Capture and Share #13 - Sunshine and Stars

With the freshly dredged drains along the Fens, a little sunshine dances above the ripples showing off little happy stars.

Capture and Share #5 - The River Silhouette

The reward after a muddy, chilly walk?  Looking across the river at a beautiful silhouette.

Capture and Share #3 - At Rest

Each morning I see this old, rusty piece of farm machinery dip into the deep dykes and pull out the tired and overgrown vegetation from the water.  Each morning it has moved along the fen's drains just that little bit more.  A slow process but incredibly necessary with the cold and wet months ahead.

A Blog Anniversary! Four Happy Years!

Time has flown by during my four years of blogging.  Journaling my weeks, learning different techniques, expanding my love of photography and 'meeting' wonderful and creative bloggers all around the world.   It has been amazing to connect with so many of you either through you visiting, commenting, emailing and following.  You have certainly kept this blogger smiling!

I feel as though I can sit under this tree with you all, enjoying a summer's picnic and catching up with all that tests our lives.

The different paths we take through our writing and photography.  Taking risks occasionally, but doing what we feel is comfortable.
 

The people that stay with us through our journeys and the ones that visit occasionally before heading off for further adventures.

 The colour that many bring us through our screens with their positive thoughts and humour.

 The sunshine with their posts and dreams, inspiring us all to continue with our own. 



 The dark times shared on occasion and the joy of witnessing the further posts showing that life does get better. 



 The brightness shines through eventually and new growth comes through enriching our own vision and minds.

Blogging sometimes feels as though we are swaying like grass on a breeze.  The ups, the downs, the being knocked sideways.

But, if you are steadfast and true to yourself, your words will remain and the world seen through your eyes will give comfort and happiness to more people than you will ever know.

Strawberry Moon taken at Summer Solstice

 

So from one person to another, thank you so much for following along, commenting, emailing me privately and reading my ramblings.  I really appreciate the support you have given me through all the different social media platforms.

 

You're wonderful!!

 

Five on Friday - Through the Lens

1.  Looking through the camera card this week, I was desperate for colour to jump out and dance in front of me.  The rain has been relentless and even for a rain lover such as me, I am even getting tired of it.  The Summer Solstice is upon us and I'll soon be preparing for Christmas, so a little sunshine would be nice to break up the summer months!  But, as you can see above, the Mall leading up to Buckingham Palace with its red tarmac and crisp flags blowing in the breeze before the business of a certain Majesty's 90th birthday street party, was full of colour.

The celebrations were going to be very merry!  This ship made me laugh with the alcohol stacked up on a separate boat.

Don't you love the simplicity of Love locks?  The stories that each one could tell always sends my mind racing.  These are on Westminster Bridge with the Eye nearby.  Simple flashes of colour with memories and wishes locked away.

Buckingham Palace looking quiet beyond the trees at Green Park.  The trees all in full leaf with the different greens catching any light left to give.

2.  Back at Peterborough the view from the office window differs each day beyond the Cathedral stonework.  The sky changes with every hour but when the blue is caught it makes the stone shine out.  Welcome colour indeed.

3. On the Fen in Lincolnshire the bees busy themselves on any dry flowers in between the rain storms, taking absolutely no notice of cameras in close proximity.

The wheat fills the brown fields once again with its green stalks waiting to ripen and turn the fields gold.

4. The rain has watered my garden so there hasn't been the need for hosepipes as yet.  The most beautiful thing happened on little Tia's anniversary of us meeting her - our beautiful Coco's rose bloomed in her memorial garden.  A lovely touch to a special day.

I sat with Tia on the door step as the rain came down again, watching the droplets of water dance off the petals.  A special moment indeed.  And then, I couldn't resist the beauty of the Nigella plant that had seeded itself next to us.  So beautiful with the rain acting like a cardigan on its skeleton.

5.  So a busy week at work, Miss Teen's exams finishing and school ending, Mr Teen's first car being sold and him moving on to his second car, Tia's first anniversary of joining our family, some very enjoyable catching up with very dear friends and, a fourth blog anniversary next Wednesday (yes, four whole years!).  I just need to...

So that's my five for another Five on Friday with Amy at Love Made My Home.  Pop along and join the party!

Have a wonderful end of week and even better weekend.

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Five on Friday at Love Made my Home

Five on Friday - Views of my Week

And in the blink of an eye it's Friday again!  Time to look through the camera card to look and see what I have captured. I am absolutely delighted to share with you a few photos of another trip down to London on what was the beginning of a sun shiny day.  My trip this time was work related and involved entering the House of Lords at Westminster.  Normally no photos can be taken here but out on the terrace (the part you can see from Westminster Bridge and the opposite side of the river) I was able to capture a few extra special moments.

So, No. 1 of my Five on Friday is the view from the House of Lords Terrace.  Looking over my favourite river towards Westminster Bridge and the London Eye.  The perfect place to sit with colleagues and enjoy a cup of coffee.  A very happy view indeed.

Scaffolding above us for the maintenance of such an iconic and beautiful building.  The red awning to signify the Lords area and the green for the Commons.  Big Ben striking the hours and the quarter hours above us.  A very special view.

After walking through the incredible rooms and halls with paintings, chandeliers, ancient books on tall bookcases lining the lush corridors (oh yes I was in heaven!), old clocks above ornate doors, we were shown into the Lord's Chamber and stood near the throne.  Solid gold and incredible beauty surrounded us.  A place that is so surreal and hard to believe I was standing there.  

2.  After lunch (House of Lords fish and chips were incredible!) we had to leave before the House sits and this is when we realised the sun had disappeared as it did last week when I was in Greenwich.

Then, thunder and lightening of epic proportions!!  TAXI!!!!  This is the view from the taxi window as we passed Westminster Abbey!

3.  From the City to the Country and the hustle and bustle of London is a long way away.  Here on the Fen me and Tia walk amongst the wildflowers look up at the enormous skies.  The contrast of my view from one day to the next couldn't be any different.

The yellow and red lines on busy London streets are replaced by the green and blue lines of the dykes.  The yellows and greens are now being interrupted by scrumptious reds of other flowers popping up.

With occasional flashes of vibrant fiery red in amongst the luscious green wheat swaying in the Fen winds.

4.  With my past two trips to London having me dancing in the rain, it is only right that I show you my progress so far with the Sheepjes CAL for this blanket.  I am way behind, but loving the new stitches I am discovering and viewing while resting in the evenings.

5.  Lastly, well it has to be a little view of my Tia.  One year ago I met this little girl after she had been rescued.  One year on she has survived so much change, being spoilt, tooth loss and long happy walks making new furry friends along the way.  She still hates cats but there are none on the Fen so she can safely trot off with her little friends and incredibly happy.  Here she is on the swing enjoying the sun!  I have never known a dog to love the sunshine so much, she practically sunbathes!!

So that's my five views of my week to share with the lovely Amy at Love Made My Home's Five on Friday.  Go along and read some lovely blogs showcasing their five too.

Have a lovely weekend.

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Five on Friday at Love Made my Home

The Many Faces of Tia

Firstly, thank you so, so much for your lovely comments and visits over the last week.  You have made me feel so humble and I am so glad you come to share my little ramblings and enjoy the things that catch my eye.  My Extraordinary out of the Ordinary post was a quick one while I was waiting for my bus, it’s amazing what beauty you can pass by without giving it a second glance.  Something I am going to rectify.  I really and truly appreciate you taking time to visit me.  

But what gifts has this week given me?  Well, my shoulder has given me good days and bad days with today being a good day (until my walk!).  Miss Teen's birthday went well and she is happy with all her gifts.  And, our little rescue King Charles Cavalier - Tia went to the vets and had 20 teeth removed! 

Yes, you read that right... 20!!  

We knew when she came to us that she had a problem but we waited for her to settle in and have any other health issues resolved first so, this was that time.  As well as this, and we were prepared for the news, she has Syringomyelia which is the same as our beloved Coco who died in April this year.  Tia's medication has started and she is taking to it very well.  Our wonderful little fighter is still fighting!  So, as I haven't updated you on Tia for quite a while (unless you follow her on Facebook!), this post is going to be a bit Tia heavy with the many faces that she pulled on a very wet, windswept day on the Fens.

The walk started fairly well, the heavy rain had stopped and the sun came out leaving muddy paths but looking at the neat rows in the fields, it did look promising...

Her first look as she run through the muddy puddles was "you're kidding me right?!"

 After two days of being hemmed up at home she had to get some air into those lungs and take her mind off the discomfort of her teeth operation.  Once up on the bank her lungs were certainly full as the gusts of wind nearly blew us back down the bank.

 She thanked me though with this gummy bear smile - or should I say Gruffalo smile (she only has two bottom teeth at the front now!).

Once over the shock of the mud and the wind, good old Tia was back with her cheeky backwards glance to say "come on Mum, let's explore".

The river was very choppy with the incessant wind so we didn't walk too closely otherwise a certain little inquisitive dog may have fallen in.

Usually with these walks, I let Tia decide on which path to take.  She decided to take the slippiest and gave her "I made a mistake but won't let on" look.

She climbed up the ramparts to the underside of the road bridge and looked back to say "come on then".

And when she realised I wasn't going to come up, she decided "I'll explore on my own then".  Oh my goodness, look at the state of her coat!

Tia's view would have been this across the river but she was more interested in something nasty that seemed to be lurking behind one of the concrete slabs.

So, time to move on.  Not this way to Spalding...

... it was this way Tia, back to the car!

The wind was blowing Tia's ears and I thought she was going to take off like Dumbo!  However she was a little concerned about her Mum who had just slipped on the mud and fallen on her bum!  and guess what, used her right arm with the injured shoulder!

Yes Tia, I can see that "silly Mum, I'm so embarrassed" look!!

So, little Tia has certainly changed since June from this nervous and near bald, breeding Cavalier...

to this gorgeous lady!

Yes, she has only 14 teeth left, Syringomyelia and a grade three heart murmur, but she is ours, and we love her and her quirky ways so much.

Don't forget that you can follow her life on her Facebook page (just click on her photo in my sidebar).  There will be ups and downs as she fights with her illnesses, but we will be with her all the way.

Have a wonderful weekend, and be careful on muddy footpaths!