THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

14 August 2014

AUGUST GOLD


Another week gone by and almost the halfway point of the holiday. OB and I had our first day free from friends and visiting today and it was rather a relief to be honest. I caught up on some of the increasing pile of admin, if not the increasing pile of ironing. I've managed to scupper summer by buying OB a season ticket for the pool. Instant rain and a chill in the air. 

The moor at the moment, is turning gold as we head for autumn. Contributing to this, is the fact that there is more gorse in flower than I think I have ever seen here at one time. The grasses are browning at the tips and the combination is stunning in all lights. 


















These next ones are taken on my phone and, blown up, they look like paintings don't you think?






Someone was looking at me when I went to see Trigger the other day:



We have a family of Buzzards nesting somewhere in the shelter belt. I just couldn't get a good one of all four of them together but here are a few of the parents:




I trimmed the hedge by hand at the weekend. I can't believe we only planted it three and a half years ago:


The skies have been grey for days now:


The people I went to see about Trigger last week came to see him yesterday. Unfortunately, the day before, he had his idea of the day from hell. The extremely kind farmer who lets me put him in with the Madams decided to move them back up to the original field closer to us. Unfortunately, this move involved herding them with a quad bike and I imagine much shouting. When I got to him later that afternoon, he was in a complete lather, prancing about and not letting me anywhere near him. Luckily, the next morning, with much calming, I managed to get him home. He was like the pony I met four and a half years ago and I was in tears at the prospect of months of work. However, when I introduced them, he was a little better but he really isn't what they're looking for. They said something very telling: that he needs ME being the constant in his life for the first time in his life. Looks like we're stuck with each other.




On Saturday we're off to Kingsand in Cornwall, just over the Sound from Plymouth. A week in a tiny cottage in a place we had a lovely holiday five years ago. Three days after I had my accident, we were supposed to go there but obviously didn't. We'll be away for the third anniversary of that horrible day. I still feel lucky to be here every day.

So sorry I'm being such a rubbish follower at the moment. I snatch ten minutes here and there when I can but OB  and his antics are dominating most of my time. One of the biggest things is the fact that he's going to bed a bit later and I end up with an hour and a half of time without him being around wanting to chat and comment on his every move! I know ten is early for me to be going to bed, but I'm up at six thirty every morning. So, until next time, when we get back, here is Jack in the grass. Snippet is being shy again. 


44 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos as usual, have a wonderful holiday xx

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  2. Lovely post....enjoy your holiday.

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    1. I will and love your new little picture....the google ID one.

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  3. Enjoy the time away...and don't dwell on the past,eh.
    Jane xxx

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  4. Absolutely beautiful. I would love to see this part of the world someday.
    So sorry Trigger had a bad experience. Hopefully he'll feel safe quickly now that he's home.
    Have a great holiday.

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    1. If you ever make it, I hope you'll come for tea.

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  5. Your photos of the moor always draw me in--the wide lonely spaces are similar in ways to the high desert of Wyoming. I had to google 'gorse'-wanting to see if it had a scent. [Coconut?]
    Butterflies in the previous post are beautiful--even those with tired and ragged wings.

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    1. It does smell of coconut! OB and I like to eat them too but they're a little bitter.

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  6. Just amazing. Looks like August is filled with golden surprises.

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    1. It feels a bit early to be honest. I'm sure this browning shouldn't be happening until September!

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  7. Your pics are simply beautiful, as always. Poor Trigger, but I'm glad he's got you as his constant - take care of each other. Have a lovely happy holiday,
    xx

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    1. Our neighbour will be feeding Trigger so I hope he doesn't think he's been abandoned!

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  8. The golden colours do seem to be earlier this year, I've noticed that too. But I'm looking forward to seeing the moor again, when you get back from your hols. Have a great time, I hope the weather is on the turn.. I've got loads to catch up on outside, not least get the whip back out on the earth shifting. Take care x

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    1. I managed the grass today so it won't be a foot tall when we get back. There's a lot to be said for a border without many flowers and lots of foliage as there's nothing to dead head. x

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  9. I hope that you enjoyed your time at home and that you can snatch a few more moments here and there, shame that things didn't pan out for Trigger, perhaps you and he are meant to be together! xx

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  10. We have a saying over here : That when Gorse/Furze is in flower, kissing is in season.

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    1. Never out of flower here; I love that saying.

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  11. Sorry things didn't work out with Trigger and the new people- how frustrating to find him in a wound up state at that time of all times. Have a lovely break Em xx

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    1. Thanks CT. He's having a couple of nights back with the Madams before I pick him up in the morning for a week here at home on his own. Let's hope I can catch him! xx

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  12. You've got a busy life Em, please don't worry about not visiting as priorities take precedence and blogging is always here waiting for you when you have the time. These are incredible photos of the Moor and the sweet animals. Trigger is one beautiful horse, sad he was herded in such a scary manner and I hope he settles down soon. Happy weekend to you and OB and your family, two-legged and four-legged ones :)

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    1. He really does look like a horse doesn't he? When I stand next to him it's clearer that he's tiny.....only 13.3hh! x

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  13. Have a lovely holiday and I am glad that Trigger and you are meant to be cellmates : ) I am cross the way he was rounded up by the farmer on the quad bike though. That's the sort of thing they do round here too. The gorse is SO beautiful and made into wine it tastes AMAZING! Like liquid sunshine.

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    1. I'd love to try the wine. I'm allergic to grapes so gin is really the only option! I'll have to get the recipe from you BB.

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  14. The gorse is absolutely gorgeous! What stunning photos! All the photos of the moor were lovely. To put all in perspective is to notice the small white dots which are sheep. At that moment you go, "oh, huge"! Loved the photo of the sheep with the black face.

    Maybe one day the perfect situation for Trigger will come along. Meanwhile enjoy the beautiful season.

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    1. I think we're just stuck with each other Gail. Had I not had the accident we would still be cantering happily over the moor together but now he's just a very big pet!

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  15. That wide shot of the valley covered in yellow flowers is simply stunning! Why do you think the gorse is more prolific this year than most? It prefers sunny and conditions to get going perhaps? Love that majestic Buzzard shot too.

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    1. I don't know Christian but we did have a very mild winter followed by a wet spring and then three months of amazing sunshine. I have no idea what gorse likes but I guess that must be it. Do you have it is Australia? Or anything similar? The smell of coconut when it's in bloom is amazing.

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  16. Hope you have a wonderful holiday in Cornwall. I can remember some rather wet Augusts when there were five or six teenagers cooped up in a tiny cottage near Lostwithiel. We went to every cinema in the county! I hope you have better luck with the weather.
    Such splendid gorse photos - we don't have gorse in the US - or if we do, I've never seen it.
    Lovely to see Trigger - a horse with obvious 'character'!
    All best.

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    1. The weather isn't meant to be great unfortunately but we'll make the best of it. If the worst comes to the worst, OB has said he'll teach me how to solve the Rubik's cube.....good luck to him there!

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  17. Lovely Dartmoor photos - the gorse looks just wonderful - autumn gold indeed :) I'm sorry to hear that things didn't work out for Trigger - perhaps you are both meant to be together? Hope you have a wonderful holiday :)

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    1. I'm writing this from our TINY holiday cottage on my phone. It's just lovely to get away from responsibilities.

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  18. Some wonderful images of Dartmoor Em, the colours are an amazing contrast. So sorry to hear about Trigger, animals are wonderful but can be very demanding and are such a long term responsibility. Hope you're having a great holiday.

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    1. Thanks - I think we really are just stuck with each other. It wouldn't be a problem if we had our own land!

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  19. Enjoy your holiday - sounds heaven.

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    1. We're really enjoying ourselves. Feels a bit chilly though after the heatwave. OB swimming none the less!

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  20. Do have a lovely break, and share some photos - but only when you really have time! We're very fortunate that you share so much with us. I realise you hoped the visitors for Trigger would love him as you do, but I agree with the others who have commented, he needs you to be " on his side" when life gets too scary. He is beautiful. That liver chestnut colour is so rich.

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    1. I suppose they were the first people I really felt could give him the love he needs but never mind. He's starting to go grey on his face any a few flecks elsewhere so maybe he'll end up like Lady Jane, the grey madam; she used to be liver chestnut apparently!

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  21. Breathtaking photos; I love them and I'm putting you on the sidebar of my new blog so I don't miss any of your posts. All the best from your new follower in France !

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    1. Hello from France! Lovely to meet you and I'll pop over and visit once I have a decent mobile signal....

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  22. Beautiful photos, and Trigger is gorgeous, a delight to look on, so if you have to be together for the next few years, so be it.

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  23. Gorgeous golds across your world in those August shots.
    I think they are right Em Trigger needs you . Horses look for a confident, firm, fair, leader that they can trust, even in their humans, it helps them see their world as safe and stable.

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment. It's great to read them and I will always try to reply.