Trains

Dear diary it is the letter T across at ABC Wednesday - my Time is limited now and blogging has become a luxury and as they say a guilty pleasure. My father is very poorly and life is a Turmoil at the moment, Last weekend we stole a few special moments to Trainspot here are a few of my pics It was a cold and damp day but even so this added to the atmosphere - and you could feel the adrenalin rush on the platform as the trains gathered steam and whistles were blown

Catch sight of the old Abbey in the background a fascinating old building I will take you there soon and show you around

It was dropping dusk as the train moved away - the train was pulling dining carriages - see my header - I quietly nipped inside when the train was stationary and the guard was looking elsewhere - to get a quick shot !!

Catch sight of the flag on the old railway building turrets as the train moved off

The pics were all taken on the Shrewsbury Railway Station on last Saturday afternoon about 4pm just as it was dropping dusk - why not join others across at ABC Wednesday to celebrate the letter T

R is for....

R is for Relaxation - Recreation and R is for the Rea Valley camera club. A once monthly event held at Pontesbury in the local church foyer - a chance for like minded souls to get together - take time out to chill and play cameras for one night only and drink coffee - eat biscuits and chat. This month the subject was Birds in Flight - so entries were strategically placed by one and all onto the wooden tressels in the foyer - our pics are across in the side bar - joint third was the score - nothing like a bit of healthy competition!! The evening included a practical session of visual effects using torches - sparklers and the like - inside the church and outside - lights were switched off and torches waved around in figures of eight and different shapes - producing some interesting results. Then those willing and able to do so trooped outside into the cold and murky November air - to the back of the church - whispering and joking - for a moment returning to their second childhood!! Sparklers were lit and here are some of the results

My header pic is taken from the church path looking down to the village - I think it shows well the mood of the night! Why not pop over to ABC Wednesday for other posts for the letter R

Wordless Wednesday

P is for ....

P is for Plan - do you have a Plan- and does your life always run to plan - if you are like me you will say 'absolutely not!'- what is that saying ( the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray ) Robert Burns I think ..

P is for Pussycat - this is CoCo a new family member and she has an addiction to the small screen

P is for Predator - what a pretty boy - but what a bad boy - this sparrowhawk was sitting on my weather vane in the garden last week - eyeing up my visiting goldfinch on the feeders - fortunately he was not successful this time.. P is for Pills and Potions all part of the bigger Picture to keep us all Partying. P is for People especially the People of New York and those in the Path of hurricane Sandy - my best wishes to you and yours for a speedy return to normality Linking today to ABC Wednesday to celebrate the letter P

Wordless Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday and Autumn Glory

Outdoor Wednesday and a glimpse of Autumn Glory- red hot rose hips and juicy berries - just a few of the seasons fruits - hopefully to be plentiful for our resident birds and their visitor friends from the continent.

Secretly blooming in the garden delicate cyclamen and in the borders ..

blood red fuschias - blending in with the autumn colours

And then on our walk through the now bare corn fields - more berries - rich red holly berries - these are a favourite of the Redwings -hungry winter visitors

... and fungi clinging onto an old tree trunk

...and forty winks after a strenuous Wednesday walk!!

Why not go over to http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.co.uk/to see others 'take of the week?

M is for Myth Magic and More

It is ABC Wednesday and my contribution goes like this.... M is for Myth Magic and More - and it seems to me that an episode the other morning fits into this category.. It was a working day and to get motivated ready for the buzz of continuous telephone calls and the glare of the computer screen - off I went on my daily 'power' walk around the village with Blue in tow. The early morning light was just pushing through - and there was a feel of frost in the air,we reached the top of the road and began to cross and then suddenly scurrying towards us was this small grey hedgehog- of course - yes you have guessed it - what did it do on confronting an unannounced human and dog - immediately rolled up into a tight prickly ball. Now the road is pretty busy - as it is the main exit from the village to join the A5 and it was 6.30 am and people were beginning to stir- so what to do? - I gave the hedgehog a bit of a nudge with my mobile phone which I always carry with me on these early morning jaunts - but no re-action - no gloves in my pocket and hedgehogs are prickly!- so off with my my coat - headlights now in the distance - quickly grabbing the prickly customer and away to the pavement Blue looking on in amazement - she is well used to the odd antics of her owner and so put up no resistance. I quickly popped the hedgehog over the wall into the garden of our local Avon representative come odd jobber and gardener - a friendly soul. Now on with the walk !! and coat back on - round the corner and coming to an immediate halt- something was screeching in my head - Hedgehogs have flees!! now whether this is a myth or is true I am not sure - but I whipped off my coat and continued my walk in my short sleeved T shirt- very brave I can tell you - and the coat went straight into the washer on my return. I could Google the question but I thought I would ask you - do hedgehogs have flees? thanks for joining me PS does anyone have any ideas on this one? - on our walk today very close to the hedgehog incident spot, I spotted a neighbour underneath the trees - I shouted Hello! what are you doing ? - collecting conkers for a good friend he shouted - apparently conkers stop spiders in their tracks - guess what I am trying this out and have several strategically placed in the conservatory and utility - because this year seems to be a very good year for these scary beesties!! bye Why not pop over to ABC Wednesday for more takes on the letter M

Wordless Wednesday

L is for Lathyrus Adoratus or the Sweetpea

L is our letter for ABC Wednesday this week and so my L is for Lathyrus Adoratus

I hope that is spelt correctly! - so this week I am setting my Sweetpea seeds - now I have done this before at this time of year and then lost them to the mouse. I am following the info in last weeks Gardening News and I intend to keep them mouse proof at all times

I have been to the garden centre and bought the special root trainers - and compost to hand - no expense spared

for this sweet pea challenge - so Whey Hey !! here we go apparently they are best off outside from the word go

Oh yes I did remember to put the propagator top on!

Problem number two is the squirrel in the nut tree - waiting and watching my movements as he gathers nuts and stores them round the garden - he will dig out newly planted pots just for the hell of it - or so it seems to me I would most certainly appreciate any sweet pea growing tips - so I am hoping to hear from you - in the mean time why not pop over to ABC Wednesday to read blogs from around the world - bye thankyou for calling

Wordless Wednesday 26.09.12

Kitchen Fever

Hello - today is a wet one - rain pelting down although first thing this morning there was a break in the weather - so we made a dash to the allotment to pick the latest raspberries - the wind had dried them up a bit so they were ok to pick - also there were even more courgettes to pick - they appear over night and also grow to gigantic proportions at the drop of a hat - if picked small they are absolutely gorgeous fried in garlic butter - I buy the little sachets from the supermarket.

Well it seemed the thing to do - out with the utensils and a crumble was underway - I used the windfall apples that I had collected this morning and gooseberries out of the freezer - a gift from a friend and this mornings fresh raspberries.

It looks OK but they do say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating - or something like that!

I looked through the window at the coloured lanterns looking so forlorn in the rain - and remembered those sunny days a few weeks back when the plants needed to be watered - but certainly not today!! Candles and lanterns both favourites of mine - they do it for me - make my day so to speak - I love garden ornaments - especially fun ones - the orange clock was picked up from the local garden centre for a nominal sum - what do you think?-

Still raining !!

J is ....

J is for Jelly - Jam - and Jazz - on this blog today- so lets take a Jaunt today and look at our favourite J's especially across at ABC Wednesday. Jelly is a favourite of my family - and it has rescued many from the brink of despair. Anyone feeling poorly, those special words always seem to help 'What about a jelly ?of course it has to be red !!- Although this last weekend I did stray away from jelly and made an Eton Mess - with fresh raspberries from the allotment - crushed meringues and lemon flavoured double cream. OH is the Jam maker here and is very successful - he does not weigh much just throws it all into the pan - and Jeronimo - this week 3 pots of raspberry Jam are Jostling for space in the kitchen cupboard Just Jazz - just the thing to calm those jangling nerves - not sure whether this track is strictly Jazz but I like it and of course the lyrics are included for those who feel the urge to be vocal - enjoy - thanks for joining in !!

ABC Wednesday and H is for....

ABC Wednesday and H is for Haphazard and for me it is a Haphazard way of life- totally lacking in organisation so it would seem !! Definition of Haphazard found in my well worn dictionary says -Dependant upon or characterised by mere chance- yes I would agree - but the dictionary also states slipshod and untidy and I don't think I fall into that category or at least I hope not! I always have a lengthy to do list on the go - unfortunately instead of staying focused I stray and do other things - but then I think life would be very dull without a little me time giving time to indulge in the unexpected.What do you think? My pics today are of my Helianthus plants in the garden I wish you all good Health and Happiness Why not pop over to ABC Wednesday to view other takes on the letter H Jane

ABC Wednesday and G is for....

ABC Wednesday and G is for Giant - yes Gentle Giants from the age of steam - look at the Glamour as their brasses Gleam in the sunlight. Yes it is that time of year again the Onslow Steam Rally - a two day event and a spectacular show

Vehicles of all tpes were on show - vintage cars - bicycles - lorries and buses to name but a few - and of course tractors - a passion for many of gigantic preportions!!

Here below we take a moment to look at the bigger picture

Look more Gentle Giants this time from the countryside and farming methods from another era

So elegant and self assured - enjoying their day out in their best harnesses and ploughing gear

Stong willed and frisky and a joy to behold

Yes we can pose we can!! best friends we are

Tell us when you are ready!!

Get in line!

A perfect pair!

Finally for Bernard and Wesley across at the Organ Grinders Monkey and you visitors to my blog sorry about the dizzy finish! For more pictures and Onslow Steam Rally news and titbits - why not pop over to Molly at Some other Mountain and for more takes on the letter G why not visit ABC Wednesday - have a good week - Jane