Speckled Wood Butterfly

I've found a new spot for early morning bird watching this week and as an added bonus, it looks like being a great place to find butterflies.

We never seem to get many pictures of butterflies for some reason, hopefully that will change over the coming summer months.

Paul.

Walk in the Country Side

My, my its been busy weekend again, out on the bikes Saturday and then a walk with Lucylu yesterday and of course me camera to hand as always.

Here are some piccies taken at one of our favourite places Worsborough Country Park, I have dabbled a bit in Black n White just to see if any turned out OK, judge for yourselves :o)

Update on our new glasses, pick my normal ones and Paul's up on Saturday, can not get use to Paul's, he has gone for something totally different and then me prescription sunglasses were ready today, drove home with them on, what a difference.

Think some of the comments Paul got at work today was funny, the best one was "your only suppose to blow the bloody doors off" think you will get it from this..lol...

Debbie

Afternoon Bike Ride

After a full mornings shopping for nice tops, shorts and camera magazines, we hauled ourselves off the sofa and went of a bike ride. We did 8.9 miles, passing one of our favourite places, a small village called Howbrook. It's up hill almost all the way there but thankfully downhill most of the way back. We love the surrounding area because of the quiet country lanes where we can amble along and take in the scenery without fear of being mowed down.

We made it back just in time to mow the lawn and get the washing in before the heavens opened!

I don't think the weather is going to be that cleaver tomorrow so we've no idea what we'll be doing although a day on the sofa watching films might be nice.

Paul.

Garden Colours

Over the last few weeks we've bought and planted loads of new flowers in the garden, we've even put yet more in today. The colours are starting to emerge as we head towards summer, Debbie has been out in the garden this evening to capture just a slice of what's coming through.

Many more images can be found here.

Paul.

Debbie Update

Right, lets see whats been going on in me ickle world, gosh its been a while!!

Work, work and more work, but Ive got me new staff now, so me hours should decline now and hopefully reach something like a normal working week.

We have started back on the bikes, Paul was not over impressed with his old one and wanted to start going to work by bike, hence a trip to Halfords for the best on/off road bike he could find, when I asked has u got any idea what u want, the reply was NO, get in the shop and off he went with the assistant and came back with Carrera Subway One, little bugger had done all his research...lol....

I had me mountain bike and was quite happy till last Thursday nite, we set off on on a ride and I was doing really well, only problem is the bike is quite heavy and going up hills is a proper struggle, I managed to get up this steep hill without getting off and pushing and was all excited that I'd done so well, then noticed the gate post coming at me, next I'm in the brambles with the bike on top of me!!

I was trying to get up, when Paul came round the corner and seeing me in 3 foot of brambles, decided to be the hero and jumps in the middle not knowing this would make all the thorns dig in to my arm, back and leg even more.

Luckily we were only a mile from home, so off we set with blood pumping out of me arm, when we got home Paul had to twizer all the thorns out and I had a nice hot shower got the rest out. Hence a trip back to Halfords for a new lighter bike for me, its an Apollo CX.10s.

Only been out on the new bike once, did just short of 8 miles and it was a dream to ride, glad Paul twisted my poorly arm.

Last week I had all intentions of going for a ride after work, but by time I was home the tiredness had already set in!!

Friday nite came, shopping as usual, but now I can go on my way home from work as Paul does not need a lift anymore. Fatal mistake though this Friday, got in unpacked all the shopping and stood in the kitchen telling Paul all about me day and before we knew it 8pm had come, no food in tummy but lots of Vodka and coke, yikes, Paul passed out before 9pm.

Saturday morning came and so did the hangover, but we had an eye test book, plenty of coffee and scrambled egg before we set off, eye test done, my sight has gone worse, which I though would be the case due to headaches, but at least Paul's is the same, even so, he did order new glasses as he knew the current ones would not last another two years till the next eye test, would not mind but his one pair cost more than me two pairs!!

Last nite I was a very good girl and only drank orange juice, so now I feel lovely jubley and ready for todays bike ride!!

Till next time........

Debbie.

Bats

Ever since we moved here we've always had bats stop by at dusk for a few minutes during Spring and Summer. Yesterday evening I tried to capture the little fellows on video and made the following notes:

1. Using a 500m lens is a none starter, they are too fast to keep in the frame.

2. Using the tripod is useless because it stops at a certain angle and the bats often fly a few feet over my head.

3. Even set at 150mm, the big lens is too heavy when off the tripod, I'm sure the bats we laughing at me staggering about, can't hear ultrasonic giggling though so I couldn't be sure.

4. May induce motion sickness watching the playback.



I'll try again with the 200mm lens which is light as a feather and see if I can do a bit better.

Paul.

Thorp Perrow

Today we've been to Thorp Perrow, Bedale, North Yorkshire. It's a fantastic place which Debbie found on the net last week, don't know how, I'd never heard of it before. The grounds are huge, filled with trees, shrubs, flowers, ponds, streams, lakes and thousands upon thousands of daffodils.

At the far side of the park is a falconry centre where they have everything from a Kestrel to a Golden Eagle, including this beautiful Southern White-Faced Owl.

We watched the flying display which was amazing and Debbie got to handle a Barn Owl and a Jackal Buzzard.

You can see many more of Debbie's images from todays vist and a couple of mine right here.

Paul.

Update

Now lets see were we are up to:

Fantastic day out last weekend as you can see below.

Been really busy at work, working every hour I can to get on top of everything, we should have been on holiday this week, but had to cancel till Ive got my full staff, hopefully interviews next week yippee.

We have had a lovely chilled Easter bank holiday, started Friday with shopping in town, spent too much as usual, got some great plants, then off to the local supermarket for normal shop, but we noticed some plug lettuce so got some of them to grow me own and a miniature greenhouse to grow them in, on the way out Paul noticed all the roses reduced, could not resist so back to the check out arms laden with roses and some other plants.

Home and started planting when the heavens open on us, so we chilled on the sofa watching some good films.

Saturday was weeding and planting, boy we work really hard and I must say we did a fantastic job, pesky little buggers them weeds!!

Sunday was to be a trip to the garden center, but 10am comes and a phone call from Dad we are coming over for tea, a frantic 45 minutes tidying up and mopping followed. We did manage the trip to the garden center only to find they had been forced to closed!!

Dad not been to well recently and is off his food, hence I made shepherds pie and a roast as well, all Dad managed to eat was a roast pork butty!!

Today we are deciding were to go, but up to now neither of us has moved for a shower or breakfast.

Think a day of flower photography is in order ;o)

Debbie

Lotherton Hall Bird Garden

We visited Lotherton Hall today, never been before even though it's only half an hour away. At just £3.60 for parking, it's a bargain of a day out, the bird garden is huge and took us over 2 hours to get round. On top of that you've got the grounds which we didn't explore today and a deer park (field with deer in it).

We both thoroughly enjoyed it, clicking away as we walked round the gardens and cursing the wire mesh on occasion. I've struggled to thin down Debbie's almost 400 pictures to the ones below, there were just so may beautiful birds begging to have their picture taken.

Paul

Coooowwweeeeee!

To celebrate one thousand posts since 19th July 2003, here is our resident mouse...

Paul.