I love chooks and these were pecking their way around the courtyard at Buckland.
I’ll be back tomorrow with some photos of the Great Barn.
Buckland Chooks
Category: Photography
Leading to Buckland Abbey
Today I’ve had the most lovely day out for my friends birthday! We went to a National Trust property across the other side of Dartmoor, Buckland Abbey, once the home of Sir Francis Drake. I think I will probably create several posts about it because I’ve just put 400 photos onto the PC. As I don’t know where to start with Buckland here are some photos of the journey across the moor. In the one with the smoke we were wondering if someone was swailing – controlled burning of heath to stimulate new growth, and now I’ve just seen on the BBC’s website that a few mile north there is a huge blaze covering six square kilometres. They don’t know how the fire started yet, swailing can be done until the second week of April, but with prior arrangement .The land is desperatle dry, I can’t remember seeing it look quite like it did today, so just the tiniest spark is all it takes, and the concern now is for nesting birds.. There are 100 firefighters at Chat Tor and they are being assisted by local commoners beating, I hope the fire in my photo, south east of there is quickly contained.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Colour
Color. Splashed on the walls of cities, in batches of flowers in gardens, in the doodles of students, and on the palettes of artists, color is everywhere: it may represent our mood, and it can affect our mood. In photography, you can use a spectrum of colors to bring a place to life, or focus on a single shade to make a bold statement. Conversely, you can shoot in black-and-white or remove color in editing mode for a different effect.
So says Cherie Lucas over at http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/weekly-photo-challenge-color/ pop across and I’m sure you’ll see some amazing photos!
Coldest Easter Sunday on Record
But I still went to the beach at Sidmouth where it was low tide and bright sunshine. April tomorrow, I’m hoping for some warmth!
An Easter Day Out, Saltram House Devon
A lovely National Trust property, Saltram has been overlooking the River Plym for three hundred years. If it looks familiar, it was one of the settings for 1995 film version of Sense and Sensibility. I didn’t go into the house today but the grounds were beautiful, well worth a visit if you’re in the Westcountry.
An Easter day out, I’m showing off my grandchildren!
Masks by Louisa
I fell in love with you the first time I looked into them there eyes.
Like this.
Nice and steady.
Look daddy its toads spawn!
Babe in the woods
Big girl in the woods.
But dad . . .
My boys.
My girls.
Aren’t they handsome?
I’m tired now.
Wordless Wednesday
Sentimental Value
‘The personal value of an object, place or pet derived from the personal memories associated with it’ is what Jake at http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/sunday-post-sentimental-value/ has challenged us with this week.
My first school, Heavitree, was rebuilt a few years ago and the children now have a lovely modern building and more outdoor space than when I was a pupil. All that remains of the original is the house where the headmaster Mr Knowles lived and had his office. The only reason we children went inside was to see the school nurse, get told off, or like me for extra tutoring because it was decided you had a chance of getting a scholarship for one of the posh schools. It’s no longer part of the school, but a dental surgery.
This is the old school, around the early 20th century.
I’m not going to say what year this was taken but I think I was about seven. The photo was sent to me by Lesley, two to my left. She is probably my oldest friend.
The school always had close ties with the church and now it’s renamed St Michaels.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Future Tense
Michael Pick says, ‘We spend so much of our lives thinking back, or looking ahead, and even though a photo captures only one moment in time, with a bit of thought it can freeze the process of moving forward, or the promise of things to come. Your challenge this week is to seal one such moment in amber’ and invites us to share to join the http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/weekly-photo-challenge-future-tense/
I thought this was an impossible task at first, but then I came up with these.
A connecting extension to a favourite walk.
On the strip of ground between the river Exe above and the canal, out of sight on the left, Devon County Council are building a new world class outdoor education centre in Exeter. The spiral stairs to the left are the way up the abseil tower which was nearly completed when I took this photo in January and the centre is due to open in April. A real investment in the future.
This is sadly a bit more worrying. The South West Coast Path is a 630 mile walk, one of Britains National Trails. The Devon Red Sandstone section here at Sidmouth which climbs sharply eastwards has been closed because of erosion. The path has become unstable in several places, and some homes are at risk of plunging over the cliff. Diversions are in place for walkers until more permanent plans are made.
Thames Barge Vigilant revisited
At the very end of 2012 I told you about the restoration of the Thames barge Vigilant on Topsham quay, here https://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/vigilant/ I’ve been back a couple of times but just with my phone camera in fading light. In February I took these.
And just this evening some more.
Haven’t Mr McCabe and co. made good progress?
Lucid Gypsy 