Bearhug...

Bearhug...
Originally uploaded by Beaubelle.

Happy First Birthday Blog!

A year of Blogging and I have made many friends and visited many other blogs.

In Daisy's garden

This afternoon Daisy took me for a stroll around her garden.Although it was overcast and a little breezy we had a pleasant stroll amid the spring flowers. There were plenty of Crocus , daffs and hellebores to admire but the best flower of all was the golden Daisy!

Camellia 

Crocus 

Daisy 

Daffs 

hellebore 

Hellebore 

hellebores

Daisy in the daffs. 

Rogues gallery. kerry,Missy.Digby,Raffles
Missy and Raffles,Digby Kerry and Raffles , Digby,Raffles and Kerry.

A Blusterly Walk at Canadian.

It was very windy again tody and we got blown about abit on our walk. Just after we past the pond we saw a small herd of Red deer, which is unusual for this part of the forest. Didn't manage to get a photo as they moved to quickly.As we came back towards the cars we got rather wet from a squally shower.

Canadian Pond 

Missy finds a small log 

Dora 

Raffles 

Missy Raffles and Dora 

The First day of British Summer Time.

The clocks went forward last night and today is the first say of BST. Its dull and wet.We walked from cadmans pool this morning. As we started it was dry and just a little misty but by the time we got back to the car it was very misty and drizzling.
It is also mothers day here in the UK.so happy Mothers day to all the Mums!

The bridge at cadmans. 

They are creating a bog here! 

The stream at Cadmans 

The forestry commission have been at work chopping down trees. 

Tree cutting 

Trees in the mist at Cadmans 

A walk at Andrews Mare

Today we walked from Andrews mare. This is one of Missy's favourite places as she loves to swim in the boating lake. it was a dull drizzly morning and no one had any model boats on the lake so she was able to have a good swim before we continued our walk down to the stream and up the other side of the valley. Despite all the reports of severe water shortages the lake seemed pretty full to us. Because we have had some heavy rain in the last day or two there were also lots of puddles. At one stage a group of fallow deer skipped across the path and when we got back to the carpark we saw another foal. It was in the trees and it was fairly dark so the photos didn't turn out well. But Spring is coming and soon there will be many more foals on the forest.

Andrews Mare.

Missy in Andrews Mare Lake

Raffles tests the water

Missy swims

Missy by the highland water.

The view from the other side of the valley

Missy in a puddle

Dinner time.

The first foal of Spring.

About 10 days ago I saw a foal in the forest but was unable to take a picture. Today as I went to walk the dogs I saw him again and couldn't stop but on my way home i kept an eye out for him......and here he is. Spring is on its way although it doesn't feel like it with such a cold wind blowing but at least the sun shone for a little while.

With mum 

He was racing around and then stopping.

Foal sheltering from the cold wind. 

Another attempt at Daffodil scanning I need to practise this a bit I think. 

I tried scanning some daffodils. The daffodils are out in the garden but it doesn't feel very springlike yet. 

Donkeys in the Forest

Its gone back to being cold and gray weatherwise.......I begin to think Spring is never going to arrive! As we arrive back at the carpark today we met these two donkeys. There are several small groups of Donkeys roaming the forest and I rather like them.

Now go away and leave me alone! 

Another Donkey 

Im watching you watching me! 

A Sunday Walk with Barney

Beautiful Sunny morning, and we got to the forest just after Barney arrived. Barney is just a year older than Missy and they are very good friends they had a lovely chase about and eventually we got them to pose for some pictures. Raffles thinks they are silly puupies and he tries to stay out of their way.

Here is Barney 

I don't like being the gooseberry says Raffles! 

Raffles says those two are always smooching it gets embarrasing! 

Hey everyone this is my boyfriend Barney. 

Missy Barney and Raffles http://sweetnicks.blogspot.com/

Is he looking at me? 

Missy Barney and Raffles 

Teresa and the dogs at the end of our walk. 

Its very Cold in the wind.

We had a very cold walk at Spring Bushes today. It is not a place we walk from very often as it is difficult to get away from the gravel tracks. The wind was bitterly cold.
However this afternoon the sun came out and although the wind was still cold once we got into the trees at South Bentley it felt warm. So many deer were about today we had several sightings of a big herd. The dogs enjoyed running through the woods and playing in the stream.
On the way home two deer darted across the road and the car in front of us only just avoided hitting the second one. It stumbled in the road but quickly raced away .

Yes we had some blue sky! 

Raffles is listening ..he knows the deer are around. 

Reflections in the stream 

The stream 

Sunlight filtering through the trees at Sbentley. 

Missy watching for deer. 

Raffles paddles in the stream. 

Splish splash 

The gates at Spring Bushes 

Missy waiting for her ball to be thrown. 

How I feel today!

 

From Fritham to Dockens water and back.

Its very grey again today but although it rained this morning it was dry as we walked this afternoon. Someone asked where Dora was well here are a couple of pictures of her. We walk together three or four times a week and they have a great time together,however Missy and Dora are both a little calmer now and so Gill and I are in less danger of being bowled over by them chasing each other.

The bridge over Dockens Water, and the newly made causeway over the bog. 

Three friends . 

Theres a stick here Missy..Look! 

Missy and Dora in Dockens Water. 

Changing view.

Today they came and chopped the trees down, along the back of our house. When the house was built the developers put in some swedish willows to screen us from the road. Although they grew quickly they were not the right trees for the location. Over the years they have grown tall and spindly and each summer they lose their leaves as the ground is too dry to support them. Now the council are removing them. In less than 30 mins I watched one of these trees disappear.
Last autumn we started to rethink this area of our garden as little will grow in an area that is so shaded by the trees and has to compete with their water hungry roots. It will be a while before we see whether any of the undergrowth has survived and will gradually start to grow and fill in the gaps.

last moments in the life of a tree. 

A gap where the tree was! 

Highland Water

Today we walked from the Highland Water carpark it was the first time we had walked here this year. Years ago there was a Forest cottage , but at the beginning of the 20th century the cottage, which had no running water or power supplies ,was demolished. However although it was hard to see where the cottage had stood parts of the garden were recognisable by the plants that had survived. There are several Eucalyptus trees that reach way up in the sky and also a lot of daffodils. Today the daffodils were just beginning to bud up. However this may be the last year we see thenm as the new National Park authorities are doing a lot of work here.
Many new fences and gates have been errected and alredy some of the bulbs have been removed. Ponies are grazing down by the stream where previously they had been fenced out and many of the coniferous trees are being felled. Hopefully we will go back in a couple of weeks and take some pictures of the daffodils.
On the way home we saw the first foal for this year. It was just by the roadside but unfortunately at a junction and I was unable to stop and get a photo...but watch this space hopefully I will see it again in the week and get a picture.

John at one of the new gates. 

Daffodil buds at Highland water.

The woods at Highland. 

Im watching you! 

Ponies 

Missy in the stream 

new gates in the stream 

John plays with Missy 

Evening sky

Evening sky
Originally uploaded by Missy2004.

I just looked out the window as I went to get the dogs their dinner......such a pretty sky.
Red sky at night
A shepherds Delight.
Red sky in the Morning
A shepherds warning!

Salisbury Cathedral.

Its been raining in the forest so we are looking at Salisbury Cathedral today.
The photos are from September last year when Mattie was over from Canada.
Salisbury Cathedral has a 404ft Spire ...the tallest in England The cathedral was built in the 13th Century and the spire was added in the 14th Century
Edward Rutherfurds novel Sarum tells the story of the building of the Cathedral and of the original settlement of Sarum.

Salisbury Cathedral 

Salisbury Cathedral Cloisters 

Cloisters Salisbury Cathedral 

Salisbury cathedral 

Salisbury cathedral 

JR smiles

JR smiles
Originally uploaded by vagabondfcr.

A wonderful dog who always smiled.

A tribute to JR

A tribute to JR
Originally uploaded by Missy2004.

Yesterday a friend released her dog to the rainbow bridge.

A tribute to JR
I share the words I sent to Terry on hearing that JR had flown to the bridge......they were posted on the FCR list a few years ago.

I was standing on a hillside, in a field of blowing wheat,
And the spirit of a flat-coat was lying at my feet.
He looked at me with kind, dark eyes, ancient wisdom shinning through.
And in the essence of His being His love shone clear and true.
His mind did lock upon my heart as I stood there on that day,
And he told me of his story about a place so far away.
His take did put my mind at ease, my fears did fade away,
About what lay ahead of me on another distant day.
"I live among God's creatures now in the heavens of your mind.
So do not grieve for me my friend for I am with my kind.
My collar is a rainbows hue, my leash a shooting star.
My boundaries are the Milky Way where I sparkle from afar.
There are no pens or kennels here and I am not confined,
But free to roam God's heavens among my Flat-coat kind.
I nap the day on a snowy cloud, gentle breezes rocking me.
And dream the dreams of earthlings and how it used to be.
The trees are full of liver treats and tennis balls abound.
And milkbones line the walkways just waiting to be found.
There even is a ring set up, the grass all lush and green.
And everyone who gaits around becomes the Best of Breed.
For we're all winners in this place, we have no faults you see.
And God passes out those ribbons to each one, even me.
I drink from waters laced with gold, my world a beauty to behold.
And wise old dogs do form my pride to amble at my very side.
At night I sleep in an angel's arms, her wings protecting me.
And moonbeams dance about us as stardust falls on thee.
So when your life on earth is spent and you stand at Heaven's Gate,
Have no fear of loneliness for here you know I wait."

Author unknown

Cold winds at Deadmans Hill

Although the sun is shining the wind was very cold this morning at Deadman's hill.The little stream was all iced over. It looks very dry and brown........Hurry Up Spring!!

Deadmans hill 

Iced up stream 

Deadmans hill 

Come on dad throw my ball! 

Im waiting dad! 

Raffles 

Missy 

Who stole the bridge?

Today we walked at Pigbush. We did a circular walk over the causeway by the bog and then round through the woods. At the end ogf this walk we cross the stream via a little footbridge.....but when we got there the bridge was closed and we had to wad across the stream. Fortunately we had boots on. They are rebuilding the bridge and we passed signs on the way back to the car saying no admittance . Too bad they didn't tell us before we started out!

Colours in the swamp at Pigbush 

Frozen swamp 

Trees on the Horizon 

Through the trees. 

A pony at Pig bush 

Pigbush without the bridge. 

The bridge is being rebuilt. 

Someone stole the bridge! 

Whos goes there? 

It must have been a cold night!

This afternoon we had a pleasnat walk in the sunshine at Slufters pond. it was much warmer than it has been on recent days, but the most of Slufters Pond still had a thin layer of Ice on it. This did not stop Missy from taking a dip. Brrr!

ice on the pond. 

Reflections 

Missy still went for a dip 

Ice on slufters pond. 

Another Flurry of snow.

We had another short flurry of snow last night and this time a dusting settled on the garden. This morning when we went for our morning walk there were still places where the snow hadn't melted. Even this afternoon a few patches in the shady remained.

a wintry scene 

Snow in the forest. 

Raffles and Missy 

A dusting of snow at Busketts. 

Blue skies above 

just a little snow 

Where did all the snow go?

We walked at Canadian Cross again this morning.....but whereas yesterday we could only see a short distance and every where was carpeted with freshly falling snow, today the sun was shining (but a cold wind was blowing) and the snow had nearly all melted. About half the pond was frozen over and there was still a light dusting of white in places but it was very different from the pretty winter scene of yesterday.

The road home.

Just a light dusting left and melting fast. 

We wanted more snow! 

The pond at Canadian frozen and still a sprinkling of snow. 

Yesterday this was all white with snow. 

Raffles and Missy find small patches of snow. 

Where did all that snow go?