Verity

Verity was standing watch over the sea at Ilfracome, as with everyone there you will have an opinion of her, love her or hate her, she does make you think.
Made by Damien Hurst, and on loan to this small sea side town, he is a local lad. She is truth and justice, and towers over everything else at the mouth of the harbour.
The top photos are the first you see of her, sadly from the car park below, she looks serine, in full bloom, when you walk to the edge of the water along a harbour wall, you get to see her other side, which for me was the more beautiful and interesting. I would have loved to see her in a different location, and tried in all my photo's to miss the car park.
We were not aware she was here, and not seen from our hotel, I loved her, she dominates the skyline.

Dorset

We have been away again in the van

Staying along the Jurassic coast

 The views are fantastic

 Lulworth Cove

We stayed near Osmington Mills for two nights, we had planned to stay for 3 nights, but the rain fore caste for Saturday night and Sunday morning changed our minds. We were high on the hill with a great view of the coastline below.
The walk to the coast and Smugglers Arms was all down hill, so a much longer walk back. Hubby is now looking for a good cycle rack for the back of the van so we can get further.
We left Saturday mid morning and drove to Lulworth cove, we spent a few hours walking around and catching wonderful photo's, above is just a few of the many we took.
It was really busy, loads of people on and in the water. The colours of the water reflected the sky, it was very pretty. The clouds broke and the day was lovely.
We arrived home late afternoon, time to sort the van, clean the floor and leave it tidy for the next time.
We were warm snug and dry the whole time, early Saturday morning there was a bad storm,  Our new cooking gas rings worked well, we do take home made meals which we heat up, with fresh cooked veg. We also purchased a small toaster which was very useful. Again we brought back loads of food, our little fridge holds more than we require, I tend to fill it, so we don't have to worry about finding a shop. I must remember to pack a pair of scissors, we could also use a small clothes airier, so we can dry our towels after showing.
We both felt the trip was good, no need for fuel as there tank was 3/4 full and still is half full.
I can't wait until next spring when we will be planning longer trips.

In the pink

Up close in the garden

Dawn asked if our Magnolia tree flowered twice a year often, I am pleased to say it flowers most years twice, we do cut it back at the end of each growing season. We had a tree surgeon in a few years ago to give it shape, now each October we trim it back ourselves, taking away most of the new growth. I treat it like a shrub. This keeps it's size and shape each year, if you want more dense growth trim in the spring. As you can see I played with my new lens, and so many shades of pink.

 We popped out for an hour, Porchester Caster is just 10 mins away, normally we would walk, but we got the cycles out, I was able to fit my tripod and camera bag in my basket. It's the first time this year I have used my bike, it sits and waits for days when I have a bit more energy.

 I took loads of photo's, but I can have issues with the focus over distance using my long lens, this was the best shot of the Spinnaker tower, with a couple of Naval vessels along side in the military docks. With the tide in, loads of people were out, the children in the top photo had caught loads of small crabs, saving them in buckets to be thrown back before they went home, the sailing club was busy and even a couple of canoes on the water.

I may have a bird collection in the garden, this wire one followed us home, we popped to Dunelm, looking for a wooden chopping board for a present, soon to be SIL, David asked for one for his birthday, we also popped close by to B&Q, hubby needed to replace our garden strimmer, it's a good time of year to replace garden items, almost every thing is in the sale. I purchased a white orchid, with just a few flowers in a white pot for £4, half price, the flowers will regrow.
The weather is beautiful, hot, sunny and just perfect for our stay at home weekend, with both the girls away we made no plans, just did what we wanted, I can't remember when we had such a lazy day, nice early night last night. Later we might go our on the motorbike for a ride, it's a case of see how we feel.

Flowers in June

Flowers in the garden, up close

 Above and below Love in the Mist

I love the bud just about to burst

 Saxifraga 'Primuloides

Pretty little alpine

 I love yellow and white flowers

 Roses

 Pretty in pink

So many different Aquilegia's

 A bit of blue, 

coming along well

I have done nothing this week other than stitch, not alot to do in the garden, just enjoy everything. We have had the boys every night after school, which has been fun, Sammy loves being outside.
I'm home alone tonight, so loads of time for relaxing, I've just finished left over pizza from the boys tea, so no cooking tonight. It rained last night so no watering to do, as you can see I have done my walk around the garden with camera in hand.

Results

 We had a perfect evening last night, 

curry was lovely with 24 people from the three groups

All our Tuesday night group came 

 Just a couple of my photo's

I am proud of both of these, the light was good in both cases
taken on our weekend away in South Wales

below from Raglan Castle

We each had a certificate of attendance, which was a nice surprise.
The winner of the competition had a photo of a lovely sunset over the water with a small boat in shadow, in truth I did not vote for it, I thought there were others better. The photo I expected to win of a robin after a water bath, scored only a few votes.
The two photo's above gained me second place for the water shot and third place for the ruin castle window. I am truly shocked and also very pleased. I was shocked how many voted for each, our tutor was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable, very infectious and good for his students.
The rest of my photo's are here
In other news I have won the pepper seeds from Kirsty it is a play it forward give away and once the seeds arrive I will take a few and pass them on, more details in a later post.
I had a lucky day yesterday.

I'm happy

This is a gardening post, with added extras

Just a couple of flowers, 

 I have planted seeds into my raised bed, just half for now, 

on the other side, some seedlings and seeds in trays.

 I started to move more top soil, I have dug loads into the fruit bed, I have loads of raspberry's coming through, the strawberries are healthy. I have buds on the blackcurrant and a few buds on the pink gooseberry. I will need to put some wire over this to keep the cats out.

 I'm in a sea of net, stopped for lunch and a quick sewing fix

I have sewn three thin strips of net onto the main piece, 

it was worse than sewing a wedding dress.

I have threaded the flexi pipes through the channels, so the net now stays in place over the raised garden, I can also get easy access to the bed. 

The reason for my title, I had an early finish in the garden, it rained heavy, enough to make me smile. I did not move all the soil but there is always another day. I planted flower seeds around the garden, I have so many seeds, I thought I would mix them up, sow them and see what comes up.
We have been told our gates are ready for collection, but my table and chairs require another treatment, the paint on them is stubborn and did not all come off.
I also did an hours stitching on Carrie Rose, photo's next time, but the ironing is still piled high.

We did studio work tonight, here's a photo I took of hubby, I really like this one, and the best bit I had three to chose from, another thought provoking evening.
Early start this morning, ironing then lunch with a friend, looks as if I should be back to work on Monday.

At an angle

 Just a few stitches

yesterday was a very busy day

I have a day at home and hope to be able to get on with this

I need to finish it 

 Last night at photography club, we learnt about composing photo's and looking at angles, this is something I like to do, often I look up at things, so we were in the town centre and took shot's this is just three I liked.

Looking down

 Eye level

 Looking up

by changing the angle of your shot you can make an interesting shot. 

I picked Josh and Sam up from school, we had loads of Lego to play with, and a game of football in the garden. Josh was lovely, he has played up on his last couple of visits. He did fall over in the garden and badly graze his elbow, but he was brave, allowed me to clean it, and then went back to playing.
Today our top soil should be delivered, it would be nice for it to arrive this morning, allowing me time to add most of it to my raised garden, then it can settle and next week I can sow some seed's, I have a couple of glass panels I can put on top of the raised bed and can use to start them off.
The avocado and lemon and lime plants are doing well in the greenhouse.
I am also sorting, we are away on Thursday for a long weekend in Wales, on Saturday I am going to meet Dawn and Pam, I am excited to be able to meet both ladies, I love their blogs, and it is really nice of Pam to pop over.
We are also having Saturday evening with Kev's sister and hubby, they have booked a nice meal out.
With our camera's in tow, Fridays eclipse, the Welsh rugged landscape, it's going to be alot of fun.