Eclipse Memories

Hello Lovelies,

if you are in the U.K. or probably other parts of Europe too, you will know we had a partial eclipse of the sun yesterday.

It's the first solar eclipse my boys have experienced and they wanted to know what it would be like. 

Back in 1999 I had witnessed and recorded a very similar eclipse and I knew there were photos I could show them, somewhere in one of  my MANY photo albums from the days of film.

Eventually I located the right one. Here it is.........

I must have been really taken with this phenomenon as there were no fewer than 8 photos slipped into the cellophane pockets, with little hand written notes on slips of paper between them...........

that was quiet a lot in the days when you had to consider film and developing costs..

This one made me smile. It says " Henry using the recommended viewing method - A mirror in an envelope with a small hole. Direct at white paper.".........

Ah Henry my lovely big Tabby and white cat....he was such a beautiful boy...and a real character who charmed everybody he met.............



Here's the image of that solstice he was viewing ....using the recommended method :0)

This is a pretty rubbish photo of a photo, but you get the idea.

I have to smile at the messy background to this photo too......staging / cropping...what's that?

 still, blogging hadn't even been invented then had it 

Here are some more pictures . My observations were " Temperature drops by 10 degrees C. Cats club together- unusual!"

We had two cats in those days.....Henry and George, my " babies" . They were not related and  never really liked each other. So this sight was quiet unusual, especially outdoors.......... 

I can remember on the day how eerily quiet it went when the eclipse was at it's fullest. All the birds stopped singing. I was hoping it would get really dark, but on a cloudless summers day, and only 90 percent of totality, that wasn't the case.

My notes say " Light level drops and it's very quiet. Definite shadows but not bright - cold light"........

Looking at this photo now, I'm not studying the effect of the eclipse, but recalling a time when this space was a real passion of mine...another "baby" if you like........

That day in August 99  I was 33 years old and I had no children.

I didn't know if I ever would ever have any real babies to love.

But by the end of the year I was pregnant with, not one but two babies....and the following summer my garden looked like this........ Caption here " one days washing!"

It was so nice to see these pictures again. To show my boys the eclipse before they were born. To smile at pets fondly remembered. To feel truly blessed at how my life has turned out so far. 

Yesterday I was at work and didn't see the eclipse at all, but I was very happy my boys were able to go outside at school, to stand around in the playground with their mates and peer at pinhole images of the crescent sun. It's something they will probably remember for a long time....even though they didn't seen greatly impressed with the whole thing!

Jacquie x

p.s. Louise has posted some stunning  photos of yesterday's eclipse HERE do take a look.

Wednesday = Time

Hello Lovelies,

I do seem to be struggling to find the time to blog at the moment, but I'm not sure why.

I suppose life is generally rather busy, but Wednesdays are usually a nice, slow day....my favourite sort.

There is time to notice last years crochet project, looking pretty on the windowsill..........

and time to smile at real spring flowers, enjoying the sunshine on another windowsill............

Time to finish reading THIS book ( I loved it)
 And time to start another. I came across THIS book in the library. Coincidentally, it's by another poet, and it's started off well....I think I'm going to enjoy it..........

There was also time to look at my little Observer book of birds.......

 I love these illustrations and the gentle, somewhat old fashioned descriptions.

The Great tit has a distinctive "two-tone" call I always recognise these days. You can hear it HERE.

 I smiled at the Observer's description of it's call as "tea-cher".....I'll be thinking of that the next time I hear this little bird, singing in the hedgerows.

Wednesdays also give me some time to spend with mum. We usually drive the slow, scenic route into town, passing through pretty villages.
I loved the "Fairy Rings" of Daffodils that surrounded the trees in this village..........

In town there was time to wander through the park, which was just beginning to look a little spring like.......

Unlike the riverbank we pass on the way home....beautiful, but still so wintry.........

Love those reflections.

Back at home there was time to photograph the beautiful hand made cards I've been lucky enough to receive this week. A colourful little mothers day card from my boys. Made by eldest ( as always...bless him)

 and Mum's sweet thank you card for her simple mothers day gift. She painted the sheep from the photograph I shared in my previous post....bless her.

I've been drawing something from one of my other  photos, taken on the same days walk..........

It's not finished yet, but I'll be sure the share it when it is.

Something I did have time to draw and finish yesterday was a "new home" card for my niece and her fiancée.

I picked up a decorative metal horseshoe for them in town. It's an inexpensive but rather sweet garden ornament, like THIS one. So that gave me the idea for the design.

They moved house yesterday and I remembered how much they loved the engagement card I made them ( it's at the bottom of THIS post )

I know I'm so lucky to have days in the week, where things slow down, and there is time to potter and make.
 And it's all made even more enjoyable by being able to share it with you lovelies.....I LOVE having time to blog ♥
Jacquie x

This Weeks Group Walk :: Number 13

Hello Lovelies,

after a long run of dull and sometimes wet Thursdays it was so nice to be able to walk in the sunshine this week.

As usual, this was a circular walk, starting in a pretty village.........

then walking along footpaths which wind their way through gentle, rolling countryside........

Though the sun was rather watery it was noticeably warmer than previous walks this year.
 The trees are still bare, but the fields are full of Lambs.........

My favourite spring sight...........

We walked past free range chickens........

and ruined buildings...........

then into the next village where the old cottages were so pretty. I loved the spring flowers and the doorstep milk delivery here.........

Then it was off to the churchyard, and our lunch stop. Time to eat my tuna sandwiches and sip my Thermos of coffee..........

Most of the walking group have little mats to sit on when we stop. I've now got one like THIS in my back pack....and it's brilliant. It weighs nothing, and you always have a warm, dry, padded place to sit :0)

After lunch I took the opportunity to look around the church. The pews were so primitive and they looked really old..........

I've since looked up this church and apparently they are thought to be 15th century.........

Wow

It was such a calm and beautifully simple church..........

We quietly had a look around and as we left the old stone floor looked lovely bathed in sunlight.........

Then it was back out into the countryside to continue our circuit...........

Can you see the footpath, zig-zaging from one stile to the next.......

Here the fields still looked very bleached and wintry..........

But down by the river some fresh greens were peeping through.........

After eight and a half miles we were back at the village we started in. I loved this glimpse into a cobbed courtyard......

And I loved this sunny walk. I can hardly believe this was my 13th walk with the group. I'm really looking forward to the spring walks, and discovering somewhere new each week.

 I'm so glad I plucked up the courage to join this kind and friendly bunch.

Jacquie x

Countryside and Flowers

Hello Lovelies,

 yesterday the weather forecast was for a bright start, but rain later. A good incentive to get out for an early walk.

As soon as the boys were at school I headed out along the lane. Where I peeped over hedges at the countryside.............

and was rewarded by the happy sighting of a hare, having his morning wash...........

and doing a little sunbathing.............

a little further along I came across some pretty white blossom.............

Delightful............

after about half a mile of roadside walking I was happy to get to this familiar bridleway............

There was no blossom in the neatly trimmed hedges here. And no greenery apart from the Lichen.........

 But as I wandered down this track I let out a huge sigh. A happy sigh, it rather took me surprise.
I'm not sure if it was the peaceful moment away from the traffic , or the fondness for this familiar spot.
Maybe it was the arrival of spring, after  the particularly  cold winter months............

Oh look , there are eggs for sale. I wished I had brought some pennies..........

I passed the back of the hay barn..........

and through the muddy tracks............

Till I got to our little local nature reserve. It's a simple place, with just a sign on the gate telling you that you might spot Brown Hares ( already spotted one of those today) or Kingfishers ( I've NEVER seen one of those and I would LOVE to, but I'm not holding my breath) .........

Here's the nature reserve....it's quite compact and I like the fact that it's over a  mile walk to get here from any direction. That makes it generally quiet, and litter free (hurray)............

There's a bench here to take in the view, but it was cold and damp yesterday, so I didn't linger........

The opposite side of the site is bordered by a brook, so I went to take a look at that.

I was amused to find this simple bridge to the island in the stream.........do you think it looks safe to cross?..............

I decided to risk it, reasoning that the worst that could happen would be a wet foot..........

Happily that didn't happen and I loved the island view..........

Sometimes, after heavy rain,  the water is quiet muddy looking, but yesterday is was crystal clear...........

 and I loved listening to the sound it made as it gently flowed through the valley.

Here I came to a more substantial bridge............

 

and I stood on it, looking down on the reflected sunlight for a while..............

 then it was time to climb another stile..............

Into a large field with views towards home............

Mr Robin was hopping around in this bush........

and a flock of birds swooped and twirled in the blue sky over the horse field.......

Back past the hay barn, where there's still an excellent supply of fodder......

Jacob was enjoying some for his breakfast.............

Nearly home now. I'm walking along familiar streets...........

and passing this favourite garden, which you can gaze at from the pavement........

It's got loads of mini Daffodils and Hellebores in flower.

Close to home my pedometer is beeping at me to tell me I've walked 10000 steps already today....... that's just over 4 miles :0)

As I reach home I search for the shy Hellebores in my own front garden. There are just a few flowers which look rather insignificant....until you gently lift their nodding heads..........

Wow.

My elderly neighbour was out in her front garden and as we chatted I remembered two pots of Snowdrops a friend had kindly given me. I offered her a pot and she was thrilled....bless her.

The other pot I carefully divided and planted by my front door..........

They were looking a bit sad, but hopefully they will survive and come back next spring.

And speaking of Snowdrops I've finally finished that little collage I started a couple of weeks ago, inspired by my drawing..............

A little mouse getting the best view of a snowdrop flower..........

It was fun snipping and sticking....and the finished picture makes me smile.

 
I do hope you lovelies have the chance to get outside and notice the change of season where you are.
Jacquie x