M is for memories.

Whilst I was de-cluttering the second bedroom (27th fast approaching) I came across several rolls of undeveloped 35mm films. We had no idea what was in store but here are a few of the garden back in 1995.

The garden wall before I spent 6 weeks working to get the grass out.

and how it looks now - on the left before an afternoon's work - and after on the right. Now it's just a maintenance job rather than anything like the initial clearing above.

Our beloved geese, Jo, Peggy and Dolly - we had over 15 years with these chaps.

Now we have this - notice the area opposite the chimney pot......

back in 1995 we had the old gate and concrete path, together with a holly bush to the left....

Now the path is long gone and what was the soiled area has been turfed over. The tiny holly bush has now become a 15 foot tree! The birds love it so much we are keeping it that height.

So yes, a lot of happy memories and many changes in the garden.

Sunday was one of the nicest days we have had in a while. I was tempted to go out with Jon on the motorbike as those opportunities have to be taken - but in the end I decided to spent the afternoon working on the front verge. What a lovely time I had - neighbours were stopping and chatting, people were stopping in their cars to comment and all in all I really felt people would be watching in the Spring for the bulbs to emerge.

I am getting rather obsessive with the bulb situation. daffodils are so cheap at the moment - and in such great quantities - I bought a couple of sacks of yellow species, 2 sacks of mixed varieties, some tulips and more tulips are to come. I plan mixing them all up together - oh and a few packets of wild flower seeds too!

Watch this space!

My M contribution for ABC Wednesday.

V is for ...the end of an era for a VIP!

Today we said goodbye to our wonderful Jo. After such a wonderful time away in the Isle of man we returned knowing he was unwell. Initially we thought it was arthritis again and infact had been giving him the medicine which had worked so well previously, but when we took him to the vet it was confirmed it was a mental problem, caused by anything from a stroke or a tumour. His legs were strong, as was his wings but his mind was suffering some sort of dementia.

As he lay on the vet's table looking weak and dishevelled I thought of how he had always been so clean and elegant, constantly pruning himself in order to maintain his majestic appearance. The photograph below illustrates this perfectly!




He would have been mortified with how things had worked out and so we felt it was the right thing to do, guided by the advice from our vet to allow him a release from the place where he was.

Jon stroked his neck, I stroked his chest and as the medicine worked Jo closed his eyes and went to sleep.

“How do geese know when to fly to the sun?
Who tells them the seasons?
How do we, humans know when it is time to move on?
As with the migrant birds, so surely with us,
there is a voice within if only we would listen to it,
that tells us certainly when to go forth into the unknown.”

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Z is for Zest!

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”


William Arthur Ward

Snow in the Village

Ignore the time setting on this picture, it was taken around 4pm today, Thursday from our gates at the end of the drive..

The hens experienced snow for the first time today! When I opened their door at 10 o'clock this morning only one came out then turned round and went back inside. I could hear lots of discussion going on and they stayed put for the morning!

We can always tell when it is going to be really cold because Jo puts himself to bed. Here he is a few minutes ago.

To the right of this picture you can just see the bale of straw which we use for his bedding. I have a sneaking suspicion that Bev, the black hen has snuggled down for the night, as this is where they will have layed their eggs today! We get 6 every day, so they are all laying!

Well Done Gals!

Testing Times!

It would seem I can post pictures via photobucket, as suggested!
So what better subject than Jo, my gander who is currently asleep on the front lawn!

So it would appear normal service has been resumed!
Watch this space! I certainly will be!

ABC Wednesday....J

Jo, my gorgeous boy!



“When the goose honk high, fair weather; when the goose honks low, foul weather”


Jo is male, a gander. He is a goose, about 15 years old. He is not viscious, but he is a good guard. He honks when he hears the motorbike, he can distinguish the sound of ours, possibly because it is a Honda and he knows his japanese bikes. He also knows the sound of our cars and always greets us with a honk!

The picture you see in my profile is not Jo, but one of his former loves, Peggy. This was an oil painting I did one day when Peggy decided to pose for me outside the kitchen window. I had never used oils before and was finding it difficult. When she stood there I knew it was something I could paint as I knew the subject so well, unlike the flowers in the text book I was following. No sooner had I finished, Peggy walked away. I did not add anything more to the picture, I felt I had captured her just right...the big blue eyes always staring through the window and the long orange beak. Jo was named after Jon's grandad. Peggy, after Jon's grandma and Dolly after my nana. Sadly Peggy and Dolly are no longer with us and Jo is a widower. He leads a very content life, his eyesight isn't too good as he has cateracts so he is familiar with the garden and paddock. He dislikes the church bells and honks away when they are rung on a Sunday.

Anything I have missed out, please shout up and myself or Jo will answer any further questions.