They that go down to the sea in boats.

We are lucky to be near coast and country. The shipyard at Barrow is just ten miles away. We drove there to take photos for a new project. (This is the channel side of the works)
It has been an open day there today.
My hubby used to work at the shipyard. I once went down into a submarine on one such open day. I would hate to go to sea in a submarine. My goodness it must be quite claustrophobic, enclosed and with so little space to move about in. Submariners are brave men indeed.

A Pleasant Drive Around Windermere and Coniston Water

Yesterday we had a pleasant drive to Bowness, Windermere, Ambleside and round to Coniston and back home following the lakeside road. Beautiful views of lakes and mountains.
Of course, the area is familiar to us but never the same: subtle changes in light, reflections and mood, are ever new.

Stand Off At Noon!

The photo here is of Spice looking out of the window hoping to spot squirrels.
Is she is not inside searching for them, she is outside either chasing them or waiting for them to arrive.
What a laugh! We looked out of the window yesterday and saw a squirrel sitting on the corner of the lawn looking at the dog, who was sitting under the bird station looking directly at the squirrel about ten feet away.
Eye fixed on eye. Who would make the first move? All was quiet. No movement anywhere. The squirrel suddenly gave way and ran for its life, the dog a short distance away. Unfortunately for the dog, she can't climb trees!

Busy Squirrel

One of the great pleasures in life is observing the life of other creatures around us.
After a busy time I now have the chance to observe the wil life in the garden. I took a lot of photographs of a squirrel trying to get at the food put out for the birds. First in the back garden and then in the front. All the photos had to be taken through the glass of windows. Most of the time the squirrel was on the move, but I managed to get a few hazy photographs.

Home Sweet Home — 'Birds have their nests'

I watched a bird collecting nesting material this morning. Likely this is not the first home this season.
There are a variety of birds nesting in the trees and bushes around us. Backwards and forwards, carrying their chosen materials. Pigeons build a mere raft to lay an egg on, tiny birds create perfectly formed nests which are softly lined with fluffy feathers and gossamer webs.
No mortgage payments, materials free, just hard work and dedication needed. More hard work when the eggs hatch. When the children leave the nest, maybe another round of child-rearing. Losses to predators are great, but the birds go on as they are programmed to do. Brave little creatures and a joy to watch.

Golden Moments — little things mean a lot

Sands of Time — Golden Moments



Little things that change our thinking.



Yesterday ended well. Someone got in touch, requesting information about writing and self-publishing. I doubt her comments about my writing were just flattery, otherwise why choose me to gather grains of knowledge? It gave me a good feeling. We all need to feel appreciated. A low self-esteem is not conducive to fulness of life.
Okay, so the sands of time are running low but it is good to find they are mostly golden grains!
Little things really do mean a lot:
A pair of squirrels are going crazy in the garden — leaping and dashing, prancing round each other. Junior fun or the mating game? Ah yes, we oldies remember that all right!
The nesting pigeon has now flown away from the nest. Did that egg finally hatch — it's had plenty of time to hatch and produce a fat youngster. No evidence (carcass or feathers on the ground) that a cat or bird of prey had it for lunch.
The mother blackbird has been trying to feed a young one with a lump of white food. It pecked but turned away. She kept offering it, pecking at it herself to get bits to feed to her infant. It was going on for a while. We suddenly realised it must be a nugget of polystyrene. Concerned (would it choke?), we dashed to the door but the blackbird just flew off with it. Now I am worried it's beak has stuck in the stuff. Well, if I don't worry about that, I'll find something else!
Must make a list out — chores to do and shopping this afternoon.
And must try and get a bit of creative writing done today — lots of starts and much to finish!

The Sands of Time — a misty morning

A Misty Morning in May

Wednesday already! How the days fly past. The days have longer daylight hours so I guess I expect time to go slower but the truth is they seem to shrink. The sands of time running through the hour glass? Seems faster when there are fewer grains to go. Best to make the most of them.
A misty morning heralding a pleasant, if cool, day.

Evening Birdsong

Yesterday, as evening fell, I walked out into the garden and was transported to heaven. So many birds cooing, chuttering and twittering, outdone by an enchanted chorus of magnificent songbirds. The orchestral backing included the calling of sheep and lambs from nearby fields. A still night, the sounds came from near and far. I stood in the centre of nature's theatre entranced by the beauty of it all.

This morning my husband called me to the kitchen. Outside a mother blackbird was feeding two infants. The youngsters suddenly flew off just as my husband focussed his camera. In the blink of an eye, a sparrowhawk flew in front of the window. Had it caught mum blackbird? I guess if this bird got away, other birds will not be so lucky. Birds of prey and their families have to eat too. My joy has turned to sadness. But our feathered friends will go on singing.

Getting started.

I intend to keep this new blog short and sweet.
I hope it will prove useful for me to express thoughts and ideas as they come to me. No need to categorise. It will be just as I wrote it for BBC Little Cumbria (five days) a short while ago. Simple happenings in simple few words.
I realise I could be at a pivotal point in my life. Too old to make a new start?
For certain, I'm not too young!
I have been offered a place on a (possible) new committee. I just might accept.
'Get a life' — yes, it could lead to... ?