Another foal and Mum 

Another view of tonights little foal 

Just had to post a pic of this little fellow seen tonight on our walk! 

In the garden this week 

April Showers

This week we have had some very heavy showers, followed by sunny spells and back to heavy showers with hail and thunder.
Missy has also come into season so has to be walked on a lead!.
This means that I have not had too many chances to use the camera on our walks.
The cuckoo is singing most days and wild flowers are springing up everywhere. A few more foals are appearing and I hope to get more photos soon.

Crab apple blossom at Fritham 

Shower clouds at Fritham 

Evening sun at Telegraph 

Evening shadows at Bratley View 

April Charms

I was looking for some information on the little Cuckoo poem, whem I came across this poem and found I liked it better.

April's Charms

When April scatters charms of primrose gold Among the copper leaves in thickets old, And singing skylarks from the meadows rise, To twinkle like black stars in sunny skies; When I can hear the small woodpecker ring Time on a tree for all the birds that sing; And hear the pleasant cuckoo, loud and long -- The simple bird that thinks two notes a song; When I can hear the woodland brook, that could Not drown a babe, with all his threatening mood; Upon these banks the violets make their home, And let a few small strawberry blossoms come: When I go forth on such a pleasant day, One breath outdoors takes all my cares away; It goes like heavy smoke, when flames take hold Of wood that's green and fill a grate with gold. William Henry Davies

John  and Mary Osborn
http://www.geocities.com/shadowtotton/
http://maryosborn.blogspot.com/

The First Cuckoo

Today we heard the first cuckoo of the year as we walked from the carpark at Deadmans Hill. It is always a delight to hear the first cuckoo and I am reminded of a childhood poem. I do not know who wrote it but here it is:

The Cuckoo

In April I open my bill
In May I sing night and day
In June I change my tune
In July away I fly
In August away I must
Far away over the sea
To Spain I fly again
Day and night I take my flight
Cuckoo Goodbye to you

climbing back to carpark 

Down in the valley 

A forest green at Deadmans Hill 

The bridge at Deadmans Hill 

The last rays of sun light up the tree at Ashley Walk 

Evening sky at Telegraph 

A blackbird takes his morning bath at the pebble pool 

Ponies enjoying the spring sun at Andrews mare 

The things we found to stare at.Violets, grasses,the bridge,a cheerful chaffinch , wood anenomes,wood sorrel,crabapple blossom. 

Standing and staring!

Leisure
by William Henry Davies

"What is this life if ,full of care
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see,when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet,how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare."

I have always loved this poem.Today we walked along the river bank at Woodlands.last week the violets were invisible. Now they are everywhere.
I feel it is sad that so many people nowadays do not know the names of our common wildflowers.
I also love pictures of bridges and gates.I can sit and imagine where they might lead to.

Kallie the 10 week old Lab. Kallie belongs to a friend. She came to dog training class and is such a cool pup!  

Today in the garden 

Toffee another springer spaniel 

Daisy waits for her walk 

Spud the springer spaniel having a swim 

Barney and Oscar join us 

Misty morning at Busketts car park 

The beautiful wood anemone