More Lefkas Pics

These first couple of pics were taken at the local beach - our favourite because there was always a cooling breeze. I did get some funny looks squatting in the dunes taking close ups though.

you can’t see how bright turquoise the Ionian sea is here but the sun sparkling on it was pretty special too

This is one of my fave pics. It was taken at the local monastery looking through a stained glass door at a baptism taking place inside the lavish church. There was lots of happy commotion and a great sense of occasion. I like the fact that you can see the trees outside reflected in the glass

 

Lefkas, Greece.

 

When Nature Gets It Right

 

Fire In The Sky

Dazzling sky tonight

 

Sky of Surprises

 

Back n Bloomin!

Well, I’ve been distracted from blogging by some lovely extended birthday celebrations (yes, it was a big one, no don’t ask!). We only went away for a few days but when we got back to the garden, it was as if we’d been away for a month. The buds that had started to appear on the apple trees have bloomed into a wonderful sight.

I was lucky enough to get a new camera from my family that had been on my wish list. My other all singing all dancing fuji cannot be beaten but it’s bulky slr-type lens means it’s no good for sticking in your pocket for a day or night out. Now THIS one. Well it’s the size of a waffer thin mint but seems to do most things the other one can. Thanks to my family for indulging me. Like I say, it was a big birthday and no, you still can’t ask the number! So, even though it was nearly dark, I was keen to put the new camera to the test and take a snap of the blossom. Quite a challenging shot. No light as I say and I don’t know what all the buttons do yet as it’s only just out the packet. Did get this one decent shot which I like coz it’s a bit surreal with the blue sky and the moon. This was courtesy of a clever little function where the camera takes one shot without flash, closely followed by another with flash so you can compare and ditch the one that’s no good. Great if you’re like me and a) don’t know much about the science of photography and b) are completely indecisive.

 

Snaps & Snippets

It’s hard coming up with blog titles sometimes! Anyway, here’s a few random snaps I thought I’d share with you.

Our bird table only caters for small wonky birds these days

 

Cookbooks

It’s Tana Ramsey week, this week in our house. I’ve been trying to inject some enthusiasm into creating our meals ever since Mr. P figured out that I’ll be dishing up 17,500 family meals over the next say, 16 years.

So, I’ve been cooking from different recipe books from the library and borrowed from friends. So, we’ve had Nigella week, a few Jamie weeks, a retro Linda McCartney week – loved the 80s fashion and food styling photos in that book, Lorraine Kelly week, quite a few Annabel Karmel weeks and as for Hugh Fearnley – well he pops up all over the place. My criteria for a tip-top cookbook is not so much that it has to have recipes for wholesome family food that’s really quick to prepare, but that it has loads of mouth-watering pictures. No pictures. No go. I’m even down-hearted now if there’s only a picture every other page.

 

Respect For The Beasts

Inspired, by this blog, I’m officially on my way to being Felicity Kendall / Barbara Good from “The Good Life”. I’ve got half a carrier bag of stray sheep’s wool! The sheep in the next field seemed really cross that R & I were stealing the fleecey bits their neighbours had left behind on thorns, brambles and fences. They were Baa-ing really loudly and pacing backwards and forwards indignantly. I tried explaining respectfully “look, you and your friends don’t need this wool any more and us humans can make things out of it to keep us warm.” No effect. Still more staring and aggressive baa-ing. I tried the diplomatic route, “What lovely wool! Thank you very much”. More narky baa-ing. R started crying, so we packed up (not before “mummy get’s this big fluffy bit over here” though). No. The sheep didn’t win actually. We were going in for our lunch anyway, OK??

 

Lamb Dramas (anagram of Madras!)

I saw an unfamiliar fella in our back field this morning. He had a sheepdog with him and they chased some sheep into the corner of the field like they were on a mission. I didn’t recognise him, and he hadn’t come down the lane, which is the only route our farmers take. I whipped out the binoculars to see what was going on.

He managed to seperate one of the lambs from the family group and quick as lightening, grabbed it and carried it in his arms pronto to the edge of the field. He took off with such speed and I heard a sound like a quad bike revving off in the other direction. I was upset - “SOMEONE’S JUST NICKED A LAMB!” I got on the phone to the farmer, while wondering how much a “poached” fattened lamb would fetch, as he was bound to be selling it on for someone’s Sunday lunch. Well the farmer just pee-ed himself laughing at my ludicrous story. “It’s the farmer from next door” he said. “His lambs keep getting through to our field so he’s just come to fetch it back”. Do you think I have an overactive imagination or am simply living up to my title of “Twit in the Country”?

Reminds me of the time just after we’d moved here from the city. I could hear one of the sheep coughing through the night and was convinced it was dying (sheep make a blimmin weird noise when they cough). The farmer couldn’t believe I’d called him urgently on his mobile the next morning to tell him one of his vast flock had a tickly throat! Thankfully he takes my silly city ways with good humour.

Just as the “suspected poaching” incident was over, I saw this little fella stalking the sheep.

Thankfully he didn’t attack any of them that I could see but I expect him and his friends will be back tonight…