A Short Back and Sides

The farmers seem to be making the most of this dry weather we have been having. The tractors are able to zoom over the fields and around us a lot of hedging has been achieved. The hedges look like elongated angry porcupines but I know as soon as spring is here they will burst into bud.

Last night in the dark the tractors clanked and rumbled around the field behind our house, the headlights illuminating our sitting room. This particular hedge contains brambles, sloe bushes, ash trees and the odd oak.

A Very Cheeky Card

It is my birthday today. Click on the photo to enlarge and you will see a cheeky card my son has sent me - Husband and I were very amused. I don't think Husband would ever wear light blue socks! I would like to thank boyfromoz very much for his present all the way from Australia. I opened the package with trepidation - you never know what younger brothers might give you - do you? Inside was a men's towel from the 2009 Australian Tennis Open. I would like to think it has a whiff of Nadal!

Ouch!

I have a really horrible stiff neck! Swimming is very important to keep my wonky knees at least half way flexible and this wretched neck has prevented any such exercise. I am therefore very grumpy! I am off to the physio today - he has seen me through all the knee trauma in the past and understands I need to keep mobile. I think my visit will be painful? I am not looking forward to it.

Plants or Seeds?

Our garden is now coming into it's third year and we have decided we would like a show of snowdrops in the front garden in the shade of a wall. I have heard that there are several methods to introduce snowdrops. Looking in the garden centre the plants they have on offer look rather sad and I gather that they do not do very well or multiply very fast. Any ideas?

I am having a boast!

This last week I have been walking on my crutches around the local 9 hole golf course whilst Husband thrashes the golf ball wildly from place to place. I have found the grass very much to my liking - soft and springy - I can walk much further. Out of sight of the club house I stole one of Husband's golf clubs and took a practice swing - no problem to the wonky knees - I gave it a go. The ball flashed straight down the course - a brilliant shot and then another. Husband looked extremely fed up - his shots were spraying all over the place. I have not played golf for over 20 years - but now I know that I can still play and that is a thrill in itself. The local course does not have the use of golf carts so I shall just retire gracefully!

The Cold Shoulder

I spyed this bird hovering around our bird table and looking hungry, but for some reason he was shy and did not want his photo taken. Any good ideas for a caption for this photo? After a little while . . . . . . . . .

he consented and actually became quite a pleasant pheasant!

Photo Tag

I have been tagged by Dulwich Divorcee to rummage around in my computer to find the fourth photograph in the fourth folder. There is a snag to this - I just have one large folder - I know, I know - I should be more organised. Instead I closed my eyes and let the mouse loose to scurry around to take on the selection task. It is not surprising I end up with a sunset photograph - I have very many in my collection - I just cannot resist dashing out into the field behind our house with my camera when there is a promising scene at sunset. I don't know what I would do if the local farmer decided to plant crops in the field!

I pass this tag on to anyone who fancies to take up this challenge. I expect many of you have already been involved with this tag.

I Love Patterns

Oh no, not wallpaper patterns, dressmaking pattens or even knitting patterns . . . . . . .

I love patterns seen through the camera lens!

My 90 Year Dad Has A Very Good Idea

During our normal daily telephone conversation I remarked to my Dad that I had seen a lovely fox slink by in the field behind us twice today already which is unusual. We agreed that the fox must be hungry.

"I know" said Dad, "feed the fox, tame him, bring him inside, then Husband will have to take it for a walk instead of a new dog - that will learn him" !!!!

After the sad demise of Rescue Dog we are without a four-legged friend and I miss having that friendly bundle sitting on my lap. Husband will not give in, so I am stuck!

Blizzard Conditions - I Love It

Getting ready for trek across the frozen wastes!

We woke up this morning in North Wilts to a blizzard.

The village street is deserted except for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Our lovely paper boy!

Snow Yomping

We had over 6 inches of snow fall last night - the countryside looked absolutely lovely covered in virgin white. I love snow and find it very invigorating providing there is no pressing reason to drive the car. I continued tramping around the fields behind our house on my quest for good snow pictures to be used in future christmas cards, I think I have enough now for many years to come! Our local farmer attached a snow plough to his tractor and cleared the village and it's outskirts. The schools were closed and it was great to see the children actually being children, snowballing and sledging. Snowmen have not changed their appearance since I was young!

What A Difference A Day Makes

Me and my shadow! I hope I get no comments from boyfromoz about my big feet - he cannot see them! I must admit though I do look like a giant in the snow!




This photo is taken roughly in the same spot as photo 2, see yesterday's post. Malc can now see this is not a dead sheep but a broken down trough! It is a lovely day here in North Wilts, I was out walking under a blue sky, sunshine and minus 4C.

Which One Should It Be?

The only safe place to walk for me with crutches was through the back gate of our garden on to the field behind. These photos are views towards the north at the far end of the field.

I am hoping that one of these photos will be OK to use as this year's Christmas card. Perhaps they are a bit dark?

Take a vote!

Computer Conundrums

Has anyone had experience of Google Chrome ? It had been suggested that I use Firefox instead of Internet Exlorer the reason being that Firefox was less likely to fall prey to viruses. Well - I hate Firefox! Firefox does not enable me to select text and then use the print preview facility and print off just the selection whereas Internet Explorer does. There is also an issue with the fonts that are available.

Does anyone know if Google Chrome is more secure than Internet Explorer?