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 February 2014

DRAW RESULT AT LAST


We have the internet, the phone AND the Polo back, all on the same day. Things are looking up. I've felt bereft without the internet - far more than the phone, which is rather worrying. I realise I do pretty much everything online. I had to go down into Chagford on Tuesday to use my Mum's i-pad for the grocery shopping rather than actually make the journey to the shop. In my defense, the shop is over twenty miles away. I'm sceptical as to how long the internet will last so I'm getting a quick post in before it disappears again. 

This morning OB wrote a sweet little sign in his rather eccentric handwriting, and drew out the winner who is...........




Congratulations Cait (http://caitsphotos.blogspot.co.uk/), the cards will be on their way as soon as you send me your address. Shameful fraying on OB's school jumper; he shreds it with his teeth during lessons and I haven't got round to hemming it yet. He is not alone in doing this I'm glad to say.

While I've been away, there have been few opportunities to take pictures thanks to the weather. I have rarely been so glad to live on high ground. We may be getting the same amount of rain or snow, but at least it drains down into the streams and rivers. We are so lucky not to be flooded as so many are. Water can be such a force for calm and yet so destructive too. I did happen to have the camera with me as I set out on a seemingly sunny afternoon. Ten minutes later, this happened:






Ten minutes after that:


I took these in Trigger's paddock one evening. Incidentally, I just had a phone call from our neighbours who own said paddock, telling me he seemed to have escaped into the next door field. My fault.....I forgot to close the gate properly last night....oops.



One day in the week, I can't remember which, we had a sunny walk with no rain whatsoever. Miraculous. The paths were still like streams though:


Very strong winds visible only through the medium of Snippet's fur:



Someone was lost and making a lot of noise about it:



The kitchen window has been streaming with water most of the time, so only a few bird pics:




As I've got out of the habit of taking the camera this week, I have forgotten it on a couple of occasions and suddenly remembered the smart phone (which has been a godsend in the absence of other means of communication) and its camera. Because it runs on Android, I can access them on the laptop in a way I've never been able to with previous phones. I think they're a bit weird but see what you think:





Hmmm - not for me. I've done nothing to them and I think they need quit a lot doing to them, particularly that first one - the colour reminds me of an old Polaroid.

We've had power cuts, another plumbing emergency involving a valve under the kitchen sink and LOTS of snow, but I still feel lucky and very excited to have the internet back. I'm off to search for yet another new phone as the lightning fried our nice cordless one.....AGAIN. So, until next time, lovely to be back, happy valentines if you celebrate such things, thanks for your comments while I was out of action and here are those boys trotting down a fairly dry looking path.


50 comments:

  1. So pleased you got the internet back...I know how you feel without it, yes that is worrying isn't it, lol. Plus you got the car back, yay.
    Congrats to Cait - lucky girl.
    Tell OB his handwriting is Perfect, so nice he helped you with the draw.
    Try to keep warm, it's howling here.

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    1. I love the handwriting too but it's sometimes completely illegible. He should be a doctor. Howling here too!

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  2. The three wide angle shots 3, 4 and 5 up from the bottom Em are very nicely set out, especially the middle one where you have used the "Thirds" system. Great.

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    1. Thanks Roy. I hadn't heard of the thirds system but I think, looking at it, I know what it is now!

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  3. Glad all is well.
    Always a series of spectacular Em.
    The lost one on the rocks ~ magnificent !

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    1. Thanks Willow. All is getting better.....hope it's good for you too.

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  4. You still take bloody good photos, even with a phone. I was beginning to think that it was all down to the equipment.

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    1. Thank you Tom. We're obviously sitting at the computer at the same time....avoiding the rain. There was a fantastic canine arsehole shot I nearly put in but it was just too graphic. Sorry.

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  5. Welcome back! Nice to know you are OK in all this weather. Those phone pics are pretty clear- more so than mine anyway, but I know what you mean- slightly garish in terms of colour. OK for an emergency record tho, which is what I use mine for. Have a lovely weekend Em x

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    1. You too CT. I kind of wish I hadn't published them!

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  6. I'm so glad that someone else uses the slips of paper in a jar for a give away.
    Good to hear you are all connected to the world again. Hopefully all the other issues have sorted themselves out too.
    The weather ... not much we can do about it, but complain and carry on.

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    1. Poor dogs went to the door for a walk, stuck their noses out and rushed back in.....not even a wee was had!

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  7. Holy Cr@p! What a mixed bag o' weather!
    Congrats to Cait. Love the glass goblet of good luck!
    Jane x

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  8. So good to see you back Em. I know what you mean about the Internet withdrawal symptoms. I REALLY rely on mine as a means of keeping in touch with friends, blogging ones and otherwise.

    Well done to Cait (and for OB's input). I think sleeve chewing is a fairly common school habit!

    Very atmospheric photos - you are so CRUEL to those poor dogs, taking them out in such weather!!! Like you, we are glad we live nearer the top than the bottom with this recent weather.

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    1. The poor dogs have a lower centre of gravity and just now, out in the silly mph winds, they didn't seem bothered at all. I, on the other hand, nearly fell over at least ten times! Thank goodness no one ever sees me out there. Lovely to be back! xx

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  9. Your photos are brilliant, whatever you think. They bring another part of the country right into my living room - that's what I like. I'd forgotten about boys eating sleeves - our son did that too, I was always mending. He's 32 now - doesn't do it anymore!

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    1. That gives me hope. He has the option to wear a dark blue fleece which is MUCH nicer but it's suddenly not the fashion any more. He didn't seem to get any joy out of chewing that!

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  10. Remembering how the wind blows up there, even on a good day, you were indeed brave to be out. What I love to watch is how the birds have been flitting through, seemingly regardless. We were out fence mending yesterday, there's only one short stretch but the wind seemed to find it. Unfortunately it's got the electrical gubbins for the waste treatment plant attached to it.. can't be without that!

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    1. If that goes wrong we are definitely without a paddle.

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  11. Good to see you back with us. I can't believe how horizontal that rain is in those pictures! We're in for another night of it tonight by the looks of it! Stay safe x

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    1. SNOW Bridget....no warning, well, other than the huge dark grey cloud rushing towards me and then fast moving white stuff. If it has been rain, I wouldn't have bothered getting the camera out. I didn't actually get that wet!

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    2. Oops, I can see it's snow, don't know why I typed rain!

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    3. It was probably auto-corrected or perhaps you were on weather autopilot given current conditions!

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  12. Wonderful photos again Em, thank you. They made me feel cold and goose bumpy. It's got to be bad for "real dogs" to back away from a walk! A friend has Westies and they are sooks, but our Goldie loves the rain. Hope the internet continues to perform, and you remain safe and warm.

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    1. We're still on line....I can't quite believe it!

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  13. Stunning photos (including the phone ones - I think that bright, colourful, polaroid look has been revived for another generation!). That first one of the sudden rainstorm is my favourite - it must have been quite heavy for it to show on camera like that!

    Glad that you are safe and not at risk of flooding, even if the loss of internet is an inconvenience. I can relate - last year we lost power for a few days after a cyclone and I was so so so lost without my laptop and phone!

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    1. I always thought I would resist being addicted to technology but I am well and truly hooked. I was having virtual cold turkey.

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  14. So glad that you are back and safe and sound Em and that you have entered over at mine! I hope that you keep your power, and internet and car!!!! Take care of yourself. Happy Valentines Day. xx

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    1. Looking forward to getting back reading other people's blogs....including yours obviously!

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  15. Gorgeous photos - the first one of Dartmoor reminds me of a painting. So glad you have the internet back - I was without my desktop for several days this week and was like a bear with a sore head!! even though I had use of an ancient laptop.

    Take care and stay safe.

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    1. Thanks RR and you're right about that first one. I might try and actually paint it one day.

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  16. I suppose you could say Em, that because we are only getting the odd Spring like day in the midst of all this terrible weather, we value it all the more.

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    1. We certainly do. Tomorrow isn't looking too bad. Keep safe Pat.

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  17. Glad you've got the internet back, it's been fairly awful weather! No snow this side of the moor but just lots of wind and rain, hope you survived last night's latest offering? Stay safe :-)

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  18. I love OB's glass goblet o' good luck - it sounds very magical. And congratuations to lucky Cait! Although I'm used to be being out in the rain I'm not sure I'd want to get caught in that wild weather out on the moor, it looks very exposed. Having said all that, I bet it's worth it to see it transform in that lovely sunshine. Those gorgeous views would be worth anything!

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    1. Without those views I certainly wouldn't bother!

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  19. I tried to leave a comment the other day but IT failed me. Love OBs handwriting. I did think about you on Wed night when our lights were flickering. Love the images and especially the fleece of the lost sheep in the wind. Agree the camera phone is slightly off colour, but your photos are beautifully composed, so it's not noticeable. Very handy to have it though so you don't have to have the camera at all times.

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    1. I'm using it more and more with the rain being so awful. I think I need to fiddle with those colours a bit before I publish any more though!

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  20. Congratulations to Cait and I loved OB's cute turn of phrase, AND his frayed cuff because to me that is such a boy thing, having one of my own now all grown up and married I might add. Glad you're back on line and hope it lasts! Loved this latest series of photographs.

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    1. There are lots of girls doing it now too. I hope it doesn't point to increased youth anxiety!

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  21. Congrats to the lucky winner ! I hear you have been getting quite the weather over at your place, Em? I could send you quite a few buckets of snow to add some contrast if you like? Love the lonesome sheep, and all of course. No matter to the fraying, I have a few like that myself xx

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    1. I'd be a lot happier with snow at the moment.....at least it stays still! I know you've been having a pretty awful time too though Cindy. It's generally been a pretty dire winter.

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  22. Congratulations to your winner! Those pictures really capture the rain! I went down to Plymouth last week with colleagues for a meeting. The journey down there was horrendous but discovered sunshine at our destination! The smart phone gives the pictures a completely different colour. Sarah x

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    1. It makes lots of them look really like paintings too, which doesn't always work. Useful when you can't take the camera though. Lucky Plymouth!

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  23. Whoop Whoop...thanks for all the congratulations. I never win anything so this was a really lovely surprise. The notelets have arrived by post and are of course beautiful. Aren't I lucky? Thank you Em and a special thanks to OB.xx

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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.