Poppies And Other Things

We have had three months of almost non stop rain,and although it has done very little for tourism, and farmers it has helped our earth bunding blend in.
You may remember back in March /April we formed a earth mound around our fields.We were having problems with Gypsies dumping sick  and pregnant horses on our land.

this was the damage they were doing to access the fields

and this was our response  March
and now


April

What a difference
I am so pleased with how this turned out,I sprinkled a few boxes of wildflower seeds, and the result is wonderful.












We also planted 1000 willow stems which are all doing well.
My Son also fell  victim to the poor weather,he had his Stag do on a very wet weekend,but luckily  he was able to get some use from the giant inflatable bungee .



And Wilson tried his very best to join in.
I have done a few creative things,
Pages for the European journal swap I am part of.





My monthly pages for the milliande swap

Solstice

Texture

My Father was 85 yesterday and  we met up with my  brothers and  their wives by the River Avon for a meal.




This is a small village just outside the Roman city of Bath where I grew up.

On our way home we called into a dealer to view what we call motor homes ,but I believe in the USA they are called RVs,this one was larger than my parents cottage.

I have received some goodies in the post
A twinchie from the talented  Sonja who also hosted the swap.

and another from Beth containing the most delightful birds.





And journal pages from Lucine

Solstice

Texture.
I have fifteen months off from my weekly child-minding  duties, but I know Little Miss X will be visiting often.

we have had fun.

Mainly Brixham

 

We only spent twenty four hours at Brixham last weekend ,but being by the sea if only for a short time makes you feel good.

The town was celebrating The Festival Of The Sea

http://www.englishriviera.co.uk/whats-on/festival-of-the-sea-p407963

And I decided this was the year I would walk up to All Saints church to see the displays. I was so glad that I did as I was given a very warm welcome .

It is a very solid  built church which although positioned in a tiny back street can been seen from most parts of the town.

Once inside I was amazed at the array of original flags which once would have flown on the masts of the old fishing Trawlers.

I am not sure if you can get an idea from this photo of just how large these flags are,it must have been the most wonderful sight when they were at sea.

The Vigilance is the most famous trawler  which still sails regularly from Brixham as part of the heritage fleet. She often appears in my photos as she is moored on the pontoon closest to our home.

 

The Hymn Abide With Me  features a lot in this celebration because it was written by Henry Francis Lyte  who was Vicar of All Saints.

There were many displays around the church including a art exhibition

which included these pictures made from shells collected from all around the world.

A display entitled stories from the Sea of Galilee made from sugar

I was then asked if I would like a tour of the tower which houses the chiming mechanism for the bells. I was quite proud of the fact that I said yes without hesitating  ,as someone who is just a little claustrophobic is was good I did not think too much.

I was lead by Mike through a small wooden door into the narrow space which went up winding steps to the tower,it was pitch black so a torch was needed.

 

I am ashamed to say I have forgotten the name of this device , but as you can see it is like a giant musical box. on the other side of the space was another wonderful creation

You can just make out the keys these are played using a very simple method ,even I could have followed the notes as they were all lettered.

Mike then proceeded to play Abide with Me , which of course would have been heard throughout the town as this contraption moved the bells up above.

We waited for the 3pm chimes to sound and then descended the tower.One strange coincidence was the fact that Mike had lived for many  years just a few hundred yards from where I live now,and we had many shared acquaintances

Its a small world.

Back out into the sunlight and the quaint little streets of Brixham.

although a working fishing port it is also aimed at tourists ,so there are lots of gift shops, and even more fish and chip shops

and you will always find tourists sat eating this very British meal.

I hope I am not going to alienate anyone by this next photo ,and at the risk of sounding judgemental ,I felt so sorry for this young girl. I am guessing she was about 10 may be older  but I am not sure I wanted to see her Knickers showing through her leggings ,she was with her parents and I would have thought they would have known better.

 

The small Breakwater Beach is also a very popular place for divers

I spotted this sign in a shop window

It made me smile.

Just one photo of Little Miss X ,I think that was our summer it seems to have been raining for weeks.

Twinchie’s And Other Things.

Almost  a month has passed since my last blog,and i do not seem to have created very much at all,I have cut back on swaps because I fear not meeting deadlines.
But I have made twinchie books for the swap hosted by the very talented Sonja http://artfrommysoul.wordpress.com/  over at milliande.


this one was made from a vintage book of Italian art . I used a small Sizzix die cut bird for the cover  and then covered it with aluminium tape which was coloured with alcohol inks.


this is a accordion fold book which would make a great mini album
.
and this last one is made from watercolour paper dyed green with a Sizzix die cut embossed with ultra thick embossing powder.
I have also made two dolls


I created Journal pages for Letizia in Italy




I used the traditional song  How Many Flowers  In a English Country Garden as the prompt.

This is a very poor photo ,but this page was done as a tribute to the Queens Diamond jubilee.

Little Miss X is really at home in a English country garden.


More in the next post of Brixham