I know this is a little strange.......

but this photo was taken by my boys especially for me.Why? Because since about the age of 13 I have been obsessed by Komodo Dragons. I saw a picture in a wildlife book of a Dragon eating a Calf and I couldn't believe there were lizards that big. I read everything I could lay my hands on, have watched every TV programme about them and even went to Chester Zoo (with my boys) so I could see them in real life. Fluffy kittens they are not!

They also took the picture below (on their jolly jaunt to Nodnol yesterday). I think it is such a cool picture. The Ammonite in the picture is hip height! Just a little one then.

From the bedroom window.

A lilac in full bloom.

Using the zoom - Rottingdean windmill with the sea in the background - on the route of our favourite early morning dog walk. Across a field full of skylarks and wild grasses. I love that we can see this from home. Sometimes you need a reminder of just how much wonderful stuff you have right on your doorstep.

Lottie asks......

"What is best for getting the taste of frog off your tongue?"

Sweetums....,

is on a frog hunt - the blurred tail is a good sign he might have found one.

Yep but this little froggy is a smart little froggy and has quickly got back into the pond away from the naughty Sweetums!

Come on ickle froggy, come back out of the pond so we can play games together. I promise not to hurt you....much.

If you are wondering why Fergus is now known as Sweetums an explaination can be found here and a picture here

"Sweetums eat froggy, froggy!"

More from the garden

The garden has some lovely flowers at the moment. It is very pleasant to sit up by the pond watching the Damsel flies dance with each other. We've had red, blue and green ones this year. The fat little taddies are eating lavae and now have the beginnings of their back legs. We have lots of birds, butterflies and some wonderfully fat Slow Worms. I love this kind of weather - warm enough to sit out in but not so hot it's unbearable.

I've been taking my knitting out after lunch. The dogs rootle about in the undergrowth - Fergus in particular likes to hunt frogs, Lottie lays under the bench. It makes for a peaceful half an hour. It is also helping me get outdoors- been having some problems with that again but am starting to feel much better now.

Red hot pokers

From the garden again. Weird flowers but I kind of like them.

Foxgloves

I had a headache this morning and as it felt sunny but fresh I took myself away to the garden with some knitting and a big glass of water. I thought these were stunning so got M to photograph them for me.

What do you think?

The Solitary Shore

On the solitary shore I stand and watch
tides and winds move as I am still.
The pebbles roll caressed by waves and
foaming salty bubbles dance,
I blink and breathe but stay entranced.
I can taste the salt upon my lips,
can feel the spray upon my face
but the horizon wide and spread afar
holds me in this place.
Time moves too chasing the sun,
gulls wheel and they call
But I'm still here, I cannot leave
the scene holds me in its thrall.

Colour, texture and depth

Those three things really float my boat. I get caught up in them and totally loose track of time. Whether it is something I'm working on IRL or just musing over in my head. I love art galleries and museums, coffee table books full of illustrations, childrens picture books - all of these draw me and absorb my attention.


I get lost in words and music too. My mind is absorbed by the pictures in my head made by sounds - I think these also have colour, texture and depth. Combine them all together and I'm in heaven. That's todays happiness plan - to get absorbed and loose track of time.

Yesterday

Was not quite the success I was hoping for. Obviously there are some things that can't be left or ignored completely. J was great, settled down to what I asked him to do and was quietly absorbed for most of the day, Sadly, Ma was unsettled by events (not big serious ones - little niggly ones) in her life and needed an ear for a large proportion of the day. She's my Ma, so I obliged but by the evening I had had enough.

I did manage about 14 rows of a sock, 2 chapters of a book, listened to some lovely music and washed some yarn that I'd finally finished spinning. I also gave the dogs some exercise, got the house in order (I needed to do that) and decided to give M a break from cooking so made dinner. I caught up with some TV on the Skybox that we'd taped and did a batch of ironing. A productive day but not really a happy one - as in my posted 'definition' of a happy day.
Today I will try again - there is mundane stuff - laundry, dog walking, chores and getting J happliy absorbed before he's off out this afternoon -but there should be time for me too. Like right now....Womens Hour on R4 beckons....or maybe the Classical Selection on R3......or catching up with Sticks and String - any of them is a good start.

A week to be happy.

Most weeks my mood swings about from high to low. But it is often controlled by what I think I 'should' do with my time as opposed to what I'd 'like' to do. The grown up, sensible, responsible things....eat healthily, do plenty of exercise (the size of my arse may refute these two but I do try every week to do both these things and normally do), fill my time with jobs that need doing, read something mind expanding etc, etc. Some of this stuff is good and I enjoy it, other bits of it I 'make' myself do for my own good - you understand?

This week I am hormonal and I have ricked my neck quite badly.....not a good start.

So I have decided to have a week to be happy. I am not going to do what I 'ought' but what I feel will make me have a happier week. As of now....no fretting, no worrying, no forcing myself to do stuff I really would rather not - just do what feels right at that given moment. I'll let you know how I get on.