When One wall finally starts to look right

I've been decorating my room for about a year now. 

I painted the walls replaced the carpet had it laid then had to move my furniture around numerous times well I can officially say at long last all the walls are painted and my poster is finally hung. 

I'm looking forward to taking my trip now to purchase a few more route 66 items to finish decorating the frame.

Wall number one is now completed.

Bumble Bees at work my little visitor

Whilst at work I had myself a little visitor or should I say two!

These little fellows were helping me weigh up some seed. It was so nice seeing these majestic creatures flying around me and then landing on my seed.

I believe this species is Psithyrus Vestalis otherwise known as the Cuckoo bumblebee.

I had this little guy land on the sleeve of my jumper where he must have sat relaxing for almost an hour where he landed.

I read somewhere that these little fella's can be quite a nasty little thing to other bee species and will work their magic at wiping out other queen bees.

There are only 6 cuckoo bumblebee species in the UK. The 2 main features that these bees have that set them apart from other bumblebees include: Back legs that are covered in hair, with no pollen baskets – you will never see a cuckoo bumblebee with pollen lumps on its legs. The wings that appear dusky or dark.

Long Johns Fish & Chips

I'm up there among the seafood lovers of poole, and for me this chip shop is the best around.

With sit in and take away services, whether your in a rush or just having a wander through town this is highly recommended place to eat.

In the picture above I've ordered the skippers meal deal. I can eat with the best of them and this meal deal is more then adequate for myself and my mom. 

The fish and chips come out fresh from the fryer and on to the plate. As with all the food it's not to greasy.

The restaurant staff are always happy to help, friendly, on the ball and always smiling.

Cutting back the lavender

So this week other then being at work, I decided to take on the big challenge of sorting out parts of the garden for winter.
I managed to cut the grass which seemed to take forever and a day as it was damp. As well as cutting back the lavender. Now I've never cut the lavender back before now so I'm not sure how low I shouldve gone, but I still have some green showing on the top so I gave it a shorter at the sides and a little longer on the top kinda cut. It looks so much neater but hopefully it will survive.

Next on the task was to burn all the lavender. It was damp when I started burning and not to windy, so I checked the neighbours gardens to make sure no washing was out and I let loose on the burning bin.

Painting a room.... or 2!

This week I have been determined to paint my hallway and living room.
So far so good I'm the living room. As for the hallway I'm on the 4th coat of white paint still trying to cover up that dark dank magnolia!
We decided to paint it white to lighten up the thin corridor and add white accessories in time. It's definitely a lot brighter but until the carpets are down we won't be able to tell how much difference there will be ..... roll on Saturday.

The famous Poole Quay bike night

Every week during the summer bike night is held on the Quay. There are has been in the past over 800 bikes on the Quay. Although I cannot ride a motor bike I love to look at them. I find the shapes and sounds amazing. 

I liked this one just for the shape and color and although hearing the engine roar I can understand why its owner wasnt far away. I wouldnt want to leave mine for long if I had something like it either.

When we arrived it was just gone 530pm. The photos were taken just after 9pm and as you can see by the amount of people the bike night is very popular.

View of small part of the harbour 

I love bumble bees !

In our garden we have 8 rather large lavender bushes, that play a role in keeping the bumbles that I love so busy. I know I've posted pictures of them before so dont judge its just for a dying breed that is so necessary in our day and age ( if you don't know what they do then look it up).

The happy little buzzing that I hear all day from the garden and the zipping little bodies in a rush to get somewhere and yet nowhere.

After what seemed to be forever of me trying to convince TJ that the bees will not hurt us we ended up saving one from drowning in the paddling pool.

I asked him to hold it on the peg not just for pictures but to build his confidence up and help him to understand that bees are not built to hurt us,that they are just busy working their butts off to make their Queen bee happy.

Half drowned blonde bumble bee

Honey bee

It's been a while .... I'm sorry!

Over the past few months I've been stuck in a rut. Missing certain elements from my past and that's all it is memories playing in the back of my mind constantly.
I am truly grateful for these memories as without them I would not be the person I am today.
Who better to bring me out of this rut but one of my oldest and dearest friends. Distance is now an issue as she lives 5 hours away with her husband and 2 absolutely fantastic little girls.
Today we met up for the first time in about a year took Tj and the girls to the local park. We talked the kids ran around playing and the dog well, she ended up in the algae filled lake :/ .
Whilst the kids fed the ducks and met a puppy labrador in training to be a guide dog, my friend and I slowly wandered behind chatting about the kids and how much things have changed since she was here almost 10 years ago.

Between running around waving at the passengers in the park train a strange thought suddenly came to me, Tj is no longer a child but a young man.

I was so glad to see my friend after so long and I wish it could be more often.
I had an amazing time and such a good catch up.

Tj and her eldest J. Are so cute together holding hands and walking the dog. They both looked beyond a doubt like a couple on a date.

Corfe Castle falconry display

This weekend TJ and I attended a local falconry display at corfe castle.

Walking from the National Trust car park, we entered a small shop that sells rocks and fossils. The lady behind the desk, was lovely as we were looking around it started to rain. Me being me I forgot to pack the rain jackets in the car. The lovely lady offered to lend us her umbrella. which I graciously accepted.

The site itself is breathtaking and to be able to walk around in the history and imagine what happened inside the walls is incredible. 
If you'd like to read more then have a look on the webiste  http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/corfe-castle/history/ . 

. The falconry display was amazing. Watching the birds flying around listening to the man tell the audience how they train the birds so they don't fly away was interesting.

The birds flew around in front of crowds with such grace and with what seemed very little effort.

Once the hawk had its prey in sight, it homed in and dived in at such a speed if you blinked you would have missed it! 

Canoeing down Wareham river

Tranquility at its best.

I don't often take TJ Near the sea. It's only 5 minutes down the road, lately I never seem to have time to do anything. My days are filled with silly tasks that take up so much time.
Today I just took the time with Tj and went canoeing although the tide was out when we arrived, we popped into the Saturday market and brought a net and bucket to fish with while the tide was low and waiting till it came in.
We payed for an hour to canoe up and down the river. I was so proud of Tj getting the hang of paddling together as a team.

The Wareham canoeing hut on the Quay provides life jackets for everyone of all shapes and sizes.

There are many types of boats available with engines and others without. 

I would recommend if you haven't already rented a boat to do so.
It was so tranquil and such beautiful scenery up and down the river. I for one was so glad I took the time to go today.

For the love of colors

I've been so busy lately that I forgot to take a minute a breathe in all the glorious colors of my garden. Well of anywhere if I'm honest.

From green grass to yellow lupin bushes. White cherry tree blossom and pink sweet smelling roses. How could I forget to take a moment and enjoy the spring?

Have you spent anytime outside?
If you haven't then stop and just relax. Go to the beach or gardens, maybe even the local tea rooms with a garden.
Whatever you do outside savour it.

Upton Country Park

Taking the dogs for a walk is generally a chore when it comes to doing it with TJ. Today was no different TJ rode his bike off into the distance, leaving me and my oldest dog for dust.

It's days like this that I love living where I do only minutes from the beaches and moments from Upton Park and it's breath taking trails. Where the children and dogs can run around like lunatics and there's still plenty of room to play football.

A visit to Bucklers Hard

I decided that our day out would be to Bucklers Hard. An 18th century village where warships for Nelsons navy were built. Set in an idealistic village, surrounded by Beautiful scenery on the Beaulieu river.

The Maritime museum has items dating back to Admiral Nelson and his crew members, as well as many other boats that were made at Beaulieu. 

Ships built at Beaulieu

With open houses to wonder around life in 18th century was definitely hard. Reading the information provided and listening to the guided tour. I can imagine how hard life was back in the 18th century when listening to the historian.

Guided tour 

  To look around the little village and the museum it took us around 2 hours.

Outside the museum

Costing £6.50 an adult and £4.50 a child.
There's is an option to upgrade the ticket to an unlimited yearly pass which was only £10 a person.
This did not include the additional price of the river boat cruise.

Shipwrights cottage and St. Mary's Church 

Along the houses on the left there are two houses in which you can look around. the shipwrights cottage and St. Mary's Chapel which holds a hidden room.
As you progress down the hill towards the waterfront there is a pub and grill area. with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

Shipwrights School

The building in the background at the waters edge has just been re- built with 150 year old oak wood. Provided by the Beaulieu forest.

National Trust - White Mill

Where else can you get such an amazing view. I find I'm never let down for beauty and peace with the National Trust.

White mill was original built in the 18th century. Rebuilt in 1776  where it worked as water powered mill until 1866 when a bad flood destroyed the mill making it unusable beyond repair.

It wasnt till 1994 when the National Trust started to conserve the property.

When visiting a National Trust property, usually take the dogs. Today was no different.

TJ all excited to look into the building running ahead before the rain started to fall three dogs trying to keep up whilst I was getting dragged behind.

The rear of property

On a Quiet road in the middle of no where stands a small mill. The mill is no longer in use but is lovely to look around.

Entrance passage 

Along the entrance passage the mill has many low hanging beams but for short people like myself I walked around with no problems.

The stairs are steep going up to all three floors. On each level the view from the windows are fantastic. 

View from loading door 1st floor

When walking around the building you can imagine where the grain used to be held. The amount of work that the old millers used to work. with the original elm and apple wood machinery still in the building. 

Elm and apple wood machinery

The river stour

Old well at the rear of property