Comfort Zone

I have crept back home for a few hours to see the the family and help with a few chores.

And back to the security of the iMac!  Into my comfort zone for a short while to post using one, yes just one, working computer!

I love the form and texture of some of these conifirs, this is dwarf variety in the garden at home

This little Pieris at the cottage is looking a bit shabby this year but the contrast of that flaming red is still wonderful.

I took this shot of a the tulip by shoving the lens of the Samsung right inside the flower and let the flash bounce around wherever it could!

Horse Tails and Fields of Gold

This afternoon I popped out to check the horses and later by special request, accompanied the youngest daughter while she rode round a local off road riding course.  The Children's Mother and I walked with the terriers while horse and rider pottered back and forth and jumped several large fences.

One of the fields had some clumps of what looked like young Horse Tails but I could be wrong.

Earlier I took this shot of a field of rape.  It's not the picture I was wanting but I keep losing the correct one in the complex computing arrangements up here at the cottage.  Trying to move files between two semi-functioning computers is just too much for my weakened brain to cope with.....

Cottage Sitting Blues!

I am house sitting for my mother for a few days, Scotland beckons.....

The computer here wasn't working but several hours with a large hammer seems to have done the trick!  I had planned to use my old laptop but it stubbonly refused to connect to the wireless and of course, I hadn't brought an ethernet cable with me.

As I have spent most of the day here,

Today's subject is, flowers!

Yes, I know not very exciting but after battling with recalcitrant computers all night, it's all I can manage...

There once was a little pinky....

It looked all tattered and torn  (but the nice doctor put it all back together again!)

Now that will keep The Children's Mother quiet for a while, or at least the next ten days!  The Doctor asked if the children would be able to help their Mother with a few chores.  That raised a wry smile on her face.......


While we were at the RVI in Newcastle I took a couple of pictures, one of a new wing of the hospital and one of the old university building.  The contrasts in style are considerable.

This afternoon, up at the cottage I took this shot of the plum blossom.  The rain and light have combines to make the petals almost transparent.

More Spring Flowers

Back up at the cottage again,tis time I moved a few yards away from the burn to see what I could find.

More Wood Violets, they are just about finished for this year so it was nice to find this bloom in good condition.

This clump of Primroses have found themselves a cosy little place to live underneath a fallen branch where they are protected from the grazing donkeys and the dogs running by.

Lesser Stitchwort

The Children's Mother takes her hand to hospital in the morning, so perhaps some nice action shots......!

Apple's Blossom

I took this picture yesterday but didn't get it posted as I had to take The Children's Mother to hospital last night to have an injured finger examined.

Ten minutes medical attention including x-rays involved a four hour stint at the hospital!  Ours is a brand new rural hospital not a busy inner city A&E on a friday night!  Wouldn't it be good if our new government sorted the NHS out once and for all?  We have an appointment at a hospital in Newcastle tomorrow morning to have the damage repaired.  My offer to get my ratchet loppers out didn't go down too well....

This is one of the productive apple trees we have in the garden here at home.  It's looking good for a good crop.

Electricity Poles

At the cottage, the cherry tree is laden with blossom, as are the other stone fruit.  The latter better that I have ever seen.

If we can escape the late frosts the birds should have a bumper crop of cherries this year!  The signs are good for the plums and green gauges too.  I hope so as the few we had last year were delicious...

I hope someone at our local electricity company know how this rat's nest of cabling works, it looks like the sort of electrics I could produce.......