Otto's stay

I have enjoyed having Otto to stay for a little fortnight and we've enjoyed plenty of walks, many of them unfamiliar to him I suspect.   It took a little while for Ditto, the cat, to stand his ground with Otto, but eventually a modus operandi was found.   I shalln't make a decision about possibly having another dog until the winter..................

Quy Fen - 18 August

In over 30 years I haven't seen Quy Fen with such little water in it.    As it's raining hard as I write, I'm sure it won't be that long before the level rises and we shall have forgotten just how long the summer, of unbroken sunshine, lasted.   Quy Fen has been, and perhaps still is, a site for Coprolite and this county was an important site for Coprolite extraction.   Coprolite is fossilised faeces from as early as the Cambrian period.

Starling family

A couple of weeks ago there were several Starlings feeding in the garden, with little love lost between the family members.   The colouring of this year's birds was striking I thought, and I'd never noticed before the red markings which appear on the head, around the eye and beak.   And it can all happen on a bird table..........

Roses

I'd been given some cut roses which warranted a posting.   The third and fourth image is the same, one rendered in monochrome.

Otto & Polo Ponies

I think I'm going to enjoy taking Otto, a neighbour's dog, for walks during the next couple of weeks.   He's 7 months old today and a friendly creature with lots to experience and some lessons to learn!   Ditto, resident cat, isn't that impressed yet, but will make his species the more dominant I expect.   At least they are in the house together this time.

We went for a walk at Bottisham Lock this morning and the metal steps over the Lock needed careful consideration before Otto bounded down them.    I'm sure I shall take many more photographs of Otto......

Getting six Polo Ponies gathered up and ready to exercise looked quite a challenge, but not at the hands of an experienced handler.   None of the ponies seemed to mind being very close to other ponies when being negotiated through a gate, and then they readily set off, as a group, all facing the same direction!

"Bluebell's" first trip

I am the delighted owner of a fantastic VW T4 Multivan and earlier this month she and I enjoyed our first trip away.   She is 17 years old and was beautifully looked after by her previous owner - thanks Jody!   There are more trips planned and I expecting to have some wonderful times away, relishing all that the ownership offers.   A couple of friends (those who found her actually!) also have the same vehicle and we are exchanging pointers for making trips away even more convenient.   I plan to keep a record of all camp sites and in future will use a camera a little better than that on the mobile 'phone - although the 'mobile' camera has the advantage of being able to share the image very easily with others.

Sunset in Toft

I wonder if I shall ever make the time to fill in the gaps since I last posted on this blog!   Doubtful I hear you say................... as I am.

Anyway, yesterday evening I went for a walk with Ann and a Golden Retriever, Ted, living in Ann's household.   The sky at sunset was amazing so I captured what I could, using the camera on my mobile 'phone for the first time 'in anger'.

Here are a couple of images of Ted waiting for a tennis ball to be thrown once more.

Now some of the sunset which folk living locally are likely to enjoy many times during the year.

Old Fire Engine House

I was invited to have lunch at The Old Fire Engine House by a friend and we enjoyed being served out in the garden, in some shade.   We spared a thought for those working in the kitchen when temperatures all around were high.

I don't ever remember seeing this double phlox in previous years, but have seen it at least three times so far this year.   I gather it will take hold of a garden if given the opportunity!