Christmas 2010

Richard and Harrison do their morning work-out.

When's dinner?! Ellie is ready to eat

and Harrison sleeps.

Monday 20th December 2010

Suddenly this afternoon Dorset had more snow,

coming up from Devon and Somerset.

So an update on the photo of 2 days ago of the chair ....

The watering can and bench!

Meanwhile on the roads, sheet ice and a nightmare to drive home.

A week before Christmas

Much as I hate the stuff, I can't resist a few snow pictures - especially as this is our third lot this winter!

Early morning - the woodburner has been lit and am glad to see the insulation is working!

Funny how I always take the same views for snow pictures - without remembering! This is the bench and watering can on 27th November

...and 18th December. My new Prunus subhirtella "Autumnalis Rosea" (to the front and right of the bench), which is supposed to blossom November-March, seems to be on strike, I wonder why!

31st October 2010 Hallowe'en

Tilly's in her field, peacefully grazing.

But down in the corner ...

there's a giant

...... hanging

from a tree ....

And right in the corner .....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD

Hope there are lots of cards and boxes for your menagerie to play in and with!!

Harrison James - 14th October 2010

Our grandson, Harrison James, born 13th October 2010, 4.54 am, 9lbs 9 ozs.





Mother and son

Sister and brother.

Granny and grandson.

Saturday 18th September 2010

Playground fun for Maisie, Ellie and Poppy - not excluding the dads though Rich seems to be letting Matt do all the work!!

New Forest baby

To Hockeys farm (http://www.hockeysfarm.co.uk/) to get some meat and spotted this gorgeous baby on the way back. Mum was browsing in the stream whilst little one had a rest by the War Memorial.

Sunday 22nd August 2010

I've brought you to Bocketts Farm Grandad but are you quite sure about this?

Just how many sheep can you fit in one hand?!

Expectant family .........

But it IS my turn Daddy!

Ellie and The Tractor

I did it!

The games Grannies have to play!

Believe it or not - impersonating the Bockett's Farm goats butting each other!

Joan and Keith's Grandchildren

Happy Birthday Harry, 4 on the 11th, and planning the railway route here with Grandad's help!

I'm obviously taking it very seriously!

Happy Birthday to Grandma too, $$ on the 9th!!

Who's this then?!

Lukey, cousin of Harry, standing still for just a moment!

Hi Chloe! We didn't get a photo of you but you might recognise this one!

Harry's cousin is on the Worldwide Web, thanks to a Fairy Grandma.

And a lovely photo too from the Fairy Grandma of Alfie, Harry's baby brother.

16-18 July 2010

We took a long overdue trip up to Sheffield and visited the Botanical Gardens in the evening - rainbow not always available! They were beautiful.

However Man on a Bike rang the bell as he realised there'd been a southern invasion and out we had to go. Never mind, matey, we'll be back!!

A traditional well dressing - and, as it was designed by children, there's quite a bit of blood and gore - which if you click on the photo to enlarge, you will see!

Chesterfield on Sunday - where they obviously knew they'd been invaded from the south and had padlocked the church door!

We've been told since by someone from Chesterfield that Saturday is a good day to go up that spire ......

Is ANY day a good day to .....?!

Mr and Mrs Smith at their Country Retreat.

(Aha - just when you thought you'd got away with it!)

Thank you both for such a really enjoyable weekend. YOU'D better padlock the doors and ring the bells - we'll be back!!

Sunday 11th July 2010

The family picnic in the grounds beside the pool (3.99 in Saino's) not forgetting the Lakeland oven rack cleaning tray - which Ellie prefers!

Saturday 10th July 2010

Dorset Seafood Festival:

Mark Hix shows how to cook poached egg;

The crowds along Weymouth Harbour with the celebrities' "trailer"

sitting on the water for in-between courses!

A steam car

Mike tucks into Lovington's mint choc chip icecream along Nothe Parade

Sunday 20th June 2010

The playground behind her home has been improved and Ellie shows off her new skill to us!

Double fun this time!!

Summer planting 2010

The front pots this year are planted with (back left, clockwise), Fuchsia "Turkish Delight", Torenia "Blue Moon", Torenia "Yellow Moon", Osteospermum Ecklonis Jamboana "Lemon Spoon" and Nasturtium "Banana Split".

The Sweet Cicely Jungle also known as Myrrhis Odorata. Sown by birds , seeds aid digestion.

The Herb Planter known formerly as The Begonia Planter. From the left: basil x 2; summer savory; coriander; rocket; curled parsley; basil x 2; white hyssop. Hopefully out of rabbit's reach but definitely within mine!!

I think I've lost my "bonsai leylandii". Originally found in a pot of hyacinths bought from a local garden centre, I potted it up and it lived in a tub for years. I decided to set it free last year and it grew quite happily until this spring. Late frost followed by drying winds and bright sunshine can give "spring scorch" to evergreens. This is the result.

Sunday 13th June 2010

A stylish country cottage complete with chintz sofas and pink velvet curtains!

And this slides in here just so .....
This being the "Cassette Toilet Disposal Unit".
Well you did ask.

4th June 2010

Waterbabies - and both ended up having epic playtimes!!

We got the chance to play in Fordingbridge Rec. when Ellie came to stay. A lovely summer's evening with ducks on the river to quack at, a giant paddling pool and a variety of slides.

Ibsley Meadows visitors

Bewick swan - flies in to the meadows as a winter visitor from Siberia around Christmas and leaves in February/March to return to breed there.

Black swan from Australia - flies into the meadows in the spring ....

Only kidding - it's really an escapee from an ornamental lake at some time and now lives and breeds in the Avon Valley.