOg4I1CWfGz2_OUnywzJmGNQqvgoSCtZW9M1ImsIfkKAJwg5QEJrUwMpgQHhrATFQ7EXoqUmWtTNjd-e1l-Dh0meOnfd1cqPDq0UZP/s320/IMG_1684.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-align: justify;">At the bottom of the sloping plot,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LI3LNfdlI1G-q5DwL2hhfM9owjwacRrfGiuKgXN0qek7g6LvUDnQWl41TtaYX5F5mw5wt7HbwlFr43lrBmiZW1Wds39YYLOW90vpjshiunpcp9t8QJWjDEVPe3s7UxPy4SOWIQ6wwJn6/s1600/IMG_1900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LI3LNfdlI1G-q5DwL2hhfM9owjwacRrfGiuKgXN0qek7g6LvUDnQWl41TtaYX5F5mw5wt7HbwlFr43lrBmiZW1Wds39YYLOW90vpjshiunpcp9t8QJWjDEVPe3s7UxPy4SOWIQ6wwJn6/s320/IMG_1900.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-align: justify;">rosehips and jewel coloured berries </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-align: justify;">of Hawthorne and Elder provide a
veritable feast for the dozens of small birds flitting from branch to branch in
the hedge and twittering ceaselessly.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK_R4GsmU1tKXuXANyzFLp2cZducGpM0F01uswTawQjW-DExkqOeQRaler0ubWghdGPNfAocaO6uikvwHWDdU3kHkHG5X3VH3qoHzbg3Ag-usefYQXOAAq6kSKA_PBEsaDoUb0_0iGmQG/s1600/IMG_1960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK_R4GsmU1tKXuXANyzFLp2cZducGpM0F01uswTawQjW-DExkqOeQRaler0ubWghdGPNfAocaO6uikvwHWDdU3kHkHG5X3VH3qoHzbg3Ag-usefYQXOAAq6kSKA_PBEsaDoUb0_0iGmQG/s320/IMG_1960.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-align: justify;">The allotment site is enclosed on three sides by land that once formed part of an old country estate </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuDw5Dj2l6bjwNicrIukhGisAsxrtTsGKk3rQdqCjZ2JcJAoqAJL8Fly57NavkoJ6rpv02ej8AU6xwMlLLJv8HJKkkX-p-2-PNd7HFxdz36ZBBwzqxVIR5dde7nhU3oMXEqU6ksXV11dm/s1600/IMG_1851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1600" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuDw5Dj2l6bjwNicrIukhGisAsxrtTsGKk3rQdqCjZ2JcJAoqAJL8Fly57NavkoJ6rpv02ej8AU6xwMlLLJv8HJKkkX-p-2-PNd7HFxdz36ZBBwzqxVIR5dde7nhU3oMXEqU6ksXV11dm/s320/IMG_1851.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and the majestic
ancient trees remain a haven for wildlife.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDAKTJJKLJ-TS3Vn1Gh7HVHGhyL-CHLgGNABEu5KPuYw1g2zcqoEF-NZy4egp0GwZWGAnZyog7ICZikXe5UbcGzc6PizxvjEGn_0PyECUhRiHDn3eAmLsYJUHnePpEsAx0WgcwT-GonPY/s1600/IMG_1162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDAKTJJKLJ-TS3Vn1Gh7HVHGhyL-CHLgGNABEu5KPuYw1g2zcqoEF-NZy4egp0GwZWGAnZyog7ICZikXe5UbcGzc6PizxvjEGn_0PyECUhRiHDn3eAmLsYJUHnePpEsAx0WgcwT-GonPY/s320/IMG_1162.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">During the summer, we heard the high-pitched
calls of a family of buzzards nesting in the trees and watched them as they soared
effortlessly through the trees and over the plots.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLVCdwuQeoMqwD7tu2JUD99r0ntGMqEcsrXYbr61gzAuItFkACCiI3x2ifm6Q_S4K6O5x_rC7ezqPX-0iL7chew_dFa05cBIozg_8LZSR055noGC8M_vX3blKfimwiXPOtaqlG4cNrxwo/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLVCdwuQeoMqwD7tu2JUD99r0ntGMqEcsrXYbr61gzAuItFkACCiI3x2ifm6Q_S4K6O5x_rC7ezqPX-0iL7chew_dFa05cBIozg_8LZSR055noGC8M_vX3blKfimwiXPOtaqlG4cNrxwo/s320/IMG_0031.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The old trees are also home to a
bat colony and at dusk, the bats can be seen flying out from the trees and along
the corridor of the laneway. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklJfs9dteVoxqiQOGy7OokL4LKWNNagUEeSUu-9A6J7l7IHv4zYnvADjPCX66O9IFACZJvywYnlVEXnFImE1l_WqFpmVjGRgMgxDbthA6gPKcHQOUfm1vZiKb8ZnzcuvtaFygHAC4W0R3/s1600/IMG_1911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklJfs9dteVoxqiQOGy7OokL4LKWNNagUEeSUu-9A6J7l7IHv4zYnvADjPCX66O9IFACZJvywYnlVEXnFImE1l_WqFpmVjGRgMgxDbthA6gPKcHQOUfm1vZiKb8ZnzcuvtaFygHAC4W0R3/s320/IMG_1911.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">At the end of the allotment site
on the other side of the mature trees where the bats roost is a little park
also owned by the council. A short while ago the council leased the park for
use as a BMX track and the infuriating constant bang of bikes as they hit the ramp has
caused a noise nuisance similar to the sound of a Crow Scarer and is a
disturbance of the peace and tranquillity usually found at the allotments.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sadly, the tranquillity and harmony
with nature that has thrived for so many years at our allotment site is now under
even more threat as the Council announced their intention to overhaul the allotment site.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Existing plot holders have been
displaced and the plots and hedges at the entrance to the site have already
been flattened. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS5k-Z84IcAbCj90LYRf7IszG2nyUit0FmzOGogQ91yuhkd3BeYpFWoDz7MHkc1tP-_ojTFNGEG0b0atgghdRaZIwT-jeI9ulS8lx56GXAmbc1GbWfjg9-DcAdjVKcQVQeBTO0uCUlqoB/s1600/IMG_1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS5k-Z84IcAbCj90LYRf7IszG2nyUit0FmzOGogQ91yuhkd3BeYpFWoDz7MHkc1tP-_ojTFNGEG0b0atgghdRaZIwT-jeI9ulS8lx56GXAmbc1GbWfjg9-DcAdjVKcQVQeBTO0uCUlqoB/s320/IMG_1966.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The council is now preparing to
cut down the trees and hedges.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoME3kaXYlzdWl21sWYJ2ho97YP9IGvJFruJ_GBXpRcxHHc23QDwNiTGZByWPAIioXwRqK8xW4EywNFfNKFU0-LQHguHQI9p9yxL2AedQpGvbg8SLZrC7xp7Nokk27-AeY9wozzuUCW_bI/s1600/IMG_1805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoME3kaXYlzdWl21sWYJ2ho97YP9IGvJFruJ_GBXpRcxHHc23QDwNiTGZByWPAIioXwRqK8xW4EywNFfNKFU0-LQHguHQI9p9yxL2AedQpGvbg8SLZrC7xp7Nokk27-AeY9wozzuUCW_bI/s320/IMG_1805.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There are also ominous rumblings
that as well as replacing the plot boundary fences with standard green mesh,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPjvqvaFYMnchQFytDMKCR7NTVzSFCxGFSX5FQfTrD480HcMh4EKpTdVdC7Gk2Owx85vJFjlrR5lrdyAyYz2mdauBHsxxlU9a63T-HoJFCtYw3dNW27OFwfY4uvZuAwlWkCNWt2gfWlfk/s1600/IMG_1967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPjvqvaFYMnchQFytDMKCR7NTVzSFCxGFSX5FQfTrD480HcMh4EKpTdVdC7Gk2Owx85vJFjlrR5lrdyAyYz2mdauBHsxxlU9a63T-HoJFCtYw3dNW27OFwfY4uvZuAwlWkCNWt2gfWlfk/s320/IMG_1967.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and
the grass laneways with aggregate,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoxtebQ1JO99FIfMHHsMADEs81hS_G7HB2gRFqtYVWJXCvnstIHr5dNzV7LwRxMftR0FMpGgon_v_T8w8iBaFjme7PNUMKuVfFiYMqUJH8c1VQcwK3y35LjZiSdJAU_Yo0hjBs_SeZrtS/s1600/IMG_1921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1271" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoxtebQ1JO99FIfMHHsMADEs81hS_G7HB2gRFqtYVWJXCvnstIHr5dNzV7LwRxMftR0FMpGgon_v_T8w8iBaFjme7PNUMKuVfFiYMqUJH8c1VQcwK3y35LjZiSdJAU_Yo0hjBs_SeZrtS/s320/IMG_1921.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">the hawthorn hedge that runs along the railway
embankment at the bottom of my plot is going to “be addressed”. The response to
my query as to what this entailed was vague, so I am unclear as to what further
catastrophes await this wildlife friendly site.</span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdCLH6iQKkUQ_aFahkcu10OlC8xrmyrqbXN6kSEw4oMjE88_eyTbRsSLV5srEdHgzGMeYJ2w4NSXv2eGDEgj8FiZ5Hmyar3YmD7HKs4Zg77xJ319V2RGH3cgiHt9EnOEFIh7DIpToxSYJ/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdCLH6iQKkUQ_aFahkcu10OlC8xrmyrqbXN6kSEw4oMjE88_eyTbRsSLV5srEdHgzGMeYJ2w4NSXv2eGDEgj8FiZ5Hmyar3YmD7HKs4Zg77xJ319V2RGH3cgiHt9EnOEFIh7DIpToxSYJ/s320/IMG_1155.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">xxx</span></div>
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<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-33010350780987185982018-08-15T14:19:00.000-07:002018-08-15T14:24:09.338-07:00The Flowerer of Linen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5jOpevUn5XuVE7ZC91JMtAsx_peztQWuvwJZjUdX3_5pqU4Ok98G8ZiY7eEvJU-YPUk_YI3pRAXVd9WFfs6TpMGNmOYuj28WUbXwVxVhYF09XJXyg3KHl04cX3_HZ2zP4GR-y5APL-Wm/s1600/IMG_1739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5jOpevUn5XuVE7ZC91JMtAsx_peztQWuvwJZjUdX3_5pqU4Ok98G8ZiY7eEvJU-YPUk_YI3pRAXVd9WFfs6TpMGNmOYuj28WUbXwVxVhYF09XJXyg3KHl04cX3_HZ2zP4GR-y5APL-Wm/s320/IMG_1739.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
It was quite by accident that one sultry hazy afternoon, driving along a narrow road through green rounded drumlins, almost at the bottom of the Peninsular, near the 8-acre sandy beach of Knockinelder, that I stumbled upon an idyllic village,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0juBDMjdzx5f7BvU-V2IbdoN6CV7CE2stjiL3D5PUCK1lKzpb1H5iZ406VXjfah7zJO4bIzihEGnaNPN1upxjY9vFKNPGpKV_d390t8ml9XiyymOHlEnOO_RZdLO2tVuwTYohNeqUj7KX/s1600/IMG_1829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0juBDMjdzx5f7BvU-V2IbdoN6CV7CE2stjiL3D5PUCK1lKzpb1H5iZ406VXjfah7zJO4bIzihEGnaNPN1upxjY9vFKNPGpKV_d390t8ml9XiyymOHlEnOO_RZdLO2tVuwTYohNeqUj7KX/s320/IMG_1829.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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hidden in the middle of nowhere and seemingly frozen in time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxu60nRZJdCZhorQRPN98sIPYObM8DKRh2lH-s3yTH31E03ZWOubQHZkSKozzIDStY9dEY6rRhIKPKReIw69Rhe997zDGlhnlBLtyj6QF1Nypa2Mknr2Jk2i7wduo74PE1Df6tGDNXxGld/s1600/IMG_1826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxu60nRZJdCZhorQRPN98sIPYObM8DKRh2lH-s3yTH31E03ZWOubQHZkSKozzIDStY9dEY6rRhIKPKReIw69Rhe997zDGlhnlBLtyj6QF1Nypa2Mknr2Jk2i7wduo74PE1Df6tGDNXxGld/s320/IMG_1826.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Intrigued, wondering at first if I was trespassing, I ventured through a gateway, and came to a white-washed building where a discreet sign showed it to be a visitor's centre.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsM2kXBhqUo6q69QQxAmnkeNmIB9ZKJQfHi1JPoN-t3I4ntnmC-dZNt7tDbrOe-RUClFgQDyAY7vaxjM-i1-pYbZXtT95LwECpTQEFSkFImH2FDQAW7R3uPlnB6gKybi0-ce0wXRZugig/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsM2kXBhqUo6q69QQxAmnkeNmIB9ZKJQfHi1JPoN-t3I4ntnmC-dZNt7tDbrOe-RUClFgQDyAY7vaxjM-i1-pYbZXtT95LwECpTQEFSkFImH2FDQAW7R3uPlnB6gKybi0-ce0wXRZugig/s320/IMG_1828.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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A tiny square window was set deep into the thick wall, through which a dim light filtered through the pane of glass bespattered with salty spray blown by the wind from the nearby sea. As my eyes adjusted from the contrasting bright sunshine outside to the shadowy interior light, I could just make out boards mounted upon the old stone walls that shed enlightenment on the history of this hitherto unknown place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKh0qrGxw3dZnivszPvK8jak-dXHHxvtXipuIwxHjdaBOxI19pdnI_TtQfBjvVvTw0UzjjANSd0mtztNxI0TPZS6giJ_k4WWiFyHf2n6NM13Htg8kenCRXvf_nupEZbwCEBH1TpEj-cIK/s1600/IMG_1741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKh0qrGxw3dZnivszPvK8jak-dXHHxvtXipuIwxHjdaBOxI19pdnI_TtQfBjvVvTw0UzjjANSd0mtztNxI0TPZS6giJ_k4WWiFyHf2n6NM13Htg8kenCRXvf_nupEZbwCEBH1TpEj-cIK/s320/IMG_1741.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Once a former 19th Century traditional fishing village - this small settlement had fallen into a state of disrepair but has now been restored and preserved based on a plan as shown on the 1834 Ordnance Survey map.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIk8dO81H-QUyaRNLI29U_fXkXak5xKEbK8U7KyON9xLMxh4QeZkvgxOIAyqgdNDF8a89gNNWmaN5S7B0cegxE7SFils_yRuE2cXskaqFkgyyu70FptBVRaROQvJfS7u9pEuY-EFjNB0cz/s1600/IMG_1721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIk8dO81H-QUyaRNLI29U_fXkXak5xKEbK8U7KyON9xLMxh4QeZkvgxOIAyqgdNDF8a89gNNWmaN5S7B0cegxE7SFils_yRuE2cXskaqFkgyyu70FptBVRaROQvJfS7u9pEuY-EFjNB0cz/s320/IMG_1721.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Fishing was the main occupation of the men of the village, whilst the women carried out embroidery work. However one unusual fishing boat known as the "She-Cruiser", was crewed entirely by women of the village. A woman named Mary-Ann Doonan captained the vessel. Born in 1941, she lived until 99 years and served as the village mid-wife, layer out of corpses and <i>Flowerer of Linen</i>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A7x-uER2p47MDvwl5tCwQ2ZelnBl2cU-XgM9QLsKbdNCc4i3w0sD-hzU85arpGW_l49lIZXFVdvV1jzDaP7UR7jn4YvVfaexILfMhtUfxZprwAItPCQMZNs21f_7IYNiuAQRPhpVHAxc/s1600/IMG_1830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A7x-uER2p47MDvwl5tCwQ2ZelnBl2cU-XgM9QLsKbdNCc4i3w0sD-hzU85arpGW_l49lIZXFVdvV1jzDaP7UR7jn4YvVfaexILfMhtUfxZprwAItPCQMZNs21f_7IYNiuAQRPhpVHAxc/s320/IMG_1830.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Leaving the dark little room, and venturing outside into the warm air again, I followed the path down the gently sloping hill to where the sea lay directly ahead, with the beach to the left.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQ6iXt67pTjot93HPbekKgUefMcrJC92L48otGhqcM9z1xMt59JFAYQJh8RSzCb8tKM2omwLkYiTIhGuZVEDkmVXYo0WYTf9uG08d5zW647IU0AYmESmF2G9tAFsnEHwMf0R1EoOASkIF/s1600/IMG_1722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQ6iXt67pTjot93HPbekKgUefMcrJC92L48otGhqcM9z1xMt59JFAYQJh8RSzCb8tKM2omwLkYiTIhGuZVEDkmVXYo0WYTf9uG08d5zW647IU0AYmESmF2G9tAFsnEHwMf0R1EoOASkIF/s320/IMG_1722.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I turned instead to the right,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOz9DlfN2nWGinhxDxDQA0kQN6bxA8cjmXyKt4wM00GY1_YdW90JcrX4jC15CcQyA56j7Y90ffDQDQaivs93Aej-Ki38VgBkxXelhvDWQ0ddOOvcGbKINUafmh7AdLj1R5_KmS12nktgU/s1600/IMG_1823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOz9DlfN2nWGinhxDxDQA0kQN6bxA8cjmXyKt4wM00GY1_YdW90JcrX4jC15CcQyA56j7Y90ffDQDQaivs93Aej-Ki38VgBkxXelhvDWQ0ddOOvcGbKINUafmh7AdLj1R5_KmS12nktgU/s320/IMG_1823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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by the tiny cottage closest to the shore,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ec92-aGZxnvpMJ-9d-Bf6fSi-NEnLAiF_H_WHvNJyDnmYUNfpgO_g_1Y93dayZbQbq2oPuB9VHsYbVM8q2bgdZpBVIzEeS9rj4l5IwUlwqTtfCMPicZMrqTsngMkUJp86g0vf6k1-JjD/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ec92-aGZxnvpMJ-9d-Bf6fSi-NEnLAiF_H_WHvNJyDnmYUNfpgO_g_1Y93dayZbQbq2oPuB9VHsYbVM8q2bgdZpBVIzEeS9rj4l5IwUlwqTtfCMPicZMrqTsngMkUJp86g0vf6k1-JjD/s320/IMG_1731.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and past the stone wall of the garden</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubRV0gUIjvBU0tqzJwR-pAcJlLfXlCR2kop6WawDfWOzSVhUOWTIzR6eF9g1ja-PnFwFe7pU-dIQt2fBo4qYTc6Y-RxxkOLdtbw7A4nvZ-EjakmEINX5p6vSI5SFIAL_VF-xtNmO4uSGj/s1600/IMG_1727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubRV0gUIjvBU0tqzJwR-pAcJlLfXlCR2kop6WawDfWOzSVhUOWTIzR6eF9g1ja-PnFwFe7pU-dIQt2fBo4qYTc6Y-RxxkOLdtbw7A4nvZ-EjakmEINX5p6vSI5SFIAL_VF-xtNmO4uSGj/s320/IMG_1727.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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belonging to the little cottage,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvStS2nYVzDglZxpQwJ-MGm9GaYCZlGgvHbSqWNKiZJ_qebDBTak28xV387ho7B4dJpmhrnuWuhOhwDGmTBBPbtoBuZxnCnEOpil8Mb3xOW6s6dobHQTqOKK0D1RpGlKNI8XZT0C4YIFVZ/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvStS2nYVzDglZxpQwJ-MGm9GaYCZlGgvHbSqWNKiZJ_qebDBTak28xV387ho7B4dJpmhrnuWuhOhwDGmTBBPbtoBuZxnCnEOpil8Mb3xOW6s6dobHQTqOKK0D1RpGlKNI8XZT0C4YIFVZ/s320/IMG_1736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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where a path had been mowed</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDGknureQJ4FKSVlHO3Fm7ehtYNOKO-Eqji5oGraqfuqvdKuPKt-R5XW9v0vILlL4B0s4cMQKTpThOc8VNQLvbfBko_bAkLzgVZ26NgBL1sESXB00FzqfhoPqhygYGvIiU6_qRnEICUG5/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDGknureQJ4FKSVlHO3Fm7ehtYNOKO-Eqji5oGraqfuqvdKuPKt-R5XW9v0vILlL4B0s4cMQKTpThOc8VNQLvbfBko_bAkLzgVZ26NgBL1sESXB00FzqfhoPqhygYGvIiU6_qRnEICUG5/s320/IMG_1730.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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through flower strewn tall grass</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSOUFSQ5fL5lhQZwQSQnh9kJJ0f6MjrpXfeKzJtfWp1XvSbT9S6rcuV4fcNY40GFsVweYOzZZqb9scHRts6CeiBTIWHTYVFU6tkwjzFEbRD3fqd25P8B70hIEmu6Eu7N93XYKWiduEY3I/s1600/IMG_1733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSOUFSQ5fL5lhQZwQSQnh9kJJ0f6MjrpXfeKzJtfWp1XvSbT9S6rcuV4fcNY40GFsVweYOzZZqb9scHRts6CeiBTIWHTYVFU6tkwjzFEbRD3fqd25P8B70hIEmu6Eu7N93XYKWiduEY3I/s320/IMG_1733.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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and over a slight hill.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKwTgyX0NiUpClP5H7KHv0GhuvUnWhrq18pItiYWTuYYcHBVSvF1AzxLkCwQKXDK6t4mo7LVcysqoWShl5HFva25fW6E_IG3vaAUlXOyaGtL7npHoRShJsFiqRUJD544wCjOOCxnId1TU/s1600/IMG_1745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKwTgyX0NiUpClP5H7KHv0GhuvUnWhrq18pItiYWTuYYcHBVSvF1AzxLkCwQKXDK6t4mo7LVcysqoWShl5HFva25fW6E_IG3vaAUlXOyaGtL7npHoRShJsFiqRUJD544wCjOOCxnId1TU/s320/IMG_1745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The path led me alongside the shore,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiWUadk52HUGxp57MWzBpMQDll1nfwB_lirk8NQgiJNt92gsre4ff-h1VocsV0t0GtNeQ6mqKIfF5nZ6KjtSpIPu4ni7YTGwcwofiRk82OGipG_J0g_4Ig8Jur699uqDK53Dg4Ef4nwd4/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiWUadk52HUGxp57MWzBpMQDll1nfwB_lirk8NQgiJNt92gsre4ff-h1VocsV0t0GtNeQ6mqKIfF5nZ6KjtSpIPu4ni7YTGwcwofiRk82OGipG_J0g_4Ig8Jur699uqDK53Dg4Ef4nwd4/s320/IMG_1827.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(the mountains just visible in the distance)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-33vQ8ONOKAfq8csCedm2y-NzX8KzJloczTfWExZvUlvfg4e2yIq0NsPB2G0Su0jn1gWc-CQu2bOj1pVJwkxxFXP67wHNp_ZlksnW0QzgKubjhDpcwRFy4bkPE4Ow09e18Vwtwg0v7HBW/s1600/IMG_1743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-33vQ8ONOKAfq8csCedm2y-NzX8KzJloczTfWExZvUlvfg4e2yIq0NsPB2G0Su0jn1gWc-CQu2bOj1pVJwkxxFXP67wHNp_ZlksnW0QzgKubjhDpcwRFy4bkPE4Ow09e18Vwtwg0v7HBW/s320/IMG_1743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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through the wild beauty of lichen covered rocks</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFX_7rqm-N_SZUoavMOYXvXdPHEqqHvPoWQxfXIaibb_oBopwVd1qCOCdGl4RPtXJdU4ufjV2Ah_oCI44qhtkXXhXdUXxvWW91_9kNePnlRHEWsNq_cCfJNOS0KzpcnVjlE68VRHMs4jQt/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFX_7rqm-N_SZUoavMOYXvXdPHEqqHvPoWQxfXIaibb_oBopwVd1qCOCdGl4RPtXJdU4ufjV2Ah_oCI44qhtkXXhXdUXxvWW91_9kNePnlRHEWsNq_cCfJNOS0KzpcnVjlE68VRHMs4jQt/s320/IMG_1717.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and coastal grassland studded with wildflowers</div>
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and valerian.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kklxDe5R3dnkdIVgXiYYOAnmGbd98N5KMCLf2Jr6oTxP-HYEYHrWjANL8Z1wXLTPAt1mOjxaptU_oyIHlI_cT3qKnIoc1J8W1M7idibMwLFMPsc60tDX6QoGhUmzZ_-57AHcgF1LCxfx/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kklxDe5R3dnkdIVgXiYYOAnmGbd98N5KMCLf2Jr6oTxP-HYEYHrWjANL8Z1wXLTPAt1mOjxaptU_oyIHlI_cT3qKnIoc1J8W1M7idibMwLFMPsc60tDX6QoGhUmzZ_-57AHcgF1LCxfx/s320/IMG_1740.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The sky was hazy in the intense heat and there was silence apart from the scream of sea-birds soaring high in the air;</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7XNAm1Rui3yy9vpLPEB8C8WisGgFq00TtuQQZt7fhQu8ClwDieNsbrVshJLbZsxuv8fFiDXY_Q8BAYaMtXc4ba4r8rgDJI3L5PebP_w47LpybKta-xFAGnFLsdcpQxqSkMhHt6ZV6nKK/s1600/IMG_1744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7XNAm1Rui3yy9vpLPEB8C8WisGgFq00TtuQQZt7fhQu8ClwDieNsbrVshJLbZsxuv8fFiDXY_Q8BAYaMtXc4ba4r8rgDJI3L5PebP_w47LpybKta-xFAGnFLsdcpQxqSkMhHt6ZV6nKK/s320/IMG_1744.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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the white yacht sailing along the coast-line was the only other sign of human habitation.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwXMAEyYX7dWU_QghSEc9oTklCwVxHdDcxzFUXC8GxGOvHP2sKj-TXKEepGmIXuTWnYUpG5xKZuL09b3fjx7RhvwLhCfHI5H5Vh4ePhABKgU79JzHa-omjKzFk6wGacYF-pV-M1dMNEJT/s1600/IMG_1748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwXMAEyYX7dWU_QghSEc9oTklCwVxHdDcxzFUXC8GxGOvHP2sKj-TXKEepGmIXuTWnYUpG5xKZuL09b3fjx7RhvwLhCfHI5H5Vh4ePhABKgU79JzHa-omjKzFk6wGacYF-pV-M1dMNEJT/s320/IMG_1748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I watched the yacht slip smoothly past and tried to visualise "The She-Cruiser" returning to the shore with a catch of fish,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutTysHAfrzff40oYCtOMoNG1iH8N3P3N_FG4hztFUy_6eL1MzBol5CF-XnqwLEMvpFiOKnTNRjyWGQ7YAd7fy23oZcPW2TaJh9UcjtDgJfg8BHowHr9h2OoEaIrW1X9r12RHLqUabHTJg/s1600/IMG_1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutTysHAfrzff40oYCtOMoNG1iH8N3P3N_FG4hztFUy_6eL1MzBol5CF-XnqwLEMvpFiOKnTNRjyWGQ7YAd7fy23oZcPW2TaJh9UcjtDgJfg8BHowHr9h2OoEaIrW1X9r12RHLqUabHTJg/s320/IMG_1752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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before her Captain and crew returned to their cottages and embroidery work.</div>
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As the sky grew hazier and a sea mist rolled in, I turned back towards home, and just as the crew of The Sea-Cruiser may have done, I would resume my latest stitching creation, stitched onto a piece of vintage linen, inspired by my visit last month to the <a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.com/2018/07/heatwave-part-2-wildflower-meadows-by.html">Wildflower Meadows by the Sea</a>, where red Valerian framed the view of</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmpkU3f887qy-p4iQqr218ZvQPpExH1TDNZ8vE32mZ9k5TNzqWWpPfV8TTBFA-i91hROWYpq-T5_nxHVgorVAEWNaYIB4vmqFnjcs3Fa1rZgZln3TgQCvzzwZkqAkp2epZZiADFwEweVY/s1600/IMG_1886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmpkU3f887qy-p4iQqr218ZvQPpExH1TDNZ8vE32mZ9k5TNzqWWpPfV8TTBFA-i91hROWYpq-T5_nxHVgorVAEWNaYIB4vmqFnjcs3Fa1rZgZln3TgQCvzzwZkqAkp2epZZiADFwEweVY/s320/IMG_1886.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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"The Tower and Beacon at Angus Rocks".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JlLvKpJUZjyMQ9O8u81UKp1SE1-TCLQGLP3MgJTCp9RyIhWEqus7XAnWy5EOwtdxW5c8Esm4jnOiZCWvVWY8bFoQgPlE15VYcpe-JG83YlyaanXlcJAIamaZ5V0B74ZRgRH58L4DEKTL/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JlLvKpJUZjyMQ9O8u81UKp1SE1-TCLQGLP3MgJTCp9RyIhWEqus7XAnWy5EOwtdxW5c8Esm4jnOiZCWvVWY8bFoQgPlE15VYcpe-JG83YlyaanXlcJAIamaZ5V0B74ZRgRH58L4DEKTL/s320/IMG_1888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Maybe it is audacious to apply the quaint description of "Flowerer of Linen" to myself - as this title would be more deserving for Caroline Zoob or Nicki Franklin, but I rather like this term to describe my stitching.</div>
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I am intending upon doing an event later this year with my "Sewing and Soaping", but in the meantime I am still taking a limited number of commissions, so please feel free to contact me through the blog if you would like more details.</div>
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xxx</div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-64352089714942731752018-07-20T13:31:00.000-07:002018-07-20T13:45:06.054-07:00Heatwave Part 2 - Wildflower Meadows by the Sea<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">It was over a year since I had been to the Wildflower Meadows. <a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-winter-walk.html">My last visit was on New Year’s Day 2016, </a>when the sea wind caused my eyes to
water and the flowers were waiting for the warmer weather before they put in an
appearance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As the temperature soared, I drove along the narrow winding country
lanes and turned right at the staggered crossroad heading towards the sea. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-RmWFXk8bPk8aoaYtNO_QoeDP26Mcxh-h5jrMHh6x_aozfTJjO7ClrXvJFsuKxmNkrG34E7bsjkeexBbreUGb98SDLWEIdJShiiw9OXw0vZ4bEpF08ekA2s6CXXbxcpycz35jF8YxYCb/s1600/IMG_3006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1103" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-RmWFXk8bPk8aoaYtNO_QoeDP26Mcxh-h5jrMHh6x_aozfTJjO7ClrXvJFsuKxmNkrG34E7bsjkeexBbreUGb98SDLWEIdJShiiw9OXw0vZ4bEpF08ekA2s6CXXbxcpycz35jF8YxYCb/s400/IMG_3006.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I was
disappointed to see <a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-walk-on-wild-side.html">the lovely old rose that a few years ago</a> had clambered
through the hedgerow marking this turning had gone. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
</span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">Happily on my last visit,
even though it was the depths of winter, I had taken a cutting of this rose,
which amazingly rooted successfully, and now this summer is producing the same
beautiful double pink blooms outside my side door at home.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqE7fS5XpOQABCyz1Gq29ZKxQm6YRXt7tZR-VC2NcAggUSl90rWqlRkq6ePwhVieYboqL53239eqSXKeiNoicvL-SwLMYKxYKswGHdyrllz3bhprMO0zFxIo6lHxL2rmHPZAAG-21E6qBa/s1600/IMG_1556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1323" data-original-width="1600" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqE7fS5XpOQABCyz1Gq29ZKxQm6YRXt7tZR-VC2NcAggUSl90rWqlRkq6ePwhVieYboqL53239eqSXKeiNoicvL-SwLMYKxYKswGHdyrllz3bhprMO0zFxIo6lHxL2rmHPZAAG-21E6qBa/s320/IMG_1556.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In spite of the heat, and the fact that this area is close to
where the drama Game of Thrones is set, visitors were scarce. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Savouring the feel of the hot sun on my skin, I
walked alone amongst the wildflowers in the lush meadows </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QpH7cWnCiSEg6T7ZQeAcLg8QwwhFYU0CTh0SUeh1L0-tOrg0j4h7So7aLU_qXXuavpTJEzi1r1JJeqar7hMjrM9Ny-QMXw6Tmpfq9aZc6MBDCN5GsN0Q-tXV9D2RNmwaT_DVWb_rM0aI/s1600/IMG_1553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QpH7cWnCiSEg6T7ZQeAcLg8QwwhFYU0CTh0SUeh1L0-tOrg0j4h7So7aLU_qXXuavpTJEzi1r1JJeqar7hMjrM9Ny-QMXw6Tmpfq9aZc6MBDCN5GsN0Q-tXV9D2RNmwaT_DVWb_rM0aI/s320/IMG_1553.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">with rocky foreshores, </span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfQEGwS0ZzKgG4cqGCVjE-VsNXgPRN-Pgz0v7eSY2CcGH8GV15I3ZvoGAHU7MKQaN9wHemytO-cbBAEWsxGP_CGTGLmkjHCd7Gsy4SypwaGaOWVmE0sJF5Ed9jHxciOasgvUg4GSEJGqm/s1600/IMG_0548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfQEGwS0ZzKgG4cqGCVjE-VsNXgPRN-Pgz0v7eSY2CcGH8GV15I3ZvoGAHU7MKQaN9wHemytO-cbBAEWsxGP_CGTGLmkjHCd7Gsy4SypwaGaOWVmE0sJF5Ed9jHxciOasgvUg4GSEJGqm/s320/IMG_0548.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">towards the sandy bays, hidden below crumbling sandstone cliffs - home to
hordes of sand-martins that flit ceaselessly in and out of the little holes on
the sandy cliff face.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">
</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_Zg_o-brp5_ecP7KTzF7AVj-arI5MuSg311UW9QpI6a6FLc7xVIdV2ruPlX0_JHjG0TvnVcxVL6wtZ3jHNLy7_m3QcZ7N9TtfkxG9RC1W5v_j_WcNNaK1qnNhp8bzTtbSpRUfdVUiyan/s1600/IMG_0522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_Zg_o-brp5_ecP7KTzF7AVj-arI5MuSg311UW9QpI6a6FLc7xVIdV2ruPlX0_JHjG0TvnVcxVL6wtZ3jHNLy7_m3QcZ7N9TtfkxG9RC1W5v_j_WcNNaK1qnNhp8bzTtbSpRUfdVUiyan/s320/IMG_0522.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">watched the sand-martins swoop and circle close to the cliffs,
while high up overhead the gulls soared effortlessly on the air currents above
the coastline.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1Vp7pQUwI_1d56QhFaVTVbk5ofBkJ0i8EO9jYPX2VnKIjexqU6AwZ18D4jhhoacza97UVCrjHXzfGoycJ5QxPX09RW07p7HnS0ludFK6CMEVUt6zsMq1uZ0SV8m5rm5JySr179M-05bf/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1Vp7pQUwI_1d56QhFaVTVbk5ofBkJ0i8EO9jYPX2VnKIjexqU6AwZ18D4jhhoacza97UVCrjHXzfGoycJ5QxPX09RW07p7HnS0ludFK6CMEVUt6zsMq1uZ0SV8m5rm5JySr179M-05bf/s320/IMG_0514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri light\22 " , sans-serif;">Coastal daisies grew in clumps</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri light\22 " , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdPKCw9LAIZLd641gaXJWQTOfsitpbmMyeGBNNTLwM-Idql6W-ijSHc3DqVi8erRFfGwfpJc3Aq8ZyhyEqj2YbYBAEdvx9QXIvzCIk8_1y2BTm1UdxQvVlTKfvpAwd7Of88-g9sY7nXwJ/s1600/IMG_0534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdPKCw9LAIZLd641gaXJWQTOfsitpbmMyeGBNNTLwM-Idql6W-ijSHc3DqVi8erRFfGwfpJc3Aq8ZyhyEqj2YbYBAEdvx9QXIvzCIk8_1y2BTm1UdxQvVlTKfvpAwd7Of88-g9sY7nXwJ/s320/IMG_0534.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> amongst the rocks and tall sea
grasses at the edge of the powdery sand.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCt6tnJlE_zD1xvDOl91J5eE-jyzFzEsXwsZuwv3Q5rIkRX-zDPnVFh7rWveABJcc1VpZxmr33HtP84Jm38FRl53o2vNXad2-YTTjdeNZDY01FEiWo-76GnxyoMwj36ShB_vvBYRXB18T0/s1600/IMG_1562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCt6tnJlE_zD1xvDOl91J5eE-jyzFzEsXwsZuwv3Q5rIkRX-zDPnVFh7rWveABJcc1VpZxmr33HtP84Jm38FRl53o2vNXad2-YTTjdeNZDY01FEiWo-76GnxyoMwj36ShB_vvBYRXB18T0/s320/IMG_1562.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Red and white Valerian grew wild at the top of an old stone
wall above the little beach, </span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEHxjwJN9K4eqOyHK-9x4D-qOQWy3uj7IRNnYt2RAEZVm00V_lyoP0flvRVvSn1st0mkFpy9KTRX68yqTNLNDbFIa1mCVHN-Rb_SBnJlb9_YKfA0yBBPI9apEnDYO32WvWkcI0BxMw6XD/s1600/IMG_1561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEHxjwJN9K4eqOyHK-9x4D-qOQWy3uj7IRNnYt2RAEZVm00V_lyoP0flvRVvSn1st0mkFpy9KTRX68yqTNLNDbFIa1mCVHN-Rb_SBnJlb9_YKfA0yBBPI9apEnDYO32WvWkcI0BxMw6XD/s320/IMG_1561.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">framing the sea and sky beautifully. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1IZ0QB-5hc_RsCvOHXPNUqBD8HvEnjlPr8fIExyQ3C1Db6R68Mx9twrNt3pzyCPDyTDxECE0Kvb2akuODKNQLhjfhINTmdIH1wYppDjydUNaAsQQKc5R_DdkLXVCCxi4AOuB7B6O7Pbo/s1600/IMG_1558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1IZ0QB-5hc_RsCvOHXPNUqBD8HvEnjlPr8fIExyQ3C1Db6R68Mx9twrNt3pzyCPDyTDxECE0Kvb2akuODKNQLhjfhINTmdIH1wYppDjydUNaAsQQKc5R_DdkLXVCCxi4AOuB7B6O7Pbo/s320/IMG_1558.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Before returning home, I drove a short way further around the coast,
past a little beach at the side of the road, </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Xl01uXZwlEAor7bGi6MNrcTHZOqGfBxEj_sR7xRjbgaz1DZJ926_lCnHi8YgXheH9EVhvv7vvL15E7v_nNghE4SWKpRH2QHeHU2ZGwx0M8R_6Bwh7aBkz2YfulpNp0DrnFEdNOuRF5s_/s1600/IMG_0560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Xl01uXZwlEAor7bGi6MNrcTHZOqGfBxEj_sR7xRjbgaz1DZJ926_lCnHi8YgXheH9EVhvv7vvL15E7v_nNghE4SWKpRH2QHeHU2ZGwx0M8R_6Bwh7aBkz2YfulpNp0DrnFEdNOuRF5s_/s320/IMG_0560.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">to where another small bay
provides feeding grounds in the sandy mud flats to seabirds</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8JHjkQH00MuWoDDHVL9cFzRNuz7fBMqbb3VCXrZ7CxxKsfE2hlW1pu32vj3aGU6bcp827I7_SJFeFqFjUYqZKpeVYkyzHAyRSqiTRCUEM3-5PXwMNmuGqRxpCoZjDDQ70g1SSWKx1HPh/s1600/IMG_1567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8JHjkQH00MuWoDDHVL9cFzRNuz7fBMqbb3VCXrZ7CxxKsfE2hlW1pu32vj3aGU6bcp827I7_SJFeFqFjUYqZKpeVYkyzHAyRSqiTRCUEM3-5PXwMNmuGqRxpCoZjDDQ70g1SSWKx1HPh/s320/IMG_1567.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri light\22 " , sans-serif;">such as Curlews, Sandpipers and Gulls, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri light\22 " , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6DKBCpruepBYuLNqZlUOUWGfNM8iZahEKaPe3b77OGhxLKOdHgqhNSgkz7-8qDSi4MvmqAGRnpiDQIVdCtDu49AQhmS8CMDisZ5aVehfz-Q3cXB2n4gVVJnc5RO4xrr-K0oEecbOwXiD/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6DKBCpruepBYuLNqZlUOUWGfNM8iZahEKaPe3b77OGhxLKOdHgqhNSgkz7-8qDSi4MvmqAGRnpiDQIVdCtDu49AQhmS8CMDisZ5aVehfz-Q3cXB2n4gVVJnc5RO4xrr-K0oEecbOwXiD/s320/IMG_1566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">and during the winter is a resting point for the Brent
Geese.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tPtwerWL7rIoRefc0ZPbkF3K8hktiscyVMoeBt0NH5F_pflfa5NDtbsLMtzFQbYG1LP8kJp5Z3h8Yg4NvCapPCZWxPTjHgMK5kUzX1Sd8hwzegfzBxYdy5sXPwGuTN027UcKnajggY4m/s1600/IMG_0564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tPtwerWL7rIoRefc0ZPbkF3K8hktiscyVMoeBt0NH5F_pflfa5NDtbsLMtzFQbYG1LP8kJp5Z3h8Yg4NvCapPCZWxPTjHgMK5kUzX1Sd8hwzegfzBxYdy5sXPwGuTN027UcKnajggY4m/s320/IMG_0564.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">
</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As the afternoon drew to a close, I reluctantly left the coast,
mindful of the hosepipe ban and the lengthy watering regime awaiting me in the
garden and allotment, where the poor plants wilted and turned brown in the
scorched dry earth. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The sea air and Co Down countryside had inspired me though </span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9S1WEGzpUSpgMwNVDYEqAi3ofzJRjAJ2cPrfFlr1-DQVf_k4yI26BKkLy6snTKm3374kCRZeffV1zJTyOTQxsOqixBKZgNa0iurNpfui2ztG6yqvWDRRKelggipFLnySHK454dLuWimXP/s1600/IMG_0989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9S1WEGzpUSpgMwNVDYEqAi3ofzJRjAJ2cPrfFlr1-DQVf_k4yI26BKkLy6snTKm3374kCRZeffV1zJTyOTQxsOqixBKZgNa0iurNpfui2ztG6yqvWDRRKelggipFLnySHK454dLuWimXP/s320/IMG_0989.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">and I was
brimming with ideas for another coastal themed embroidery. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(I will keep you
posted…)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">xxx</span></span></span></span></div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-57153508895465331322018-07-12T04:24:00.002-07:002018-07-20T13:43:52.930-07:00Heatwave - Sand in My Shoes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"May you always have a Shell in your Pocket and Sand in your Shoes"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgsxvgJ0T-ODRdR2-Y5hKwyL3zkT9Dwjyk8ApuKUEsjW249gVWk_ITZjotlHjWTRCWvRzsBOEih6pzrglo4R6jbjq0Y0vrT1qIWHUgeLOzrshswJos925IUzoLbiNFKjfjZSUvpRaDwaD/s1600/IMG_1560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgsxvgJ0T-ODRdR2-Y5hKwyL3zkT9Dwjyk8ApuKUEsjW249gVWk_ITZjotlHjWTRCWvRzsBOEih6pzrglo4R6jbjq0Y0vrT1qIWHUgeLOzrshswJos925IUzoLbiNFKjfjZSUvpRaDwaD/s400/IMG_1560.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Following that destructive storm
Hector, summer finally arrived – with an intensity we had not experienced for
nearly a quarter of a century. The earth cracked and baked in the long hot days and whilst the forecast did not predict rain for weeks, a hosepipe ban was introduced.
Keeping the garden and allotment watered was a time consuming process with only
watering cans permitted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As the temperature soared and city
pavements sizzled in the scorching sun, turning my back upon the agonies of rush
hour traffic, I succumbed to the allure of coastal breezes and found myself driving
southwards</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xOgux2nDb1nJY3wqPdYWAtTmJH5DQkIEXwaMuTtLk0EpfgtSxNRYEG8e90rw-qLrGVXYkcTHFmUGiuEBsJX1uAV4IW6cEfKWFnZKqPxKj3o_TLXNwuiOZpRh70EVM5B3dr3VCAKqHkXX/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xOgux2nDb1nJY3wqPdYWAtTmJH5DQkIEXwaMuTtLk0EpfgtSxNRYEG8e90rw-qLrGVXYkcTHFmUGiuEBsJX1uAV4IW6cEfKWFnZKqPxKj3o_TLXNwuiOZpRh70EVM5B3dr3VCAKqHkXX/s320/IMG_1510.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">towards the Bay where in the distance Mountains sweep down to the
sea and ancient dunes lead down to a wide sandy beach.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6e1uN-L66ZyH4-Nc_ETncZFgUrf7WjcgAo2IuPhGxlAwVeZnAdQQrSv8Ga8YwJMG6bv6bdTYQEjlygidpIO9aZoohTqfIuk41WkSXo9zFowkdElVcJd-9GOqU8z__CrEF5_wIJDsP8kC/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6e1uN-L66ZyH4-Nc_ETncZFgUrf7WjcgAo2IuPhGxlAwVeZnAdQQrSv8Ga8YwJMG6bv6bdTYQEjlygidpIO9aZoohTqfIuk41WkSXo9zFowkdElVcJd-9GOqU8z__CrEF5_wIJDsP8kC/s320/IMG_1533.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The sun beat down but with the
roof of the car open, I felt cooled by the wind that ruffled my hair- now lightened
naturally by the sun, (the sun-bleached look that years ago Laura and I would
have tried to achieve through squeezing Lemon Juice on to our hair). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It was a while
since I had driven this route and as I drove through the familiar scenery of the
gentle rolling County Down countryside, the fields and hedges were vibrant
against the bright blue of the sky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Mount Panther appeared on the
right – the decaying old mansion still standing after all these years amongst
the tall trees on top of the hill. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LcL_BUK7aJc8Rhh8rMPtHEngwguMCYjVIenoXpsNFoqe1eaZ-tlNHg5oz3jtl2e60YFHjI3pjQ4hIYxUBVTqJRLNvyhAx3E0KhOxy_OtF059h3UQqcqpxH6Cwyc8iG_3IvwG44y6OGar/s1600/IMG_1500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LcL_BUK7aJc8Rhh8rMPtHEngwguMCYjVIenoXpsNFoqe1eaZ-tlNHg5oz3jtl2e60YFHjI3pjQ4hIYxUBVTqJRLNvyhAx3E0KhOxy_OtF059h3UQqcqpxH6Cwyc8iG_3IvwG44y6OGar/s320/IMG_1500.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">At the crest of a hill, the road dropped
away </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaObUnpGeyCx9qYxGkRPIzgyYj_0iux_EC9IYThf9C-yXAWj0IsCQsDXsgdFh8R9r2NLdxmcfF06O3m5v2xN48IM0PUVaLq3WXwi4GRX1EDMgZAgVj8F7nVKoBYIks1jBCpl6H8nW3EWWB/s1600/IMG_1499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaObUnpGeyCx9qYxGkRPIzgyYj_0iux_EC9IYThf9C-yXAWj0IsCQsDXsgdFh8R9r2NLdxmcfF06O3m5v2xN48IM0PUVaLq3WXwi4GRX1EDMgZAgVj8F7nVKoBYIks1jBCpl6H8nW3EWWB/s320/IMG_1499.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and I caught sight of Dundrum Bay below on the left.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtijWjI3NwLKBaI9qR4T4Sc4E13Ypc8BafRK3ptBJmGRXK9XFiTClA0yPczWdewhyphenhyphenn27vjsOOfV3znUJoEDepPl0HXIWr8qZNjExm9lqXTMAGdHl8EzirE9oAobfyJFkOph_ZW58pJ7YRD/s1600/IMG_1552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtijWjI3NwLKBaI9qR4T4Sc4E13Ypc8BafRK3ptBJmGRXK9XFiTClA0yPczWdewhyphenhyphenn27vjsOOfV3znUJoEDepPl0HXIWr8qZNjExm9lqXTMAGdHl8EzirE9oAobfyJFkOph_ZW58pJ7YRD/s320/IMG_1552.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">Leaving the car, </span><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">(my white plimsolls already dusty with the fine sand)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRvK7DlLzXAIUHp_Ea48B3sU3i_rXqrBSj_zuF-Y6Kk5-m31kqiOPq6VqLSFe_cY5Zp-swHays4Q3updhziD5bZFgEygJU5n1Zju9rJugSe2OhjwCW374KcEpf9AQuuJYeBhI4ezlIhyN/s1600/IMG_1508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1215" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRvK7DlLzXAIUHp_Ea48B3sU3i_rXqrBSj_zuF-Y6Kk5-m31kqiOPq6VqLSFe_cY5Zp-swHays4Q3updhziD5bZFgEygJU5n1Zju9rJugSe2OhjwCW374KcEpf9AQuuJYeBhI4ezlIhyN/s320/IMG_1508.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> I set off on the
boardwalk that led through the heath, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVImASHG9UrAcpdXPpv-rZQBSo2xcU1j0dpnJmCXAWcsmtOteRt6dyIfqRoFyqOeXO1gpj1M9mjYTduhD9Hskkw0jRCp-HRaIDFgbEijdBLE9u3g0l0ad3yAjfebBwAfcMBzVsXNhJQ6R/s1600/IMG_1506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVImASHG9UrAcpdXPpv-rZQBSo2xcU1j0dpnJmCXAWcsmtOteRt6dyIfqRoFyqOeXO1gpj1M9mjYTduhD9Hskkw0jRCp-HRaIDFgbEijdBLE9u3g0l0ad3yAjfebBwAfcMBzVsXNhJQ6R/s320/IMG_1506.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">wandering carefree through the sand dunes
towards the beach. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeNAKglI6iwZPLg9fiqoLcYgA-60eEJz8nydtyVV3qUct71dceCl_vnS39PSBADR3B0wxt27CrSo79bLduxBfCTr2zX-5Fr_DlegfpxrN3euitihz3G5E4t1arxzEdwh7WkRR_U8j2ON2/s1600/IMG_1507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeNAKglI6iwZPLg9fiqoLcYgA-60eEJz8nydtyVV3qUct71dceCl_vnS39PSBADR3B0wxt27CrSo79bLduxBfCTr2zX-5Fr_DlegfpxrN3euitihz3G5E4t1arxzEdwh7WkRR_U8j2ON2/s320/IMG_1507.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In front of me, on the horizon, the mountains were bathed in
sunlight. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I heard the chirp of grasshoppers and felt the warm, barely there
breeze whisper against my skin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbyLxxUn1PQCnFmBD8Y06uC0yqn4MqAcH22aC7pL4lC9GvbSGVS9aEJ2FPDji1BQJ3WSu77x7w3M4WZ0uS4F_vQ5sFVCjRD1meyaEeAv7acdYun_MXGFxey2Eeop7rl96HxJ5yTix4vva/s1600/IMG_1509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbyLxxUn1PQCnFmBD8Y06uC0yqn4MqAcH22aC7pL4lC9GvbSGVS9aEJ2FPDji1BQJ3WSu77x7w3M4WZ0uS4F_vQ5sFVCjRD1meyaEeAv7acdYun_MXGFxey2Eeop7rl96HxJ5yTix4vva/s320/IMG_1509.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The path wound through the dunes; gorse, heather, wildflowers </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMwUxg5W1xDEYyazfDidMDwxh1DbrlaB_fY0lIoshCBz5AHUd3hqwnIzl2x4yCnM29apgNAJoT2ObzaxLwZAaO8sFZDmbWykIRDXNY2yXkOhMG9KlXbUiJJnFvtW5MLExWPrDNYHCt4Zw/s1600/IMG_1505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMwUxg5W1xDEYyazfDidMDwxh1DbrlaB_fY0lIoshCBz5AHUd3hqwnIzl2x4yCnM29apgNAJoT2ObzaxLwZAaO8sFZDmbWykIRDXNY2yXkOhMG9KlXbUiJJnFvtW5MLExWPrDNYHCt4Zw/s320/IMG_1505.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and twisted windblown trees either side. Butterflies fluttered
through the air, while larks soared overhead.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTExdQ2_4DMjbzCjEQ00l3C4_t3GblKReMbQ3I8AxAjlZuCDFWQ6JIWypYGk-qVzUmBntqjUvx2QzmmIOTQtB9NghiNsln8StSL78ZiLP03zYpeI_S3Adyze1J8fnyIB4Ks-r9ijqmZMjc/s1600/IMG_1503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTExdQ2_4DMjbzCjEQ00l3C4_t3GblKReMbQ3I8AxAjlZuCDFWQ6JIWypYGk-qVzUmBntqjUvx2QzmmIOTQtB9NghiNsln8StSL78ZiLP03zYpeI_S3Adyze1J8fnyIB4Ks-r9ijqmZMjc/s320/IMG_1503.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Leaving the path, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpZguZr8NfaMGhajXT7stdmBQTnglNlVzx2QA4nJLjr3vR62gKzAJgBYWuoj8XsXBkoRcCyP3lOZG6uBXXrUeTZD_Tfj79tmVJFsibv7X1vmNzqLk5Zv-JA1BANQbX89CP4opW3bk7KYe/s1600/IMG_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpZguZr8NfaMGhajXT7stdmBQTnglNlVzx2QA4nJLjr3vR62gKzAJgBYWuoj8XsXBkoRcCyP3lOZG6uBXXrUeTZD_Tfj79tmVJFsibv7X1vmNzqLk5Zv-JA1BANQbX89CP4opW3bk7KYe/s320/IMG_1513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">I climbed up high into the dune.</span><span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvykVe93kui1ri_0VfIAHHuRyiktximD1oM2sLDQz6MSviHPzHsgOAZBX8Bh34zMhMU5h71YgW7LZq3dQWtU8DhpigSrrSpM4O1LspLy5NxWmn7QMI3Ibos9v6SeaDGWqFLeoRSPnPFvqC/s1600/IMG_1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvykVe93kui1ri_0VfIAHHuRyiktximD1oM2sLDQz6MSviHPzHsgOAZBX8Bh34zMhMU5h71YgW7LZq3dQWtU8DhpigSrrSpM4O1LspLy5NxWmn7QMI3Ibos9v6SeaDGWqFLeoRSPnPFvqC/s320/IMG_1516.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">Reaching the top,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1z80Npo6oxl2ZquOLDOd7h8U53JzDKhhkRp_yyfjA73JtWSt4sAXf_vQA3KLAGnLxuEQGueGe_KbvkxiIR-rJQPP6IqdQxMvQPFV8LB_oY9E_ZUvLqLDpnMuqYRYBN4sUnnyga_gn3OH/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1z80Npo6oxl2ZquOLDOd7h8U53JzDKhhkRp_yyfjA73JtWSt4sAXf_vQA3KLAGnLxuEQGueGe_KbvkxiIR-rJQPP6IqdQxMvQPFV8LB_oY9E_ZUvLqLDpnMuqYRYBN4sUnnyga_gn3OH/s320/IMG_1519.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">the tide was in</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlIUKA-820S_693m6ZKT8MVAj-EFfeApc8jL3RF8EU39_trRWSuSbpgDUyAzJzHiqNplKrPmAyqdjGFTa6PbrGhgNkk2Nadl-tQQhF1EhVjKOh6_D7u0ePffR3rTSGUDQ-56JFIUwPVYV/s1600/IMG_1526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlIUKA-820S_693m6ZKT8MVAj-EFfeApc8jL3RF8EU39_trRWSuSbpgDUyAzJzHiqNplKrPmAyqdjGFTa6PbrGhgNkk2Nadl-tQQhF1EhVjKOh6_D7u0ePffR3rTSGUDQ-56JFIUwPVYV/s320/IMG_1526.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> and I saw the sea shimmering below
me. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyh3XhEwRQ2Ix70fBZ4GkoSv3o0AJaZMkNuiF5ZobZVw5Mqyed5qN-r6cIdyF-9_NPL-KtVjVrF_ocj4GaIyg5UnNLEkfkVtbriVjKPOmK-g0m85VDlJ_PuUHey3nFCgygsn_Ir3DbF5i4/s1600/IMG_1514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyh3XhEwRQ2Ix70fBZ4GkoSv3o0AJaZMkNuiF5ZobZVw5Mqyed5qN-r6cIdyF-9_NPL-KtVjVrF_ocj4GaIyg5UnNLEkfkVtbriVjKPOmK-g0m85VDlJ_PuUHey3nFCgygsn_Ir3DbF5i4/s320/IMG_1514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I sat listening to the larks and grasshoppers, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhHAEznp-itoDNOLH6ohjMF_5VlLabhjRgbRSQtrT7pJD3f9enS-a-1G7S1fRxcZ3zrMkHN6L3c7dD-EdRJdTUFjiy6zzOt5dz5n2NYc4i8-4RukuZPYPrwa_eKUQzCScdJmp3FlE6WaU/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhHAEznp-itoDNOLH6ohjMF_5VlLabhjRgbRSQtrT7pJD3f9enS-a-1G7S1fRxcZ3zrMkHN6L3c7dD-EdRJdTUFjiy6zzOt5dz5n2NYc4i8-4RukuZPYPrwa_eKUQzCScdJmp3FlE6WaU/s320/IMG_1521.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">looking down at the sandy
beach where the faint noise of children laughing and calling to each other floated
upwards on the faint breeze. A dog barked excitedly as he darted in and out
amongst the waves. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNmR3bYhHjaRiUOC_x0DC6qx4opwoCgF2ECgnletPhpY3oYNeM5uiidua-iLbaJvF7yP8LR-m-N0yHaCMP03V1vRn8EFAC62GHZP0si7sgEtkBqvd9FEBFCdxg0sCoCGxS-D7mHlOKMa5/s1600/IMG_1536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNmR3bYhHjaRiUOC_x0DC6qx4opwoCgF2ECgnletPhpY3oYNeM5uiidua-iLbaJvF7yP8LR-m-N0yHaCMP03V1vRn8EFAC62GHZP0si7sgEtkBqvd9FEBFCdxg0sCoCGxS-D7mHlOKMa5/s320/IMG_1536.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The sea sparkled like diamonds as the hot sun glinted on the
crest of far out rippling waves that curled rhythmically towards the beach.
Birds circled and swirled around above the beach, at eye level with me, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqxHAApSBa279-_F_iaXT00punIm51rBlmkcZv-yBL4ma4YsfGJlGPkTMbj_8jHUtDJFZze22mZGfxEAHIehAwuzGbPWfsYgsljuZ6-WCPAVvuaQOD6U3qA-ER-qCmO-52UlubQvLcOmd/s1600/IMG_1541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqxHAApSBa279-_F_iaXT00punIm51rBlmkcZv-yBL4ma4YsfGJlGPkTMbj_8jHUtDJFZze22mZGfxEAHIehAwuzGbPWfsYgsljuZ6-WCPAVvuaQOD6U3qA-ER-qCmO-52UlubQvLcOmd/s320/IMG_1541.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">before they swooped
steeply downwards to the waters edge.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXBAx2mI8SXAMi03MP09rSr732002v93ULOh2_YyZjoYDPL5KjflzqoVhs7x9cbghuMDdoWA1qqxK_FA7H4y4eHthAXjbEnV8U1lo3tSBjZ0GaYRtCIpUp6N74y-a9YYoHLRCYg7d9TYB/s1600/IMG_1534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXBAx2mI8SXAMi03MP09rSr732002v93ULOh2_YyZjoYDPL5KjflzqoVhs7x9cbghuMDdoWA1qqxK_FA7H4y4eHthAXjbEnV8U1lo3tSBjZ0GaYRtCIpUp6N74y-a9YYoHLRCYg7d9TYB/s320/IMG_1534.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">After wending my way down towards
the beach, where the tide had now turned,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3vmYcCihX7E5_T-8pKrDE-PrRa31UUgDgS2tN_eqKQob95D_Jx9DO0BDRDAwVS0BRQg5exwJTjtKoBnHyuwp7hzeT9yfJHiOOsLKP_NeFSE4kBqHfoujPTp4OzP_bmQF1Jls7D9F0ZnU/s1600/IMG_1531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3vmYcCihX7E5_T-8pKrDE-PrRa31UUgDgS2tN_eqKQob95D_Jx9DO0BDRDAwVS0BRQg5exwJTjtKoBnHyuwp7hzeT9yfJHiOOsLKP_NeFSE4kBqHfoujPTp4OzP_bmQF1Jls7D9F0ZnU/s320/IMG_1531.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I walked barefoot along towards the entrance to Dundrum Bay. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsB7RPKKgjW9z45jOj0ZTY_upKymm664gjKLzg1-_oWhVJ8OzM0UjaG_1gsPF9BtCBJS2RNexdgpJvsSU_h_DGNL8izaMwYE1gLBrT8cfC_bmwchb4W-eF6ErSqKfOHB3LeVFa45ZpH57N/s1600/IMG_1530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsB7RPKKgjW9z45jOj0ZTY_upKymm664gjKLzg1-_oWhVJ8OzM0UjaG_1gsPF9BtCBJS2RNexdgpJvsSU_h_DGNL8izaMwYE1gLBrT8cfC_bmwchb4W-eF6ErSqKfOHB3LeVFa45ZpH57N/s320/IMG_1530.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The soft
white sand burnt the soles of my feet, and the seawater, which although warmed
by the sun, felt delightfully cooling as waves lapped at my ankles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYkyvLcCHOtVtwWMJesRIewtDvuhK8F9Ea78j2iSiZMf6yOztDODQKRF1YSNjMDYYANRBX8zYCilX7uogsEqTfcdu-poFS8yv9xMfvmu2ITMgcSCqe6ho70LERtAQuQVN0vYfrRFxJhjt/s1600/IMG_1545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYkyvLcCHOtVtwWMJesRIewtDvuhK8F9Ea78j2iSiZMf6yOztDODQKRF1YSNjMDYYANRBX8zYCilX7uogsEqTfcdu-poFS8yv9xMfvmu2ITMgcSCqe6ho70LERtAQuQVN0vYfrRFxJhjt/s320/IMG_1545.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">To my joy, the beach was
surprisingly empty – most people choosing to congregate at the entrance where the
boardwalk ends. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">However as the afternoon sun grew hotter, more visitors arrived
and I decided to travel back around the coast to another of my favourite places, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QOlKB9orkS-HdeBH0j4dY1y7JVhDgP6N1L-Vb1P9ylHlqF_-rskOFU9fkpRFGAIP9PPAr8vvH4Vq4mGUggZvPd8uhkkekbGJb-EtyPDnd0XFAhaI8xxeQKuC-c9vnGml_kIlZfipmHmS/s1600/IMG_1553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QOlKB9orkS-HdeBH0j4dY1y7JVhDgP6N1L-Vb1P9ylHlqF_-rskOFU9fkpRFGAIP9PPAr8vvH4Vq4mGUggZvPd8uhkkekbGJb-EtyPDnd0XFAhaI8xxeQKuC-c9vnGml_kIlZfipmHmS/s320/IMG_1553.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";">where wildflowers grow<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 ";"> in lush meadows with rocky foreshores</span>...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(to be continued in Part 2)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
xxx</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-26135663298325152662018-06-16T15:20:00.001-07:002018-06-20T13:12:39.716-07:00... Always The Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"When the world wearies and society fails to satisfy, there is always the garden."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ_nE234eZEB0oHo44078uFCj8fZ-GRxyPkCCvbKnKWz8i7IpuB3CGcBK02EzR-fJyovpBXfR5QTD9Bhm0IRkKJi1FZyoAXTM7Ayc4VYkIARyV1q3HjaATD63fQPa70XkyTZHyIyiO8gu/s1600/IMG_1265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="1600" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ_nE234eZEB0oHo44078uFCj8fZ-GRxyPkCCvbKnKWz8i7IpuB3CGcBK02EzR-fJyovpBXfR5QTD9Bhm0IRkKJi1FZyoAXTM7Ayc4VYkIARyV1q3HjaATD63fQPa70XkyTZHyIyiO8gu/s400/IMG_1265.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The weather over the past few weeks has been glorious. Sunshine and blue skies have meant that I have spent every possible moment either in the garden or at the allotment. Housework has been minimal and stitching put to one side.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A trip to the coast was appealing, but wasting time driving and sitting in traffic was not, especially when the garden looked so beautiful.</div>
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After nursing my plants through the hard winter, they were now making up for lost time and bursting forth with blooms. </div>
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The roses have been superb, the best they have ever been as they flowered prolifically in the hot sunshine.</div>
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Gertrude Jekyll, </div>
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Boule de Neige</div>
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Mdm Alfred Carriere</div>
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and</div>
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Souvenir de la Malmaison to name but a few.</div>
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Clematis Guernsey Cream was late to flower this year, but worth the wait.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu52dltu7mYureH608WwpqBpFM0v-C-p9v0wwiugAX3KlAVdrE3cf7Qi1L4NQr-igz5_LwXiXbINON-8TOCFeQo_2bf_2gEckDcpq3x8qjFN32s4ynHz0aRCigAlSZQdK3gfjkMf5ORCZT/s1600/IMG_1307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu52dltu7mYureH608WwpqBpFM0v-C-p9v0wwiugAX3KlAVdrE3cf7Qi1L4NQr-igz5_LwXiXbINON-8TOCFeQo_2bf_2gEckDcpq3x8qjFN32s4ynHz0aRCigAlSZQdK3gfjkMf5ORCZT/s320/IMG_1307.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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In the "white" border, </div>
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spires of lupins,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdDhZKNsgGoP6PLGZUf8un3m5-FiusE-tzbkNJkR5xk_KDzjOOLWcBaeq33Z_TJ1CNXAcEuHZF6xpQjCaVglF90GfMqYX9NpzhPeeYEiyDyIwYdudb9bDoGqhcXmLBTbVK6IDodV8vCKm/s1600/IMG_1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdDhZKNsgGoP6PLGZUf8un3m5-FiusE-tzbkNJkR5xk_KDzjOOLWcBaeq33Z_TJ1CNXAcEuHZF6xpQjCaVglF90GfMqYX9NpzhPeeYEiyDyIwYdudb9bDoGqhcXmLBTbVK6IDodV8vCKm/s320/IMG_1308.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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foxgloves </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnU1Uk0OUDP7jLZbnSCOhI1SavjpX6yNfdA8J8nJOWvZujq_dMhYJ1i983PPZdVfSUgKgpiMfMPzxUDnWoxrkPlAfEuXhly24IaMCpSQlrWHtS3QEyonYRgIRsrOyt_tnwtdUzO9f2XFT/s1600/IMG_1367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnU1Uk0OUDP7jLZbnSCOhI1SavjpX6yNfdA8J8nJOWvZujq_dMhYJ1i983PPZdVfSUgKgpiMfMPzxUDnWoxrkPlAfEuXhly24IaMCpSQlrWHtS3QEyonYRgIRsrOyt_tnwtdUzO9f2XFT/s320/IMG_1367.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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and delphiniums tower over lychnis and a white peony, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UDna_2xmTesTZoQU3h2HzW_klQZ5Kr3TxikV6Lg6GRGIugA3rfybFy7z-M63AJ7ZbtkvBTPqZmBqQjA4x8gKpHQ6u56rZMcQ0A8OKpFpzWPjkFWbXpSH1v-r1qwC1XAkDvrPeRribKsK/s1600/IMG_1351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UDna_2xmTesTZoQU3h2HzW_klQZ5Kr3TxikV6Lg6GRGIugA3rfybFy7z-M63AJ7ZbtkvBTPqZmBqQjA4x8gKpHQ6u56rZMcQ0A8OKpFpzWPjkFWbXpSH1v-r1qwC1XAkDvrPeRribKsK/s320/IMG_1351.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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below the dovecote and the aptly named Cephalaria Gigantea.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQWtWCRp8O0erXkoSDVO3b05Hgqc6HRCgawYz5_YG01LQ_IbhxPDz0Khh6ocVKLqPEx1BP774i4tl61dK-KT7SvyKylTMv9bc15g66PtltLX13IfgD6woWMCyQw1PmfM6sT_CHRYwO9JW/s1600/IMG_1277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQWtWCRp8O0erXkoSDVO3b05Hgqc6HRCgawYz5_YG01LQ_IbhxPDz0Khh6ocVKLqPEx1BP774i4tl61dK-KT7SvyKylTMv9bc15g66PtltLX13IfgD6woWMCyQw1PmfM6sT_CHRYwO9JW/s320/IMG_1277.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Located in the top corner of the garden, is a little bird feeder with a half coconut to which flock families of tits, sparrows and blackbirds that nest in the hedge. Even as I sat nearby, I would hear a rustle in the hedge and high pitched cheeps as the baby birds emerged to feed. </div>
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Once one of the dreaded magpies uttered its raucous cackles and attempted to bully it's way on to the feeder, but a determined and courageous dove flew at it and successfully drove it away.</div>
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A young blackbird frequents the garden and after watching from the wires above, flew down and squawked loudly and audaciously from the hedge, </div>
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(as if to goad Evie as she lay basking peacefully in the sunshine)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQ2myEhpjChvxNS2bZCSYnmwsSy-cn0tqaLsvofp4PS-RF_BWysD6EoWxdKXlEIZotyhiO0AAaA01VJo7p7STr0Q-nSIe1NHmNaT6l6HfDYk3levaLVCzYVD8t16B5Ubpr-KoxTmXPqcK/s1600/IMG_1301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQ2myEhpjChvxNS2bZCSYnmwsSy-cn0tqaLsvofp4PS-RF_BWysD6EoWxdKXlEIZotyhiO0AAaA01VJo7p7STr0Q-nSIe1NHmNaT6l6HfDYk3levaLVCzYVD8t16B5Ubpr-KoxTmXPqcK/s320/IMG_1301.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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before feeding voraciously upon the coconut.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGOjeyFDC7eivvAg6XMt6W6GBf_tBbSSk0Q0u6FEI1-nBpdQJNT6sf2rQtK3wZPRanVaa0bvCf1gmY21rrERUyDRqpdK4_X2ndDEEGbUyzXVDZ3OEpC7uEcToYmkOvI6fSFwH-s67tTyX/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGOjeyFDC7eivvAg6XMt6W6GBf_tBbSSk0Q0u6FEI1-nBpdQJNT6sf2rQtK3wZPRanVaa0bvCf1gmY21rrERUyDRqpdK4_X2ndDEEGbUyzXVDZ3OEpC7uEcToYmkOvI6fSFwH-s67tTyX/s320/IMG_1335.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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A new edition to the pond in the front garden is "The Frog". </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_Sqek8PZ1xa-VY1vxvLAiRuvoW_Oa_rnb7VGrNgoe6rxsm9KwafIxbAuSaGX8IF5s8ZzlDChCqaKSMAcHgLnIb5oTSeOjnNDIHpG1uJvA2rjBtJx5eDZgPQXK1qsAquUiil2nx6wf_hN/s1600/IMG_1130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_Sqek8PZ1xa-VY1vxvLAiRuvoW_Oa_rnb7VGrNgoe6rxsm9KwafIxbAuSaGX8IF5s8ZzlDChCqaKSMAcHgLnIb5oTSeOjnNDIHpG1uJvA2rjBtJx5eDZgPQXK1qsAquUiil2nx6wf_hN/s320/IMG_1130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Larger than Freddie Frog who once frequented the trough in the back garden, "The Frog" looks more like a He-Man type of Frog, scaling the vertical precipitous walls of the pond.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiepEyf01XhI-QSJLGUXAeNbKg5EErVIfnBP3uT9qfIga4RHvzkD2p49HW188UOhbjzUguJhBnHvtLGHZTJIJ2Zao0hDyR88FJGsBrwU6MMN6wqq1p5-pyYvfFRsIxr-eAVHlf1Nrn1UaD/s1600/IMG_1228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiepEyf01XhI-QSJLGUXAeNbKg5EErVIfnBP3uT9qfIga4RHvzkD2p49HW188UOhbjzUguJhBnHvtLGHZTJIJ2Zao0hDyR88FJGsBrwU6MMN6wqq1p5-pyYvfFRsIxr-eAVHlf1Nrn1UaD/s320/IMG_1228.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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(At the allotment another little frog lives under the creeping thyme and can be seen occasionally as I unwittingly disturb him during his ventures out and about. I am in constant fear of him being stood upon and am very tempted to erect "Beware of the Frog" signs).</div>
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Alas, the Dark Forces are never far away, watching and waiting to make life difficult. This time it was in the form of Storm Hateful Hector that blew up from nowhere on Wednesday, with winds that wreaked havoc and destruction - decimating the garden, heartlessly breaking down the leaf laden trees and Cephalaria and brutally decapitating the roses. </div>
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I confess that I was ever so slightly upset, and have not yet been able to summons up the energy for the clean-up operation. Turning my back for the moment upon the garden I have resumed my stitching</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOPNyoxP30cnCnne4ovD6EceTFfsbO9aOu798hHl0TnzXbqLz8utouEfFJ7uq6Fe5DlouOMhqVJFLlUaEFLTCrD5UnLQ4isAgCfYZJgi4eRdHMqMeM84y0Btt2E8XSOgKnY9ET5846YHN/s1600/IMG_1374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1318" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOPNyoxP30cnCnne4ovD6EceTFfsbO9aOu798hHl0TnzXbqLz8utouEfFJ7uq6Fe5DlouOMhqVJFLlUaEFLTCrD5UnLQ4isAgCfYZJgi4eRdHMqMeM84y0Btt2E8XSOgKnY9ET5846YHN/s320/IMG_1374.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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and taken pleasure from the simple sprig of flowers </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWPXW_Ao2OBQD6DrjHUVCP2LgVDnm8OS7cOyWZXLHgrA-E9AiJAGrDlE-30V7Rr1GGFLJHYCYwavhXVHgHS77ELObZGZDtk6nRSZU9VKD3V_29evGg_Lo7n-7OD6MKbf2Z7Sv1NeV5uiZ/s1600/IMG_1370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1164" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWPXW_Ao2OBQD6DrjHUVCP2LgVDnm8OS7cOyWZXLHgrA-E9AiJAGrDlE-30V7Rr1GGFLJHYCYwavhXVHgHS77ELObZGZDtk6nRSZU9VKD3V_29evGg_Lo7n-7OD6MKbf2Z7Sv1NeV5uiZ/s400/IMG_1370.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">presented to me by the lovely Professor from his allotment.</span></div>
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xxx</div>
<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-19611711211514849112018-05-19T14:22:00.001-07:002018-05-19T14:23:23.485-07:00Blossom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At last the sun is shining and everywhere is bathed in glorious sunlight.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqlLrR_56PMpE-RwG0qtBEPmnN9Zzp2UO0WwAazl4FvW2M6NFDGzkPyb58NjM26rxuaOvCW50Bdqm-lOKapheTs7SachOrx1KoL_IlcaHo_aeJqvSCNQIa_45LD8GVvYisrewkO0Sh-2d/s1600/IMG_0999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqlLrR_56PMpE-RwG0qtBEPmnN9Zzp2UO0WwAazl4FvW2M6NFDGzkPyb58NjM26rxuaOvCW50Bdqm-lOKapheTs7SachOrx1KoL_IlcaHo_aeJqvSCNQIa_45LD8GVvYisrewkO0Sh-2d/s320/IMG_0999.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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I have been busy at The Allotment, where the fruit trees are blossoming;<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZdrpH7YV3OB8JiS_HKKBceGut-QTBVEJrk-XKJgEXcdpTDCbNfDKVT1-KnHqcY1jW0OShNLmZmhGtobcmqp1bR7UnnXMoHIi4lE0kPBO2_BNnKnXGNLg9jcTqkBB52G0FdUOUQj5PlCZ/s1600/IMG_1002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZdrpH7YV3OB8JiS_HKKBceGut-QTBVEJrk-XKJgEXcdpTDCbNfDKVT1-KnHqcY1jW0OShNLmZmhGtobcmqp1bR7UnnXMoHIi4lE0kPBO2_BNnKnXGNLg9jcTqkBB52G0FdUOUQj5PlCZ/s320/IMG_1002.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_xAKq5x_2egPos_fhXwwKKV65aWcDFe7gqm0V1spR2XssImEwwG0XYa-LkDhxX6KuF6xi26o0Dd6D5j3Rqq3HohMf3rCvBJvEncoKEOcw7OlKysvRvSCEtOaCTb85Op06jTHcsagVv8h/s1600/IMG_0997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_xAKq5x_2egPos_fhXwwKKV65aWcDFe7gqm0V1spR2XssImEwwG0XYa-LkDhxX6KuF6xi26o0Dd6D5j3Rqq3HohMf3rCvBJvEncoKEOcw7OlKysvRvSCEtOaCTb85Op06jTHcsagVv8h/s320/IMG_0997.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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the Bramley Apple tree and the Cox's Pippin Apple tree covered with soft pink apple-blossom amongst the new glossy leaves.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3lzYHf_WibZZ34z2au34kVoZ82SCpm1JxtxukUTnSbZ7vX_8HxCJVo6AMg95XkHGBMBEjs5f26WV6q6iEXdT89lRqGqwIaURg86Sz410IMDVbgSu9szN6II5WFABtvpHg2MwyBPFrkCU/s1600/IMG_1008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3lzYHf_WibZZ34z2au34kVoZ82SCpm1JxtxukUTnSbZ7vX_8HxCJVo6AMg95XkHGBMBEjs5f26WV6q6iEXdT89lRqGqwIaURg86Sz410IMDVbgSu9szN6II5WFABtvpHg2MwyBPFrkCU/s320/IMG_1008.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDsjYIpfRnjI50L_zSOz9uVN6yR6unGlHDVV_p3JAxrauqIFRz0plEzfuUISHjrf_9auQDa7gW8TccS3IIM91FPQ3IbZKEVDxswfRmnUyk7Mzg4U6rbhhKQjKkXhkTY0vDlLb8HjaxD-R/s1600/IMG_1006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDsjYIpfRnjI50L_zSOz9uVN6yR6unGlHDVV_p3JAxrauqIFRz0plEzfuUISHjrf_9auQDa7gW8TccS3IIM91FPQ3IbZKEVDxswfRmnUyk7Mzg4U6rbhhKQjKkXhkTY0vDlLb8HjaxD-R/s320/IMG_1006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The trees in the garden are dripping with blossom and a visit to one of my favourite walled gardens </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKvT12VVbZB2Z5R2V14cFnJrTb1HSi1YOtEOs7lX4n0LeU4fKBQiWLSOse-ROpgMgaVKwkRQVak0SBHlbUaUzNQ3CWNkaO-f0BwgKytwE2Wge4jgdN0Gp7ta7lM_2xGYMtKXW1D-fARrC/s1600/IMG_1055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1341" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKvT12VVbZB2Z5R2V14cFnJrTb1HSi1YOtEOs7lX4n0LeU4fKBQiWLSOse-ROpgMgaVKwkRQVak0SBHlbUaUzNQ3CWNkaO-f0BwgKytwE2Wge4jgdN0Gp7ta7lM_2xGYMtKXW1D-fARrC/s320/IMG_1055.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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also found the newly planted Apple trees in the orchard laden with blossom.</div>
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The recent Stitchery project was of a bird's nest in amongst branches covered with pink blossoms,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDc-dlEaPSL9Po5ThBDo-U1l9N0vuSkz92IoPm9x4b0cQxgX1TzyhtOqPnREW_C3tKT2SCeLpdzEHNuFuS-vTQcu4Cs2wXxT7Pvw93iU6C0e1JRMssTBNAtGhdmMUXKQPeqYlL9XLwc0K/s1600/IMG_1013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDc-dlEaPSL9Po5ThBDo-U1l9N0vuSkz92IoPm9x4b0cQxgX1TzyhtOqPnREW_C3tKT2SCeLpdzEHNuFuS-vTQcu4Cs2wXxT7Pvw93iU6C0e1JRMssTBNAtGhdmMUXKQPeqYlL9XLwc0K/s320/IMG_1013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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but surrounded as I am with so many real and beautiful subjects, I could not resist interpreting the design to reflect the trees around me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EcPkPthY_lnNCt-id_SBIrFTJI9GfRB9TEO77Dz5temq3gmfzPTyG6wfDKbEZkvy4JLgIau_4D34nWNKBwVj9WgVbORt8MA-B3hVVK4k0ke2QHoYcfQYMx7TAgimgFGfzyMIM9D1zGaY/s1600/IMG_0995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EcPkPthY_lnNCt-id_SBIrFTJI9GfRB9TEO77Dz5temq3gmfzPTyG6wfDKbEZkvy4JLgIau_4D34nWNKBwVj9WgVbORt8MA-B3hVVK4k0ke2QHoYcfQYMx7TAgimgFGfzyMIM9D1zGaY/s320/IMG_0995.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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In another few days the wind will have blown the blossom from the branches to cover the ground in a pink and white confetti; but happily what is left behind is the promise of a bountiful harvest of apples.<br />
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xxx</div>
<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-4459267611336711932018-04-30T14:56:00.004-07:002018-05-16T14:44:35.781-07:00Late April<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's late April, the days are growing lighter, the long cold winter is departing and there is a promise of summer. The simple Spring flowers are in bloom and bird song fills the air.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yocAU8yaLBC7d0j3qRLOhXdnYHLXEqOerzp-nfi-4cXxdsbbHYidmA_g6Qb9nGYB5PqNeXjN5kiHgOzgQmXO7YO33wHbMewtvOSI26xj0Yz18J3QlPlJhMkTCriWT7BsFGz3RSt-fz6h/s1600/IMG_0969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1506" data-original-width="1600" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yocAU8yaLBC7d0j3qRLOhXdnYHLXEqOerzp-nfi-4cXxdsbbHYidmA_g6Qb9nGYB5PqNeXjN5kiHgOzgQmXO7YO33wHbMewtvOSI26xj0Yz18J3QlPlJhMkTCriWT7BsFGz3RSt-fz6h/s320/IMG_0969.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here I am, weeding, snipping and digging.... there is little time for stitching.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYkVdpoOa7v_R4YMvXGjCadDX29mkhgFMp_7kiQlJECLY18OoCd8zrZKQImgidgmvU6qqEGPt5UQd1F8L1eXpPxZG5miR4wM2WSxZaG_C-6VbMORowz2KkqOrr8R45waALh7ZWsIIn8o8/s1600/IMG_1019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYkVdpoOa7v_R4YMvXGjCadDX29mkhgFMp_7kiQlJECLY18OoCd8zrZKQImgidgmvU6qqEGPt5UQd1F8L1eXpPxZG5miR4wM2WSxZaG_C-6VbMORowz2KkqOrr8R45waALh7ZWsIIn8o8/s320/IMG_1019.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The allotment has been transformed again and as I wait for the produce I have sown from seed to start growing, the weeds begin to flourish. I start at one end, and by the time I get to the other it's time to start again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDbIy1l5kLiAtgv97UPzvo0GzLyQ2WET5qV5xjxuFJyWA5L1Upr92U-IkPgujN3p2xmZgPWX-5lZ_LbJ8bCE3bRppNpW4CyKF4IeZUHZuIkyDo43vJbujm5mywfx9Csr6kwnIPgDGoeMM/s1600/IMG_1018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDbIy1l5kLiAtgv97UPzvo0GzLyQ2WET5qV5xjxuFJyWA5L1Upr92U-IkPgujN3p2xmZgPWX-5lZ_LbJ8bCE3bRppNpW4CyKF4IeZUHZuIkyDo43vJbujm5mywfx9Csr6kwnIPgDGoeMM/s320/IMG_1018.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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As I dig, the blackbird trills a sweet song and a little robin comes down to give moral support. </div>
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There is nothing so therapeutic as The Joy of Gardening - except of course The Pleasure of Stitching!</div>
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xxx</div>
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<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-62810123501484685912018-03-18T15:55:00.000-07:002019-04-11T00:24:14.023-07:00Daffodils and A Plot for The Plots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU72Lhpg5t8wHhfFx-fU4p3a-DLz9PI1mj7cYGuDeim0mqV5XWIxt4LYw0Cj5-mUGPqHdj1CUvUPQ-0JTO5Dt-Rh5x9v4H4STfJywkKMlp4fXWbkKxMBmzr9iUnIRiBAR5tRM09AOL4Coy/s1600/IMG_2049_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU72Lhpg5t8wHhfFx-fU4p3a-DLz9PI1mj7cYGuDeim0mqV5XWIxt4LYw0Cj5-mUGPqHdj1CUvUPQ-0JTO5Dt-Rh5x9v4H4STfJywkKMlp4fXWbkKxMBmzr9iUnIRiBAR5tRM09AOL4Coy/s320/IMG_2049_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This time of year as the Daffodils
sway and bend their golden heads with the wind always reminds me of the visit I
made a few years ago to The Farm, </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">where </span><a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-tale-of-two-lambs.html" style="font-family: calibri;">Hoppity and Skippity</a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> frolicked in the
bright sunshine oblivious to the cold wind blowing.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Unfortunately, the brief glimpse
of the arrival of Spring a few days ago has been put on hold as the weather pummels
us again with wind and heavy rain. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiARA-HHOBtYvGbl6ht5lK2f377OPd44SLjMuKDz7we4Dz04FNB1587dLN9VDGTzAP-xnbXu8ezo1-ZMBEfYHAlcEFgntzob0n9rRQ5HUPSBHKJPVoc_vNF86WxnuwoYZ7MfaV2DU0nPCB/s1600/IMG_0897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiARA-HHOBtYvGbl6ht5lK2f377OPd44SLjMuKDz7we4Dz04FNB1587dLN9VDGTzAP-xnbXu8ezo1-ZMBEfYHAlcEFgntzob0n9rRQ5HUPSBHKJPVoc_vNF86WxnuwoYZ7MfaV2DU0nPCB/s320/IMG_0897.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The garden and the allotment are flooded,
but pale yellow Primrose flowers lighten up the grey blustery day.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnynCEmV0oQtUajDZWMnR2DG7DYOVzZKWEBzHJemPlzX9RsY5_frigIs3b13oO2PGqb_MqL_-4v_hoV_cxqOOvcMkBXj38dFHDjfy4CR6kdBbCP9pShDY8VgQX03ychhPbHc_4REPaVSIq/s1600/IMG_0941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnynCEmV0oQtUajDZWMnR2DG7DYOVzZKWEBzHJemPlzX9RsY5_frigIs3b13oO2PGqb_MqL_-4v_hoV_cxqOOvcMkBXj38dFHDjfy4CR6kdBbCP9pShDY8VgQX03ychhPbHc_4REPaVSIq/s320/IMG_0941.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Too wet for gardening, it is an
excuse to turn my attention to stitching. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bunches of daffodils, tulips, and a birdbath. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjzWcjSjr7ai8STzeO0VDvwIU5uFji_H3abH9rH3GeRrK66G1XH2DEHpkZJ870z6yJNNIPBaNvwPVG0Tk9oFAreAjEX3FIEwP9tt9dPLkD9SdWbKob04bHK9oFuZ7gnq-Jtbyj9FA9_MK/s1600/IMG_2030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjzWcjSjr7ai8STzeO0VDvwIU5uFji_H3abH9rH3GeRrK66G1XH2DEHpkZJ870z6yJNNIPBaNvwPVG0Tk9oFAreAjEX3FIEwP9tt9dPLkD9SdWbKob04bHK9oFuZ7gnq-Jtbyj9FA9_MK/s320/IMG_2030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The daffodils make me think of a recent
meeting between the Council and Allotment holders. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwKzsuh0JSnWoVHFcjxpr5qNoK23LK29vseohXYoKncSj3po2ZG2Z795Eb37Tr5MbjU8rJwVu9imUAV2wwhYOZgRithXtmjK5w63j5YASZ2rRhaJ1r1V5q2V8Hj9fzSK3JBIzqOtsMWCk/s1600/IMG_1288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwKzsuh0JSnWoVHFcjxpr5qNoK23LK29vseohXYoKncSj3po2ZG2Z795Eb37Tr5MbjU8rJwVu9imUAV2wwhYOZgRithXtmjK5w63j5YASZ2rRhaJ1r1V5q2V8Hj9fzSK3JBIzqOtsMWCk/s320/IMG_1288.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Not all of the plot-holders
welcomed the surprise news that the Council propose to upgrade our Allotment
site. Vocal expostulations from <a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/the-allotmenteers.html">The Civil Servant</a> with his tenderly nurtured plot and <a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/the-allotmenteers.html">The Daffodil Man</a> who has £10 000 worth
of bulbs planted in his plot - both of which the Council propose to turn into car-parking
spaces expressed their outraged feelings on the issue.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeQti8U1pUiR0gIhrLd6hARGIaqPckdI_8XvwBHrJm4JnuixUKKATC2cm_JnwikpXGJlKnqATdTkIEw4QyK4Bfu075_yCxH8qv_mbkJUqkkY7NJVjwmocx56q1D7iNKqdAlGB8_4RG4KS/s1600/IMG_0440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeQti8U1pUiR0gIhrLd6hARGIaqPckdI_8XvwBHrJm4JnuixUKKATC2cm_JnwikpXGJlKnqATdTkIEw4QyK4Bfu075_yCxH8qv_mbkJUqkkY7NJVjwmocx56q1D7iNKqdAlGB8_4RG4KS/s320/IMG_0440.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I empathised with them, as one of
the Councils intentions is to replace all the boundary fences to the plots with
a standard uniform fence – potentially green wire mesh. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4hsKvAFI-4blPk7Gq7FHfAn78HuBO9zLYZqQCnGmgbSsu-2KFJI8wkRB8m5TUButKlQbDh90v9_OWJr-AjqRjeF_Ygebov6rkfOR8d8o6bNjuZi77gJ6T2_OwP7JiWnwSHT3ySxcmTlx/s1600/IMG_1368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4hsKvAFI-4blPk7Gq7FHfAn78HuBO9zLYZqQCnGmgbSsu-2KFJI8wkRB8m5TUButKlQbDh90v9_OWJr-AjqRjeF_Ygebov6rkfOR8d8o6bNjuZi77gJ6T2_OwP7JiWnwSHT3ySxcmTlx/s320/IMG_1368.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As I have only just
repaired my Chestnut paling fence that was damaged in the winter storms, this
does not amuse me; not only because of wasted expense but also the thought of the
plots losing their individuality and character. Next thing, we will be
instructed that all our sheds must be of the same size and be painted the same
colour and that we must only grow a certain type of potato!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5JLpSqqg-MnzZpKOF5_gZwptMdCXLNRO5_2FpEVRsVC469C0w00wkxvfin-IGfcSav4ZAOSVBrAZolJ7rr2FczcWADyGrcecUbrTTZnNEquKEUpRecK9Ml8H0yqPcpMMIJnosrTYgIqP/s1600/IMG_1324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5JLpSqqg-MnzZpKOF5_gZwptMdCXLNRO5_2FpEVRsVC469C0w00wkxvfin-IGfcSav4ZAOSVBrAZolJ7rr2FczcWADyGrcecUbrTTZnNEquKEUpRecK9Ml8H0yqPcpMMIJnosrTYgIqP/s320/IMG_1324.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;">It is true that the Allotment site looks rather shabby, but I think this is part of its charm. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqdGy3mBOkxK8aPRdgdcmLrim1SBZmscVR8DjMcrkDYTxes8Pw_408g7RklTRN1FZpwQhN_FX5b5Sjpn6hBQCgG8Kf-ypUylQSLyD5NoCYsfZYd1kqS2rJKpR6Dpo0DRdobLu_447y7F_/s1600/IMG_0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqdGy3mBOkxK8aPRdgdcmLrim1SBZmscVR8DjMcrkDYTxes8Pw_408g7RklTRN1FZpwQhN_FX5b5Sjpn6hBQCgG8Kf-ypUylQSLyD5NoCYsfZYd1kqS2rJKpR6Dpo0DRdobLu_447y7F_/s320/IMG_0153.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;">Yes, the lane into the site is full of potholes, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n8vr2_MRr0E8vK8OWIsvWHYJSXjruXJoAGa9BqkiiRk5UukVjA9qoP0IUWCsmiLW5XvOWfrn4hvXW8DK-c3beYQ-OHgBI0vr-81t7RxpEDpnkmslLzx-5C0BE0QYWllBt1Kq4K0v4uXQ/s1600/IMG_2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n8vr2_MRr0E8vK8OWIsvWHYJSXjruXJoAGa9BqkiiRk5UukVjA9qoP0IUWCsmiLW5XvOWfrn4hvXW8DK-c3beYQ-OHgBI0vr-81t7RxpEDpnkmslLzx-5C0BE0QYWllBt1Kq4K0v4uXQ/s320/IMG_2080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">but the hawthorn hedges and wild flower/weed
strewn verges provide cover and food for the birds that sing sweetly as I make
my way towards my Plot. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXj3sQqhk37VPpyM08juEqgFzV7UEri7Q9EyUVxwjsxtoIuPr3noCrY97_ZEss8n1FIbq0c22JXwH4axcv49ckzK_QSKRLzrSi6-AeGIUWDQxpoHX_jrYN52bnSgO0Da2NUNbfLy3PliG/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXj3sQqhk37VPpyM08juEqgFzV7UEri7Q9EyUVxwjsxtoIuPr3noCrY97_ZEss8n1FIbq0c22JXwH4axcv49ckzK_QSKRLzrSi6-AeGIUWDQxpoHX_jrYN52bnSgO0Da2NUNbfLy3PliG/s320/IMG_1519.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As for the rabbits hopping about…. well - who could dislike
little Peter Rabbit</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXw2iKckO2DRAK3GnjFFZYOarD-mvSfMBXEf4yaNLNAJL3MSaK-LjkLhWDEBK3bwXnkaorglG8IfrydqJyKUEMY_DR4B91I6kVJ_9Nc5B0H-ctN2h03alyw9CaumpKyQnFQSLWJKvOVHZ/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXw2iKckO2DRAK3GnjFFZYOarD-mvSfMBXEf4yaNLNAJL3MSaK-LjkLhWDEBK3bwXnkaorglG8IfrydqJyKUEMY_DR4B91I6kVJ_9Nc5B0H-ctN2h03alyw9CaumpKyQnFQSLWJKvOVHZ/s320/IMG_1522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;"> or Benjamin Bunny?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBbnxKRy-QEeoAA8qWrYhHjEfHkNkfp0CA_8j-Wx89CI02tIg9XCL6c13VX_JNLfpYh1Oodp7aS19W1NODBwg_05RzmU1p9sFG3zTHjjiJVnoObbeKK2w-xO3eL_KkhEBS5qfvi5-ZZHG/s1600/IMG_1617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1419" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBbnxKRy-QEeoAA8qWrYhHjEfHkNkfp0CA_8j-Wx89CI02tIg9XCL6c13VX_JNLfpYh1Oodp7aS19W1NODBwg_05RzmU1p9sFG3zTHjjiJVnoObbeKK2w-xO3eL_KkhEBS5qfvi5-ZZHG/s320/IMG_1617.JPG" width="283" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-align: justify;">The natural, half-wild abandoned ambience
of the allotments creates a feeling of being in the country, far away from the
city. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-align: justify;">A place where time forgot and
where Nature can thrive.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-align: justify;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUo1gNroHmFWaUyzqAGumobrXawExjpsaqqRSI7Ok2OleoaYw763tBUVg_GC3j0nUNZZwVfSOLJfkH12WvrJSulXHFa2kGtKisrzhcBXXf6j8oTTb2WDDxMsra0i1AdrIDHd0BZEfuu1x/s1600/IMG_1357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1600" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUo1gNroHmFWaUyzqAGumobrXawExjpsaqqRSI7Ok2OleoaYw763tBUVg_GC3j0nUNZZwVfSOLJfkH12WvrJSulXHFa2kGtKisrzhcBXXf6j8oTTb2WDDxMsra0i1AdrIDHd0BZEfuu1x/s320/IMG_1357.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I shudder at
the prospect of <a href="http://soapsandroses.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/sweet-pea-lane.html">Sweet Pea Lane</a> being levelled </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and the grass replaced with
wheel-chair suitable aggregate surfaces. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">(This is not meant as any disrespect
to wheel-chair users.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wIiDksfqDksj7KJ4oAMtlUEjD4P83AzQ174pBpmGxS3o0spGp-62QKR_pdx9E3ntqQewGptuskf-SAR_rZMJzhHCOx-DEaICG95s9tnMQyyN5zWady8HZWSQJGo8sVrg5Gg-WELFss7T/s1600/IMG_0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1591" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wIiDksfqDksj7KJ4oAMtlUEjD4P83AzQ174pBpmGxS3o0spGp-62QKR_pdx9E3ntqQewGptuskf-SAR_rZMJzhHCOx-DEaICG95s9tnMQyyN5zWady8HZWSQJGo8sVrg5Gg-WELFss7T/s320/IMG_0064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In fact, until he died a few years ago, <a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/the-allotmenteers.html">The Captain</a> - a
long-time plot holder put other allotmenteers to shame as he tended his entire beautiful and productive plot on his
hands and knees, due to his disability of not being able to stand because of two
bad hips.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The introduction of Community
Gardens will attract attention – possibly unwelcome, to the site, unlike the current
ramshackle state, which offers a sort of cloak of invisibility.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The proposed toilet block would
be a convenience – although personally I think a bucket suffices should the
need arise. However, these days people expect home comforts at all times and
gasp in horror at the old ways of making do. Gone are the days at my late Grandfathers
allotment in Dulwich when the tomatoes thrived with their daily sprinkling of
wee; but any true gardener knows that male pee on the compost heap is known as Liquid Gold as it activates the composting process. (In today's modern society differentiating between male and female pee is probably not socially acceptable, but the facts are that female wee is more acidic!!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuRlgQc84HIWE9nTxIhhdoT-hos5PI52dMNPxoCR0X_b1XeJYFPCVTouyRfQJtIGobw0j8SpVvSj67udZTNBQUZZmeQ7rK4XI6EM0102cdU8GLE92xl5Xfbh8_V5HK6kAUz-C3IkxsurB/s1600/IMG_1616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1358" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuRlgQc84HIWE9nTxIhhdoT-hos5PI52dMNPxoCR0X_b1XeJYFPCVTouyRfQJtIGobw0j8SpVvSj67udZTNBQUZZmeQ7rK4XI6EM0102cdU8GLE92xl5Xfbh8_V5HK6kAUz-C3IkxsurB/s320/IMG_1616.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have a dread that the last vestige
of back to basics and down to earth living will be replaced by an area
influenced by all things Corporate – with streetlights and CCTVs, electric
wheelbarrow charging points; health & safety signs and shopping trolleys to wheel the produce from our
plots to the designated car parking spaces (and where once daffodils grew in
abundance.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NRhqsnaMW8aq-mFuRUWMKxemRzu5MNbyNNaR_FCzW2k-787EdEXNLHmMtDSi4man4Wqp7lTJD2AbMsorUvPANmUQl5F95NNiWmhyphenhyphenEjsAZnQfL81GavBEvBk28b3wWGxAI_oesbFOcxb2/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NRhqsnaMW8aq-mFuRUWMKxemRzu5MNbyNNaR_FCzW2k-787EdEXNLHmMtDSi4man4Wqp7lTJD2AbMsorUvPANmUQl5F95NNiWmhyphenhyphenEjsAZnQfL81GavBEvBk28b3wWGxAI_oesbFOcxb2/s320/IMG_0031.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So whilst I do appreciate their taking an interest in the site, I am not overly enthused by the proposals, so my suggestion to the Council is to
simply</span></div>
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<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
fill in the pot-holes; </div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
enforce the re-allocation of neglected plots; </div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
strim the grass a few times a year; </div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
plant some more hawthorn hedges for security
around the boundary of the site; </div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
enjoy the sight of a multitude of daffodils and
then….</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">leave us alone
to be free to commune with Nature as we want. (That includes the Naked Plot-holder
whose bare bottom was spotted very early one morning amongst the broad beans! Of
course, maybe he had just been watering his tomatoes!)</span></div>
<br />
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</div>
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<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt 18pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">xxx</span></div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-22657386042127701152018-03-11T07:09:00.004-07:002019-04-11T00:28:06.497-07:00Birds; A Book and Bullion Knots<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Wakening early, I was greeted by a cacophony of bird song in the air of the dark cold morning.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tqMiXZE00ThCDm0T5Qkf-Am7ya6KQzEGh1BcZa3Cc7HZx2QF2fN6gKlHJiJFkVrLzlDBs8qbbZ5MAbiLezGP9Z_OpEup9pqPnWnpebK79Pz0VJ27jiWqUsMUNjVa0Y_d1vmR50jN4g3t/s1600/IMG_6003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="1600" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tqMiXZE00ThCDm0T5Qkf-Am7ya6KQzEGh1BcZa3Cc7HZx2QF2fN6gKlHJiJFkVrLzlDBs8qbbZ5MAbiLezGP9Z_OpEup9pqPnWnpebK79Pz0VJ27jiWqUsMUNjVa0Y_d1vmR50jN4g3t/s320/IMG_6003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The weather has been hard on the little song birds - </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3tJ42VQt4NtrF_vP2riAf4fZn9-zUltZRdmVdGGEd27HFPmZI81EYLtExO28bFR2dfjrfk3ORHNdUhpcGa3o31tco7MRQtebEqLgcAyAUlvimpcgrTPz_1TamPhu-RefDkYneCmnyrNr/s1600/IMG_0874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3tJ42VQt4NtrF_vP2riAf4fZn9-zUltZRdmVdGGEd27HFPmZI81EYLtExO28bFR2dfjrfk3ORHNdUhpcGa3o31tco7MRQtebEqLgcAyAUlvimpcgrTPz_1TamPhu-RefDkYneCmnyrNr/s320/IMG_0874.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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freezing temperatures, a bitter wind and a blanket of snow covering the ground.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52P4at-XoR-mrH9W0Qi5GYv-PMIVhvPL8YQxxFHWNdkwQ-fToNCO1szb7HQ0HpXmPHf_Cl1EpttfftBx7rGPMcYJDOaThBnHrlPojZZmz041ajsqYAoRstfICQqIjP6YJVbjErYfPxXSC/s1600/IMG_0926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52P4at-XoR-mrH9W0Qi5GYv-PMIVhvPL8YQxxFHWNdkwQ-fToNCO1szb7HQ0HpXmPHf_Cl1EpttfftBx7rGPMcYJDOaThBnHrlPojZZmz041ajsqYAoRstfICQqIjP6YJVbjErYfPxXSC/s320/IMG_0926.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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As temperatures rose and daylight arrived I was delighted to see Goldfinches amongst the visitors to the garden; feeding on last years seed-heads of the Verbena Bonariensis and Teasels that I have not yet cut down.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15v-A-VqC1iC0rkOdgjSqWd-zCZIOMI2vLzmNKEtAfpct3L4Cbo0Go0wA6BUWgjlUIr69LVWE82uchewN8O56ThJBjN6XvMzhhpZ4jnYEJksJnV8-NcoctmaFmMZb-icZ8sEKk00s1ha2/s1600/IMG_0919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15v-A-VqC1iC0rkOdgjSqWd-zCZIOMI2vLzmNKEtAfpct3L4Cbo0Go0wA6BUWgjlUIr69LVWE82uchewN8O56ThJBjN6XvMzhhpZ4jnYEJksJnV8-NcoctmaFmMZb-icZ8sEKk00s1ha2/s320/IMG_0919.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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On a recent trip to Brighton, I found the most charming little book in a second-hand bookshop.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPouFy-AafMfFyLnUh-EWzSv2H-mrhHY-oCMOYVzf3NiOluz51VuTzrlYynUg7Es7nXc4uX3W0vhgi_BUhlSfKRDzv-baO9rYYKFMuYk6uP98zmXsUifLVfA1yDJVIyc7vJzbFxRQHr-o/s1600/IMG_0903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPouFy-AafMfFyLnUh-EWzSv2H-mrhHY-oCMOYVzf3NiOluz51VuTzrlYynUg7Es7nXc4uX3W0vhgi_BUhlSfKRDzv-baO9rYYKFMuYk6uP98zmXsUifLVfA1yDJVIyc7vJzbFxRQHr-o/s320/IMG_0903.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Rather battered, the book was obviously well used, so I embroidered a cover to protect it from further damage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEja3I-TLc05RNGol5oJ0Ye-g-EreFgnm4n7chOAbdusin5jC-Jc5iNz69FEAVVzd9HpItLpsFJZLZEQIyxzYE9y8LDRYkdZur4kZGG23aJQHnwzqyaVawsnFFel8SuDrXjflqPXux0gJ-/s1600/IMG_0907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEja3I-TLc05RNGol5oJ0Ye-g-EreFgnm4n7chOAbdusin5jC-Jc5iNz69FEAVVzd9HpItLpsFJZLZEQIyxzYE9y8LDRYkdZur4kZGG23aJQHnwzqyaVawsnFFel8SuDrXjflqPXux0gJ-/s320/IMG_0907.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuBswxzdZxwKGfUbPmyrmj_7ckxnCeMWdpVBJfXDAOWzI8MEIkJwpxpRHmYM7JGuj9OU4yXgur5Y9oJTexULsTEtMDXeFnIDDA4H6fXtZA19TmXON0M8UMibkOmOb6pC1PsnvbCnO8_ST/s1600/IMG_0901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuBswxzdZxwKGfUbPmyrmj_7ckxnCeMWdpVBJfXDAOWzI8MEIkJwpxpRHmYM7JGuj9OU4yXgur5Y9oJTexULsTEtMDXeFnIDDA4H6fXtZA19TmXON0M8UMibkOmOb6pC1PsnvbCnO8_ST/s320/IMG_0901.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtf2A_Iw4MAGhgwKCjEId5gynMfDWViQfRrrGXPvGgb_ynDti_ayPlX1mkTZr8oHJ6xw6DrtjJY9Yp2RBNh5ClmuE2Ncsg14aa1aRmoFNCBiyl2VoW7dNssW5DegqTIXtunbGR7vqcaWcR/s1600/IMG_0931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtf2A_Iw4MAGhgwKCjEId5gynMfDWViQfRrrGXPvGgb_ynDti_ayPlX1mkTZr8oHJ6xw6DrtjJY9Yp2RBNh5ClmuE2Ncsg14aa1aRmoFNCBiyl2VoW7dNssW5DegqTIXtunbGR7vqcaWcR/s320/IMG_0931.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Beautifully written and presented, the author of the little book - Miss Benson describes the bird as the most warm-blooded and vitally and joyously alive of all the creatures.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFkBDjz0IgNKI_5kjUSOwxSNhB8WKiSXEQCoQ2NNkL9uJ699k_TcYwhFFrGh63auRcDNG17ZJZRCDRUr3PHLPZqcbejsHSdckH34TIZiP2wLTrjN685Ig6cjSdU-aAoNcY1kQnt_cnrof/s1600/IMG_0928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFkBDjz0IgNKI_5kjUSOwxSNhB8WKiSXEQCoQ2NNkL9uJ699k_TcYwhFFrGh63auRcDNG17ZJZRCDRUr3PHLPZqcbejsHSdckH34TIZiP2wLTrjN685Ig6cjSdU-aAoNcY1kQnt_cnrof/s320/IMG_0928.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Of the Goldfinch - she tells how it became a protected bird due to the cruel fashion for capturing and caging it - the majority of them dying in the process. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPW9w7kDNOW72691nlsE9lK3qplW1zhphRBEwgMrDuAql2xo8oAZSMra2Ku9b0AQeq6uXu3nVxIPHREnIvaByWMYyJ77tN8c5MYNNLbQF5lHumsSs3Pb0PvzLJ1e7dibNIoK5FmptvWfO/s1600/IMG_0902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPW9w7kDNOW72691nlsE9lK3qplW1zhphRBEwgMrDuAql2xo8oAZSMra2Ku9b0AQeq6uXu3nVxIPHREnIvaByWMYyJ77tN8c5MYNNLbQF5lHumsSs3Pb0PvzLJ1e7dibNIoK5FmptvWfO/s320/IMG_0902.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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She describes it as one of the most handsome finches and "very dainty in its ways".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMlH1vzxXQrLZoL3JOiG8Ho3WOqxH-JPp9DzsvUgcIomVMV2DE81ike8e1tWOh1UVtiA_WjwRZh67mwKNzNRaN7pbxm9SE3j5thrr3BPE60HH8_8LOVB1OkOklnOtrfbqDQJQeIGizlh-/s1600/IMG_0923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMlH1vzxXQrLZoL3JOiG8Ho3WOqxH-JPp9DzsvUgcIomVMV2DE81ike8e1tWOh1UVtiA_WjwRZh67mwKNzNRaN7pbxm9SE3j5thrr3BPE60HH8_8LOVB1OkOklnOtrfbqDQJQeIGizlh-/s320/IMG_0923.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-P8LH5qi5fsNBOUwdYy4a8h6qq7PWZUILif5kJN-QEwZOmQkVCU9GcARu55UPHTT_Wbrr1ODutjtiLuq8BCenLLT1NLXfSwJz4llq8QpJs4NVjUZht74ifyjh8pGlBceFesiEfaTno-N/s1600/IMG_0924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-P8LH5qi5fsNBOUwdYy4a8h6qq7PWZUILif5kJN-QEwZOmQkVCU9GcARu55UPHTT_Wbrr1ODutjtiLuq8BCenLLT1NLXfSwJz4llq8QpJs4NVjUZht74ifyjh8pGlBceFesiEfaTno-N/s320/IMG_0924.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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"The nest is sometimes deliberately decorated. I have seen one draped with fresh forget-me-nots."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhVEn9DIFzmEDJV4trrvgn7gQSVGKoWjY8cdFBx36-Z35bMMDyqjnnA2JRMt4d2Xn2SPvXr1sALC6NfSRmwWdixhMSbfguwLV89TTqK1Ap4mNw0paP2tNQW7GrFGa8RQMXVg0BFJf7evY/s1600/IMG_0920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhVEn9DIFzmEDJV4trrvgn7gQSVGKoWjY8cdFBx36-Z35bMMDyqjnnA2JRMt4d2Xn2SPvXr1sALC6NfSRmwWdixhMSbfguwLV89TTqK1Ap4mNw0paP2tNQW7GrFGa8RQMXVg0BFJf7evY/s320/IMG_0920.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
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The Goldfinches song is "fairy-like, with notes high and tinkling, reminiscent of Japanese wind-bells."</div>
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On the opposite page to The Goldfinch is The Linnet.</div>
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Miss Benson tells about the mother Linnet who would not leave her chicks in a gorse fire, and covered them until she was burnt to death.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQFB8SMzOcoaDGQ0Tio7m6aIS4Dle77OIQBHDXGead_sn_Q9N0EoFqVewP8tvrkz3QNmT3YhduhyZcgGcJ8XQFt-vaGZOArxErjqB7vaBIlOXHw9UfzX9tphyphenhyphenUnxkrMg8B5N6kKfZAidp/s1600/IMG_0927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1337" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQFB8SMzOcoaDGQ0Tio7m6aIS4Dle77OIQBHDXGead_sn_Q9N0EoFqVewP8tvrkz3QNmT3YhduhyZcgGcJ8XQFt-vaGZOArxErjqB7vaBIlOXHw9UfzX9tphyphenhyphenUnxkrMg8B5N6kKfZAidp/s320/IMG_0927.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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She writes that "this is one of our most loveable little song-birds. It brings with it a breath of gorse-clad hillsides and summer days. The song is sweet; often almost dreamy, at other times rising to an exuberant trilling twitter."</div>
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Like Miss Benson, I have always loved birds and on many occasions rescued them from accidentally being caught in the netting and greenhouses down at the allotment.</div>
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When February's stitching project eventually arrived, I was thrilled to find Nicki had included a lovely piece of old fabric printed with a pink bird.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKfE1BgyiRxYjvDpC0vitOWi1r9iWvT0psrLpWN1JCWThWRo7fZP51eeVaC7GitR6h2rxZTJg2rbmTg5YBvWcKRFNfSDgTcoQjtlENwoHovQXmeg7C05jsXsM8vjAqq031bgb-SgN57a9/s1600/IMG_0889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKfE1BgyiRxYjvDpC0vitOWi1r9iWvT0psrLpWN1JCWThWRo7fZP51eeVaC7GitR6h2rxZTJg2rbmTg5YBvWcKRFNfSDgTcoQjtlENwoHovQXmeg7C05jsXsM8vjAqq031bgb-SgN57a9/s320/IMG_0889.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The delayed arrival meant that I was rather under pressure to complete the embroidery before the March project arrived.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTsPogWSC7QJtcwHuTfWJJNCaPxeBU2Bs6MUuxFdYK9k4MK8VRSwVxWf1obmvCZWoDu5iTdFirqyCm-jsBglHVGFm0aW5_vVnSN3qln960xgFpv84cUG2B5Ff1NvStCdp4US3Ri47-EyO/s1600/IMG_0911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTsPogWSC7QJtcwHuTfWJJNCaPxeBU2Bs6MUuxFdYK9k4MK8VRSwVxWf1obmvCZWoDu5iTdFirqyCm-jsBglHVGFm0aW5_vVnSN3qln960xgFpv84cUG2B5Ff1NvStCdp4US3Ri47-EyO/s320/IMG_0911.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The woven stitch used for the ranunculus was not as complicated than it looked, so all was progressing well until I started on the Bullion Knots!</div>
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Oh my word - what a fiasco!</div>
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I managed to get the thread in a real tangle for my first attempt. (Should've practised on a scrap of fabric first - but I was in too much of a hurry!).</div>
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The second attempt was even worse and I nearly tore the linen. </div>
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Taking a deep breath, I considered that perhaps I was overthinking the stitch. Overthinking is something I have a tendency to do and can be a terrible obstacle to getting things done.</div>
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I tried a different approach. Using my intuition and subconscious mind, I let my fingers and the needle work together and realised that the stitch I have used numerous times as a variation to a French Knot was actually a compact form of Bullion Knot.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vZmZ9qOX9W4U3JUua5yr4gEY0Iy-dOfjEnmqVY6pTcbXrDG7ly097KgmyIARpS-x5bDUHVHlETVq7zZkbNd_OsF-_RFDcgreBIzjEXLSS514Niww8OmpCO7WXBP3ubbLa-5tNWHvb29b/s1600/IMG_0908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vZmZ9qOX9W4U3JUua5yr4gEY0Iy-dOfjEnmqVY6pTcbXrDG7ly097KgmyIARpS-x5bDUHVHlETVq7zZkbNd_OsF-_RFDcgreBIzjEXLSS514Niww8OmpCO7WXBP3ubbLa-5tNWHvb29b/s320/IMG_0908.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Easy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7mCuQ6bOCadS0oZRMnoG6rKMcFhCbOW9CbkJTmM57KranIltBQCuiEOuveu5EN6Rsc86QU19B56YsSLRM6_WqWdzaOmckkktb_IXBJ7F6v1cnuB5VL4aOXTNRyYuYXPsQ04yYz6j4MG4/s1600/IMG_0910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7mCuQ6bOCadS0oZRMnoG6rKMcFhCbOW9CbkJTmM57KranIltBQCuiEOuveu5EN6Rsc86QU19B56YsSLRM6_WqWdzaOmckkktb_IXBJ7F6v1cnuB5VL4aOXTNRyYuYXPsQ04yYz6j4MG4/s320/IMG_0910.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The heart design is complete; The birds are singing, Spring is in the air and there is lots of inspiration for more embroidered pictures.</div>
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Things are looking good!!</div>
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xxx</div>
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<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-33350663094026774752018-01-22T13:58:00.000-08:002019-04-11T00:34:29.583-07:00"The Stitchery"<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I first started blogging as a means to update family who I do not see very often and friends who had moved to sunnier climes. A diary / newsletter of progress of the renovation work and life in general at La Petite Maison along with my soap creations. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEJZKrrIyXf2KyDTZeJcG-Oo1RlV_nWHSIPFw3eFv00xQrY-FsVI23WeJ_ZC4WAx96HENkHqyGbf2eZndMGvE_3fjFsOjcTH-eyrQ1FvUL1GGFNhiliJ-9Ddb8zO1hTRmGSlgw1vXrE_D/s1600/WP_20171029_10_13_49_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="903" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEJZKrrIyXf2KyDTZeJcG-Oo1RlV_nWHSIPFw3eFv00xQrY-FsVI23WeJ_ZC4WAx96HENkHqyGbf2eZndMGvE_3fjFsOjcTH-eyrQ1FvUL1GGFNhiliJ-9Ddb8zO1hTRmGSlgw1vXrE_D/s400/WP_20171029_10_13_49_Pro.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;">That chapter of the renovations was at long last thankfully completed some time ago</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0S-moLnL6yn-lFPqzmEApvVYmJkxmO3XNnQjQAJO3OG6r_I5vFTdEnAFdSN2aHGMi9Uail10CORR8pQJJJpqjmArVvMQYRaaKzzxzHexFnFY5U3lWQ-mwWZ3hin3b3ZqTTU3aRf1oLG8/s1600/IMG_0698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0S-moLnL6yn-lFPqzmEApvVYmJkxmO3XNnQjQAJO3OG6r_I5vFTdEnAFdSN2aHGMi9Uail10CORR8pQJJJpqjmArVvMQYRaaKzzxzHexFnFY5U3lWQ-mwWZ3hin3b3ZqTTU3aRf1oLG8/s320/IMG_0698.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">and my soaping enterprise that I struggled to devote sufficient time to fully developing has diversified and has now begun to encompass my stitching creations.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobcrPJ7XUFYT10wXPAeUHf4Hs4Qc1RyOdV1pnKxadfflyGGjOx3WOryWqMqzfS6jT2bD6-mVd-iD5Vp8ZkPC4Cgowbx9v2mC6piV1F02SDUkmRUvfE40ijQglq2Drulbj2Y6YlvsSgk48/s1600/IMG_0660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobcrPJ7XUFYT10wXPAeUHf4Hs4Qc1RyOdV1pnKxadfflyGGjOx3WOryWqMqzfS6jT2bD6-mVd-iD5Vp8ZkPC4Cgowbx9v2mC6piV1F02SDUkmRUvfE40ijQglq2Drulbj2Y6YlvsSgk48/s320/IMG_0660.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Summer Meadow</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcxIic30AekXDvGTaC5x1Y2wqTIwhANiZ55ZhWZUctqCsHLpCkThrszhee772qZIBONpPhGxnOijKgevoDezSGbntzW1vefbb6S1FPB9_9nbtfD0nhEvdcUZQN78Yxw2ktjJ9nYSpGV7S/s1600/IMG_0653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="1600" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcxIic30AekXDvGTaC5x1Y2wqTIwhANiZ55ZhWZUctqCsHLpCkThrszhee772qZIBONpPhGxnOijKgevoDezSGbntzW1vefbb6S1FPB9_9nbtfD0nhEvdcUZQN78Yxw2ktjJ9nYSpGV7S/s320/IMG_0653.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Wildflowers</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This month I commenced an exciting new project called, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJjjm1-ZifDA7XLvlXmUdUQUJuXfRZiGKHjbzN-1LmemWtJ3zFt641eKEgCg4MZiLHy-iGJRMGPaJAkds-qJdZ1m4cqIMIkMOHJvF7ojpnWGoTjyTUncVedD8ODxmACG1Uz8cVvE0PLjL/s1600/Collage%252Bfor%252BThe%252BStitchery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJjjm1-ZifDA7XLvlXmUdUQUJuXfRZiGKHjbzN-1LmemWtJ3zFt641eKEgCg4MZiLHy-iGJRMGPaJAkds-qJdZ1m4cqIMIkMOHJvF7ojpnWGoTjyTUncVedD8ODxmACG1Uz8cVvE0PLjL/s320/Collage%252Bfor%252BThe%252BStitchery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "\22 calibri\22 "; text-align: justify;">“The Stitchery,”</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VaFV5Fta60rxzE9U3IqmTfrsYHuJ2tkdt4BDlWqw_qFwQj1Nrp2kDyJt1AHgMPaHDjtz49uQ66sq90Ijananq8gqiQ_XER2t_GxW_FzvcIWFffGQr9_b9GVlQTJLAcFMUTh48xMbku9O/s1600/IMG_0818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VaFV5Fta60rxzE9U3IqmTfrsYHuJ2tkdt4BDlWqw_qFwQj1Nrp2kDyJt1AHgMPaHDjtz49uQ66sq90Ijananq8gqiQ_XER2t_GxW_FzvcIWFffGQr9_b9GVlQTJLAcFMUTh48xMbku9O/s320/IMG_0818.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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where I will work on improving my stitching ability with the help of the very talented Nicki - (the creativity behind "The Stitchery.")</div>
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This months embroidery pattern was a wreath containing dried hydrangeas, pepper berries, snowberries and foliage, to be stitched onto the vintage linen with a combination of French Knots, Fly Stitch, Stem Stitch and Lazy Daisy Stitch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-pFokrmuAbDL5s9Akeh45Q03tKKGOzvHAefe2iteqCjjIEAcGvtvpuKfs1o-Z0f_szNRmLAWCODX0gff3zXILwmul-6oV8kHglXKJM0DEzU0Jxd5U9F7XFhW6WQT27aBF9Xu51kWJE3N/s1600/IMG_0834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-pFokrmuAbDL5s9Akeh45Q03tKKGOzvHAefe2iteqCjjIEAcGvtvpuKfs1o-Z0f_szNRmLAWCODX0gff3zXILwmul-6oV8kHglXKJM0DEzU0Jxd5U9F7XFhW6WQT27aBF9Xu51kWJE3N/s400/IMG_0834.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The design was different from any of the embroidery that I have done before, but I enjoyed the intricacy of the stitches. </div>
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I personalised the design slightly by stitching into the centre of the wreath</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga92SCMlDB3P41sPQcD2MFux0hOSgXKgogi5a_UeBuZrFhEFqc2Fj6VILa5K8sWeH0bbVtRIPV8c0U0zEqELGBqAN21zlJb84odiEpGX8sCJ6tkt4cOSXSqYXfd3ZBuc8OgM-XGjeC75is/s1600/IMG_0840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga92SCMlDB3P41sPQcD2MFux0hOSgXKgogi5a_UeBuZrFhEFqc2Fj6VILa5K8sWeH0bbVtRIPV8c0U0zEqELGBqAN21zlJb84odiEpGX8sCJ6tkt4cOSXSqYXfd3ZBuc8OgM-XGjeC75is/s320/IMG_0840.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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a dried Larkspur flower and some Marjoram.</div>
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Next months eagerly awaited design is still under wraps, but before it arrives, I have several other of my own designs waiting to be transferred into stitch. I must confess that this is a very addictive past-time and it is all too easy to become so engrossed that several hours have slipped by unnoticed. </div>
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It is just as well the renovating is finished - I would never be able to fit it in between all this embroidery!</div>
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xxx</div>
<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-32962494089687951002017-12-30T16:11:00.002-08:002017-12-30T16:18:41.764-08:00A Year in The Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Another year is almost over. December is ending with a chill in the air, and it is hard to recall that only a few months ago the sun was shining and the garden was in full bloom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgha67XiXqYuZ5lLKILrfo4DgLhUFojY2P7IcILFR8up7bDgXjX_U1i4zebajlg0yyd1rJA7BhxO7Zcj0lWHBvXS36c3u7u4K3rIMt80EjJiAd7q7UxQTDs31eThexcwmu9TxiSjilybht5/s1600/IMG_0195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgha67XiXqYuZ5lLKILrfo4DgLhUFojY2P7IcILFR8up7bDgXjX_U1i4zebajlg0yyd1rJA7BhxO7Zcj0lWHBvXS36c3u7u4K3rIMt80EjJiAd7q7UxQTDs31eThexcwmu9TxiSjilybht5/s320/IMG_0195.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOjFAHnVYyU4ORuI9k3NHIjyVtt2_LImftez7vr8ZpgSvRcBwhzTlM2XKDh1ShOpU5VjAvm7LGu-XDPBXrsUF7mbdeesblgqUI9VoV7J1Tb9UrH80ojt2QVldE8z_BPlpHyrV5FpC1Wjs/s1600/IMG_0267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOjFAHnVYyU4ORuI9k3NHIjyVtt2_LImftez7vr8ZpgSvRcBwhzTlM2XKDh1ShOpU5VjAvm7LGu-XDPBXrsUF7mbdeesblgqUI9VoV7J1Tb9UrH80ojt2QVldE8z_BPlpHyrV5FpC1Wjs/s320/IMG_0267.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The sweet smelling roses that clothe the outside the back of the house bloomed prolifically.</div>
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Gertrude Jekyll</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5d-Ep0UDTr_27s6Cnig-nPAL5gYlGKEe7BJhbC4zhu9WM0tlJFD5AMq9-jEJE5SUYJL2wsLHBTt-Z7hxpxi2psZ6f_I0Pr2CBc4WTow8Cip6pIjkzomId0x6pGAdF-94hBLhLPQMyCjW/s1600/IMG_0297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5d-Ep0UDTr_27s6Cnig-nPAL5gYlGKEe7BJhbC4zhu9WM0tlJFD5AMq9-jEJE5SUYJL2wsLHBTt-Z7hxpxi2psZ6f_I0Pr2CBc4WTow8Cip6pIjkzomId0x6pGAdF-94hBLhLPQMyCjW/s320/IMG_0297.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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and Mary Rose, </div>
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entwined with Honeysuckle outside the French Windows and underplanted with Lavender.</div>
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The old cottage climbing rose 'Old Blush" had scrambled to the top of the pergola and flowered vigorously for the first part of the summer and then stopped, until a few weeks ago when the cold weather arrived and a few pink roses suddenly appeared as a contrast against the white snow.</div>
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The herbaceous border in the centre of the garden was a tapestry of colour,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarKm-WvD3KNz8t-4msdR-7UqUnTc5xItxbUzSoXmgNCmc2Ga-jRMIalyyY5_0A6DFGtXcQ0Un3YywNrzoC_iyqj_nm0pFt01dikoAH7WfG4sE9C23BKN2Iaugx7MbM8_dt0lL1T6ThpFk/s1600/IMG_0390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarKm-WvD3KNz8t-4msdR-7UqUnTc5xItxbUzSoXmgNCmc2Ga-jRMIalyyY5_0A6DFGtXcQ0Un3YywNrzoC_iyqj_nm0pFt01dikoAH7WfG4sE9C23BKN2Iaugx7MbM8_dt0lL1T6ThpFk/s320/IMG_0390.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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but I realised that the white border should not be called "white" as the flowers do not really look very white;</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbxFoRa8UAzDh8rXKZ6dLxs3l4uQeG-UbmCcaPVjF8qkWpaqCQN2vlLs9F-VTVeYcWE2Mo8OhIirLzxXKnOsvQJ52YNsG5ZJVOQDYPOPVKskM04Z_8x2mOF1RKAq-RBy-ZzPAhE5c7T3f/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbxFoRa8UAzDh8rXKZ6dLxs3l4uQeG-UbmCcaPVjF8qkWpaqCQN2vlLs9F-VTVeYcWE2Mo8OhIirLzxXKnOsvQJ52YNsG5ZJVOQDYPOPVKskM04Z_8x2mOF1RKAq-RBy-ZzPAhE5c7T3f/s320/IMG_0102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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the Cornus Kousa Aurora has pale green bracts that turn cream before fading to white,</div>
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the heads of the hydrangea Annabelle range from shades of lime green through to white,</div>
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and the Verbascum was a beacon to the Bees due to the splodges of bright orange pollen in the centre of the creamy white flowers.</div>
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Another first time bloomer this year was the evergreen clematis - Wisley Cream.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSzPxc4nOo_ATlZG0d_BForSWTIMLJZX00HqCdXBwy2zGYecmCgFWWqKz_fjwsUWU811sg0x1vRzA3-Y3z14vL8f1htg178olczCJbmyInApLefju__4CGUc0nbnFgXh_vmGkICw0M8O2/s1600/IMG_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSzPxc4nOo_ATlZG0d_BForSWTIMLJZX00HqCdXBwy2zGYecmCgFWWqKz_fjwsUWU811sg0x1vRzA3-Y3z14vL8f1htg178olczCJbmyInApLefju__4CGUc0nbnFgXh_vmGkICw0M8O2/s320/IMG_0201.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The beautiful rose Boule De Neige is most definitely a pure white rose but its buds are tinged with pink.</div>
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A white hydrangea in a pot has blooms that start as lime green in colour before turning white and then fade slowly to a faint pink.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-WD86eRCQ1AkM-lxSxMgNY2wYSjBQxVdlX7-lv3oxegOo1vFRc5BKIJECk30MpRHHHny2wfm1GqjLiKOAU9l_V92Qtqp9Kpr-GzBJQuGiCAsk6zfJ6TCKf4dSSrxWX7PKLQOU5C147vv/s1600/IMG_0397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-WD86eRCQ1AkM-lxSxMgNY2wYSjBQxVdlX7-lv3oxegOo1vFRc5BKIJECk30MpRHHHny2wfm1GqjLiKOAU9l_V92Qtqp9Kpr-GzBJQuGiCAsk6zfJ6TCKf4dSSrxWX7PKLQOU5C147vv/s320/IMG_0397.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Last years Hollyhock Nigra was nowhere to be seen, but the three spires of a pale pink Hollyhock towered over the garden at over ten feet tall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit16es-wKgoglRbh9cAncsIGOVLk_0-fdhlFGxG6MRpEvi111ECsDK8v1D0D2IooEKn318wvHskHsRpwM50EVBEKCwDAgQlXrpQdeyO_LtOKAkhJLyy5mfYzvXdBgIAH3aVSTJvHyoDgFt/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit16es-wKgoglRbh9cAncsIGOVLk_0-fdhlFGxG6MRpEvi111ECsDK8v1D0D2IooEKn318wvHskHsRpwM50EVBEKCwDAgQlXrpQdeyO_LtOKAkhJLyy5mfYzvXdBgIAH3aVSTJvHyoDgFt/s320/IMG_0392.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The seating area in the top corner of the garden.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ5WsZSnMgv7aX50oHC5ZbUHChOZIwNgiP6l9S0oFVwsRbpiQWnzrR-GqaavzlDcjCrn5zlfVL8dTzin8lFezSIgIWIzNrV6iQAdCJv_ijz3bFJHDvvGE6mAmXOKe8OPeuouCh7yS-4u1/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ5WsZSnMgv7aX50oHC5ZbUHChOZIwNgiP6l9S0oFVwsRbpiQWnzrR-GqaavzlDcjCrn5zlfVL8dTzin8lFezSIgIWIzNrV6iQAdCJv_ijz3bFJHDvvGE6mAmXOKe8OPeuouCh7yS-4u1/s320/IMG_0418.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Waterlilies in both ponds flowered</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50mvJSv34ij5Wy_BvQOb6sx-3G9-T9FnDI8jGIFRC3bBpQrXeVsVGU-7bRNuSBbr1xfIUgUQWI1KfmKJKiGw_3ZibwVkGjPnX-WqGRezpsIET3DlhXquPADBAET72GIIJcyaplugEhBFC/s1600/IMG_0575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50mvJSv34ij5Wy_BvQOb6sx-3G9-T9FnDI8jGIFRC3bBpQrXeVsVGU-7bRNuSBbr1xfIUgUQWI1KfmKJKiGw_3ZibwVkGjPnX-WqGRezpsIET3DlhXquPADBAET72GIIJcyaplugEhBFC/s320/IMG_0575.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and I was delighted that the little miniature waterlily in the trough also flowered, (although sadly this year here was no sign of <a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/the-end-of-summer.html">Freddy</a> or any of his relatives).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRl6-qZpzsRnvYMcmczVEG_j4wG-j_wdUxC06VtJSg8ELU-JvlC2UY_pFA8-BnokTwVtP8VUTr08g2VNkcdMqEwKOWtgQWZgvdJFiCZFqHnHxydkh9eloIQByTBnz1NdNWdNli5JfPrzAD/s1600/IMG_0403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRl6-qZpzsRnvYMcmczVEG_j4wG-j_wdUxC06VtJSg8ELU-JvlC2UY_pFA8-BnokTwVtP8VUTr08g2VNkcdMqEwKOWtgQWZgvdJFiCZFqHnHxydkh9eloIQByTBnz1NdNWdNli5JfPrzAD/s320/IMG_0403.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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In the front garden a hydrangea (that for the past two years seemed to be sulking and was close to being replaced) at last decided to produce more flowers, so has been given a repreive.</div>
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Bronze Fennel </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2-lIVhyjm9u63AdkjZVcUSd_lkj0ep9u7h83R5Q8nBG9QBr4kokxa8STtfg-3iq561q3F4HXzGjUZxKRj3n5G-rRECklZO4YmBTZzZxMTR5qXboCCtU_Yvb4UGFwhSoDlktX9cQsP0W4/s1600/IMG_0410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2-lIVhyjm9u63AdkjZVcUSd_lkj0ep9u7h83R5Q8nBG9QBr4kokxa8STtfg-3iq561q3F4HXzGjUZxKRj3n5G-rRECklZO4YmBTZzZxMTR5qXboCCtU_Yvb4UGFwhSoDlktX9cQsP0W4/s320/IMG_0410.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and purple verbascum</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgya_T9fhYMJNxTsdnfjIWN3CaskJ2ek_H45KSsBT_O2NlT3KRJhLuPgl4LBAIMT5jAJ2INFm2N37XhRhNkJYjFCEoBN8tbeTk5nczgaULqVITz1Bc7TIGQMO5Qj5pc3PjTofc-V8ONRVzB/s1600/IMG_0409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgya_T9fhYMJNxTsdnfjIWN3CaskJ2ek_H45KSsBT_O2NlT3KRJhLuPgl4LBAIMT5jAJ2INFm2N37XhRhNkJYjFCEoBN8tbeTk5nczgaULqVITz1Bc7TIGQMO5Qj5pc3PjTofc-V8ONRVzB/s320/IMG_0409.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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tangle together amongst the roses outside the windows at the front of the house.</div>
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My time spent in the garden was limited this year, but I had even less to spend at the allotment </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5SdA1dmh_nZ58XH_-m825sogx8Kz0VpwwPK8msWkeDiQYKAb8R6M67o7cmCfvBV6uNIxFupCp85_8nE8tiB42n9aSX4-YU7G6UOVN3IvNOV8iR1uJcXQ-oUdL7G-633oK-Udw9dZsX6J/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5SdA1dmh_nZ58XH_-m825sogx8Kz0VpwwPK8msWkeDiQYKAb8R6M67o7cmCfvBV6uNIxFupCp85_8nE8tiB42n9aSX4-YU7G6UOVN3IvNOV8iR1uJcXQ-oUdL7G-633oK-Udw9dZsX6J/s320/IMG_0424.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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and so it is in desperate need of attention.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Rb5BqoVbtuYuqnUqblzKRVZnmSZ1-gGf4zkKKCRrIWDLYHQn5OeGHo96h0p_xN6ctO8O4faz0nJpOqcBoqBRb9VIkpiyWI9TwCVV9P6KNFc3Nm8r9RRDwD9L175c62SsDz1Jt0fZlT29/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Rb5BqoVbtuYuqnUqblzKRVZnmSZ1-gGf4zkKKCRrIWDLYHQn5OeGHo96h0p_xN6ctO8O4faz0nJpOqcBoqBRb9VIkpiyWI9TwCVV9P6KNFc3Nm8r9RRDwD9L175c62SsDz1Jt0fZlT29/s320/IMG_0426.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Strong winds have blown down the fence and gate, making it look completely neglected and forlorn. However, despite the winter and the cold I have made a start - whilst I wait for help to repair my fences I have been busy planting a new Plum tree and Cob-nut tree. Today I began digging out the old raspberry plants.</div>
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Lots more to do - but I do like a challenge and I am looking forward to next years gardening at the allotment! (Although any offers of help will be most welcome of course - I am not as young as I was when I first took on the plot).</div>
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Happy New Year</div>
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xxx</div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-90104503916553606602017-12-18T13:50:00.001-08:002017-12-31T04:47:46.540-08:00Moving On and Moving In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You may recall the arrival last year of <a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Cat%20Tales">The Black Cat</a>?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROR293iFxRjby0gfA3hwv5ZJKrnnTl8cnl_1jX7Iq3nOkEDRw8gZ1Frg-5DLdsE9ZDCXcu3mwRvDFCQBiFzcCyv68kvsntyA0fUvq9gDUAekNhYUMpXkktYw4rwR3iGNjb0UgwllTd5Op/s1600/IMG_0508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROR293iFxRjby0gfA3hwv5ZJKrnnTl8cnl_1jX7Iq3nOkEDRw8gZ1Frg-5DLdsE9ZDCXcu3mwRvDFCQBiFzcCyv68kvsntyA0fUvq9gDUAekNhYUMpXkktYw4rwR3iGNjb0UgwllTd5Op/s320/IMG_0508.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Throughout the summer the black cat frequently materialised in the garden - silent and aloof, making no attempt to be friendly.</div>
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I watched it as it discovered and indulged in the heady aroma of the narcotic Nepeta cat mint.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rm9k7W0HVU3yPgn3ntQ4OO_CWZUPwJdlLHSPyhuGiWBV8TFedTLWcUMdrIsek8EfBS1Bdh2LTcEg-0iqzJXR5DxmHnZN_ZoxMm9gMZKSPgXOfVLQHYBk4sBJ1B44oXH26FZJNFpL4wni/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rm9k7W0HVU3yPgn3ntQ4OO_CWZUPwJdlLHSPyhuGiWBV8TFedTLWcUMdrIsek8EfBS1Bdh2LTcEg-0iqzJXR5DxmHnZN_ZoxMm9gMZKSPgXOfVLQHYBk4sBJ1B44oXH26FZJNFpL4wni/s320/IMG_0100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then almost a year since it first appeared, the black cat disappeared as suddenly and mysteriously as it arrived.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStww7EyPA0UczLHm6M9JAd4T4gE8FO9eeBCjsgdu1gTUfARD7aPUb15sNSW2HzaP09wayuuXwl6FnPAX64Ilf73ozOrQfwHiOAr35Rzsudm-tluWxzJz-4VVhX8qDw_w04OB_L8ydrD7D/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStww7EyPA0UczLHm6M9JAd4T4gE8FO9eeBCjsgdu1gTUfARD7aPUb15sNSW2HzaP09wayuuXwl6FnPAX64Ilf73ozOrQfwHiOAr35Rzsudm-tluWxzJz-4VVhX8qDw_w04OB_L8ydrD7D/s320/IMG_0579.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Hedge Cat"</div>
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Evie was relieved - she was at last able to snooze under the hedge in peace,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JopcvLOpvtDJi9_otUMkQf-Fic6a1aGiS9POq8S18p15ActfTRQoIay6IaJ66s51oTS4YpPVwT8o-t5QFeTaN-4h6_4twCQzv-FvzXTGgnrTZJSlkEH0rDUw0d4DQUsixHUYQ0a03tVd/s1600/WP_20170520_13_19_25_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="903" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JopcvLOpvtDJi9_otUMkQf-Fic6a1aGiS9POq8S18p15ActfTRQoIay6IaJ66s51oTS4YpPVwT8o-t5QFeTaN-4h6_4twCQzv-FvzXTGgnrTZJSlkEH0rDUw0d4DQUsixHUYQ0a03tVd/s320/WP_20170520_13_19_25_Pro.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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and relax </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yJvnWw8v5Lx5RKWR2LcAoYdFGeAlg_2eV3cwlDRimhnFX-YDcyjRTi6hcuUOxk3tgUb5ZRUIkCv5hKbL5MlMBEi05vgpBeDh9Zu2msZc-bk-ZnCPXnWNqeifIkOf_6ncjzkZuNQnCRnq/s1600/Evie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="903" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yJvnWw8v5Lx5RKWR2LcAoYdFGeAlg_2eV3cwlDRimhnFX-YDcyjRTi6hcuUOxk3tgUb5ZRUIkCv5hKbL5MlMBEi05vgpBeDh9Zu2msZc-bk-ZnCPXnWNqeifIkOf_6ncjzkZuNQnCRnq/s320/Evie.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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while soaking up the summer sun.</div>
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With the unexpected and sad demise of my neighbour, she has become an official resident now at La Petite Maison and has a cosy little kennel in the summer-house.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVK91N39H9mLNEqFQKUFlrwQ0F95vZ8Imp7RiklxsRDuL_j3CGN1zefmVes4eWD83PBygaHBef-9mYe9Pz6VT-mHDfLhws0mF5aCq3c1elTgrg9EWvmcyebg4bBlbwR8_2yGdFQIlQ_4F1/s1600/IMG_0781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVK91N39H9mLNEqFQKUFlrwQ0F95vZ8Imp7RiklxsRDuL_j3CGN1zefmVes4eWD83PBygaHBef-9mYe9Pz6VT-mHDfLhws0mF5aCq3c1elTgrg9EWvmcyebg4bBlbwR8_2yGdFQIlQ_4F1/s320/IMG_0781.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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"I am not amused"<br />
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However, at 15 years of age, and after <a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/no-longer-missing.html">the horrendous injuries inflicted upon her in 2015</a>, she deserves a quiet comfortable life and as the weather turned colder I broke my resolve to not have any pets indoors -<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCxHclRjpVNxpG7IoMucqP1lxFKQGtvIGv_86Lndw2Du46LybAVLN-NC9qw70uoemBywqZaxuoQtA7e7saXavMMKH8_fU9x5NN1yHfUigkcSwr-GEsMa-_iTCQGOrWdNQ2z8zdNTDxB-2/s1600/IMG_0776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1600" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCxHclRjpVNxpG7IoMucqP1lxFKQGtvIGv_86Lndw2Du46LybAVLN-NC9qw70uoemBywqZaxuoQtA7e7saXavMMKH8_fU9x5NN1yHfUigkcSwr-GEsMa-_iTCQGOrWdNQ2z8zdNTDxB-2/s320/IMG_0776.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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so Evie now spends most of her time snuggled up, absorbing the heat in her new little bed beside the radiator underneath my sewing table.</div>
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xxx</div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-19497100230110823122017-11-30T13:14:00.001-08:002017-12-02T14:31:20.049-08:00A Garden in County Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The nights have drawn in and it is bitterly cold outside, but earlier this year when the weather was warmer I discovered a beautiful garden in the Co Down village close to where I live. This hidden garden belongs to the double fronted Wisteria clad Grade 1 Georgian House at the bottom of the hill in the Main Street.</div>
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On the other side of the high stone wall at the rear of the garden are the grounds of the Castle where ancient mature trees provide a lush backdrop to the garden and a sense that the garden continues on further.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NLQACV4v5fIvqe8cW6D-owzo3wC9GaIdaIU5RWfoXBJQ84DLGhyUzMci7_KtU6JKFJ5J88Xjg1KbEls1b8UAyiSSCgg2JA7r4sCDJyTdBuND-qcbCTTqEsyLIBhVd_MN45vOwejHYGNz/s1600/IMG_0299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NLQACV4v5fIvqe8cW6D-owzo3wC9GaIdaIU5RWfoXBJQ84DLGhyUzMci7_KtU6JKFJ5J88Xjg1KbEls1b8UAyiSSCgg2JA7r4sCDJyTdBuND-qcbCTTqEsyLIBhVd_MN45vOwejHYGNz/s320/IMG_0299.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-cRlDi8lorqS4gL9A_kshUgjjF3AN33NCADC4hIRdup5v5DgkmSqA_kz5_gA60HHAjDkZQDD-4H9zOctiOQSAqAoicXmWvh89iY_p0UhTInEc0S-9EtL5_GDeiQmprjS4UDE1qWIdCx2/s1600/IMG_0350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-cRlDi8lorqS4gL9A_kshUgjjF3AN33NCADC4hIRdup5v5DgkmSqA_kz5_gA60HHAjDkZQDD-4H9zOctiOQSAqAoicXmWvh89iY_p0UhTInEc0S-9EtL5_GDeiQmprjS4UDE1qWIdCx2/s320/IMG_0350.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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At the foot of the wall is a pond with stone edging covered in a carpet of "Mind Your Own Business". A huge Gunnera plant and leafy ferns surround the pond.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3UBVT0uG59sBVWJS-zn0W1EbEDqVEugzsdCGnZQd5IWr9AGV6izcsUPITwhlLzrkP1eRR6VZy6h_g8kuv7Q9sSgaI5BQ2y7mgFOBa45TYiLrRmqrbK-VzXuwTtC37GR3zUBx0okyyPJ3/s1600/IMG_0349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3UBVT0uG59sBVWJS-zn0W1EbEDqVEugzsdCGnZQd5IWr9AGV6izcsUPITwhlLzrkP1eRR6VZy6h_g8kuv7Q9sSgaI5BQ2y7mgFOBa45TYiLrRmqrbK-VzXuwTtC37GR3zUBx0okyyPJ3/s640/IMG_0349.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Sitting with my back to the wall and looking back up the garden past the pond, the house could just be seen through a series of archways </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEkLMomuBy8lemQtpnLG-gtiEFI3fJk12A3iiZ6uYC08oh_-HzVMT92Zbeaag9ZoJYHbw3_YQJUNpg1Xy24PH5WO0SfDLkDnq3821YNdNgCgyCSRwNtqBkLPR3c5tYT9QUk1Qo_OCZC6O/s1600/IMG_0313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEkLMomuBy8lemQtpnLG-gtiEFI3fJk12A3iiZ6uYC08oh_-HzVMT92Zbeaag9ZoJYHbw3_YQJUNpg1Xy24PH5WO0SfDLkDnq3821YNdNgCgyCSRwNtqBkLPR3c5tYT9QUk1Qo_OCZC6O/s320/IMG_0313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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that separate the garden into a series of rooms,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTh3BkbxGz0ZpJZY_TnRxgxLHXovzpKgMiiCwCDdq8EWETjfIWERpXRewJekAoFM2lp2stFiGN_ygOEQ9pgBIqASMhqVJoplN1TNegiZi4JRd7k2tKxLAZqpuxV9GOXLrBl7t_VaHTZYU8/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTh3BkbxGz0ZpJZY_TnRxgxLHXovzpKgMiiCwCDdq8EWETjfIWERpXRewJekAoFM2lp2stFiGN_ygOEQ9pgBIqASMhqVJoplN1TNegiZi4JRd7k2tKxLAZqpuxV9GOXLrBl7t_VaHTZYU8/s320/IMG_0347.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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connected by winding paths.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgbVDCt3aR3bjayizwyjgEhZMpf9xeB2o48K1-U2bQ0b-NqOOFzAUM8n4CmGrLFn-72V7yshTtmiRSRCi3gNNiQtzHQ_WR3tPapfBbHUoTe5cLfQxaXROJp-i_Gq310mZzw68694Mh-u-/s1600/IMG_0308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgbVDCt3aR3bjayizwyjgEhZMpf9xeB2o48K1-U2bQ0b-NqOOFzAUM8n4CmGrLFn-72V7yshTtmiRSRCi3gNNiQtzHQ_WR3tPapfBbHUoTe5cLfQxaXROJp-i_Gq310mZzw68694Mh-u-/s320/IMG_0308.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Through a jungle of bamboo a little secret path leads off the main room of the garden,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEc9OnhDrrkFJib-Dy6AsbFSZ25cmxyvslI_G2zpEFuR7RLCHViMayGFkOvrMgX0K63ToEbFvc4qgMtIRFdg8nCUvoe8lfaE2uNKA0EAdDOadHOWSEhXpRaZeyus59djjNMgYYH3WOYMy/s1600/IMG_0335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEc9OnhDrrkFJib-Dy6AsbFSZ25cmxyvslI_G2zpEFuR7RLCHViMayGFkOvrMgX0K63ToEbFvc4qgMtIRFdg8nCUvoe8lfaE2uNKA0EAdDOadHOWSEhXpRaZeyus59djjNMgYYH3WOYMy/s320/IMG_0335.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8MWkQVHFgd-iWXNRsdSdqra5gxCHGbUxfOEFOIox4LnOma54bzPyDBaCyyHUbxoM64SmqRUuETzE8mLV9L7Ffmc-JhvLPkfAhtVH_c30tDfLdaAE1Kg1YQBsfCCyp6zB8frTgiG8ssYc/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8MWkQVHFgd-iWXNRsdSdqra5gxCHGbUxfOEFOIox4LnOma54bzPyDBaCyyHUbxoM64SmqRUuETzE8mLV9L7Ffmc-JhvLPkfAhtVH_c30tDfLdaAE1Kg1YQBsfCCyp6zB8frTgiG8ssYc/s320/IMG_0323.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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twisting alongside the rose clad perimeter wall.</div>
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Valerian grows randomly out of cracks in the old stone walls</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiQuxVghZLBidxqfsOzYeB6msSDMLYONZniHbv17zNmNj2wxOTw-0C8qFjbXuewlBlCnxoLGMhLeMVu80SPzcGO43U1XQobxm0B9_hG-ZLBTtt9vC-Mgh5c9A0bm3MrAara82DTXHI2nu/s1600/IMG_0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiQuxVghZLBidxqfsOzYeB6msSDMLYONZniHbv17zNmNj2wxOTw-0C8qFjbXuewlBlCnxoLGMhLeMVu80SPzcGO43U1XQobxm0B9_hG-ZLBTtt9vC-Mgh5c9A0bm3MrAara82DTXHI2nu/s320/IMG_0360.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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creating an informal and natural oasis<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_b5Pko1YB0GYihoenscX-vX-0TC1gaRCqCEAGYGHQwTt1AcGXINBGF0BVtQl5zvTdua-SHgEgtHFNRz_72lw1rWye-X-ngLoP42r6VY0n5bDVY5Vcsd4k6h2Fl3nU0jRZRlCodsy-SeY/s1600/IMG_0333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_b5Pko1YB0GYihoenscX-vX-0TC1gaRCqCEAGYGHQwTt1AcGXINBGF0BVtQl5zvTdua-SHgEgtHFNRz_72lw1rWye-X-ngLoP42r6VY0n5bDVY5Vcsd4k6h2Fl3nU0jRZRlCodsy-SeY/s320/IMG_0333.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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around the old barn, glasshouse and wonderfully rustic outside WC.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiySU658d__DHiLKYA_DU0qDCLxgPrTEJmpUrFax8CrzRlBc72JqefqxOKVN4_iVzL_F_BzU0OrMNe07uJHMmyuFU0Mey-KcsmCgNESjZFgkuLFTH3BbA5TR1Ub5KCadmjIGj9mvdXZw7/s1600/IMG_0324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="1600" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiySU658d__DHiLKYA_DU0qDCLxgPrTEJmpUrFax8CrzRlBc72JqefqxOKVN4_iVzL_F_BzU0OrMNe07uJHMmyuFU0Mey-KcsmCgNESjZFgkuLFTH3BbA5TR1Ub5KCadmjIGj9mvdXZw7/s320/IMG_0324.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Shells; wind chimes; salvaged vintage ephemera </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbT5uqdldgyqaNDoBipmhLWumfV9jzXBHSH_C8f06BcpMcJ3Qtn3a7YKsuswSaDRoAnj2vMLQwNGbbei1iaAWwBxBRQoEZxqLgph-3o9E9XWUfjpaZxrA-8mjLE9J9AA0NDoT2woumhFJG/s1600/IMG_0327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbT5uqdldgyqaNDoBipmhLWumfV9jzXBHSH_C8f06BcpMcJ3Qtn3a7YKsuswSaDRoAnj2vMLQwNGbbei1iaAWwBxBRQoEZxqLgph-3o9E9XWUfjpaZxrA-8mjLE9J9AA0NDoT2woumhFJG/s320/IMG_0327.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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and reclaimed garden ornaments<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuZ_CC5-K93aqYuJY5HTucYLuRP-rKITcGPuraR-UEZRKOsMh0zGYAPITm6gUz0oCQgGpZiXfCMEuh8kY69Dk7cgMMizlXZL74YRriR0bL-U_86hMusmdprDJ65FQdyrqsZJuAGE6s1_o/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuZ_CC5-K93aqYuJY5HTucYLuRP-rKITcGPuraR-UEZRKOsMh0zGYAPITm6gUz0oCQgGpZiXfCMEuh8kY69Dk7cgMMizlXZL74YRriR0bL-U_86hMusmdprDJ65FQdyrqsZJuAGE6s1_o/s320/IMG_0329.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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like the troughs </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xksxqqYjRU5BQCStLBqjWKxlc7SZOgDz11FcwWUbgkXygFMbq5d-e33-2Qa81_RjXrDacfv0kfT5rRcQfxyzwMwBZElOs91hT64PYwNDERQEFYs_14QlYkK6K6TBdKV2E70XWzGwH8D6/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xksxqqYjRU5BQCStLBqjWKxlc7SZOgDz11FcwWUbgkXygFMbq5d-e33-2Qa81_RjXrDacfv0kfT5rRcQfxyzwMwBZElOs91hT64PYwNDERQEFYs_14QlYkK6K6TBdKV2E70XWzGwH8D6/s320/IMG_0330.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
and bird tables</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyCPPAPRLM-aEoFmFxrqNwOhnbMPzNLk-RRvHIYooJijdqe5MA7OYkXX0f4jgBpCdoC4W2ufcrr7EP81Ok9X4HP-vo8fIY4k_jW-KglAWbSCJf5u161E9b-0UY1cLX5puq6ZeNgjM1W0A/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyCPPAPRLM-aEoFmFxrqNwOhnbMPzNLk-RRvHIYooJijdqe5MA7OYkXX0f4jgBpCdoC4W2ufcrr7EP81Ok9X4HP-vo8fIY4k_jW-KglAWbSCJf5u161E9b-0UY1cLX5puq6ZeNgjM1W0A/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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add a quirky touch to the cobbled yard that leads to the garden.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjN7njhfMa_888IKHXvemi8Yyw13TnfBo_ZUj-G79dTRx8QB8MRpXh3TL5JJBGLaysgELz53zODDpSbF7a5qtZNq4Hgr3YIIqyPnOlH3C0WkzFXpq_YZOTqVDCK1nIsluohcKTKpQO3jh/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjN7njhfMa_888IKHXvemi8Yyw13TnfBo_ZUj-G79dTRx8QB8MRpXh3TL5JJBGLaysgELz53zODDpSbF7a5qtZNq4Hgr3YIIqyPnOlH3C0WkzFXpq_YZOTqVDCK1nIsluohcKTKpQO3jh/s320/IMG_0362.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Scattered unobtrusively throughout the garden are other reclaimed items </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpV63rMAS7XU4LZq-z8ZrwqFrbxj6VKfmr5KdRszmHP8oCRmlCys9fhzSQ1EtQj6wlFk3kHYwueVWGuRp31eCctE4f3u_6eq-NID-vnL3ozTBoYALqW-gy1R6C692thYwruimb3Z49DGl/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpV63rMAS7XU4LZq-z8ZrwqFrbxj6VKfmr5KdRszmHP8oCRmlCys9fhzSQ1EtQj6wlFk3kHYwueVWGuRp31eCctE4f3u_6eq-NID-vnL3ozTBoYALqW-gy1R6C692thYwruimb3Z49DGl/s320/IMG_0307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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that appear to have been there forever and blend seamlessly in with the foliage, such as the old saddlestones,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6ERACHNOY8e1BpRwUhKFxE4tRDiSAIXi1OnVagbT71rl7jA1uIl4NRdIbdOCpq4m2Qr6aWjcF0M0iKrSCbgfhHuH_aGWiYKnaBxiHorODZqSIwkXmynK8FtX7AipAjWqBXwb7shSRsDV/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6ERACHNOY8e1BpRwUhKFxE4tRDiSAIXi1OnVagbT71rl7jA1uIl4NRdIbdOCpq4m2Qr6aWjcF0M0iKrSCbgfhHuH_aGWiYKnaBxiHorODZqSIwkXmynK8FtX7AipAjWqBXwb7shSRsDV/s320/IMG_0345.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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statues</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNkThSIUKFlnvystsVwT-i0dJdpxWyZFN2qNa5VIfkDCc55sWLEQWD2SfU5qfoFTVTqp3H-nZCfi-ircL7E9KGqiqhBy2zcmPRr6CLF3G_i8c6utLO4e7ZJ99ZdQQ_JGnEfIfGVltrUHR/s1600/IMG_0346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNkThSIUKFlnvystsVwT-i0dJdpxWyZFN2qNa5VIfkDCc55sWLEQWD2SfU5qfoFTVTqp3H-nZCfi-ircL7E9KGqiqhBy2zcmPRr6CLF3G_i8c6utLO4e7ZJ99ZdQQ_JGnEfIfGVltrUHR/s320/IMG_0346.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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and a sculpted horses head.</div>
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This is such a gorgeous garden - I am just sorry that my brief visit there did not give me time to fully explore and appreciate it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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xxx</div>
<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5120574499228030478.post-38491669522926259032017-08-22T13:54:00.000-07:002017-08-22T14:07:32.697-07:00Wildflower Meadows <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the past few months - an unforeseen intensive work project has consumed my time since I last wrote a post on my blog. During the day my brain cells frazzle and my eyes sting with the glare of the computer screen, but in the evenings I have logged off my PC and spent several sunny hours walking and absorbing the beauty of my natural surroundings.</div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Although I live on the outskirts
of a city, I am fortunate to be surrounded by a beautiful regional park that is
designated an Area of Outstanding Beauty. A short walk away from my home is the
canal which runs parallel to the river and leads to <a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/taking-time-to-smell-roses.html">the Rose Gardens</a>.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This summer, it has
become an evening routine to take a stroll along the towpath running alongside
the canal and the river.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkRU1N84-L4yUoCngPh-MRdfuifqTGebTxV1udkHS7HYSVc3Xc6lxwimTj9t8mNMdUg24nzs0UgwHt0hzco9A47KCcWfrP8hE_BNSg6AIPgxUEqGp2NZAhZcZRRgZlT2mdwJ1JEXR1CYI/s1600/IMG_0453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkRU1N84-L4yUoCngPh-MRdfuifqTGebTxV1udkHS7HYSVc3Xc6lxwimTj9t8mNMdUg24nzs0UgwHt0hzco9A47KCcWfrP8hE_BNSg6AIPgxUEqGp2NZAhZcZRRgZlT2mdwJ1JEXR1CYI/s320/IMG_0453.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In the evening sun,
the impressionistic reflections of the old stone bridge over the river merge
with the leafy trees.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDf6r72kQbjPMCUIVO4dIHf1tBUqYBLyl0b2-S2IIclQ2S3cZXizOxCJIOooiDdVmZrb_R1yfFWrkRQlf0AYniZ0ieXmd1TWEwGhNt9E67rwa_mV9y44W3XsWv7iOeiUtg79LMUuTu3VA/s1600/IMG_0489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDf6r72kQbjPMCUIVO4dIHf1tBUqYBLyl0b2-S2IIclQ2S3cZXizOxCJIOooiDdVmZrb_R1yfFWrkRQlf0AYniZ0ieXmd1TWEwGhNt9E67rwa_mV9y44W3XsWv7iOeiUtg79LMUuTu3VA/s320/IMG_0489.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Walking in such peaceful scenic countryside, it is possible to switch off to the modern day world; connecting
with nature and reality - being free from life lived and controlled through
phones and screens; and where madness now seems to prevail.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Wildlife abounds on the canal –
moorhens, greebs and mallards materialise from the reeds at the riverbank leading
their broods of ducklings downstream, the parents fussing as they gather them together
again when their fluffy off-spring break away from the orderly procession.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There may no longer be any barges
sailing between the locks, instead stately swans glide majestically along the
canal towards the river, ignoring the squabbling broods of ducklings.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Swifts and swallows swoop low over
the water, crisscrossing from the fields and meadows on the opposite side.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Occasionally I have seen a
Kingfisher perched on a low overhanging branch above the river, poised to dive.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fish (brown trout) create ripples
as they break the surface of the water jumping for flies.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Before it can become too idyllic –
it is impossible to forget the hordes of viciously biting midges that relish feasting
upon any skin they detect even if it is covered up with clothing, thus inflicting
misery upon me, (not only on my evening strolls but also recently ruining my
enjoyment of the allotment).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiNLh5URuli0QBX10wzytoqWAZ4naHcTFB0bXNtb2pZ1IOr-nkt2zHVaodfvKlYqfGCgAWwJHsRCgfMrTlg6jmilpTFugnjRz30m9yv_Z-jgwP45sUdyJYWUyhepTcAjncv12_M3EWnn-/s1600/IMG_0495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiNLh5URuli0QBX10wzytoqWAZ4naHcTFB0bXNtb2pZ1IOr-nkt2zHVaodfvKlYqfGCgAWwJHsRCgfMrTlg6jmilpTFugnjRz30m9yv_Z-jgwP45sUdyJYWUyhepTcAjncv12_M3EWnn-/s320/IMG_0495.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXuWLFXqcUqVPyI_3lUvULJKdmNBXjVXvzh0bWoi09jXksWcID09sKoPz8vzBOZ-MNgSlByV07ipJuna5UoTsMuk3yGnYJIxW5Rrhd3fl6YUH2JFaYC2PbJmpj2MenmGns8S_w1IUXZVx/s1600/IMG_0497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXuWLFXqcUqVPyI_3lUvULJKdmNBXjVXvzh0bWoi09jXksWcID09sKoPz8vzBOZ-MNgSlByV07ipJuna5UoTsMuk3yGnYJIxW5Rrhd3fl6YUH2JFaYC2PbJmpj2MenmGns8S_w1IUXZVx/s320/IMG_0497.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">En-route to the Rose Gardens, trees
overhang the canal creating deep shadowy reflections and a stillness on the deep
water beneath the high sandstone bridge.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT0JuJ9J-Rf0P0R7sSwM6RVxc6ywbAW3l0-DtESpD0IA15K7EqNP4Vi8D_1xYAhnxxzBfoLQGsxJ9gsT4Fbonw8OatUOZNRtEbE5xOszoFdpyJaQYcexvp0Vpo7mMyvxpiAfvDcfhh_RR/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT0JuJ9J-Rf0P0R7sSwM6RVxc6ywbAW3l0-DtESpD0IA15K7EqNP4Vi8D_1xYAhnxxzBfoLQGsxJ9gsT4Fbonw8OatUOZNRtEbE5xOszoFdpyJaQYcexvp0Vpo7mMyvxpiAfvDcfhh_RR/s320/IMG_0488.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Hidden in a clearing in the
woodland near the stone bridge, the lock-keepers cottage pervades a sense of
mystery and of a dwelling that time forgot.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Since becoming captivated by
embroidery, I have become obsessed with capturing images of wildflowers. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbx34EB4YuTjRwloxz-yEd8TvSrgIQAfM1TXaqCAS4d1yCPwVNvo8jBJCzMRCDWdKOGSMl9Zc59cV6TKLmfqd6fTXK3Eljv2__jSBq5PQN13KwL-7A-3Kebp9FT36mDmUC9yCXGHavGLa/s1600/IMG_0496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="1600" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbx34EB4YuTjRwloxz-yEd8TvSrgIQAfM1TXaqCAS4d1yCPwVNvo8jBJCzMRCDWdKOGSMl9Zc59cV6TKLmfqd6fTXK3Eljv2__jSBq5PQN13KwL-7A-3Kebp9FT36mDmUC9yCXGHavGLa/s320/IMG_0496.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Cow
Parsley, Lady’s Smock and other wildflowers grow in abundance at the side of
the path. As I walk, creative thoughts flow of how I can transpose the images
onto linen with thread.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">One evening our route deviated away
from the river and we walked through t<a href="https://soapsandroses.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/taking-time-to-smell-roses.html">he rose gardens</a>. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFUIAOhD9wNwdLKmqsPSahYxyrYCaT6YyGQUlIhe-OgkeNyzSuNW0b0OvvafYf_4kl5pK1o0Mm9BGBcoJ8e9BWSLEuZBq517hb5q9o_B6wAUWw2JtpmyREBX4AYtYZbO9EdFJDwpFWq2r/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFUIAOhD9wNwdLKmqsPSahYxyrYCaT6YyGQUlIhe-OgkeNyzSuNW0b0OvvafYf_4kl5pK1o0Mm9BGBcoJ8e9BWSLEuZBq517hb5q9o_B6wAUWw2JtpmyREBX4AYtYZbO9EdFJDwpFWq2r/s320/IMG_0472.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On this occasion it was
not the old-fashioned pink roses that caught my eye, but the surprise addition
of a wildflower walk.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Poppies swayed in the
gentle breeze,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> a splash of colour amongst the soft tones of the cornflowers.</span></div>
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As usual, I got carried away with snapping images of flowers, floating and dancing; a rainbow of colours.</div>
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I will leave you here to wander through the meadows.....</div>
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I hope you enjoyed your walk.</div>
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So many flowers.... when will I have time to embroider them all?</div>
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xxx</div>
<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12593630630391497419noreply@blogger.com0