The Neighbours and a peaceful Meander

Moorland offspring come along a bit later than those in sheltered fields and barns, so we have lambs galore as well as calves and foals.

These photos were taken last month; I'm staying away from that part of the Moor at the moment, not because my dog might chase the animals, but because he wants to befriend the lambs - good intentions but not a good thing.  

So yesterday we went to another of our regular places where a river flows through the woods. It's popular with dog-walkers, who MOSTLY pick up after their pets . . . . mostly! Grrrr! to those who don't. 

The narrow access road to the woods

Our Cornish lanes are filled with flowers at this time of year

The River Lyner is quite shallow at present, barely covering the pebbles on the river bed in parts.

So serene, isn't it? And there are otters here . . . 

And dogs who love a cooling dip! Happy, or what? 

A stretch of the footpath alongside the river

It has been cooler today and overcast; neither of us felt very energetic, so we've had a quiet day at home, apart from a stroll up the lane.  Rain is forecast for tomorrow . . . the garden will be grateful, but I am hoping that summer won't be too long in coming.

Did you enjoy the Poldark series that was recently on BBC 1?  Oooohhh that Aidan Turner . . . .
Since the series ended (it was only on for a few short weeks) I have decided I can't possibly wait until next year for the continuation . . . will Ross be committed to prison? or even transported?  or (gulp) executed?  Well of course not that!!! Or there would be no more Poldark.

So, I treated myself to the first 4 books, written by Winston Graham, not on Kindle as usual, but actually in new paperbacks, as I feel the need to have these books, in order, on my bookcase. Oh, I am enjoying them!  There's far more detail and story in the books; I suppose the TV series has to be massively condensed and unfortunately altered significantly in order to make it attractive to viewers. I have read "Poldark", "Demelza", "Jeremy Poldark" and have just started on "Warleggan", so in order to avoid any breaks in my reading, I have now bought the next eight books!  They should be arriving early next week.

 Sunshine, birdsong, a comfortable chair, books, cappuccino and fruit - what more do I need? 

Oh, just the other side of that greenery - the companionship of my dog. 

While we're in the garden . . . 

Once upon a time there were 6 little Strawberry plants, standing forlorn and neglected on a metal stand outside a supermarket, bashed by the chilly wind and sadly in need of water.  So I trooped inside with them, pointed out the state they were in (dying!) and bartered the price right down.  Took them home and lacking any compost, I gave them a bag of Topsoil to themselves and saw that they had plenty of water and a sheltered spot in the greenhouse. Two weeks on and I think they are doing OK, don't you? Flowering nicely and tiny little fruits already forming, I look forward to my reward when the fruits are ripe enough to eat (as long as my grandchildren don't find them first!)

 This one is a mystery - I await the fully opened flower on its tall stem to see if I recognise what it might be.  The rich purple flower beyond will eventually grow into a prickly Christmas decoration!

This is a photo of my neighbour's tree; the flowers are in their infancy but when fully developed they become bright red lanterns.  As the tree is taller than my bungalow's roof and it is smothered in flowers, it will be quite spectacular. 

A Rhododendron showing its bright pink flower along with lots of new green growth.

All the daffodils and Narcissus are finished flowering now and will soon be placed in new corners of the garden, but these last few tulips are lasting amazingly well, considering the wild winds we have been experiencing lately.  I had to move some pretty, pale pink/white double tulips to a more sheltered spot as the wind had snapped several stems before I rescued them. 

Please don't crick your neck trying to see this photo - no matter what I do, I can't get it the right way up!  I transplanted the lovely lime green Acer into the garden from its home of the last 4 years, a large container, where the roots had started to grow up through the soil. I hope it will thrive in its new position; I may reward it with a companion if it does well - a red Acer.

I could say I bought the metal crow to amuse the grandchildren . . . but in truth it amuses me, as does his companion, the rocking crow across the lawn.

A close-up of the Lilac blossom, seen in the background of the photo above; it is a very young sapling, bought last year and transplanted to this spot in early Spring this year.  I adore the perfume of Lilac and I have to sniff it every time I pass.  The blossom is just going over now. 

I hope I'm not boring you with all the flower photos, but I'm addicted to the huge variety of growing things at this time of the year.  In my next post I shall feature either the beach or Bodmin Moor, depending on where we go tomorrow. There are lots of lambs everywhere at present, but the cattle grids keep them out of our gardens, thank goodness.  It wouldn't be helped by ponies' hooves, cattle and sheep!

So . . . . here we go

Yesterday I arranged to meet up with another Cornish Blogger and while we were enjoying the gardens (and coffee & cake) of Pencarrow House, she persuaded me to start my own blog.  So after being a 'reader of blogs' for many a year, here I am.

My very first Blog; my very first post - what to write?
I suspect my choice of title will be particularly apt; I shall ramble from one subject to another and then another.
First of all, a photo of the person who brought me here: Elizabeth's blog can be found here http://frenchvillagelife.blogspot.co.uk/

Admiring the Azaleas and Rhododendrons at Pencarrow

Today, I was much closer to home, walking on Bodmin Moor with my dog, Zac; he's a 12 and half year old Border Collie who has some health issues but still enjoys his walks, especially if they involve water, when he will happily plunge in to the filthiest deep puddle or crystal clear  moorland stream to cool off.  But don't expect him to go outside when there's a suspicion of rain; the tiniest drop will send him scurrying back inside. 

Looking beyond an old mine chimney towards Caradon Hill

On a totally different note - I read in our local paper that a former Bomb Shelter situated on Downderry Beach has just sold at auction for £14,000!!! It measures 13 meters x 3 meters and comes with its own parking space.  If the fierce storms and coastal erosion that we experienced last year are repeated, it might well not be the safest place to leave a car! I shall watch with interest as Downderry to Seaton beach is another favourite walk when the tide is favourable. 

I have photos of my garden lined up for my next post, all being well. I do love my garden!