Diving for Pearls

Wye Valley Walk 1

I purchased a little book in the local bookshop, of Wye Valley Walks- most of which I haven't yet walked. I feel I must limber up and plan to walk all 40 over the next year. I do like targets. I'll take you with me, if you like. Here's no.1; Chepstow and Piercefield Park. Today I took these guys with me as you didn't have time to get your boots on.

It being the Wye Valley, there were plenty of hills to get the blood pumping.

And, excitingly, an abandoned house to climb in and explore. And pose.

This (below)is Ollie's cousin, who is very dear to us, and who we never take for granted. He made his appearance in the world nearly 14 years ago, 3 months early and the teeniest tiniest thing you could ever imagine. He fit into the palm of his uncle's hand. He has battled the odds all the way until now he's nearly as tall as his uncle...

 

These two are chalk and cheese but still, definitely on the same wavelength!

Another unusual feature of this walk is that it takes you along the Chepstow Racecourse cross country route. Lots of jumps to clamber over, and through. Preferably making snorty neighing noises as you go. Age no barrier.

The cousins help each other in all sorts of ways.

Exploring ways to show off and live dangerously.

 

A Sunday walk with family. Nice.

Cornfield 2

I'm posting a few more of our cornfield shoot- I loved these when I saw them because of their slightly voyeuristic quality! We all know it's not particularly cool for siblings to be seen getting along well together- but the truth is they generally (but not exclusively) do! Although a favourite warning is often to be heard; 'Body bubble! Body bubble!' with an imaginary sweep of the arms demarcating an invisible do-not-cross-into-my-personal-space barrier- even hugs are tolerated sometimes- 

 

Brothers are great. And sisters are even better! They both know that really.

The corn grows high...

On a whim we decided to take advantage of the 'golden light' and dashed to the cornfield and the old railway to take some shots. Inevitably the sky quickly evolved into a backdrop for Wuthering Heights- but we did what we could...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apparently 'geek glasses' are the must-have accessory this summer...

Blue Hair Day

Don't ask. Poor dog. He's going through a blue phase at the moment. But being very noble about it. I think he looks like an ageing rocker?

 

While the kids play dressing up I've been amusing myself making these little beauties;

 

They are about the size of a playing card. I started with a handful of scraps and just kept going!

I don't know what the outcome will be- maybe I will stitch them all together and create a quilt to hang on the wall? (Don't think it would be much good on the bed somehow...)

Carnaby colour...

24 hours in...

where the streets may not be paved with gold but in some the buildings are certainly papered with Liberty prints;

 

and you can buy Converse sneakers in any colour...

 ...it must be Carnaby Street.

 

Didn't have much time for anything else- dinner in the OXO Tower (see top left pic) with a wonderful view of the River. 

 

 

Making a song and dance of it...

I forgot to post these yesterday- most of my pics of Sophie's show on Saturday were rubbish, as I was trying to watch out of one eye at the same time... but these two made me smile...

this one, because of the passion and intensity on these girls faces- they danced, acted and sang all week to put on this show, which was fantastic...

 

and this one, because the combat scene was so realistic that when they rehearsed it outside on the Downs a 'concerned member of the public' approached the teacher to ask why he wasn't intervening in such violent behaviour!

Off to London now for a flying visit, a bit of business but hopefully time to play too. Pics soon!

x

Early walk.

The morning lightens the sky behind the twisted trees...

 

Shadows still long, grass wet. Just me and the dog.

 

Isn't this beginning to look a bit like autumn to you? Berries and cobwebs?

 

Swatch out...

More paint swatches today, quick and easy. A chunky choc chip of a scrapbook. Instant gratification and a way of using those moo cards I ordered.

 

 

Just spent a happy few hours with my 'bezzie' Lou (as the girls would say) cutting up fabric and stitching and glueing. Bit of chat, too, got to admit.  Husband bought tea and coffee at regular intervals, so he didn't feel left out. We both agreed we could not think of a finer way to spend the day. And later we get to go and see our lovely girls perform in a Bristol Old Vic Theatre School show. There may be pics tomorrow!

As the sun colours the flowers...

...so does art colour life.
 
I am in a colourful phase at the moment.  Very inspired by kris's color stripes and colourlovers.

Here we go.

 

 

 

 

Simply, photos picking out little colourful spots from around the home; a set of colour swatch cards from B and Q, a handful of which I smuggled out whilst trying to look cool and yet feeling guilty. I have never shoplifted anything in my life, and these cards are free, for goodness sake, why do I feel so guilty?! Have a nice day folks.

Moxie...mŏk'sē, /ʼmɒksi/, /mQksi/

Noun

moxie 

1. backbone, determination and fortitude
2. initiative or skill

"As a girl she had speed and a knock-kneed moxie at athletics, and might have done more with it if she hadn't harvested all the glory already." - from "Rabbit Redux" by John Updike

I brought back a new word from Canada. Never heard it before... now it's an essential part of my vocab. It's hard to define- an intangible spirit, a street-smartness, something not taught in school but picked up by those who listen to their hearts and choose the bolder path.
Apparently Moxie began as a medical marvel- invented by Dr Thomson of Union, Maine in 1876. The label on his bottles of this special potion, containing extracts from a 'rare South American plant' (hmmm, yeah, right...) promised to cure brain and nervous exhaustion; to give a durable, solid strength- 'it takes away the tired, sleepy, lifeless feeling like magic ....'
It became a soda drink, apparently still available, though I'm gutted I didn't find any- but I was taken with it's use in colloquial North American as a  word to describe courage, daring, energy, vision; as in "This girl's got moxie!"

Hence the mini;

It's a very simple book to make- I used 5 sheets of double sided patterned paper, folded in different ways to create pockets.

It occurred to me that Moxie would be a great name for a dog. I imagine a cute, small, waggy companion for Miller; Miller and Moxie. Moxie and Miller. Hmmm. Is that a good enough reason to get another puppy?

Hmmmmm.....

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