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

13 May 2014

BITS AND PIECES 9


I wanted to start today's bits and pieces with this lovely cherry blossom on a tree in the grounds of OB's school. Phone pics I'm afraid but what a beautiful thing it is.


Our fears were not realised regarding the Ten Tors in that we weren't inundated with vehicles! Here is the tent near the road...


Tents in the early morning sunshine in the far distance:


This is the only picture I got of the teams.....those tiny coloured dots in the distance:


And the now extremely muddy tracks they trudged up and down:



Checkpoint Kestor.....


It was absolutely horrendous over the weekend, with high winds and rain. Rather them than me! Here's a Chaffinch with a windy ruff:


Guilty looking Sparrow


The bungalow next to my Mum's is for sale but the owners seem to be neglecting the front patch of lawn which is a foot high with grass and dandelions. Amongst this very depressing sight, I spotted four tulip buds, drowning at the edge. I'm ashamed to say I picked them and brought them home. They were absolutely beautiful:


The cows were right......it rained a minute or two later:


I love the tiny sliver of moorland beyond the darkness of the forest here:


Female Stonechat:


Scut:





Nib:




And the little half sibling of Number 3. I'm going to guess it's female and call her Tertia to continue the theme of three. No doubt the next time I see her, she will in fact be a he like last year. Hopeless. 




Sometimes I feel like the moor is the edge of a different world:


Those posturing colts again:




A snoozy one:


They really don't appreciate the views:


Green triangle:


A posy of flowers I picked for a friend from the garden a couple of weeks ago; I'd forgotten I'd taken this picture on my phone:


This rainbow was a full bow over our little hamlet and the moor but my phone couldn't get it all in:



Two days to go until I'm 50 and today I went on my customary trip to Exeter with a cheque from my mum, to buy clothes. A VERY successful session was had and I was back by 1.00pm to let the dogs out and walk them. The weather is improving and I may even be able to wear some of them on the big day when I'm meeting friends at a local pub in the morning for coffee in the absence of a party; I don't do parties. I have horrible visions of me sitting there on my own.................I'll take a book in case. SO until next time, here are the boys, static for once. Hope you had a good weekend and hello to a few more followers - you are very welcome. 



57 comments:

  1. As usual these are wonderful photographs. Were they all taken with your phone? --because they look excellent quality. I love the photo taken of the horse from the back, and also the green triangle. The boys look ever alert.

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    1. No - only a few Chris....the rainbows, the flowers, the tulips and the cherry blossom and tree. I have a new camera for my birthday!

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  2. Happy Birthday for 2 days time is the first and most important thing to say!!!! I hope that you have a great time and that lots of people turn up to celebrate with you. That blossom in the first photo is beautiful. Glad that you were not overtaken by the tors challenge people. Happy Birthday!!!! xx

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  3. Happy Birthday! (For two days time..)

    The white tailed foal and her friend are looking well.
    Beautiful, atmospheric photos of the moors again.

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    1. They're really thriving this year which is lovely to see.

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  4. Oh Em, I find all your photos enchanting. That sweet little deer with his white tail, beyond adorable and lovely to finish up with the boys! Happy Birthday!!!! May your day be one of total joy :)

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  5. Those feathery tulips were among my dad's favorites. I am impressed at the number of birds you have about, and the amount of wind you deal with.

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    1. Luckily the garden is quite protected with a shelter belt but I don't know how those Meadow Pipits manage out in the wind!

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  6. Wishing you a very happy birthday, I'm glad you had a successful shopping trip. I can never find anything to buy when I have money burning in my pocket! I am just over a year ahead of you. I didn't have a big party we just went down to Brixham and stayed in a B&B and had a great time. Glad that the damage to the moor wasn't as bad as you feared. Sarah x

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    1. I don't usually have such success either Sarah - it was just a very lucky day!

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  7. Happy birthday to come. great photos, I always enjoy seeing the ponies.

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    1. They're so exciting to be close to Kath, especially when they're having their shenanigans!

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  8. Happy Birthday for 2 days time - hope you have a good day. my favourite of todays photos is the green triangle.
    and why didn't you go running up the moor to get a better picture of the teams! :-)

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    1. Very funny.....sciatica playing up is my excuse!

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  9. What a great set of photos. Love seeing the ponies. Happy Birthday Em, I hope you have a lovey day, the weather is looking very good so you may get to wear your new clothes.

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  10. Happy Birthday! I hope you are thoroughly spoiled.
    Are the frilly tulips called parrot tulips? It popped into my head for some reason.
    Your area really is a landscape full of contrasts isn't it.
    Jane x

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    1. I didn't know about those tulips since getting any bulb other than Bluebells seems very difficult in this garden! It seems you're right though having looked them up. Thank you.

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  11. The Tulips are lovely especially next to the blue glass.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. Those blue glasses were bought in a strange loft in Suffolk in about 1968. I remember being tiny climbing the rickety stairs to the man's workshop. Our friend bought some red ones at the same time which I wish I had - they were stunning.

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  12. Happy birthday! I hate parties too for the same reason. I figure at my age I can do what I want on my birthday. Gorgeous rainbow!

    Great group of photos, but the one of the white tail foal looking out over the moor is one of the very best I have seen!

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    1. He's very photogenic isn't he? My birthday was really, really lovely - thank you.

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  13. Happy Birthday for Thursday Em.
    Lovely foal images and the Stonechat was a nice capture as well.

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    1. Thanks Roy. I have a new and better camera so am hoping for better Stonechats as a result!

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  14. What amazing country you live in! So beautiful.
    Love the foal photos.

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  15. So we are both earthy Taurus girls !

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  16. Beautiful photos as always, Em!
    Happy birthday....soak it all in!
    Only 50 eh? You are a Spring chicken♥️
    Enjoy your week..
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. Am feeling like an old broiler today Linda but it's sunny so I'll soon pick up!

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  17. Happy Birthday to come - hope you have a really special day :)

    So many lovely photos - really love the Stonechat, Green Triangle and Rainbow photos :)

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  18. Happy Birthday! Your fifties may be the best decade ever (really!) I already did them.
    Loved your liberated red tulips - and all the glimpses into your world as ever!
    Oh yes - and the rainbow.

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    1. That rainbow was amazing and it seemed so close.

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  19. My Grampa Mac often noted that cows lie down as a group just before a rain--must be that is a wide spread observation.
    The moor does indeed seem like a world of its own--starkly beautiful, interesting, rather daunting in places. Thank you for sharing in words and photos a place that I won't see in person.

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    1. Isn't that the joy of blogging? I see so many beautiful parts of the world I know I'll never visit.

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  20. Have a Happy Day! Lovely photos of your surroundings.

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  21. Very many special happy returns, Em. You are catching me up (well, not quite!). I hope you have a lovely day ... and that your plans exceed your expectations! What lovely light on the moor.

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  22. ♪♫♪♪♪♫♪♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY EM ♪♫♪♪♪♫♪♪ HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY ♪♫♪♪♪♫♪♪

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  23. I am a bit late, however hope you had the happiest birthday dear Em xxx You have outdone yourself, as always with your display of photos.

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    1. I had the very happiest of birthdays in 50 years Cindy - thank you.

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  24. Lovely photos. I love the guilty looking sparrow!!
    And Happy Brithday, Em! I wish you all the best and thank you for being with us :)
    Marielle

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    1. Not sure what she was thinking - the sparrow that is!

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  25. Lovely Em, the rainbow shots are so beautiful and I love the Ponies as always. The pic with Scut looking away from you and to the hills beyond is gorgeous :-) I also know what you mean when you say that the moors seem like an entrance to another world as I myself often feel the same when up on the North York Moors :-)

    Happy birthday by the way and all the best :-)

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    1. I've only been to the N York moors once, as a teenager, but was blown away by them. I do like a bleak and beautiful landscape!

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  26. Oh those foals. So gorgeous.
    Happy Birthday Em!

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    1. You'll have to come over some time and see those foals.

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  27. Sssssuugar... I missed your birthday! All the best to you anyway. Stay healthy and may the luck always be on your side.
    Wonderful photos again! Can't get enough of them. I especially love how the ponies are kept free... a Thing that would never be possible here in Switzerland. You really live in a stunning place!
    Have a great day
    Alex

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    1. Thanks Alex. I have friends in Switzerland and they have said the same! Hope you're having a great weekend. x

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  28. The ponies in your images are as monumental as the massive stones of Kestor. They define the grand space and scale of the landscape. Beautiful Em!

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    1. The scale of everything here is overwhelming sometimes Mark, but in a good way. Awesome in its TRUE sense!

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  29. Gorgeous photos as usual! Wondered if you could print a photo of the last foal for me, whichever one is best, if you have time and ink which is always the issue here....Hope your birthday treat was good, and you also got some cake! See you soon xx

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    1. Do you mean the one lying down? If you don't mind I'll wait till I'm printing something else as I read a thing about how much ink my particular printer uses on a one off as opposed to doing a few things together...is it urgent? x

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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.