CHRISTMAS CARDS, LIGHTING STRIKES AGAIN AND THE GOLDEN PLOVERS ARE BACK

Many apologies for my absence; we had ANOTHER lightning strike last Wednesday and have had no internet until last night. How depressingly reliant I am on it. I felt panicky, isolated and desperate. But I'm back and have picked these four favourite snowy scenes for Christmas cards but need to know how many of you are interested this year. After last year's financial loss due to my forgetting Etsy's commission, I've had to build that in this time and am wondering if eBay might be a better bet. Your opinions would be appreciated as well as any definite orders as I'll have to talk to the printer as soon as possible. I thought a pack of eight 12x12cm cards, two of each design and MUCH better quality than last year having discovered my lovely printers in Cornwall. The company supports the Woodland Trust and only uses carbon captured papers which are sustainably sourced. £6.00 for eight plus £1.30 postage in the UK. I'll have to check outside the UK. I think two packs would still be okay at £1.30 P&P as I will pack them flat like last year, but more than that could move out of the 'large letter' format. Do let me know if you're interested.

For the last few weeks we have had a builder in hacking the render off the house as it was falling off all over the place.....too much sand in the mix. This is what it looked like when he'd done half of it; what looks like lovely granite blocks revealed on the left are actually horrible concrete ones, hence the render.

He has put polystyrene insulation all over the wall before the render goes on:

The rains came then......update soon I hope.

The Golden Plover flock is back. I was so delighted when I heard their distinctive call overhead the other day. They fly round and round for half an hour at a time.........

................before landing and pottering about on the same patch of ground every day. I'm hoping to get some better shots than this soon but Jack is NOT helping matters as you can imagine. I think their markings are just beautiful. 

I don't know this foal or its mother but it's very sweet:

Rainbow cow:

View through the Beech and wall:

Shelter belt rainbows:

The Long Stone or Three Boys as it's known. It marks the boundary of three parishes:

Bronze age hut circle with a view:

It's good to be back in the cyber-world. Birthdays are coming up and I was beginning to panic. OB goes on his residential week in Brixham next Monday and there were things I wanted to bid on on eBay. Never mind. I'm labeling EVERYTHING, even his socks. I find a biro is good for writing on clothes. It never comes out and is much cheaper than a so called laundry marker. My tip for the day. So, until next time, hope you've had a good week - I'm about to go and attempt to find out from all those of you who write blogs - and here are the boys in the browning grass of Autumn. Don't forget to let me know about those cards.......thank you!