Photo Scavenger Hunt August.

Now I have a decent camera :o) I thought 'I'd have a go' at this months scavenger hunt.  (Forgive a couple of my slightly 'off beat' ideas!)

1. A Fountain

2. A Boat

3. Mountains  (of washing)

4. Street Food

5. A Picnic

6. Market Day

7. Festival or Fun Fair

8. Bread

9. Something Bizarre

(and when did you last see two frogs on a Yamaha Step-through?)

10. Fabric

11. A Sport

12. Something Ancient

Bridgnorth Castle

Hope these are okay for a first attempt, I haven't had the camera a week yet.

Best wishes

If only I could get this to add to my sidebar :o(

A quick note on 7. the Fun Fair - I was there early, before all the fun began.  This was the stall keepers dog looking totally fed up!

Bits and pieces...

It's really a bits and pieces post today.

Firstly, it's another warm welcome to my new follower :o)

Since the heartbreak this week of poor little Charlie hedgehog there has been a fabulous deveopement :o)  The lovely lady Ann, who found Charlie and I have met up again and discovered that we have such a lot in common - it's really quite incredible, and are becoming firm friends.  (Hello Ann!)

I have again visited David Austin Roses with another dear friend and took a few photo's to share with you, but I'll let you into a disappointing secret - as it was such a nice day I was expecting the air to be sweet with the gorgeous scent of the roses, most of which were blooming their heads off but it seemed that few had any scent and then you had to literally shove your nose into the bloom to 'get it'.  Anyhow, here's the pictures.... Don't forget you can click on any photo to expand them.

This greets you as you enter the gardens - the gift shop is in the background.  The pots are huge!

Then we walked along a path surrounded on both sides with roses, there are a number of garden rooms off  the main path....

This stunning bloom is a much deeper red, for some reason my camera doesn't show reds in their true light.  It's called Tam o'Shanter.

This was in one of the huge garden rooms, a beautiful walled garden set in a circle - sorry I can't remember the name of it.

The same garden room - the long pond runs straight down the centre in front of you as you enter.

I adored the colour of this one - the Lady of Shalott

These life size ladies are at the top of the long pathway you start your journey on..

This is part of the Victorian Garden, filled with old fashioned roses.

This is the statue at the centre of the Victorian Garden.

Further round looking to the centre.

This final picture is the rose Pat Austin, who was named after David Austin's late wife.  There is a sign that said she had planned all of the gardens. 

We had a cup of tea in the tea rooms, that was served in the most delightful rose covered china cups, saucers , teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl - sorry I forgot the photo :o(

There is of course a few bargains I've picked up over the last couple of weeks.  On a visit to the charity shop someone had passed on a load of cookery books..I scored 5 at £1 each :o)

(I'll have to show you my cookery books ...)

1 x each of Gordon and Tanya Ramsay's

Dutchy Originals - recipies from Prince Charles's Dutchey Estates

and The Hairy Bikers 12 Days of Christmas.  I also got a copy of Hairy Bikers Mum's know Best, but that'll be off to Nottingham as I already have it.  I can hardly believe it, none of these books look as if they've been opened let alone used (?)  Just doesn't make sense they all cost around £20 new.

Then, I found another two tea pots..

A lovely older Portmerion one for £3 - and the other side

Of course you knew there'd be blue and white somewhere in the post!

Old Willow pattern - £2.50

and an old Alfred Meakin plate to match, 'cos it's not like I haven't already got any!

£1.  Lastly, for the bargain section, and sorry it won't show up very well

It's about 8" tall and has a double heart motif molded into the glass on all four sides for 70p.  I have no idea what it held, maybe you can help?  It caught my eye, maybe for a nice home made cordial gift.. 

Finally, some gratuitious animal pictures from the garden - Warning - there is a frog picture!  I kissed him, he wasn't the one that turns into a handsome prince! LOL :o)

Sitting on the side of the pond.

One of the nightly visitors making ripples :o)

And then licking his lips!

Enquiring on each others health and passing the time of (day) night!

And lastly some day visitors too..

A blue tit and some house sparrows dine out!

(Thanks to George the lad's Mom for the last 4 photos, she lent me her camera to try it out - BIG thanks Jan x)

Hope everyone has had a great weekend,

Best wishes

Fingers crossed please.

Hello,

This morning a lovely caring lady bought a tiny hedgehog to me that was out in full *daylight obviously unwell.  I got him warm by putting a hot water bottle wrapped in an old towel into Sid's cat carrier and then wrapped him in a towel and placed him onto the warm spot.  After placing food and water in with him I contacted our local Vet who gave me the number for West Midland Hedgehog Rescue.  I spoke to a lovely lady,  Joan who runs the rescue along with her husband.  She confirmed I had done 'all the right things' and we arranged to meet at out local Vets office this afternoon.

 

Meet 'Charlie' who fits in the palm of my hand.

He was too weak to 'roll up' when he got here..

Ann, (the kind lady) who brought him to me and I took him off to hand him over to the hedgehog rescue and to get him checked over by the Vet..

 Snoozing zzzzzzzzz

The vet checked him over, he's under weight and dehydrated and he also had some fly eggs attached (ugh!)

  Charlie will have a course of antibiotics and a saline drip and be cared for until he regains weight and is heavy and healthy enough to be released back into the wild.  I hope he can return to us for release.

Waking up ready for a long drink.

 Slurrrp!

Both Ann and I were happy and relieved that Charlie is in the caring hands of the Rescue centre now.

I'll update this post when I have some more news tomorrow.

*Hedgehogs should NEVER be out in the daylight, they are totally nocturnal.  If you see one there IS a problem.  Please pick it up and keep warm indoors, then contact either your local Vet or The British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890801 who will advise you of local help.

UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE

I have spoken to the rescue centre and it's really not looking too good.  Poor Charlie is the victim of slug pellets, and has more than likely eaten a poisioned slug.  They say there is a slight chance that he could rally round but sadly they see too many hedgehogs suffering the same fate. He is on a heated pad to ensure he doen't suffer from hypothermia, and a saline drip.  He has eaten a tiny amount of food and taken a little water.

Could I ask you please not to use slug pellets and seek an seek alternative remedies, or if you really must use them do it sparingly make sure they are the blue dyed ones and clear up the bodies each evening before dusk to lessen the chance of inflicting a slow,  lingering death to other wildlife. 
 Sorry for the rant - I'll get off my soapbox now.

Best wishes

Final update

Sadly poor little Charlie didn't make it despite best efforts by the rescue centre.
R.I.P. Charlie

Thank you all for your concern and best wishes.


Rose

 

A few bits 'n bobs.

Hi all,

First things first - Welcome to my new follower :o)

Vicky has asked me to pass on her sincere thanks for all your lovely comments on her garden and jewellery, she has been knocked out by them :o)

Up date on the home Made Vanilla Extract I started on the 26th July.  This is what it looks like now, two weeks on.

It's darkening up nicely and smells divine! 

I have found a few things from the charity shop for those of you who were worried I'd lost the plot ;o)

I found this 9" high egg and birds for 70p - thought it'd come in useful around Easter time.

Now, I think I must have suffered a blow to the head with this jug - £14 from an antique centre, but still cheap.  It stands approx. 10" tall and I love the shape of it.   Made by Burleigh, and the design is Arden.  Not surprisingly, I do have other pieces in the same design.

This beaded cotton jug cover is modern, but I love them as they harp back to Victorian days - it was only £1

Works a treat keeping out dust and flies with the beads to weight it down.

Then of course I found this little wooden box containing the brown pottery do-dah - can you guess what it is?

Have you guessed yet?

A biscuit stamp - how great is that? It was only 75p :o)

Then there was this (1 of a pair) of Gothic wrought iron candle sconces - £1 each

They will be winging their way to Nottingham on my next visit!

I already had the large crystal ball, but it was on a very dull stand - so when I found this one for £3 I thought it was 'just the ticket'  (The cobalt glass liner is also my own.)

Well that's the lot for now folks!  I'd just like to thank my dear friend Jan who is George the Lad's

Mom for lending me her rather splendid Panasonic Lumix camera with which these photos were taken....

 ...Now I know just what I'd like for my birthday :o)  !!!

Hope you all have a good week, bye for now and best wishes