Whilst on holiday

We were staying a little bit south of Canterbury when we were on holiday the other week. One of the days we headed to the Cathedral to explore. Here’s an amazing sculpture outside of the Cathedral.

Canterbury War Horse. :
To commemorate the centenary of the end of The First World War, created by students and staff from Canterbury School of Visual Arts at Canterbury College.

And then just a photo of the horse in the field next to our cottage.

Wanderer returns

A Certain Young Man has returned from his wanders.

He and a couple of friends have been doing a road trip round some of the historical sites of the East Coast of America. from Plymouth Plantation, to Long Island, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Boston, and up to Maine where they stopped and saw my Mom for a few moments on their way to Mt Katahdin...the highest Mountain in Maine...which happens to be very near.

He will be off back to uni to finish his projects and thesis for his Masters.

I like Thankful Thursday

Coming across things you 'must have' on holiday.

-If you have been in Dorset,  you need fossils

...and because they are also selling gemstones, you get those,too.

This is restraint! I could have got loads more. Sort of thinking necklace, so I tried to remember what colour necklace I keep thinking I need. Not so good at the remembering part. But I can always use blue and I think I have been wishing for green. The blue one is marbled with white on the other side.

I think the fossil looks like an abstract painting. Or a smiling fish if you turn it another way. It is a straight tube fossil, related to cephalopods. I don't know what the round spot is. Maybe a cross section of another one?

-coloured twine - not for the garden, but to be considered 'thread' or to make a net with.

-a wonderful thing for only £8! and even a Thoughtful Man thought it was a good idea. ie: didn't frown about me buying it.

A shoemaker's last.

But not just any old shoemaker's last...one for the whole family. 😃👞👟👠

There was another also in the shop with just two shoe forms...also £8. So, that wasn't a hard choice. 😀

The shop owner said people buy them for door stops. Sensible. So, that is what it is doing til I need to use it for shoes!
Actually, it has given me an idea for how to depict or record something I have been wanting to make about the refugees in so many places.👣

and finally - a photo of a blue flower. Don't take the flower, just a photo.

It was too near the edge for me to attempt a photo, or even to get near enough to look at it closely. So a Certain Young Man, who came over from Sussex university for a few days with us, did the bending and trying to get just the right photo. It only took a couple tries to do it. Lovely.
Not sure what it is. They were scattered on the banks near the dragon.

Check out more likes from the others taking part...links on LeeAnna's blog.

In the long back garden

While we were in Dorset, we took the Steam Train to Swanage.

Here is a story...
Holly was so funny. When she runs out in our back garden to be sure the magpie isn't landing or to see if any cats have got in, she doesn't exactly bark. She kind of does a hoarse  "hooff hooff" as she runs around sniffing through the fence and the back gate.
In the long back garden at the cottage, you could hear the chuff, chuff of the steam train heading out on it's journey from the station to Swanage or to Wareham. You could even hear the toot as it sounded at different times of the day.
The first evening, when Holly heard the chuff, chuff of the steam train; she ran out in the garden vigorously saying, "hooff hooff" "hooff hooff"!  Well, if something was hooffing that loudly, she sure didn't want it getting near her people!

However, it was quite different when she was inside the big hooffing machine! She dived under the table when it started chuffing to head out of the station to Swanage. Unfortunately her back end was in the aisle, but still! So, we got her underneath properly and she stuck close to her 'dad'.

So, that was the story to get to the point where I show photos we took of the headland by 'Old Harry'. We didn't walk out there, but on the promenade in the opposite direction and along the path near a public garden where it had more shade.  Swanage has a lovely beach, but the tide was right in, and the one beach with a bit of space didn't allow dogs.

We were far enough along the other side of the curve the harbour made, to be able to see the chalk cliff and with zoom get a photo of the area around the stacks which make up what is called 'Old Harry and his wife'.

In the backgarden there were some lovely flowers. One section seemed to be planted specifically for the bees.
Love in a Mist

Purple Cranesbill (of the pelargonium family?)

pink Sweet William - (I had only seen red and white ones before)

White yarrow (Not cow parsley/Queen Anne's Lace, I don't think.)

I just wanted to take a photo looking at them from the same height. I had seen photos like that on a gardening show. I like the little touch of purple from another flower.

Something on Saturday

cow 75

Seen on our holiday

Meant to make you want ice cream?
Clever idea for a bench, but the eye is a bit scary. At some point the proper looking eye must have fallen or taken out with force. But I think it would be a bit better if they painted in an eye or even painted it black.

Thankful on Friday instead.

Lots going on right now. It might seem odd, but some days it is a bit too much to add to coping levels for the day by turning on the computer.

Anyway, I like that the new physio I have been referred to, who is meant to help me with leg pain and mobility, looks to be prepared to really help and not just want me to 'manage the pain'.

and that going to hospital means I could pick up some more books in the bookshop and going to the library means even more!

I like I have had some time to work on some clothes for me. One I cut out is an eyelet lace, which will have white underlining.

I love the thatched cottage we stayed in when we were in Dorset on holiday the other week.

Our bit is on the right. The left side is where the owner of our self-catering cottage lived.

The whole street had houses with climbing roses up and over the door.

I really liked that it was amazingly sunny and warm enough to read at any number of spots in the garden there.

and that there were signs which said I should be there.

I love that Dorset has a Dragon drinking water.

I like castle ruins and finding out the story about them.

Corfe Castle ruins

The wheels worked really well, but I didn't go up to the castle. Normally that would be one of the first things I would do. But, this time I decided to listen to reports from the Thoughtful Man and his dog.

hot and tired

This was at a cafe in a little courtyard. Every time we walked past the entrance on our way here or there, Holly decided we should go down there. Even though there was no real reward for her. We did eat there 3 days and saw the model village there on one day. We called it Holly's dinner place.

More holiday photos on another day.

Also, during these past few weeks...
 I very much like that my Fly Me to the Moon piece 'Moonlight Groovin' has been used in publicity for that gallery by the organisers of the Festival of Quilts.

and that my Ramshackle Suburbs will be part of the Fine Art Quilts Masters.

and that it is still a bit of a secret because they only used the detail photo for the publicity. People have to go to the gallery to actually see the whole of it...unless they follow my blog. But still, a little photo on a blog and standing in front of a piece nearly 2metres by 1.10 metres, two very different experiences.

Check out more likes from the others taking part...links on LeeAnna's blog.

I like Thankful Thursday

I like that we are home this Christmas for the holiday.

We have never put lights out in front before.

I like a dog who is happy to be fussed. If it means wearing a red ribbon, then more people will fuss you! Even if the rest of you looks a bit like a scruff most of the time.

Holly; the dog found at Christmas time. The rescue people thought she was part Patterdale Terrier. When her 1st mother got her from rescue, they were calling her 'Crackers' - like Christmas Crackers. But Her Mother said there was no way she was going to call out Crackers when she was out and about in the field or woods. So, she called her Holly. She doesn't look like a Holly, but never mind. She is a bit Crackers, though! I often call her Polly for endearment. Polly Wolly Doodle All the Day.

We took Holly on several years ago when Her Mother was diagnosed with lung cancer...she wanted to be sure of someone caring for the dog before she even started treatment. Her Mother is still actually doing well, but the cancer won't go away.

In the meanwhile, Holly fell in love with her new dad, and that was that. Holly has fits now and then, the first time she had one after we had her, I got down and held her and told her not to worry, etc. That is when I was adopted.
So, when Dad is not here, Mum is the best friend. and when A Certain Young Man is here, he is the one to follow because he is usually in the kitchen...food. But also because he is the one who will play rough and tumble. Only not too much, because she is starting to feel the aches and pains of being older.
And anyway, Holly loves to cuddle you (as long as you aren't disturbing a nap) and will come and lean against you when she needs/or when she thinks you need a hug.

I like that I don't really have to do anything this holiday. But I have been baking and making meals that will suit the caveman. and more baking. But mostly reading books.

I Like looking forward. These gifts are from people who know I like:
photos on calendars or words for the day

books and diaries to write in (and a calendar missed from the last photo)

Almost the day for writing in new diaries! And making new lists! Hurrah!

go see what the others like at Lee Anna's blog.

Something on Saturday

As we were in Filey last week, I didn't post a cow.
But, I took a photo of an interesting one!

Cow 24

I said to my son. This is a bit confusing. It is dressed in a waistcoat and tie like a bull, but has udders.

He laughed at me...Nevermind that it is a cow standing up eating an ice cream.

Oh, yeah. small point.

And for today.

Cow 25

A Beswick Ayreshire Calf

Ok. this is spooky. I just did a Google search just to find out the breed of this calf and discover it is worth some money! Depending on who wants it. Hmm.
It was produced til late 70's. Perhaps I picked it up at a jumble sale or something? Or someone else did and gave it to me. I can't remember.

And some of my others show up on the search, too. I need to look at their tummies. I only knew this was Beswick when I went to take the photo.

Well, there we are!

Back again!

We were away with family over the weekend.
I am beginning to catch up with myself.

We met in Filey, where my husband's family used to have their holidays. Mum had asked for her ashes to be scattered there.

It was nice to be together. and just nice to spend a little time by the sea.


Holly wasn't sure about going too far into the sea.

But after a Certain Young Man got a treat, she followed him out quite a ways, ignoring the waves.

But barked at him when he got too far.

Liechtenstein

Being as rainy as it has been, I remembered that I didn't get to show you much of our holiday in Switzerland. Rainy, because that is what the weather was like when we were there!

One day we took a coach trip. Glad that we were not out in the weather!

At one point we crossed the Rhine into Liechtenstein! It is said to be the last remaining outpost of the Holy Roman Empire. It is not a place you hear much about.

We had a quick visit in Valduz. I even got my passport stamped for 3 Swiss franks.

Above the city is Valduz Castle, where the Liechtenstein royal family live.

a model of the castle near the steps up to the town.

The Prince of Liechtenstein is known for his art collection. We saw many fascinating sculptures in the short time we had to look around.

Even in the café seating!

In the shops there were as many souvenirs relating to Switzerland as there was Liechtenstein.

And while we were there, the Swiss were playing in the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Much cheering! I understand a Liechtenstein team plays in the Swiss league.

And back on the coach as it began to rain again.

So there, you know something new!