Wordless Wednesday - An Easter Tea-time Treat!

Two fer Tuesday - Dilly-Dilly Daffodils!

Now, although, I'm not big on yellow - it's certainly not, my colour of choice, I delight in Daffodils!
After a long grey Winter, one just has to love they're cheerful splash of colour, especially when seen dancing on a breezy Spring day in my local park...

Or brightening a college's lawn - St Edmund Hall...

Daffodils are also, my older cousin in Prairieland CA, Lucy-Lu's favourite flower.

So, when I see them, they always remind me of her & the poem, she wrote in my childhood Autograph Book back in 1963!

"I wondered lonely as a cloud,

That floats on high o'r vales & hills

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils."

William Wordsworth

[1770 -1850]

Monochrome Monday & Face of the Week - Jax Up-Date!

I had a text yesterday evening from this handsome Wire FoxTerrier's J1, giving me the very welcome news that Jackson continues to improve day by day after his mini stroke last Thursday.
She is not sure re the full degree of mobility he will have but he's determined to walk/stagger and if he can trample all over her Crocus's all the better - Bless him!

And, he's always his 'Dog Stroller' to fall back on for those daily outings he so enjoys...

Monochrome Weekend's creator & host is Alieni.
Face of the Week is a new theme and the brainchild of Sistertex.

Wishing & Hoping for Jackson!

My very favourite WFT & dear doggy friend Jackson has suffered a mild stroke!

He's home with his loving J1 and sleeping in her lap, the first crucial 24 hours are over and he's improving slowly but he's not out of the woods yet as his vet has warned he could be left with some disability.

The treatments is steroids which he unfortunately can't have because of his other health issues.

This darling boy has been through so much, he really doesn't deserve this.

But Jackson's a true trouper with a terriers tenacity, so I wishing & willing him to keep fighting the good fight.

Please keep him in you thoughts - I want to be able to see him in Brighton for a long time yet!

May the Dog Star that Asta created for him watch over him...

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Saturday Photo Hunt - Fresh!

With no local fresh produce around @ the moment, for tnchick's promt am recalling my visits last Summer to Cowmead Allotment's late Summer 'Open Days', where I found & purchased a basket full of fresh goodies...

This year, they plan to 'Open' earlier - can't wait!

Raindrops!

A favourite song of mine is 'Raindrops are falling on my head' from a favourite film of mine - 'Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid' - now I have a new take on it...

In the Autumn of 2007 I acquired new absentee neighbours.
A few months later they started redeveloping the property next to mine.
But when they came to build a kitchen extension, they found I was a problem, as they would have to build over my central heating/water boiler's flue, which had planning permission as well as neighbour take 2's permission.
They had two choices - build around me or replace my boiler!
They chose the latter, then launched a campaign to make me contribute!
I wasn't having any of it, my existing boiler worked fine!!!
So in January '08, I acquired a new highly efficient system courtesy of them.
All's been well, although I have noticed the odd drop of water below the tank, till last night when we had a heavy storm - driving rain - & suddenly I hear ... drip, drip, drip, drip!!!
The source, where the boiler's flue pipe goes through my flat kitchen roof - water was pouring in & running through the electrics!
I quickly turned my power off & dined by candle light.
Today every things thankfully dried out & working fine.
I've subsequently called the plumbing company who installed said boiler for assistance.
The response was interesting ... no way will they help me as they have still to be paid after two + years for the installation and it & other work undertaken in good faith @ the same time, are all now part of an on going law suit re reimbursement!!!
Obviously the property developing couple who had such big plans, have run out of funds which explains why the house remains to this day incomplete & empty!
Not that I am complaining re this as, as I can music rock!

Sky Watch Friday - St Johns!

As friends know I'm not religious, but I do like architecture.
This is my neighbourhood parish church, St John the Evangelist, a Grade I listed building, completed in 1896...The red bricks match the terraced homes it serves which include mine.
Although Church of England, it's follows the High Church tradition close to Catholicism.
One day I'll take a look inside, but regrettably it's doors like many other churches now a days, is frequently locked to prevent desecration - what a sad reflection of our society!

True Colours Thursday - CRIMSON!

It's a about a year since I did my controversial 'SCARLET Women' TCT post - it stirred up a variety of reactions/feeling amongst followers/friends and produced my third highest number of Comments ever!

So in comparison this red post will seem boring, but Little Buddy now history, does get a mention because whilst on our last but one holiday together last March in Las Vegas, he showed me around the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, with it's striking CRIMSON ceiling decorations...

And, colourful Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, then set out with Spring flowers...

Also, I do have another red convertible, however this one resides in my road rather than in Hawaii...

Back to earth, with the recession biting hard, Sales are constantly on...

Not that these CRIMSON accessories were on offer...

Or the Celebration Cake Shop lacks customers either, their team of confectioners are constantly busy.

Now, the Oscar film award season maybe over but this red carpet has a birthday 'Starlet'...
To join True Colours Thursday, whose designated blog home is HERE, all you need, is to post a photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week.
If you simply want to use the idea as a 'prompt' for a post, that is fine with me.
But, if, you'd like others including me, to visit you, please leave a comment on either site, so we know you are 'IN'!
Previous known participants are shown in the TCT Roll Call in that blogs side bar.
Next weeks colour BLACK & WHITE together!
And, please remember ideas for forth coming colours would be very welcome!

Wordless Wednesday - Puppy Jig-Saw Puzzle Crazy!

Two fer Tuesday & Today's Flowers - The First Pinks of Spring!

It is so lovely to see the return of flowers, suggesting Spring may just have sprung!
I've no idea of this ones name, it has masses of small florets clustered together on bare leafless stems and it smells heavenly...The next is the solitary Gardina blooming on an otherwise bare bush...Sadly, neither are in my garden but my neighbours!

Monochrome & Odd Shot Monday - Reflected Home!

Welcome bright sunshine and a squeaky clean & shiny car produced this reflection of a neighbours house's ground floor windows, spotted when walking down my road last week...Monochrome Weekend's creator & host is Alieni.

Saturday Photo Hunt - Three AND an Early Camera Critters Sunday!

For this week's prompt from host tnchick, I'm recalling an adorable Signet threesome from last Spring...This delightful sight I hope to enjoy again.

Sky Watch Friday - Down my Road!

Parking is a real problem locally.
When my terraced road was built curium 1900, cars were a luxury, now many homes have several!
Although finding a parking space is no longer an issue for me being car-less: what is, is the infuriating habit of many neighbours of parking up on the pavement, forcing me to walk out in the road as I had to this morning - Grrrrrrrr!

True Colours Thursday & Color Carnival - RAINBOW!

Window shopping is one of my pastimes, and as I've probably said before once if not twice, if not more times, Dreamingspires Covered Market is a favourite venue of mine - no trip to town sees me not walk down it's parades.

So for my RAINBOW theme, have chosen colourful sights from there.

The florists The Garden was my first stop...

Then, The Hat Box...Followed by the various fashion boutiques for their wares...

And Cardrews the specialist Coffee & Tea shop for their kitchen section's RAINBOW items...Which just left a visit to the Celebration Cake Shop's window...

To join True Colours Thursday, whose designated blog home is HERE, all you need, is to post a photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week.
If you simply want to use the idea as a 'prompt' for a post, that is fine with me.
But, if, you'd like others including me, to visit you, please leave a comment on either site, so we know you are 'IN'!
For this meme only, I lift my 'Comment Moderation' to help players connect with each other.
Previous known participants are shown in the TCT Roll Call in my side bar.
Next week is colour CRIMSON!
And, please remember ideas for forth coming colours would be very welcome!

Martha is the creator of Color Carnival, that simply requires colourful photo!

Two fer Tuesday - Treasure Trove!

My secretive Mother's ability to squirrel away her most treasured items in inappropriate places never ceases to amaze me.

Over the weekend I was sorting through her childhood Stamp Collection, which besides a book includes an old biscuit tin filled with match boxes containing unused stamps, only one box didn't!

Wrapped in newspaper I discovered this previously unseen Silver bar broach...

Inside the locket are two faded photographs...The gentleman is my Great Uncle Arnold who brought my Mother up from the age of six & who she always spoke very fondly of, unlike his wife Great Aunt Lucy; and the young girl is my Mother [aged ?] with one of the many Spaniels she loved as her Uncle breed both Cocker & Springers.

The locket broach is priceless to me, but the knowledge that there is no one to value it after me did bring tears to my eyes.

It made me reflect again on what will become of all my bits & pieces, valuable & otherwise.

A while back I watched a TV programme that included the sorry story of an elderly lady dieing without any family & friends to sort though her processions; so her Council house was ruthlessly cleared by a house clearance company so it could be reallocated - they simply filled a refuse skip!

Okay, I own my own home and I do have a Will & professional Executor, but the tale gave me food for thought!

Mellow Yellow Monday & Today's Flowers - Crocus Power!

Spring really must close as the Crocus's are finally out - taken in the park, in today's morning sunshine...Sadly it didn't last but...

Too All Mother's!

Today here in the UK, it is Mothering Sunday!
And that cake shop's window, that I'm so fond of gazing into & photographing says it perfectly...

Saturday Photo Hunt - Spiral!

tnicks prompt, says stairs to me!

The very narrow steep spiral ones being a nightmare to yours truly - have no problems going up them, but coming down, my total lack of balance takes hold & my brain screams out 'falling head first'!

However, these wide spiral stairs in Christ Church College were a piece of cake, despite the warning re wet steps...

View looking down from top...

They led to Christ Church's library....The first library was founded in 1552, but the present building dates back to 1772, and the books were apparently placed on the upper floor to avoid damp & localised flooding as the college lies in the heart of the flood plain.

True Colours Thursday - SHAMROCK GREEN!

Having never found, let alone photographed a SHAMROCK, or a four leafed Clover for that matter, and with the 'Luck of the Irish' not being with me so far this year, I seem to have shot myself in the foot with this colour selection!!!
All I can offer personally offer is a pagan GREEN man lacquer jewellery box - it's from my days managing 'Otherworld , a Celtic gift shop & was a TY gift from my absentee employers... Just a bit of wild info - Green Man images occur on lots of sites /grave yard, he features BIG on New Age friends sites.
And, as Dreamingspires is definitely lacking any early St Patrick's Day spirit, improvise I must now!
This is one of the cities 'Black' cab [it's the style of vehicle] waiting last Autumn in the Taxi Rank in Gloucester GREEN's market square, certainly has every shade of SHAMROCK in it's striking stripy paint job...Then, there is always my local EverGREEN parks flag...Won for the third consecutive year in the GREEN Flag Awards - the scheme recognises parks & green spaces across the UK that have reached a high environmental standard.
Heading through the Covered Market to that cake shop, spotted this sign outside on of the butchers...And as for my cake, I like to think that the Pony Club is cantering though a SHAMROCK meadow...
To join True Colours Thursday, whose designated blog home is HERE, all you need, is to post a photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week.
If you simply want to use the idea as a 'prompt' for a post, that is fine with me.
But, if, you'd like others including me, to visit you, please leave a comment on either site, so we know you are 'IN'!
Previous known participants are shown in the TCT blogs side bar.
Next weeks colour 18/03/10 ... RAINBOW aka colourful
And, please remember ideas for forth coming colours would be very welcome!

Monochrome Monday - Rowing on the River!

Saturday saw the finals of this years Torpids on the River Isis - I watched a few of the early races...These 'bump races' are a pecularity to Dreamingspires and take place every Hilary Term between teams from the individual colleges within the University - I wrote about last years event & tried to explain the concept HERE!

Alieni is creator, mine host of Monochrome Weekend.

Camera Critters Sunday - More Nellies!!

Short of a real critter, am continuing with my Elephant theme of the last two days.

I can quite understand why the Indian Institute features them but Dreamingspires Town Hall strangely does too!

Alternating with Tudor Roses & Jaguars, a herd of Elephant heads decorate the downward pipe of it's lead guttering...

Why totally defeats me as the cities crest bares an Ox!!!

Saturday Photo Hunt - Foreign!

tnchick's prompt this week speaks foreign travel to me.

But, having not flown abroad recently, had to think closer to home for inspiration.

This carving appears foreign - well, very out of place in an English city to me...But it's one of several to be seen on the Indian Institute, home to yesterdays elephant weather vane...It was established in 1883 , financed entirely by private donors in India & Britain, with the aim to make the study of the languages, literature & industries of India not a foreign subject within the University curriculum
The buildings now home to the Modern History Faculty Library.

Sky Watch Friday - Elephant up High

Looking locally for tomorrow's Photo Hunt image photo'd this again...It's Dreamingspires Indian institute's weather vane, looking good on a bright Spring day!
Just hope the blue skies last!

True Colours Thursday - NAVY!

I found this shade of blue quite hard on it's first outing.
But, this time I seem to have found a sort of vague photo theme - travelling!!!

My wheelie suitcase & never travelled without laptop carrier are both shades of NAVY...

Never travelled on, though always fancied a spin on - this NAVY jeaned motorbiker on his NAVY flamed power machine would do nicely for my maiden pillion ride...

Then, there's NAVY bicycles a plenty in my city as they're the students favoured means of getting around Dreamingspires...

Was delighted to spy this last years Signet, now nearly a full fledged Swan, travelling downstream to new territory on the River Isis - no Photo Shop, it's just the light that gave me rippling NAVY water...

There's also, always a romantic dream of travel via this period fragrance...

Plus, my cake from the Celebration Cake Shop's window has a couple, wheeling away on their honeymoon - the ribbon is NAVYish...

To join True Colours Thursday, whose designated blog home is HERE, all you need, is to post a photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week.
If you simply want to use the idea as a 'prompt' for a post, that is fine with me.
But, if, you'd like others including me, to visit you, please leave a comment on either site, so we know you are 'IN'!
Previous known participants are shown in the TCT blogs side bar.
Next weeks colour is SHAMROCK GREEN, early for St Patrick's Day on the 17th!
And, please remember ideas for forth coming colours would be very welcome!