Saturday Photo Hunt - Dark!

To be honest was unsure whether to post today as tnchick's prompt seemed to conjured up my unfortunate present dark mood rather than an image, but then I recalled this happy memory photo of Little Buddy barbecuing me my steak supper on a dark evening back in '07...It was taken @ one of my favourite spots on Vancouver Island, CA - the Shorewater Resort, located over looking the Straits of Georgia on Qualicum Beach's foreshore, became my home from home on four lengthy vacations - I'd take up residence & LB would commute from the mainland, in between his flying job & going home to wifey!

Looking back now wonder which time I enjoyed the most - my alone time beach combing/exploring the delightfully artsy area where I could so have happily lived or my time with LB when we always had to drive somewhere & ended up in a bar - dark hindsight reflections indeed!

Saturday Photo Hunt - Natural!

For this weeks prompt from tnchick, I'm heading down memory lane re my viewing of one of the World's natural wonders, the amazing Grand Canyon in the state of Arizona, USA.

It's hard to believe I was there 18 months ago with Little Buddy as our lives have now gone in different directions, but this visit to the West Rim was certainly a trip of a life time.

The steep-sided Grand Canyon, carved out by the Colorado River over millions of year is truly a phenomenal sight.

This is Eagle Point so called because of this natural rock formation resembling a Eagle in full flight...

Here is Guana Point with another natural oddity the Joshia Tree in the forefront & the Colorado River way, way below...

And finally, this shows my shadow @ the closest I got to the Canyons edge, a natural suicide spot...

Saturday Photo Hunt - Hot!

Once again, I was hot foot this morning to Cowmead Allotment's 4th Open Day for my fresh veggies.

Taking a stroll around this green haven, found my photo for tnchick prompt for today too.

Gardeners love bonfires!

And even I love their musky smell from a distance - it's the the scent of Autumn.

But, the heart of the blaze can be flame hot...

Saturday Photo Hunt - Framed!

tnchick's prompt for this week 'Framed' has two definitions...

"Nown - encasing of a painting/picture."

And...

"Slang - concocted false charge etc"

I've gone for easy traditional option, a framed image!

This is a much treasured, original oil painting, done by my late Mother's old school friend At Joan, framed in a Copper Gilt frame - sadly, my photograph does not do it justice...

The setting is the Highlands/Lochs of Scotland where she & husband Uncle G. holidayed regularly.

I, of course love it's depth of atmospheric blue shades.

But it's the fisherman & his dog that win my heart and make it special to me!

The former with his boat & rod, always reminds me of Uncle G who loved to fish.

This gentle man was the Father I would have wished for & was so grateful to have in my life since he showed me nothing but love & kindness, even to his own son's annoyance re preferring me over his daughter-in-law!

The Black & White pup in the painting looking to see what the catch was, is of course, in my mind, my beloved Spaniel Hero who adored freshly caught fish!!!

Saturday Photo Hunt - Numerical!

Because of an unexpected & very welcome find earlier today, have an image to post for this weeks prompt from tnchick.
All plots @ Cowmead Allotments are numerically listed, this is Plot No. 31 ...
Today was the second 'Open Day' there this year - am seriously grieved I missed the first one last week!

Once again, local gardeners are sharing their surplus produce with the non-green fingered like yours truly, for a voluntary contribution to the allotments improvement fund.

I discovered it was on purely by accident, having decided IT just wasn't happening this August, as no advisory leaflet had been pushed through my front door giving details of days & times as in past Summers.

But, apparently the young lad paid to deliver said leaflets around the neighbourhood a few weeks ago, pocketed the cash & promptly dumped them in Hinksey Lake, creating a soggy mass to be fished out by an annoyed Park Keeper!!!

Anyway, I came home with just picked Green Runner Beans, a seasonal favourite of mine; baby Beetroot, which I'll eat raw as great shredded in salads; a bunch of Carrots; two small curly Ridge Cucumbers and a very fat Butternut Squash, which I plan to roast with garlic - would have taken much more but was regrettably cash strapped :( - but next week will remember to have more funds available to hand on a Saturday morning as nothing beats fresh produce & Cowmead's gardeners are the closest I get to it now adays.

Wordless Wednesday - A Rainbow Trap!

Okay, not wordless as have a postscript!

Trying to catch up re my photo meme's, found I'd missed tnchick's prompt for last week's Saturday Photo Hunt, it was Bubble(s); and as one of my few recent photographs fitted the bill perfectly, couldn't resist sharing it today.

Saturday Photo Hunt - Half!

This week tnchick's prompt made me think of lemon halves...Why?

Because as a frequent drinker, one slices one's lemon in half before cutting those individual slices for one's Gin & Tonic...

Saturday Photo Hunt - Black!

Host tnchick has got on the colour trail this week!

And, I think this young man in his black t-shirt fits the bill...

The pup is black & tan too - it's Welsh Terrier Jody, a WELTAF friend.

Both were attending last weekends Fox Terrier Fun Walk in Brighton.

Saturday Photo - Addiction!

As I have an addiction to alchol, when in Brighton, on a lovely sunny day, I am addicted to enjoy relaxing in one of the off beach bars with a nice cold larger by my side...Yesterday was one such occassion.
tnchick is this meme's mine host.

Saturday Photo Hunt - Covered!

Host tnchick's promt this week has only one meaning to me, the Covered Market with it's original rafted roof...What can I say I haven't said before - it's the cities most original shopping venue, with an atmoshere all of its own!

Saturday Photo Hunt - Sweet AND Happy Easter!

A sweet tooth I don't have, but tnchick's prompt this week suggests sweet treats & sweet images!
So, think this Easter cake from you know where's window, with it's sweet little chick decoration fits the bill perfectly; and it also says what I wish all my friends this weekend...
Just a bit of triva - the marzipan balls on Simnel cakes are meant to symbolise Jesus's disciples minus Judas.
Sadly, the Celebration Cake Shop have put on twelve balls instead of the correct eleven!
Tutt-tutt!

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!

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.

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.

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.

Saturday Photo Hunt - Daily AND Birthday Memories!

tnchick prompt this week first made me think of a daily pinta - milk delivered in 1 pint glass bottles, to ones door stop by ones daily milkman in the wee small hours of the morning; but much cheaper, larger Supermarket plastic cartons has seen the demise of this tradition locally, so unless I 'borrowed' an image that wasn't going to work.

So what about a small snippet of daily verse, as found in my ancient 'Children's Birthday Book'...

I see two birthdays down for today, so a trip down memory lane too!

Anne, I only knew briefly - I was her Group Leader during my time as a TOHG [Tax Officer Higher Grade] in the Inland Revenue - she unlike me, wisely didn't waste years hating working in the Tax Office; she resigned after a couple of months, while it took me 10 years!

Ron on the other hand, was a valued older friend for a good number of years - he was even @ one time my chauffeur, who drove me out daily, and by doing so saved my cake business from disaster after I lost my driving licence for 12 months - we eventually lost touch when he moved away to pastures new.

Anyway, Happy Birthday Anne & Ron where ever you are.

Nowadays my Birthday Book certainly seems to contain more reminders of lost friends & acqaintances than current ones - perhaps it's not surprising, as it does date back to 1963 & I'm very bad @ keeping touch!

Saturday Photo Hunt - Cuddly!

As a teddybear collector & lover, I'm taking the most obvious route re tnchick prompt this week, as came upon this sad pile of cuddly, but rejected bears after Valentine's Day...Hopefully they'll quickly receive a bright new coloured ribbon & tag, and have a second chance of finding that 'forever' home for cuddles as it is Mothering Sunday here on the 14th March!

Saturday Photo Hunt - Broken!

I changed my planned post re host tnchick's prompt this morning, because of this minor disaster - broken glasses...

Loosing my balance last evening, saw them fall to the ground & clumsy me stepped on them.

Crunch, hence a detached lens!

Thankfully, I have older pair of prescription glasses to rely on and I only really need them for close work like blogging & reading, even though I do tend to leave them perched precariously on the top of my head when home, hence these broken glasses now!

Saturday Photo Hunt - Average, AND another early Camera Critters - Jackson's Habit!

Host tnchick's prompt this week is certainly hard to define in terms of a photograph.
What is average???
I have checked the Dictionaries for inspiration.
Average as a noun is an arithmetic mean - but, as a Maths hater, I'm definitely not going via that route.
As an adjective, it's common, normal, ordinary!?!?!
Okay...
What does the average [common] smoker look like???
Not for sure like this pup, checking out with average [normal] terrier curiosity, a find found on our walk together last December...
Yet, dear Jackson, no average [ordinary] WFT, has Bronchitis and not because of a 10 a day habit he tells me... The latest news of the Jax from his J1, says he's soldiering on still, despite of all his other health issues - bless him!

Saturday Photo Hunt - Spotted, AND Camera Critters early - Sally's Spots!

Today I'm using a Wire Fox Terrier friend for host tnchick's prompt.
When I first met Sally on WELTAF's London Christmas dog walk in 2008, I was most taken with her spotted back...

Since then we've had several more fun encounters, she is a delightful girl & I still love her spots...